Finnish skating news, part II

[Ziggy]

Laura and Kiira looking

Wow, that's such a hot photo.

A very good find!

[MikiAndoFan#1]

Laura and Kiira looking

They're both gorgeous young ladies!

[maija]

That photo of Laura and Kiira is two years old. It was taken when their matriculation examinations (completed high school).

After that Kiira has already studied two years in Tampere University.

Laura passed this summet the entrance exam to Aalto University. It is quite difficult to get in there, especially School of Economics of Aalto University. She was very happy to get in!!!

They are both studying economics and administration. They will both become business women.

[Ziggy]

Oh dear, I wish I didn't know that. ;P

[Kati]

That photo of Laura and Kiira is two years old. It was taken when their matriculation examinations (completed high school).

After that Kiira has already studied two years in Tampere University.

Laura passed this summet the entrance exam to Aalto University. It is quite difficult to get in there, especially School of Economics of Aalto University. She was very happy to get in!!!

They are both studying economics and administration. They will both become business women.

Congrats to Laura! It has been a succesful year for her. Hope it will continue that way!

[maija]

Oh dear, I wish I didn't know that. ;P

Why?

Laura and Kiira are smart girls who will do well also outside the ice.

[Hanna]

This summer has been completely Finnish skating newsless. I feel like I haven't heard anything since April.

I know the national teams (A & B) were already decided in May, but our Fed STILL hasn't bothered to post them on their site. Only the national junior team and the talent team were announced.

[Ziggy]

Why?

Laura and Kiira are smart girls who will do well also outside the ice.

Shame it's doing well in SATAN'S FIELD.

[Finnice]

Ziggy
How do you know that they don´t plan to study economics to use the knowledge for creating a more democratic world economy

[Ziggy]

How do you know that they don´t plan to study economics to use the knowledge for creating a more democratic world economy

Ah yes, it's evil, socialist Finland we're talking about after all.

[Hanna]

I'm about how there really haven't been any Finnish skating news this summer! Even the national team is still unannounced (on the fed site it says 'soon' )

Anyway, Beata and Bela Papp are skating at the BC Summerskate in Burnaby this weekend. You can watch their archived performances here http://www.skatemtb.com/video/BC_YT_...ine_video.html How cool is that!

The shorts were skated already and both had new short programs.

Beata skated to a hectic version of some familiar tango in a beautiful blue costume! IMO the music was maybe even a bit TOO hectic but I guess it suits her style since she does do about 10 crossovers per second. Other than that I thought he program had some nice little touches to it and tango-like choreography. Not a bad first impression.
It didn't go too well, unfortunately. Fall on 3t, 3loop was completely short (although gutsy to go for a triple since the loop is the required solo jump this season) and also a fall on 2a. Oh well, let's blame the beginning of the season. Usually she's been very consistent with both her 3t and 2a.

Bela skated to an instrumental version of Muse's Butterflies and Hurricanes. I wasn't too fond of his new blue Russian-style costume and usually I'm also not a big fan of instrumental versions of rock songs but this one was OK, IMO. At least it was dramatic and I thought Bela skated very well! To this kind of music, that is.
2loop (may have been intentional, I think... the loop is not Bela's favorite jump), 3flip(!) hung on - 2t, 2a. Everything was going well and I thought he used the dramatic music quite nicely until he slipped off the entry to his final combo spin. That was a bit of an anticlimax.

Anyway, things should be interesting for Beata and other Finnish junior girls this season because now that Susanna and Jenni both have retired, there will be an open spot for Euros behind Laura and Kiira for the one who steps up her game. Should both motivate and put extra pressure on all the girls this season.

[Sylvia]

Anyway, Beata and Bela Papp are skating at the BC Summerskate in Burnaby this weekend. ...

The shorts were skated already and both had new short programs.

Beata skated to a hectic version of some familiar tango in a beautiful blue costume!

"Besame Mucho" according to her updated ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012517.htm

Bela skated to an instrumental version of Muse's Butterflies and Hurricanes.

His updated ISU bio states his coach is Bruno Delmaestro (new?) and his choreographer is Tom Dickson: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009575.htm

Both will compete at the 2nd JGP in Brasov, Romania, Sept. 8-12.

Cecilia TÖRN (updated bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00011252.htm) and Viktor ZUBIK (updated bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00010447.htm) are the Finnish entries for the Courchevel JGP next week.

[Hanna]

His updated ISU bio states his coach is Bruno Delmaestro (new?) and his choreographer is Tom Dickson: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009575.htm

Thanks Sylvia! Never heard of Delmaestro, who is he?
I have to admit I'm quite delighted about the idea that he's not with McLeod anymore.

Beata is 175cm now? That is super tall for a skater.

[Nomad]

... now that Susanna and Jenni both have retired...

Jenni has definitely retired, then? Last I read she was considering a comeback.

[maija]

Jenni has definitely retired, then? Last I read she was considering a comeback.

Yes, she has retired. She made her decision on April.

[Finnice]

Kiira Korpi´s new programs are SP Somewhere over the rainbow, a piano version, choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne. Opens with 3t-3t, which seems to be secure now.

LP Evita, choreo by David Wilson.
There was a test skate yesterday. Kiira is in very good shape. Also Beata Papp is doing 3t-3t and using her amazing height very well.

Laura Lepistö is injured, she fell in the practice and has internal bleeding in her hip, so she is resting right now. But her coach said that these kind of troubles hear to an athlete´s life.

[MikiAndoFan#1]

Laura Lepistö is injured, she fell in the practice and has internal bleeding in her hip, so she is resting right now. But her coach said that these kind of troubles hear to an athlete´s life.

Oh my God, that's terrible.



I wish Laura a speedy recovery!

[stephanie2006]

Oh I hope Laura will recover soon. I saw her (and Kiira) performing at Eisgala Flims on July 24th and she seemed to be in a really good shape then.

Someone else who was in Flims also took a video of her performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X8rhT1ba4Q

[Hanna]

Thanks for all the information, Finnice!

Hmmm I'm not too sure if I like Kiira's music choices (I'll bet a $ that she's using Don't Cry for me Argentina in the FP, right? ) but maybe I'll keep my mouth shut until I actually see the programs. I'm expecting them to be quite different from all her previous programs due to new choreographers (well, new to Kiira anyway )
Good to hear about a consistent 3t-3t, and from Beata as well.

Based on last season and my instincts , I'm betting on Beata being the strongest competitor to get the 3rd spot for Euros.

Sorry to hear about Laura being injured. How serious is that thing? I have no idea. How long should it take to recover, weeks? Months?
I also saw her practice in the beginning of August, so it must be a very new thing.

[maija]

Laura was injured in the middle of August and she has not practiced since then, less than two weeks now. She is quite frustrated not to get the ice but also optimistic to get there soon. She is mature enough to be careful not to go too early to the practices again.