2012 Japan Open, Oct. 6th, 2012

[victoriaheidi]

That was wonderful!!

big standing ovations.

Ashley's wearing a team towel in K&C like a beauty contestant.

It never occured to me but this time I was too confused by CW jumps to call. Ha.

123.57
57.64
65.93

1st!!! yay for Ashley!!! That's my girl!!!

AHHH

Made my day (or night)!

I have been hoping for this so much...I'm so thrilled for her!

[caseyedwards]

Wow Ashley outscored Mao and pushed NA to second place

[kittyjake5]

Congrats to Ashley!

[midori]

winning team interview

kozuka
(about the winning) it feels great we won by this big margin
(for his performance )this is better than the last season

akiko
I feel sorry that i was not good at all today but I will try for the rest of the season

mao
nervous for the first competition of the season but we won and i'm happy

[jenny12]

Awesome! Can't wait to see Mao and Ashley!!

[rosewood]

Congrats to Ashley.
Team Japan did great this year!! WOW
Thanks again, Midori.

[kittyjake5]

Congratulations to Team Japan! Thanks again for the pbp. Goodnight all.

[vigiliae]

Elene had taping on one shoulder, struggled a bit throughout the performance but it was a fine one.
Loved Akiko's fluid and smooth skating. She was flying on the ice like a feather! The program was so light and attractive. She had a solid performance to the middle and it was a shame that she imploded after that. I like her program best in this comp.
Now what the hell with Colorado skaters? She also lost her speed in the second half.
Leonova did well and her jumps were huge when succeed but I still cannot stand the noise from her blade...
Mao! Extraordinary skate from her. So glad to see her doing so well in Japan. kudos to 3S I want her show a bit more power in her skating though. it was do fluid and light but lacks something which can be found in Akiko's one. The program itself needs more mileage imo. (less connection between moves IMO) Hope the program grows throughout the season.
Wagner did great as well but was a bit unpolished compared to Mao. Upper body especially.
Not a bad comp overall.
Congrats to Team Japan

[t.mann]

Happy for Mao & Ashley.

BTW, while 30 years old Arakawa succeeded 2A-3T, none of six young skaters succeeded 2A-3T.
Kudos to Arakawa!

[YukiNieve]

Takahashi did a fablulous performance but his costume was definitely morozovlized.

http://spo.c.yimg.jp/im_siggu8ZjH9GY...ahashi1046.jpg

[jenny12]

Mao! Extraordinary skate from her. So glad to see her doing so well in Japan. kudos to 3S I want her show a bit more power in her skating though. it was do fluid and light but lacks something which can be found in Akiko's one. The program itself needs more mileage imo. (less connection between moves IMO) Hope the program grows throughout the season.

Thanks for the info. I love Mao, but agree that (aside from the mistakes she's made in recent years) she skates too cautiously. I wish she could skate more consistently like her Olympic SP or the 2008 Worlds SP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrEZgoPpCAI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz-AktwtDfs

I'm looking forward to seeing the program, but hope she eventually uses a choreographer other than Tarasova or Nichol.

[Roxanne]

http://spo.c.yimg.jp/im_siggu8ZjH9GY...ahashi1046.jpg

Gross.



I'm very happy to hear that Mao and Ashley did well

[midori]

Jumps aside, Patrick's program was really great. Very looking forward to the time when he put it together.

A bit disappointed for Michal as it it not a new program I wanted to see a better delivery.

[spikydurian]

Thanks Midori and Vigiliae for the updates. Congrats to Team Japan. I kind of expected them to win. Sounds like the ladies are doing very well. Ouch, hope Patrick's falls is due to early season and lack of practice.

[LadyNit]

http://spo.c.yimg.jp/im_siggu8ZjH9GY...ahashi1046.jpg

Dai looks positively Weir'd in that costume.

[fscric]

midori and vigiliae, thanks for the pbp and report. Feeling sorry for Patrick but glad to hear he was great in the warm up, and I'm really glad that Kozuka is doing so well in this competition, hope he'll regain his lost ground this year.

[worldsnice12]

Ashleys new dress:

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/channel/live/photo/5173


and Mao

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/channel/live/photo/5172

[AragornElessar]

1st!!! yay for Ashley!!! That's my girl!!!

And allow me to add Yay for Jeff!!! That's my boy!!

What a weekend for him and I really hope we can all see it at some point.

Big Ouch for Patrick. Here's hoping it's just really early and that's all it is.

I haven't clicked on that link to Takashi's costume yet, as I have yet to go to bed and I'd like to not give myself nightmares. All I had to do was see the word "Morosovized" and...Nope!!

Sigh...Nice to have the Season underway, isn't it?

[Zemgirl]

I haven't clicked on that link to Takashi's costume yet, as I have yet to go to bed and I'd like to not give myself nightmares. All I had to do was see the word "Morosovized" and...Nope!!

It's more ugly Morozov than tacky/vulgar Morozov, if that helps. Looks like they recycled part of Rippon's old costume and sewed it together with one of Johnny's.

Ashley's dress is awful.

Sigh...Nice to have the Season underway, isn't it?

Oh yes , especially since baseball season just ended for me.

[museksk8r]

Wow, great for Ashley as she is now making a habit of beating Mao Asada (4CC, Worlds, Japan Open). That can only do wonders for her PCS as the season goes on.

I agree about the unfavorable review of Wagner's dress though. The bright tennis ball yellow with the bright, blonde hair translates into too much perk for me.