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Nations Cup 2002 - Ladies Short Program

Tamara Dorofejev was the first skater. I remember her as a promising newcomer from a couple of years ago. Well unfortunately her career never really seems to have set off and she didn't really present herself in a convincing fashion here. She opened with a fall on the 3Z, did a slow, but well-centered camel spin, fell on the 3L and finally managed to fall on the 2A as well. She was rather slow and the program didn't have much choreography either. The music was from the "Dragonheart" soundtrack.

Julia Lautowa wore a silver dress. She started with a 3z-2t, her second foot might have touched down on the lutz. She then fell on her 3f, did a nice step sequence and completed a 2a. I liked her style and she showed musicality, also I thought the program was very entertaining and beautiful and she skated it powerfully.

Sabina Wojtala did a 2z-2t, then a 3l and ended with a singled axel. She had an interesting program that she sold very well, with convincing presentation and nice spiral posititions (that she wasn't able to hold very long though). Her sit spin position could be deeper. It was a nice program with lots of in-betweens and to the point arm movements, I liked it! She skated to Nyah from the Mission Impossible soundtrack.

Susanna Pöikyö started with the 2a, then did a 3z-2t and a 3f, putting her hand down. She has a very nice style, also very different from last year, where she hadn't really impressed me much. She reminded me a bit of Michelle Kwan, with a little bit of SashaSkaterTM for spice. Her spirals were pretty good. The choreography was nice, but I wouldn't have minded a bit more excitement. The music was "A Tale of Two Cities" by Richard Addinsell.

Amber Corwin did a 3t-3t combination, then fell on the 3l and did a 2a. Her layback spin was travelling. She had music with chanting ("Touch" by Sarah McLachlan), that was pretty close to lyrics, but I guess not too close. She had a nice elegant style, but not much choreography. Both Steffi and I thought that she looks a bit like a young Denise Biellman (her face, not her skating).

Jennifer Robinson started with 2a, then did a low 3f (might have been 2-footed) and finished with a 3z-2t (the 2t was really low, any lower and it would have been a spin . She was slow. It was an ok program in her usual style set to "Symphonie Moderne" by Max Steiner, a bit boring.

Yoshie Onda has a strange hair cut this year. She did a 3z-2t (close to the border), a 3f and a high 2a. Her spins are fast, but the positions could be better. The program is nice and lyrical and she has very elegant arm movements. Her overall presentation has still room for improvement, she's doing fine most of the time though, but loses all grace and presentation as soon as she prepares for a jump, she gets very tense then. Also her jump entries are unfortunately quite long and interrupt the flow of the program. Still for me personally, her skating is a joy to watch and something different. The music was called "Love in Slow Motion".

Anette Dytrt popped her lutz, then fell on the 3f. She has strange little habits during her jump preparations, before each lutz she always claps her hands once in front and once behind her body. Before the flip she skated a () with her skates while gliding backwards. I wonder whether that's supposed to help her concentration. She finished her program with a 2-footed 2a. She has a very nice layback spin, fast and with a good position (might even get Dick Buttons approval . Her speed was quite good too. Didn't note anything down about choreography or presentation, the music was "Concerto for Violin" by Mendelsohn.

Fumie Suguri has certainly the best stroking of the field at this competition, she glides over the ice so easily and silent! Also with good speed. She did a 3z-2t, then a 3f (that for some strange reason both Steffi and I mistook for a second lutz at first) and finished with a 2a. She has good spirals, but with a little wobble at one here. Fast spins and nice footwork section. She maybe seemed a bit too concentrated in this program and the choreography didn't blow me away as much as her Ave Maria SP from last season. The music was "Larghetto from Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor" by Frederic Chopin.

Susanne Stadlmüller started with a 3z-2t (hardly any run-out - is that the right word???). The program had an interesting choreography, a bit different from your usual ladies program. The music was "El Condor Pasa". She popped the flip. She was very into the music. The step sequence looked a bit slow and easy. She stumbled after having already landed the 2a. I still like her skating style best of all the German ladies. She was fast at the beginning of her program, but lost speed towards the end.

Elena Liashenko did a 3z-2t, then a 3f close to the border and a 2a, all with her usual "extravagant" jump entries. The program was nice and lyrical, but a usual ladies program, therefor a bit boring. The music was "Apassionata" by Rolf Lovland.

In the evening of this first day, we met with Katja, Susanne and Petra in the hotel bar for the first time, but didn't stay too long since we were rather tired. When Steffi and I were waiting for the other 3 we already ordered something and I have to say I found the waiters behavior a bit strange, when he brought our drinks he gave Steffi her drink in the usual way, but for whatever strange reason just put my Cappuccino down on the table, without looking at me and not saying anything either. He didn't even put it down in front of me! What had I done in order to deserve this . Is there any rule that forbids ordering Cappuccinos in hotel bars, huh? Well later he acted completely normal, so I suppose he was just being distraced or whatever...