Carolina Kostner won the Grand Prix Final by nearly 8 points!

Carolina Kostner's short program to Allegretto from Trio No. 2 earned her 61.30 with zero deductions.  Her opening triple triple combination was just amazing!  A triple triple combination has  become practically a necessity in ladies Figure Skating.  Three of the top five ladies in the short had triple triples.  Kostner's skating skills, transitions, and execution made the program "look" effortless.  Making figure skating look effortless is not an easy thing to do.  Overall Carolina's short program was the best ladies short program of the competition. 

In the long program Kostner's program was well choreographed and just seemed more polished to me than the other ladies programs.  Alissa Czisny who finished 5th in the long program was injured causing her program to be riddled with errors.  I give her an A+ for effort though. To skate with an injury and still place in the top 5 is excellent.  Her ending level 4 layback spin was perfectly centered and very fast.  I would suggest watching her long program if you haven't seen it yet just to see her layback spin.

I did get a chance to watch parts of the men's competition.  Although he did not place first Jeremy Abott had one of the best triple Axels I have ever seen in his short program.  But in Yuzuru HANY's long program was the best triple Axel I have ever seen period.  Also isn't his outfit gorgeous?

I only saw Julia LIPNITSKAIA's (RUS) free skate of the Junior Grand Prix Final and her program could compete with the best senior ladies.  If you liked Alissa Czisny's layback you will definitely love Julia's layback spin.  Her Beilmann spin was in a split.  Which reminds me I need to go stretch.

Former United States Figure Skating Championships Competitor Now Represents the Philippines

Philippine National Figure Skating Championships 1^st place medalist in Men’s Singles, Christopher Caluza was born in Chula Vista, California to Filipino parents.  He placed 19^th in last year’s US National Figure Skating Championships before he began skating for the Philippines.  Christopher Caluza trains at the ice skating rink in San Diego during both the high and low seasons in figure skating.

(Photos courtesy of Chris Caluza and Asian Journal)

In an article posted in the Asian Journal, Christopher Caluza said “I was inspired by Manny Pacquiao and how he brings glory to the Philippines and the Filipino community, and thought that it would be awesome to represent my parents’ country and bring something to our family name,” 

If he adds a triple Axel or quadruple jump to his program, I can definitely see him placing much higher in international competitions next season.  I saw his 4 Continents short program and I thought his first two spins had good speed and his footwork was executed well despite a slight slip after a twizzle.  You can see his program here.