http://www.examiner.com/figure-skating- ... rst-splash
Opining on Japan Open (2 of 3): Tuktamisheva makes the first splash
A few thoughts on Japan Open, which took place over the weekend, featuring some fantastic performances by stars former, current, and future. Now for a look at second place (less than a point behind first) Team Europe.
ELIZAVETA TUKTAMISHEVA: First senior event? No problem.
There has been some talk in the preseason about Russian champion Adelina Sotnikova, and Elizaveta Tuktamisheva has been somewhat under the radar – until now, that is. Sotnikova, who went undefeated last year and finished ahead of Tuktamisheva at Junior Grand Prix Final, Russian Nationals, and Junior Worlds last season, was supposed to have made her senior debut at last week’s Ondrej Nepela Memorial. But she withdrew, and Tuktamisheva was a last-minute replacement for Sarah Meier at Japan Open.
Lack of full preparation for the competition? No problem. With the exception of the popped triple flip, Tuktamisheva stole the show, opening with a triple lutz-triple toe and then hitting a triple sal-triple toe late in the program. She really has a natural movement on the ice, maybe cluttered by a little too much arm and hand action, but there really is a lot to like in her skating. Too bad she’s too young for Worlds this season (Sotnikova, however, is not), but she will be on the senior path this season.
ARTUR GACHINSKI: Worlds was just the beginning.
To say phrases like “meteoric rise” and “came out of nowhere” in reference to Artur Gachinski’s surprise bronze medal at Worlds was certainly no hyperbole. Consider his record going into Worlds last year – a sixth and a seventh during the Grand Prix, then fifth at Europeans, plus it was his first full senior season. But his skate at Japan Open made a case that Gachinski is going to build on that success from last season.
After collapsing on the landing of his quad toe, he came back with a powerful skate with six clean triples, looking very strong already this early in the season. Second place, above both Japanese men, and teammate-slash-European-champion, Russia should be expecting some great things from this kid this season.
FLORENT AMODIO: He’s got a quad!
Finally, after two years of hearing that Florent Amodio can do a quad salchow, it actually happened (and it was clean!). That and the opening triple axel aside, it was a bit of an uneven skate the rest of the way – popped jumps, unsteady landings, and an aborted axel to end.
The free skate itself is a bit of a work in progress too. It will be interesting to see how it evolves during the season. Amodio has the potential to be a fine skater, and it was unfortunate that his free skate last year leaned much too much toward the exhibition side in terms of its tendency toward dancing in one spot as opposed to real skating.
ALENA LEONOVA: Hearing footsteps, but still fighting.
Former World junior champ Alena Leonova’s spirited skating and resultant fourth place at home at Worlds in April could very well be the highlight of her career. And for years now, she has been watching the likes of youngsters, Tuktamisheva amongst them, overshadow her at Russian Nationals only to be too young for Worlds.
Some, including me, have predicted that she would’ve faded away by now, burdened by her inconsistency and lack of technical firepower. But she’s still here and she’s still fighting. Leonova has gotten her triple toe-triple toe more consistent and has looked better recently than she has in the seasons since she won Junior Worlds. How will she fare now that the youngsters are making the senior international debuts?
All that aside, though, do we really have to hear Requiem for a Dream again?!
NEXT: TEAM JAPAN