Melodie

I dunno much about ID technicalities but it honestly leaves a great first impression on me and I can tell they look much better than last year. Up until this point, there are only two RD programs I like, and that is Kana/Dai's and Sara/Kirill. Would be rooting for them to clear up technical issues (according to ID fans) and go out there cos honestly, this slaps.

...that was fast. RIP weird costume change, I suppose?

The fanboy

Withdrawals from US Classic International (AKA the less flopped event in NA right now but who knows?) Ladies - Bradie Tennell Ice dance - Kaitlin Hawayek / Jean-Luc Baker

.....they are really desparate, aren't they?

For those who care, more skaters have announced their withdrawals from Flop!ACI In ice dance: - Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron - Lilah Fear / Lewis Gibson Current state: 9 pairs from 5 countries are left In women: - Satoko Miyahara Current state: 13 skaters from 7 countries are left In men: *Drums roll* - Donovan Carillo Current state: 4 skaters from 2 countries are left. Might as well get all of them on the podium or cancel the men's event already 😂

Georgian Figure Skating Federation's twitter account lists Gubanova as a member of the national team already

Some updates on Team Japan - It's officially confirmed that no JPN skaters will take part in the JGP series due to the quarantine requirements upon returning to Japan. On this note, you have to wonder what will happen to skaters who have to compete abroad and return to Japan right after, like Yuzu. Also, has the ISU prepared for a scenario where skaters have to withdraw from the GP series due to entry restrictions and quarantine upon returning? - Satoko has withdrawn from Autumn Classic. She will be staying in Japan for a little longer. On the same note, no JPN skaters are sent to either Lombardia Trophy or Autumn Classic. On a slightly related note, P/C has withdrawn from ACI as well. I had a feeling more skaters would withdraw before and it turns out my hunch is true. - JSF is planning to send skaters to Asian Open Trophy and several JPN skaters have expressed their interests in attending the event. However, it is not certain if this will happen because a) it's uncertain what Covid prevention measures will be taken by local authorities, also infection rates; and b) JSF is prioritizing participation in the GP. JPN may send skaters to later challenger events but this is also uncertain. - Sota is promoted to Strengthening A category while Miura/Kihara will move to special strengthening. Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2021/09/01/kiji/20210901s00079000454000c.html https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2021/09/01/0014642028.shtml https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2021/09/01/kiji/20210901s00079000449000c.html https://twitter.com/figureskatingm1/status/1432961406593236993

I'm going to do a little summary in the Team Japan thread but it is confirmed JPN skaters will not partake in the JGP series.

So Gubanova is released. Good for her. Now waiting for confirmation that Talalaikina is released too.

Ekaterina Kurakova FP: Charlie Chaplin Medley (recycled the music but with new choreo by Benoit) https://anythinggoe.com/ekaterinakurakovainterview/

https://soranews24.com/2021/08/31/japan-now-has-gyoza-for-athletes-thanks-to-figure-skating-olympian-yuzuru-hanyu-【taste-test】/ Details on Yuzu's Gyoza. So now he is a food scientist too "According to Ajinomoto, Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu was the key to developing dumplings for athletes, after he publicly declared his love of gyoza by saying, “Even if you don’t have an appetite, you can eat gyoza” and “Gyoza increases your energy“. Our reporters may be good at eating gyoza, but they’re not so good at sketching Hanyu, who’s been showered with Winnie the Pooh plushies from fans ever since they noticed him using a Pooh-shaped tissue box at every event" => The Yuzu in question 😅

Nikolaj Majorov (SWE) SP: The Sound of Silence (Recycled) FP: Samurai Theme (Recycled) https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/interviews-fsk/13657-nikolaj-majorov-swe-fights-for-his-olympic-dream?templateParam=15 Josefin Taljegård (SWE) FP: Joker (soundtrack) https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1431430266531295232?s=20

You did? I wish them the floppest year in all their careers.

Morisi KVITELASHVILI (GEO) SP: Tout l'universe by Gjon's Tears. Choreo: Daniil Gleikhengauz FP: Fly Me to the Moon/ My Way/ I'm Gonna Live Till I Die by Frank Sinatra. Choreo: Alexei Zheleznikov http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00034232.htm Olivia SMART/Adrian DIAZ (ESP) RD: Proud Mary by Tina Turner. Choreo: Romain Haguenauer FD: The Mask of Zorro soundtrack: Choreo: Romain Haguenauer http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00101308.htm Vanessa JAMES/Eric RADFORD (CAN) FP: Falling https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1431191445633970181 Roman SADOVSKY (CAN) SP: Breath For Me by Unsecret, ft. Lonas. Choreo: David Wilson http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014082.htm Lilah Fear / Lewis Gibson (GBR) FD: The Lion King https://www.instagram.com/reel/CTDRBbrorzH/?utm_medium=copy_link

So Russian skaters cleared up visa issues already?

Lilah Fear / Lewis Gibson RD: Rock and Roll All Nite https://www.instagram.com/reel/CTAb7BtoYJi/?utm_medium=copy_link Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen RD: Careless Whisper, I Want Your Sex, and Freedom by George Michael FD: A Call to Prayer (Zola Dubnikova), the Last Kingdom (Eivør Pálsdóttir, John Lunn), Skogsraah (Glen Gabriel), ROOTS - The Return to the Inner Temple (Zola Dubnikova & Estas Tonne) - Recycled from last season

Victoria Sinitsina / Nikita Katsalapov RD: You Can Leave Your Hat On/Brick House https://www.championat.com/figureskating/article-4437573-intervyu-aleksandra-zhulina-podgotovka-sinicinoj-i-kacalapova-k-sezonu-vakciny-transgendery-v-figurnom-katanii.html

Yuzu's gyoza becomes a headline

I suspect that more withdrawals will come soon.

Sara Hurtado / Kirill Khaliavin RD: Partition/Mi Gente FD: Since I've Been Loving You/Starway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102241.htm

Trolls are gonna be trolls. Same goes with vile, jealous professionals in the FS world or elsewhere. That's all I have to say. Let them be in their own Lala Land, Never Land, you name it. You gotta need some fantasy to escape from the realness of the real world anyway 😌

So the first four stages don't have JPN skaters. Is JSF going to pull all the juniors out of JGP, I do wonder?