by Fran Buhman
Edit note: This is a phone report that Fran called in to Christie
Short Programs
The order after the SP is:
1) Alexei Yagudin
2) Todd Eldredge
3) Ilia Kulik
4) Stephen Cousins
Todd skated his new SP to music from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and according to Fran it was a wonderful program and had even more "attitude" than Walk on the Wild Side from a few years ago. He wore his costume from New York/New York.
Todd was clean with a triple axel/triple toe loop combination, but the landing of the toe loop was a little bit shakey. He landed a double axel and a triple lutz out of footwork, which he almost ran out of room to land he was so close to the boards.
Fran reports that Richard claimed that these were not the elements planned for the whole year. And that Todd still needs to get a little more comfortable with the new program to really present it. But the audience loved it.
Alexei Yagudin skated flawlessly with a quad toe loop/triple toe loop combination and clean triple lutz and triple axel.
Ilia Kulik had great footwork, but his jumps were a 2-footed triple toe loop, triple axel, and triple flip. The triple toe loop was reportedly planned as a quad toe loop combination.
Steven Cousins has apparently been suffering back spasms and had jump problems. He fell on a triple axel attempt and doubled a flip. But he wore a "lovely shirt".
Interpretive Frees
Well it is all over and Todd finished in 2nd place this time. But Todd skated well.
Interpretive Free/Final Result
1) Alexei Yagudin
2) Todd Eldredge
3) Ilia Kulik
4) Steven Cousins
Todd skated to "1492" and landed a triple axel, a second triple axel in combination with a double toe loop, a triple lutz that was described as "iffy, almost turnout, sort of clean", and a triple toe loop.
Fran said that Todd seemed pleased with the way he skated, even though he didn't win this time.
Alexei Yagudin skated a watered down version of his "Man in the Iron Mask" long program. The program was described to me as having horrible editing, Gladiator footwork, and an odd costume with gloves and a mask around his torso. But Alexei landed two triple axels (one in combination), a quad toe loop, and the third triple was thought to be a loop. So the win was deserved.
Ilia Kulik basically skated his "Rock It" choreography to some other music and didn't even attempt much more than the triple axel and triple toe loop that he landed.
Steven Cousins really sold his "Belfast Child" program, but because of the lesser jumps was placed behind Kulik.
The Finnish judge put Kulik in 2nd and Todd in 3rd, which those in attendance really didn't agree with.
-Fran
