22 Dec 2007
Friday, 28 December 2007
Tuesday, 25 December 2007
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Newspaper articles SM 2008 (Finnish Nationals)
Satakunnan Kansa
29 Nov 2007
Satakunnan Kansa
08 Dec 2007
Aamulehti
09 Dec 2007
Kainuun Sanomat
09 Dec 2007
Satakunnan Kansa
09 Dec 2007
Aamulehti
10 Dec 2007
Satakunnan Kansa
10 Dec 2007
29 Nov 2007
Satakunnan Kansa
08 Dec 2007
Aamulehti
09 Dec 2007
Kainuun Sanomat
09 Dec 2007
Satakunnan Kansa
09 Dec 2007
Aamulehti
10 Dec 2007
Satakunnan Kansa
10 Dec 2007
Monday, 10 December 2007
The good, the bad, the ugly?
Let's start with the bad: no European Championships for Susanna. Based on the total scores this year Susanna is placed fourth and with only three spots up for grabs she is out of it. So Team Suomi for Euro 2008 would be Laura Lepistö, Kiira Korpi and Jenni Vähämaa. So far the bad, now the ugly: no euros, if I recall correctly from last year, also means no World Championships as the best two of the European Championship will be selected for the worlds. Again, if I recall correctly that is.
To sum it up: I have no business being there in either Zagreb or Gothenburg haha ...
But to end on a positive note a great montage video was just send in by Katinka so enjoy is all I can say: the good.
Glasgow Love Theme
To sum it up: I have no business being there in either Zagreb or Gothenburg haha ...
But to end on a positive note a great montage video was just send in by Katinka so enjoy is all I can say: the good.
Glasgow Love Theme
Sunday, 9 December 2007
SM 2008
Time to catch up on recent events, most notably the Finnish Nationals ofcourse.
Earlier in the week on december 6th it was Finnish Independance Day and both Susanna and Kiira were invited to the traditional Independance Day Reception at the Presidential Palace ...
Three days later both were beaten to the crown by Laura Lepistö, coincidence or not? Probably not as Kiira Korpi led all skaters after the short program with a new personal best score of 64.20! (previously 58.22) Second on the day was Laura Lepistö with 59.02 followed by Susanna's 56.00. Which is close to her PB so not bad at all and a new PB would have been needed to climb up the rankings today.
On to the second day, free skate. Based on a short video clip I would say Lepistö is the only one of the top three to skate an error-free program as Kiira Korpi singled a jump and Susanna fell hard after one of her jumps. Laura Lepistö scored a 105.74, a massive 14.64 points higher than her previous free skate PB earlier last month at the NHK Trophy (91.10). Kiira Korpi scored a 100.20 just 1.54 short of her PB giving her a total score of 164.40 leaving her the tiniest of margins (0.36) behind Laura Lepistö the new Finnish Champion with a total of 164.76, also a new personal best! Susanna finished third both overall and in the free skate with a 91.35 (including a 2.00 point deduction) free skate and a 147.35 total score. Again well under her PB's but as long as something positive can be gained from it on the way to Vancouver 2010 it may not seem so bad in a few years time.
All in all a thoroughly deserved crown for Laura Lepistö who even manages to exceed my own high expectations of her this year ... so congratulations Laura!
Earlier in the week on december 6th it was Finnish Independance Day and both Susanna and Kiira were invited to the traditional Independance Day Reception at the Presidential Palace ...
Three days later both were beaten to the crown by Laura Lepistö, coincidence or not? Probably not as Kiira Korpi led all skaters after the short program with a new personal best score of 64.20! (previously 58.22) Second on the day was Laura Lepistö with 59.02 followed by Susanna's 56.00. Which is close to her PB so not bad at all and a new PB would have been needed to climb up the rankings today.
On to the second day, free skate. Based on a short video clip I would say Lepistö is the only one of the top three to skate an error-free program as Kiira Korpi singled a jump and Susanna fell hard after one of her jumps. Laura Lepistö scored a 105.74, a massive 14.64 points higher than her previous free skate PB earlier last month at the NHK Trophy (91.10). Kiira Korpi scored a 100.20 just 1.54 short of her PB giving her a total score of 164.40 leaving her the tiniest of margins (0.36) behind Laura Lepistö the new Finnish Champion with a total of 164.76, also a new personal best! Susanna finished third both overall and in the free skate with a 91.35 (including a 2.00 point deduction) free skate and a 147.35 total score. Again well under her PB's but as long as something positive can be gained from it on the way to Vancouver 2010 it may not seem so bad in a few years time.
All in all a thoroughly deserved crown for Laura Lepistö who even manages to exceed my own high expectations of her this year ... so congratulations Laura!
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Susanna out, Laura in
No trip to Japan for Susanna this year as she is forced to pull out of the NHK Trophy due to injury (which sadly enough means no supervideos this time around ... hmph).
Replacing Susanna will be fellow Finn Laura Lepistö who skated to a 7th place finnish at this year's HomeSense Skate Canada while leading after the short program. Up next:
8-9 December 2007: Finnish Nationals 2007
Replacing Susanna will be fellow Finn Laura Lepistö who skated to a 7th place finnish at this year's HomeSense Skate Canada while leading after the short program. Up next:
8-9 December 2007: Finnish Nationals 2007
Sunday, 25 November 2007
Cup of Russia
Aamulehti
23 Nov 2007
Aamulehti
24 Nov 2007
Aamulehti
25 Nov 2007
Kainuun Sanomat
25 Nov 2007
Lapin Kansa
25 Nov 2007
23 Nov 2007
Aamulehti
24 Nov 2007
Aamulehti
25 Nov 2007
Kainuun Sanomat
25 Nov 2007
Lapin Kansa
25 Nov 2007
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Cup of China: opportunity wasted ...
8-11 November 2007: Cup of China 2007
The first Grand Prix for Pöykiö in Harbin, China. Let's see what the ISU press release contained:
Preview
Reigning World bronze medalist Yu-Na Kim of Korea and European Champion Carolina Kostner of Italy headline the Ladies’ event in Harbin and compete in their first Grand Prix event this season. 2007 World Junior Champion Caroline Zhang (USA), who took the bronze medal at Skate America is hoping for another podium finish in China. Competition should come from 2005 European silver medalist Susanna Pöykiö (FIN), 2006 World silver medalist Fumie Suguri (JPN) and 2004 European Champion Julia Sebestyen (HUN). Also competing are Binshu Xu (CHN), Arina Martynova (RUS), Alissa Czisny and Beatrisa Liang (USA)
So six names expected to compete for the podium with two obvious favorites: Yu-Na Kim and Carolina Kostner.
ISU press release after day 1:
Day one
Ladies, Short Program
European Champion Carolina Kostner of Italy grabbed the Ladies’ Short Program ahead of Caroline Zhang (USA) and Yu-Na Kim (KOR).
...
Defending Cup of China Champion Julia Sebestyen (HUN) is sitting in fourth with 55.46 points. She nailed a triple flip and double Axel and showed strong spins, but her triple Lutz (in combination with double toe) was under rotated and downgraded. Alissa Czisny (USA) stumbled badly on a triple Lutz attempt, but showed strong spins, a double Axel and a triple flip-double to finish fifth (51.08 points). Susanna Pöykiö (FIN) was sixth at 48.48 points. Her program contained a triple flip-double toe and a double Axel, but she doubled her Lutz.
So above expectations: Alissa Czisny; below expectations: Fumi Suguri. And Pöykiö still in the top six but not really in the mix for a podium finish and the (big) prize money that comes with it which coming from a relative small skating nation is always useful. So on to the conclusion:
Day three
Ladies, Free Skating
The Ladies opened today’s competition in the Harbin Conference Exhibition and Sport Center with the Free Skating. Yu-Na Kim of Korea claimed the gold medal. Caroline Zhang (USA) took the silver and the bronze went to Italy’s Carolina Kostner.
...
No mention of Susanna as she finished eighth, out of any prize money, where her personal best would've been good for a second place finish ($13,000), twenty points below her PB would've meant a third place finish ($9,000)! Anyway, had a feeling it wouldn't be the best of results so haven't seen more than the first few seconds of the short program (watch it below). Let's hope for better things to come and some Kwun fighting spirit!
The first Grand Prix for Pöykiö in Harbin, China. Let's see what the ISU press release contained:
Preview
Reigning World bronze medalist Yu-Na Kim of Korea and European Champion Carolina Kostner of Italy headline the Ladies’ event in Harbin and compete in their first Grand Prix event this season. 2007 World Junior Champion Caroline Zhang (USA), who took the bronze medal at Skate America is hoping for another podium finish in China. Competition should come from 2005 European silver medalist Susanna Pöykiö (FIN), 2006 World silver medalist Fumie Suguri (JPN) and 2004 European Champion Julia Sebestyen (HUN). Also competing are Binshu Xu (CHN), Arina Martynova (RUS), Alissa Czisny and Beatrisa Liang (USA)
So six names expected to compete for the podium with two obvious favorites: Yu-Na Kim and Carolina Kostner.
ISU press release after day 1:
Day one
Ladies, Short Program
European Champion Carolina Kostner of Italy grabbed the Ladies’ Short Program ahead of Caroline Zhang (USA) and Yu-Na Kim (KOR).
...
Defending Cup of China Champion Julia Sebestyen (HUN) is sitting in fourth with 55.46 points. She nailed a triple flip and double Axel and showed strong spins, but her triple Lutz (in combination with double toe) was under rotated and downgraded. Alissa Czisny (USA) stumbled badly on a triple Lutz attempt, but showed strong spins, a double Axel and a triple flip-double to finish fifth (51.08 points). Susanna Pöykiö (FIN) was sixth at 48.48 points. Her program contained a triple flip-double toe and a double Axel, but she doubled her Lutz.
So above expectations: Alissa Czisny; below expectations: Fumi Suguri. And Pöykiö still in the top six but not really in the mix for a podium finish and the (big) prize money that comes with it which coming from a relative small skating nation is always useful. So on to the conclusion:
Day three
Ladies, Free Skating
The Ladies opened today’s competition in the Harbin Conference Exhibition and Sport Center with the Free Skating. Yu-Na Kim of Korea claimed the gold medal. Caroline Zhang (USA) took the silver and the bronze went to Italy’s Carolina Kostner.
...
No mention of Susanna as she finished eighth, out of any prize money, where her personal best would've been good for a second place finish ($13,000), twenty points below her PB would've meant a third place finish ($9,000)! Anyway, had a feeling it wouldn't be the best of results so haven't seen more than the first few seconds of the short program (watch it below). Let's hope for better things to come and some Kwun fighting spirit!
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Sunday, 14 October 2007
And ... we're underway!
12-14 October 2007: Finlandia Trophy 2007
Kicking of the season with the Finlandia Trophy here are Susanna's two new programs courtesy of Hanna.
New short program:
And new free skate:
Short Program (3) : 54.40 (29.48 + 24.92 - 0.00)
Free Skating (2) : 107.86 (54.18 + 53.68 - 0.00)
Overall (2) : 162.26
Kicking of the season with the Finlandia Trophy here are Susanna's two new programs courtesy of Hanna.
New short program:
And new free skate:
Short Program (3) : 54.40 (29.48 + 24.92 - 0.00)
Free Skating (2) : 107.86 (54.18 + 53.68 - 0.00)
Overall (2) : 162.26
Sunday, 23 September 2007
More goodies
Just the one this time ...
Also check the bottom of the page for some great quality videos! Available for download as well ...
Also check the bottom of the page for some great quality videos! Available for download as well ...
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
New dress
A first glimpse of the new season: Susanna's new dress for her short program!
Photo courtesy of Ritti ©
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