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Powering into the senior ranks

16/2/2015

 

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OWIA Figure Skater Kailani Craine came up with the goods again in the final at the Four Continents Championships in Seoul last night, placing 12th overall in her first ISU Championship event with score of 142.16.

Her final free program at the prestigious championship event included six triple jumps, two double axels and all Level 4 spins, earning her 94.25points in a world-class field that saw Polina Edmunds from USA win the title with 184.02 points followed by Satoko Miyahara and Rika Hongo from Japan. 

Hailed as the new kid on the block - Kailani’s style, maturity and showmanship impressed ISU officials enough to be invited to skate in the gala later that evening. In true Aussie style, Kailani kissed a giant blow-up kangaroo for the cameras before entertaining the crowd with more of the attacking style that she has quickly become known for since starting out in the lower junior competition less than two and a half years ago.

“I was extremely proud of my performance, achieving what I set out to do,” she said.

“One of the highlights of my career was the honour of being selected to skate the exhibition gala, where I made lots of new friendships,” she said.

“The support from back home is humbling and I want you all to know that I will work extremely hard to make everyone proud.”

“This is going to be a great year. I’m looking forward to my next event, the Junior World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, in March.”

In September last year Kailani won the Junior Lombardia Trophy in Italy and backed it up with a silver in her first-ever senior event last month at the Mentor Nestle Cup in Poland.  

That the youngster, who has 19.5k followers on Instagram, has made an incredible impact in such a short time is not surprising to the figure skating community who have watched her rapid rise through the ranks.

“Kailani is a true Inspiration to all who know her on and off the ice. What a fantastic start to the season,” said Vancouver Olympic coach, Kylie Fennell.

Legendary US coach Christa Fassi of Olympic Gold Medallists Dorothy Hamill, John Curry and Robin Cousins works with Kailani in Los Angeles along with Tiffany Chin. Mrs Fassi congratulated the young star on facebook saying “Great performance, congrats Kailani.”

Parents Stephen and Katrina, who travelled to Seoul with Kailani and her coach, George Galanis said they are thrilled.  

“We always tell Kailani to go out and give a good show. It was an awesome finish to the Four Continents Championships tonight in South Korea. We are very proud,” they said.

Kailani says she will be looking for selection to the World Championships, but the next stop is the Junior World titles in Tallinn, Estonia in early March.

Also competing for Australia was 2014 Sochi Olympian, Brooklee Han. Han finished the free program in 17th place, an improvement from her short program where she was ranked 18th.


Kazakhstan’s Ten lands in first

15/2/2015

 
Sochi bronze medallist, Denis Ten backed up his superb short program with a fighting free skate last night to win the 2015 Four Continents Championship in Soeul, Korea.

Landing two quads, one in combination, Ten never gave up his quest for a first ISU Championship gold packing in another seven triple jumps inter-laced with outstanding spins in another wonderfully choreographed program to Yo Yo Ma and Silk Road Ensemble’s Ambush from Ten Sides for Pippa.

His total score of 289.46 eclipsed USA’s Joshua Farris on 260.01 and China’s Han Yan of 259.47. All three men landed quads, in a strong signal that there is no room for less on any men’s championship podium.

Ten was the silver medallist in the 2014 World Championships but he has never won a senior ISU Grand Prix event, having only picked up one bronze medal at last year’s Trophee Bompard in France since starting on the circuit in 2009.    

Six of the top seven men either landed or were credited with a quad jump. Australia’s Brendan Kerry was the only other competitor to cleanly land a quad but too many other costly errors placed him 18th in the free skate and 17th overall. 

"I was really happy with the quads, landing the salchow in the free and the toe-loop in the short, in the same competition. The spins in the free tonight were good. I want to focus now on doing complete programs. I fought to the end tonight and need to improve the easier elements in my program," Brendan said.

Reverting to his free program from the 2014 season the centre section was lacking speed but his confidence has grown during the season.

"Brendan approached this event with the right attitude. He nailed his quads, which is great. The next step is performing two strong programs at Worlds. He practiced great all week, and with the confidence, of the quads in the performance, he is ready to show great programs next month,” said coach Justin Dillon.

The World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Shanghai from March 23 to 29.

Kailani’s stunning 12th place debut 

14/2/2015

 

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16-year-old OWIA figure skater, Kailani Craine brought an A game to her first senior ISU championship in Seoul last night, placing 12th with a stellar performance in the short program that included a triple lutz and three Level 4 spins.

The Four Continents Championship attracts the best from Japan, USA, Canada, China, South America and South East Asia prior to the World Championships in Shanghai next month.

Kailani’s stunning debut showcased her exuberant flair and crowd-pleasing presentation that was not lost on the judging panel, even though she skated second in the 19-strong field.

As a previously unranked world skater, Kailani was determined to prove she had the goods to step up from the junior ranks with a new maturity and increased speed that opened with a triple lutz. She backed up with a triple loop combination, double axel and three high-scoring spins in the 2.50minute program to Flamenco Fire.  

“I was very excited to be skating against some the world’s highest ranked skaters in a major senior championship event,” Kailani said. “There were some minor mistakes but overall I am happy with what I was able to put out.”

“I am very grateful to have a supportive crowd and I enjoyed performing for them and for those watching live back home in Australia.”

“Most of all, I gained experience and knowledge in a high pressured senior championship event that will help me in the future and I hope to produce a solid performance in the free skate tomorrow.”

Leading the short program is 16-year-old Satoko Miyahara from Japan on 64.84, Gracie Gold from USA in second with 62.67 points and Rika Hongo placing third on 61.28.

Sochi Olympian Brooklee Han had a rough night, turning out of her opening triple toe and falling on the triple loop later in the program, finishing with 40.68 points and placing 18th.

The free program on Sunday afternoon will determine the final standings.  


Quads rule and Kerry is in the mix

13/2/2015

 
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Of the 26 men competing in the Short Program at the ISU Four Continents Championship in Seoul last night, only four have been credited with a cleanly landed quad jump, one of which is Australian Champion and Sochi Olympian, Brendan Kerry.

Kazakhstan’s Denis Ten, and Sochi bronze medallist, delivered a powerful, yet sublimely beautiful and masterful performance in which he landed a flawless quad toe-loop, triple axel and triple/triple combination to lead the field with a stunning 97.61 points.

That score will send shivers down the back of Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu, who is the only major name missing from this Four Continents Championship and also the European skaters, who will have to find something special in the upcoming World Championships next month.

Japan’s 17-year-old sensation Shoma Uno was also impressive with a clean program, including a quad toe and scoring 88.90. Currently in 3rd is China’s Han Yan on 87.34 who fumbled his quad landing.

The only other two quad jumps landed in one of the hottest fields assembled for this Championship were from Daisuke Murakami (JPN) and Australia’s Brendan Kerry who ended in 16th place with 63.23 points after failing to take off for the required jump combination. The mistake cost him about 10 points and a result in the top ten. 

"I was really happy with the quad, and the triple axel,” Brendan said after the event. “The combo was a fluke mistake, but overall I was pleased with the skate and particularly the performance score (PCS). Because I am well trained for this event, I was able to skate tonight, have fun, and enjoy the performance."

Coach Justin Dillon, who works with head coach Tammy Gambill and Brendan in Los Angeles says that a top 12 finish is not out of the question.

"Doing the quad in the short was a huge accomplishment. This is his first quad in an ISU championship event and I am sure he is happy with this achievement,” said Justin.

“Tammy has been training Brendan really well this season and that has showed here in Korea. Brendan has been strong in every practice. Except for the trip tonight he had a great short program. I am looking forward to Brendan performing a good free program in the final on Saturday night and continuing to show his progress."

OWIA Figure Skating Coordinator, Belinda Noonan said the event was world class and that Brendan was now in the mix. 

“It is such a hot field. There is no room for mistakes and any error that is made sees the technical score tumble south at a fast pace,” Noonan explained.

“Missing the triple lutz combo hurt Brendan’s score and place going into the free program but he is on the up, more confident and nailed that quad and triple axel.”

“Brendan is definitely more comfortable in the big events. That showed. His performance value and expression has lifted a few notches, and likewise so did the components score,” Noonan said.  “It is very tight from 10th place and the free program will be a pressure cooker.”

The US number one and two men failed to deliver their jumps and paid dearly. US Champion Jason Brown was attempting a quad toe jump for the first time, but it was clearly under-rotated and two-footed. US silver medallist Adam Rippon was also in nightmare valley with under-rotations called for his quad and triple combo.

Team-mate Joshua Farris, who didn’t attempt a quad, skated clean and finds himself sitting in 5th place running into the free program.  

Australia’s other men’s entrant Andrew Dodds scored 46.91 and will not advance to the final.

The Ladies event short program starts tonight with Australian Champion Kailani Craine and Sochi Olympian Brooklee Han among the 19 competitors. 

Photo:  OWIA athlete and Australian Figure Champion, Brendan Kerry in Seoul with coach Justin Dillon. 



Kerry 16th after Four Continents Short Program

12/2/2015

 
OWIA Figure Skating Athlete Brendan Kerry has finished the opening short program in 16th place at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Seoul, Korea.

Leading the event was Denis Ten of Kazakhstan, with Japanese athlete Shoma Uno in second and Han Yan of China in third.

Shortly after competing, Kerry reflected on his performance.

"I was really happy with the Quad, and the Axel. The combo was a fluke mistake, but overall was pleased with the PCS, and performance.

"Because I am well trained for this event, I was able to skate tonight, have fun, and enjoy the performance."

Kerry's coach, Justin Dillon was happy with his athletes performance.

"Doing the quad tonight, was a huge accomplishment.

"This is his first quad, in a Championship event, and I am sure he is happy with this achievement."

"Tammy has been training Brendan really well this season, and that has showed here, in Korea, because he has been strong, in every practice, and except for the trip tonight, had a great short program.

"I am looking forward to Brendan performing a good long program, and continuing to show his progress."

Also competing for Australia was Andrew Dodds, who finished in 25th place, unfortunately missing out on qualifying for the free program by one place.

Kerry will now compete in the free program on Saturday night Australian time.

Kailani Craine and Brooklee Han will be in action on Friday night Australian time in the ladies short program.

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