Scattered notes on the Nebelhorn Trophy

During the three days of Oberstdorf, hosted, as usual dall'Eislaufzentrum, there have been performance of thick and new names have been brought to the attention of the general public. The first mention of it is necessarily the pair of Russian artistic composed by Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov. The World Champions in office have revealed overwhelming power to technical / artistic, which has already alerted the other contenders for the Olympic title. On this occasion, pupils Nina Mozer they score above even conceivable proving to not have left no stone unturned in view of the World in five circles of the house. Unfortunately, the precepts imposed by the International Federation will ensure that the results obtained in the Nebelhorn have no value as a world record, but, in all honesty, in contrast to what happens in other events of the second level, nothing has been inflated with art and the present value of Volosozhar / Trannkov really corresponds to the more than 230 points scored in Oberstdorf. The only slight doubt about the choice of music in the free program, which, however, is counterbalanced by a short stun beauty. Of course, it was not to be less than the Japanese Nobunari Oda, winner of the men's competition for dispersion. The twenty-six of Osaka, every problem permanently stored outside the ice seems to be back to better days, ready to point to the most prestigious goals proposed by the current season. From the meeting with Lori Nichol were born two programs from the amazing choreography, both made to measure on his skating style. In addition, the newfound mastery of the quad, well completed in both segments of the race, could become a key weapon in securing the quantum leap necessary to face on equal footing with nationals Takahashi, Hanyu and Kozuka. On the lowest rung of the podium virtual arises necessarily the fourteen year old Russian Elena Radionova, immediately winning the international debut in the senior category. The junior champion rainbow tumbler has a technical background with few equals and, if it can overcome setbacks without the tricky stage of physical growth, is likely to become the athlete to beat for several years. Spinning inverted part, already entered them among the best of all time, what is most striking is the ease with which fails to complete triple jumps, often in combination, even after minutes of the race. In addition, compared to peers seems decidedly more mature and self-assured enough to take the license to blink without worries judges and audience. It is probably not yet ready to compete on equal terms with the athletes get on the podium of the last World Cup, but from all the fact of not having to face in the next Olympic Games will be greeted with a sigh of relief. One of the main reasons for the interest of the German event, it was without a doubt the return of the bi-race world champion Miki Ando, ​​who was absent from competition by thirty months. The Japanese veteran has on the whole aroused un'impressone favorable presenting a short program well choreographed and unchallenged potential. The free, however, beyond some justifiable deburring, was less addictive and above all very educational in several steps. Of course, the new mother will work hard to refine the programs and take off permanently off the rust of many months of inactivity, but only eighty days from the separate decisive National leagues and appears much work to do. In particular, it will be immediately required a careful review of existing elements as a spinning top, in the light of the competition qualified housewife, can not afford the luxury of leaving serious points on the plate. At this time, Mao Asada, Akiko Suzuki, Kanako Murakami, and perhaps also the small Satoko Miyahara start from a position of advantage, but the role of phoenix seems to best fit the twenty-five in Nagoya and therefore would not raise crabs surprise to see her excel in Saitama , where a few days before Christmas, will be the three places up for grabs for Sochi. The Nebelhorn has also established the triumph of the policy of expansion structured by the ISU in the last decade. Athletes from four continents have taken advantage of the opportunity to give to the nation to which they belong Olympic participation and countries such as Brazil and the Philippines have definitely got the "right of citizenship" to the detriment of reality holders such as Finland and Switzerland, which will be clear spectators in Sochi. In particular, the fight turned out to be uncertain and tight in all disciplines, and within four years, the average has soared so much that the score needed to reach the goal you are extremely soared. The budget blue can only be regarded as positive, albeit with some heartache too, Paul Bonifacio Parkinson Italy has ensured the presence in the men's Olympic race. So, as was the case four years ago in Vancouver, each specialty will be committed at least one skater flying the Italian flag with a lot of presence already guaranteed in the new team trials. The hard part is yet to come, however, and by the end of the year you will have to determine on which skaters aim for Sochi. In this regard, not all the choices seem obvious, but there will be opportunities to explore the topic. Finally Mention Olga Bestandigova and Ilhan Mansiz, a pair of Turkish art which must be acknowledged to have reached astonishing levels in a short time. Avoid the last place it was inevitable and the Olympic dream is gone immediately. However, the performance was more than decent and there was no insider who has not complimented with the former striker of Turkish, courageous in head-a discipline of such complexity that need preparation of a base to be built in many years.