Four Continents champion Adam Rippon and Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette kickstarted their seasons this weekend with convincing victories at the Japan Open. But their victories for Team North America were not enough to defeat Team Japan, who narrowly took the overall team title by less than a quarter of a point. Skaters at the Japan Open compete in the free skate only, with their scores totaled for the team’s final score.
Rippon followed his breakout season with an early sign that he will be a contender for the podium at this year’s Worlds, defeating both the reigning world champion and reigning Olympic silver medalist. With a clean eight-triple effort, he set an early standard for the season, scoring a 166.63 and smashing his personal best free skate score by over ten points.
World champion Daisuke Takahashi took second with the only clean quad in the event. Last season’s Olympic silver medalist Evgeni Plushenko was third with a seven-triple program, but low levels on his non-jump elements cost him a chance to score higher.
Rochette is once again starting off her season well, repeating her win at last year’s Japan Open with a six-triple program that earned her a 122.71. 2007 World champion Miki Ando had a fall on her second triple lutz, but was strong enough to take second. Still early in the season, Rochette and Ando were the only ladies to score in the triple digits. Canadian silver medalist Cynthia Phaneuf was third.
MEN (final standings)
1. Adam Rippon USA – 166.63
2. Daisuke Takahashi JPN – 159.19
3. Evgeni Plushenko RUS – 151.00
4. Takahiko Kozuka JPN – 150.71
5. Michal Brezina CZE – 134.90
6. Jeffrey Buttle CAN – 128.39
LADIES (final standings)
1. Joannie Rochette CAN – 122.71
2. Miki Ando JPN – 115.02
3. Cynthia Phaneuf CAN – 99.50
4. Sarah Meier SUI – 92.73
5. Mao Asada JPN – 92.44
6. Julia Sebestyen HUN – 81.48
TEAM (final standings)
1. Team Japan – 517.36
2. Team North America – 517.23
3. Team Europe – 460.11
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Comments
rippon said he had a quad but I guess that was not true
Rippon seems to be prepping his jumping passes for the inclusion of the quad. His second pass at the Japan Open was a double axel.
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