We have six judges joining us for each event! Thanks to all of them for participating during the holiday season. Because of the timing, expect that our rejudging will be available a little bit later than normal.
Here are the judges!
Japanese Nationals
Banana W. (@quadsal)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan, if any. I went to GPF 2015 and kind of cried the entire time. Also, a lady from the JSF laughed really, really hard at me once.
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Akiko Suzuki's career??
Bea (@tweenershots) | You Only Lutz Once
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I co-founded and blog in You Only Lutz Once. I also co-founded Tropical Frost, a fan site dedicated to Michael Christian Martinez (PHI). Outside streaming, I've watched Four Continents in Taipei last season. (I was probably on TV too many times because of the many banners we had, especially that "The CHANpion is Back" banner. This season, I got to watch Asian Open Trophy and got to meet and cheer for many of my favorite skaters.
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Tatsuki Machida's 2014 Worlds free skate
Heidi M. (@heihei_0422)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Casually watched Euros and Worlds as a child, started to follow the sport more actively in late 2011 (why then? no idea) and now I'm at a point where every missed live stream of any A-level competition is A Failure At Life.
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Satoko Miyahara's free skate at 2016 Worlds.
Ioana (@iguana012) | Tumblr
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. My experiences with figure skating have been staying up or waking up at ridiculous hours, arguing with my laptop, growing gray hair watching my faves, but also enjoying beautiful programs, unforgettable performances and making edits and gifs.
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Daisuke Takahashi's Blues For Klook at the 2012 World Championships.
MJ C. (@arabesquing)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan, if any. I can swizzle and stroke around a rink! That's about the best I can do as a skater. :P I've been watching skating since the Sochi Olympics and had the great privilege to attend 2016 Worlds in Boston in person! (And got drunk in the hotel bar while surrounded by skaters, but that's another story.)
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Tatsuki Machida's 2014 Worlds short program should have broken 100.
Spiccine (@Spiccine)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan, if any. I fell in love with figure skating watching Plushenko's Euros 2005 FP on TV. After a few years I decided I absolutely had to learn to skate and now I'm teaching to kids. My fav skaters are Yuzuru and Shoma.
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Misha Ge's programs in general, he deserves higher scores in Interpretation of the music and composition. Also Takahashi's 2012 Worlds FP, but there are so many, especially regarding PCs!
Russian Nationals
J.J. (@RealDetective) | Tumblr
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. One time Meryl Davis told me happy birthday and another time a security guard told me he took a picture of me and Zach Donohue but he unknowingly never actually pressed the button and I didn't want to ask Zach for another picture. It was all very sad. Except for the Meryl part. Which made being old worth it.
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Davis/White 2014 US Nationals Free Dance and let me tell you why, you see one judge (specifically Mary Karen Henderson OF THEIR VERY OWN HOME STATE OF MICHIGAN) thought that they were worthy of only +2 GOE on two elements and had the gall, THE GALL, to give them a 9.75 in one (1) PCS category WHICH IS A FULL STEP LESS THAN WHAT IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE. Sure, these scores are thrown out and Meryl Elizabeth Davis and Chuck White scored the maximum amount of points possible BUT THE PRINCIPLE. The principle. (Don't @ me.)
Kara M. (@NamasteRead)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I took lessons from 13-15, but ended up quitting during Freestyle 1 due to lack of finances and talent (ha!), but I've been a fan of figure skating since Katarina Witt skated at the 88 Olympics. I used to practice jumps in my basement in my socks. Sasha Cohen forever!
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Honestly? Anything Mirai Nagasu does. Until this season anyway. I think the judges have been really unfair to her over the years. Also, Ashley Wagner's short program at the Sochi Olympics. I'll never forget her face in the K&C.
Matthew R. (@mrusskie93)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Never was a skater but have attended three Worlds (2009, 2013, and 2016), and three U.S. Nationals (2006, 2013, 2014).
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Mao Asada's Sochi LP: indisputably the best free skate of the event. More recently, Satoko Miyahara's LP at Skate Canada: lowish PCS and an invalid step sequence seemed like a convenient way to keep her behind Kaetlyn Osmond.
Nori (@NakedIceBlog) | The Naked Ice Blog
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Long time fan, runner of the Naked Ice Blog...and I can stroke around pretty well on ice skates...I can even skate backward (very slowly).
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? It used to be Christina Gao at the 2013 Nationals but I think I'm going with Mao Asada's Sochi FS.
Ryan P. (@jetsfan_85)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I used to compete from ages 15-17 and casually skated for years later. Just got back into it this year (31y.o now). I watch every GP competition of the year as well as Canadian and American Nationals etc.
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Bourne/Kraatz River Dance 1998 Worlds...they should have won gold.
TJ C. (@Tsk8c)
Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I am a current competitor in ice dancing (and a first-time national qualifier!). I'm a huge fan of the sport, but it's not like I have a problem or anything (hehehe...).
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje's FD at the 2014 GP Final.
To keep up with those who have Twitter during the competitions, subscribe to our list and follow The Judges' Table. And check out the updated Judges' Page to quickly find all of our judges online.