Here are the judges for this event in alphabetical order:
Amanda can be found on Twitter and also judging Skate America 2015. Thanks for being the first judge to participate in two events!
Bronwyn can be found video recapping the Grand Prix events at Lutz and Glory, as well as live-tweeting gymnastics, baseball, and skating (sometimes all at the same time) on Twitter.
Lauren can be found on Twitter..."Otherwise I can be found in Starbucks and Luluemon ;)"
Rafael can be found impressing us all with this awesome axel (and on Twitter). (Editor's note: Rafael didn't send this, but it's awesome and needed to be shared.)
Sigrid can be found on Twitter or converting Grand Prix event times for time zones across globe, keeping us all sane.
Find out more about the judges here!
LET'S GET JUDGING. When you're finished reading, leave a comment to let us know what you thought about Skate Canada, how you think the real judges did, and how you think our judges did. If you disagree, sign up to judge an event later in the year and share your thoughts!
Bronwyn: I watched the ladies SP, and most of the LPs except pairs.
Lauren: I watched all the free skates while getting out CHRISTMAS decorations on Halloween. Missed the short dance and the first half of the ladies short commuting.
Rafael: All of it! (Just not all live)
Sigrid: All of it
Ashley's short gets the honorable mention here. As someone who once lamented her rise to the top of the US ladies, I have become a fan in the past couple of years thanks to her maturity on the ice. I think once she broke out of the pretty princess packaging that US ladies all seem to try to fit into, her personality shone through and helped strengthen her skating. This samba short is the perfect vehicle for her and could even help her take home a medal at Worlds.
Well, Kirsten should feel great. Michael should be sitting in the corner.
Bronwyn: Ashley Wagner. She's going to be looking for a Grand Prix Final spot at her next event, NHK Trophy. The only problem? The NHK Trophy is absolutely STACKED: Mao Asada, Satoko Miyahara, Anna Pogorilaya, and Zijun Li are just some of the names competing there. I think Ashley can podium, but if she falters, there will absolutely be people waiting in the wings to snatch her spot.
Lauren: I think Tukt has a lot to lose at her next event. The Russian ladies field reminds me a lot of the American gymnastics field- the depth is such that you're only as good as your last competition. And, well, losing to Ashley Wagner by fourteen points really wasn't a good competition for the world champ. She faces Gracie at Bompard- losing to another American would kill her momentum going into the Final and the later part of the season. It's not quite time to press the panic button but she needs to reassert herself in France.
Rafael: Kaetlyn Osmond could really set herself back if she doesn't pull everything together at her next event. Whether that means sitting out her next GP assignment in order to let her ankle heal, or just pulling through and delivering the performances she's capable of, I don't know. But after a year off the scene, it's never a good thing to have 7 total falls in your first major international event. Hopefully Kaetlyn and her team make the best decision because she has so much potential, and it would be such a shame if her career is cut short due to injuries.
Sigrid: I'm afraid that one would be Daisuke Murakami. He skated brilliantly here but had to face the current Gold and Silver Olympic medalists. He got 11 valuable points for the GPF but in his next event, TEB, he has to face Patrick Chan, Max Aaron, Shoma Uno and Maxim Kovtun. I believe he has enough level to medal in France, but he'll have to fight a lot if he wants to make the GPF.
Bronwyn: The Shibutanis will beat Chock and Bates at Nationals this year.
Lauren: Our long national nightmare of US ladies missing the podium will come to an end when BOTH Gracie and Ashley get their heads in the game, capitalize on errors from other major contenders and stand on the medal podium in Boston. I will cry enough tears to fill the Charles River and Phil Hersh will tell us he predicted this all along. Whatever Phil, we have the receipts.
*This prediction is not only bold, it is very wishful. I grew up in the 90s, I knew nothing other than US ladies dominating. We cannot be out of the medals at a home Worlds. It simply cannot happen.
Rafael: Bold prediction: the Shibutanis finally surpass Chock and Bates at either the Grand Prix Final or Four Continents. Then they take that momentum and win their first National Championship and have the highest finish from the US dance teams at Worlds. (This really shouldn't be *that* bold of a prediction, as the Shibutanis are truly spectacular, but considering the kinds of scores these two teams have been getting the past couple of years, it's pretty out there.)
Sigrid: Daniel Samohin from Israel will medal at Euros. Stolbova/Klimov won't make the Euros team and will split up at the end of the season. Gracie Gold will dye her hair red.
Bronwyn: Patrick Chan looked like he wore his practice clothes in the long.
Lauren: Marissa Castelli has consistently had great costumes and packaging for years. She made an Avatar costume work for God's sake. But she really brought it to a new level at Skate Canada. The gold short program dress is exquisite, the matching hairpiece is perfection and the red Journey dress could not be any more on point. And Ashley borrowed an old Marissa dress for the short, which may have been my favorite Ashley look ever. Marissa, I bow down. And if you're ever in New York City, let's go shopping. And maybe have a lip liner tutorial.
Rafael: Best dressed for me goes to Adam Rippon in the short program. Everything about that costume worked for him. Just yes. Plus the new hair is giving me a lot of life even though I was super skeptical when I heard he'd gone grey/lavender/whatever color you want to call that.
Honorable mention goes to the fans who dressed up for the free skates. The Waldos would have won, but then Yuzuru's fans brought out the Pooh onesies and you can't really beat that. (Editor's note: please forward a picture of the Pooh onesies if you've seen one or have one!)
Sigrid: Yuka Nagai wins the award to the best dressed in this competition. Both of her costumes go very well with the music and accent her beautiful skating. On the other hand, Patrick Chan looked like he forgot his costumes at home.
Amanda: Bow down to the queen, Ashley Wagner.
Bronwyn: Thank you so much for having me on The Judges' Table! (Editor's note: you're welcome! I hope you come back! =]) This was definitely one of the better events I've seen in a long time.
Lauren: I hope Kaetlyn Osmond gets the rest and recovery she clearly needs. Her La Vie en Rose short program is so SO charming and I hope to see it skated clean at Worlds.
Polina, it's time to listen to what the judges are telling you. Karen Chen is not age ineligible this year, Mirai is getting stronger and you are not a lock for Worlds. And get rid of the bow. Just right now, today, get rid of the bow.
Rafael: Just want to send best wishes to Ondrej Hotarek for a speedy recovery from a crash on a triple twist in practice. He and Valentina Marchei are looking quite good for a relatively new team, and considering that Valentina only really has one year of pairs experience, this is definitely a team to watch.
Sigrid: Skate Canada seems to have improved their Kiss and Cry decoration but they're still miles away from events like NHK. Work on that, guys!
What did you think about Skate Canada 2015? How did our judges do? Leave us a comment to let us know, then sign up to judge a future event!