Five stand-out skaters from Liberty

The Liberty summer competition in Aston, Pennsylvania has become an annual event for some of the world's elite skaters to test new material before the fall international season begins. 

Here are five stand-out skaters from this year's competition:

Patrick Chan

The two-time world silver medalist accomplished a major first at Liberty - first quad landed in competition.

In the debut of his new short program to "Take Five," Chan opened with an effortless quad toe.

He intended to add the element last season, but a series of injuries and illnesses prevented him from competing the quad in the Olympic season.

Now, with the jump planned in both programs, Chan could be difficult to beat. His ability to weave through a charismatic short program and re-choreographed free skate make a complex scoring system seem simple. Throw in a quad and Chan is in a class with few others.

Ashley Wagner

Wagner debuted a new short program set to Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir." The 2010 U.S. bronze medalist completed a triple flip - double toe combination, but was most excited about landing her triple Lutz.

In past seasons, Wagner was victim to deductions for an incorrect entry-edge. She spent the "off-season" re-learning the Lutz in order to correct her take-off edge.

It appears the hard work paid off, as she did not receive the deduction at Liberty.

With improved technique on the Lutz and a planned triple-triple in the short program, Wagner joins a strong field of U.S. ladies set to compete in the Grand Prix series this fall.

Keegan Messing

The 18-year-old from Alaska created a lot of buzz around his two performances at Liberty, highlighted by soaring triple Axels and fast spins.

Messing attempted a quad toe in the free skate, and even though he fell, the jump was fully rotated. His technical plan for the free skate is on par with the best in the world - a quad, two triple Axel's, and a triple-triple.

While he will compete on the Junior Grand Prix internationally, Messing will return to senior for nationals where he will likely improve upon his ninth place finish from 2010.

Agnes Zawadzki

The 2010 U.S. junior champ proved she's more than ready to make the jump to senior. The 15-year-old showed maturity in both programs to compliment impressive triple jumps and improved spins.

Zawadzki makes her senior Grand Prix debut at Skate Canada and might surprise there. Her speed across the ice and triple-triple in the short program could put her in contention for a medal.

Ross Miner

The 2009 U.S. junior champ had to postpone his senior debut, withdrawing from 2010 Nationals with an ankle injury.

At Liberty, Miner skated his Casablanca free skate, highlighted by a triple Axel and triple Lutz-triple toe combination.

Consistent triples and great speed in and out of his jumps should bode well for Miner in his senior Grand Prix debut at Grand Prix of Japan.

Bonus six: Yasmin Siraj

Miner's training-mate in Boston, 13-year-old Yasmin Siraj, not only stood out for her petite size in the senior ladies field, but also for her arsenal of triple jumps.

Siraj is capable of all the triples (aside from Axel), but struggled on a few landings at Liberty. She told us it's just a matter of controlling her energy in competition - she gets excited and skates too fast into her jumps.

The 2010 U.S. junior silver medalist said she hopes to receive Junior Grand Prix assignments, but is ready to make her senior debut at nationals.