Wasn't Mai Asada the toe axel poster girl? I seem to recall her getting repeatedly dinged for her underrotated 3Ts. Mao stopped doing the toe loop in combination because she, too, was getting dinged for toe axels.
Wasn't Mai Asada the toe axel poster girl? I seem to recall her getting repeatedly dinged for her underrotated 3Ts. Mao stopped doing the toe loop in combination because she, too, was getting dinged for toe axels.
Why Mai? If not Fumie, it should have been Yukari or Yoshie. The Japanese Federation confuses me...
Exactly.Originally Posted by Fozzie Bear
OMG, Yukari or Yoshie.One has to wonder if "deep" might be so deep you don't know what to do.???? Maybe they want to promote as much of the "huge class" of talent. I might be they are just saying "this is how good we are." So many they don't need to showcase the same over and over. ???JAT
I think Fumie could not make it because she has Skate Canada starting Nov. 2 and the timing of Campbell's seems to contradict with her training schedules. Miki, Mao & Mai all compete at Skate America only 10 days after the Campbells, so it will be a good chance for them to try out their new programs in front of the international judges and American crowd. And now I get the feeling that without the Japanese Champion there, the US Champion Sasha is very likely to be dropping out and replaced.
And now I get the feeling that without the Japanese Champion there, the US Champion Sasha is very likely to be dropping out and replaced.
agreed.
That makes sense for them to practice in Connecticut after Campbells for Skate America which is a more important event.
I don't understand any reasoning for Sasha to drop out because Fumie will not be there. I believe Sasha is under contract to be there. The Japanese must have discussed their entrants when agreeing with the format since those three will be at SA.
Joe
I'm not so sure i'd say Kimmie is the best competitive skater in the wolrd right now - she's the current wolrd champion but i've not seen any confirmation that Slutskaya has retired from the elligible ranks so i think i'd give that title to Slutskaya over Kimmie right now.
Ant
Maybe Irina hasn't announced her retirement from eligible skating, but it is well known in Russian circles (and Irina herself said as much in an interview while on tour with COI) that she does not plan to compete at all this year. So in her absence, Kimmie is indeed the top dog in the world, for this year at least.
And I see no reason for Sasha to drop out of Campbell's, just because Fumie isn't there. Fumie BEAT Sasha at Worlds. I would think Sasha would be relieved not to face her in Connecticut, especially given Sasha's lack of serious training since Worlds.
I think she said that she would take a break. I find it HIGHLY unlikely that she'll return, at least in the "eligible" ranks. I think for comparison purposes it's safe to say Meissner's the best right now (and maybe only Asada or Ando can give her a run for her money).
As the season progresses, things can change of course, but now this is how it looks.
Yah, but that would mean Sasha has to bring her own tights
That was a great thing to point out about FS being in Canada so shortly before the Soup bowl. I was surprised it didn't come to my mind, but anyway It made me feel much better - I slept well last night.
It is almost as thought the JF has to decide who NOT to send, it is like they have 10 Heisman Trophy winners on their team who all cover the same position (well maybe that isn't the best example, but drift given).
I think Inloveagain is on the right tack in thinking that the skaters' schedules played a key role.
According to Mark on the Japan Skates forum, Fumie will be skating in Japan at a Prince Hotels show on Oct. 7-9. Mao and Mai were both invited for this event, too, but were expected to opt for Campbell's instead. This makes sense because then Mao, Mai and Miki can all just stick around for Skate America.
I don't expect Mai Asada to be a weak sister. If they do head-to-head match-ups, with Sasha against Miki and Mao against Kimmie, then Mai will be skating against Emily. IMHO it could go either way.
OK - i think i missed the news that she was definitely sitting out the next season. My gut reaction is that she'll get pregnant before the season is out and start her family - she's always talked about wanting one. The only thing that might be a factor is piseev trying to coax the potential retiring skaters to keep at it until some of the younger Russians get better...though i think his logic is flawed since the old guard would end up going to the big competitions and the younger ones would remain inexperienced.
The year after teh Olympics is always an interesting time and meissner's certainly laid down the gautnlet for the others coming up from Juniors.
Ant
I thought Mai, at her best before puberty only had the lower tier triples (toe, sal and loop). Did she ever get the flip and lutz before her growth spurt? How many of the triples does she have now?
Ant
AFAIK, Mai has all 5 triples, up to the Lutz. Her problem is consistency - she averages 3-4 clean triples in every long program.
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