Ladies Short Program

**jaws12345** · 04-16-2009, 12:25 PM

Asada did a great job. 75 is a great score and she sure has the ability and nerves to get there. It seems that she came right back up with that new combination. I can't wait for the next season where Kim and she go head to head again! One minor thing is that I wish the technical specialist wasn't Japanese; it sort of diminishes the significance of her accomplishment a little bit, although she would probably have gotten a score over 70 with a non-Japanese specialist.

**demarinis5** · 04-16-2009, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Buttercup

Miki's SP and Mao's - let's see how long they stay on Youtube.

Thank you for the link. Beautiful performances by both ladies. Mao's 3A combo was breathtaking.

**toasty_swirlz** · 04-16-2009, 12:29 PM

found more short programs!

zhang's sp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikliDMKsIhA

flatt's sp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n25EOS1KC_k

joannie's sp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8IA5E0UKos

**jaws12345** · 04-16-2009, 12:31 PM

Was Ando's 3-3 downgraded?

**coconutpunch** · 04-16-2009, 12:33 PM

I dunno...I thought Mao looked very calm today, if anything - almost as though she's thinking about something else after she was done skating.

Pity Miki's combo was DG yet again...in addition to Rachael and CaroZ's too (it's probably going to take a while until either of their programs will be uploaded, I'm guessing). Mao's move to 3A-2T seems to be the way to go, at least for now.

ETA: Thanks toasty_swirlz!

**Okami** · 04-16-2009, 01:12 PM

but is it just me or did Asada look very subdued and sad at the end? Even when that huge score came up she barely acknowledged it, the crowd around her in awe, her teammates cheering and totally happy, but she looked completely down. And before the performance she looked scared, ready to break into tears.

Actually I thought she looked more calm than I've seen her in a long time... She didn't do those nervous gulps of air than she usually did this season before starting to skate, and she looked quite serene during the performance. Maybe it didn't show well on the tiny YT screen...
She also laughed after her performance and was apparently in a mood for pranks, as she slapped Nobu's hand so hard that he yelped and started nursing it with pained expression (5:12 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBtBtxxhUmM).
She did smile and wave at the camera when her scores went up. She wasn't exactly screaming with joy, but I think that's mostly because she's aware that SP is only the first part of the competition and not letting the success go to her head (plus, I think she would be much happier if she did break the SP record. I think for Mao the score was a message: get a consistent 3Lz and/or 3-3 + 3A out of steps and the score will be higher).

Some nice photos:
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/photos/...1743003-p1.htm
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/graph...urewtt/29.html
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/photos/...1743003-p3.htm
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/graph...urewtt/36.html
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/spor...2249016-p6.jpg
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/spor...2249016-p3.jpg

One minor thing is that I wish the technical specialist wasn't Japanese; it sort of diminishes the significance of her accomplishment a little bit, (...)

I don't think that the TS had much to say here - Mao's jumps looked good and there just wasn't much the TS could do to bring the score down. Miki, OTOH, got her 3-3 downgraded in spite of being Japanese, so I don't think the favouritism was at play here.

**jaws12345** · 04-16-2009, 01:16 PM

Asada breaks her personal best only when she competes in Japan! She did so at 2007 Worlds in Japan for her LP and also at 2006 NHK Trophy for SP and the combined score. She must feel much more secure being in front of the Japanese audience than she does at the overseas competitions.

**Sdongxie** · 04-16-2009, 01:25 PM

I think Caroline's 3T was rotated... Maybe her 3F got DG...

**bekalc** · 04-16-2009, 01:30 PM

plus, I think she would be much happier if she did break the SP record. I think for Mao the score was a message: get a consistent 3Lz and/or 3-3 + 3A out of steps and the score will be higher).

I thought the message was rather you give us a clean 3/3 or a clean 3axel/2toe and we'll give you around the same big score we gave Kim. Honestly, I think that 3 axel in the short program IS a big risk for Mao, but she has to take it if she doesn't have a consistent 3/3 or a 3lutz.

**Mathman** · 04-16-2009, 01:38 PM

I don't think anyone is trying to send messages. Asada can add, as we all can. If you put out some high-scoring elements you will get high scores.

**bekalc** · 04-16-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mathman

I don't think anyone is trying to send messages. Asada can add, as we all can. If you put out some high-scoring elements you will get high scores.

:lol: Asada though had to have gotten very high GOE's to get that score, so I think a message was being sent to her. And really to the other skaters too, about what has to be done if they want to beat Kim or Asada.

**Okami** · 04-16-2009, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by bekalc

I thought the message was rather you give us a clean 3/3 or a clean 3axel/2toe and we'll give you around the same big score we gave Kim.

Which is exactly what I wrote (except I mentioned 3Lz as well), so I don't know why you had to quote me just to put what I said in other words..? If you misread my post as "wheee me greedy Mao wants more points for that performance!" then sorry, but that wasn't what I meant. I meant that Mao was not fully satisfied, because she had to resort to plan B, because her Lutz was not consistent.

The score was high mostly because of scoring lvl4 on all elements except the layback (lvl3). The step sequence probably got high GoEs as usual, and high GoEs on lvl4 are worth much more than on lvl1-3.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...e_pressrelease

(...) Mao Asada won the ladies short program for Team Japan with an outstanding performance to "Clair de Lune" that featured a triple Axel-double toeloop combination, a triple flip, a double Axel as well as excellent spins, spirals and steps.

The flying sit sin, the combination spin as well as the spiral sequence and the circular footwork were graded a Level 4. (...)

**Andalusia** · 04-16-2009, 02:20 PM

Hmmm. I thought Mao was exquisite (this is the best she's performed her SP all season), but I'm not quite sure I agree with the scoring. The article I've linked below states that she received a Level 4 for her footwork. Now, come on, her footwork didn't look that difficult to me. I mean, how often do skaters receive the highest level for their footwork sequences? Even the men would be hard-pressed to receive a Level 4. Mao's footwork here looked about the same as the way she performed it at Worlds, and I'm pretty sure her footwork was a Level 3 there.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...e_pressrelease

The article also states Rachael and Caroline's 3Ts were downgraded. Maybe Caroline's was UR, but Rachael's looked allowable. Actually, Caroline's 3T looked okay, too; if anything, it should've been her flip that was downgraded. I mean, even Mao's 3A (which looks clean as a whistle at first glance) looked slightly cheated in the slow-mo replay of her landing foot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3LFA8z26is

I think TPTB want Mao to run away with this thing.

**LeCygne** · 04-16-2009, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Sdongxie

I think Caroline's 3T was rotated... Maybe her 3F got DG...

I think her 3-3 looked rotated too... I think she was disappointed that she didn't break 60. Judging by her fist pump, she probably thought she would. But I don't know, she did look pretty slow here.