Practice Reports

[R.D.]

Really? I have to say that I sorta don't. The less predictable it is, the more likely for a scandal to arise, and I have to say that I don't want another scandal.

But if the favorite stumbles, another one has a solid performance and the favorite still wins, IMHO that's opening it up for a scandal as well...

[ImaginaryPogue]

There's more to it than that. I mean, for instance we have a male world champ but that won't make me pay attention to men's skating any time soon. I like ladies' skating IN GENERAL- but I simply like to support my fellow Americans. No harm in that (I think??)

The bigger issue goes waaaaay beyond nationalities. It's that there's no skater that I TRULY just HAVE to see. Most performances are very similar (thanks to the Cop) so there's not too much variety and thus less excitement in general for me. So I think this, coupled with the sudden lack of US contenders, has made me a little more US-focused than usual, to be quite honest.

Anyway, sorry for the digression. back OT-

I don't think it's unfair. I suspect that if you interviewed the average Japanese audience, most would prefer singles to pairs/dance (which correlates to the nation's success). And as much as I'd like to think of Canadians as being more egalitarian than that, I suspect that ladies would be outpaced by other disciplines simply because of our success there.

That said, I have to admit I'm a little choked that someone's appreciation for the sport is that narrow.

[R.D.]

The HUGE difference is that Sarah Hughes had already beaten both Irina Slutskaya and Michelle Kwan at Skate Canada prior to the 2002 OG. Tara Lipinski had beaten Michelle Kwan numerous times prior to 1998 OG. Shizuka Arakawa had beaten Sasha Cohen and an ill Irina Slutskaya prior to the 2006 OG too. None of the current American ladies now competing have beaten Yu-Na Kim overall in a competition, and I don't see that changing given their level of talent compared to Yu-Na's.

This is exactly why I favor Miki Ando as spoiler- because she's the only one to beat BOTH Vancouver favorites (Asada, Kim). Rochette has beaten Asada but not Kim. As for the Americans, yeah...it's unfortunate but I don't see them in the mix...

[ImaginaryPogue]

But if the favorite stumbles, another one has a solid performance and the favorite still wins, IMHO that's opening it up for a scandal as well...

I dunno. I really do think it depends on how the media spins it. And that depends on the participants in said controversy.

[PolymerBob]

This is exactly why I favor Miki Ando as spoiler- because she's the only one to beat BOTH Vancouver favorites (Asada, Kim). Rochette has beaten Asada but not Kim.

Are you sure?

http://www.isufs.org/events/cat00005618.htm

[R.D.]

Are you sure?

http://www.isufs.org/events/cat00005618.htm

Fine, I stand corrected- I was looking mainly at major competitions- I really don't remember results from individual GP events, especially years ago...

EDIT: But I'm pretty sure that Rochette has not beaten both Kim AND Asada in the same competition- that Ando has done.

[mel66]

Well, I think Yuna and Miki have naturally smaller frame than Joannie or Ashley. They would need extra body fat to look "healthy", and you can't possibly say either Joannie or Ashley is carrying around more body fat than the other two. Especially Yuna, being considerably taller than the aforementioned ladies, looks more elongated sorta like Czisny.

Yes, I agree with you. And it's ethnic thing too. Asians have smaller body structure and less muscle than Caucasians in general. So I don't think it is appropriate to compare body shape between Asian ladies and Caucasian ladies. They are just different. That's all.

[aurora100]

I was at Skate America in Lake Placid. I didn't go to the practice but people sitting around me did. They said Yuna's long program practice was flawless. Then something happened in her head between the practic and actual program a few hours later. Orser said in an interview that they would change the routine during the wait. He said Yuna spent 45 minutes on a yoga mat before the long program and that wasn't going to happen again.

Now the spin is her left boot. And the location of her flip entry has been changed according to the Korean broadcasts. All along I believe it's in her head. As it is for any skater. When you spend the time doubting and thinking about what would people think if I am not perfect. You will end up on your bum. I love Yuna's skating and any skating where the skaters go out and skate their heart out with pure joy. I just want Yuna to skate that way at the GPF.

[bekalc]

Now the spin is her left boot. And the location of her flip entry has been changed according to the Korean broadcasts. All along I believe it's in her head. As it is for any skater. When you spend the time doubting and thinking about what would people think if I am not perfect. You will end up on your bum. I love Yuna's skating and any skating where the skaters go out and skate their heart out with pure joy. I just want Yuna to skate that way at the GPF.

Yu-na was struggling with her 3flip in practice at Skate America though. That was really clear from all reports. And maybe she was uncomfortable with her left boot too. These things CAN cause an athlete to doubt things.... Talk is that her 3flip here looks much, much, much better.

[reynycpr]

From Ashley's twitter:

"I had a nice warm up today..I'm looking forward to tonight..I just need to go out and skate like I do in practice and I'll be set!!"

[Kinga]

Some people here mentioned that Ashley should loose some weight.. I am just watching ladies warm up on TV, and she looks drop dead gorgoeus! Her body shape is very nice. She is thin but not skinny. And she wears a grey dress, and grey colour is considered to 'add' some weight.

[R.D.]

From Ashley's twitter:

"I had a nice warm up today..I'm looking forward to tonight..I just need to go out and skate like I do in practice and I'll be set!!"

I posted that above :chorus: