Championship Ladies SP | Page 49 | Golden Skate

Championship Ladies SP

silverlake22

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2009
That's very true. That's why Alissa shouldn't give up. She could still rally to 3rd and maybe go to worlds .... I except that if the Olympic team has Mirai, Flatt or Wagner they will go to worlds, too. But Cohen wouldn't, so that would open the door for the 3rd place finisher.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. At least for Mirai, senior worlds would be exciting as she has never gone before. I really hope Alissa does a good long, even if it isn't enough to get on the Olympic team or podium, she is beautiful and it makes me sad when she suffers. Maybe she can pull a Ryan Bradley and pull up respectfully and wow the crowd while doing it.
 

museksk8r

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Country
United-States
David Kirby, an international technical specialist not working this event but doing a closed-circuit radiocast in the arena, told his listening audience that Cohen took off from the wrong edge on the lutz. But the technical panel did not penalize her for it.

I was shocked Cohen wasn't called for the flutz either. Sasha deserved much more -GOE for that combo than she was given, for sure. I knew not to expect fair judging where she is concerned though. When has she not been held up during her career?
 
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Layfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Mirai's SP has been my favorite American ladies short this season since I saw it during the Grand Prix, so I was very happy that she skated so well. Good short for Sasha...not going to get my hopes up for the long though.
Did anyone else feel scores were slightly inflated? I mean, there were a lot of +3 GOEs thrown around...

Personally, I wish they wouldn't inflate the scores that way ... I think it's confusing to fans who don't follow skating blow-by-blow. What are people going to think if Mirai performs like that at an international competition and doesn't get anywhere near 70? They're going to be confused....
Although, Michelle Kwan certainly got a lot more perfect 6.0 at nationals than anywhere else ... but I think the new scoring system is confusing enough without the inflated scores at all the national competitions.

Still, ITA agree with the placements here. How far apart the top 3 should be from each other, I don't know. All three were very solid and each had moments when they outshined each other. So I'm not too fussed. I
'm thrilled that Mirai is first. What a performance! I thought she was very gracious about Sasha, calling her an icon.
 

Layfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. At least for Mirai, senior worlds would be exciting as she has never gone before. I really hope Alissa does a good long, even if it isn't enough to get on the Olympic team or podium, she is beautiful and it makes me sad when she suffers. Maybe she can pull a Ryan Bradley and pull up respectfully and wow the crowd while doing it.

Yeah, fingers crossed! I just hope Alissa isn't so crushed that she just gives up.

I think worlds would be an awesome experience for Flatt and Wagner too since they've never medaled, and in Ashley's case was way down in 15th her first time. They need to keep showing up at worlds and show what they can do.
 

soogar

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 18, 2003
Sasha definitely was gifted with her combination jump in the SP. I am biased because I am a Sasha fan but judges are human and Sasha had already created some buzz during the practices that she was in shape and moving well. No doubt they (as I did) could see how nervous she was in the SP. She tied her skate before starting her program and in the warm-up. I've never seen her so nervous before- not even at the Olympics during the SP and she was pretty bad there as well.

I don't feel the scoring is any more unfair than it normally is during nationals. Mirai was great and is in first place. Both Wagner and Flatt are within striking distance and both girls can put it down in the LP. However giving Sasha a little padding isn't the worse thing in the world. Of the US ladies, she has the greatest potential to make an impression and medal at the Olympic games. She can only improve on her nationals performance because it was her very first competition back.

I also don't think that Sasha needs to be perfect in the long program. All of the girls save for Flatt have consistency issues and Flatt is nowhere near the level Sasha is.

Personally, if Sasha has a typical Sasha program with her usual one mistake- I don't see why the USFS would not send her. None of the international girls are skating clean and Sasha can pull high PCS scores. Judges have always liked Sasha's skating and her competitive record in spite of her errors speaks for itself.

Unfortunately there are only 2 places- if Mirai skates her LP the way she had her short she should go to the Olympics. Ideally I think Wagner/Cohen would be the best team because Wagner is much better in all the other elements and skating skills than Flatt.
 

Layfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Sasha definitely was gifted with her combination jump in the SP. I am biased because I am a Sasha fan but judges are human and Sasha had already created some buzz during the practices that she was in shape and moving well. No doubt they (as I did) could see how nervous she was in the SP. She tied her skate before starting her program and in the warm-up. I've never seen her so nervous before- not even at the Olympics during the SP and she was pretty bad there as well.

I don't feel the scoring is any more unfair than it normally is during nationals. Mirai was great and is in first place. Both Wagner and Flatt are within striking distance and both girls can put it down in the LP. However giving Sasha a little padding isn't the worse thing in the world. Of the US ladies, she has the greatest potential to make an impression and medal at the Olympic games. She can only improve on her nationals performance because it was her very first competition back.

I also don't thinking that Sasha needs to be perfect in the long program. All of the girls save for Flatt have consistency issues and Flatt is nowhere near the level Sasha is.

Personally, if Sasha has a typical Sasha program with her usual one mistake- I don't see why the USFS would not send her. None of the international girls are skating clean and Sasha can pull high PCS scores. Judges have always liked Sasha's skating and her competitive record in spite of her errors speaks for itself.

Unfortunately there are only 2 places- if Mirai skates her LP the way she had her short she should go to the Olympics. Ideally I think Wagner/Cohen would be the best team because Wagner is much better in all the other elements and skating skills than Flatt.

I've been thinking about this and I think Sasha is in a good place, too. Sure, the LP is always where she falters but it's also where she can really show off what she has that the others don't. I think her Moonlight Sonata piece will really set her apart from the other girls. Even if she falls once, it's not necessarily over, although it obviously depends on what the others do. She can't have a meltdown obviously. Flatt is also in a great place because her LP is the most technically difficult and she almost always delivers. I think Mirai might be the most vulnerable of the top 3. Her LP has not been up to par with her SP all season. She needs to attack. Still, my hopes are high for her.
 

LeCygne

Final Flight
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Mirai was great, I think she should be further ahead of Sasha. Mirai's jumps were rock solid, her spins are crazy fast with amazing positions, and her speed speaks for itself. Sasha got away with the flutz and the shaky landing on the 2toe, and her spins and footwork just didn't have the energy Mirai's did.

I hope Mirai keeps it together in the long. Skating last has got to be tough. I expect Rachael and Ashley to bring it on Saturday, but I don't see the order changing unless Mirai and Sasha falter. Which is actually pretty likely, but I think they will be held up by PCS - especially Sasha. Mirai could go either way, since USFSA really wants Rachael on that team...

Christina Gao was amazing. She had two tiny glitches but was really underscored (not sure why her flip had -GOE) and held down in PCS. If she finishes 5th or so, it's likely she could go to 4CC as well as Junior Worlds. Since the top 2 definitely won't do 4CC, that leaves 3-4-5.
 

shine

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
I was shocked Cohen wasn't called for the flutz either. Sasha deserved much more -GOE for that combo than she was given, for sure. I knew not to expect fair judging where she is concerned though. When has she not been held up during her career?

ITA. I have no idea what the caller was a smoking. Once a flutzer always a flutzer unless one spent a couple years specifically working on that. It was obviously a flutz and I don't think spending 4 years doing shows would've helped her fixed her flutz. what a joke.

IMO the difference between Cohen and Nagasu should be bigger. Mirai's jumps were so secure and there's not a single thing she doesn't do better than Cohen. I also just find her presentation to e much more versatile and enjoyable.
 

figurejennah

On the Ice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
I was shocked Cohen wasn't called for the flutz either. Sasha deserved much more -GOE for that combo than she was given, for sure. I knew not to expect fair judging where she is concerned though. When has she not been held up during her career?

Well, yeah I was watching it on Universal sports, and Scott, too, said she flutzed and should receive DG for two footing.... Obviously she did not receive any of that. :)
What can we say? It's Sasha Cohen, and the US figure skating needs a star.
I guess it proves that even though she missed the entire GP series, she is very likely to go to the olympics over nagasu or wagner...
 

UM84

On the Ice
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Well, yeah I was watching it on Universal sports, and Scott, too, said she flutzed and should receive DG for two footing.... Obviously she did not receive any of that. :)
What can we say? It's Sasha Cohen, and the US figure skating needs a star.
I guess it proves that even though she missed the entire GP series, she is very likely to go to the olympics over nagasu or wagner...

This is why I say a top 4 finish from Sasha gets her one of the two spots
 

Iscariot

On the Ice
Joined
Apr 18, 2009
wow sashas goe for her spiral are high 2.71
does anybody know if wagner corrected her lutz take off? in the protocols its seems they didnt call it as flutz
 

FlattFan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jan 4, 2010
wow sashas goe for her spiral are high 2.71
does anybody know if wagner corrected her lutz take off? in the protocols its seems they didnt call it as flutz

I watched the slomo, and it is a slight flutz. I would give a !.
They want to keep her in contention for her hard work this season.
 

LeCygne

Final Flight
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
I watched the slomo, and it is a slight flutz. I would give a !.
They want to keep her in contention for her hard work this season.

Ashley's technique on her flip and lutz is rushed and it's hard to tell her takeoff edge without replay. She actually has one of the worst flutzes, but USFSA has been known to go easy on her for that.. When she won the long last Nationals, she didn't receive a single edge warning...
 

dwiggin3

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
I'd have to go back and watch Flatt's performance again but I was impressed with what I saw.The normally bland skater was really showing off out there!

can anyone provide links to Nagasu, Flatt and Wagner's SP?
 

Jaana

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Country
Finland
WOW, I saw a clip of Sasha´s sp... So wonderful that she is competing again, I have really missed her beautiful skating.
 

dwiggin3

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
USFSA gave her a welcome back gift by ignoring flutz and UR combo.:yes: :yes:

they sure did. Normally, I like Sasha's costumes but not this one...what's with the sleeves. Hmmm.

I thought it was very Cohen-esq - nothing "new" or exciting. It seems like she had some speed but I was watching it on YouTube and it's hard to judge speed. The Lutz was a Flutz.

Flatt - Normally I like her dresses as well but not this one - it seems to accentuate some of the less striking aspects of her figure. Granted, she has a much better one that I - nothing wrong with it but I think the cut was not as flattering. I saw her SP on YouTube so judging speed was hard. I thought in the first few seconds of her number, she was early...off cue from some key beats of the music but she settled into it. I would prefer she "sass" it up a bit more - more like she did on the footwork. I see her as such a classical skater (classical music I mean) that it's hard to see her in something like Sing3 but if she lets go and puts some sass into it, it works.

Wagner - I can't find the SP on YouTube....anyone got it? I'll likely be late getting home tomorrow and miss it
 

dwiggin3

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
That's certainly what I thought. Overall the judging was fair until we go to that. They realized that young talent Gao was in 4th, within striking distance of the team and remidied the situation with one of the favorites. Very depressing.

Sasha: I honestly thoughtbshe would withdraw after the warmup. I have never seen her that nervous. I don't think she really performed the music until the footwork- but maybe I was too focused on the jumps to enjoy the program. Needless to saying am so proud of her for gong for it alll ans rating on her feet.

Mirai was awesome. I was jumping up and down at the end of her skate. I just knew she was going to skate well, and to see her in the warm up selling everything. What a star!

I have mixed feelings about Sasha. Part of me feels like she'll revert back to her old self and have issues in the LP and miss the team. Would she go to worlds? No - I think she'd turn it down.

The other part of me says she'll bring it on, win it and make the team, but crumble at the Olympics.

Has Cohen employed specialists to look at her skating, routines and provide feedback on how she compares to the current crop of international skaters?
 

dwiggin3

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
This is why I say a top 4 finish from Sasha gets her one of the two spots

really? I wonder what they will do if Sasha does not win Nationals.

For the sake of argument, lets say Nagasu wins. She gets the automatic bid. Say, Cohen, Flatt and Wagner all skate well or have similar issues - none is really worse than the other....who goes?

One could argue that the same concept that kept Baldwin/Inuoe off the Olympic team should be used here - 2nd place gets the spot. But in this case, Flatt and Wagner , should the above situation play out, could be considred to be equally qualified. They've done GP for a few years (or JGP). Cohen - well, nada.

If Sasha does not win, but is in the top 4 and not a total disaster, I can not understand why she would even be in the mix - it would seem the decision would come down to Wagner or Flatt. This of course, assumes they all preform at about the same level etc.

Thoughts?
 
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