Ladies Practice Reports

miki88 said:

Is Patrick Chan's skating skills that great?

Click to expand...

Johnnnn said:

I think so in terms of SKILLS although I prefer Lambiel. Chan has great skills but kinda lacks artistry. (choreography and artistry is a different thing. Chan's programs is full of choreography but it doesn't really feel artistic compared to Lambiel's)

Plus, his big mouth doesn't really help me forming positive image about him either lol

Click to expand...

Marrymeyunakim said:

Here are the three Japanese ladies, with the piece especially on Mao.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=796HJ61oBww

Her triple axels are looking good, but seem to be underrotated. Hopefully she can skate performances she will be proud of

Also, it seemed as if she's gone back to doing the triple axel right in front of the judges! :thumbsup:

The bit on Joannie I feel so sorry. Brave girl to skate but she did seem really sad.

Click to expand...

Johnnnn said:

OK I just saw Mao practicing with her new costume. WHAT IS SHE WEARING??? Am I the only one who thinks her new costume is NO NO ??

Click to expand...

Johnnnn said:

OK I just saw Mao practicing with her new costume. WHAT IS SHE WEARING??? Am I the only one who thinks her new costume is NO NO ??

Click to expand...

GiuliaPlum said:

Am I the only one who dislike all Mao's 2008/09 and 09/10 costumes?

Click to expand...

Marrymeyunakim said:

I'm intrigued by the mindset of all competitors.

For Kim's entourage, she, Orser and her father have all come out and had the "come what may" approach. Mao seems a bit different in that she's directly stated that she's after a medal, and that her aim is gold.

Click to expand...

miki88 said:

I think Orser is thinking of gold all along. Yuna's winning is like him winning that gold which eluded him. From reports, Orser still seems bummed about that even though he says he got over it. (just my opinion though). Mao's just says what comes to her mind. She's like a kid sometimes. ^_^

Click to expand...

Two figure skaters drew public attention yesterday at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, the venue of the women’s figure skating competition of the Winter Olympics.


World champion Kim Yu-na of Korea and rival Mao Asada of Japan held their first encounter at the rink ahead of their anticipated showdown this week.


The two skaters attended the draw for the short program scheduled for tomorrow, the first time they saw each other since the Grand Prix competition Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris in October last year.


Both are age 20 and friends off the ice but remain archrivals on the rink. Since both seek to achieve a lifelong dream by winning the Olympic gold, they even avoided looking each other in the eyes.


Kim and Asada held an open practice after the draw for the order of performances at the competition. The two concentrated on the short program with the "007 James Bond Medley" and “Bells of Moscow” playing.


Kim was the first to practice and pulled off eight moves, starting with the triple lutz and the triple toe loop combination. More than 1,000 spectators who paid to enter the rink to see Kim gave her plenty of applause throughout her performance.


She gave an immaculate performance but exercised extra caution in steps and spins, finishing her practice without making a single mistake. Afterwards, Kim said, “I tried to perform just as I practiced in Toronto. It was a good drill overall.”


Asada conducted open practice an hour after Kim. Arriving in Vancouver Sunday, she practiced spins and steps but shunned jumps, while trying to adapt to the ice on the rink. She practiced the triple flip, double toe loop and double toe loop combination, a move for free skating, in succession. She then attempted a triple axel, one of her trademarks. She landed after one spin on her first attempt.


Asada looked as if she was struggling, but then pulled off three triple axels. She had said while practicing in Japan that she will focus on the triple axel, but showed better success than before.


Kim skipped her afternoon practice but Asada proceeded with hers.

Click to expand...

Kim eyes Asada as rivals share first practice

By Emmeline Moore (AFP) – 45 minutes ago

VANCOUVER — Olympic favourite Kim Yu-Na cast an eye over at Japanese rival Mao Asada as the two gold-medal hopefuls shared the ice for the first time at the Pacific Coliseum on Monday.

Wearing black leggings and top, Kim, 19, confidently ran through her free skate to Gershwin's Concerto in F, landed triple-triple jumps, and also did sections from her James Bond short programme for Tuesday night during a 35-minute training session.

She had earlier watched as Asada, wearing her pink free skate costume, presented her Rachmaninov "Bells of Moscow" routine, in which the 19-year-old landed the difficult triple axel jump.

Kim -- who has lost just twice in the past two seasons, both times to Asada, at the 2008 worlds and the 2008-2009 Grand Prix final -- skated just after the Japanese star.

By contrast Asada skated around the edge of the rink with her gaze averted when the Korean performed.

"When you're on the ice I think it's human to take a glance over," said Kim's coach Brian Orser.

He said that world champion Kim was feeling at home on the ice.

"With each day she becomes more confident," said the Canadian coach.

"Today was a turning point. I was proud of her that she took command of the practice.

"The Olympics is different from every other competition in the planet. Having confidence in what you do on the ice helps."

Orser said that Kim was doing her best to deal with the pressure to bring home South Korea's first figure skating gold, and first ever title outside short-track and long-track.

"I felt relief when South Korea took their first gold medal (of the Vancouver Games)," he said.

"I don't think she paid too much attention. She was proud but the pressure is off her to be the one and only."

The five-skater practice group also included Japan's Akiko Suzuki, Finn Laura Lepisto and Alena Leonova of Russia.

Grieving Canadian Joannie Rochette later put her personal sadness to one side as she once again practiced, showing her determination to compete despite the tragic death of her mother Therese on Sunday.

"I saw Joannie like she usually is before competition," said Skate Canada president Benoit Lavoie.

"All the levels and spins were there and there was no hesitation. It's her decision, but at this point it's looking pretty good.

"We are ready for any situation. She may decide a minute beforehand she won't skate."

Click to expand...

Tinymavy15 said:

Yu-na running through her LP on the olympic rink

Click to expand...

ehdtkqorl123 said:

Yu-Na's clean LP practice - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flqxF6t-nZ4

Click to expand...

bethissoawesome said:

It always bothers me that all of the comments in articles about Yu-Na, how she is skating, feeling, etc. come from Brian Orser, her coach... she holds interviews, etc., but her own comments never seem to make it to press.

Click to expand...