Ladies Short Program

[Olympia]

Alissa's SP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtmqxhv0Aog

Thanks so much for the link. That was completely sublime. Don't you love the way the camera hovered directly over her spin to show how beautifully placed it was. And she never just phones it in: she's always so connected to the music.

Who's her choreographer, does anyone know? That footwork was so splendid. It proves absolutely that you don't have to feature frenzied rapid steps to show proficiency.

She also proves that there's no curse in being a tall lady. You can be at the top of the field (as long as your nerves don't overwhelm you).

I completely love Jason Dunjen and Yuka Sato! If they can bring this out of Alissa, they are worth their collective weight in gold. Jason seems like such a calm guy, and so nice. We already know that Yuka is both those things. What a winning combination of coaches!

[Layfan]

Thanks so much for the link. That was completely sublime. Don't you love the way the camera hovered directly over her spin to show how beautifully placed it was. And she never just phones it in: she's always so connected to the music.

Who's her choreographer, does anyone know? That footwork was so splendid. It proves absolutely that you don't have to feature frenzied rapid steps to show proficiency.

She also proves that there's no curse in being a tall lady. You can be at the top of the field (as long as your nerves don't overwhelm you).

I completely love Jason Dunjen and Yuka Sato! If they can bring this out of Alissa, they are worth their collective weight in gold. Jason seems like such a calm guy, and so nice. We already know that Yuka is both those things. What a winning combination of coaches!

Alissa switched choreographers this year as well as coaches. She went with two ice dancers - Renee Roca - and Pascual Carmerlengo (who has a fabulous name if nothing else ) And it's the first time in her career that she is not recycling at least one of her programs from the last season - she said she wanted to leave everything from last season behind.

Here's an nice article where Alissa discusses her programs and approach to the season:

http://figureskatersonline.com/news/...isappointment/

What I like best about both of her programs this year is it is all about Alissa.

It all seems designed to just let her go out there and skate and show her unique style.
She's not playing character like in previous years - and no skating to old warhorses. To me, it feels fresh and different. Both pieces of music and the choreo are quiet and subtle - just like Alissa. Maybe her quiet skating doesn't work for some but I love it.
Her performance today was, as you said, sublime. The way she flowed effortlessly from one move to the next.

And I've always thought the same about her footwork - this year it might be more noticeable but even last year I was impressed with how her footwork fits her style. Other slower skaters try to be explosive in their footwork and of course it doesn't work at all. But Allissa always manages to blend in her footwork to the rest of the choreo just so. I'm never sure how to describe what I mean. I'm not sure what levels she gets on footwork but I don't really care..

And yes, that cameraman's work on her sit spin was inspired.

I'm never surprised to see Alissa first when she skates this well.

Good luck to her tomorrow.

[FlattFan]

Was anyone surprised Alissa's 3F wasn't downgraded? I was watching on TV and they did a replay and it was definitely more than 1/4 turned on ice.
Poor Rachael, couldn't catch a break. They didn't replay her Lutz, but Tara said it was downgraded.

[Nigel]

Haven't read the entire thread, but ...has Flatt talked about her injury? I am wondering if the week off helped enough for her to recover sufficiently to train last week and travel and compete in China? Not like her to miss the jumps like this. Hope the freeskate goes better.

[Nadine]

I'm working late again tonight, as I do my best work late at night, so I really want to watch the womens fs on IN, but I don't want to be a bad omen for my fav skaters (though I don't believe in such, but I'm starting to have my doubts).

None of my favs have done very good throughout the GP thus far. Brian Joubert skated a horrible SP, then pulled out of the LP. Kevin Reynolds was on fire at Skate Canada, just barely missing the podium, but then bombed like Brian did at TEB. And now Rachael, whom did great at her first GP, then outstanding at Skate America (& I was there to see it LIVE! ), but now is having serious problems at the GPF. Also, the American men didn't even make the GPF, though I really don't have a fav, they're all good.

I'd still like to watch to see if Alissa wins, or Carolina whom I've always liked from the very beginning when she was coined as s "diamond" (same as Oksana Baiul was), or Miki, whom I've also always enjoyed athletically more than anything else.

Lol, I guess I'm trying to convince myself that it will be *okay* to watch.

Btw, Flattfan, I commiserate with you on Rachael. From the very beginning when she first entered Sr. Nationals in 2007 she has never seemed to catch a break. Her gorgeous 3/3 combo. was called UR when replays showed it was *not*, whereas the reigning US National Champion at the time, Kimmie Meissner, 3/3 combo. was UR, but of course she got the break, not Rachael. And then she lost out to Alissa Czisny on a very controversial 2009 US Nationals when many thought she deserved the gold, same thing happened at 2010 NHK versus Carolina Kostner, and at 2010 Skate America versus Murakami? Not to mention at the 2010 Olympic Games she got some phantom downgrades for what many considered fully rotated. Anyhow, she must have a very strong spirit to persevere against the odds where I would rightfully call her an underdog on the international circuit, but not so much at home. (:^)

p.s. does anyone know what happened to the thread started last night by PolymerBob about Rachael's new endorsement deal with Lucy Activewear? I can't find it...

GOOOOOOOOOOO RACHAEL!!!!!!!!!

[silverlake22]

Was anyone surprised Alissa's 3F wasn't downgraded? I was watching on TV and they did a replay and it was definitely more than 1/4 turned on ice.
Poor Rachael, couldn't catch a break. They didn't replay her Lutz, but Tara said it was downgraded.

Alissa was given the benefit of the doubt on her jumps in the SP and FS imo. A lot of the jumps were underrotated at least 1/4 of a turn but she didn't receive < or << for either. I'm ok with it though because they were glaringly UR, just a little questionable.

[ImaginaryPogue]

Alissa was given the benefit of the doubt on her jumps in the SP and FS imo. A lot of the jumps were underrotated at least 1/4 of a turn but she didn't receive < or << for either. I'm ok with it though because they were glaringly UR, just a little questionable.

To be fair, I think everyone was given the benefit there.

[silverlake22]

To be fair, I think everyone was given the benefit there.

I think so too.

[Blades of Passion]

Alissa has now 5, count them 5, super skates in the international Grand Prix.

No, actually, she has had 2. The LP at Skate Canada and the SP here. She is definitely not consistent yet. I'm about to go watch the LP from this event. Hope she did well! Sending Mirai and Alissa to Worlds would be ideal.

[FlattFan]

Alissa was given the benefit of the doubt on her jumps in the SP and FS imo. A lot of the jumps were underrotated at least 1/4 of a turn but she didn't receive < or << for either. I'm ok with it though because they were glaringly UR, just a little questionable.

In real time, I didn't notice Rachael's lutz was URed. I noticed Alissa's flip was a bit UR.
Same thing in the long programs, she had so many questionable jumps. Rachael was called on all of hers except one. I'm not ok with inconsistent caller.

[silverlake22]

In real time, I didn't notice Rachael's lutz was URed. I noticed Alissa's flip was a bit UR.
Same thing in the long programs, she had so many questionable jumps. Rachael was called on all of hers except one. I'm not ok with inconsistent caller.

I'm in agreement with this. The caller was also inconsistent in the junior ladies event as well, Liza got an edge call on her seemingly fine flip in the FS but Adelina didn't get edge calls for either of her lutzes in the FS which were both obviously flutzes, even though she had gotten an edge call on her lutz the day before in the SP. Also, Christina's 3lo in the SP was called UR and in replay it looked fine, and then in the FS the caller downgraded almost all of Risa's jumps (which was fair but some were borderline) but none of Kristeine's jumps which in replay looked to be just as under-rotated as most of Risa's jumps.

A lot of Rachael's jumps looked borderline, but she was called out for all of them, whereas most of Alissa's jumps also looked a bit, probably a little more, UR than most of Rachael's, but she wasn't dinged for any of them. It's very frustrating when the caller does this.

[Blades of Passion]

I don't think Flatt deserved to be downgraded on her Lutz in this SP, that's a bad call.

Ultimately it made no difference whatsoever, though. She deserved to be ranked last in the SP.

[FlattFan]

Yes, she deserved to be ranked last in the SP, but the score matters. Even in the last place, you want your score to be higher, yes? I just don't understand why the judges/tech specialist/Phil-Hersh-who-knows-first-hand-how-wonderful-Stanford-is-because-his-son-went-there hate her so much. Whatever. Go Rachael.

[Blades of Passion]

She doesn't have great technique, she skates slow, she doesn't have terrific artistry, and her lines aren't very appealing. Plenty of reason to root against her. *shrug*

[Mathman]

^ None of those are reasons to root against anyone.