Ladies - Long Program

[Yagudinah]

Based on this logic, Virtue/Moir don't deserve to win gold no matter what they put out there on the ice in the FD.

Allthough I don't agree 100% => if they really skate best, they should indeed be rewarded with gold - I can understand that people prefer to see others win.

It's the most important competition of the year, it's not that weird that one likes to see people rewarded that are amazing AND have worked very hard all year long. Behind the screens Yuna might have worked just as hard as the people who have competed this year - it just doesn't feel like that, because you haven't seen her and you feel less... involved. If Yuna had won it would've felt a bit like stealing the cherry from the cake. Maybe justified by an amazing performance- but still, I'd feel sorry for the others.

+ V/M is not entirely the same as Yuna: not being able to compete because of injury is something else as choosing not to compete (unless there was some injury that I haven't heard of).

[wallylutz]

I am sorry, wallylutz. Perhaps you did not mean to offend by suggesting that Yu-Na was hoping to simply waltz in and claim the World Title as if she was claiming an Academy Award.

I too hope that Yu-Na sticks around. And Mao too, poor girl... I can't really express how sad I feel for her, although I am very confident she will bounce back like Mao does.

I understand now. I can see why you would think I had animosity towards Yu Na. So let me put my remark in context. I don't like it when skaters, which include the Men's, Dance and Pairs when they decide to skip the whole season just to do the WC/Olympics unless it's due to injury. Yu Na is certainly not the 1st person trying to do that, but those who do and are not injured, seem to demonstrate some kind of contempt for this sport - that they are too good for you. Well, you can't possibly be too good in this sport, it's a dynamic environment. If Patrick Chan does that next season, I'll just say the same thing as well and expect him to do poorly at WC. The reality is virtually anyone who tried to pull this off since the modern era of skating, they all did poorly in the WC/Olympics. Hence, the smart ones, usually old veterans doing a comeback, e.g. Plushenko & Shen/Zhao last year, they all put themselves through the fires of competitions before the actual big event. By doing so, they are also signaling a respect for their competitors, which to me is important in this sport because we are not hockey or soccer, in this sport, we need to treat each other with respect and that includes competing.

[Olympia]

I missed teh skating and am reading everyone's comments. Thanks for the link to the scores. Rachael is FOURTEENTH? What happened? But good for Alissa. She avoided a meltdown and saved us two spots, and I do hope she stays around and gets one of them next year (with Mirai in the other). And good for Elene, who made the top ten. Big sigh of relief for YuNa, who was taking a huge risk by staying away from competition for the entire season. And congrats to Kostner and Miki, two skaters, whose careers have now flourished for admirably long times. I'll look forward to watching everyone on YouTube.

What a roller coaster ride this has been! But considering the miraculous fact that we had a Worlds at all--and in the Spring, not in September, things went pretty well. I think that the two people I was most anxious for, YuNa and Alissa, can take satisfaction in their labors. The only one I would really shed tears for among the Ladies is poor Asada. I hope she can dust herself off and zoom to the top in the new season. She's too exceptional just to give up now.

[alfoalfo]

Though I hope she will take this lesson in strides and if she decides to remain eligible for ISU competitions that she comes back stronger next season and takes her skating career a little more seriously. Some have managed their pro/marketing/show career and their skating career well at the same time. She is young and obviously has a lot to offer still, therefore, I hope the outcome here will motivate her to create an even more admirable legacy for the years to come, hopefully including at least Sochi 2014.

errmm who died and made you king?
but really, who the hell are you to tell her or even make suggestions as to how she should handle her ALREADY SUCCESSFUL career??
yeah she's got many years ahead of her but she's done enough to leave a legacy - OGM, WGM, GPGM, 4CCGM, never off the podium, headlining successful shows, (getting MK to skate again!) starting a skating revolution in Korea.. just to name a few.
but dude, honestly... did she steal your lunch money? is that why you're always such a sour puss when it comes to Yuna? but whatever, your opinion's your opinion :sheesh:

back to the topic, i really really like Yuna's LP and I hope she somehow manages to squeeze that in her upcoming show. i know she said she'd be skating her Giselle program but her Arirang program is just a big WOW imo.
i also hope she can get Alyssa to skate in her shows too, cos she is one heck of a skater! i was actually bummed that she missed the podium as i thought that despite the error, she deserved a 3rd place finish. As for Miki, what a season it's been for her! im very happy for her and from what ive seen of her emoting in her SP, i say she has potential in her to not just be a jumping bean

[lavender]

I think skaters get tired and need a break sometimes. This is what I think Yu na needed. It's been a journey for some of these skaters. I think it's more taxing for skaters that have the most pressure and expectations.

[treeloving]

I wonder how Irina gave comment about Miki?

And Could anyone with perfectly trained eyes tell me whether Kanako deserve to get UR for her second triple toe jump? As some judge even gave her +1 GOEs?

[Layfan]

Yeah, I'm gonna watch it again just for the music, if not her dress. The whole ensemble--Yuna, costume, music--was wonderful and I hope she refines it going forward.

Having said that, I wonder whether the dress would not have been more stunning if it was done either in deep burgundy or sage...but what do I know, everything in my closet is either white or black.

Mmmm. Yes, fun to imagine that costume in burgundy ... sage... trying remember what color sage is

As for her strategy this season, it probably would have been better to compete at least once before. But clearly, she did what she felt she was up to after her pressure-filled season last year. Her winning silver at her first appearance speaks to her incredible talent - but it also speaks to the fact that she clealy worked her butt off for this competition, even if she did decide to skip all the previous events. She didn't just start practicing two months before and I certainly never got the impression that she expected to runaway with the gold. Yuna's smart. I'm sure she knew full well it was risky but that is how she wanted to spend her year after her Olympic triumph. Sure, as fans it's a little disappointing not to have seen one sensational Yuna program after another but she doesn't really owe anybody anything.

(Also, there isn't really any guarantee that if she had competed all season she wouldn't have had a bad day today and finished second anyway, maybe from burn out....)

I'm just glad I got to see her Airang program. I really, really, really hope she comes back next season but if she doesn't, that is the way it is. Maybe she'll decide to do, say, one GP event and 4CC next year. It would be wonderful if she coud maintain her level until Sochi.

[Lightbulb]

Then again, if we were to believe some of the feverish Yu Na fans on internet, Yu Na doesn't mind her placement, she only skates for the enjoyment of her fans. Well, I am still trying to figure out what the tears were for then... But I am sure another very convenient excuse, uh...I mean "explanation" will again be furnished soon.

This is a part of Yuna's translated interview right after the competition.

What do you feel of not winning the title:

YNK: I am quite satisfied with the competition. I lost by a slim margin but gold medal wasn't necessarily the goal of my participation in this WC. What is important is that I overcame difficult times and got where I am now.

All of this is not unexpected. Many long time observers have cast doubts on Yu-Na's chances before the competition seeing how she practices. Official practices in a competition are meant to present your best skills and arsenals for the viewing of the people who will be judging you in the competition eventually. That is why for example, Joubert would only show off his jumps in those practices with no spins and no transitions. Why should he further show his weaker side to the judging panel who were watching closely even though it's not the actual competition? Yet, when it was pointed out that Yu-Na didn't do very well in those practices, many of the same Yu Na fans just went ballistic towards anyone who dare to say the Queen has regressed and that it's just a "practice". :sheesh:

This is what I don't understand with your post. When was it posted that Yuna didn't do well during practices? And where are the posts where Yuna fans went ballistic as a reaction against claims that Yuna has regressed? Because I've been following this forum the entire championship and every report out there (mostly tweets from those present in the arena) said that Yuna had solid practices. Jumps were there, skating skill was still there. And Yuka Sato in an interview with the NY Times has acknowledged that Yuna was solid during practice. That she still commands the ice like no other.

So, if unless you have been reading reports that we do not know of, how can there be ballistic reactions from fans?

Can't say this is an outcome that makes me sad however. You get what you deserve and you just can't expect to do no competition at all the whole season in Figure Skating and come to win the World Championship as though you are coming to pick up your Academy award.

I think no one, and most certainly not Yuna, expected this competition to be a walk in the park. Everybody knew that it would be hard to go back into competition mode after the long hiatus. But from what I've read the past week, almost everyone has acknowledged that it was brave and generous of her to compete once again when she didn't have to. Name an Olympic Champion since Witt who came back to compete again. Hughes does not count because she did compete again but was out of shape.

And it's funny that you completely disregarded Yuna's effort and Silver finish this year because Mao was inconsistent and Rochette was not present. That's the thing. Yuna competed. Joannie didn't. That means Yuna put in the training to step on Worlds ice while Joannie didn't even attempt to do that. And Mao is still a beautiful skater but largely inconsistent. She didn't bring it now when it mattered.

Just give even an ounce of credit when it is due.

[ks777]

I just woke up. Congrats to Miki!! I have only watched Yuna's LP so far and love the korean music. Very beautiful. I think her LP could have been much much better had she skated a few more times in competitions but I feel it wasn't choreographed as well as her past programs. I really would love to see what Lori Nichols can do with Yuna for a change.

[Blades of Passion]

I can see why you would think I had animosity towards Yu Na. So let me put my remark in context. I don't like it when skaters, which include the Men's, Dance and Pairs when they decide to skip the whole season just to do the WC/Olympics unless it's due to injury. Yu Na is certainly not the 1st person trying to do that, but those who do and are not injured, seem to demonstrate some kind of contempt for this sport - that they are too good for you.

Spoken like a true ISU lackey who is angry that certain skaters aren't competing in their Grand Prix events.

[Kwanford Wife]

It's not someone else's pain, it's wanting fair judging. Miki is massively overscored and her making a mistake is the only way to level the playing field.

Do I look brand new to you? Just because in your mind someone is "massively" overscored doesn't make it fact, it makes it an opinion. There are several top dawg skaters I find overscored, but I can't pray for them to fail. Prayer doesn't work that way. You can only hope your favorite does better. Further, You know how judging works - you can't "wuz robbed" because you didn't get your way. Be the awesome Blades we know you are, not a spoiled baby - there are enough of those on the boards these days... But I still love you...

[babayaga]

There are reports that say that Mao lost a lot of weight after the quake. She also said in an interview that she doesn't know if she wants to compete at the championship now, but she will go since the federation sends her. I am afraid the disaster might have affected her too much :( Hope she recovers soon.

I am very happy for Miki and Carolina, especially for Carolina. She was beautiful today, I am very glad she decided to stay.

Hope Yuna will come back to grand prix next season with Arirang, this program is gorgeous.

[lavender]

I was wondering if Mao had lost weight because of the quake.

[Layfan]

I missed teh skating and am reading everyone's comments. Thanks for the link to the scores. Rachael is FOURTEENTH? What happened? But good for Alissa. She avoided a meltdown and saved us two spots, and I do hope she stays around and gets one of them next year (with Mirai in the other). And good for Elene, who made the top ten. Big sigh of relief for YuNa, who was taking a huge risk by staying away from competition for the entire season. And congrats to Kostner and Miki, two skaters, whose careers have now flourished for admirably long times. I'll look forward to watching everyone on YouTube.

What a roller coaster ride this has been! But considering the miraculous fact that we had a Worlds at all--and in the Spring, not in September, things went pretty well. I think that the two people I was most anxious for, YuNa and Alissa, can take satisfaction in their labors. The only one I would really shed tears for among the Ladies is poor Asada. I hope she can dust herself off and zoom to the top in the new season. She's too exceptional just to give up now.

Thanks for your usual lovely and civil post, Olympia. You are totally right - considering we almost didn't have a worlds at all it was a pretty good event and it was great that Yuna and Alissa did relatively well.
Also, thanks for seeing the cup as half full: Alissa saving us two spots

[lilshorty]

Yeah, I'm gonna watch it again just for the music, if not her dress. The whole ensemble--Yuna, costume, music--was wonderful and I hope she refines it going forward.

Having said that, I wonder whether the dress would not have been more stunning if it was done either in deep burgundy or sage...but what do I know, everything in my closet is either white or black.

Just watched Yuna's program and it is very exquisite indeed. Sorry about the mistakes at the beginning of the program, but they were very miniscule compared to the latter part of the program. I hope that she continues to skate competitively because skating like hers is truly a treasure to watch.