Ladies - Long Program

**Lily.Grace** · 04-30-2011, 10:11 AM

Even though she played it safe, Miki's skating has improved a lot, and I agree with the results here; I'm obviously very glad YuNa got the silver, but I didn't find her programme spectacular.... but I'm so happy she's the only one medallist who landed a 3-3 combo; I'm fine with Carolina getting the bronze, she clearly skated well tonight

So finally I can say congrats to all of them, I'm really satisfied with the results! But I hoped Alissa could be on the podium, but oh well...Rachael's skating was so disappointing, I usually really like her:(
But I'm saying it again, I think Mao's got some problems, really....she's too thin and she seemed tired throughout the programme. Her legs, her chest, her face....I don't know, she just looked very unhealthy.:(

**skatinginbc** · 04-30-2011, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Hernando

a huge sigh of relief that the unpolished junior skating of Alena did not medal here. Having spunk is not the same as having TR, good CH and SS.

I cannot agree more. Had Caro not skated well today and Alissa missed the bronze because of Alena's inflated PCS scores, I would have cried out loud for no justice in the world. Thank you Carolina!!!

**amateur** · 04-30-2011, 10:14 AM

Wow, they were harsh on Marakova! I had feared she was going to be handed that bronze, taking into account her SP lead over Kostner - but not even close! Marakova is a strong skater, but her programs really bugged me. Trying too hard. You feel she could do better with something smoother.

I enjoyed Leonova quite a bit more. She was a darling! Her SP was truly fantastic, a real highlight for me. LP not quite as much, showing a bit more empty, but she has a genuine sense of character which is really refreshing. I think her basic skating has improved over the past year of so too; I don't remember her being as smooth. I do agree with Leonova's placement, just barely out of bronze, and ahead of Czisny.

Czisny would have a more emphatic case if she didn't skate with that visible tentativeness all the time. That 2nd half of her program is just so gorgeous it doesn't matter.. but it is only by the end that you feel this, instead of all the way through, due to her tentativeness. With more attack, I would say that no question Czisny would be clearly above the likes of Leonova, but what Leonova showed was sufficiently smooth in technique and brimming full of character and attack, and this does put her in the game with Czisny, who projects caution.

Ando deserved the win, but that LP is completely and utterly unremarkable. For me, the problem 1st and foremost is the music - I have always strongly disliked that piece! I don't see what can really be done with it, artistically. She had an unexpectedly lovely SP, showing that she do it with the right material.

Kim was good. Just really good. This by her standards seems a let-down, but I think she had a good showing, and still did come off the classy ice-princess relative to the field, even if not the winner this time. The program was nice, would have come across much better I think if she were really sharp. Can't fault her for not being so - what skater is, on a program's competitive season-debut? (well, hopefully Virtue and Moir will be, later today :D)

In Mao's performance there was sadly very little of the artistic impact that I found in it at the beginning of the season. She seemes to be off in projecting, Not nearly as smooth and light as she can be. Perhaps she was really concentrating to get those jumps done. I do agree with her placement, yes even relative to Leonova.

Rachael looked sad. She just did not have it! I wonder if this is the end of the journey for her? If she continues, she really really has to work on posture and spins.

Kostner was a pure delight. Artistically that was easily the best performance, a great achievement.

I overall agreed with the judging, though Mao's score could have maybe been a touch higher, a bit closer to Czisny (though still behind) - was she hurt by being in the 2nd last group - she looked rather stunned by that score, for a mostly clean performance.

And though I didn't enjoy Makarova's program at all, I was still surprised that she was rather hosed by the judges. I wouldn't throw any accusations of fishy judging for the Russian ladies - as I said I do think Leonova landed in the correct spot, and if Kostner hadn't quite hit her program the way she did, Leonova in my mind would have been a worthy bronze medalist here.

**ILoveFigures** · 04-30-2011, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Dodhiyel

Unless I misunderstand what the ISU has to say, Rule 377 only guarantees the top ten wins two spots when there is only *one* entry from a country. When a country fields *two* entries, the total placements of the two skaters has to be "Not more than 28". I think confusion arises because when there is only *one* entry, the rule is "Not more than 10".

You have misunderstood. Finland gets 2 spots next year regardless because Korpi finished in the top 10. If a skater finishes in the top 10, that skater's country automatically gets 2 spots next year.

**aemeraldrainc** · 04-30-2011, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by lavender

Thank you. Alissa should be ahead of Alena even with a fall. They almost put that horrid program on the podium. I'm sorry but that is a terrible program.

ITA! I'm sure Leonova is a nice girl, but that program....

**kensal** · 04-30-2011, 10:17 AM

I also agree that Leonova could have been very worthy bronze medalist. Looking at protocols between Kostner and Leonova, I am very surpirsed she was held down so much when they had great opporunity to push her.

I suspect had Leonova skated after Kostner, she could have got on the podium. Perhaps judges were hoping for Makarova to deliver.

**Dodhiyel** · 04-30-2011, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by ILoveFigures

You have misunderstood. Finland gets 2 spots next year regardless because Korpi finished in the top 10. If a skater finishes in the top 10, that skater's country automatically gets 2 spots next year.

Thank you. I wish I had found that written in the ISU rules. Can you give me the ISU publication number where that appears, please? I want to have accurate rules records filed, and clearly, I don't.

**katymay** · 04-30-2011, 10:24 AM

Alissa does not always hit the spins, but today all of them were on another level from the rest of the field. She may well be the best female spinner in the world, ever...(trying to dig up names from the past....Cohen's layback was wonderful, but as fast as Alissa? Don't think so) Judges are still rewarding power jumps, and inflated SS scores for skaters with power jumps. Even if she retires, she can retire with "worlds best spins" just as there are moves in the field that Sasha is still better at than anyone else before or after her. (spirals, split jumps, spread eagle...to name a few)
When I watched Alissa spin today, I wonder about the physics of it-she is a tall girl, not tiny and compact, and she shouldn't be able to spin that fast...but she does. Amazing.

**kappa_1** · 04-30-2011, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by katymay

Alissa does not always hit the spins, but today all of them were on another level from the rest of the field. She may well be the best female spinner in the world, ever...(trying to dig up names from the past....Cohen's layback was wonderful, but as fast as Alissa? Don't think so)

*Ahem*Lucinda Ruh, Nathalie Krieg*Ahem*

**JeffyJosephNCA** · 04-30-2011, 10:31 AM

Congrats to all the medalists, wasn't the best Worlds but I'm glad we got one this year despite almost not getting one at all! Also happy for Alissa for showing us she's a fighter, hopefully next year she will continue her journey of transformation! And not sure anyone mentioned it but congrats to Yuna for her 5th straight World Medal! The most since Michelle's 9 World Medals in a row!

**wallylutz** · 04-30-2011, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by KKonas

Agree completely with your analysis. Ando has improved in expression, Kim was lackluster, Kostner was wonderful and Leonova attacked her program. Czisny was almost there. Flatt was disappointing - no fire - so slow. Poor Mao - I wish she would eat something.

In every sense of the word, Kim just didn't do well with mistakes in both her SP and LP. But beyond the obvious & visible mistakes, her performance showed a definite lack of refinement which are no less serious than the visible errors. The fact is, her PCS used to be head & shoulders above her competitors. Today, her PCS is barely higher than her competitors the point that even though she didn't get any negative GOE for doing a poor 3S+1T combo, her solo error on the Triple Flip was enough to erase her SP advantage over Ando and Ando's stepping out of her 2A combo. Ando had planned a 2A+3T combo, which was changed to a 2A+2T with stepping out, yet, she still beat Kim. That would not have happened last year or the year before.

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.

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:

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.

**TT_Fin** · 04-30-2011, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Dodhiyel

Thank you. I wish I had found that written in the ISU rules. Can you give me the ISU publication number where that appears, please? I want to have accurate rules records filed, and clearly, I don't.

"Competitors who qualified for the Free Skating (Free Dance in Ice Dance), but were not placed higher than 16th place in the final result will be awarded 16 points (or the number of points equal to the number of Competitors if the number of Competitors entered is less than 16 in cases of withdrawals not
29
specified in the paragraph below);"

http://www5.isu.org/vsite/vfile/page...-0-file,00.pdf Page 29, 2b. So no the top ten, but the rule about 16 points someone else wrote exists there.

**Marrymeyunakim** · 04-30-2011, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by wallylutz

In every sense of the word, Kim just didn't do well with mistakes in both her SP and LP. But beyond the obvious & visible mistakes, her performance showed a definite lack of refinement which are no less serious than the visible errors. The fact is, her PCS used to be head & shoulders above her competitors. Today, her PCS is barely higher than her competitors the point that even though she didn't get any negative GOE for doing a poor 3S+1T combo, her solo error on the Triple Flip was enough to erase her SP advantage over Ando and Ando's stepping out of her 2A combo. Ando had planned a 2A+3T combo, which was changed to a 2A+2T with stepping out, yet, she still beat Kim. That would not have happened last year or the year before.

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.

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:

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.

You're being unnecessarily mean, wallylutz. She came 2nd and she did the best she could with her programs.

I certainly expected her skating to lack some usual polish, and I did not think she could just come back into competition and earn an easy victory. And that she didn't. Still she earned the silver and that is a great achievement in itself.