Okay, I know this is not going to be a popular opinion, but it is just the way I see it.
I respect Mao and likes some of her early work (as well as her Olympic season program performed at WC2011), but can't help notice the blatant biases strongly favouring her over the other competitors supported by her strong (&rich) federation and ISU who seems determined to prop her up contrary to what is delivered. Although I still enjoy her exhibition like Jupiter which is free from these politicking. Having analysed all the scores from the top ladies, it seems this year ISU is determined to push her through to as some sort of entitled leading lady: 2 times world champion (though neither times won SP or LP on her both competitions).
Her program is overmarked based on neither deliver the technical content or performance. Mao artistry has always been questionable (artistry is not one type of static beauty, though beauty certainly is one of the vocabularies of artistry). I think Mao has always been great when she is skating as herself. She is somewhat an innocent sheltered girl without much life experience who has always been put on a pedal stall, well protected, revered and adored by her country. When she does ethereal or charming, her performance resembles those little sweet darling girls performing to their loving parents who probably never said one critical thing to them except full of love, praises and support. Materials outside these narrow realms I am not yet convinced. Until recent Jupiter indicate she can do stuff outside her comfort zone, but she need to experience it to really get it. Lack of creativity and imagination could make her artistically stagnant unless a firm hand in guiding her to explore and experience things outside her comfort space.
If you look her technical content for LP for example, it consist of only 4 triples, 2 in combinations, No 3A or 3:3 you'd expect from a leading lady of her calibre, yet during both of her competitions, only 3 clean triples counted for both.
@ NHK she had the 3lutz edge call, 1 combo was under rotated. No 3:3 or 3A yet attempts. She scored 125.85 then, the HIGHEST LP score this year!
@ CoR she again were only able to completed 3 triples, this time the failed 3lutz was downgraded. She scored 118.96 then!
http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/...12/sbtslfs.htm
Yes she is suppose to have level4 for her non jump elements (though I am not expert in these, but i find then questionable when her 2nd LP performance was visibly slower and tentative with less flows as well. Akiko and Carolina Kostner for me is more worthy of level 4 as they showed more attack, pace, flow and speed as well as coverage. I often hear praise for Mao being so light on ice..but physically she is the skinniest ladies skaters right now, so no wonder she is light on ice (?!) Surely had she been more attacking and more powerful, it would be more praise worthy or convincing?
Take her 3 triples scores from the lesser LP score, with 3lutz downgrade 118.96 (without a 3A or 3:3) relative to other ladies contenders in the field:
- Liza (Skate Canada 117.71 with 6 triples include 3:3, 2 in combination, clean, no negative GOE.) (TEB 120.85, 6 triples include 3:3, 2 in combinations, no negative GOE)
- Alena (CoR, 117.54 with 6 triples, 1 under rotation)
- Akiko (NHK 119.43, 6 triples, 1 edge on flip, 1 < on combo. Skate Canada 6 triples, 1 e on the combo, 1 combo was <)
- Carolina Kostner (Another one propped up imho) (CoC 120.26, 5 triple program, 2 in combination, -GOE in 3F, 3S Combo)
The highest total score for the ladies so far this year are
1. Akiko NHK 185.98 (1x 3:3 in SP)
2. MAO NHK 184.19 (no 3:3 or 3A in either LP or SP, mistakes and -GOE)
3. MAO COR 183.25 (no 3:3 or 3A in either LP or SP, mistakes and -GOE)
4. Liza 182.89 (2 x 3:3 in SP and LP. Clean, no negative GOE)
5. Carolina COC 182.14 (1 x 3:3 in SP)
6. Alena 180.83 (2 x 3:3 in SP and LP)
7. Alissa Czisny, USA: 179.15 (Trophee Eric Bompard. no 3:3 But at Skate Amercia with a 3:3 was attempted but failed)
While I agree Mao is a superior skater, I don't think the judge is marking her correctly based on what she is delivering now but what she ought to be.
My conclusion. Given the political climate with ISU that clearly seems to favour 'certain' skaters.
Their ideal is likely to be
1. Mao (Japan has always favoured Mao above everyone else anyway, certainly Miki and Akiko.)
2. Carolina
3. Akiko/Liza
If it is up to me based on merit of what I see, appeal and performance.
I'd consider more likely to be
1. Liza (I understand about the criticisms, but they are things she can't control, by default of her physical size, age, ice coverage are fault of the choreography. The things she can control, she always did well. Some might say she lack in maturity but I'd say actually she is maturer than her age AND maturer than other skaters ought to be at their age.)
2. Akiko (Under marked for years, she deserve this, and for her gumption landing her 3:3 at age 26! Let alone her gorgeous musicality and generous performer spirit! She is simply charming, although I still prefer her old programs. )
3. Mao/Carolina/Alissa (All following their strategically safe 'complementary' route that are supported by their strong federations, their RP, instead go out there and earn their rightful place which I know they are fully capable of based on their previous work.)
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Mens... had they all gone clean, my ideal would be
1. Daisuke
2. Hanyu/Patrick (only because they have the technical content to support it)
3. Jeremy
But what is more likely
1. Patrick.
2. Daisuke.
3. Jeremy / Javier
4. Hanyu/Javier
Originally Posted by pangtongfan
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