LADIES FREE Skate

[artsciboy]

About all these young Russian girls who will be entering seniors next year: Don't forget, they're all due to be hit with puberty pretty soon. It will be interesting to see who survives it.

ITA. I like all the young Russians - but puberty is nobody's friend.

[Becki]

Since Kostner is only getting better. Ando in fact peaked way back in 2007, last year was her late career peak but she capatilized on the super weak field which was even worse than this year. Plus Kostner is just a better skater. Ando is only a jumper so unless her jumps are right on, she isnt much of a threat. Kostner can afford less than the hardest and most consistent jumps everytime since she has the PCS and other elements. Ando also isnt likely to get the inflated PCS she got last year again, which was more the result of timing than anything.

If you started a poll who has a better chance to medal in Sochi between Kostner and Ando I am pretty sure Kostner would win in a landslide.

Wait...Ando peaked in 2007, but she peaked again in 2011? How can you tell? How do you know she won't get any better?

Kostner is only getting better in what aspect? Artistically - maybe, but definitely not technically. Ando is slowly developing her artistic ability (or rather ability to evoke emotion), and I think she hasn't reached her true potential in that department yet.

What Ando has that Kostner lacks (besides this season) is consistency. Last year, I believed all her LPs were skated cleanly.

Remember, Ando won the bronze in a strong ladies' field in 2009, and placed 5th at the Winter Olympics. If it had to do with timing, Ando wouldn't have achieved such admirable achievements. Kostner was able to win despite lackluster technical content is because of the TIMING - the field was so weak this year, you didn't need a 3-3 to medal.

[adamlondon]

Sigh 5 triple program, no lutz and you get a world championship. the standard for women have dropped a lot since the days of midori, yuka and michelle, by a mile

[mikeko666]

Kostner is an athlete no more than Ando was an artist last year.

[drivingmissdaisy]

Kostner is an athlete no more than Ando was an artist last year.

This is a sport though...

[mateusp1]

Carolina was stunning, amazing, beautiful.

Her jumps were more than textbook. They were PERFECT!

The first loop, flip and salchow were absolutely flawless. That jumps jumps deserved, at least, +2,0 GOE. The steps, spins and everything worked so well.

[Becki]

Sigh 5 triple program, no lutz and you get a world championship. the standard for women have dropped a lot since the days of midori, yuka and michelle, by a mile

Only this year. Next year will be a battlefield.

[Mrs. P]

Protocals breakdown (for top 15 because, it's reveals so many crazy trends!)

Things to note:
** Ashley executed the most difficult program of the night (highest base value). Ashley also had the highest score in jumps.
** Carolina's program was sixth in difficulty, but she had a on of +GOE. She also had the highest non-jump elements. Goes to show that good execution will help you.
** Mao's tech was dismal. She was saved by decent GOE and her non-jump elements (and PCS)
** They gave a lot of level 4 for footwork. Interesting.

Base Value:
Ashley: 57.70
Alena: 56.57
Yretha: 55.63
Akiko: 55.59
Kexin: 55.40
Carolina: 53.04
Kanako: 53.02
Valentina: 51.92
Elena: 50.50
Sonia: 48.00
Viktoria: 45.78
Jenna: 43.46
Ksenia: 42.30
Elene: 42.13
Mao: 39.88

GOE
Carolina: 10.18
Akiko: 6.47
Ashley: 5.21
Mao: 5.13
Alena: 4.00
Jenna: 3.45
Kanako: 2.51
Kexin: 2.67
Sofia: 2.04
Yretha: 0.22
Elena: 0.44
Viktoria: 0.41
Elene: -0.62
Ksenia: -2.52
Valetina: -3.05


Jumps:
Ashley 44.81
Carolina: 42.64
Alena: 42.83
Akiko: 41.75
Kexin: 40.50
Yretha: 40.44
Kanako: 36.35
Elena : 35.20
Sonia:34.83
Valentina: 32.12
Jenna: 31.36
Viktoria: 28.91
Mao: 25.09
Ksenia: 23.13
Elene: 24.39


Non-jump elements:
Carolina: 20.58
Akiko: 20.31
Mao: 19.92
Kanako: 19.18
Ashley: 18.10
Alena: 17.74
Kexin: 17.57
Viktoria: 17.28
Elene: 17.12
Valentina: 16.75
Ksenia: 16.65
Jenna: 15.55
Elena: 15.74
Yretha: 15.41
Sonia: 15.21

[FTnoona]

How many points are need to keep 2 spots for next years worlds and did the US ladies keep 2 spots? Thanks.

[Jammers]

Yes the US kept 2 spots next year thanks to Ashley.

[sky_fly20]

^

yes Ashley is above Top 12, so US maintains 2 spots

[artsciboy]

How many points are need to keep 2 spots for next years worlds and did the US ladies keep 2 spots? Thanks.

28 pts and yes, the US did - Alissa gets 16 + Ashley's 4th = 20.

[FTnoona]

28 pts and yes, the US did - Alissa gets 16 + Ashley's 4th = 20.

K, thanks.

[rallycairn]

Any links to vid of the ladies medal ceremony? Thanks

[Olympia]

Mrs. P, thanks for the comparisons. Very interesting. Look, for instance, how high Mao is in GOE and non-jump elements. (This is a consolation to me.) And Ashley is at the top in two categories! Carolina is first or second in everything except base values, in which case she's all the way down in sixth.