LADIES FREE Skate

[Olympia]

Thanks so much for the live report! One day I'd love to be in the stands during a competition--and you got to be at a World Championship. I can see the downside of being there after your report, too; you can't go anywhere to get away when a skater has a meltdown. You have to stay and watch the whole thing. But I'm glad to hear that the audience tried to support Alissa while she skated.

Like you, I don't know what's going on with Mao. I hope she's able to sort out her thoughts and feelings by next season. What an exquisite skater she is, and if things go right, she's nowhere near the end of her career. Wasn't this the first year Suzuki had a triple-triple, and she's several years older than Mao. This gives me great hopes for Mao's future.

It sounds as if watching Carolina was a truly great moment for everyone there. How lovely that she was able to win in Europe; I'm sure a lot of her friends and family were there to see her.

[hurrah]

A longtime supporter of Mao on her fan forum suggested that Mao might have been injured during practice after the short program, and with this in mind, I just finished rewatching Mao on Japanese television and Shizuka commented that she had noticed that Mao 'seemed hesitant in a way that was not related to nerves'　even before she started her performance, and had been worried. So I think it's possible she was injured. If so, I hope it's not serious.

And now I'm rewatching Carolina's fabulous long program and I think Lori Nichol really knows how to work to skater's strength. Carolina is incredibly fast but she's got no musicality. Or rather, she probably has musicality but she can't skate to music and expect to successfully jump at the same time, so I see that Lori designed a 'modern' program that doesn't require Carolina to pay attention to nuances of music, and it really worked for her because the fact that she skates with complete disregard of Mozart showcases her speed and makes the program really interesting to watch.

[Aya]

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.

Adelina has already growen a lot she may be done so know she will have the time to adjust to her new body.

[StellaCampo]

Some one might have already reported this here, but according to the Japanese newspaper Mainichi-on-line, since her arrival at Nice Mao tried 3A 48 times (all failed). Even on the afternoon of 31st she tried 6 times all U/R. The 1A in the FS was apparently meant to be 3A (...sigh...)

[sky_fly20]

Some one might have already reported this here, but according to the Japanese newspaper Mainichi-on-line, since her arrival at Nice Mao tried 3A 48 times (all failed). Even on the afternoon of 31st she tried 6 times all U/R. The 1A in the FS was apparently meant to be 3A (...sigh...)

48 times ?
Mao needs to stop with the 3A obsession
its becoming her burden either her 3A she either falls, gets UR or downgraded
why not got for a 3-3 combo or easy triple jump layout with good base value which can rack +GOE
thats better than a popped 3A turning to 1A

[La Rhumba]

And now I'm rewatching Carolina's fabulous long program and I think Lori Nichol really knows how to work to skater's strength. Carolina is incredibly fast but she's got no musicality. Or rather, she probably has musicality but she can't skate to music and expect to successfully jump at the same time, so I see that Lori designed a 'modern' program that doesn't require Carolina to pay attention to nuances of music, and it really worked for her because the fact that she skates with complete disregard of Mozart showcases her speed and makes the program really interesting to watch.

This year Carolina's Coach has slowed her down a bit, and it's worked. Gedevanishvilli needs to do the same. She skates far too fast to maintain control of the Jumps. I disagree with you about Carolina's expression in the Mozart FP, I thought she interpreted the accents in the music with her body movements and choreography well. It was lovely to see her finally win a World title, and she gave such a sweet and thoughtful interview to Gwendal afterwards. Yes! At last she can put the disappointment and pain of Torino 2006 behind her for good, and enjoy her success. Hopefully this will lift the burden off her shoulders.

Can someone please explain to me how Czisny, Gedevanishvilli and Makarova all got higher PCS, having all had multiple falls and disastrous FPs, than skaters who did not fall, had better technical content and interpreted their music? I'm talking about Jenna McCorkell, who got 8 points lower on PCS than Makarova's awful FP - with that bizarre music selection and show choreography. This entire Worlds, the Judges have used the PCS to prop well known skaters up, or make their scores look more respectable after a bad skate, just like the old days when the second mark was used. I thought COP was supposed to prevent all of that nonsense?
I seriously wonder if some Judges even know what good choreography and interpretation is?

[Hikaru]

does anyone know what type of blade is Carolina using? I just noticed it in a close-up to her skates, the mounting looks different. Is it a special type of a blade?

[Jaana]

I really loved the skating of Kostner, Suzuki and Wagner! Wagner has a fantastic choreography to great music, her skating and the programme were my favourites of the evening. She, Kostner and Suzuki all had different kinds of programmes, but all very enjoyable.

[ayayukiituka]

Some one might have already reported this here, but according to the Japanese newspaper Mainichi-on-line, since her arrival at Nice Mao tried 3A 48 times (all failed). Even on the afternoon of 31st she tried 6 times all U/R. The 1A in the FS was apparently meant to be 3A (...sigh...)

I don't know why you mentioned only this part without Mr.Sato's words. He answered her practice in Japan went well and 3As were nearly perfect then. So it's hard to say to avoid it. (Maybe it's a reason she hardly falls it when she fails at performance.) Mao said after-FP interview she had lost the feeling of rotate it.　Besides,Japanese TV shows her nosebleed during Leonova's skate. Not sure it was a reason of her luck of fucus though.
After seeing her practice video on YT including fine 2A-3T and 3F-3Lo,I had a feeling she could bounce back strong at FS. She was eager to attempt the 3-3. Practice went well in Nice,too except 3A. I understand why she went for it if her goal this season was to complete all triples in free program.

[StellaCampo]

I don't know why you mentioned only this part without Mr.Sato's words. He answered her practice in Japan went well and 3As were nearly perfect then. So it's hard to say to avoid it.

I wouldn't trust a surgeon who's most recent 50 patients have all died even if he previously saved 1000 lives.

[aftertherain]

I wouldn't trust a surgeon who's most recent 50 patients have all died even if he previously saved 1000 lives.

I honestly don't understand how this analogy applies to the Sato-Asada relationship.

[Phobiamaster856]

Honestly I'm sick of USFSA promoting Team USA and its all Team USA every skater is responsible for the "team". This is complete bull **** as figure skating is an individual sport and in the days of the Kwan dynasty it was every skater for him or herself. This added pressure of if you mess up you not only let yourself down but Team USA as well. USFSA's priorities need to shift....its not about Team building its about having U.S. skaters winning and competing against each other for the top spot

[Mathman]

^ I agree with that point of view.

[geoffil]

Was Alissa's hip injured? Look at her bielman's and spirals. She looks a little tentative like she had something physically wrong with her. I hope the team explains what happened to her and fixes the problem.

[Mathman]

Welcome, geoffil. Thanks for joining us. Post often post long!