Ladies Free

[ImaginaryPogue]

No. The number of entrants that qualify for the Olympics doesn't change. For example, if the Olympics were next year, Canada would have three men and dance teams, two pairs, and one lady. The skaters who did the main competition and the team event would have to come from that. So, example, presume this is Canada's Olympic team.

Men: Chan, Reynolds, Rogozine
Ladies: Osmond
Pairs: Mt/M, D/R
Dance: V/M, W/P, G/P

One from each discipline would participate in the team event short program. Then Canada could substitute skaters in up to two disciplines for the free. IF a qualifying team DOESN'T have a participant in that event (lets say that the Canadian lady bombed at Worlds a la Chen Lu in 1997 and didn't qualify for the Olympics at Nebelhorn/whatever), they do get a slot for one skater, but the ISU wants the top skaters to compete.

[DobrinFan]

^OK this was just a great explanation. Thank you!!! Lord knows I wouldn't want to send my B team. Just saying....

I might have to steal this post if someone asks again

[ImaginaryPogue]

Random depressing observation: Phaneuf's TES in the LP was lower than Kostner's or Susuzki's TES in the SP. Canada might be wise to give up it's single ladies slot to a pairs team (oh, if we could!)

[sky_fly20]

Random depressing observation: Phaneuf's TES in the LP was lower than Kostner's or Susuzki's TES in the SP. Canada might be wise to give up it's single ladies slot to a pairs team (oh, if we could!)

Ksenia Makarova will solve this problem

[Jammers]

Well Gracie didn't quite kick butt like i was hoping in the LP but at least we didn't see her look petrified like Alissa or Mirai do and she kept fighting even though things weren't going her way. No 5 falls for this girl.

[jenaj]

I thought Gracie Gold did very well in her senior debut. She was just a fraction of a point behind Adelina. If she had done her triple-triple, she would have been in fourth, easily. I also liked the fact that she didn't seem to have the fear that both Alissa and Mirai always seem to have before they skate. I am not saying it should have happened, but if Gracie had gone to Worlds instead of Alissa, the US would probably have three spots next year.

[dorispulaski]

Gracie looked a bit rattled before the skate, but she never gave up. Her score of 169+ would have put her ahead of Mao Asada at Worlds, in 6th place. Combined with Ashley's 4th place finish, Gracie would have been seeded in the GP for 2 events, and the US would have 3 ladies spots.

So while I wanted Gracie to deliver the skate she had at Jr Worlds or US Nationals her, that was an excellent debut skate for a US lady these days, and for a girl who didn't even make it to Nationals last year.

Yoyogi full of screaming fans, with all the weight of possibly medalling or possibly helping your team win was a bit overwhelming in the LP for all the ladies. Maybe Meite & LaCoste skated nearly their best. No one else did.

[drivingmissdaisy]

Something about last place skaters getting medals doesn't seem right.

Exactly why I hate the team competition as an Olympic event. There's nothing "team" about this sport.

[hurrah]

Came back from Yoyogi stadium and just some random thoughts.

My first time to see Alena and of course it was her off day but I saw what it was that could make her win on a good day. She has this ability to accelerate into her jumps which I did not see with any other skater. In all other aspects, I did not see anything particularly superior (compared to the other elite skaters that are her competitors, that is). I thought her stroking was not that great, particularly compared to Carolina's whose stroking had this smoothness to it that was beautiful to behold, but even compared to others, I thought her stroking looked awkward (which made me think that former ice dancers don't know how to teach stroking very well).

Both Adelina and Gracie Gold were very nice, speedy, big skaters. Gracie's jumps looked so stable and textbook compared to Adelina's, though. It really bothers me that Adelina lifts her leg too high when she lands jumps because it seems to break the flow. I thought Adelina had some other jump issues that needed resolving. In terms of skating skills and spins, Adelina was better. I disagree with some posters who think that Gracie would have done just as well at Worlds. Her teammates, I think, really helped her get into the competition with their cheering, and it was really a perfect way for her to debut as a senior skater. She might have given a far poorer performance if she had been thrown into Worlds.

Kanako's jumps were really scary. I thought she was going to fall every time she took off and it's amazing that she landed some. It's a shame because Kanako showed so much potential. Yamada Machiko really doesn't know how to coach jumps and she should realize her limitations and get Kanako a proper jump coach. Also, Kanako bobs up and down too much when she is stroking around.

I have other things I saw and thought but it would take too long to write them all out so that's all regarding the skaters.

Regarding the stadium, there was this camera hanging from the ceiling on two crisscrossing strings (if you look carefully, you can sometimes spot it in the background of the skaters) and the camera was following the skaters around the whole time they were skating. The footage was hardly used, I think, but I think it must have been this camera that was also picking up the sound of the skater's blades?? Anyway, I thought it was really neat.

The Italian and French teams showed alot of team spirit and comradery, followed closely by the American team. I think the Russian team today made an effort to show team spirit as well. The Japanese team were very supportive as well but they are Japanese after all and it was not in them to act so rowdy as the Italian/French/American. The Canadian team was fairly quiet. They were dressed mostly in black as opposed to the other teams who were dressed up in color. However, Tessa and Scott were in their seats well before their other teammates and in this way were trying to show their respect for the event, I guess. I saw Patrick snacking alot! I guess he was hungry.

Just some random observations.

[let`s talk]

I was pleasantly surprised to see how many gifts and flowers Adelina got. I think only Japanese and Carolina got more. And Adelina has never skated in Japan before. She has the highest and longest jumps among all participants, but the quality of landings and other stuff didn't make them be perfect. Yet. Still she won over her main competitior at this event, she got her seasonal best and this I am sure left her in a good spirit. Gracie's skating is only jumping, posturing and too many cross overs. Compared to her Ashley in her cast iron skates was like a prima-ballerina of the Bolshoi theatre. All this Gracie's ice princess image is fine, but it can't work forever. She should do something and her current coach team is not going to help her much. I know she is still young, but. What I am saying is she doesn't look as promising as Mao or Yuna looked at her age. In the warm-up Kanako did everything she wanted to do. But then in skating she just failed to deliver. Caro almost could make me sleepy but the supportive and cheerful audience wouldn't let it happen. In general Ladies event was well-attended with both bowls full (Saturday).

[Jammers]

I was pleasantly surprised to see how many gifts and flowers Adelina got. I think only Japanese and Carolina got more. And Adelina has never skated in Japan before. She has the highest and longest jumps among all participants, but the quality of landings and other stuff didn't make them be perfect. Yet. Still she won over her main competitior at this event, she got her seasonal best and this I am sure left her in a good spirit. Gracie's skating is only jumping, posturing and too many cross overs. Compared to her Ashley in her cast iron skates was like a prima-ballerina of the Bolshoi theatre. All this Gracie's ice princess image is fine, but it can't work forever. She should do something and her current coach team is not going to help her much. I know she is still young, but. What I am saying is she doesn't look as promising as Mao or Yuna looked at her age. In the warm-up Kanako did everything she wanted to do. But then in skating she just failed to deliver. Caro almost could make me sleepy but the supportive and cheerful audience wouldn't let it happen. In general Ladies event was well-attended with both bowls full (Saturday).

Gracie was a Junior this year she admitted she spent it getting tech content up not as much on other aspects of her skating. At least give her a chance to get better before you bury her. And just who has looked as good as Mao or Kim at their age? Ashley? Carolina? Akikko? That is a moronic comparison. No one has compared Gracie to Kim or Mao at the same age.

[let`s talk]

And just who has looked as good as Mao or Kim at their age? Ashley? Carolina? Akikko? That is a moronic comparison. No one has compared Gracie to Kim or Mao at the same age.

Alright. Let's not compare her to Yuna or Mao. Let's go fresher. In terms of PCS she looks way worse than Adelina. And Adelina is younger. Once again, nobody is burying Gracie. What I am saying is she needs one more specialist who will help her. Or a new coach.

[FlattFan]

Gracie was a Junior this year she admitted she spent it getting tech content up not as much on other aspects of her skating. At least give her a chance to get better before you bury her. And just who has looked as good as Mao or Kim at their age? Ashley? Carolina? Akikko? That is a moronic comparison. No one has compared Gracie to Kim or Mao at the same age.

Caro was one of those who got hyped up a lot when she was younger. Mainly because she can do both 3F-3T, 3Lz-3T. No weakness, speed is legendary. All they could talk about is her speed. Some thought she would be someone to challenge for gold in Turin.

Ashley and Akiko were no where near Kim or Mao at a young age.

Gracie is 17yo. She should skate with a bit more polished. She doesn't have a program that I would go back to watch again like the other girls.

Adelina is in a worse position than Gracie going forward. Her technique is just horrible. She will lose all of her jumps as her body fill out more. All of her landings are just so forward. I don't think she will be a factor at any big event.

[drivingmissdaisy]

I can't fault a coach who really brought Gracie out of nowhere to compete well against the top world juniors in one year. One skater is not going to be the best at everything and it's nice to see an American woman doing difficult jumps and not falling all over the place. I'm just afraid if she focuses too much on artistry and loses her jumps she will be in a bad position because she'll never be the best artist out there, but she can at least be a very good artist with world-class technical content.

[drivingmissdaisy]

Adelina is in a worse position than Gracie going forward. Her technique is just horrible. She will lose all of her jumps as her body fill out more. All of her landings are just so forward. I don't think she will be a factor at any big event.

Her jumps did look shakier than they had in the past. She was my favorite of the young Russians before the start of the season and I still think she could factor in at big events. However I think she might need one more season to improve her jump technique before that happens.