2012 Cup of China Ladies Long Program

[FSGMT]

Mao's program:

[brightphoton]

Having seen the jumps on replay I think the score was probably fair/good.

I am sure she will be happy with this at least somewhat. She gets some prize money and is getting credibility back with the judges. One step at a time for her now.

Mao is GORGEOUS. It is surreal to watch her. She floats. Crowd is going crazy and rightly so.

Do 4th place finishers get prize money, (assuming Julia also medals)?

[draqq]

A little scratchy on the ending footwork, but I thoroughly enjoyed Mao's performance. She rarely let a note go by without interpreting it in some way. She will definitely get a full downgrade on the triple toe, and her double lutz won't serve her well. I imagine a 114 or so.

[sequinsgalore]

Asada
Score: 118.87, total 181.76 and into 1st

[tulosai]

Ok now I get to worry about little Julia... hope she can be as consistent here as she always has...

[Trewyn]

Srprised Mirai got such a low score but downgrades and I tink a little lack of performance (not many highs and lows in the choreography, I think?) dinged her.

I like Mao's Swan Lake, especially the choreography sequence at the end

Lipnitskaia now: first time I see her live (on tv).

[tulosai]

Do 4th place finishers get prize money, (assuming Julia also medals)?

Yes, $3,000. 5th place gets $2,000 as well

[Trewyn]

Do 4th place finishers get prize money, (assuming Julia also medals)?

Yes, I think so, and they get to skate in the gala too.

[sequinsgalore]

Julia LIPNITSKAIA (RUS)

Music: Nutcracker by Peter I. Tchaikovski (Lots of Tchaikovski tonight)

White lace dress w/long sleeves and gloves

3Lz+3T - eeked out, rotation looked OK
2A+3T - hand down/stepout
2A
3Lo
FCSp - didn't get enough rotations on the last variation
3Lz+2T
3F
3S
StSq
ChSq
CCoSp
LSp

Some small mistakes, she is human afterall. Will it be enough for gold?

[tulosai]

How Julia held onto that first combo I will never know. Really a lot of her jumps looked a bit off/tilted to me, she definitely fought for this program. Will be interesting how she is scored compared to Mao. I really do not know what will happen.

[FSGMT]

She looked really nervous today, but the program is she looks really disappointed...

[sequinsgalore]

Lipnitskaia
Score: 114.86, total 177.92 and into 2nd. Silver!

[bibi24]

MAO wins MAO wins MAO wins!!!

[draqq]

I disagree with the commentators. Lipnitskaia is just moving around the rink putting her leg to her face. I hope she actually cares about exuding some kind of energy, because her interpretation is actually flat and blah. I don't want to watch rhythmic gymnastics on ice. She has technical style and brilliance, but has a void of musical artistry apart from the choreography that was given to her.

[tulosai]

She looked really nervous today, but the program is she looks really disappointed...

I really like Julia A LOT but honestly I do think all the winning has slightly gone to her head. I don't mean I think she is conceited but I do think she slightly lacks an appreciation for the depth of the ladies senior field/the fact that she isn't in Juniors any more. I understand why she is disappointed (and she's only 14) but really there is no shame in losing to Mao Asada!