2012 TEB Ladies Long Program Lp

[3T3T]

Great performance by Tuk, it was my favourite performance of the day. I think the judges are tough on her PCS scores, unfairly so, I would have her closer to Wagner and she should more or less level with Julia. I find Wagners performance to be a bit forced, don't like her style, it's a bit false or something. The judges clearly like her, she has a great shot for a worlds podium if not the title. I enjoy Julias performances but I think the ankle injury held her back a bit plus I think she seems a bit nervous/tense, her axle does look a bit different.

I really love to Polina K's presentation but sadly her jumps were not on yesterday. It's a very mature style, which is a bit unusual in todays skating.

[golden411]

Ashley Wagner ‏@AshWagner2010

To those who were waiting outside the rink, I'm sorry if I didn't give you an autograph! It was very cold and I'm sick!
8:11 AM - 18 Nov 12

Wagner is sick today? Hope that she feels better soon.

[FlattFan]

True, but Carolina didn't have the amount of jumps Ashley did nor did she have the transitions into and out of her jumps. It's also important to remember that scoring is relative to the competition.

I think Ashley's PCS are high but given the speed she skates with, ease across the ice and sureness of movement (SS), the difficult transitions into and out of her elements (TR), the gorgeous choreography that highlights the music (CH), her attention to the music and portrayal of the character (IN) and the fact that she executed all of her elements and performed with energy and excitement (PE), I'd say those marks are justified.

Sorry, but you also think that Agnes has the speed and the ease across the ice. So tt means you know nothing about speed and ease across the ice.
I've seen Wagner live. She's above average in term of speed. Not the kind of girl you'd go WOW! when seeing live. She's good. Her PCS, about 4 points more than she deserved.

Caro didn't break that kind of PCS even after getting on the World podium multiple times. And her choreography and interpretation have always been two or three levels above Wagner. Her SS should be at least 2 points above Wagner.

PCS is so crazy now, it's a turn off for me.

[ForeverFish]

Ashley Wagner ‏@AshWagner2010

To those who were waiting outside the rink, I'm sorry if I didn't give you an autograph! It was very cold and I'm sick!
8:11 AM - 18 Nov 12

Wagner is sick today? Hope that she feels better soon.

She has a head cold and was battling it throughout her FS--after her spectacular skate when Nicks asked her if she was feeling good, she replied, "No."

[silverlake22]

I think some of Julia's struggles this season just have to due with getting older. And I don't event mean physically growing, though she has grown since last season (still is really tiny though), but a 13 year old mindset is very different from that of a 14-16 year old mindset, when along with the physical changes of puberty a lot of girls start to doubt themselves, suffer from poor self-esteem, become very sensitive and perhaps over-critical. It's a quick shift but most girls go through it, being a bubbly young tween without a care or fear in the world and you just go for everything and are cute and soak it all in then all of a sudden there are expectations and everything, your body, your thoughts, emotions, etc. change and it's hard to deal with. We saw that happen with Mirai and Caroline a few years back, and I think that is part of what has caused Adelina to struggle, she seems very eager to please, and a bit self-conscious, very hard on herself, and I think that makes a big difference.

Liza seems to have the great characteristic of mental fortitude and competitive spirit. She wants to do well and showed she has what it takes, proving all the naysayers wrong who thought she wouldn't be able to jump now that she has filled out. To me it seems like Liza is very focused on herself and not as distracted or affected by things going on outside the skating rink. Anyways her body is just going through a transitional period, she is still quite a small girl, short and very small frame, her legs, arms, and waist are just now thicker which is common for girls at that age, most likely the weight will shift as she grows into a more womanly shape. Based on the way she skated today I am not that worried about puberty monster doing her in, her good technique has served her well, this is probably the most difficult time she'll go through physically, and despite comments of others if you look at pictures of her in normal clothes, you'll see she really is very tiny. I don't think Liza is even 5 feet tall so on one that small a few pound gain seems very noticeable. As for Julia she has no speed going out of her jumps, and the technique isn't as good as Liza, I worry more about puberty hurting her jumps even if she remains slimmer than Liza.

[sky_fly20]

Liza seems to have the great characteristic of mental fortitude and competitive spirit. She wants to do well and showed she has what it takes, proving all the naysayers wrong who thought she wouldn't be able to jump now that she has filled out. To me it seems like Liza is very focused on herself and not as distracted or affected by things going on outside the skating rink. Anyways her body is just going through a transitional period, she is still quite a small girl, short and very small frame, her legs, arms, and waist are just now thicker which is common for girls at that age, most likely the weight will shift as she grows into a more womanly shape. Based on the way she skated today I am not that worried about puberty monster doing her in, her good technique has served her well, this is probably the most difficult time she'll go through physically, and despite comments of others if you look at pictures of her in normal clothes, you'll see she really is very tiny. I don't think Liza is even 5 feet tall so on one that small a few pound gain seems very noticeable. As for Julia she has no speed going out of her jumps, and the technique isn't as good as Liza, I worry more about puberty hurting her jumps even if she remains slimmer than Liza.

Julia is actually taller than Liza now, she grew this season almost as tall as Wagner now
http://en.rsport.ru/other_sports/201...631249761.html

my only concern with Julia is she overtrains herself, this has been voiced by her coach Tuberidze, I would hate to see her constantly being hampered by injuries
she is tough, She has said in interview she was happy she completed her FS even with her ankle injured, she wanted to try her 3-3 if she can do it !

[Mrs. P]

She has a head cold and was battling it throughout her FS--after her spectacular skate when Nicks asked her if she was feeling good, she replied, "No."

Well more props to her than for fighting through it. She was quoted in the Ice Network article:

"Today was a huge accomplishment for me," Wagner explained afterward. "I really did not feel at my best. It showed me that I do not need to be at my top to skate such a program.

When I read it at the time I didn't know what she was talking about, so glad to hear what the deal was. It shows how well-trained she is this season. Good job.

[kalle]

Back home after another trip to Paris. Bercy is really nice for figure skating despite being such a big arena.

Some notes from the ladies LP:

Gao was absolutely lovely, she is so smooth over the ice and every element very well executed.She is a stylish skater and I hope her marks will raise if she continues to skate this well.I wonder if she has any plans to upgrade ger 3F/2T to a 3F/3T for nationals..She kept attempting the 2A during the warm up, has that been a trouble jump for her?

It is such a shame Polina could not held it together in the LP after finally skating a good SP for her standards.She is very elegant but seemed a bit slow and not very confident out there.What happen to her killer combinations from last year?

I was very curious to see Liza live for the first time and indeed, she did not disappoint!Her program is crappy and she looks way too much down on the ice during her skate but she has that something that keep you captivated. I loved the way she picked up speed before her jumps and boy, she can jump!She seems to be a fierce competitor and it was touching to see how extremely happy she was after her skate.Makes you wonder how much pressure these young ladies are under..

What to say abut Ashley that has not already been said!It is almost "scary" how consistent and confident she is.Well, that said, she seemed a tad nervous before her LP and I hope she will not think too much about "defending" her title going into Nationals..She had the best program out there (Gao's was nicely choreographed too) but now, she also start to have a bit of a wow factor to her,very exciting.
When you sit in the audience, there is nothing better than when it "feels" like skater looks straight at you and draw you into the performance.I certainly have not felt like that since Mirai/Joannie and Lepisto's programs in 2010.
For me, Wagner has it all to be WC this year and she seems to be in a very good place right now.It was also a bit funny as Mr Nicks watched half of her LP sitting on a chair chair in the Kiss&Cry!He must be very satisfied with what they have achieved together so far.

Obviously, I was also curious about the new baby on the block. It was not her best skate and outside the 3/3 and the insane spins, there are a lot of work to be done.She has a lot of potential (no doubt about that) but I do not really understand how she can score so well..I thought Liza was miles ahead of her in every aspect except on the spins and comparing her to Wagner's skate it's like watching a senior versus a junior competitor..
But, she comes across like a very hard worker and next year is another story!

Overall, it was a great competition and good to see Liza back on track (Euros is going to be interesting this year!)

[verte76]

Ashley skated great. Into first place.

[verte76]

Commercials on NBC! Yuck! This commercial, from the ASPCA, scares my canary!

[verte76]

Ashley won the competition. She's happy. Next up is the show with Nancy Kerrigan and Katya Gordeeva.

[lavender]

Great performance by Tuk, it was my favourite performance of the day. I think the judges are tough on her PCS scores, unfairly so, I would have her closer to Wagner and she should more or less level with Julia. I find Wagners performance to be a bit forced, don't like her style, it's a bit false or something. The judges clearly like her, she has a great shot for a worlds podium if not the title. I enjoy Julias performances but I think the ankle injury held her back a bit plus I think she seems a bit nervous/tense, her axle does look a bit different.

I really love to Polina K's presentation but sadly her jumps were not on yesterday. It's a very mature style, which is a bit unusual in todays skating.

I'm not a fan of any of these ladies in this competition but this is my feeling also.

[pitterpatter]

So happy that Liza skated so well, hopefully she makes it into the GPF and gets more PCS love from the judges there.

[Mathman]

This commercial, from the ASPCA, scares my canary!

It got to me. I sent in my $18 on the spot.

[kwanatic]

Sorry, but you also think that Agnes has the speed and the ease across the ice. So tt means you know nothing about speed and ease across the ice.
.

Um sweetheart, please don't take that condescending "I know more than you" tone with me. Agnes does have nice speed and skates with ease across the ice and just b/c you don't think so doesn't count for much. Your favorite skater was Rachael Flatt so that's a good indication of what you base your opinions on. You've seen Ashley live...well congratulations, I guess that makes you the authority on the matter. Were you in Paris when she skated this weekend?

If you disagreed with Ashley's marks that's fine. I thought they were justified as do many others on this forum; others disagree and like I said, that's fine. But your jibe at me about "knowing nothing" was uncalled for and rude.