Ladies Free - Notes & Results | Golden Skate

Ladies Free - Notes & Results

Rosaleen

Medalist
Joined
Nov 22, 2003
WHAT A NIGHT!!!! Sorry for yelling but it was quite the competition <G>

Here's my notes as I did them while they skated. . . I'll post some thoughts & comments after I've had dinner and a couple of drinks <G>

Note - the placements shown are for the free program only

RSA Abigail Petersen Start 1 Place 24
Notes Indian Melody / lovely deep emerald green with gold trim in sash shape / 2a fell / 3s cheat / didn't see the layback spin / 3l think it was only a double / 2a / flycam / 2z bit unsteady on landing but clean / didn't really see the spirals / 2f / O ftwrk was pretty good / 2f2t / 2t / combo spin to end was well centered

MEX Gladys Orozco Montemayor Start 2 Place 20
Notes red top bare midriff one sleeve elbow length black skirt / Switch Back, Mediterranean Eyes / 2a pitched forward but clean / 3s landed on wrong foot turn 2t / 3t landed on wrong foot hand down 2t / combo spin has good pos & front has good speed back is slow / music goes slow & she plays to it / big open 1a / 2 tano loop / she has really good speed & edges not a sound from her blades / spiral spread eagle in circle / layback is ok / music gets lively & crowd clapping as she does O ftwrk / big split jump turns 2f / flycam is good and right into fly sit to Y

KOR Sun-Bin Lee Start 3 Place 22
Notes red on top with silver detail black skirt & frill on sleeves / Carmen / 2z / 3t stumbled out / 2a1t / death drop is a bit slow and not low enough / 3s 2t prob cheat on sal but looked good from far end of rink / layback with very god pos / spiral seq into2l / 2f / combo spin is slow but has really nice pos / 2a really tight but clean / she was skating eally slow but all of a sudden is much faster / 3s cheat / stars into fly cam into back xfoot spin

TPE Diane Chen Start 4 Place 21
Notes rich purple with one shoulder & silver trim / Cinema Paradise Soundtrack /2a2t / spiral seq is very nice with good amplitude & extension/ 2l2l / nice stt leg layback / I missed something here / 2z under rot stod up / 3t fel / 2a fell / S ftwrk to music that has picked up & become dance hallish / flysit has nice low pos bit slow / full circle spread eagle into flycam with good pos /

UZB Anastasia Gimazetdinova Start 5 Place 17
Notes ivory satin with bare midriff / Caravan of Light by David Arkenstone / 2z / 3s2t / 2f / 3s fell / ?? jump / 1a / flycam has great extension & speed / 2f fell / spirals are ok / layback good back & speed leg needs work / strt ftwrk is fast & flow / axel didn't get off ice / combo spin to end including beillman turns into forward scratch

RSA Jenna Anne Buys Start 6 Place 23
Notes Palladio - Cirque du Soleil / light purple with silver trim / 3l fell / 2a really tight turns 3s stumbled out / flycam is good / 2 tano z / 3s fell / sideways layback with arms i unique pos / 2f fell / spirals are nice & actually held / trav 3 to 3t / combo spin with leg to head / some fun with music & chor / 1-1/2 a fell / diag ftwrk is good / 2f / forward scratch spin /

USA Jennifer Don Start 7 Place 13
Notes black halter with silver & blue seuins - gorgeous / butterfly , graduation , freedom battle / really fast into 3t landed on inside edge 2foot / 3s really close to boards almost right on top on me fell into boards / spread eagles into 2a / flysit is very good / O ftwrk / 3t / 2l / layback spin almost blurs it with skate to had / spirals with excllent extention & height / flysit great fly low sit & fast / 2z2t / 2a / combo spin cam sit catchfoot back sit Y /

CHN Fan Zhang Start 8 Place 14
Notes pale pink shading to light pin k at hem / gypsy songs / 3t2t / 2a / combo sspin pos are a bit weak good speed & centered / 3s2t / expressing music & had a little balance check int layback / strt ftwrk pretty good detail stop in middle but she does have the power to make it effective / stars to cam spin with good pos & speed / 3t / spirals in O pattern / 3s turnout quick foot down / flycam / 2l / at times the music was too powerful for her she moved well and had good flow though /

KOR Bit-Na Park Start 9 Place 18
Notes brown with gold trim around hem of sirt & up front / Prince of Egypt / 3s fell / 2l quick foot down / 2f / fly sit / 3s2t / spirals / 2a under rot 2ft turnout / flyback sit is slow & needs to be lower / 2z / layback has very good speed pos need more defintition / strt ftwrk is detailed / 2a / combo spin has good cam & front sit pos into unique upright pos that had an ‘egyptian’ feel to it

RSA Shirene Human Start 10 Place 16
Notes royal blue with criss cross back / Star Wars 2 / starts out with lovely spread eagle / 3t turns 2t / 3s under rot 2ft / 3f 2ft under rot / laybac is fast with ver good pos / 3t 2ft / 2a turns 1/2loop 2l / O ftwrk is ok / 2z / flycam good speed & pos / 2a/ spirals incl spread eagle / combo spin to end /

MEX Michelle Cantu Start 11 Place 15
Notes Don Quixote / black with red waistband / 2a /3z 2t / 3f stumbled out und rot / There's some kids up near the top of the section that are talking realy loud and when the music goes quiet you can hear them all over the rink / missed part of her program was distracted by kids / popped lutz / strt ftwrk moves well very detailed / series of split jumps into combo spin - has good speed esp back scratch which is very fast /

AUS Sarah Yvonne Prytula Start 12 Place 19
Notes black with coloured design around bodice / Frida Soundtrack / 2a / 3t under rot 2ft 2t / hit a wrong key & missed part of her sate fixing it / 2z / spirals great amplitude on one leg / some nice chor to slower bit / 3l under 2ft / cam spn is a bit wobbly/ 1f / layback has good pos & centered.

AUS Miriam Manzano Start 13 Place 11
Notes brown with gold trim / Nights in the Gardens of Spain / 3z2t / 2f / 2l / flycam with changes of pos is lovely / 3t2t / 2a / playing with chor to music / 3z beautiful outside edge possble 2ft?? / 3s / flysit has good fly / 3t fell / strt ftwrk moves well & to music / sprals in O are ok / combo spin cam layback back sit to ?? /

JPN Yoshie Onda Start 14 Place 7
Notes light blue shading to royal blue skirt / God Moving over the Face of the Waters / 3z2t huge z / 3f2t huge f / 3l had it then turnout / spirals in circle are soso / layback is ok I guess / 3f / combo spin is centered & fast with good pos / 3z tight turn out but clean / ?? spin / strt ftwrk is lyrical but slow - goes with music / 3s / 2t turns 3t / 2a / flycam to back scratch / good skate for her – she’s really happy and should be

CHN Yan Liu Start 15 Place 8
Notes Gone with the Wind soundtrack / red with black at hem of skirt / 3z2t bit wild with free leg on z / 3f or was it only a 2 - right in front of me you'd think I'd be able to tell <G>/ combo spin as slow but very nice pos / 3l / 3t / strt ftwrk was very detailed / flycam wth good speed & extension / layback into bellman / 3t turns 2t / 3s / 2a / spirals / layback spin / She did quite well expressing the music I quite enjoyed that skate

CAN Cynthia Phaneuf Start 16 Place 1
Notes light pink dress from Canadians / quelques Jeux Interdis / 2a / 3l bit jerky on landing but clean / 3z / some chor / 3t / flycam with good speed to illusion / more chor / 3f / O ftwrk goes so well with music & flows - I just love it / 3z2t / 3s / combo spin trav a bit on front & final back xfoot pos but nice pos / spirals / 3t2t / layback with foot to head / back upright spin with backbend / standing O and boy is Annie happy (coach) this was as good if not better than Canadians

AUS Joanne Carter Start 17 Place 10
Notes black lace with frine skirt / Red Shoe Tango, Accidental Mambo / 3z2t / 3f / flycam with great fly & speed good pos / 3t 2ft turns 2t / cam ch cam to catch foot / chor section / 3l2t / spirals / gorgeous ina diag down ice / 2s didn't get off ice was to be a 3 / combo spin in tango attitude / layback spin / 3f fell / strt ftwrk / 2a bit tight on landing into butterfly to ending pose /

CHN Dan Fang Start 18 Place 12
Notes Black with silver / Rodrigo Grassland theme / 2a / 3z2t bit of a wrap / 3f / 3t landed on toepick both feet down / spin ending in sideways split - didn't see start / layback spin is pretty / 3z fell / spirals / 3s step out 2t / beillman spin / popped sal/ combo spin with beillman & y / strt ftwrk is very good but don't think she's powerful enough or has enough presence on ice to carry it off as a final move in program/

CAN Jennifer Robinson Start 19 Place 4
Notes Light mauve with lots of eading / Prelude a L'apres Midi d'un faune / 3z / 3t / 3f cheat almost fellout but stayed on one foot / 3s3l cheat on loop / fly cam to layover to illusion / diag ftwrk is detailed but semes to e missing something / cam spin to catchfoot / 3s just hung on /2a / there seems to be something missing in the chor - a lot of back & forth - is it really that way or am out of it? / 3z heavy 2ft 2t / spirals are nice / combo spin / layback spin to end is very nice with strt leg /

USA Amber Corwin Start 20 Place 5
Notes light dusty rose shading darker toward hem / Book of Secrets by McKennitt / 3t2t / 3z far end of rink / 3l2l cheat on 3? / layback is fast & centered with hand reaching down to foot / spiirals / 2a bit shakey on landing but clean / death drop to low fastsit / 3f fell / cam ch cam with nice pos different from norm / she's moving very well to the music but I'm finding it somewhat monotonous / 3s2t / strt ftwrk fell right at start /

CAN Joannie Rochette Start 21 Place 3
Notes one shoulder beaded with white at waist & blue tinge on end of skirt / Il Etait Une Fois le Diable / 3l / 3f just barely hung on turns 3t / flcam is good / inside out spiral with great amplitude & extension / 3z really bad lean going up fell / cam ch camwith good pos / chor to music / 2f / O ftwrk really moves with nice detail & with music / layback / 3t turns 3s / 2a hand down / combo spin to end with foot up in front /

JPN Yukina Ota Start 22 Place 2
Notes shades of pale sea gren / Daphnis & chloe / 3z2t / 2a / flycam with gorgeous pos / 3f 2ft landed at almost stop / chor to slower music / strt ftwrk goes so well with music & has detail bit on slow side / 3l / combo spin with great pos / 3s / lovely ina diag down rink / spiral spread eagles / 3z 2ft under rot fell / gorgeous layback completely flat back with strt leg / 3t2t / butterfly back sit

USA Angela Nikodinov Start 23 Place 9
Notes light pink with beading on bodice / Giselle by Adoph Adam / 2z flutz could see going up it wouldn't happen / 2f bad pick / 1a / flycam / nice chor to slow part / 3l didn't look like it was going to work but she pulled it off / lovelyclassic layback / 3f 2ft? if so just slightly / 2z / strt ftwrk is dynamic & suits music / 3t 2ft / combo spin / upright spin /

JPN Yukari Nakano Start 24 Place 6
Notes burgundy with flower pattern in sequins / Etude in C-minor by Chopin / 3a2t think a had brush and/or cheat / 3f fell out of it and down?? / 3f2t / she has a horrible leg wrap / 3l / layback is very nice / back cam to catchfoot / 2-1/2z landed on wrong foot / 3s / sit ch sit with lovely pos to back scratch / O ftwrk goes with music & is nice / thre's something lacking in the performance or it might just be me tyring to figure outnumbers in my head for placements / 3t / 2a / flycam to catch foot to Y

Generated by SK8Score

Overall Placements

FPl. Name Nat. Points SP FS
1 Yukina OTA JPN 3.5 3 2
2 Cynthia PHANEUF CAN 5.0 8 1
3 Amber CORWIN USA 5.5 1 5
4 Joannie ROCHETTE CAN 6.0 6 3
5 Jennifer ROBINSON CAN 6.0 4 4
6 Yukari NAKANO JPN 8.5 5 6
7 Angela NIKODINOV USA 10.0 2 9
8 Yoshie ONDA JPN 10.5 7 7
9 Yan LIU CHN 13.0 10 8
10 Joanne CARTER AUS 14.5 9 10
11 Miriam MANZANO AUS 17.0 12 11
12 Dan FANG CHN 17.5 11 12
13 Jennifer DON USA 19.5 13 13
14 Fan ZHANG CHN 21.0 14 14
15 Michelle CANTU MEX 23.0 16 15
16 Shirene HUMAN RSA 23.5 15 16
17 Bit-Na PARK KOR 26.5 17 18
18 Anastasia GIMAZETDINOVA UZB 27.0 20 17
19 Sarah-Yvonne PRYTULA AUS 28.0 18 19
20 Diane CHEN TPE 30.5 19 21
21 Gladys OROZCO MEX 32.0 24 20
22 Sun-Bin LEE KOR 33.5 23 22
23 Jenna-Anne BUYS RSA 33.5 21 23
24 Abigail PIETERSEN RSA 35.0 22 24
25 Eun-Byul CHO KOR 25
26 Anny HOU TPE 26
 

kimori

Spectator
Joined
Jan 22, 2004
-Yaaahy!- I'm really happy for Cynthia her first Senior Event and she almost won!(BRAAAAAVVVVOOO)

:( Disappionted for Robinson though I put all my hopes that she would win this thing but again she failed! (Reading the reports she didn't seem to have a bad free skate why is her marks so low? It seems to me she should have been marked ahead of Rochette then Canada would have 2 Women standing in the podium!) but I wouldn't mind her coming back for another year though when her competitivenes returns just immagine a strong Cynthia, Rochette, Robinson, Bellmare, and Leaung for the Grand Prix I can't wait!
 
Last edited:

nymkfan51

Medalist
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Thanks Rosaleen for the wonderful and detailed reports!!!

Happy to see Amber hang on for a medal ... good for her!

Congrats to Yukina and Cynthia too!!!
 

singerskates

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Who else agrees with me? The skater who finsished 2nd in the freeskate should have finished 4th in the free. If that would have happened, Cynthia would have been 1st overall, Joannie 2nd and Jennifer 3rd, all finishing with 5.0 for placement factors. We would have had a Canadian sweep of the ladies medals. But politics played a role.

Brigitte

kimori said:
-Yaaahy!- I'm really happy for Cynthia her first Senior Event and she almost won!(BRAAAAAVVVVOOO)

:( Disappionted for Robinson though I put all my hopes that she would win this thing but again she failed! (Reading the reports she didn't seem to have a bad free skate why is her marks so low? It seems to me she should have been marked ahead of Rochette then Canada would have 2 Women standing in the podium!) but I wouldn't mind her coming back for another year though when her competitivenes returns just immagine a strong Cynthia, Rochette, Robinson, Bellmare, and Leaung for the Grand Prix I can't wait!
 

Smiley0884

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
singerskates said:
Who else agrees with me? The skater who finsished 2nd in the freeskate should have finished 4th in the free. If that would have happened, Cynthia would have been 1st overall, Joannie 2nd and Jennifer 3rd, all finishing with 5.0 for placement factors. We would have had a Canadian sweep of the ladies medals. But politics played a role.

Brigitte

Well I don't agree with you. :rolleye: Jen R. did not outskate Yukina, and she deserves her place on the podium. Deal with it.
 

Sk8n Mama

Final Flight
Joined
Jan 23, 2004
Awesome Cynthia! I love that lil chiquita! She's cute, got great jumps, spins, artistic...she's a great little skater. I expect Jennifer Robinson deserved her placing. Yukina Ota is a nice skater. I've never been a big fan of Jennifer's because I hate cheated jumps and, personally, I find this year's LP too boring. I wnat to see the young ones given a chance and glad Joannie and Cynthia stepped up!
 

singerskates

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Were you there at Copps Friday? If you were there either you caught Ota cheating a few jumps and crashing on a few others while it happened or saw it on the screen during the replay. Yes, Jen wasn't all that clean either but at least she landed more jumps than Ota did in the free. I was there on Friday in Copps in section 121. I was wearing a red fleece sweater.

Brigitte
 

shine

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
singerskates said:
Who else agrees with me? The skater who finsished 2nd in the freeskate should have finished 4th in the free. If that would have happened, Cynthia would have been 1st overall, Joannie 2nd and Jennifer 3rd, all finishing with 5.0 for placement factors. We would have had a Canadian sweep of the ladies medals. But politics played a role.

Brigitte
Dream your little dream again and move on.
:D
 

dewet

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
singerskates said:
Who else agrees with me? The skater who finsished 2nd in the freeskate should have finished 4th in the free. If that would have happened, Cynthia would have been 1st overall, Joannie 2nd and Jennifer 3rd, all finishing with 5.0 for placement factors. We would have had a Canadian sweep of the ladies medals. But politics played a role.

Brigitte
I don't see how politics played a role. Wasn't this event in Canada? Anyway, all the Canadian ladies in the top 5 and beating Yoshie Onda and Angela Nikodinov,who both placed in the top 5 at worlds before, is already impressive.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
"I was there on Friday in Copps in section 121. I was wearing a red fleece sweater." -- Singerskates
I think I saw you on TV!

Guess what? I got all of the Gold Medal winners in the GS prediction contest. I think I won a free subscription to the Skate Canada magazine!

Mathman :)
 

Nadine

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
Thanks for another excellent report, Rosaleen (no lie), :)

Well, it looks like we're seeing the result of COP......though it wasn't used at this competition.......interesting.

When I first joined the old FSW in 1999, I remember stating that it seemed to me that the Olympics went in cycles......that is, one Olympics an artistic skater wins, another Olympic cycle the opposite......thus, I was prepared for an artistic skater to be crowned at the 2002 Olympics. And I honestly believe those judges would've if any of those so-called artistic skaters stood up on their jumps. Btw, I consider Sarah Hughes (an all-time favorite of mine) neither one or the other, but rather both ~ great technical combined w/very good+ presentation. JMHO. That said, since it must seem to the ISU, that the last two Olympics have had a skater that excels in technical win. Then it follows that they adjust the scoring system in order to allow the weaker technical skater to win ~ ala the new scoring system ~ falls counting, no bonus points for 3/3 combinations, et al.

The way things are going (please see above), I foresee none of the skaters that excel in the technical mark getting the chance to win. And I guess I wouldn't really mind too much if any of them were what I would consider the Second Coming of Christ on the second mark, which in my eyes will always be only one (aka Oksana Baiul). Until then, I do mind. ;)

Get ready World b/c it looks like the judges consider Yukina Ota the Second Coming of Oksana Baiul.........not in my eyes though, despite her similar arms, but nowhere near her natural expressiveness nor the power in her jumps..........and this said after reading about her two-footed jumps (aka similar to Oksana). But mostly b/c Oksana won Worlds her first time out. And now Yukina wins 4CC her first time out ~ a major championship, but still not in the same calibre as Worlds IMHO (Worlds mean Worlds, ALL the top skaters there, also the Olympics). Also, it looks like Cynthia Phaneuf is in a similar category ~ never seen her skate ~ but from the reaction of those that have, one might think she, too, was the Second Coming of Christ (or Oksana, as I prefer to think of it, as regards the second mark :) ). That said, I'd rather take Sasha Cohen or Michelle Kwan over these two any day, especially if the judges are now going to be downgrading the technical mark & inflating the presentation one. And with the COP, it looks like it's here.

Peace & In A Contemplative Mood, Nadine

P.S. Too bad about only the Top 2 having a somewhat clean skate b/c, as I've always stated, the best type of competition is when everyone skates their best (aka clean) and you (figuratively speaking here) win. JMHO.
 

Antilles

Medalist
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I think the results were correct. Yukina has excellent spins and lines. Cynthia was fantastic. Corwin, Rochette and Robinson did well. Jen just wasn't quite as good as the others. I think Onda was placed too low. I wouldn't put her on the podium, but she deserved higher. It was very exciting to see Nakano attempt a triple axel combination. The axel may ahve been cheated, but she was so close, it was breathtaking.
 

shine

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Yukina's arms do remind me of Oksana in that they both move in a liquid-like fashion and are both so exquisite. But other than that IMO they are quite different in their artistic approach. While Oksana was more focused on the perfection of forms/shapes that she created on the ice, I see Yukina as being more intepretive of the music itself with her movement/gesture. I don't think she has the perfection of body form like Baiul becaue IMO it is not where her focus is. They both have a naturalness/fluidity in the way they move and I love them both very much.
 
Last edited:

sheilagh

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 23, 2004
I'd really like to disagree with Nadine who said the following:


"it looks like Cynthia Phaneuf is in a similar category ~ never seen her skate ~ ......

That said, I'd rather take Sasha Cohen or Michelle Kwan over these two any day, especially if the judges are now going to be downgrading the technical mark & inflating the presentation one. And with the COP, it looks like it's here."


I must say that you don't know that of which you speak. Cynthia skated a CLEAN, 7 TRIPLE performance, with two triples in combination. And, these were very high quality jumps. Where is this "downgrading the technical" here??

Kwan seldom completes more than six triples these days, and her program from US Nationals only contained one combination. Cohen, the more artistic of the two top US women, tends to make costly errors. Actually if there is anyone who benefits from "downgrading" the importance of the technical aspect, it is Michelle Kwan .... her technical content has been going downhill for years.

-- sheilagh
 

thisthingcalledlove

Final Flight
Joined
Sep 24, 2003
4CC

Sounds like Canada might have a good up-and-coming ladies competitor in Cynthia Phaneuf. Could we perhaps see her in the final group at the World Championships next year? (I heard this year at the insistence of her coach, she won't be going to Worlds- I think that's a wise decision. She might win world juniors, but that has kind of a curse, doesn't it? ;) )

I'm still waiting for one of those Australians to return to the second tier of ladies skaters (Jo Carter...anytime would be nice =))
 

Nadine

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
Hi shine! :)

IIRC, you've been a diehard Yukina Ota Fan since the beginning.........thus a sincere CONGRATS on your favorite doing great (no lie, I know the feeling, believe me ;) )........plus I think you're the one that made the first comparison between Yukina & Oksana way back when? :confused: At the time I thought you were out of your mind (lol). Of course, this coming from a diehard Oksana Baiul Fan. :D However, since that time I've come around a bit........noticed @ Skate Canada that Yukina does have arms similar to Oksana.........and has a similar build to Oksana when she was an eligible, as well as two-foots her jumps. Also, she now has won a championship her first time out as a Senior (just like Oksana did), though Worlds I'd say is more prestigious. JMHO. But as far as presentation goes, I see it differently from you ~ Oksana was/is the music, whereas I feel Yukina interprets her choreography very very well. And, once again, that's just the way I feel......nothing against Yukina......will take a wait & see attitude w/her. Btw, if she suddenly starts landing powerful 6/7 triple programs (as well as one 3/3), then I'll eat *crow* :eek: and become a fan of hers (no lie). Thus, she would be thee ideal skater IMHO ~ great technical combined with great presentation. JMHO of course. :)^)

That said, I enjoyed reading your following post, but disagree on the Oksana vs. Yukina artistic approch (please see above); btw it's wonderful to note that you love both (always great to find another Oksana Fan, no lie) :) :

shine said:
Yukina's arms do remind me of Oksana in that they both move in a liquid-like fashion and are both so exquisite. But other than that IMO they are quite different in their artistic approach. While Oksana was more focused on the perfection of forms/shapes that she created on the ice, I see Yukina as being more intepretive of the music itself with her movement/gesture. I don't think she has the perfection of body form like Baiul becaue IMO it is not where her focus is. They both have a naturalness/fluidity in the way they move and I love them both very much.

sheilagh :) , my sincere apologies ~ yes, as I stated in the post that you quoted (btw sorry about not posting it but I don't know how to quote two posters at the same time :confused: ) ~ I have never seen Cynthia skate and am honestly looking forward to doing so (no lie). I spoke in haste in my previous post. And was, I admit, rather upset about a lot of things (too numerous to mention now). Also, being an American, I of course am rooting for the American skaters first & foremost.......nevertheless my patriotic fervor does not prevent my appreciating that exceptional skater of whatever country or nationality (no lie).......and I just happen to think, as of now, it is Sasha Cohen & Michelle Kwan.

Sasha & Michelle are not just merely great on the second mark, they are without rival IMHO. Thus, I can see either one doing one jump (& mayhap even one 3/3) less than their challengers and still winning (no lie). However, being a connoisseur of superb technical skaters (ala powerful jumpers) as well, I also am rooting loudly for those whom have what it takes to outjump these two (to go along w/very good presentation as well, of course). May the best lady win! Let The Games Begin!

***Note: btw, I'm all prepared to change my mind about Cynthia (no lie) just as soon as I see her televised performance. And I agree, number of jumps should be counted. Thus, CONGRATS to Cynthia for outjumping the competition along w/very nice presentation.***

Peace & Love, Nadine

P.S. I wouldn't count out Jennifer Kirk in the future either......she's capable of landing 7 triples along w/one 3/3 (ala 2003 Skate America)......and she has very nice presentation as well. :)^)

:love:GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LADIES SKATING!!!!:love:
 
Last edited:

shine

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Hi Nadine :) When Ota first came on the scene she did remind me of Oksana with her expressive arms and the very delicate quality of her skating, but now I've seen more of her I feel that she is really approaching artistry in a different, more abstract way all of her own. She doesn't remind me of Oksana that much now, actually ;)I've always thought that Oksana was one of the most musical skaters ever, but in a more unconscious way, if it makes sense. And I think that perfection of movement and expression/drama were her number one focus in presentation, rather than pure musical intepretation, which I feel is the approach of Yukina's, and you can see that in the music choices she has made and her programs choreography.
I don't think Yukina is close to having Oksana's perfection of carriage and movement, as sometimes her toe is not pointed and could look a little uncontrolled. But I see the same kind of innate musicality and fluidity. I also feel that she has a real vision of what she wants her skating to be, so I hope that judges don't see her as anyone else. IMO here is a skater whose presentation cannot be justly captured by still picutre.
 
Last edited:

sarahmistral

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 28, 2003
politics, singerskates?????

sorry to weigh in on this so late, but I am really surprised by your reply; not to jump on you or anything, as everyone's entitled to his or her opinion here, as it is a forum...but how can you call the decision NOT to rank Canadian ladies 1-2-3 a political one? If anything, politics would have played a role if, ignoring the fact that Jen Ro placed 4th and Cynthia Phaneuf 8th!!!!! in the short program, and Yukina placed 3rd in the short and 2nd in the long....by NO stretch of the imagination could the judges have juggled skaters around in order to produce a Canadian ladies podium sweep...unless they put politics before actual PERFORMANCE and ORDINALS, which is what judging is about. Geez, I'm glad I'm not a judge...when they judge "politically" and pull for their skater, people cry foul, and when they put all that aside and strive for fairness and putting the best performers, NATIONALITY AND POLITICS NOTWITHSTANDING, on the podium...they get accused of political judging somehow....???? Sorry to make such a fuss, but...anyhow, I'll leave it at that:rolleye: :rolleye: :rolleye:

CAN Cynthia Phaneuf Start 18 Place 8
Notes off white with satin collar & cuffs / The Promise / 3z fell very slow into it tilted in air / ftwrk 3f might have had hand down far end of ice couldn't see if it touched / combo spin is very good / spirals are good / 2a not much height but good distance / layback with foot to head good speed & centered / diag ftwrk is interesting good speed at start stop in middle / flycam to end is good

USA Amber Corwin Start 19 Place 1
Place 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3
Notes black with elbow gloves / Moon River / layback has excellent speed & centering pos could be better / 3t3t 1st one might have been pre rot / ftwrk 3z / flysit - I didn't see it / spirals were very good / 2a she fought for it & kept it clean / I liked the O ftwrk / replay shows lutz to be a bit cheated /

JPN Yukina Ota Start 21 Place 3
Notes black with royal blue sash effect / Picasso's dance / 3z2t / 3f clean as a whistle right in front of me / flycam is very good / outside in spiral spread eagle spiral maintained speed / 2a / now she'll have fun with music / fantastic layback / her teammates are up behind us and they're cheering her along all the way through the program strt steps are good and final combo spin

CAN Jennifer Robinson Start 23 Place 4
Notes black & purple / Tanosain - Welcome to Cuba / 3z2t bit tight on landing of z but clean / 3f 1/4cheat but not 2ft / spirals are ok / butterfly back sit / diag ftwrk is very detailed but on slow side / 2a was very high and I didn't see a wrap / layback to strt leg is good / combo spin to end is on slow side til last pos but is good / and boy is she happy /

P.S. Perhaps I'm overreacting because I'm all for skating as an individual sport about people striving to give their best in the matchup between them and the ice and the inevitable nerves, such tricky rivals to master time and again and to wrest a great performance from; that's why I like it so much. I can honestly say that I never pull for a skater based on nationality; my favorite performances of all time, by skaters of all nationalities (Candeloro's godfather, Cohen's Sentimental Waltz (? 2002 SP), Nats Malaguena '04 and Hernando's Hideaway exhibition, Baiul's Swan (and pretty much anything she does), Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze's Meditation, Chaplin, & 2000 GPF program (so beautiful!), Kwan's Aranjuez, Tosca & TFB, Lu Chen's Rach & Butterfly Lovers, etc, etc, Irina's Nagano LP, 2000 GPF LP & SLC SP) are, for me, the point of the sport, not any particular nation amassing more medals than another; if I were into that, I'd go follow soccer. Again, everyone has a right to follow skating in his or her own way, fervent patriots and citizens of the world alike, but it just surprises me to see national bias hinder people's appreciation of a great performance that happens to come from someone on the "opposing squad" and who would prevent a sweep by whatever country. Enough; don't mean to open a can of worms or browbeat or incur the wrath of millions for my statements. I just figure that I have as much of a right to express myself as anyone else, and since I so seldom do, well, I guess I should thank you, singerskates, for sparking a reply and interrupting my usual forum mutism:p Again, no hard feelings, I just felt the need to put my two cents in (after lurking and reading for so long, I've watched many people express themselves and have people take their comments the wrong way, so I want to make sure that, in voicing a dissenting opinion, I make perfectly clear what I mean and thereby avoid any sort of misunderstanding)
Cheers,
Sarah the long-winded:laugh:
 
Top