The up and coming ladies

**screech** · 07-03-2005, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by mzheng

Just watched the junior worlds from tape a few days ago. I would say presentation/musicality wise Kim came more naturally than Mao. But Mao's jumps were so effortless, especially that 3axel

ITA - I enjoyed Kim's programs much more than Mao's. In fact, I enjoyed all aspects of Kim's skating much much more than Mao's. Dont get me wrong, Mao's a great skater, but she just didn't do it for me like Kim did. Kim's jumps were effortless too, her presentation more complete (IMO) and her spins a bit better (and much faster). And her overall basic skating was great. It was just much more enjoyable for me.

**Jaana** · 07-03-2005, 01:46 AM

I don´t think that ladies division is coming dull although some skaters are going to retire after the Olympics. LOL, actually I feel that certain skaters have stayed way too long there... I liked the old days more as most of those on the Olympic podium retired. Only maybe one top skater remained until the next Olympics, who hoped to win the gold next time. I liked the change and many totally new faces to appear. To me it is the sport I´m intererested in, and and there are always plenty of skaters in each competiton (Europeans and Worlds), LOL.

I saw the Junior GP final in Helsinki and especially enjoyed the skating of Mao Asada, Yu-Na Kim, Aki Sawada and Akiko Kitamura and will be looking forward to see those skaters in Worlds one day!!!

Originally Posted by Mathman

I have also read from people who observed her training in Ontario last summer (Jeff Buttle helped with her choreography) that she appeared to be totally miserably the whole time. Maybe she was homesick. I hope I'm wrong, but the overall impression I keep getting is that this is a girl who has been told, if you don't win a gold medal you are nothing.

I find it very natural that an ambitious skater feels disappointed in a silver medal, if she knows that she had the chance to win the whole competition.

**Eeyora** · 07-03-2005, 02:50 AM

I personally would much rather watch Skaters compete as long as they want to than watching them skate in chessy pro competitions with hats and chairs.

**Joesitz** · 07-03-2005, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Eeyora

I personally would much rather watch Skaters compete as long as they want to than watching them skate in chessy pro competitions with hats and chairs.

ITA Eeyora - If pro competitions changed to the CoP scoring system, I presume the more complex props would get higher GOEs.

Joe

**Jaana** · 07-03-2005, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Eeyora

I personally would much rather watch Skaters compete as long as they want to than watching them skate in chessy pro competitions with hats and chairs.

Well, as far as I have seen pro competitions since 1999, I would say that most pro skaters don´t have that kind of programmes in competitions or shows.

**Joesitz** · 07-03-2005, 12:15 PM

My tour in Moscow had a dinner which was attended by Kimmie, and Pang and Tong. I actually got separate photos of myself with them. With just a few words, I would say that Kimmie is very quiet but feisty. I really think she will blossom at the Olys and be in the top 10,

BTW, Pang does not look at all anorexic in person.

As for Mao Asada and Yu na Kim, I have not seen them skate yet and I am very much looking forward to it. I hope the hype doesn't hurt them.

I had been so hopped up reading the hype on Miki and her quad last year, But it didn't happen for me. She did turn out to be a very good skater but no where's near the hype.

Joe

**CDMM1991** · 07-03-2005, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mathman

I have also read from people who observed her training in Ontario last summer (Jeff Buttle helped with her choreography) that she appeared to be totally miserably the whole time. Maybe she was homesick. I hope I'm wrong, but the overall impression I keep getting is that this is a girl who has been told, if you don't win a gold medal you are nothing.

ITA. Mathman, I was one of those people who got the chance to observe her training, as I was training there as well myself. It was really discouraging because she was such a talent. If she had the love of the sport she could be absolutely magnificent but she just didn't have that fire in her. But man, she could land some jumps. hehe.

**rjulie510** · 07-03-2005, 02:00 PM

Yu-Na Kim was recently discussed in MKF, and two people posted links to her Jr. Worlds Long Program. You can find in this link:
http://p216.ezboard.com/fmichellekwa...ID=14248.topic

HTH

**IceDancingPrincess14** · 07-03-2005, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Joesitz

My tour in Moscow had a dinner which was attended by Kimmie, and Pang and Tong. I actually got separate photos of myself with them. With just a few words, I would say that Kimmie is very quiet but feisty. I really think she will blossom at the Olys and be in the top 10

Out of sheer curiousity... do they actually... eat? Just wondering, because there are SO many preconceived notions about skaters being all anorexic, and I've never actually met the higher level skaters.

**Joesitz** · 07-03-2005, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by IceDancingPrincess14

Out of sheer curiousity... do they actually... eat? Just wondering, because there are SO many preconceived notions about skaters being all anorexic, and I've never actually met the higher level skaters.

They arrived after dinner as a kind of entertainment.

Joe

**Doggygirl** · 07-04-2005, 12:33 PM

But first.....so Joe, when exactly do you plan to share those pictures????? How cool. Come on!! We want Pics!!

For anyone interested, the SP's and LP's for Kimmy and Emily are available now on http://fsvids.9.forumer.com/index.ph...75&#entry11590 for download. (it expires, so if you want 'em - go get 'em)

I'm SO glad I asked for those. It was great to watch Kimmy. She had some jump trouble in the LP, but she really does have a mature presentation style for the Junior ranks. But OMG it was worth the time to watch Emily's international debut!! She just takes the ice with such enthusiasm, and she completely attacked her programs. I caught myself wishing that Sasha had NOT chosen Don't Rain On My Parade for her Ex this past year, because it would make a perfect Ex number for Emily.

Seriously, watching that one is worth the time and hard disk space if you haven't seen it.

After more viewing, I would agree with posters who mentioned that Kimmie (and I would even add Emily to the list) have presentation that is a bit more mature at this stage than Mao. But if you look at the score sheets, Mao is putting out some pretty darn good presentation in the midst of much more difficult programs at all levels. The jump content in the SP's was pretty close for the top ladies, with only a slight point advantage for Mao with a 3Z/2Loop compared to 3Z/2T for several others. But her non jump elements are scored way above the rest - level 2 and 3 in the SP, and all level 2 in the LP compared to more level 1 than 2 for the rest of the top ladies. Of course Mao had a more significant point advantage related to jumps (in addition to non-jumps) in the LP.

Both Emily and Kimmie (and I'm sure a number of other young US ladies) have SO much potential, and very different styles. I think Emily has great potential for some awesome future spirals as one example of how these ladies can "up the ante" as they develop.

Anyway, enough rambling. Enjoy!

DG

**shine** · 07-04-2005, 04:32 PM

I think Kimmie Meissner had by far the most mature and complex choregraphy in both her programs. The LP and SP musics are not easy to skate to even for older skaters. Yu Na Kim's programs were more mature than Asada's as well. Just by watcing her skate with those secure, smooth edges and flow I'm sure Meissner is able to do everything (other than the 3/3s and 3axel) that got Asada the level 2 and level 3 points, but it was just a matter of choice. I don't think the girls (Meissner, Kim and Hughes) will continue to let Asada have such a big advantage over them in the elements once they get more used to CoP, because really their skating skills and spins are just as good if not better than that of Asada's. Will be interesting next season.

**Kathy** · 07-04-2005, 05:24 PM

Well from the performances I have seen Asada and Kim are the ones to beat and Kimmie and Emily have some catching up to do. Asada is amazing, she is so consistant and her edging is wonderful. Plus she really appears at this point to skate with joy and so far is fearless. Kim is great too, although I share the concern mentioned here about the psychological piece - and she skates with more hesitation and anxiety than Mao. Both remind me of the talent of a Kwan or Tara in there own ways. I saw both Kimmie and Emily at Nationals, and to be honest other than her 3 axel I wasn't that impressed with Kimmie. Talented of course - but compared to the talent of 15 year old Kwan,
Tara or even Cohen, I just didn't see it. Emily, on the other hand, impressed me a lot. Not so much with raw talent - but goodness that girl has grit. She does just not give up. I watched her fall repeatedly on a jump (can't remember which one) and she would get up, fly back to her coach at the boards, get advice, and fly back to center rink to go full force at it again, all the time with a great "I'm gonna get this attitude." She kept struggling through all the practices with that jump, but when the competition came - bam - she nailed it and no one would have ever known her struggles with it. She was an absolute energizer bunny during practice and if she approaches skating like this always - well she will be quite the competitor. With all that said - no one yet knows how puberty will affect all the young uns so we'll just have to wait and see.

**Doggygirl** · 07-04-2005, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by shine

I think Kimmie Meissner had by far the most mature and complex choregraphy in both her programs. The LP and SP musics are not easy to skate to even for older skaters. Yu Na Kim's programs were more mature than Asada's as well. Just by watcing her skate with those secure, smooth edges and flow I'm sure Meissner is able to do everything (other than the 3/3s and 3axel) that got Asada the level 2 and level 3 points, but it was just a matter of choice. I don't think the girls (Meissner, Kim and Hughes) will continue to let Asada have such a big advantage over them in the elements once they get more used to CoP, because really their skating skills and spins are just as good if not better than that of Asada's. Will be interesting next season.

I hope Kimmie, Emily, Alissa, and other American younger ladies can "do it" with the difficulty of all moves under COP. But they didn't, and Mao did. Emily was the ONLY one debuting for the first time under COP. Asada, Kim, Meissner, Czisny, and the other gal in the top six, other than Emily all competed in the Jr. Grand Prix getting a bit of COP under the belt. That makes me all the more enthusiastic about Emily's Jr. World's debut - it was also her COP debut.

DG