I've just watched the videos and I haven't read any comments yet so this is an uninfluenced opinion. Essay incoming... 
First of all, overall, what a fantastic competition. Quite a few underrotations going around but the the ladies really gave it their all and the performances were very enjoyable.
Wakaba had the skate of the night for me. I didn't really get her before but that skate was confident and technically sound, she was on fire. Coupled with her great freeskate, she's made me a fan and I hope she gets a well deserved spot to the Olympics. If I may be a little cheeky, I think that performance could've earned 74 if she had the reputation going behind her... or at least I would've given her that (I enjoyed it THAT MUCH).
Gabby's 3T-3T was magnificent. It was so properly rotated that she came out in a straight line - THAT is what a perfect +3 jump should look like but she loses out because others get +3's for much less. I have to agree with the B.ESP guys though, I think Wakaba out-performed her and still had the technical goods. Plus, Gaby messed up one of her spins. But the program is already a lot better than the last time I saw it so I have faith she'll keep improving.
Wow Elena, I didn't think she had it in her any more but she WENT for it and it paid off. Her posture is so much better and her arms are much less flaily and wild so kudos to her working hard on that. However, what happened to her spins??? Her Biellmann is as good as ever but the other spin was nowhere near and surely it's easier than a Biellmann?
Liza is back! Her triple Lutz was gorgeous. It's so nice to see her regaining her confidence so hopefully she can bring out more performance before the jumps are done next time. One thing I noticed though was that her spins are also not good so she's throwing away points there...
Alina's transitions are INSANE! The entrance into her double axel is just WOW even though she's simplified it (I think?). And her 3Lz-3L is jaw dropping. Shame about the fall though, I gotta keep reminding myself that she's not Evgenia and being de facto World #2 means you gotta live up to the expectation and there's already a lot of pressure being a senior debutant. I just wish they'd give her more time to breathe in the program since there's just too much crammed into too little time. Controversial opinion but I think she's a better dancer than Evgenia (from that video of Eteri's class), if only they'd let her show it with some better programs that she can inject some of her own personality into.
I was rooting for Mai coming into this competition and she did well but perhaps not as well as she can do. I like this program - the choreography is great but there is still a few bits that need ironing out, like that butt swerve move. I wonder if it'd be more natural for her with a more tomboyish program like Pirates of the Caribbean or something?
Nice to see Marin redeem herself with that lovely skate, she has so much potential. It's curious that her spins are not very good though considering most of the Japanese ladies have very good ones, especially Satoko, her teammate, so hopefully she works on that.
Congrats to Xiangning who had a good skate too! Her technicals weren't quite there today but the performance was a big step up compared to poor Ziquan who didn't look very happy. Very nice to see and hear the crowd support there.
The only one I'm really sad for is Dabin. She wasn't at her best here and she looked somewhat stiffer and more out of it than usual. Unfortunately, she isn't a super expressive skater anyway so she really needs to be consistent and technically on point to do well. She's probably going through a hard time after losing her mother but I hope she can find some fire somewhere for the Olympics (which she's pretty much guaranteed to go to imo).
The freeskate is going to be so exciting with so many within reach of the podium! :eeking:
First of all, overall, what a fantastic competition. Quite a few underrotations going around but the the ladies really gave it their all and the performances were very enjoyable.
Wakaba had the skate of the night for me. I didn't really get her before but that skate was confident and technically sound, she was on fire. Coupled with her great freeskate, she's made me a fan and I hope she gets a well deserved spot to the Olympics. If I may be a little cheeky, I think that performance could've earned 74 if she had the reputation going behind her... or at least I would've given her that (I enjoyed it THAT MUCH).
Gabby's 3T-3T was magnificent. It was so properly rotated that she came out in a straight line - THAT is what a perfect +3 jump should look like but she loses out because others get +3's for much less. I have to agree with the B.ESP guys though, I think Wakaba out-performed her and still had the technical goods. Plus, Gaby messed up one of her spins. But the program is already a lot better than the last time I saw it so I have faith she'll keep improving.
Wow Elena, I didn't think she had it in her any more but she WENT for it and it paid off. Her posture is so much better and her arms are much less flaily and wild so kudos to her working hard on that. However, what happened to her spins??? Her Biellmann is as good as ever but the other spin was nowhere near and surely it's easier than a Biellmann?
Liza is back! Her triple Lutz was gorgeous. It's so nice to see her regaining her confidence so hopefully she can bring out more performance before the jumps are done next time. One thing I noticed though was that her spins are also not good so she's throwing away points there...
Alina's transitions are INSANE! The entrance into her double axel is just WOW even though she's simplified it (I think?). And her 3Lz-3L is jaw dropping. Shame about the fall though, I gotta keep reminding myself that she's not Evgenia and being de facto World #2 means you gotta live up to the expectation and there's already a lot of pressure being a senior debutant. I just wish they'd give her more time to breathe in the program since there's just too much crammed into too little time. Controversial opinion but I think she's a better dancer than Evgenia (from that video of Eteri's class), if only they'd let her show it with some better programs that she can inject some of her own personality into.
I was rooting for Mai coming into this competition and she did well but perhaps not as well as she can do. I like this program - the choreography is great but there is still a few bits that need ironing out, like that butt swerve move. I wonder if it'd be more natural for her with a more tomboyish program like Pirates of the Caribbean or something?
Nice to see Marin redeem herself with that lovely skate, she has so much potential. It's curious that her spins are not very good though considering most of the Japanese ladies have very good ones, especially Satoko, her teammate, so hopefully she works on that.
Congrats to Xiangning who had a good skate too! Her technicals weren't quite there today but the performance was a big step up compared to poor Ziquan who didn't look very happy. Very nice to see and hear the crowd support there.
The only one I'm really sad for is Dabin. She wasn't at her best here and she looked somewhat stiffer and more out of it than usual. Unfortunately, she isn't a super expressive skater anyway so she really needs to be consistent and technically on point to do well. She's probably going through a hard time after losing her mother but I hope she can find some fire somewhere for the Olympics (which she's pretty much guaranteed to go to imo).
The freeskate is going to be so exciting with so many within reach of the podium! :eeking:
, my goodness... sorry but it is kind of funny to see the Chinese people beings used as some sort of jump quality detector with the highly scientific methods of 'collective gasps' audio. It is kind of funny. 
Me, too! You articulated how 'power skaters' can perform in ways that play to their strengths. Absolutely agree! I love seeing programs that are authentic to who the skaters are. I love them even more when the performance is backed up by the sheer quality of skating (be it the 'lyrical/smooth' or the 'deep/powerful' type).
