I'll be shocked if it isn't an Asian sweep ... Yu Na, Miki, Mao, Akiko ... in whatever order.
Akiko needs to be at her very best and also be helped by others' meltdowns to get on the podium. It is not that she is a bad skater, but she needed to be at the major international scene a lot earlier to be judged more properly. I am sorry about that. Her performance at GPF was fab. Her skating skills are great. So are her steps and jumps. Her spirals and spins are not great, but still she deserved fantastic PCS. I am sorry about that. Does Rachael and Ashley get better PCS than Akiko? When skated at their best, I feel that Akiko and Wagner are similar in their presentations. Wagner has more polished lines and sophstication in everything, but Akiko has a great charisma when she is on. I feel that other than top skaters, PCS matters REALLY a lot and this is not something the skater has too much control over at this point.
I agree with your remarks - but who or what is to blame for the problem of pcs?
BTW, Akiko was skating under a high degree of pressure at the GPF.
She had the pressure of home ice - and also knowing a good showing was necessary to enhance her chances of earning a spot on the the very competitive Japanese Ladies Olympic team.
I enjoyed Akiko's LP very much and thought she handled the pressure extremely well. She could be a factor in Vancouver - if she gets to go - and if a few of the favorites don't manage to handle the pressure very well.
Of course a little less "juding by reputation" would help her chances too.
Yu Na, Miki, Mao, Akiko ... I'm not sure I understand the point about pressure ... this group includes the last 3 world champions.
I do understand the Olympics ... the GP results this season: Yu Na (1st, 1st), Miki (1st, 1st), Mao (2nd, 5th), Akiko (1st, 5th) .. GPF: Yu Na 1, Miki 2, Akiko 3 ... these are pretty consistent results ... I fail to see what advantage Rachel has over 3 world champions.
Shiz was a world champ and had a lot better skating skills, steps, and jumps than Sasha. Her spiral was comparably spectacular. Sasha was better at spins and artistry. Shiz was the contender even without their mistakes. When the three were clean at SP, those three skaters scored basically the tie.
My recollection is that Irina absolutely dominated skating that season and Shiz was not her best. Shiz was not even necessarily the favorite in Japan.
Shiz had been WC when - in 04?
Shiz was a world champ and had a lot better skating skills, steps, and jumps than Sasha. Her spiral was comparably spectacular. Sasha was better at spins and artistry. Shiz was the contender even without their mistakes. When the three were clean at SP, those three skaters scored basically the tie. Shiz was really lucky peaking at the best timing. But it was not like a gift.
Rachel has not even won a senior GP event ... I think it takes a vivid imagination to envision any scenario whereby she makes the podium in Vancouver ... only a rash of injuries could make this remotely possible.
Well, we'll find all this out in Feb won't we?
Whoever said the thing about Rachael not winning any GP event this season, that was mostly because one of her events (SA) she essentially could not win because Yuna was at that event. If even Miki took the place of Yuna at SC Rachael might have won, judging by the way Miki was skating this GP season. Also Rachael should have gotten a medal in China, Kiira Korpi did not deserve that silver and we all know it.
GP are really about luck, Ashley made the final and Rachael and Alissa didn't even though their scores were better because Ashley had easier events.
A skater who has done well this season with the pressure, Alissa. That's right Alissa. But honestly, as national champ right before an Olympic year, she's holding up well. No meltdowns. She only fell once at COR and twice at SC, but out of fairness to her, SC was a splatfest. Her SP has been great both times this season. She's kinda flying under the radar, because her LP scores are never that strong, but she is keeping it together and keeping the falls to a minimun.
Also, the fact that Mirai had all her triples ratified at SC is promising. I see her as a potential spoiler at nationals, if Ashley has an off night and Alissa makes mistakes in the short and has her usual long, Mirai could brush past them. I think she has a good shot in coming in 2nd at nats
A skater who has done well this season with the pressure, Alissa. That's right Alissa. But honestly, as national champ right before an Olympic year, she's holding up well. No meltdowns. She only fell once at COR and twice at SC, but out of fairness to her, SC was a splatfest. Her SP has been great both times this season. She's kinda flying under the radar, because her LP scores are never that strong, but she is keeping it together and keeping the falls to a minimun.