From my analysis, jumps are never the issue for Michelle, thanks to the COP for not rewarding combos and jump-sequences. Purely on jump points, one skater just has to make one more jump be it a double or a triple to outscore another skater.
If Michelle is just being Michelle, the decade-long consistent jumper whom you can always count on (well except this 2005 Worlds) to deliver those triples, this aspect of the TES is completely taken care of. I wouldn't bet on Irina or Sasha to consistently outjump Michelle as far as the number of triples is concerned. Look at Sokolova, if my memory serves well, when she delivered those triples in 2003 Worlds, everyone was touting her as the next jumping queen. It never materialized since. People take it for granted just how difficult it is to consistently deliver 6-7 triples season in season out like Michelle had done before 2004.
It doesn't matter if Irina has 6 triples with one or two 3/3s as long as Michelle delivers exactly the same 6 triples individually. Assuming the GOE is 0 of course. Now let's factor the GOE in, I noticed Michelle's GOE for her clean jumps was actually very good ranging from 0.14 for 3lz to 0.71 for 3f. That's comparable to Irina's except Irina's highest GOE was for her incredible 3f with 1.00. In a nutshell, jumps are never Michelle's issue to catch up.
Ditto for her choreography. She used to be one of the few who had programs jampacked with choreography and in-betweens until the end of 2002 season, so why would anyone in their right minds, bet Michelle with struggle with choreography in her new LP for the Oly season? Unless you are someone who has never excelled in choreography then it's another story. Does it make sense?
As for her spirals, with more practice she can easily consistently execute the level 3 spiral sequence. Same for her footwork. Notice her footwork actually was scored higher than Irina's and Sasha's in the freeskate after the GOE was included.
The detailed COP scores are found here:
http://www.isufs.org/results/wc2005/index.htm
The real problem is her spins, yes that's the culprit. From 1993 till now, her spins have always been quite the same in terms of difficulty, variation and speed. Is Michelle capable of upgrading it, most probably yes given she is a great skater with very strong basic skills, but she will have to struggle to upgrade IMO. Spin scores are the biggest concern assuming Michelle successfully upgrades all other aspects of her skating for the next season. For Sasha and Irina, they can do those difficult spins in their sleep.
Just MHO, please feel free to disagree.
If Michelle is just being Michelle, the decade-long consistent jumper whom you can always count on (well except this 2005 Worlds) to deliver those triples, this aspect of the TES is completely taken care of. I wouldn't bet on Irina or Sasha to consistently outjump Michelle as far as the number of triples is concerned. Look at Sokolova, if my memory serves well, when she delivered those triples in 2003 Worlds, everyone was touting her as the next jumping queen. It never materialized since. People take it for granted just how difficult it is to consistently deliver 6-7 triples season in season out like Michelle had done before 2004.
It doesn't matter if Irina has 6 triples with one or two 3/3s as long as Michelle delivers exactly the same 6 triples individually. Assuming the GOE is 0 of course. Now let's factor the GOE in, I noticed Michelle's GOE for her clean jumps was actually very good ranging from 0.14 for 3lz to 0.71 for 3f. That's comparable to Irina's except Irina's highest GOE was for her incredible 3f with 1.00. In a nutshell, jumps are never Michelle's issue to catch up.
Ditto for her choreography. She used to be one of the few who had programs jampacked with choreography and in-betweens until the end of 2002 season, so why would anyone in their right minds, bet Michelle with struggle with choreography in her new LP for the Oly season? Unless you are someone who has never excelled in choreography then it's another story. Does it make sense?
As for her spirals, with more practice she can easily consistently execute the level 3 spiral sequence. Same for her footwork. Notice her footwork actually was scored higher than Irina's and Sasha's in the freeskate after the GOE was included.
The detailed COP scores are found here:
http://www.isufs.org/results/wc2005/index.htm
The real problem is her spins, yes that's the culprit. From 1993 till now, her spins have always been quite the same in terms of difficulty, variation and speed. Is Michelle capable of upgrading it, most probably yes given she is a great skater with very strong basic skills, but she will have to struggle to upgrade IMO. Spin scores are the biggest concern assuming Michelle successfully upgrades all other aspects of her skating for the next season. For Sasha and Irina, they can do those difficult spins in their sleep.
Just MHO, please feel free to disagree.
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