practice reports?

[Buttercup]

The technical specialist for men is a Japanese (Amano). He has a reputation to be lenient to Japanese skaters. I think Oda's quad will be ratified even if he falls.

1. It's not the falls that matter, it's the UR calls.
2. Scores at NHK 2006 were very inflated, I wonder if this will be similar.

 

[Yogudin]

Oda's 4T+3T+3Lo
http://uproda.2ch-library.com/src/lib074575.mp4

The technical specialist for men is a Japanese (Amano). He has a reputation to be lenient to Japanese skaters. I think Oda's quad will be ratified even if he falls.

The technical specialist for woman should be a Japanese, who has a reputation to be lenient to Japanese skaters. Then I think Mao's 3A will be ratified by +GEO even if she falls.

 

[propronia]

The specialist for ladies is an American (Sands) who also called at last years GPF. Mao may not need to worry about downgradings if he follows the same standards. The level 4 call for the footworks (in the LP) is expected.

 

[Love_Skate]

The specialist for ladies is an American (Sands) who also called at last years GPF.

Mr. Amano is also listed as an assitant tech specialist in both SP and LP of ladies single.
http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpjpn08/SEG004OF.HTM

Am I too naive to hope for some day when we don't need to care about where the judges and the tech specialists are from?

 

[Medusa]

You guys are just beyond priceless.

First - the competition hasn't even started yet.

Second - Yu-Na and Miki aren't taking part in the competition - but apparently they have a huge part in this discussion.

Third - You have already determined, based on the choice of the technical controllers, who will have their jumps ratified, +GOEd etc. - before those people even did a Single Toeloop in the official competition! Absolutely brilliant by the way how you manage to do that - can you also do stuff like, foretelling the losses and gains of the Dow Jones in the next few days?

 

[Yogudin]

Mr. Amano is also listed as an assitant tech specialist in both SP and LP of ladies single.
http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpjpn08/SEG004OF.HTM
Am I too naive to hope for some day when we don't need to care about where the judges and the tech specialists are from?

Congraturation!!! dear Propronia!
Mao's 3A should be ratified by +GEO even if she falls ! Then, the game is over!

 

[Buttercup]

can you also do stuff like, foretelling the losses and gains of the Dow Jones in the next few days?

I think it's been proven that nobody can!

Maybe GS should offer some sort of fantasy figure skating application, like fantasy football and baseball leagues in the US, and then people can speculate to their heart's content.

 

[propronia]

I think it is actually bad thing. I still can't figure out why Mao attempted 3axel in world championship when 2axel would've been enough.
I will be really surprised if Tarasova really believes two 3 axel program is possible.

I must say that's because Mao is different from YuNa Kim. She doesn't take an easy path. A world champion with three 2A's is quite embarassing, isn't it?

 

[Love_Skate]

Third - You have already determined, based on the choice of the technical controllers, who will have their jumps ratified, +GOEd etc. - before those people even did a Single Toeloop in the official competition! Absolutely brilliant by the way how you manage to do that - can you also do stuff like, foretelling the losses and gains of the Dow Jones in the next few days?

I don't think that the downgrading is always predetermined by the bias of the tech panel. But, as you might know already, there are apparent biases according to where the competition is held and who are the judges and the tech specialists. That's why many people are so worried about reducing the number of judges. I also think the tech panel of three persons has too much power to affect the scores.

 

[Okami]

2. Scores at NHK 2006 were very inflated, I wonder if this will be similar.

How they were inflated? Mao beat her LP score at Worlds, and would have beaten it twice last season, if it wasn't for the Lutz deduction. Daisuke also bested his scores from NHK, and so did Takahiko. Only Nobunari's PB comes from NHK, and that's because he bombed at GPF and Worlds, and did not compete after that. However, his scores at SA were close to those he received at NHK, and nly lower because he had messed up 3F landing in SP and UR second 3A in LP. Plus, as he proved himself as a contender, his PCS started to improve. This season, however, it might take a while before his PCS will climb to the previous level.

As for Mao: in the clips posted here her 3F-3L and 3Lz looked fab. It might take a while before her jumps become consistent in the competition again, but she deserves enormous respect for taking the risks and trying to improve her skating on all levels. As Tarasova said, "In order to be able to smile at the Olympics, you have to go through hardships now." :agree:

 

[PolymerBob]

Over at FSU, we were having fun with pictures that APPEAR to show a very out-of-shape John Baldwin. Does he look like he hit the gym a little?

 

[propronia]

NHK news commentated by Arakawa
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7jdt4_mao-news3_sport
Asada's 3A and 3A combo, Oda's 4-3-3

 

[Yogudin]

I must say that's because Mao is different from YuNa Kim. She doesn't take an easy path. A world champion with three 2A's is quite embarassing, isn't it?

If a world lady champion with two 3A's be, it should be wonderful! But with regards to 3A, Mao has landed only 2 times with +GEO among 13 trials in the past 4 years? Do you and Tarasova really want to force Mao to try two 3A's in some LP or do you want to draw some cartoon ?

 

[Buttercup]

How they were inflated? Mao beat her LP score at Worlds, and would have beaten it twice last season, if it wasn't for the Lutz deduction. Daisuke also bested his scores from NHK, and so did Takahiko. Only Nobunari's PB comes from NHK, and that's because he bombed at GPF and Worlds, and did not compete after that. However, his scores at SA were close to those he received at NHK, and nly lower because he had messed up 3F landing in SP and UR second 3A in LP. Plus, as he proved himself as a contender, his PCS started to improve. This season, however, it might take a while before his PCS will climb to the previous level.

I was referring specifically to the men. I remember reading on these forums that scores were very high at 2006 NHK - to the point of being inflated for some skaters.

From looking at protocols, Oda seemed to have been given very generous GEOs - more than 10 points over his base value in the LP, which is actually a bigger gap than Buttle's pristine performance at 2008 Worlds. His PB from there is 4th all time! That makes no sense. I find it difficult to accept that he was that good. Come on - better than Lambiel's best? Joubert's? With no quad and only two 3-3s (granted, one was a 3-3-2 with a 3A to start, but still) in the entire event? He didn't even max his spin levels; it's all GOEs. I'm not buying it. And you will note he has not come within 10 points of that score before or since, and generally scores between 200 and 225. Maybe he'll give us a good performance this time out; I hope it is scored appropriately, whether good or bad.

Dai also got extremely high GOEs at the 2006 NHK Trophy, and his score from there at the time was second only to Plush. He indeed improved on his scores afterwards - at the 2008 4CC, another event not known for stingy scoring. They're both very good skaters, but I believe the judges were too enthusiastic at that event, possibly because of the location combined with the nationality of the top guys. But since Takahashi will unfortunately not be skating this year, in his case it hardly matters what the judges do.

ETA: Sorry for going OT, guys. I felt Okami asked a fair question and deserved a real answer.

 

[LKR722]

:sheesh: I saw 4 pages under the topic "Practice Reports" and I thought this meant there were some reports out there about alot of different skaters. Instead this whole thread is about Mao and her jumps. Mao is a favorite of mine but I thought this thread was for practice reports only. I hope there are some reports soon on Mirai, Laura, Ashley, Johnny, Stephen, and the other skaters.

 

[visaliakid]

Another thread ruined by the idiotic Mao-Kim "She's better than her" crapola. Yuna-Mao arguments should be taken to a separate thread. If you have no actual practice reports to offer please refrain from posting your unwinable arguments.JMHO!

 

[HCOSurfer]

Are there any reports on Ashley, Mirai, or Johnny?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Am I too naive to hope for some day when we don't need to care about where the judges and the tech specialists are from?

Wouldn't it be nice if we only cared about skating and who does it well? But no! It is rapt up in Nationalities and while the Tech Panelists may well be honest, there is that human instinct to call an UR if a high level competitor seem to make a 26% landing instead of a 25% landing. So much for eyesight and the power of the Tech Panel.

 

[Okami]

I was referring specifically to the men. I remember reading on these forums that scores were very high at 2006 NHK - to the point of being inflated for some skaters. From looking at protocols, Oda seemed to have been given very generous GEOs - more than 10 points over his base value in the LP, which is actually a bigger gap than Buttle's pristine performance at 2008 Worlds.

And again: at SA his scores would be nearly the same if it wasn't for the fact that he had a shaky flip in SP and underrotated 3A in LP (and some other stumbles, the NHK performance was definitely better).

At Nebelhorn Trophy this year his performance was worse than at NHK (he is not used to competing at attitude and I thought he'll pass out in the middle of the LP) and he popped one of his jumps. He received negative GoEs for it.
But, he gained 6.9 GoE on that performance. If it wasn't for the popped jump and the removal of one spin from the LP, he would probably receive about + 9 GoE for a relatively uninspired performance.

His score at NHK was the highest for a simple reason: that was his best performance up to date.

Many might not remember, but post-Skate America 2006 many considered Nobunari as a favourite for gold - Daisuke and Stephan bombed at Skate Canada, Nobu beat Lysacek twice, Johnny also bombed, Brain's scores were not very impressive.

He did not come close to those scores because he did not skate as cleanly after that. Losing to Daisuke shaken up his confidence, and he put all his effort to get a 4T and the step sequences to match Daisuke's. At GPF he skated with an injured knee, and at Worlds he was a bunch of nerves with a new program that he hadn't fully mastered. And that was his last international competition for a while.

Nobu might have lack some things in his skating; namely stamina, confidence, good steps and a quad, but his technique is so pure (when he's on) that as long as he skates clean he will rack up huge GoEs. I've watched his performances broadcasted in different countries, and all the commentators swooned over the quality of his jumps (and spins). Some quotes:

Dick Button: "Best knees in figure skating." "I... I'm sorry, I just get tongue-tied when I see how beautiful they are, those jumps." "That landing... that exit landing is just like... honey, it's _wonderful_."
CBC:"(...) the quality of edge that the judges simply _love_."
Kurt Browning: "I really hope the judges _really_ give this guy a plus to the grade of execution."

I agree that Daisuke's GoEs were slightly inflated, but the judges needed to push him past Nobunari somehow. As Daisuke improved his weaknesses from that time (scratchy landings and poor spins), I'm not really bothered. He was the rightful winner of that event.

 

[frozenhell]

but she deserves enormous respect for taking the risks and trying to improve her skating on all levels. As Tarasova said, "In order to be able to smile at the Olympics, you have to go through hardships now." :agree:

Do Mao fans really want her to take risk? It's puzzling to me. Taking risk might be virtue for those daredevils at X games but does same thing hold true in figure sakting? What she really needs is consitent 3/3, not a two 3A.
I am curious about what happened to her 3F/3T. Was it put on shelf just for TEB or Did Mao decide combo3T is too much for her?