2014 Skate Canada Ladies FS 11/01

[Sandpiper]

Since it seems like everyone else is covering the mess about the scores (reading back, there was even a dispute about someone not finding Anna beautiful?) I just want to say...

Congratulations to all three ladies! All three medallists skated very well, and delivered free programs that were solid on both the technical and the artistic. After catchy the men's competition live yesterday (hint: messy again!), it's great to wake up this morning and catch up with the ladies, who once again delivered.

Anna showed up with a technical smackdown. If she can hang onto those axels, I think she's probably the best jumper among the Russian ladies today (until Liza gets that 3Lz-3T back ). While I wasn't enamoured by her program, I can't deny her fire and ability. I agree with whoever said she should stop doing Biellmann though.

I can't believe I'm saying this about a chaotic, with-lyrics program... but I can only conclude, yes, I do like Ashley's program! It would not work with anyone else, but it is a vehicle that allows her to display a range of personalities and emotions. I am once again struck by how raw and powerful her performances are. I'm a bit worried about the technical side (UR loop?). But I think it's because she's concentrating on improving her lutz edge (! flip again?), hence less improvement than expected on UR.

Satoko showed up with much better packaging in the LP! I love her spins--in both directions--and while her jumps were small, they had great flow. I understand why the crowd had such a positive reaction.

I won't dispute any scores. All three ladies were great, and I'd be happy to see them on the podium in any order.

I'm really sad for Alena Leonova... that wasn't a good skate. But happy for Brooklee Han, who got a respectable placement even if she didn't skate as well as Skate America.

 

[[email protected]]

Uhh.. the PCS I have quoted is her most recent competition happened only last week not at Sochi. Cup of Russia is in Russia, if there's anywhere in the world Russia can assure her legitimacy, is through PCS proof her as much as possible at Cup of Russia. The political dynamics will be interesting for sure, I doubt any other competition will attract as many interest among the ladies competition for the reason of Adelina factor. Ashley is in a very good position to qualify, but I would be utterly shocked if she get anywhere near Adelina. How they actually perform on the day is almost irrelevant to how I know their PCS will get rewarded, that is why it makes it sad.

Her most recent competition did happen in Sochi. CoR will have an international panel. It means that although some favoritism is possible - like some generosity toward NA skaters which was the case at SA and SC (just compare how they judged Miraj and Ashley in Japan and there) - we will hardly experience over the top scandals. I might even expect Ashley to have another 64 in pcs but all her URs and 2 foot landings will be penalized harshly, no doubt.

 

[Meoima]

And last but not least. People forget that Anna Pogo is actually Russian's no.4 or 5 now that Radionova is senior as well.

She might not even make it to the Europe and Worlds. Her only chance is the Gp series and GPF. There is not many reasons for the judges to overscore Anna Pogo who might have to spend her next 4 years in senior B and GP series ONLY, given the depth of Russian ladies.

Satoko, on the other hand, might be considered Japan no.2 or even 1, given how consistent she is comparing to Kanako. She might have the chance to go to WC for the next 4 years at least.

I don't see any reason for the judge panel at SC to favour Anna Pogo over Satoko unfairly.

I mean, seriously, Russian no.4 or even 5 vs Japan no.2 or even 1, who should the judges favour more?? You thinks Russian fed have to rig the competition for their no.4/5???? Her scores are lower than Radionova, and Russian fed is not going to drop off Adelina this season, Yulia is extremely consistent. Anna Pogo only has the advantage over Liza and Leonova.

 

[MiRé]

Lol at people saying Satoko received lower PcS due to her looking juniorish. Uh excuse me, look at Yulia, she looks like 10 years old, and her jumps are TINY but somehow managed to get 70+ in PCS.

 

[OS]

And last but not least. People forget that Anna Pogo is actually Russian's no.4 or 5 now that Radionova is senior as well.

She might not even make it to the Europe and Worlds. Her only chance is the Gp series and GPF. There is not many reasons for the judges to overscore Anna Pogo who might have to spend her next 4 years in senior B and GP series ONLY, giventthe depth of Russian ladies.

Satoko, on the other hand, might be considered Japan no.2 or even 1, given how consistent she is comparing to Kanako. She might have the chance to go to WC for the next 4 years at least.

I don't see any reason for the judge panel at SC to favour Anna Pogo over Satoko unfairly.

I mean, seriously, Russian no.4 or even 5 vs Japan no.2 or even 1, who should the judges favour more?? You thinks Russian fed have to rig the competition for their no.4/5????

Rigging is a bit strong, but it does benefit Russia or any federation with a deep field. In many ways, Julia's high PCS at teams event at Sochi can actually used to justify Adelin'as high PCS, since at home Adelina has always had higher PCS than Julia. Just like if Adelina had a long track history of 10 points PCS advantages over Russia's 4th or 5th skater, when the 4th/5th skater improves their PCS internationally by say 5 points, what is stopping the judges improve her points by 10+5 = 15 points at home events?

 

[Meoima]

Lol at people saying Satoko received lower PcS due to her looking juniorish. Uh excuse me, look at Yulia, she looks like 10 years old, and her jumps are TINY but somehow managed to get 70+ in PCS.

Yulia is 1m60, not 1m45.

 

[MiRé]

Yulia is 1m60

She still looks like 10 and juniorish.

 

[Meoima]

She still looks like 10 and juniorish.

And the SL program plays her strength.

http://morozombie.blogspot.com/2014/02/girl-in-red.html

I still remain skeptical of competitive figure skating programs that use the music of Schindler's List; years of watching skaters treat Schindler's List programs as a convenient opportunity to use dress up in sombre colors, use various overwrought dramatic contrivances and make overly melodramatic and agonized faces have left me generally unimpressed and wary of attempts to portray the evils of the Holocaust and the suffering of the Jewish people on ice. Figure skating, with its various fripperies and accoutrements (both sartorial and otherwise) is far from the ideal, respectful arena to explore such issues. But I admit, I've found Miss Lipnitskaya's Schindler's List strangely tolerable, even compelling, much more so than many other programs using the same music...I want to say that it's the result of my appreciation of the program as a triumph of excellent, clever packaging, but it's not just that. There's something else there, something I'm loath to admit. But whatever it is, it's working.

 

[Mrs. P]

Actually when Julia won Skate Canada last year her PCS was only 60. She did had an odd and huge rise after that.

 

[aftertherain]

Lol at people saying Satoko received lower PcS due to her looking juniorish. Uh excuse me, look at Yulia, she looks like 10 years old, and her jumps are TINY but somehow managed to get 70+ in PCS.

Actually when Julia won Skate Canada last year her PCS was only 60. She did had an odd and huge rise after that.

 

[RABID]

Agreed. I also don't understand how people can say that Satoko has no connection to the audience when she got a standing ovation--a fairly sizable one, I might add. Surely that must mean that there was at least one person that found her performance spectacular...

There was no doubt that Anna deserved to be on the podium (seven triples!), but I think she was overcooked on PCS compared to Satoko. Those judges who gave Satoko marks below 7.00 must have a vendetta against her or something.

Well, dare I say it, there is the little matter of physical biases that might be at play, even if subconscious . I admit even to myself that I have to put aside my aesthetics; my personal judgements of a person's PHYSICAL appeal. To me, Pog LOOKS like a skating princess whilst Satako, doesn't, AT ALL, and in both cases it has nothing to do at all with their abilities as skaters. So the question is, can judges be AWARE of their personal failings and put them aside and judge on merit and not on bias or for that matter resist overcompensating? And of course it should go without saying, can audiences; can we? hwell:

 

[Snow63]

She still looks like 10 and juniorish.

Her skating is much smoother and lighter than Satoko's. Her skills are visibly better. And she doesn't look like 10.

 

[MalAssada]

She still looks like 10 and juniorish.

She's still awesome

 

[[email protected]]

She still looks like 10 and juniorish.

She startled thousands of people with awe and astonishment, people who could not care less about FS before seeing her. I myself can rewatch her SL again and again. Please, keep Yulia out of it.

 

[MiRé]

And the SL program plays her strength.

http://morozombie.blogspot.com/2014/02/girl-in-red.html

So ladies skating skills are determined by the choice of music? Interesting.

 

[MiRé]

She startled thousands of people with awe and astonishment, people who could not care less about FS before seeing her. I myself can rewatch her SL again and again. Please, keep Yulia out of it.

Others can disagree with you. Her juniorsh skating Doesnt justify 70+ pcs (but its olympics so maybe theres that)

 

[Meoima]

Well, dare I say it, there is the little matter of physical biases that might be at play, even if subconscious . I admit even to myself that I have to put aside my aesthetics; my personal judgements of a person's PHYSICAL appeal. To me, Pog LOOKS like a skating princess whilst Satako, doesn't, AT ALL, and in both cases it has nothing to do at all with their abilities as skaters. So the question is, can judges be AWARE of their personal failings and put them aside and judge on merit and not on bias or for that matter resist overcompensating? And of course it should go without saying, can audiences; can we? hwell:

:thumbsup:

So ladies skating skills are determined by the choice of music? Interesting.

as Mrs. p has pointed out, Yulia won SA last year with 60 PCS. And she buit reputation from that on.

 

[ks777]

Watching it on NBC right now. Hongo is not my cup of tea.

 

[Mrs. P]

One guy's opinion. Johnny Weir just commented that he feels Satoko skates a bit like a junior and her skating needs more presence. He felt she was a bit "subdued."

Tara Lipinski completed her on her nice arms and posture. But felt she was being a "paint by number" with the choreography.

Obviously VERY differing opinions regarding her.

 

[s_parks]

Others can disagree with you. Her juniorsh skating Doesnt justify 70+ pcs (but its olympics so maybe theres that)

:thumbsup: