Liza! Yulia! These girls are just incredible. Such technical strength, consistency, and performance ability! I'd give Liza's 2A straight +3 (difficult entry, great length and air position, 'tano, great exit edge, plus the kick to seal it off--what more could she have done?), and same goes for Yulia's spins (the positions, speed, entries...). Their only flaw is, perhaps, their taste in costumes.
I will never get tired of watching Liza. I think it's the way she uses her whole body: the position of the free hand during catch-foot spins and spirals, the movements of both the legs and the arms in the step sequence (many are good at one or the other, but not both)... I would've had her first, because her program looks more polished than Yulia's at this point. And she seemed to project more, whereas for Yulia it was more of "getting the job done" (but what a great job she did!) That being said, the marks aren't upsetting or anything. They're expected, and it's not like the judges gave Yulia some huge, dangerous margin like Chan at 2013 Worlds.
I think Yulia just needs to get more comfortable with the program. The elements are all there, and her jumps (axel aside) are better than people give her credit for. I wonder, perhaps because she skates with determination and doesn't smile much, people think she's not musical? I guess I would've like a program that shows more versatility... but I don't have an issue with her packaging in general. She does look young, so trying to do a "mature woman program" would just be ridiculous. She plays to her strengths like everyone else.
And then everyone else...
Despite Kanako's mistake on the flip, I understand why she placed ahead of Gabrielle Daleman. Gabby's packaging was terrible. :disapp: The dress (and its collar) made her look like she had no neck, and the whole princess thing (complete with tiara?!) didn't fit either the music nor her skating.
I was really liking Zijun until the fall. Hands-down the most beautiful dress of the night, and the way she went into that 3F-3T was almost--dare I say--Yuna-esque. But by the time the StSq kicked in, she'd lost a lot of steam.
I didn't really have expectations for Polina either way; not surprised by what happened, but I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd skated cleanly either. I do like the current, more elegant packaging, and she's learned to use her limbs better.
Sad for Kim. Cain was just disappointing; also wins the award of "Biellmann that least fits the program."
I will never get tired of watching Liza. I think it's the way she uses her whole body: the position of the free hand during catch-foot spins and spirals, the movements of both the legs and the arms in the step sequence (many are good at one or the other, but not both)... I would've had her first, because her program looks more polished than Yulia's at this point. And she seemed to project more, whereas for Yulia it was more of "getting the job done" (but what a great job she did!) That being said, the marks aren't upsetting or anything. They're expected, and it's not like the judges gave Yulia some huge, dangerous margin like Chan at 2013 Worlds.
I think Yulia just needs to get more comfortable with the program. The elements are all there, and her jumps (axel aside) are better than people give her credit for. I wonder, perhaps because she skates with determination and doesn't smile much, people think she's not musical? I guess I would've like a program that shows more versatility... but I don't have an issue with her packaging in general. She does look young, so trying to do a "mature woman program" would just be ridiculous. She plays to her strengths like everyone else.
And then everyone else...
Despite Kanako's mistake on the flip, I understand why she placed ahead of Gabrielle Daleman. Gabby's packaging was terrible. :disapp: The dress (and its collar) made her look like she had no neck, and the whole princess thing (complete with tiara?!) didn't fit either the music nor her skating.
I was really liking Zijun until the fall. Hands-down the most beautiful dress of the night, and the way she went into that 3F-3T was almost--dare I say--Yuna-esque. But by the time the StSq kicked in, she'd lost a lot of steam.
I didn't really have expectations for Polina either way; not surprised by what happened, but I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd skated cleanly either. I do like the current, more elegant packaging, and she's learned to use her limbs better.
Sad for Kim. Cain was just disappointing; also wins the award of "Biellmann that least fits the program."