2014 Cup of China Ladies Free Skate 11/08

[MizukiS]

I surely didn't see that coming for Yulia. I just feel sorry for her in K&C. Well even great skaters of the past have experienced a 'nightmare' program. How she rise after this will tell me how tough she really is. I still think she'll be able to come back stronger. For me, the music is lovely and I've enjoyed her non-jump elements esp of course her reliable spins.

Liza is really on a come-back. She has to worked doubly hard compared to other top Russians since she went down the ranks after last season. But look at her now, it's all paying off. I'm still not into her music and bothered by her hand movements but I also think she & So Youn have the better jumps among the current skaters.

 

[b-man]

Liza clearly the class of the field. Julia, TES of 44, PCS of 61. When the disparity is this large, the PCS is clearly a gift, and the gift includes a silver and a good chance for the GPF. Polina mediocre, decent, but nothing exceptional. Americans cringing at the TES of Cain-38, and Gao-30. May be last year for Gao as a GP entrant.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Is it true Yulia didn't even claim her medal?

 

[Jammers]

Sounds like a terrible competition if the Silver medalist barely scored over 100 points.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

The whole thing was a nightmare except for Liza.

 

[EdgeCall]

I wonder what's going on in China that makes the conditions so bad. This year a splatfest, last year as well and judging by the protocol in 2012 it was not so good either. Is it the air, the ice ... ?

 

[Sandpiper]

Great skating from Liza: Confident, charismatic, and the only person who looked like she was out to win. I think the last GP really gave her even more motivation.

My heart broke for Yulia. Just seeing her wave at the camera and attempt to smile in the K&C... There are some positives to take away from this--I think her double axels both had better flow here than in the SP, and the program underneath all the mistakes seems to be a solid one. Wishing her well on her next assignment.

Interesting how Zijun and Kanako had the exact opposite problem. Zijun started great but weakened as the program went on, while Kanako started with a nightmare and turned it around by the end. I don't think Kanako's program was as horrific as some are saying; I was expecting something a lot worse, and was pleasantly surprised at it being just okay. Vocals were distracting, but at least she seemed to be genuinely into her program, unlike some other POTO. I also appreciate her for not going full-on wilting damsel.

I can appreciate Polina on an intellectual level: high level of jump content, great spins, amazing catch-foot twizzle... but I just find her uncomfortable to watch. I know it's not her fault her arms are long, and the packaging isn't all her fault either. But even Gracie, boring and pageanty as she is, is more pleasant to watch than Polina. YMMV, of course.

I don't know what there can be said about the scoring. Yulia had a great short and a devastating long. Polina had a devastating short and a good long. Kanako made mistakes in both, but managed to salvage both programs. I find it hard to have an opinion on who was less bad. The only skater I'd pull for is Zijun, who I thought should've beaten Daleman in PCS at least (Daleman is slightly better packaged in the LP than SP, but her skating still comes across as very rough. Her jumps are big but don't have Zijun's smooth landings). But that wouldn't even make a difference in the standings, let alone the podium.

 

[mermaid]

Is it true Yulia didn't even claim her medal?

Seems to be. They say she didn't show at the medal ceremony.
I'm really disappointed not in her skate but in her behaviour ???
She should have congratulated Liza.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

That score is criminal. Criminal.

Agreed. I know I'm late to the lynching, but the judges from CoC deserve to be strung up. Lip literally executed 2 clean triples and pulls 100 points.... with 61 points PCS. WTH.

 

[Violet Bliss]

I wonder what's going on in China that makes the conditions so bad. This year a splatfest, last year as well and judging by the protocol in 2012 it was not so good either. Is it the air, the ice ... ?

Or the skaters?

What are the bad conditions in COC?

Collisions and other accidents happen, and they have happened anywhere. Splatefests happen, and they have happened anywhere. Outstanding performances happen too amidst poor showings. As far as Mens event is concerned, COC usually doesn't get the best skaters because it is sandwiched between Skate Canada and NHK so Chan and the best Japanese do not come. They got Hanyu this year because NHK is moved to be the last event. With lesser skaters in early season, a splatefest is not surprising.

In this COC, other than Mens with the horrible accident, all winners put up world class performances.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

She seemed okay in the K&C I thought. I think they were both surprised. She was patting Julia's knee and looked sympathetic.

Either way Eteri clearly knows how to deal with Julia. This is literally her first disaster skate since going to her.

Cup of Russia last year?

But yes, Eteri is a good coach in helping her through this when she could have brought the wrath of Tarasova on her as Gachinski faced.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

In this COC, other than Mens with the horrible accident, all winners put up world class performances.

P/Z did not put up a world class FS, IMO.

Ice dance, obviously you'll get excellent skates (though the winners were unexpected).

Tukt was the only saving grace in a messy ladies FS where the silver medalist landed 2 triples in her FS and the bronze medalist landed 3 triples. :disapp:

 

[Florencito]

Soo... what happened at the medal ceremony? Hopefully someone will upload some videos.

https://scontent-a-mxp.xx.fbcdn.net...=53f910899d061772dc10bc16f304b078&oe=54E7A6F0

 

[hippomoomin]

I am not surprised at Yulia's performance, judging by how she did in the practice. Most folks were thinking the better way for Yulia: it was because other skaters "tried" to sabotage Yulia, and the reason she didn't make her jumps. Her LP today is quite consistent with the practice. It was a beautiful piece of music and beautiful cut too, but she did not bring much of it.

 

[Sandpiper]

I wonder what's going on in China that makes the conditions so bad. This year a splatfest, last year as well and judging by the protocol in 2012 it was not so good either. Is it the air, the ice ... ?

The air there is indeed horrible. For people who aren't used to it, I can't imagine it being a good place to compete.

Of course, it's not an excuse for bad performances. Polina's LP showed that she is capable of better than she did in her SP. The opposite goes for Yulia, though perhaps stamina is an issue as well. But Liza isn't used to the air either, and she did well, so it's still mainly a mental game.

 

[adelia]

Seems to be. They say she didn't show at the medal ceremony.
I'm really disappointed not in her skate but in her behaviour ???
She should have congratulated Liza.

Unless Yulia is sick or injured, she should have attended. Someone guessed that she perhaps did not think she deserved silver but if that is really true (hard to say if that's true or not), then all the more she should have attended and shook hands with the other medal winners who skated better than her. Perhaps she might not understand that because she is young but in that case, Eteri should have advised her.

 

[Snow63]

I wonder when exactly and why Yulia have dropped her 'Mulan' FP. Maybe it was a mistake after all. :think:

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Wow, just read the pbp (thanks everyone who provided commentary) sounds like this was a depressing FS overall. I'm glad I didn't stay up for it. I'll watch videos later.

 

[hippomoomin]

Yulia did not attend the medal ceremony?! THat was very naive. That's like a slap on the judges' face, who awarded her silver, but she does not agree. I could only image Plush would do that.

 

[hippomoomin]

What happened to Zijun? She can barely finish half of the program, and I didn't hear she is sick or injured. I actually thought she showed some nice improvement in presentation in the beginning of the program.