2015 Cup of China Ladies Short Program

[lyndichee]

I'm looking at this season - Tuk's 3a height and rotation are amazing, even if her landing is shaky and if she were to fall, she still rotated fully. In the practice video, Mao's 3a looks under-rotated, which is a concern.

It doesn't mean that alone will net Tuk the GPF, Mao has other qualities in her skating, but I'd say as of today, Tuk's 3a has better height, speed, rotation so far.

I hope Mao lands a good one, I want to see it too, and her other triples, it'll be amazing.

Tuk is taking a lot of flak for SC for her overall skating, but she did shakily land an impressively rotated 3a.

I don't know if it is more solid (time will tell) however I do like Liza's 3A better. When I watch Mao, I fear fall/UR, with Liza I just fear a fall.

But at the end of the day we gotta look at the whole package and I think Mao really knocks it out of the park. When Liza doesn't land the jumps then she has little to cushion her (though she is usually consistent). Mao still has her spins/footwork to keep her scores up.

 

[Leonardo]

I'm looking at this season

Well, in this season Mao already landed one clean 3A in JO, anyway, not to mention many beautiful huge clean 3A in competition practices, including today.

 

[FSGMT]

Grr...why do I have to miss this?!?

The same here :sad46:

 

[hippomoomin]

From Mao's practice video, she does not look very fast and and her spins are not as fast as expected either. Is everyone talking about her sp practice video when you guys say Mao is very fast right now? I have to say I am a little disappointed that Mao used vocals in both programs this season. I wish Mao skates to a movie soundtrack or a New Age piece sometime. I personally like Mao's programs choreographed by Tatiana Tarasova better than Lori's. After many years, Mao's programs just look the same; Zijun's programs, Han Yan's programs season after season are also very similar to each other. :sad21:

 

[Ophelia]

Since when was Mao ever fast (except to her uberfans?)? Her speed is average to above average to me. She isn't speed skating on the rink. Her spins are gorgeous.

 

[FS_rrb]

I'm a Mao fan myself but I've never considered her to be a fast skater. She has good speed now, but she is not VERY fast. I believe that her quality is that she is capable of moving across the ice with easiness and lightness. Other skaters move faster but look more laboured, need more crossovers to gain speed or seem heavier. While Mao is not Chan or Carolina, I think her speed is good now and her overall skating skills are quite above average. As for her spins, again, they are not super fast but her positions are gorgeous and they look beautiful.

 

[Leonardo]

From Mao's practice video, she does not look very fast and and her spins are not as fast as expected either. Is everyone talking about her sp practice video when you guys say Mao is very fast right now? I have to say I am a little disappointed that Mao used vocals in both programs this season. I wish Mao skates to a movie soundtrack or a New Age piece sometime. I personally like Mao's programs choreographed by Tatiana Tarasova better than Lori's. After many years, Mao's programs just look the same; Zijun's programs, Han Yan's programs season after season are also very similar to each other. :sad21:

Her new sp, chopin sp, madame butterfly, I got Rhythm, liebestraum, etc all look very different from each other. Not to mention Tarasova's programs.

 

[Ophelia]

Eh, Asada is a classical skater and the majority of her programs fit in the classic mold. That being said, she's one of the best at classical pieces, so points to her for playing to her strength.

 

[lovintabbs85]

Is Mao's lutz on the outside edge now?

 

[inskate]

Mao doesn't do a lot of crossovers, so she doesn't seem very fast on screen. Her leg movements are relatively slow while stroking, but she uses her edges so well that she gains speed over the ice very easily. Her ice coverage is exceptional, and she wouldn't be able to achieve that if she lacked speed. According to the reports from recent competitions, she's actually very fast live. At JO, the fans were posting that Mao was the fastest (Adelina was the only one to come close).

Since when was Mao ever fast (except to her uberfans?)

Since she became comfortable with her reworked jumps. Even before that, she was quite fast while executing the footwork (although she used to stalk her jumping passes).
(Plus, she was very fast when she was a novice/junior.)

 

[solar]

I've seen Mao skate live before and she's quite fast. Not a speed skater, of course, but not obviously slow

 

[Ophelia]

Hm...she looks above average speed to me, but not Kim or even Sotnikova/Chen fast where it looks like they're blitzing across the rink.

Is stalking same as telegraphing?

 

[gotoschool]

I'm a Mao fan myself but I've never considered her to be a fast skater. She has good speed now, but she is not VERY fast. I believe that her quality is that she is capable of moving across the ice with easiness and lightness. Other skaters move faster but look more laboured, need more crossovers to gain speed or seem heavier.

This is why I am a fan of Mao. I like her so much because of her effortless swift glide and elegance across the ice with plenty of intricate transitions and picturesque positions. These are some of the main reasons I like figure skating more than speed skating. Besides, Mao would collide with other skaters as they would with her if they were to go full speed with so many people skating on the rink, and the speed should vary with the tempo of the music as it does in musical performances.

I think Mao wasn't going at full speed in her run-through because there was some lady talking to her coach standing close to her exit path. Here's a more recent one: http://i.imgur.com/ZIaElye.gifv

Thanks inskate for this clip of Mao's big beautiful triple axel when she has more room to maneuver.

To me, Mao's expression and skating skills in this SP program are mesmerizing, full of fluidity and reflect the dynamic changes of the music especially in the scintillating step sequence. The edge on the triple lutz looks better than at the Japan Open and the 3F / 3L looks better than earlier in the season.

I hope all the skaters have a good competition. But, I especially look forward to the performances of Mao, Zijun, Karen and So Youn.

 

[jenaj]

There are a lot of people including me who think that Mao should have won the 2012 4CC's based on the quality of her performances, though Akiko was the clear winner of Nationals in 2014. Akiko skated great, but Mao did have back pain.

I saw 4CCs live and Ashley was the clear winner. Mao two-footed her triple axel and popped her 3 salchow. Until that popped jump, I thought she would win, but that was just one mistake too many.

 

[MIM]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLH7EvmDRUM

3A
3F+3Lo
3L

Any potential WR this year? I literally can't wait to see

Her jumps look amazing. Mao is full on! I cannot wait to see her. Whatever she puts on will be out of this world.

And the rest;
Sorry to hear about Elena not being with her coach here. I know she is a tough girl and will handle the pressure with/without her coach right next to her.
Anna finally has a decent program, and she really shines in it. Have the confidence and keep the momentum going!
Rika, her consistency and energy always makes me comfortable as well as excited watching her at any competitions!
Karen had a great debut at the SA. I was surprised by her incredible quality and presentation in every movement.
Zijun is such a delicate flower. Her grace and beauty adds another layer to this feisty sports.
Courtney found her new look and I am excited for her. Plus, her jumps and speed are one of the best. Now, it is time to step up!
So Youn has beauty and strength. I think she has way more talents than she thinks she has. Honey, don't overthink. Just show what you have!!

This is the most exciting ladies event I have been waiting for. Good luck to everyone!!!
(the smileys are getting better and better!! Love it!!)

 

[sunnystars]

Is Mao's lutz on the outside edge now?

it's on the flat-side.... :scard8:

 

[lovintabbs85]

it's on the flat-side.... :scard8:

So at least it has improved...

 

[jkun]

asada mao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhU5dx3EMlI
3A , 3F+3Lp , 3Lz
what will be her technical score if these jumps went clean?
any guess?

Wow. if she can pull that off she will receive an 80+ score, easily. And she will most definitely deserve it for those elements. I enjoy that she's finally taking advantage of her ability to do four triples in the short.

 

[Li'Kitsu]

it's on the flat-side.... :scard8:

Which is greeeeeaaaaaaat!!! :hap93:

It was definitely a flutz previously, and if you look at how long she's struggled with the jump, I think it's just incredible she managed to correct it as much as she did. If she manages to make it a ! consistently, I'll be more than happy. It will mean the jump is worth it over a 3S, it means she can go for the hardest layout possible without a quad.

She is so determined and a hard-worker, no matter the scores or anything, that 3Lz! is a victory for her in my book :agree2:

 

[Franklin99]

it's on the flat-side.... :scard8:

Why are you running away? It is on the flat side now, which is a heck of a lot better then on the in-side that it used to be.

It's so good to see Mao improving on every aspect of her skating. I might wake up 1 hour early just to catch her SP performance.