2016 World Championships Ladies Free Skate

[begin]

Jeannie Honey-bear sounds very magical girl like. Honestly, I wish especially the younger crowd would be a bit more creative with their programs and music choices. I think Mao, for example, who is a huge fan of Ayumi Hamasaki could've used an instrumental piece or an interlude from Ayumi's albums as a short program music sometime in her career. Everyone is complaining about Elena, but I think she is one of the few girls who chooses to skate to something she herself loves and identifies with as a young girl. It's not always great (like that JLo piece and Je t'aime) but it's HER and she's passionate about it.

I agree! That's what makes Elena special. She connects to her programs and is always so committed to performing.

Although, Mao has probably outgrown Ayumi Hamasaki by now. Point is, I hope to see all the skaters push their boundaries in the next two years (especially Mao).

 

[MaiKatze]

I agree! That's what makes Elena special. She connects to her programs and is always so committed to performing.

Although, Mao has probably outgrown Ayumi Hamasaki by now. Point is, I hope to see all the skaters push their boundaries in the next two years (especially Mao).

I agree, but I was more thinking of earlier Ayumi Hamasaki and earlier Mao, like in the 00 years. That's what I meant. The time for that is over now, but the younger girls should experiment more. Like I said, say about Elena what you will, but she's definitely involved in her programs in a way others are not.

 

[MaxSwagg]

Even Elizabet, who skated right after Asada, appeared noticeably faster.

Asada was just not the most memorable, live. You can disagree all you want and try to rationalize through fancams, but that was the feeling of the ppl in my group. If this is how she always projects across ice, it makes sense why her PCS was usually lower than Kostner/Kim's.

I do think she was more floaty and graceful than all the other skaters there, with Miyahara being a close second.

Well yes. Yuna is fast because her free skates have almost over 40 crossovers. Skating skills isn't just about speed. You can jist look at the step sequences, the EASE and FLOW across the ice. It is UNMATCHED. Even the jumps. Some UR but the most effortless and light of any woman who competed. I did see this live, probably closer to the ice than you. Ashley Wagner beat her in skating skills, which is ABSURD. She should be almost a point lower, even in interpretation. Oh, wait. You're probably one of those people who think her over the top facial expressions count as transitions and interpretation, like so many of her glossy eyes fans...

 

[whatif]

BBC just claimed that Bear is the most artistically developed, the "whole package" young skater/new star they ever seen. So there you have it.

 

[da96103]

Her reaction is almost heartbreaking. I am not really a fan of her skating, but I hope for her sake that she can find a way to be kinder to herself.

Gracie Hanyu Gold.

 

[ranjake]

Ah thank you,... i saw the tweet few minutes ago and i was coming here to edit my post but okay, now it makes sense

Yes! I finally saw it- the Ladies presser (at Icenetwork). The whole thing is very sweet. The 3 "Girls" are just so much fun to watch- and Medvedeva is just adorable- I love when she giggles. Well worth a watch (or 2

 

[cl2]

Firstly, er, Yuna isn't here so perhaps stick to the skaters who are or start a new speculation thread?

I wanted to give a few impressions. I was too tired last night as I went for a drink afterwards.

Firstly, Evgenia was great. Fully deserved win. I am not a fan of her SP, but this was beautiful. Also, that dress is stunning!

Ashley skated lights out and I am so glad she deservedly medaled. It was a bit slow and posey in the middle so I think maybe bronze was more appropriate but I ain't complaining. I was so pleased for her.

Anna was great, but the programme for me was a bit dull and jump-focused in places and not very engaging, unlike the SP where I loved her.

Satoko was undermarked shamefully in PCS. Certainly, in my section we were mesmerised. She was ethereal and the spins were absolutely gorgeous. After the event, her scores were the one negative about the competition that we kept going back to discuss. Screw you, judges, if you can't see beauty in all forms!

Although not at her best, there were still some amazing aspects of Mao's skating. We all agreed that it was a privilege to watch such a legend skate.

Altogether a great comp! It was wonderful to see it live!

I was at the arena too, watching from not too far behind the kiss&cry. Not the best angle, but I second all your assessments of the skaters.

This is my first time watching a competition live in person, and it was such an amazing experience. I don't know how I can bear going back to watching comps on TV anymore!

 

[vilandra]

Performances of the day for me come from Mao, Ashley and Anna:

- Mao: Despite the mistakes and nervousness, her skate is in a class of her own. So smooth, so calm, she is a BEAUTY on the ice!
- Ashley: She is really a diva, so much personality. Congrats US Fed.
- Anna: After being constantly underrated, she finally shines with those big jumps. Happy for her and cry with her during the ceremony.

The new champion - baby Medvedeva is GREAT with that WR (SILLY in my opinion though). I just don't feel her. Maybe because of too many unpleasing-to-the eye Tanos? Please look up to sb like Mao or Yuna when doing those hands over head.

 

[Snow63]

The scores for all the top performers in pretty much every event were inflated. Two WRs at this Worlds. That should tell you something. But the placements for the most part were pretty spot on. YMMV of course.

For the most part yes, I agree.

Btw, still waiting for that PM you promised me a while ago

 

[da96103]

Anna did congratulate Ashley later, after the Press Conference. It was a nice moment that few got to see. I saw it on IceNetWork.

Someone was quite fast to put anti-Ashley sentiments upon Pogo when she did not hug Ashley at the podium. I thought she just forgot in the midst of the excitement. I am glad Pogo rectified this.

 

[Pouchkine]

The greatest free skate off all time yesterday by Medvedeva and it's only just beginning!

 

[da96103]

I think I like Evgenia a lot better since this competition. She is amazing, and now I get why she does that thing with her hands, because she is a little bear. : I don't know what changed for me, but I absolutely think she deserves this title. Will she survive puberty? I do think so. I think she will have less problems than Julia. I watched her program in HD just now and she already has a feminine figure, even if she is still pencil thin. She is small but doesn't scream kid to me as much as others do. I wish her all the best, and hope she will do a different program next season with less backloading and less tanos. But then that was the winning strategy.

I think it's the way she wear her hair. She looks like she could be the first lady of a country.

 

[yyyskate]

Well yes. Yuna is fast because her free skates have almost over 40 crossovers. Skating skills isn't just about speed. You can jist look at the step sequences, the EASE and FLOW across the ice. It is UNMATCHED. Even the jumps. Some UR but the most effortless and light of any woman who competed. I did see this live, probably closer to the ice than you. Ashley Wagner beat her in skating skills, which is ABSURD. She should be almost a point lower, even in interpretation. Oh, wait. You're probably one of those people who think her over the top facial expressions count as transitions and interpretation, like so many of her glossy eyes fans...

Yuna's stsq at Sochi, fans has done detailed analysis, it has difficult(some of them think her pair of stsq in Sochi is the most difficult) and quality. Yuna does her stsq at much deeper edge, speed and whole body movement amplitude than Mao.
Mao indeed has intricacy and looked dynamic, but not necessary difficult, and her upper body movement amplitude which will affect stsq and the depth of her edge is not that impressive.

 

[OniBan]

I think so too but to confirm I would love to see a picture of her parents sometime. There was a movie about Elena and her father on youtube a few years ago, and he was a bear of a man. When I saw him I realised that Elena still had a lot of growing to do. I think looking at skaters parents can help determine their body types. I agree though, that I suspect that Evgenia, with 17, might not have that much growth to do. Look at Satoko...do you think she will grow more? I don't. It might just be her final body.

a bit OOT but that last sentence just made me laugh hahahaha XDD It makes me think of DragonBall Z where everyone had final forms, and i kept having this image of Satoko going into her final Super Saiya form and everything

 

[SarahSynchro]

Can we get a fan fiction of Mr Rice and Maria B please? Either from mrrice himself or one of you very talented writers roaming around these boards.

(Sorry i'm still slowly working my way through each post and each video.)

Oh god please somebody do this! It would definitely make the off season more entertaining.

 

[da96103]

I'm pretty sure that Anna was pissed off by the score, she thought she was better than Ashley... her reaction in the K&C says it all.

It doesn't change the fact that she was rude in the ceremony.

I am quite curious about this comment because Ashley skated after Anna. How would Anna know she was better than Ashley in the KnC if Ashley has not skated.

 

[Su50]

On Gala Evgeniya will perform a new dance for the song «In the Army Now». Again, I suppose teen trash, such as zombies or Tim Burton, will be glad to make a mistake.

 

[miki88]

Yuna's stsq at Sochi, fans has done detailed analysis, it has difficult(some of them think her pair of stsq in Sochi is the most difficult) and quality. Yuna does her stsq at much deeper edge, speed and whole body movement amplitude than Mao.
Mao indeed has intricacy and looked dynamic, but not necessary difficult, and her upper body movement amplitude which will affect stsq and the depth of her edge is not that impressive.

Um no, Yuna doesn't have the most difficult step sequences, since she often only gets level 3. Her Sochi stsq in both programs had lvl 3, Carolina got more GOE's than her in both programs and Mao got higher level and more GOE than hers in the LP. Also how can one have intricate yet not difficult steps? Upper body movements affect edges? That doesn't make any sense.... clearly you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I am quite curious about this comment because Ashley skated after Anna. How would Anna know she was better than Ashley in the KnC if Ashley has not skated.

Anna felt that way after Ashley skated in the KnC...actually on the couches in the waiting area...same thing though....right I kind of agree but Ashley and Anna were close enough that I can see it either way.

I think the effect of the judges trying to place Ashley ahead of Gracie at the same time may have given her a boost but I think that was the main thing on their minds. Putting Ashley ahead of Gracie.

 

[da96103]

Anna felt that way after Ashley skated in the KnC...actually on the couches in the waiting area...same thing though....right I kind of agree but Ashley and Anna were close enough that I can see it either way.

Okay I get the confusion. I think the original poster meant during Ashley's KnC while Anna is in the green room.