Be nice to the Ladies
Table of Contents:
1.0 Gracie´s story
2.0 Breaking records - Evgenia Medvedeva
3.0 Ladies Night
- 3.1 Mao Asada - A Strong Woman
- 3.2 Ashley Wagner - "Make Up" Call
- 3.3 Anna Pogorilaya - The beauty takes them all
4.0 What I like about You
- 4.1 Rika Hongo
- 4.2 Elena Radionova
- 4.3 Viveca Lindfors
- 4.4 Dasa Grm
- 4.5 Niko Wories
- 4.6 Alaine Chartrand
- 4.7 Zijun Li
- 4.8 Anna Khnychenkova
- 4.9 Nicole Rajicova
- 4.10 Angelina Kuchvalska
- 4.11 Satoko Miyahara
- 4.12 Mirai Nagasu
5.0 The Conclusion
1.0 Gracie´s story
Looking back at the Ladies event makes me clueless about where to start. A lot of things that I expected came true and yet everything was somehow different.
At first it seemed, like there could be only one winner, a winner, who grabs me with her personality and skill, someone who I felt deserved a medal, more than maybe any other woman in this field. Her passionate appearance and devastating sadness, made her a victim and a winner, at the same time.
The gold for Gold, which I predicted, was out of reach and yet in sight, and once again we have discussions, about a California girl, who once just wanted to tip over the ice, who is brilliant and loved, but yet so lonely.
Being the big favorite after leading the field, she must have been in the middle of something, everyone was dragging her somewhere, fans, media and once again, she delivered what was expected of her, even if she owned them nothing.
After interview marathons, photo shoots, press conferences and a come together with her fans, she was exhausted, but she didn´t show it. Her practice went alright, she was ready to take her opportunity and yet, she was scared. Scared, that once again, she will be seen as a failure, as someone, who did not win for her country, said medal.
A mindset, which doesn´t evolve in her head, but in the mind of fans. An American athlete, wins medals for her country, not for herself, at least if you believe that nonsense.
Her three point lead and the crowd behind her, plus a very demanding firebird, seemed like a doable job and yet it was impossible.
From the start to finish, she did not bad and yet it was not enough to secure a medal in one of the toughest competitions in Worlds history. No matter where we look, we had Ladies performing at their absolute best, ladies who give that sport so much and at times, get so less back. The cheers for Ashley´s silver, were enormous, the world record by Evgenia an incredible achievement and Pogo, finally got a medal, a medal she was robbed of, so many times before.
If you see them celebrate, then you can often ignore the obvious and that was that young girl with the blond hair, who must have been feeling so alone after she left the ice.
As someone who didn´t have the privilege of going to Boston, I always thought, what if... What if, she struggles, what if she is sad, what if Gracie needs a shoulder to cry. Who will be there for her, who will comfort her and let her know, that she is not an embarrassment for her country and that she has no reason to be ashamed of herself.
Lot´s of skaters know by now, that I tend to be a super optimistic fool, trying to lift their Karma whenever I can and if there is anything, that I would have told Gracie off ice, then it would be that there are people who do admire her, who do see the greatness in her and who love her, for what she is, a young lady with a big heart.
Said heart, let her finish the FS program, knowing, she was out of reach after touching down in her combination and popping the Lutz. Two errors, that would have been enough to win a medal years before, but not today. I spoke about the depth before, going clean seems so important these days that even the slightest issue, can cost you everything you worked for during the season. Why do I tell you this? I do, because I believe that many people do not fully understand or realize yet, that medaling is unlike harder these days, than maybe 14 or 20 years ago, when Sarah or Tara won their gold at the Olympics. Scoring systems have changed and every skate will be very open to critique and the slightest mistake will tank your PC´s and TES. We saw it in the short with Mao, a super gifted skater, but with these mistakes, one of the best ever, was completely out of reach for the medals and in the Free she came back and how, but not even she was able to overcome the obvious, the big depth of woman's figure skating these days. Almost all of the top 10, could have medaled, when did we see this before?
If we look at it, from this perspective then I believe, that young Gracie is indeed not the one to blame for her placement, a 4th place in such a strong field, is a good result and she is everything, but not an embarrassment for her nation.
There has been a lot of chatter, about what she should or not do in future and I am certainly not in the slightest qualified to tell her what she should do, as we barely know each other. But, there is one thing that I would like to see, her coming back to Oberstdorf, not because of the fact that I still want to take her out, but to find her smile again, to appreciate life once more and that beautiful sport, thinking about herself for a change and not those who try to be walk in her glamorous light.
2.0 Breaking records - Evgenia Medvedeva
A lot of glamour is indeed the next topic, when I want to talk a little bit about
Evgenia Medvedeva. Over the season, I analyzed her programs again and again, so I will try to keep it simple this time. Both programs, the Short and Free prove an incredible musicality by the young Russian. Eteri and her understand well, what it means to grab the audience visually and auditory. In both programs, she managed to tell you a story, a true story like with Eteris daughter Diana, who has a hearing impairment and finds herself in Evgenia´s Free.
The change from loud and quiet, backwards and forwards, while gliding effortless and confident, with great transitions like when she holds the leg up and does the stop and turn, make her a total package for me. If you see her skate and how she almost paints the music on ice, with beautiful arms, great balance and soft knee´s, then this is indeed a special moment for all of us.
At times, she reminds me of Mao, who has the same ability to skate with the music and by doing so, it looks less "fast" than it actually is, as it´s all so smooth and perfectly timed to the bpm value of the musical arrangement.
Her arrangements allowed her, to dominate the past eight months, she was the best player in the field, only once beaten, by her country woman Elena Radionova at Rostelecom.
If not her, then who deserves the gold medal? From my point of view, watching her skate is an inspiration, that even young skaters can do more than just jump. Like with Yulia before, there is magic created and I find it incredible sad, if people are unable to appreciate something like that, either due nationality or the fact that their own skater, was overcome by the huge depth and skill this season.
Placing all her jumps in the second part of the short, while landing seven triples in the Free, nailing her levels and staying present, while interpreting every musical phrase beautifully, were key to her victory and the highest, ever posted Free skating score.
Her response to said score of 150.10 points, tells you all, that there is to know. She skates because she likes it and not to rain on anyone's parade and yes, Yuna has lost her record, but let´s face it, nothing is forever in sports and also this record here, will someday be broken. The ISU is pushing for the attention by media and fans and they believe that world records will help and the so called inflation in scores, might be there, but if that beautiful sport want´s to progress and find it´s way back into the newspapers and TV stations, then I believe this is in our all interest!?
3.0 Ladies Night:
One way to let the interest grow, is adding more ladies to the sport, as figure skating is often dominated by the youth, as they have it easier with the jumps and to my regret, many people think that a figure skater must be a tiny, thin girl and not a well developed woman.
Therefore, it makes me very happy to now speak about the Queens of Boston, Mao, Anna and Ashley.
3.1 Mao Asada - A strong Woman
Mao, came back after a long break and a big disappointment, at the Olympics. The Olympic silver medalist from Vancouver, was unable to skate clean in the short and therefore lost too much to Sotnikova, Kim and Kostner at Sochi.
Watching her from the start of the season, she seemed to have lost her punch a bit, the jumps didn´t want to work anymore, she had to pop them or lost them due under-rotation. At the same time, she nailed a superb triple Axel at the Cup of China, an element that she should also be able to land in the Free, at Boston.
At said Free, she proved again, that her skating is not just mature, but from a different world. The way her blades kiss the ice, is unmatched for me, it has a calmness that other skaters, can only dream of. She does not use a lot of force and yet, is faster than most. She has the ability to skate every note of her program music, perfectly portrait in her motion.
You really need to be a strange person, to not like her skating. No matter if sexy and naughty like in the short or calm, strong and graceful in the Free, she can do it all
3.2 Ashley Wagner - "Make up" Call
Another lady with a lot of variety, is
Ashley Wagner. She proves time and time again that skating is more than just a jumping contest. The silver medalist from Boston, is a real lady and she is using her sex-appeal and experience to show us a world, that young skaters have not yet discovered. No matter if she is shaking her hips or looks sadly in the mirror, she shows a new face, in every program she does and she can only do it, as every program is a part of her life.
Quite often people approach me at the ice rink with all kinds of questions, about young skaters. They do so, as these kids are like the wind, they come and go, no consistency or legacy. Fans, can not really get to known them and with all due respect, to Tara – there is a big difference in what a skater can mean to her fans or country. Yes, Ashley has not an Olympic title, but she has more than 10 years of reputation on the ice and just did so much more, for the sport, than someone who comes and wins, and is never seen again.
What might sound a bit sassy, is how I feel, we should appreciate the Ladies on ice and not write them off, just because they didn´t win in the previous years. Ashley just deserves credit for her legacy and she has done more for the sport than those who were unwilling to continue after their success.
The short was sassy and sexy, choreographed by a former ice dance champion –
Shae Lynn Bourne and the Free was a mix of power, sadness and freedom, that just draws you in. Ashley is just a great ambassador for the sport, she has all the technical abilities and combines them with her strong artistry. That Free was probably one of the biggest crowd pleasers, that were created in the past 10 or 20 years. Every moment of that program, was in Ashleys eyes, her emotions made the roof blow up, you could feel the tension and intensity it was just incredible to see, how she was connecting with the crowd.
3.3 Anna Pogorilaya - The beauty takes them all
Last but not least in the list is
Anna Pogorilaya. I have to say, that she has everything that drives us men insane. At 7 o clock she is smiling, at 8 she is laughing and at 9 she is crying. A young lady, who is extremely emotional and hard to predict. Known for her inconsistency, she nailed two perfect programs on both days, ice cold yet sexy with huge attack on her jumps, great height at the Lutz – Toe combination as Sheherezade, a phenomenal step sequence as Queen of Bolero, I just love it.
I love looking at her, I see a fully grown woman with all the tools, a triple Loop – double Toe that just came out of nowhere in the Free, a great facial expression that is not the always smiling that others have, no she is fire and yet icy – I love that girl and her temper! With all due respect to everyone else on the ice at Boston, she was my queen on both days, she was the lady, that I just want to see again and again.
She conquered her demons, took a different path this time and just nailed it and I would have given this girl many more points, no other lady was so clean and powerful, with transitions, speed and great edges, knee falls and Drama. She will be able to be what
Butyrskaya and Slutskaya were before, a lady on ice, with emotions that are so appreciated. Her reaction after the Short and Free, was fabulous – not a smile, but a thinking process kicked in, analyzing her skating, evaluating what just happened and at one moment she was dancing, and at another she was laying down – I just can´t get enough of her brilliant personality.
Said personality also came out at the Gala and yes Anna, I so would love to dance Tango with you in a madhouse, my absolute favorite exhibition performance, lovely dress – what a beauty this young Amazon is.
4.0 What I like about you!
Usually I have something called "medals for all" and today I will turn this idea into something else. I want to say something nice, about a few skaters, who just got stuck in my head.
4.1 Rika Hongo
Rika, is responsible for the most entertaining performance this season in the Free. Her Riverdance is an attacking piece of music, she lives that musical arrangement, times her elements on beat and completely destroyed the Garden with her power, capturing the theme.
In my opinion, skaters like her with these wild and dancy programs, are very important. I come from a dance background, work as a DJ and music is a big part of my life and I love skaters, who can take a piece of music and turn it into an instrument, an instrument for their performances, for their skating and elements.
She might not be as balletic or elegant like the Russian skaters, but she is not afraid to put herself into the spotlight and entertain us with her great spirit. For me, what she has created with her Riverdance, is just a beauty. I spoke about it many times before, how her elements and facial expression change and work that piece of music.
The progress from the open ranged theme with it´s wide character at the start, up to the dance, with those traditional Irish steps, is an overkill for me. I just can not believe how a skater from a totally different cultural background as we in Europe, can absolutely nail something like that on the ice. Her legs must have been on fire towards the end, burning muscles and yet, it looked like it was absolutely nothing for her.
She grabs the freedom that you have on the ice, that dancers on the floor will never have and just completely enlightens the fire in all of us.
If you see the crowd reactions then this is so much more than what Olympic champions got and why not? Why not, just cheer and clap during a routine, why not start to dance yourself – the skater is alive and on a run, so why not join her.
Big applause to Rika and her interpretation skills, she is so special on ice! The programs reflect her personality and I do not think, that ever in the history of this sport, a skater could do something like that, with a typical dance, that so far, was bound to the floor, but now moved on to the ice with an excellence of execution, that I have honestly not seen by many skaters at Worlds in the past 20 years.
4.2 Elena Radionova
For me, she was a little bit the sad one at Boston. Personally, I never felt the crowd was with her as much as with others. If you look at how she is supported as a skater in Europe, then I don´t know why the people didn´t lift her up more at Boston. Every jump element on both days, was a big fight for the teenager with that natural look and skate for the heart. When I see her, then I no longer see that Zombie from years ago, the kid that was naughty and wild and treated everyone with a big hug and smile.
No, now I see a young lady who is becoming a woman, someone who is developing a different type of skating and it will be a hard road to go for young Elena, but with her big heart I so hope, she can overcome the problems that she is currently facing like with the takeoffs on some of her jump elements, that give her all these issues with the landings.
I love how she looks at you, what she does with her hands, Elena gives you the feeling that she would skate only for you and as she gains a few more months and years, this will only get better. I disagree with that windmill stuff that people throw at her, it´s her style, it´s a freedom she shows, that she also has in her heart and in my opinion, there is nothing better in this world, then seeing someone, who enjoys what he or she is doing. No matter if the triple Loop - Loop - triple Sal, or her spins, turns and steps – she is with her heart present in everything she does, what a remarkable athlete, that just doesn´t want to let go, no matter what happens with her body or with those around her as seen with Inna earlier this season.
Her eyes, show a happiness that I seldom see these days but really admire. She wants to be kind to everyone – it was really a pity, that she wasn´t allowed to do the Exhibition. While I am not sure if she found her Jack yet, that Titanic program is really emotional and I hope the boys in Russia are not afraid to go on a ride with such a beautiful young lady, as not every ship has to land on the bottom of the ocean.
4.3 Viveca Lindfors
Throughout the whole Boston Championships, I did not say a single word I believe, about young Viveca. I did so for a reason... Whenever I praise my Finish ladies, they either get injured or land on their butts. I am not a bad guy, but it´s true I jinx things...
I do know, many read the forum and I always feel guilty for maybe building a bit too much pressure, as I always say, how much I love their style of skating and how much I want my Fin on top of the podium.
While the podium was not in reach for the 17 years old, she has absolutely skated the lights out for me.
During her Free, I saw Evita, I saw a woman, who was passionate and strong in her motion, who had technical skill and the ability to really grab your attention and tell you, her story. As Ice Queen she enchanted me, landing the triple Toe combination flawlessly, always looking to the people in the stands, trying to get a reaction, fierce look in her face, wonderful arms – greatly interpreting the musical phrasing she was skating in. Over the course of both days, she only made one error on the double Axel in the short, which she popped, but besides that, everything was spot on, not losing much of her planned components and this is so wonderful to see, if a skater from Finland can go clean, as their skating is so special to me.
I want to point out especially her work with the upper body, the hands and arms, everything is performing, something that I usually bring up with Russian skaters, but here it applies as well. She has such an elegance and grace in her motion, I really love watching it.
4.4 Dasa Grm
Same applies for Dasa, she is such a hot woman on ice and even if she was unable to enter the final, she is someone who´s program I watched a couple of times already. I can look at her all day. Her calmness and level of detail as seen with the dress, is fascinating and she has an impact on people, as seen at Rostelecom, where they all got behind her. She went to Worlds for a reason, she is a very good skater and even if it didn´t come together, I see the light in this lady, I follow her now since 8 years or so, I remember the kid and I love the woman, hopefully she will keep going, the Olympics must be her big goal and I loved how she was soaking in the atmosphere at Boston, not rushing from the ice, she enjoys it even if you could think, that there was not much to enjoy for her with two falls in the short.
4.5 Niki Wories
You would think, that falling is some type of hobby for Niki, as she did this so often at the start of the season and now look at these brilliant performances at Boston. Wasn´t she amazing? Yes, a few errors, but damn, did she deliver and it is as I said before, she shows everyone out there, that things are possible if you believe.
What a hard worker she is and she offers something that I want every skater to have and that is presentation. If you watch the ladies competition then it has improved a lot since I started mentioning the importance of it a few years ago. If you step on the ice, then be proud, be confident, let people know you are on to rock the show and once you are done, bow into all directions, even if at one, only the clean up craw empties a trash can, show everyone your appreciation for their attendance.
It might sound like a minor thing for many of you, but this is what I want to see by skaters. They are artists on ice, so why not act like one also before and after your skates.
Another aspect about her is the speed on ice, she really want´s it, like a little puppy ready for it´s daily bone. As a Dutch at worlds and in the final, coming 22th she deserves all our respect and she will be a big inspiration for many Dutch girls, who will look up to her and the achievements of her career, a career that has just started!
4.6 Alaine Chartrand
Oh dear, our little Canadian whirlwind, surely expected something else from her journey to Boston. She has everything and yet, it didn´t want to come together. She is fast and naughty, but it seemed like she wanted to prove the world something and then that world of expectations, kind of killed her coolness in the end.
As an artist she has a lot to offer, great use of music in both programs, very expressive with huge speed during the Drama and grace in the breakdowns.
I stick to my words, if she manages to bring her nerves under control, then this is a lady for the future and she might could become my favorite Canadian too, as so far Kaety has that spot, but Alaine is battling hard to take over.
You can laugh with her off ice and you can lose yourself in her motions on ice, she has the best damn Lutz of all ladies and her programs are complex and super challenging, not just the jump elements, but also her steps and the spins, as seen with the layback and change of edge or entry to her Axel with the Wally jump.
It must be hard for someone so gifted to come home with just the 17th place, but she should look at the bright side of life, she is still at the beginning of a big career in the making and Brian is a great coach as well. I love the input he has for his athletes, he is similar to me in this regard, we seem to share the same mindset about posture and manners, he is calm and always positive – she will benefit from that over the years and I believe, it is exactly what she needs, someone who can encourage Alaine, and tame that wild and naughty nature of her personality a little bit, as she expects so much from herself.
4.7 Zijun Li
I´ve got to say, I love that lady´s positive energy, the delicate motion and all those smiles and the flow she has in her programs. Personally, I prefer her short program, I think it suits her very well, more quiet and elegant, with good seamless transitions and a nice variation on the Bielman, holding it with just one hand. But the Free is not less good, I love the moment when the music get´s darker and her facial expression reflects that moment beautifully. I think it was a pity that she did not get a very high score in the short, but it once again shows the depth of the ladies field.
In general, she seems to be a very kind person, who really enjoys every moment on ice, something that more of the ladies should do. It is a great opportunity to be a figure skater, take and enjoy it. Said joy, she actually offered all of us with her live stream from the banquet in which she befriended for instance Piper Giles and had a chat with
Hanyu.
4.8 Anna Khnychenkova
She had a little costume malfunction in her Free, when the hairband got lose during the double Axel – loop – triple Sal combination and she just kept going and landed the element, then took the hairband and gave to a fan, great recovery there! If you wouldn´t know better, then you could assume the whole thing was part of her choreography.
4.9 Nicole Rajicova
This young lady, has made huge steps forward in the past few years. I remember her from way back and since working with Igor, she is absolutely pushing her limits every time, that she skates. You can see this pretty well, she is gaining her levels and really enjoys performing, she has such a calm smile on her lips during her skates and without being an expert, I think that her Loop is really wonderful, it looks so easy for her with butter sweet landings.
The former American must have been feeling at home in Boston, even though the Americans have big problems pronouncing names from East European skaters, as I once again noticed at this event here.
4.10 Angelina Kuchvalska
The super model from Latvia, yes I love her style, those cute eyes and gorgeous smile of hers, such a pretty girl, so elegant, always dressed for the red carpet. Isn´t it great, to have so many different nationalities these days and it´s fun that her initials are AK, like of a very attractive former Russian tennis player and I don´t want to be the one to judge, who is more pretty.
As for her skating, she had a really nasty fall at her triple – triple combination during the Tosca short, where she really crashed into the boards, but stood up and just delivered her next elements. I like this when the Ladies show that they might be pretty and soft, but are full of spirit and strong will to keep their posture and skate their programs no matter what. Overall, her technical abilities are pretty good, as seen with the triple Sal – triple Toe combination or double Axel – triple Toe.
Another aspect however, is her presentation, I love it so much, when skaters not turn their back to the audiences when they leave the ice. She looks back into the stands and waves, I really appreciate skaters, who do that and her coach Ekaterina makes the dream team complete, she seems to be a great help for Angelina, so supportive and calm.
4.11 Satoko Miyahara
No matter what people throw at her, I like this girl. She understands her music and skates with it and the choreographies are ace too. She is able to impress with her strong SS, covering lots of ice, while skating into all directions and that change in her spin, is amazing. I love it, if skaters bring something special to the table and she lands her jumps super confident, always very present, acting throughout every second of her programs.
Just look at the transition to her step sequence in the short, that small choreographic element, this girl can act and I love how she takes her feet from the gas at times to strike a pose.
In the Free, she just floats with the music, grace in her arms and always effortless with great entries into her jump elements, what a beautiful skater, this young Japanese is.
4.12 Mirai Nagasu
This young lady here, had to work really hard to get back to Worlds, as her last were in 2010. Now, six years later, after the devastating things that happened prior to Sochi, she came back with a super short.
I really enjoyed it and you could feel that the crowd did so as well. Goosebumps everywhere and it felt like an exhibition with the vocals and huge cheers, so soft and yet powerful, as seen with the triple Loop, that was greatly placed on beat. I don´t know guys, but whenever I hear Americans complain about their skaters then I can only say, that we in Germany, would be pleased to have someone like those in your country.
So much heart in her step sequence, that expression - she totally sold it! I think she just put everything , all the anger and fear of six years into that moment on ice, superb Layback, outfit, charm, you can not ignore how special that moment was for her and the audience.
Very emotional skating, great technique and entries into her elements – it´s just all there and you can experience that so often in America, honestly start to realize that please. In other nations, these skaters would be heroes but the vocal minority in America, never appreciates all of that, its just sad.! Please come to Nebelhorn next season, all of you and I will bring the cake to the party!
5.0 The conclusion
I could write much more about the Ladies event,
Laurine and Kailani, not making the final broke many hearts,
Amy Lin with the birthday wish that seemed more like a threat to me,
Gabby was fantastic in the short ... yes, it was a great event and I am delighted to see many of the skaters, next season again to follow their legacy and say a few positive things, once in a while, to encourage them, to keep going, even if it hurts.
I want to thank all the ladies who stepped on to the ice, it was the best ladies competition in a very long time. Everyone delivered in her own special way, see yourself hugged and kissed!
P.S.
I apologize for any spelling errors and the huge wall of text about Gracie, I am running a fever, ya ladies that is what you do to me...
. Eg. I was disappointed that V/T did not return in their Olympic form and run away with the pairs comp. Oh well, can't have everything, lol. Anyway, thank you, adarskates, for voicing one of my pet peeves so well.
however I doubt Yuna Kim is loosing any sleep over her record been broken. She probably didn't even know World was this weekend 
