2016-17 State of Japanese Ladies Skating

[ioanna]

Mao is worse than ever, Satoko is finally punished for her massive under rotations.

If there's one thing I've learned so far is to never underestimate Mao's ability to bounce back no matter how worse she's doing. As for Satoko, "massive under rotations" is an exaggeration. Yes she has small jumps, yes she prerotates her toe jumps, but that doesn't mean she always underrotates her jumps. In her FS at Skate Canada she got an UR call for her 3S which I am still unable to see to this day and they invalidated her entire step sequence. Considering the inconsistency of the judging (some are overlooked and even awarded time and time again while others are held down), it's not like the exaggerated scrutiny on Satoko is doing any good in the grand scheme of things. If judges don't want her on the podium, they won't let her (see Worlds 2016). Her TES go down but her PCS remain the same and I don't find that acceptable.

 

[Yatagarasu]

Wakaba's overall from TdF was 194.48 even with the mistakes she made so she's definitely throwing in the gauntlet. We'll see how NHK goes but if she's clean-ish her PCS will only go up. I think she is about to get in the mix, especially if she manages to get into the GPF.

 

[Icey]

It is sad to see a skater deteriorate before your eyes no matter what the reason. I wonder if Mao won't retire soon.

 

[Biellmann]

Many talented girls

 

[carpex]

When Marin Honda steps on the ice...
http://data.whicdn.com/images/24457608/large.gif

 

[Sai Bon]

It is sad to see a skater deteriorate before your eyes no matter what the reason. I wonder if Mao won't retire soon.

Poor Mao. A few disappointing results and everyone thinks she's going to retire.
As ioanna says, we don't want to underestimate Mao's ability to bounce back. There have been some articles in the Japanese media about her interview after the latest GP, saying she's lost her confidence. It is sad to see her struggle so much, but I don't see her as a quitter. I would like her to concentrate on healing her injury and regaining her confidence so that she's in the best possible form for Nationals. She still has a chance to turn it around. Once the season's over she can sit down with her coach and decide where to go from there. Yes, Japan has so much talent in ladies that she may not make it to the Olympics. But if she wants to try, and she can do it without ruining her health, I respect her for that.

 

[Kittosuni]

What Mao and her team needs to figure out is how to be competitive TES wise. Obviously 3-3 combo is likely not gonna happen and she should explore other ideas on how to increase her TES not just by doing 3axel. Maybe change the layout of her program to get extra bonuses and change her combo jump since she always get called

 

[FlattFan]

Wakaba has to be the best jumper at the moments. Her jumps are big and has a lot of speed in and out. The flow coming out is insane. Her PCS is already 65+ for a 15yo in her first event. That's huge. Most girls don't even have that kind of PCS now. A testament to how good her SS is.
I think she's the future of JFed. Marin is cute, but Wakaba is the real deal.

 

[Crossover]

Wakaba has to be the best jumper at the moments. Her jumps are big and has a lot of speed in and out. The flow coming out is insane. Her PCS is already 65+ for a 15yo in her first event. That's huge. Most girls don't even have that kind of PCS now. A testament to how good her SS is.
I think she's the future of JFed. Marin is cute, but Wakaba is the real deal.

Medvedeva got 67 points for PCS in her first senior event, Skate America last season. There were a little complaint about Wakaba's PCS on the board for TdF as Trophee de France was her debut event. However as compared with Sotskova's 63, also a senior debutante and Medvedeva's almost 72 there, I don't think the score is huge enough for her superior edge works, speed and ice coverage in the current inflation trend.

Wakaba is also very cute and Marin is another skater with great potential whose debut year is next year.

 

[mary01]

It is sad to see a skater deteriorate before your eyes no matter what the reason. I wonder if Mao won't retire soon.

If she retires many of the dedicated fans will retire from this sport too, and i'm one of them, the scoring today is soo unpredictable and biased, skaters like Mao are the only reason why we still find a reason to keep watching this sport, i hope she will have a quick recovery and be back stronger then ever!

 

[MeineKatze]

If she retires many of the dedicated fans will retire from this sport too, and i'm one of them, the scoring today is soo unpredictable and biased, skaters like Mao are the only reason why we still find a reason to keep watching this sport, i hope she will have a quick recovery and be back stronger then ever!

Exactly. The only reason I would attend an ISU event is if Mao is in it. Otherwise there's no need to closely follow or invest in this sport that is run by a corrupt, biased union with shady intentions.
I don't know what's happening to Mao right now but I will never lose my hope of seeing Mao dominate again. She came back with a strong goal and we all know how much hard worker and fighter she is. Also now is a weird time to retire, and she's not even old for god's sake! I know that people's physical stregth might peak at different ages but Ashley Wagner who is younger than her by less than a year is so consistent now! Not to mention Mao was a child prodigy and is an extremely natural and gifted skater than most others.

 

[carpex]

I think she's the future of JFed. Marin is cute, but Wakaba is the real deal.

This is not "cute", this is EVERYTHING.
You watch her skating and unwittingly start to smile, seeing all that beauty, ease and elegance. So unfair that some skaters are just born that way, other work their a... through their whole careers and never get there. She's breathtaking.

 

[mrrice]

This is not "cute", this is EVERYTHING.
You watch her skating and unwittingly start to smile, seeing all that beauty, ease and elegance. So unfair that some skaters are just born that way, other work their a... through their whole careers and never get there. She's breathtaking.

Holy Cow.................Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for posting that program. How old is that young lady and why haven't I seen her before? Has she been to Junior Worlds?

 

[Yatagarasu]

Holy Cow.................Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for posting that program. How old is that young lady and why haven't I seen her before? Has she been Junior Worlds?

Yes, she is the 2016 World Junior Champion, she's 15 (b 2001)

 

[gravy]

Holy Cow.................Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for posting that program. How old is that young lady and why haven't I seen her before? Has she been Junior Worlds?

Yes indeed--she's 15 and the reigning junior champion. She'll be eligible for Pyeongchang.

 

[carpex]

Even Russian ubers adore Marin. Some of them are super jealous about their girls, but when it comes to her, they would say "well yeah, she can skate".
She's just too adorable to diss her.

 

[eta]

Yes, she is the 2016 World Junior Champion, she's 15 (b 2001)

Are there age-related rules preventing her to compete as a senior this year? I always thought seniors get more PCS so the extra season would help her at PyeongChang?

 

[carpex]

Are there age-related rules preventing her to compete as a senior this year? I always thought seniors get more PCS so the extra season would help her at PyeongChang?

To compete internationally on the senior level, skaters must be at least 15 before July 1 of the preceding year. Marin was born August 21, 2001, fifty days too late to compete in 16/17 senior season.

 

[eta]

To compete internationally on the senior level, skaters must be at least 15 before July 1 of the preceding year. Marin was born August 21, 2001, fifty days too late to compete in 16/17 senior season.

Aw so close!

Thank you for the info~

 

[hippomoomin]

Mao was the reason why I started to pay attention to figure skating, but I can enjoy many other skaters.

I found the upcoming Japanese, Korean and Russian ladies very exciting. If Mao cannot get back to her prime shape, and can only do doubles, it does not matter she retires or not. I am committed to skater's skating not to them as persons.

If she retires many of the dedicated fans will retire from this sport too, and i'm one of them, the scoring today is soo unpredictable and biased, skaters like Mao are the only reason why we still find a reason to keep watching this sport, i hope she will have a quick recovery and be back stronger then ever!