Not surprising really... Wakaba went head-to-head against Zagitova twice this season, and both times she came within about 1 point of beating her. (And some would argue Wakaba should actually have been the winner in Cup of China...)
Wakaba Higuchi
- Thread starter gsk8
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2011
Eteri is controversial for a lot of reasons, but I think we can agree that the lady really knows talent when she sees it - look at the skaters in her team - she doesn't need the judges for that 
and no matter what you think about her otherwise, being one of the 2 skaters Eteri calls the biggest competition for her own is a huge complement. Hopefully Wakaba shows further proof of that in Milan 
and no matter what you think about her otherwise, being one of the 2 skaters Eteri calls the biggest competition for her own is a huge complement. Hopefully Wakaba shows further proof of that in Milan 
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2013
A surprise? Wakaba's average scores are like top 4 in the world. And they probably should be even higher than that considering some scoring controversies.
It's perfectly realistic. More realistic than the Japanese fed is about Wakaba, anyway.
Also, Eteri really loves Evgenia and Evgenia's great friends with Wakaba so there's that connection.
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
I did not say that badly, I said it was surprising. Because Eteri is reigning in the world of figure skating so I thought it was in line with the judges but I agree with you. Of course a Wakaba at 100% of its capacity and without defective 3F can beat the best.
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2014
With the out of whack judging at both Euros and 4cc I am actually kind of glad Wakaba is sitting out this Olympics and 4cc.
I agree... who knows what insane calls this tech panel would be giving Wakaba
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2011
H'm... I don't know. They did fine in regards to rotation, but basically tried to call the opposite from reality on edges. So hey, her flips would be save xD
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
me this system of judgment scares me for the future of Wakaba, why does not it let the complete skaters like it have better notes? but the challenger cup will tell me what it is, it is capable of the best and there will be no pressure. She is currently 15 th will it affect her placement for world or if she is 1 she will go up?
Do you mean which starting group she will be in, for the short program at World's?
She is currently 15th in the world standings...
...but 10th out of the skaters who are actually going to World's.
That puts her in last-group-but-one for the short program at World's.
Whatever points she earns from Challenger Cup will be added directly to her World Standing score.
She could earn up to 250 points, which would move her to 9th in World Standings (2720 + 250 = 2970)
That's 7th out of the skaters who will be at Worlds, so still in the last-group-but-one.
But then there is the Olympics. Some skaters might earn more points there.
Realistically though, of the skaters who are going to both the Olympics AND Worlds...
I think only Daleman, Nagasu and Karen Chen can affect Wakaba's starting group:
eg1. If Daleman is 12th or better at Olympics, she will stay ahead of Wakaba, even if Wakaba wins Challenge Cup.
eg2. If Nagasu is 8th or better at Olympics, she will stay ahead of Wakaba, even if Wakaba wins Challenge Cup.
eg3. If Chen is 16th or better at Olympics, she will stay ahead of Wakaba, even if Wakaba wins Challenge Cup.
I don't think there's anyone currently behind Wakaba in the standings.. who is also going to World's... and could do so well at the Olympics that they end up overtaking Wakaba.
So although Wakaba will likely drop a few places again, after the Olympics...
...she should still be in the last-group-but-one, in the short program at World's.
And I don't think there's any chance she can push into the final SP group at World's.
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
Thank you for your yesway analysis, if it is in the penultimate group I hope that its PCS will not pat like last year it was so unfair on the part of the judges. But according to your analysis it sounds good for her.
Wakaba did a new post i intagrams I think the girls in the photos are his comrades
It feels good to have some of his news it was relatively empty.https://www.instagram.com/p/BecMv-iHzvy/?taken-by=wakababy_sk8r
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
http://figureskate-soi.com/skaters.html
You were right Yesway it was enough to wait it's a pity that this gala is broadcast jam I still waiting to see the Flamenco Wakaba
You were right Yesway it was enough to wait
it's a pity that this gala is broadcast jam I still waiting to see the Flamenco Wakaba
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2006
http://figureskate-soi.com/skaters.html
You were right Yesway it was enough to wait
I thought she had a flamenco/tango SP? I remember it was quite nice
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
last year she had byakuyakou in EX but at SOI she had made a second EX Romanza flamenco the program SP 1996 Michelle Kwan unfortunately we saw that excerpts from her performance in addition she had to benefit from the advice of Miki Ando? Tell you about that one or his Zorro LP that is good too
https://mobile.twitter.com/ice_skeota/status/863723843549937664/video/1
https://mobile.twitter.com/ice_skeota/status/863723843549937664/video/1
I've pretty much made my mind up about going to the Challenge Cup (btw it's Challenge, not Challenger, nothing to do with the Challenger series, unfortunately), because of the three Japanese Ladies. I'm particularly fond of Wakaba's programs this year, so hope to see her do well!
Just hope we don't get some freak freezing temperatures with snow again like a couple of years ago.
Just hope we don't get some freak freezing temperatures with snow again like a couple of years ago.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2006
I've pretty much made my mind up about going to the Challenge Cup (btw it's Challenge, not Challenger, nothing to do with the Challenger series, unfortunately), because of the three Japanese Ladies. I'm particularly fond of Wakaba's programs this year, so hope to see her do well!
Just hope we don't get some freak freezing temperatures with snow again like a couple of years ago.
Ohhh, awesome!! Keep us updated!
And I'm hoping she will push into the final group for the free skate :-D
Wakaba may have a real fight on her hands at Challenge Cup...
Rika Hongo has been looking quite strong recently... did well at Nationals, and again at a recent domestic competition (clean skates, 204+ points). And who knows what shape Marin is in?
So Wakaba can't relax, she has to fight seriously!
Hopefully this also means it will be a good, competitive and meaningful warm-up for World's... and I hope she earns enough ranking points to make certain she stays in the top2 groups of the SP there...
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
So let's hope she succeeds this test because that's what will determine if JFS to bet on it. At the risk of repeating myself, she still has 3 weeks before her next competition, she can still improve things on her programs, even if in my opinion there is not much she is awesome
Even if I really like Rika Hongo and Marin also have problems at the technical level in fact the three should not rest on their laurels.Maybe the fact that she is going to watch the Olympics on TV next week will reignite a fire in her and she will do the same performance if not better than the WTT and the Lombardia Trophy, in anyway she has to prove that she can surprise us so I believe in her.
