2018-19 Ladies' power ranking

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You should definitely not underestimate the stability and quality of Mako Yamashita's jumps, as well as her stability in competition ( JWC18 and SC18 is very impressive). Yes, it is the former junior, but it can grow quickly, especially since there is a good start to the senior career.

For me she is same as Mai Mihara - consistent but generic and forgetable skating. Satoko has grown a lot - she tells stories same as Eteri's skaters. Kaori is different as well. But Mako? Her SP is fun. Her LP is what I don't like in Japanese skating. Classical skating to classical music, very soft knee on landing without good free leg - just compare with Liza. With Rika around I see no other options so far but Miyahara, Sakamoto, Kihira for the team. But I may be wrong - I had miserable 25 points in me SC ladies prediction.

 

[mermaidfestavol3]

For me she is same as Mai Mihara - consistent but generic and forgetable skating. Satoko has grown a lot - she tells stories same as Eteri's skaters. Kaori is different as well. But Mako? Her SP is fun. Her LP is what I don't like in Japanese skating. Classical skating to classical music, very soft knee on landing without good free leg - just compare with Liza. With Rika around I see no other options so far but Miyahara, Sakamoto, Kihira for the team. But I may be wrong - I had miserable 25 points in me SC ladies prediction.

I think Kihira surely has the highest scoring potential of all Japanese ladies by pure TES and if she reaches 33 PCS in SP and 67 in the FS she will be a real threat. But, she is not so consistent. I think JSF puts a lot of weight on Nationals results (for example, Kaori going to Olympics rather than Wakaba, Yuhana going to JW instead of Nana) so even if she is the potential #1, if she doesn't do well at Nationals, she won't be a contender at Worlds because JSF might not even send her. Yamashita already reached 65 PCS in the free skate and if she delivers again it could go up even more.

 

[BillNeal]

The only thing that is clear so far is that none can touch Zagitova's scores.

I think people are putting too much weight on scores earned at a Challenger and at a non-ISU event (JO). Nebelhorn especially was generous to all the ladies in the scoring. We have seen many times, in the past, sky high marks earned at B events and then the skaters and their coaches get a reality check at the big comps.

 

[Fluture]

I think people are putting too much weight on scores earned at a Challenger and at a non-ISU event (JO). Nebelhorn especially was generous to all the ladies in the scoring. We have seen many times, in the past, sky high marks earned at B events and then the skaters and their coaches get a reality check at the big comps.

We will see what happens in Finland. So far, judging at the GP has been very harsh and unforgiving especially for URs. It will definitely be interesting to see whether this holds up or not.

But: Nonetheless there are so many factors that I seriously don‘t think Alina will face anything close to a “reality check“. She‘s got one of the highest BV in both of her programs, with a 3Lz-3T and a backloaded (!!) 3Lz-3Lo in the Free and a 3Lz-3Lo in the SP. You can‘t get any higher BV without quads or 3A. Then there‘s also the fact that her spins have vastly improved from last season, her flexibility is in fact much better than last year, as is her centering so she should earn high GOE there as well. She‘s improved also on the PCS sides of skating and adding to that, she’s the Olympic Champion. I don‘t think the PCS we saw at Nebelhorn Trophy will decline in any way. Her GOE on jumps might be lower and she might be punished more if she underrotates. All in all, she will probably post a lower score than at the challenger events but honestly, those 5, 6 points less will still let her win more than comfortably. That‘s why I personally think Alina Zagitova is the undisputed number #1 this season, especially in the judges eyes. In my opinion, all she needs to do is stay clean and she‘ll win.

 

[zounger]

I think people are putting too much weight on scores earned at a Challenger and at a non-ISU event (JO). Nebelhorn especially was generous to all the ladies in the scoring. We have seen many times, in the past, sky high marks earned at B events and then the skaters and their coaches get a reality check at the big comps.

I agree with the first part of your sentence that we should not put too much weight on scores at challengers and even between different competitions. But Neberhorn PCS wise was more harsh than Skate Canada for Mariah and Alaine for example who were in both competitions. The GOE was more generous in Nebelhorn yes, but that was like 0.2 on 2As or 0.3-0.5 on other jumps (with a quick look I took) so if you compensate PCS and GOE I don't see a significant over scoring. Except if you mean Alina was particularly over scored.

 

[halulupu]

We will see what happens in Finland. So far, judging at the GP has been very harsh and unforgiving especially for URs. It will definitely be interesting to see whether this holds up or not.

But: Nonetheless there are so many factors that I seriously don‘t think Alina will face anything close to a “reality check“. She‘s got one of the highest BV in both of her programs, with a 3Lz-3T and a backloaded (!!) 3Lz-3Lo in the Free and a 3Lz-3Lo in the SP. You can‘t get any higher BV without quads or 3A. Then there‘s also the fact that her spins have vastly improved from last season, her flexibility is in fact much better than last year, as is her centering so she should earn high GOE there as well. She‘s improved also on the PCS sides of skating and adding to that, she’s the Olympic Champion. I don‘t think the PCS we saw at Nebelhorn Trophy will decline in any way. Her GOE on jumps might be lower and she might be punished more if she underrotates. All in all, she will probably post a lower score than at the challenger events but honestly, those 5, 6 points less will still let her win more than comfortably. That‘s why I personally think Alina Zagitova is the undisputed number #1 this season, especially in the judges eyes. In my opinion, all she needs to do is stay clean and she‘ll win.

I don't see the PCS improvement at all. but she has the reputation scoring on her side as olympic champion. if clean noone can touch her this season

 

[Metis]

I think people really need to keep in mind that PCS is “capped” for programmes containing a fall or “serious error” — PCS won’t be able to make up for issues in TES, as we often saw in prior seasons. This actually hurts skaters with higher PCS scoring potential more than those who have a lower PCS floor, as those who don’t come near the caps with a clean skate don’t lose much if their PCS is capped for an error, whereas those who can score 9.0+ are missing points we expect them to earn.

The tech panels at SkAm and SCI were both fair, in ways they haven’t been in recent memory. Medvedeva lost 10 points in TES between leaving the ice and the announcement of her score. If this remains a trend, that could make things quite interesting.

Wakaba is injured, so hopefully she’ll take the time she needs to heal before nationals.

 

[BillNeal]

I think Satoko is now #1 on the Ladies' power rankings. This may have come as a surprise and pose as a reality check for some.

 

[voolfee]

I think Satoko is now #1 on the Ladies' power rankings.

 

[Fluture]

I think Satoko is now #1 on the Ladies' power rankings. This may have come as a surprise and pose as a reality check for some.

Because the current world record holder had one not fully perfect competition that was still won by quite a big margin? I love Satoko but I don‘t think we can judge this early.

 

[BillNeal]

Because the current world record holder had one not fully perfect competition that was still won by quite a big margin? I love Satoko but I don‘t think we can judge this early.

That world record was earned at a B event in September. GP-wise, Satoko has the highest score and GP judging panels have higher standards.

 

[chopinskate]

I truly hope the skaters can all do their best. After all, that's the spirit of the competition, not some ugly us versus them that some like to turn it into in the name of reality checks.

 

[ioanna]

I would wait until after NHK Trophy before putting Satoko at the top of the rankings. She's in the middle of reworking her jump technique with a new coach and while Skate America did go well, it's no guarantee that NHK will go the same way. Rika Kihira has a solid shot at being #1 in the rankings.

 

[BillNeal]

I truly hope the skaters can all do their best. After all, that's the spirit of the competition, not some ugly us versus them that some like to turn it into in the name of reality checks.

Of course we fans want all skaters to do well. After all, these skaters put in countless hours of training to aim to put out their best in front of the judges and audience.

However, this is the Ladies' Power Ranking thread. Many have indicated that Zagitova is the undisputed #1. Well, rankings are progressive and with new competitions they change and therefore, some posters have realized (reality check) that there isn't this big gap between Alina and the other competitors.

 

[yume]

Of course we fans want all skaters to do well. After all, these skaters put in countless hours of training to aim to put out their best in front of the judges and audience.

However, this is the Ladies' Power Ranking thread. Many have indicated that Zagitova is the undisputed #1. Well, rankings are progressive and with new competitions they change and therefore, some posters have realized (reality check) that there isn't this big gap between Alina and the other competitors.

If Zagitova's score was a score for two clean skates, i would agree that there is not a big gap between her and others. Clean, her score would have been near 20 points higher. There is a difference between reality and wishes.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Of course we fans want all skaters to do well. After all, these skaters put in countless hours of training to aim to put out their best in front of the judges and audience.

However, this is the Ladies' Power Ranking thread. Many have indicated that Zagitova is the undisputed #1. Well, rankings are progressive and with new competitions they change and therefore, some posters have realized (reality check) that there isn't this big gap between Alina and the other competitors.

So far, Alina is the undisputed number 1. Satoko had an excellent showing at Skate America, but that was one event. As a Satoko fan, I of course hope for her to have a good rest of the season. But to compare Zagitova's performances to Miyahara's, both have skated one challenger and one GP. Satoko was better at her GP and Alina was better at her CS. However, Zagitova has an average of 226.86, and Miyahara of 210.47. Both have room to improve so far since neither have been perfect in both events. However, Alina does have an advantage over Satoko, and it seems fairly obvious looking at their scores.

For me, it's currently:
1. Alina
2-3. Satoko, Rika
4-5. Liza, Zhenya
6. Kaori
7. Mako
8-9. Sofia, Bradie
10. Loena, Stanislava

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Wait....Stasya just got a silver and beat several skaters on your list. She’s in a reasonable position to make GPF. She’s got to be in the conversation now.

 

[Ziotic]

Wait....Stasya just got a silver and beat several skaters on your list. She’s in a reasonable position to make GPF. She’s got to be in the conversation now.

I would tend to disagree. Even a great skate from her in Finland didn’t break 200.

 

[VenusHalley]

If Zagitova's score was a score for two clean skates, i would agree that there is not a big gap between her and others. Clean, her score would have been near 20 points higher. There is a difference between reality and wishes.

Well, this competition showed that she might be her biggest enemy. She looked sad today after WINNING because she did not win with perfect score. She skated nervous today, even yesterday she came to the ice nervous, even if she had no real reason.

She needs to learn to be okay with making mistakes in a way, so she can put them behind and just be in the program. I think her PCS have been little generous for not being clean and radiating nervousness. I would still have her in first here... but it was not her Olympic level. At Nepela and Japan O she was a Carmen (although somewhat hyper and fidgety Carmen). Today she has a nervous girl skating Carmen.

She needs to learn to accept she does not always have to be 110% perfect (also her saying how she needs to "train through pain" when talking about problem with her knees is bit worrying).


I think Loena was bit underscored here. If she was a Russian or Japanese, even AMerican, I think her PCS would be higher. So she needs to pull clean and semiclean skates to get some reputation under her belt. She is a good performer, it just shows she does not have so much training in her as the big fed skaters.

Kaori proved she is a fighter. If she skates clean in both programs, she can get the big prices too.

Stanislava surprised today, but we shall wait if she can repeat this success.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Wait....Stasya just got a silver and beat several skaters on your list. She’s in a reasonable position to make GPF. She’s got to be in the conversation now.

True, I'll tie her with Loena since France is a hard field and she usually isn't clean. Willing to be proven wrong though.