2018 NHK Ladies Free Skate

[Leonardo]

Mai is the most unfortunate skater ever. she is ALWAYS 4th!!

I feel kind of bad for her
Because I seriously don't see her higher up in the standings.

 

[NoNameFace]

What kind of saintly crowd... clapping in perfect unison... the flag bouncing... all while the girls get their photos taken to some very lovely instrumental music this surely makes up for Helsinki in spades!

I am veeery curious how Internationaux de France will look and I will report live from there , but Japanese crowd and organization as usual

 

[Danny T]

All I can reliably predict on Worlds ladies podium right now is: Russia and Japan (in any combinations of three)

 

[Ichatdelune]

Okay, my Eunsoo (aka my darling, darling squirtle, and my lovely poison) rant. Gonna finish this in 10 minutes then go ring the bell. Here goes:

- That darling has a thousand and one great qualities, but strong mentality is unfortunately not one of them. I was worried at the first 3Lz when she didn't add the 3T because I knew she was rattled. The thing about that darling is once she loses her nerves, all she can focus on is her jumps. And if she overthinks her jumps she wobbles, demonstrated here by her doubling the toe on her 2A and being messy on the 3Lz-3T. For that squritle to be clean everything needs to go as she envisions it, and so far either the skating gods have jinxed her or she is acting as a normal 15-year-old would do and letting her nerves get to her. I love her to pieces but she needs to work on her mental strength, she loses everything but the jumps when she stumbles. And she's doing Chicago.

- Chicago. For crying (bleep) out loud I was against the idea when it was announced. Yes, darling squirtle is good at being flirty. No, she is not the jazzy, sexy type. And also no, she is not a showlady. That darling is a dancer and a performer, not an actress or a crowd-pleaser. She can do Chicago, but Chicago is not the best option for her. And with that:

- Suzuki Akiko. The thing about her choreography is that she choreographs what she herself would do, not what the skater would. Suzuki Akiko was a master at being jazzy and mature. That darling is 15. Also, squirtle's lines are much, much more suited to lyrical music. Look at her SP for proof. And she (bleep) knows that, she picked Jeffrey Buttle herself. Segue into:

- Coach Chi Hyunjung. I have no idea why she recommended Suzuki Akiko for darling squirtle, she should've known better. Yes, darling likes Chicago, but she never asked her coaching staff to let her do it. Why was Raf on board with this anyway??

- And finally, the salchow. That is darling's least favorite jump, she prefers toe jumps way over edge jumps. If my memory serves me correct she had the flip for her second jump at Asian Open, why did they change her (bleep) weakest jump as her second pass when they have seen enough to know that squirtle is prone to pressure????? God I admire Raf for all the work he has done for darling squirtle, but this is a decision that I don't get. Also, not a problem but why bother to move the 3T to the second 3Lz only to change it back? Was it because of the ridiculous ! from her short? Come on, lutz is her best jump. She was clean on it in her short. God I'm pissed again (Korean swearing ensues)

She's in the top 6 and she still has Rostelecom for a chance at a clean free, but Rostelecom is another bloodbath and she has to travel a (bleep) distance. God...

Damn this became long. Darling, look after yourself and please stay healthy. I so want to see you clean on your free, despite my diagreement with it I do love you skating it. Just, for next season get Jeffrey Buttle do both programs or something... (Swears off into the distance)

 

[leoleo]

This event was absolutely wonderful! i don't regret waking up at 6am. The ladies really blessed us.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

I feel kind of bad for her
Because I seriously don't see her higher up in the standings.

Mai needs some programs which will show case her individuality better and give her a different personality on ice. At the moment the programs are non-descriptive, pretty but bland. And it hurts her chances. She is a good skater, but between such amazing Japanese skaters, she is the grey mouse with these programs.

 

[Noxchild]

I am veeery curious how Internationaux de France will look and I will report live from there , but Japanese crowd and organization as usual

After the sheer production quality and perfect crowd of the NHK Trophy, I am a little terrified to watch my first IdF event, where if everything goes as expected the skaters will have to cut their own medals out from construction paper and use milk crates as podium stands

 

[Latremu]

What an event! Amazing top 4!

 

[leoleo]

I am veeery curious how Internationaux de France will look and I will report live from there , but Japanese crowd and organization as usual

Lmao i'll be there too and knowing how crap our events always are, i am already apologizing on behalf of all french people who have nothing to do with that mess

 

[Amer]

Congrats to the medalists! Well deserved! France should be very interesting with Kihira, Medvedeva and Tennell.

 

[oatmella]

I didn't comment because my stream was behind, but needless to say Rika's magnificent skate left me comatose from excitement congrats on your gold, baby girl!! I can't wait for IdF even more now

Rika and Nathan for gold at IdF!

 

[largeman]

I cried during Satoko’s step sequence

It was sublime... no words could describe

 

[SXTN]

I'm imagining Eteri already re-structuring Alina's programs moving the 3Lz-3Lo into the second half in the sp, and moving both the 3Lz-3T and the 3Lz-3Lo in the second half of the free program.

 

[sweetice]

:eeking:

What a massive event it was !!! There's no words.

 

[rachno2]

I fell asleep during poor Kailani's performance and missed the entire event (not because of Kailani but because it was 3 am)

Rika :eekn:

 

[moriel]

I do not understand this remark. Are you suggesting the panel should not have called what was obvious to see?

Not that the panel should, but that the panel COULD.
We have seen it happen many times

 

[moriel]

Satoko before the competition: she's not gonna get any calls, because it's japan and the jpn federation blablabla....

Satoko wins: OMG, her jumps are so bad, she barely leaves the ice, she can't win, most horrible judging ever

Satoko gets silver and has a 6 point reduction in TES: omg, Satoko's jumps are so bad, she can't win silver, she should have been fourth

Satoko is 4th: omg, they just called her 4 times, in my book she should get at least 6 calls and be 6th-8th

Satoko is 6th: she should just retire anyway

Satoko retires: she had good pcs but horrible jumps

:hslap:

And congrats for all the medalists, they were wonderful!!!!

I totally agree with what you wrote about Satoko, except that she has to retire.
She should not be anywhere near top 5 at worlds.

 

[Ziotic]

That's the best GP ladies event that i've watched.
Rika, you're a boss! I'm glad to see a girl win by pure technical prowess and domination. That tech content beats tech contents of some guys.
Liza was on fire and is definetely Russian n0.2
Satoko was on fire.
Mai was on fire. But as always is the most unlucky girl in the world.

She didnt win on just tech content, she has the second highest PCS.

She won’t with a combination of the two.

Good tech and good skating skills.

 

[Tolstoj]

I'm imagining Eteri already re-structuring Alina's programs moving the 3Lz-3Lo into the second half in the sp, and moving both the 3Lz-3T and the 3Lz-3Lo in the second half of the free program.

Zagitova still has the highest Free Skate this season, i don't think they will change a thing.

Next season they will have girls doing quads so...

 

[Fool]

My dream top 3: and any order would've worked, but I think this was probably the right order too... Loved the mental strength of these ladies to go out and perform like THAT.