JSF is doing an excellent job with their selections. I was taking a look at the top ten seasonal best scores and Japan has 7 of the top 10, in the world, at this moment. All 7 are scheduled to compete at one of the upcoming three most important events: 4CC, Junior Worlds and Senior Worlds
I also want to pint out that the girls I think they will send to Junior Circuit next year: Ikura, Ayumi, Yurina and You, all get one of these events coming up. Good exposure for them.
Rion, Mana, Rika - these are the 8th-10th best skaters from Japan. Rion already finished the University Games where she finished 4th. Mana gets Challenge Cup (coming up) and Rika gets Luxembourg (coming up). Only disappointment is Yuna who finished 7th at Nationals and gets nothing.
4CC - Mone and Hana; Mone just won the Junior portion of the Japan Games; Hana only finished in 4th. She is the one I’m most worried about. To me, these are the 6th and 7th best skates from Japan, at this moment. They get a chance to prove something at this event.
Junior Worlds - Mao and Ami; these were the two strongest Juniors. Mone being so close. But, they get to focus on Junior Worlds and I think will be able to bring Japan back to three spots.
Rinka - Gets 4CC and Senior Worlds; she was fantastic at the Japanese Games… she finally listened to me, and removed the lutz at the end of the free skate and replaced it with a triple loop and skated the free skate cleanly. She finished in 2nd behind Kaori and ahead of Mai. She showed she deserved this slot. She showed she is the 3rd best senior lady skater from Japan this year.
Kaori/Mai - They compete together at every event. These are the 1-2 skaters from Japan. They get to practice at Challenge Cup in February, one final time before Worlds. I think it is a smart move to avoid 4CC. Isabeau is their biggest threat and will have the home advantage in USA. Mai has won everything internationally and was fantastic at University Games beating Kaori. Kaori, meanwhile skates excellent domestically. Her two clean events was Japanese Nationals and the most recent event, the Japanese Games, where she skated 230+ at both events.
I also want to pint out that the girls I think they will send to Junior Circuit next year: Ikura, Ayumi, Yurina and You, all get one of these events coming up. Good exposure for them.
Rion, Mana, Rika - these are the 8th-10th best skaters from Japan. Rion already finished the University Games where she finished 4th. Mana gets Challenge Cup (coming up) and Rika gets Luxembourg (coming up). Only disappointment is Yuna who finished 7th at Nationals and gets nothing.
4CC - Mone and Hana; Mone just won the Junior portion of the Japan Games; Hana only finished in 4th. She is the one I’m most worried about. To me, these are the 6th and 7th best skates from Japan, at this moment. They get a chance to prove something at this event.
Junior Worlds - Mao and Ami; these were the two strongest Juniors. Mone being so close. But, they get to focus on Junior Worlds and I think will be able to bring Japan back to three spots.
Rinka - Gets 4CC and Senior Worlds; she was fantastic at the Japanese Games… she finally listened to me, and removed the lutz at the end of the free skate and replaced it with a triple loop and skated the free skate cleanly. She finished in 2nd behind Kaori and ahead of Mai. She showed she deserved this slot. She showed she is the 3rd best senior lady skater from Japan this year.
Kaori/Mai - They compete together at every event. These are the 1-2 skaters from Japan. They get to practice at Challenge Cup in February, one final time before Worlds. I think it is a smart move to avoid 4CC. Isabeau is their biggest threat and will have the home advantage in USA. Mai has won everything internationally and was fantastic at University Games beating Kaori. Kaori, meanwhile skates excellent domestically. Her two clean events was Japanese Nationals and the most recent event, the Japanese Games, where she skated 230+ at both events.
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