2024 JGP Ankara Women's SP

[Ichatdelune]

(speaking mediocre Japanese gang unite)

Skating really helps with surnames because I know what the names are going in, so if I see one kanji that I know, I can probably think of a skater whose name contains that sound and figure it out - "oh, this is the kanji for no, so that must be ko," etc etc, but it takes a lot of backpedaling.

Then again, I have had many Japanese friends tell me that they occasionally have no idea what someone's name is until they ask for this reason ...

As a way of facing my mediocrity I go see the Japanese entry list for regionals or the likes and try to guess how the names of unfamiliar (to me) skaters are read, I fail 9 out of 10 times. It's slightly more doable with the women because you can expect 'ka' or 'na' often and I have a sliver of understanding regarding common given names (does not apply to surnames) but with the men... (deep sigh) when I first saw Yoshioka Nozomu's name in kanji I seriously thought 'Yoshioka Ki? What?' and then it clicked

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

did i just see Eteri behind the boards or am i allucinating? i didn't even have a drink yet...

Tbh, I'm a little disappointed Georgian Fed Lady wasn't with Inga. I had the GIF ready and all.

 

[elektra blue]

Tbh, I'm a little disappointed Georgian Fed Lady wasn't with Inga. I had the GIF ready and all.

she's been mia so far

 

[Ichatdelune]

i think this dress is borderline WTF

Wait the white bit on her collar were teeth??? Wow sorely tempted to nominate

 

[hermine17]

Riria gamba!!!

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Let's Go, Riria! GANBA!!!

 

[elektra blue]

Wait the white bit on her collar were teeth??? Wow sorely tempted to nominate

i think they are and that's what makes it borderline, i mean i didn't watch it and scream WTF!

 

[elektra blue]

speaking of favourite warhorses...this is one of mine

 

[Layback11]

Just looked at Riria Kono's ISU Bio in preparation for her skate and found out she's from Matsuyama! A Shikoku girlie!

I have a soft spot for Matsuyama because, well, uh, I went there once and it was really nice...yeaaaah it's kinda silly, but it's also kind of rural and not where you'd expect an elite athlete to start out, so that does make me root for her.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Lovely Double Axel to start off with.

First part of combo didn't go well, so she wasn't able to attach the second jump.

She seemed a bit lost after the combination spin.

Next jump Double Flip fine.

Nice step sequence. And the fly camel spin afterwards not bad either.

Honestly, much as I loved her programmes last season, I don't think modifying a Free Skate to become a Short Programme works. It creates the potential to get confused. Your body and brain have got used to doing certain things to the music, and now they are doing different things to the same music. And I think that played a part here.

She goes into 8th position.

She is very disappointed.



CaroLiza_fan

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

Finally, Scheherazade, music I love

 

[skim1001]

oooh. a 3T+3T from Riria. I wonder why she opted for that instead of her 3Lz+3T which is quite stable, edge issue aside.

 

[Ichatdelune]

This is a lot of Cleopatra hands for Scheherazade

Oh dear random fall

 

[Layback11]

Didn't make the connection right away, but this is very nearly a short-skirt version of Meryl Davis' Scheherazade dress.

Oh gosh, random fall on the StSq

 

[RafaelAstro]

Ups

 

[elektra blue]

not Riria's day

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

did i just see Eteri behind the boards or am i allucinating? i didn't even have a drink yet...

I'm not sure, but think the lady you thought was Eteri is actually Zhasmin's Mum / choreographer, Valensiya Shlaga.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

This is a lot of Cleopatra hands for Scheherazade

Oh dear random fall

I fear Cleopatra cursed her in the step sequence for cultural appropriation

 

[Jeanie19]

Riria. Really pretty purple dress. Shame about the fall. But good skate and program.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Some nerves I see on Riria wich is understable