2024 Skate Canada Women's Free Skate

[Joekaz]

I really love the variety of camps in Japan, we have Mie Hamada, Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi, Sonoko Nakano, Kensuke Nakaniwa, Koji Okajima, Yuko Monna, etc, each one develop and focuses more some aspects of the skating, Yamada and her team for example focuses more about the flow, quality and control of the edges, spins, and that captivates me, no wonder she was the coach of the great Mao Asada

Too bad all those coaches don't have equal influence with JSF. Lol

 

[4everchan]

Im not saying they should inherently know how to pronounce names. Im saying that sometime in the last 8 years that she has been prominent in skating, that he should have heard her name correctly pronounced. Since it is simple to remember, he obviously didn't care.

If you're talking about Ted, he's mentioned before he has a hard time with names, and that is all names. He has issues pronouncing and remembering names even in his native English. I think some of the previous comments made about this were very harsh.

Also, if you've read the convo I was having about Adam, well, interestingly enough, I am a native speaker and Adam seems to be pronouncing his name differently than the standard French. So in this case, I'd be wrong as a native speaker .

 

[lileychristie]

This. I speak several languages which I learned as an adult ( very different than learning a language as a child.. The pronunciation aspect will always be a struggle) and I hear both English and my non-native languages spoken by non-native speakers all the time due to my work and friendship group which is very " eclectic." It's normal and frankly amusing how the pronunciation of each language is butchered in different ways by non-native speakers but English speakers struggle with the very simple vowels in Indonesian and Chinese because our own vowels are so inconsistent. We expect other languages to also be inconsistent. It means English speakers make mistakes with vowels that are "easy."

To be fair, Japanese and Chinese people have some very very odd pronunciation issues in Indonesian, too. Most Indonesians here in Taiwan get called Ani, Ati or Ai all names which I can assure you do not resemble their actual names on the least. And, Indonesians struggle to understand Chinese or Japanese people speaking their language due to their accents. Ending consonants do not come naturally to most speakers of these languages. R sounds are difficult. Indonesians speaking Chinese are also very difficult to understand even for another non-native speaker such as myself. This isn't racism it's related to natural brain development. We lose the ability to hear sounds they aren't in the languages we learn as small children.

No one in Taiwan has ever properly pronounced my surname. That's not racism. They just can't hear it properly pronounced the consonant clusters. So, I have a Mandarin name or just ask people to say my personal name which is very easy for Taiwanese people, but not Indonesians, who always mispronounce it. Again, not racism, just reality.

And, not to leave the French out of it, in general French people's pronunciation of Mandarin is better in terms of the vowels but , wow, do they have some consonant issues and the flow of the language isn't great.

Basically, unless you learned a sound as a child, or are incredibly gifted. It's going to be hard to pronounce a lot of sounds.

I'm an Indonesian native speaker who also speaks English and Japanese, and I can vouch for all these different difficulties. I struggle more with English pronunciations than Japanese lol. Even Italian pronunciation is easier for me than English
And as an Indonesian I'm very curious about your personal name - I might PM you if you don't mind

Then again, there's a difference between natural sound difficulties and simply just not trying - the number of white people I've known who don't even want to try pronouncing names correctly is just

In the case of Chris and Ted, I don't think it's racism per se as they definitely butcher European names as well. But, while I get that they might not have time to learn every skaters' name, I still think as commentators they should try learning to pronounce the names of at least the top 5 skaters of each discipline. I'm sure both Chris and Ted can pronounce Kaori correctly if they just practice a bit. Especially if they're being paid for commentating. If they're not, then well - I won't complain too much

 

[Joekaz]

If you're talking about Ted, he's mentioned before he has a hard time with names, and that is all names. He has issues pronouncing and remembering names even in his native English. I think some of the previous comments made about this were very harsh.

Also, if you've read the convo I was having about Adam, well, interestingly enough, I am a native speaker and Adam seems to be pronouncing his name differently than the standard French. So I'm this case, I'd be wrong as a native speaker .

She is world champion 3 years in a row. Her name is a very simple 2 syllable name with common English sounds. Im not saying he needs to pronounce the Japanese R correctly, that is understandable. But BUTCHERING her name regularly is inexcusable. He should be fired for incompetence then.

 

[moonvine]

It's no different than Siao Him Fa. You get See-Oh and See-Ow (as in cow). But it has nothing to do with racism. Heck, Kagiyama gets his last name pronounced so many ways I've lost count along with Koshiro's first name. It could be worse . . . this is the face Yuzu made when the announcer said: "Representing China, Yuzuru Hanyu."

Yeah, they did that to Gogo at Skate America last year....representing United States of America, Stephen Gogolev. He threw his hands in the air and yelled "Canada!"

 

[moonvine]

Im not saying they should inherently know how to pronounce names. Im saying that sometime in the last 8 years that she has been prominent in skating, that he should have heard her name correctly pronounced. Since it is simple to remember, he obviously didn't care.

If I were going to commentate on skating and I didn't know how to pronounce someone's name, I would ask. It's literally part of their job.
Heck in the arena after EVERY practice I have ever been to, they say "if we are pronouncing your name incorrectly please let us know."

 

[moonvine]

I'm an Indonesian native speaker who also speaks English and Japanese, and I can vouch for all these different difficulties. I struggle more with English pronunciations than Japanese lol. Even Italian pronunciation is easier for me than English
And as an Indonesian I'm very curious about your personal name - I might PM you if you don't mind

Then again, there's a difference between natural sound difficulties and simply just not trying - the number of white people I've known who don't even want to try pronouncing names correctly is just

In the case of Chris and Ted, I don't think it's racism per se as they definitely butcher European names as well. But, while I get that they might not have time to learn every skaters' name, I still think as commentators they should try learning to pronounce the names of at least the top 5 skaters of each discipline. I'm sure both Chris and Ted can pronounce Kaori correctly if they just practice a bit. Especially if they're being paid for commentating. If they're not, then well - I won't complain too much

English is a weird language to be sure.
I am not super good with names but I know how to pronounce Kaori. It's not difficult.

 

[Joekaz]

I watched the medal ceremony. What is with Canada? Are they bankrupt? The "medals" were clear plastic with a little bit of gold on top. And digital flags. Real flags are too expensive? Lol

 

[4everchan]

I watched the medal ceremony. What is with Canada? Are they bankrupt? The "medals" were clear plastic with a little bit of gold on top. And digital flags. Real flags are too expensive? Lol

You just noticed those medals ? Same design as previous year. Regarding digital flags, why not ? I think it's clever. Otherwise, they have to have all flags for all countries and in this case, 3 Japanese flags. Quite a waste of money and fabric... Not everyone would have planned to get an Uzbek flag right ? It solves that. I am all for it.

 

[TT_Fin]

I watched the medal ceremony. What is with Canada? Are they bankrupt? The "medals" were clear plastic with a little bit of gold on top. And digital flags. Real flags are too expensive? Lol

I did not watch the ceremony but I have seen medals like that also in Finland and France before.

 

[Joekaz]

You just noticed those medals ? Same design as previous year. Regarding digital flags, why not ? I think it's clever. Otherwise, they have to have all flags for all countries and in this case, 3 Japanese flags. Quite a waste of money and fabric... Not everyone would have planned to get an Uzbek flag right ? It solves that. I am all for it.

I keep forgetting skating is such a minor sport. At least this year in women's they could have saved money by just buying Japanese flags. Lol

 

[Joekaz]

I did not watch the ceremony but I have seen medals like that also in Finland and France before.

Interesting. I usually dont watch the ceremony. No wonder this sport is so ripe for corruption. Everything on a shoestring budget. They'll probably have Skate America at a high school next year by the looks of things. Lol

 

[Isk]

LOL yes I like Tristan and Isolde - loved when Jason skated to it and felt it was an unappreciated program. But much as our ears sometimes suffer with "bad music," I'd rather she skate to something I might not like but that is better suited to where she's at artistically. I think she has potential, but this music was a terrible fit for her.

This is being a night of Catholic mass themes: Dies Irae, then Luz Aeterna (I am watching in replay). And what a wonderful skate from Rino, and she climbed to 2nd!

 

[TallyT]

Interesting. I usually dont watch the ceremony. No wonder this sport is so ripe for corruption. Everything on a shoestring budget. They'll probably have Skate America at a high school next year by the looks of things. Lol

Hey the French were handing out plastic medals (and using a decidedly wonky podium that wobbled like an old Dr Who set) when they were making good money from the 2017 star roster...

 

[Joekaz]

I guess around Olympic time the national feds have to save up their bribe money. So its plastic medals and amateurish press conferences and ceremonies. Lol

 

[Isk]

So Maddie had the 2nd highest Tes yet she doesn't medal - not fair!

I disagree. I just think that when one skates to orchestral music one needs to skate big and with more flow. There are a couple of piano transcriptions, maybe she should have stuck with those -- smaller, edgier... There is no such things as a perfect skater, choosing music wisely is part of the game.

 

[fehervari]

Alysa Liu is the "best newcomer". her body has changed a lot over the "holidays" and it's amazing how well she's in control.
(about the result of the competition... if Rino couldn't get it, Korea would have liked a gold medal too... I can't write more nonsense than that)

 

[LazyFuzai]

Let's start with the best skate of the day.

Miss Rino it was pleasure to watch.Showing what you were doing last season.Soft,delicate,clean with superb technique skills and amazing presentation.You saved this grand prix with your performance.Thank you.

Alysa it was also great to see you skate.I wish there were more people with this ammount of skills that is coming back Even tho not my type of choreo,still liked it.Close to medal,but not close enough.

Kimmy with solid skate,but still need more if she wants to fight for medal.

Hana is interesting this season especially after last season and her koo koo fun.Still keeping high technique and messing up 3A I'm not quite sure if im buying this program.Expect to see some improvements.

Madeline should keep the date in her calendar.She didn't fully blunder one of her programs.Nice surprise from her.

Kaori is not quite herself this season.Lazy in choreo and not looking like person that is super motivated.Can understand in since there is no one that can come close to her anyway,but it's lot to work this year for her.

Not gonna comment Korean womens,because I would get too harsh for standard on this forum.Has to keep it for myself.

Summary is that we have 5/6 medals for Japan and only Kaori barely go tru 200 points... Don't tell me it is harsh judging.It just low level that womens are in right now and we really need to hope for changes...

Onto France to finally see Chaeyeon and Amber saving Korea and America.

 

[Olly96]

Congratulations to Kaori, Rino and Hana!

Hana's free skate stood out to me this time. I like the music, the costume and the choreography. Hopefully it will only get better as the season progresses!

Happy to see Rino climb from 10th to 2nd with that ethereal program. I really loved her dress as well!

As for Kaori, her short program does nothing for me, unfortunately, but her free program is growing on me. The FS this time was probably not what she was hoping for, but she is a champion for a reason and, I'm sure, she will only get better as the season progresses.

Special mention to Alysa, Kimmy and Maddie, and here's to hoping that they will have an even better rest of the season!

 

[Sjs5572]

Alysa Liu is the "best newcomer". her body has changed a lot over the "holidays" and it's amazing how well she's in control.
(about the result of the competition... if Rino couldn't get it, Korea would have liked a gold medal too... I can't write more nonsense than that)

Since the sequence rules have changed (no penalty), I'm wondering if Alysa should change her 3Lz/e/3s to a 3Lz/2a and a non-combo 3s. Her three jump combo could be 3F/2t/2r.