2024 Skate Canada: Women - Thoughts?

[gsk8]

Sakamoto leads winning Japanese streak in Halifax

2024 Skate Canada | Women Japan's Kaori Sakamoto led a Japanese streak, defending her title at 2024 Skate Canada on Saturday in Halifax, N.S, Canada.

www.goldenskate.com

“My choreographer was adamant that this was the music that she wanted me to perform this season,” the Sakamoto revealed. “NHK is my next event. I don’t really have much time, but once I get back, I might have over a week. So that means that I really, really have to hurry and intensify my training.”

To be honest, I'm not a fan of Sakamoto's free skate to "All that Jazz." I much prefer the other styles she has done in the past, especially last season. But that's just me and I give her kudos for trying new things!

“I’m really full of happiness to make the podium,” Matsuike said. “I made some serious mistakes in the short program and my placement was such that I wasn’t expecting to make the podium. I had taken my costume off and I was at the upper level watching the other group from the stands, that’s how unexpected it was for me to be on the podium.”

LOVED her free skate and am looking forward to seeing that one again!

“I’m happy that I get to get on the podium with the two other Japanese girls, but I’m quite disappointed about my skate today,” admitted Yoshida. “So, I will do my best to do my clean, short and free program at my next competition is Finlandia. Today, I was very nervous. My six-minute warm up was like the most horrible warm up ever. So, I have to find a way to handle my nerves, and I my biggest goal is the cleaner free program. I will work hard every day until my next competition.”

I also really liked this free skate!

And kudos to Liu and Schizas!

Which were your favorite programs in this event?

 

[Arigato]

“My choreographer was adamant that this was the music that she wanted me to perform this season,” the Sakamoto revealed.

Who pays her choreographer?

 

[lariko]

Attempted to watch. Couldn't. Gave up. Whatever this is, this is not the mature skating that was so widely anticipated (or fair judging). It will probably take another 4 years or so, before the training methods are adjusted and the athletes re-grouped to bridge the problems created by the new age cut-off.

 

[Alex Fedorov]

Attempted to watch. Couldn't. Gave up. Whatever this is, this is not a mature skating that was so lauded. It will probably take another 4 years or so, before the training methods are adjusted and the athletes re-grouped to bridge the problems created by the new age cut-off.

Perhaps this is exactly the result that was planned. And next season one combination will be removed. There is no limit to perfection. But it would be better to remove the commentators. They prevent viewers from sleeping with their admiring exclamations, and healthy sleep is so useful.

 

[lariko]

Perhaps this is exactly the result that was planned. And next season one combination will be removed. There is no limit to perfection. But it would be better to remove the commentators. They prevent viewers from sleeping with their admiring exclamations, and healthy sleep is so useful.

It absolutely was intended. Fewer competitors, staying far longer, with stronger basics that are not impacted by puberty changes. However, to arrive at this place, women need two phase career, with a low-pressure/hiatus period of two or so years to switch between the styles. Literally all senior women who skate with a higher degree of success this season had that break in late teens-early twenties to return. In that respect Alysa L is doing the right thing, but she should have taken more time in training before competing to start off with better results and create an illusion of a magical come-back instead of showcasing the climb back. Once more coaches/athletes catch onto this, we will be seeing more successful senior women competitions.

 

[noskates]

Well I think Kaori is very challenged with All That Jazz but I've always felt she skated like an automaton and this piece actually shows some personality. Alysa, on the other hand, IMO, needs better choreography to show off her skills. Given that she took time off and clearly has matured as a young lady, I thought she did a very good job given the ridiculous music and juvenile choreography. Kind of disappointed in Massimo Scali. I project that by Nationals Alysa is going to be in the mix for medals. Can she beat Amber? Is Amber going to skate clean?
I was impressed with Elise Lin Gracy. I think if she can become more consistent that she's going to be dynamite.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I guess I'm one of very few that like Chicago for Sakamoto's Free, I feel like by the end of the season she will be more comfortable with it and totally rock it.

I loved Matsuike through the whole competition. She was just wonderful.

 

[rabidline]

Miss Rino Matsuike has done it again, getting people to love her and her skating at least 1 (once) a year and securing her invitations to the next season's Grand Prix series. Chris Howarth going "oh...." in awe during that held edge during her step sequence, and the audience knowing that's impressive and applauding without breaking the spell of the music is my moment of the competition. Although, the SP was very, very bleak even for Rino GP disaster standards. I'm just worried about Nationals - like Chris mentioned, this is someone who can medal at the GP series by outscoring the reigning World Champion, but she also finished 17th in her own country.

Kaori is doing a lot of different things and I think she has earned the time to do so. I'm not that mad about her scores. I do think it's a lot for her to do these new programs and work on a new FS jump layout, but again, there is no better timing to work on that than now. I do think the All That Jazz FS, if she ever figured out how to present it in her own way, is going to set her miles above everyone else. It's a really hard program.

Happy about Madeline Schizas' week, she seemed to have needed this kind of result in a personal way and it came together for her.

Also happy for Alysa's comeback. I think it was the right balance of optimism and reality- I think it's clear that Alysa has the grit and mentality to compete, but also it's also realistic that at this stage her jumps and combos aren't all going to be super there yet. It allows for the hype to stabilize a bit and hopefully allow Alysa to focus on herself and what she needs to work on. She looks like she's enjoying every moment in competition, both the good and bad, and that's enough for me as a fan right now.

Respected Hana's and Kimmy's individuality and fight, but honestly for me if they all go clean Rino will wipe them all both by her skating quality so I'm glad it's rewarded here.

Yelim's skating is still so beautiful despite the disaster skates, I'm sad she's struggling with her jumps right now. She's my favorite Korean skater in terms of presentation and movement quality.

 

[macy]

I guess I'm one of very few that like Chicago for Sakamoto's Free, I feel like by the end of the season she will be more comfortable with it and totally rock it.

I loved Matsuike through the whole competition. She was just wonderful.

i agree with more mileage it will look more comfortable, but for now it's falling quite flat imo. i guess we will see how she does her next event.

Matsuike was the highlight of the event, she was WONDERFUL. total masterclass in skating skills.

i wish Alysa would have been able to hang on to a medal, but as others said she really looks like she's enjoying it no matter the result and that is what's most important! it's amazing what a couple years of life experience and growing up will do for your components.

 

[Sackie]

Really pleased to see Maddie coming back strong. Hopefully it lasts. Here I think she should have won the silver medal if she had been marked fairly in both the short and free. She only needed about 3 points more which I think she deserved. But it does show that once you start slipping the judges lose confidence in you and your marks suffer until you can put together a few good results.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

Rino Matsuike was just a dream in the free skate. How she glides across the ice has a surreal, unreal sort of quality to it. With a decent short she could have easily won here. Brilliant choreography from Lori Nicol too.

I really like Kaori Sakamoto's short but i thought the free skate choreography was all wrong for her, it looked like she hated the music too. Dubreuil's choreography makes her look expressionless at best.

 

[Minz]

Perhaps this is exactly the result that was planned. And next season one combination will be removed. There is no limit to perfection. But it would be better to remove the commentators. They prevent viewers from sleeping with their admiring exclamations, and healthy sleep is so useful.

I think that’s after the Olympic season. And there’s a chance that they’ll get rid of it like they did with the Flip/Lutz BV thing a few years ago.

The commentators are always a hit or miss. Sometimes they can actually be really insightful, and other times you’re screaming at the screen telling them to shut up.

 

[saine]

I think that’s after the Olympic season. And there’s a chance that they’ll get rid of it like they did with the Flip/Lutz BV thing a few years ago.

After the drama it took to get it passed, they are going to keep the changes. That chance is minuscule in my opinion.

 

[4everchan]

Rino was an absolute delight in the LP.
Maddie, for me was the most consistent and should have won a medal. She can blame herself for not winning one with 4 words
Step Sequence LVL two... which is something she did in both programs I believe. She needs to clean this element up.
Of course, I agree that considering all the bad competitions she's had, she's lost the trust of the judges... She may have been able to win a medal just based on slightly higher PCS... I believe the Canadian judge punished her a lot in the LP... no idea why...especially since the Canadian judge had been good to her in the SP... maybe the Canadian judge tried to be more reserved after noticing she had been on the good side in the SP and over compensated in the LP... UGH... in any case, she was so close and I hope this fires her and builds her confidence up. Kudos to her, this was the first time I believe she landed 3 triple lutzes in one weekend.

Kaori : I love her. don't dislike her LP. I believe she will do great with it later on... is it something that I would associate with her : no... but I' d
rather see a 3 time WC winner challenge herself and her fans with something different than same old same old (programs like some of her direct competitors are doing (not naming anyone)

 

[RafaelAstro]

Really pleased to see Maddie coming back strong. Hopefully it lasts. Here I think she should have won the silver medal if she had been marked fairly in both the short and free. She only needed about 3 points more which I think she deserved. But it does show that once you start slipping the judges lose confidence in you and your marks suffer until you can put together a few good results.

I don't think Maddie was a podium worthy doesn't have the quality of other skaters, and she still made some mistakes so, it was fair

 

[Skating91]

How great is it to have Simon Reed commentating again for Eurosport!