2025 Worlds: Women's thoughts and comments

[gsk8]

Some major surprises for sure in the Women's event!

One thing that stood out for me in this event that was no matter who was on the ice, the crowd cheered them on heartily - especially if they were slipping.

One of my favorite free skate's is Pinzarrone's. I love every part about it, including the costume which shows classic lines and moves well. Simple yet stunning! It's just a routine that stands out for me for some reason.

Of course I'm thrilled for Liu who surprised herself! I don't think anyone saw this coming

Kudos to Glenn on a fighting come back!

Which were your favorite programs and why? What are your thoughts on the results?

https://www.goldenskate.com/darkhorse-alysa-liu-seizes-world-title-in-boston/

Darkhorse Alysa Liu seizes World title in Boston

2025 World Figure Skating Championships: Women USA's Alysa Liu, who recently returned to competition, unexpectedly took the Women's title at in Boston,

www.goldenskate.com

 

[Mathman]

This was a wonderful event (and a wonderfully balanced and thoughtful write-up, too . )

I liked everybody. I especially enjoyed the LP performances of Petrokina, Lee and Kim. My favorite SP was Levito's. I thought it was marvelous (and I like ladies' SPs better than LPs anyway. )

 

[Ali81]

So Alysa Liu can essentially perform an exhibition-style, whimsical program with reasonably clean jumps and still score 148+ points. She doesn’t seem to need complex step sequences, exceptional extension, or difficult movements like those showcased by the Japanese skaters, for example. This suggests that the Japanese girls will either need to increase their intensity and complexity (and risk mistakes) or adopt a simpler style like Alysa’s (though they would likely be significantly underscored in that case).

 

[lariko]

One thing I took out of this event is that I would never harp on Russian internal judging after this event, because they are actually behind the world in score inflation.

 

[el henry]

Alysa was magical. She made me sit up and catch my breath. Kaori was amazing, I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

Scores well deserved.

The Crowd. Was. ( And Is.) Wonderful.

If all women's events were like that LP final flight, I might watch more.

 

[Arigato]

Liu's SP was ethereal and her FS is the only one in the black:

Skating Scores: Latest Figure Skating Results, Scores, Rankings & Statistics

The best resource for Figure Skating scores and stats on the web.

skatingscores.com

On a personal note, thank you Alysa for such a joyous ending. The greats don't have to toot their own horn, everyone else will do it for them.

And to Boston, you are what the USA is when it's at its best. Thank you!

 

[Remilia]

Alysa and Isabeau were definitely overscored, and I say that as someone who loves them (and I've never hesitated to defend Isabeau on here). I mean, Wakaba being below Amber and Isabeau was ridiculous, and Kaori would've won if this competition was in any other country. Still, I'm happy for Alysa and Isabeau, especially the latter, who proved all her doubters wrong.

Shoutout to Haein for having a great showing here, despite everything that's happened to her this season. It's just a shame that she did what she needed to here and placed higher than Chaeyeon, yet she'll most likely be the one left off the Olympics team.

 

[Skater Boy]

So Alysa Liu can essentially perform an exhibition-style, whimsical program with reasonably clean jumps and still score 148+ points. She doesn’t seem to need complex step sequences, exceptional extension, or difficult movements like those showcased by the Japanese skaters, for example. This suggests that the Japanese girls will either need to increase their intensity and complexity (and risk mistakes) or adopt a simpler style like Alysa’s (though they would likely be significantly underscored in that case).

Alyssa did awesome here. her stamina was not an issue nor underrotation - okay maybe some questionable calls. She and the judges took the energy of the pro american audience. She and Isabeau and Amber used the pro US audience to their advantage and the judges could not be helped but be caught up. That psychologically would garner extra points ad that is iportant. All three ladies did awesome. The Japanese ladies might fare a bit differently with different soil. As predicted Kim came back and the Nina/Niina's did just fine. Sadly for Canada they got the short end of the stick. Usually 6th in short and 11th in long would be no issue to 10th but the numbers did not favour Madeliene and she left crushed. I don't think things are going to weel for Canada. pairs they lost a spot and poor Deanna and Max left dejected. Men are meandering in 15th and sadly most likely will drop Their third Canadian team barely made the free sate and oly then due to huge errors from top teams. Theirtop two teams did okay but did not fare all that well compared to their American competitrs.
but in ladies ful credit to Schizas and a huge contrats to the US ladies

 

[Skater Boy]

Alysa and Isabeau were definitely overscored, and I say that as someone who loves them (and I've never hesitated to defend Isabeau on here). I mean, Wakaba being below Amber and Isabeau was ridiculous, and Kaori would've won if this competition was in any other country. Still, I'm happy for Alysa and Isabeau, especially the latter, who proved all her doubters wr. In fairness it is the energy of the crowd. ng.

Shoutout to Haein for having a great showing here, despite everything that's happened to her this season. It's just a shame that she did what she needed to here and placed higher than Chaeyeon, yet she'll most likely be the one left off the Olympics team.

I think we have to remember this is on US territory, they are a huge and powerful skating federation and nation, they do have talented skaters but so far every US skater seems to be getting some generous scoring and I mean every competitor so far

 

[jenaj]

I think we have to remember this is on US territory, they are a huge and powerful skating federation and nation, they do have talented skaters but so far every US skater seems to be getting some generous scoring and I mean every competitor so far

How did it take 19 years for such a powerful federation to have a woman's World Champion?

 

[visaliakid]

So Alysa Liu can essentially perform an exhibition-style, whimsical program with reasonably clean jumps and still score 148+ points. She doesn’t seem to need complex step sequences, exceptional extension, or difficult movements like those showcased by the Japanese skaters, for example. This suggests that the Japanese girls will either need to increase their intensity and complexity (and risk mistakes) or adopt a simpler style like Alysa’s (though they would likely be significantly underscored in that case).

Total Nonsence! Nuff Said!

 

[Mathman]

Long time, no see, Visaliakid!

 

[nickp91]

Alysa Liu's journey in figure skating has been nothing short of inspiring From winning titles at a young age to now claiming her first world title

 

[Button's Niece]

I think the home ice advantage can cut both ways. Home athletes can feel greater pressure to perform in front of the home crowd.

But there is a study indicating that crowd noise can affect referee decision making in soccer, so one could see it having a similar effect on skating scoring...

Here is the link to "The influence of crowd noise and experience upon refereeing decisions in football":
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029201000334

from the Abstract:
Methods. To investigate whether the presence or absence of crowd noise might influence qualified referees when assessing various tackles/challenges recorded on videotape. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the effect of crowd noise and years of experience on referees' decisions.
Results. The presence of crowd noise had a dramatic effect on the decisions made by referees. Those viewing the challenges with background crowd noise were more uncertain in their decision making and awarded significantly fewer fouls (15.5%) against the home team, compared with those watching in silence.
Conclusions. The noise of the crowd influenced referees' decisions to favour the home team. It is suggested that referees' decisions are influenced by the salient nature of crowd noise, the potential use of heuristic strategies, and the need to avoid potential crowd displeasure by making a decision in favour of the home team.

 

[moonkat]

How did it take 19 years for such a powerful federation to have a woman's World Champion?

Because it costs a lot of money. Everything from figure skating training to healthcare is privately funded in the US. Like the official explanation for pulling me out after basic classes is that I did not enthusiastically beg for more classes, but we know the real reason. Granted I lack the talent.

Anyways, watched Alysa's performance multiple times.

 

[Wafflecakes]

How did it take 19 years for such a powerful federation to have a woman's World Champion?

I know right?

Champions left and right.

....wait....

 

[Dawn825]

I'll share my thoughts from watching the FS live.
First, without doing my own detailed rescore and rewatching every program 3x in slow motion, I have no idea who should have won. PCS, GOE and tech calls are all assigned at best arbitrarily and at worst with the intent to manipulate the scores. That's the sport, nothing I can do about, so I do my best not to care.
Second, I love all the skaters in the top 6, and would have been happy for any of them to medal.
Amber's FS was redemptive, but left almost no impression on me. I watched her jump and I don't remember anything else.
I hated Kaori's FS music all year, but the second it started in the arena I was completely on board. It really created a new energy for the night. She lost me in the middle during the step sequence, I definitely got a little bored, but the beginning and end were sensational. The one UR on the first combo was obvious.
Wakaba's FS music was a stroke of genius by whoever picked it. The tension it created from start to finish...so so good. The program just built and built.
Isabeau's jump posture is as obvious from way up in the stands as it is on TV unfortunately, but it amounts to about 3 seconds of the program so it definitely doesn't like ruin anything. The music is nice, but in front of such a massive crowd and following the 2 programs before her, there was a perceptible drop in energy and excitement for her program.
Mone's program also left no impression on me. The UR on the Salchow was obvious, everything else was fine.
Alysa's music created the same upbeat and fun vibe as Kaori's but she was able to carry it throughout the whole and made no obvious errors. I was completely engaged from start to finish.
So basically, my main impression is that live in the arena, slow and lyrical - no matter how nicely done - just cannot compete with dramatic or energetic. Kaori, Wakaba, and Alysa are the ones that brought me to my feet because their programs were EXCITING to watch. That was kind of the only thing that mattered to me on the night.
Happy for all the medalists and looking forward to next season!

 

[Mathman]

IHere is the link to "The influence of crowd noise and experience upon refereeing decisions in football":
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029201000334
...
Results. The presence of crowd noise had a dramatic effect on the decisions made by referees.

Thanks for the post. In football (11 players on a team) the crowd is called the "twelfth man." The team hires cheer leaders to make sure that the 12th man does its part along with the other 11 to achieve victory.

It makes sense. If you are an official making a call and fifty thousand fans are shouting at you telling you you're wrong, it might make you think twice about what you thought you saw. Plus, in a championship game the officials are generally more hesitant about putting themselves out there as the guy who snatched defeat from the jaws of someone's victory.

In skating, performers that can make the audience stand up and cheer do have an advantage, whether in their home country or not. At Boston, the audience was enthusiastic about quite a number of performances, for instance Sakamoto's gem. Give the audience something to get excited about -- it can't hurt.

 

[Skuratov]

Overall, the 33 competitors performed mediocrely. The judges suffered temporary blindness when it was the local skaters' turn, and we know Liu is the queen of underrotations.
The commentators are complicit in and responsible for fostering this mediocrity. The guy who narrated said during a skater's performance that started with a 3+3 combination: "the SUPER combination 3Lz+3T." What? Why do only one or two of the 33 skaters perform a 3+3 combination in the bonus zone? Is it time to define the 4+2 and 4+3 Ultra Combinations?
Elena Radionova declared yesterday: "The girls are showing the same set of elements that we showed 9 years ago at the World Cup in the same city". No Lena, the ISU made the competition easier for these girls. Nine years ago sequences didn't have the same base value as combinations and the sub-rotations were marked as sub-rotations not as q.

Alysa Liu is world champion in the absence of elite skaters because she was the least bad of 33 skaters and with the help of the judges.

 

[Joekaz]

How did it take 19 years for such a powerful federation to have a woman's World Champion?

Mao Asada, Kim Yuna, and the Russians vs who? If Mirai would have gotten her mind focused when she was young would have been their best chance.