Ladies' Free

[ks777]

Tarasova is Mao's full time coach. She has been training in Russia. I think Mao will go back to her last year's program in world championship. This program just doesn't give her breathing room.

Mao just went to Russia a week before TEB to train with Tarasova and that isn't enough plus Mao needs a technical coach and Tarasova isn't what Mao needs.

 

[fiercemao]

Ahh I can't wait until these are up on on-demand! So Caroline skated better today overall? At the very least she does seem to recognize why her scores are low-those downgrades are killing her. I hope she works long and hard on that in the time between now and Nationals, but I think first and foremost she needs to rework that 2A. It's scary, and yesterday was only of sign of what's to come if she doesn't stop slowing down into it.

I'll be watching later and make my comments then.

caroline was slow, but at least she landed all triples although both 3f<+3t< got downgraded. Her other jumps were ratified though.

 

[turtle]

Again TT is not a technical coach. Mao needs to drill on her jump consistency instead of worrying too much about artistry.She is ALREADY superb in artistry. If she can't get jumps down, her PCS will come down no matter how much better she is in artistry department.

Mao has too much to worry about her jumps. She didn't even try 3lutz today. Her 3S is not there, she is apparently starting to lose 3flip+3loop, which is fairly alarming. If her jumps continue to deteriorate, no artistry can save her. She should forget about fixing 'flutz', just go back to what she was comfortable with in past seasons in terms of jump layout.

I won't overanalyze her performance today. She looked strong in warm-up. It must be her nerves. She will come back strong.

 

[R.D.]

[Mao] is ALREADY superb in artistry.

I beg to differ.

However, I agree with the rest of your post.

 

[romanoff81]

Very happy for Joannie i hope she kicks butt at worlds and wins she proved it that she can do it two years ago finished second in the free at the olympics.
Her range of scores so far this year put her in the hunt for the top spots. As far as Kim is concerned better fix those flutzes before worlds.

 

[Bennett]

From what I understand Mao does have a secondary coach Honda. But well, I really am not confident about this arrangment for her.
.

Takeshi Honda?

 

[ks777]

From what I understand Mao does have a secondary coach Honda. But well, I really am not confident about this arrangment for her.

As for the outfit. I didn't care for it. I won't say it's inappropriate for age, I just don't think that kind of thing is sexy in public.

No, Honda is Mai's coach and not Mao's. and Honda doesn't even live close to where Mao lives.

 

[R.D.]

Well, I think the one take-home message from these first four comps of the season is that NO ONE is infallible.

 

[fiercemao]

I won't overanalyze her performance today. She looked strong in warm-up. It must be her nerves. She will come back strong.

She was NOT strong in warmup. I watched the warmup. The first 3flip+3loop attempt, she singled 3loop. The second 3flip+3loop, the loop was badly underrotated. I'm more worried about her money jump 3flip+3loop. Mao needs this jump to pull ahead of other ladies except Yu Na and Kostner in SP. This jump gets lots of scrutiny and has the most danger of being downgraded. She is not confident on this jump anymore.

 

[bekalc]

No, Honda is Mai's coach and not Mao's. and Honda doesn't even live close to where Mao lives.

I was hearing on FSU that Mao does work with Honda on her jumps.

 

[*Sniper*]

Very happy for Joannie i hope she kicks butt at worlds and wins she proved it that she can do it two years ago finished second in the free at the olympics.
Her range of scores so far this year put her in the hunt for the top spots. As far as Kim is concerned better fix those flutzes before worlds.

Are you talking about Yu Na Kim?
If so, I believe she LIPS, not flutzes.

Also based on how everyone else (save Rochette) has looked so far this season, I think it appears that she can lip around all she wants in any competition she enters.
She will just win by 15 points rather than 25.

 

[fiercemao]

Well, I think the one take-home message from these first four comps of the season is that NO ONE is infallible.

Except S&S who ALWAYS bomb in LP and still gets held up.

 

[katymay]

Mao should stop using those russian footwork.

I remember back when she has those beautiful footwork with her chopin short program back 2 years ago.

She does not have pretty dress, lokk like bikini or lingerie.

I agree. And I'm sick of that chopped up frantic mess that so many figure skaters think is footwork. I remember Irina S. doing the most simple elegant edgework to RachV-very difficult, very beautiful.

 

[ks777]

I was hearing on FSU that Mao does work with Honda on her jumps.

I think people were speculating on that but I haven't heard anything about Mao working with Honda.

 

[R.D.]

Also based on how everyone else (save Rochette) has looked so far this season, I think it appears that she can lip around all she wants in any competition she enters.
She will just win by 15 points rather than 25.

:yes:

I would be the last to count her top competitor and rival out, though. Careful!

 

[MissIzzy]

Except S&S who ALWAYS bomb in LP and still gets held up.

They haven't skated against anyone who's proved capable of even approaching them yet. Wait until the Grand Prix Finale

 

[romanoff81]

Yuna kim is a very strong skater worlds should be very exciting but Joannie has really come prepared this season I know its early but seems she is on a mission.

 

[*Sniper*]

:yes:

I would be the last to count her top competitor and rival out, though. Careful!

Of course....
I am already anticipating a big Mao come back at NHK.
Hope the pressure doesn't get to her though.

 

[bekalc]

It doesn't matter that Yu-na lips, if she and Joannie both skate clean, Yu-na should come on top. Because Yu-na's jump layout in the long program is superior to Rochette's.

(Rochette gives up quite a bit with those sequences) Let's not even get into the triple/triple thing.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Right now her lutz is useless. Frankly she has no choice but to go back to her old flutz.

this is really sad. Mao put in so much work over the summer and she has nothing to show for it. I think that if she really wants to fix her flutz, she will have to keep working at it like Joannie did. Sure, she fell on them over and over in competition and it took her 2 years, but now she is racking up the points.

The story of the season is clear. If you don't have good basics, and complete rotations you are done for. Quads are useless.

Predicting these evets back in september, it would have looked like Mao and Evan were ready to take on the world and that the american ladies would have a banner year. We just hot out first medal in ladies and that was a bronze.