2025 Grand Prix of France Women's Free Skate

[Jammers]

Thank goodness at least one of the youngsters just up from Juniors might make it interesting this season it was getting stale with the same old skaters from two Olympic cycles ago. Imagine if Shimada had been born just a few months earlier like Ami?

 

[Sabsi]

My guess currently is Kaori, Mone and Ami (after this competition).

This would be my guess too

 

[readernick]

Looking at the score breakdown, I actually agree with the PCS of the top 4 for once (not talking about the PCS of some of the skaters in the first groups, to be clear).

Do you? Why? Kaori getting higher PCS than the rest sure. Rion and Isabeau getting similar PCS, also, yes, sure. But, I don't think Ami actually has a program. It's just crossovers and smiling. I like her skating. Her basics are strong. But, she is definitely getting higher PCS than the justified based on ISU criteria. How can her PCS basically be tied with Rion and Isabeau. Anyway, this is all I will say. Ami is cute. Her jumps and basic SS are great. I am happy for her. I just don't like the way judges disregard judging bullets at times. Her program isn't a program and this kind of scoring isn't going to encourage her to work on actually creating one...

 

[Isk]

I'm sort of angry right now about this.

Ami skated so well, but this program left me cold. I feel like I got no emotion from it, and I wanted it so bad. I'm hoping it grows on me, because I enjoyed watching her skate her short program, I wanted that feeling for the long, and it didn't happen.

After rewatching it with a cool head I might agree with you, but it is so refreshing to see someone skating not to trashy music, but what's more important, show some happiness about life instead of drama, and she is a classy skater, dress is gentle periwinkle with a touch of sakura, creates atmosphere. There is nothing garish in her skating. Her skate left me happy.

 

[Paulipau]

Do you? Why? Kaori getting higher PCS than the rest sure. Rion and Isabeau getting similar PCS, also, yes, sure. But, I don't think Ami actually has a program. It's just crossovers and smiling. I like her skating. Her basics are strong. But, she is definitely getting higher PCS than the justified based on ISU criteria. How can her PCS basically be tied with Rion and Isabeau. Anyway, this is all I will say. Ami is cute. Her jumps and basic SS are great. I am happy for her. I just don't like the way judges disregard judging bullets at times. Her program isn't a program and this kind of scoring isn't going to encourage her to work on actually creating one...

I agree with you but also this is not a first time we see this happening, Ilya for example? High tech goes with high pcs.
It is not something new and I'm tired of thinking about it.

 

[Paulipau]

Do you? Why? Kaori getting higher PCS than the rest sure. Rion and Isabeau getting similar PCS, also, yes, sure. But, I don't think Ami actually has a program. It's just crossovers and smiling. I like her skating. Her basics are strong. But, she is definitely getting higher PCS than the justified based on ISU criteria. How can her PCS basically be tied with Rion and Isabeau. Anyway, this is all I will say. Ami is cute. Her jumps and basic SS are great. I am happy for her. I just don't like the way judges disregard judging bullets at times. Her program isn't a program and this kind of scoring isn't going to encourage her to work on actually creating one...

I agree with you but also this is not a first time we see this happening, Ilya for example? High tech goes with high pcs.
It is not something new and I'm tired of thinking about it.

 

[readernick]

I agree with you but also this is not a first time we see this happening, Ilya for example? High tech goes with high pcs.
It is not something new and I'm tired of thinking about it.

Not new and not really even worth mentioning but I think I just saw three skaters who really did put in a lot of work PCS wise and then that work was completely disregarded in favor of a 3A. Anyway, its not the end of the world. Just like Ilya, Ami was the best jumper here and sometimes that is all that matters to the judges

 

[lariko]

The results of this event have to give motivation to Sarah Everhardt and Bradie Tennell.

Why?

 

[lariko]

With all the love I have for Rion, if she hasn't solidified it in the last 3 or so years, it's not going to happen in the next 3 months,
She's still in the conversation, though (Mone's scores are not that far ahead, and Ami needs to continue in the same vein as she did here).

You never know when magic clicks. Anyway, I'm gonna hope it happens.

 

[sisinka]

Being overwhelmed by work these weeks, watching skating with great performances was relaxation. Thanks!

I saw just few ladies today:

- Lorine Schild - she improved sooo much, great skate (in both SP and LP), costumes perfectly fitting.

- Isabeau Levito - always elegant, always nice Skating Skills.

- Rion Sumiyoshi - great strong presentation in the first half and Step Sequence. Quad was underrotated, but she is fighter keeping attempting, I am glad she didn't fall.

- Ami Nakai - landing 3axel is great, but I am very careful in this in skater's teenage age, let's wait for her jumping arsenal till she will be grown-up. Besides that very very good skating skills, choreography, strong presentation in both SP and LP. She reminds me softer version of Rika Kihira.

- Kaori Sakamoto - nothing more or less than Lady Kaori. That was sooo great, emotional, soulful and touching! I wish to see Kaori skating like this at Milano Olympics.
I am not a fan of all Benoit Richaud's choreographies, but in this case, thank you for wonderful programs for Kaori. She deserves it! And figure skating world deserves such wonderful performances!

Watching Kaori I once again realised that skaters, especially single skaters, shouldn't retire before they reach their presentation peak.

 

[museksk8r]

Why?

The USFSA considers the overall body of work from the 2025 and 2026 seasons for skaters in their Olympic selection criteria. Skaters vying for an Olympic berth will want to medal on the Grand Prix Series to boost their international resume, reputation and momentum heading toward the Olympics. Earning a spot at the Grand Prix Final really boosts a skater’s opportunity of making the Olympic team and Isabeau’s chances are now in serious jeopardy. It’s also important to compare how they are all scoring internationally in TES and PCS. Levito not having her best skate in the FS and not medaling here possibly gives Tennell and Everhardt an opportunity to outscore or outplace her in an upcoming Grand Prix event if they skate their bests. The real test will be at Skate Canada in 2 weeks when all 3 go up against each other head to head. Talk about a competition within a competition! With all this talk about “playing it safe” around Levito, now is not the time to do that when you have other competitors in your county nipping at your heels, especially when you are not even considered #1 or #2 in your home nation.

 

[Joekaz]

Thank goodness at least one of the youngsters just up from Juniors might make it interesting this season it was getting stale with the same old skaters from two Olympic cycles ago. Imagine if Shimada had been born just a few months earlier like Ami?

The real question is how these young skaters handle the pressure of Nationals, especially with high expectations now. Handling the pressure is one of the main reasons the same old stale skaters are still there. Btw, old stale Kaori looked pretty good to me. Lol

 

[Dawn825]

Just caught up. Embarrassment of riches in this FS I thought. Happy for Young to have a good skate, Jia and Chaeyoung were visions. Isabeau is so so good, I feel bad for her that any single little mistake consistently takes her off international podiums, just because of the field. Kaori was brilliant as always, Rion and Ami coming for blood and that Olympic team. They were all so good wow.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Rion Sumiyoshi's 4Toe was so impressive. Yes the underrotation, but she doesn't have any excessive pre-rotation and she's FLYING into and out of it and explodes UP into the air before rotating. That's real jumping. It deserves to score better than some other 4Toes that are wrongly given a pass on their pre-rotation and whippy rotations and landings.

Sakamoto's program didn't do much for me. It doesn't have any kind of heightened emotion or personality. The climax of the program is flat and I hate how everyone is doing some kind of sliding move these days. It had nothing to do with the music.

 

[Arigato]

This cover is an atrocity to my ears

I hit mute.

 

[msteach3]

Eh, I know Isabeau has the quality, but she so boring...

With the exception of Lorine, I'm finding all these ladies programs either boring or cringing music choices. I've had to continually turn the volume down as I can only take so much of the princessy programs. With that being said, I appreciate the strong skating from Kaori and Ami.

 

[SmileHappy34]

I am surprised I enjoyed all the competition even though I think I remember this competition from earlier years.


I thought Isabeua did well. She did improve her free skate score and short program. I thought a bit undertakes.

I dont think Isabeau has to do much

I know Bradie 's National score beats it . They score on different standards and criteria. Meeting national versus international. Bradies has. Her national is encouraging.
Sarah i dont think has scored that high in short Off the u.s team


Great job all. I enjoyed the women immensely.
Thier national and Olympic look encouraging and eventful and competitive.

Looking forward to see play out and plan for their country's Olympic spots.



I

 

[sworddance21]

Just was able to watch the last 3. I was struck by how unhappy Isabeau looked at the end of her skate and in the Kiss and Cry. One small mistake and an excellent skate otherwise and she looked crushed. That concerns me because the fight for the US Oly team is going to be something else. I hope she is in a good supportive environment.

I loved Kaori, although I thought the first part of the program lacked good choreo. Ami surprised me! I don't follow Juniors so I was unaware of her (and I missed the short). I thought the program was fresh and lovely.

 

[AquaSeas]

I might have had the order of the podium differently, but I’ve come to accept if a lady lands a 3A or any quad, their PCS will jump accordingly, so congrats to all 3 Japaneses ladies. I would have had Young You higher but that may just be personal preference. I was also impressed with Lorine Schild. Good for her on home ice! Isabeau’s dress was gorgeous but I find her jump technique improved but still off-putting. Looking forward to how this season plays out.

 

[YuBluByMe]

The USFSA considers the overall body of work from the 2025 and 2026 seasons for skaters in their Olympic selection criteria.

The US ladies Olympic team will be Liu, Glenn, and Levito, barring extenuating circumstances such as injury. USFed’s selection criteria is not like Japan’s.

Skaters vying for an Olympic berth will want to medal on the Grand Prix Series to boost their international resume, reputation and momentum heading toward the Olympics. Earning a spot at the Grand Prix Final really boosts a skater’s opportunity of making the Olympic team and Isabeau’s chances are now in serious jeopardy.

It’s true that Levito is unlikely to make GPF, but I will argue that, in her case, it’s the score that’s more important than the placement. A 212 will probably be a winning score in another GP and she will probably have a higher combined total than the skaters that qualify. Results are not created equal.

It’s also important to compare how they are all scoring internationally in TES and PCS. Levito not having her best skate in the FS and not medaling here possibly gives Tennell and Everhardt an opportunity to outscore or outplace her in an upcoming Grand Prix event if they skate their bests.

Everhardt has beaten Levito before, but barely. Tennell has had very good moments here and there since her return to competition, but overall she’s skating well past her peak. She’s struggling to break 200.

USFed did not choose Everhardt for Worlds last year; she was passed over for Levito who wasn’t even at Nationals. That right there tells me that Everhardt’s chances of making the Olympic team are low.

If either of them want to make a serious run for the Olympic team, then they need to put out scores that challenge the Japanese. It’s going to take much more than just beating Levito in a head-to-head because neither of them did anything last season that warrants replacing the reigning World Champion, reigning GPF champion, and Levito, who has a World medal and placed in the top five at other Worlds with great scores.

The real question is not who is going to the Olympics but who among Liu, Glenn, and Levito is going as the anchor.