Replay Lounge 2025 Skate America

[ladyjane]

I've just watched the men's FS, and did I have to change my mind about certain skaters.

Corey was just wonderful. I was enchanted and didn't realise until much later that he left out the 3 Axel again. Reminds me a bit of Stephan Lambiel who also had trouble with 3 Axels (although he managed to do them once in a while) but could do a Quad with no problems. I felt sorry for Daiweh who really was a victim of the technical problems at the rink. We'll never know if he would have had a better skate otherwise, but he definitely was tired at the end. Luc doesn't have the word effortless in his vocubulary, because none of his landings looked to be that. A nice skate but it does detract when a skater has to fight for all landings. Liam showed us again what he is made off. Not perfect maybe, but nice to watch and no falls. Nikolaj did much better than yesterday, but did have some mishaps too. Yesterday I was a bit neutral about Vladimir, but I really loved his Free Skate. Such a fun programme! Tatsuya lost his gracefulness in the fall, but kept going. That guy has character. I adored Jason, his skate was great, even with some mistakes (a double salchow?) and he is just so wonderful to watch. The programme is finished in a wink. Daniel's skate was not great. It's exactly as Ted said: if you choose this kind of intense music in which even the elements are choreographed, you have to make no mistakes or the effect will get lost. I rather liked Mikhail today, falls and all. Those did not detract from the programme, which had more content than his SP. He was very unhappy after his skate, but I hope the silver medal brought some comfort. Kevin was fantastic. I've always liked the Bolero programme, but I haven't seen it skated well in a long time. And that reaction when he found out he got the gold was priceless. So happy for him. Kazuki, Kazuki. I wish he didn't repeat what happened at CoC where he had a good short and a not so good free. At least he didn't fall out of the medals this time. But I am really wishing to see that Free skated well.

 

[Magill]

Womens short- what is with all those comments under the youtube video? Bizarre. None of the placements seem terribly wrong? I admit to shouting "give her 70!" at the screen after Gutmann- surely she will get that at some point this season?

I don't think it is bizarre at all. Many people believe the gap between Rinka with her clean 3A and Alysa with her imperfect 3Lx3Lo combo should be way bigger than 0.5 point, and see the result as a plain flag and reputation favouritism, despite the correct placement.
This is something ISU created themselves. When you reward big jumps, you should reward them consistently., especially that Rinka is also a beautiful skater, and Alysa, with all her undeniable charm, is not really such a PCS queen as judges make her to be, and yesterday it was not her best skate.
Hence the online rage.
Low placement of Kim is another point of dissent, as she is consistently loved by crowds but, alas, not by the judges.

 

[Mathman]

Hence the online rage.

It's the rage part. This is truly the Internet at work. Rage.

 

[sworddance21]

i"m catching up. I just watched Jason's free with trepidation as I've seen posts on social media declaring him as no longer the favorite for the 2nd Oly spot and discussing how horrible a skate it was. I was also reading about how terrible folks think this program is. I must have watched something completely different. WOW, that program is powerful. It is imminently more complicated in choreography than anything anyone else is doing on the Men's side and it is going to take a minute for him to be able to consistently skate it clean. But IMHO, holy cow, when he does. That is a powerhouse of a program. He obviously feels incredibly connected to it as I think it is going to serve him well as a companion to Riverdance in Milano Cortina. Does he need to clean up the jumps - of course. Do I think he will? Yep. I do.

 

[Arigato]

Womens short- what is with all those comments under the youtube video? Bizarre.

Uncivilized animals. That's the comment section of YouTube on a regular basis.

 

[Mathman]

Chock and Bates got a dog food commercial! They just played it on the NBC coverage.

 

[Jeanie19]

The mens free scores were low. But the problem with the computers that left a 17 minute gap, affected the first group unfairly. Poor Dai was on the ice for like 25 minutes. The last 4 did not get a new warm up and skated cold. The last 6 had more time to worry about their performances. A little kindness should be given to all the skaters.

 

[elbkup]

Chock and Bates got a dog food commercial! They just played it on the NBC coverage.

They did one for the Farmers Dog a few years ago too… they really love those two mutts who have been around a while..

 

[TallyT]

The mens free scores were low. But the problem with the computers that left a 17 minute gap, affected the first group unfairly. Poor Dai was on the ice for like 25 minutes. The last 4 did not get a new warm up and skated cold. The last 6 had more time to worry about their performances. A little kindness should be given to all the skaters.

It was a pigs' breakfast.

 

[ladyjane]

Well, having just watched the Free Dance (and having watched the Rythm Dance too yesterday), I'll give my comments.

Celina and Jean-Hans were kind of a taster to what would come later. Nice Dance, not yet intricate enough. With Alicia and Paul I had a feeling that competing at back-to-back GP's is getting to them. Not that they had a bad Dance, not at all, but I could see they were doing less well than last week. Maybe a bit tired. Still lovely. Phebe and James are getting better and better. I liked them before, even more now. They had a nice RD too. Oona and Gage were perfect. Of course not perfect in the details, but very enjoyable to watch. Just some time ago I was complaining about missing Philippe Candaloro's Godfather, but they certainly skated a great replacement. I feel for Katerina and Daniel. They were doing so well, and then that fall. Was it the skirt? I don't know, it wasn't replayed alas, but I felt an accident with the skirt would be happening sometime. I was happy for Christina and Anthony, even if their score didn't make them rise in the standings. I'm beginning to like that FD. Loicia and Theo always come with something different, and this FD is very powerful. I liked them too. Evgeniia and Geoffrey have a lovely FD this year. Perhaps some more mileage needed? Marjorie and Zachary just have a wonderful FD. Of course, they've skated to White Crow before, but it is so beautiful, so delicate. I liked Madison and Evan more than at Cup of China. The skirt had less of a story to tell, but it made me less stressed that something would happen. I like it that they're both in black now as well. Fitting.

I must admit not liking the Rhythm Dance much this season. 90's music has never been my thing, that doesn't help at all, even if I can appreciate the elements of the RD. Thankfully, there is a FD, but I hope the RD gets better themes the coming years.

 

[Magill]

So if you wanna know why this sport is losing spectators, go watch the end of Skate America Women Free Skate. Like these empty rows and empty sectors were not enough, they made sure you will have more of those.
And if you thought the comments which you saw yesterday on the internet were outrageous, do not go there today. It is going to be much much worse than it was.
And., no, this win does not make Alysa any more popular anywhere outside of US, quite to the contrary.
Like if anyone cared.

 

[lariko]

Yeah. This marks my first international GP where I am skipping men. I tried a bit of short, and no, this is just not it. I watched alternative GP for my men. Pairs were not better than men, but at least there was some SPs that weren't terrible. Women was actually okay, but I started watching in 2018, so two 3A with an attempt of a third losing to someone with no ultra-c when ultra-c are so rare in women now doesn't compute. Dance was actually cool, but alternative GP did better RD for me, because music selections were just as cheesy but more fun. Internationals won the FD.

I was told by the posters on this board for 4 years straight, since 2022, that everything is fine, more skaters are coming from other countries, and it's all nice and great in the figure skating.

But by golly, it's not.

You know what they did in 2022 with the International Space Station? They considered breaking it apart (source: Nova ISS's anniversary show). But they didn't. They cooperate in space because they are professionals. I can only hope that ISU will derive some sort of guidance from the ISS. Obviously, figure skating is not a space station, but figure skating is unable to replace the losses and provide something worth going forward. And to pretend that it is sailing back in time to the happy 1990s, the Era dubbed here on the forum the Era of a Perfect Balance is wrong. 1990s were fiercely competitive. It had a boom of skating, lots of people competing and watching. This is not it. This is a severe lack of youngbloods and fading old guard.

Not to mention, I am exhausted keeping up with two streams of skating. And, like, the alternative one is winning me over more and more.

There, I said it. I am angry, I am frustrated, and I want figure skating to finally move on, even if it can't move forward right away. But at least do something cooperative! Juniors, GP, anything!

 

[GGFan]

(These replay threads have been a great addition).

Watching the women and I'm so happy that Starr had a moment. I can't believe she skated a 7-triple program (the 3Lz and 3F have issues but I don't care). Thrilled for her.

I cannot with the voiceovers in Gubanova's program but good for her. I hope Lara is sticking around for a long time--as she continues to develop her style she could have some amazing future programs. I just think she needs to lean in more to what she's currently doing.

I still think Rinka should stick to one 3A, but kudos to her for keeping it in and going for it.

Not gonna lie: I'm tired of MacArthur Park. I will be very happy to see Alysa's new program. Still, she's a wonderful competitor.

 

[Arigato]

And., no, this win does not make Alysa any more popular anywhere outside of US, quite to the contrary.
Like if anyone cared.

But you sure do.

 

[SmileHappy34]

All I am going to say is what an event. Twist turn, surprise with happy , sad , bewildered endings
All skaters and teams did great.

Stand out performance is with ladies , rinka, Anastasia, Alysa, Starr, Lara . Lea, chaeyeon
Men
Kevin , Mikhail, Jason, tatsuboi

Pairs gorgia team, canadians, Japan

Dance chock bates ,

Cheers to all

Judging strict
Olympic season strategy plays

 

[readernick]

So if you wanna know why this sport is losing spectators, go watch the end of Skate America Women Free Skate. Like these empty rows and empty sectors were not enough, they made sure you will have more of those.
And if you thought the comments which you saw yesterday on the internet were outrageous, do not go there today. It is going to be much much worse than it was.
And., no, this win does not make Alysa any more popular anywhere outside of US, quite to the contrary.
Like if anyone cared.

The comments were outrageous. Some people are very very biased and don't understand how scoring works but that doesn't stop them from expressing their opinion. Online, the most biased/ least educated are the most vocal.

Anyway, the empty stands are because the weather is terrible which makes travel difficult. Lake Placid is very very hard to get to and it's also very expensive. Basically, the USGS should have chosen a better location. Lake Placid in November isn't a good idea.

 

[SmileHappy34]

The one thing the got right in women's is pics. Alysa does deserve more.
Happy proud for starr .
Rinka while great a few mistakes are noticeable I presentation.
She doesn't make u forget the errors but focuses on them.
Alys tends to make u forget tend to enjoy or lost in musicality of alysa skating like starr.
Anastasia works and makes me wonder if she could do more with music.

Chaeyon while good. I dont get or feel lost in her skating to enjoy it. Her musicality seems stiff and unsure

 

[SmileHappy34]

I know musicality isnt part of it. But if I get loss in how a skater skates and connects to music and then me. I overlook or don't make too much of the mistakes. They go mostly noticeable or lower in marking not as harsh.

 

[Magill]

The comments were outrageous. Some people are very very biased and don't understand how scoring works but that doesn't stop them from expressing their opinion. Online, the most biased/ least educated are the most vocal.

Anyway, the empty stands are because the weather is terrible which makes travel difficult. Lake Placid is very very hard to get to and it's also very expensive. Basically, the USGS should have chosen a better location. Lake Placid in November isn't a good idea.

Just like Osaka, Saskattoon, Grenoble.... and Finland does not expect Finland to be much better next weekend. They complained already last year and the year before.... Just like Japanese sponsors and TVs did, for the last 3 years I think. Which we know from official financial reports.
Let's just stop looking for excuses.
As for the comments, I never said they were or were not outrageous I just said, that whatever they were, they are going to be much worse.

 

[4everchan]

Yeah. This marks my first international GP where I am skipping men. I tried a bit of short, and no, this is just not it. I watched alternative GP for my men. Pairs were not better than men, but at least there was some SPs that weren't terrible. Women was actually okay, but I started watching in 2018, so two 3A with an attempt of a third losing to someone with no ultra-c when ultra-c are so rare in women now doesn't compute. Dance was actually cool, but alternative GP did better RD for me, because music selections were just as cheesy but more fun. Internationals won the FD.

I was told by the posters on this board for 4 years straight, since 2022, that everything is fine, more skaters are coming from other countries, and it's all nice and great in the figure skating.

But by golly, it's not.

You know what they did in 2022 with the International Space Station? They considered breaking it apart (source: Nova ISS's anniversary show). But they didn't. They cooperate in space because they are professionals. I can only hope that ISU will derive some sort of guidance from the ISS. Obviously, figure skating is not a space station, but figure skating is unable to replace the losses and provide something worth going forward. And to pretend that it is sailing back in time to the happy 1990s, the Era dubbed here on the forum the Era of a Perfect Balance is wrong. 1990s were fiercely competitive. It had a boom of skating, lots of people competing and watching. This is not it. This is a severe lack of youngbloods and fading old guard.

Not to mention, I am exhausted keeping up with two streams of skating. And, like, the alternative one is winning me over more and more.

There, I said it. I am angry, I am frustrated, and I want figure skating to finally move on, even if it can't move forward right away. But at least do something cooperative! Juniors, GP, anything!

I cannot speak about the alternative GP because I am not watching.

However, I wouldn't make a judgment based on SKAM ... except for dance, it was a pretty low level event. I am not so sure why it happened that way but it's by far the weakest GP stop of the season.