Ladies LP

[Buttercup]

Many congrats to the medalists and I'm glad the result did not have major controversies! It seemed the biggest challenge was to survive this GPF . . . so many of the skaters seemed physically, mentally, and emotionally drained whether due to illness, injury, or lack of training time due to very busy schedules. I hope they all get rested, trained, and healthy for the remainder of the season in order to skate their very bests!

Amen to that! I'm sure regardless of who our favorites are, none of us want to see splatfests and endless WDs.

Here's Carolina's hot mess of a LP. For the life of me, I don't see what the judges see in her. She skates the same way as when I first saw her. No improvement whatsoever. Here she struggled on almost every jump. I hope she didn't get positive GOE's for any of her jumps

Did we watch the same program? I saw it on Eurosport, not Youtube, and while it was far from perfect, it was not "a hot mess", nor were almost all her jumps iffy. I don't expect everyone to like Kostner's skating, but the level of negativity she attracts here baffles me.

 

[wonderlen3000]

[

Same here. Despite being disappointed by the turn of events, I found that happy place in my heart again when I saw these pictures.
http://i37.tinypic.com/zwku3p.jpg
http://i34.tinypic.com/nleeq1.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/28a0iu.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/2ailnhs.jpg

Thanks for the pictures. Figure skating really need these two ladies to make it interesting and take it to the whole new level. And to all Mao and Yuna bots (fans), take a look at the pictures carefully and absorb the sportmanship these two ladies show, into your head and heart.

 

[McWicked]

[

Same here. Despite being disappointed by the turn of events, I found that happy place in my heart again when I saw these pictures.
http://i37.tinypic.com/zwku3p.jpg
http://i34.tinypic.com/nleeq1.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/28a0iu.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/2ailnhs.jpg

Thanks for the pictures. Figure skating really need these two ladies to make it interesting and take it to the whole new level. And to all Mao and Yuna bots (fans), take a look at the pictures carefully and absorb the sportmanship these two ladies show, into your head and heart.

How do they speak to each other??? Their english isnt that fluent and Korean and Japanesse, if im not mistaken are not at all alike.

 

[McWicked]

SBS Journalist : “You made some more mistakes on FS performance today? What do you think about that?”

Yu-Na : “Today my cold has got a little worse, I haven’t sustained my stamina good enough. So I made some mistakes, of course, it’s a pity, but anyone can make mistakes and there will be soon further competitions, for which I should prepare myself better and in which I want to show some really better performance to you.”

Poor Stella, I wouldnt mind keepin her warm so she can avoid those colds. :agree:

 

[samba]

I think Asada deserves to win this time:agree:. However, IMO,Kim has better technical and PCS; gorgeous jumps ( with the height and across the ice), her artistry, her movement on ice, very exceptional skater. She will be the one to beat at Vancouver 2010. If she skates perfect program, even without triple axels, it's hard to beat her. I love Asada (her skating and personality) but Kim has the whole package that can't be denied. Congrats to both of them

 

[bethissoawesome]

/sigh. Okay, I concede. I absolutely love Yu-Na's skating, especially her artistry (although I would LOVE to see her start doing LP's without three 2A's). And yes, actions speak louder than words, and it is clear that Yu-Na (and Mao as well) respsect each other and are friends, even despite the language barrier. After all, they have been together on the same circuits for so long, that they are probably thinking about the other one more than anyone else!

My problem is more "Team Yu-Na" and "Team Mao"... if you get what I mean by that. I feel like the people behind them, as well as reporters and fans, expect and almost to a point demand that they be the best in the world. But ice is slippery and they are both fierce competition for one another, if there was a Yu-Na and no Mao or vice-versa, the debate of who is "best" probably wouldn't be much of a debate. Anyway... getting back to the whole "Team" issue. I feel like both Mao and Yu-Na are pushed more than any other skaters in any division to have to explain each mistake, why they weren't the best... because in the minds of the reporters (especially the ones from their own countries) and fans... they should be... they definitely shouldn't be losing. So, yes, I do feel like a lot of reasons and excuses are given, because the team behind them NEEDS them to have a reason why they weren't the best, because they are still instilling it into everyone's minds, "Mao/Yu-Na would have been/shouldhave been the best if not for... fill in the blank." I think this goes especially for Yu-Na, because unlike Mao skating for Japan, she is Korea's only hope. In one interview, before her first go at the Senior circuit, Yu-Na expressed the desire to quit skating because it was so hard on her body, but was (in the exact words of the interview) "persuaded" by the Korean skating federation to keep going. I can't imagine the pressure that is on her... she can't even rest if she wants to. But I also see that behind the words that are probably given to them, the girls really do desire to do better to please their fans and themselves.

Sometimes I wonder how they will fair as adults, because they have been under the media's microscope for so long now that they have grown up in the spotlight... almost like Britney Spears, but at an even younger age. The Japanese media is relentless. If, say, it was found out that Mao went out underage drinking (this is just an example!), she would probably be so destroyed by the Japanese media that she would lose all of her endorsements and be sidelined from skating. That's a lot of pressure.

---

Anyway, another completely random thing. This was posted awhile ago under "the potential best programs for ladies at the GPF" or something of that sort. It combined all the best TES scores they have received for the elements executed added to their best PCS components achieved this season.

Total combined scores (best PCS and TES achieved by each skater this season)...

1. Mao ASADA - 214.06
2. Yu-Na KIM - 213.77
3. Joannie ROCHETTE - 199.51
4. Carolina KOSTNER - 199.09
5. Miki ANDO - 191.09
6. Yukari NAKANO - 190.85

Obviously, the points are much higher because that would have been their best potential totals, but notice how close Yu-Na and Mao are, then a big gap down to Carolina and Joannie, then another gap down to Miki and Yukari.

Then the final results of the GPF:
1 Mao ASADA -188.55
2 Yu-Na KIM -186.35
3 Carolina KOSTNER -168.01
4 Joannie ROCHETTE -166.36
5 Yukari NAKANO -161.93
6 Miki ANDO -158.25

Although Carolina/Joannie and Yukari/Miki are switched... it's funny to see how they stayed in the same brackets, Mao and Yu-Na in close competition with one another (same as Carolina/Joannie and Yukari/Nakano) and the sizable gaps separating the three brackets.

It really did wind up like each skater had a rival right there to match them.

 

[bekalc]

I'm not understanding why people are screaming about Kostner's scores.. Kostner wasn't perfect but neither was Joannie who's first lutz got a lot of points deducted, and who doubled a jump and only did 2 combos...Rochette won the free skate, Kostner took the medal due to the fact that she had a 5 point lead after the short. A 5 point lead that was quite fair when you take into account how BAD Rochette's short program really was.

 

[Mathman]

How do they speak to each other??? Their english isnt that fluent and Korean and Japanesse, if im not mistaken are not at all alike.

They have said in interviews that they mostly talk to each other in English as best they can.

When I see pictures of top athletes congratualting each other on the podium I always imagine that they are saying, with a wink: "Look at all those thousands of cheering people out there, with a million more watching on TV and on the Internet, making us celebrities, superstars and millionaires! We gave 'em their moneys' worth today! :chorus: :chorus: :chorus: "

 

[Fsqueen]

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081213&content_id=57563&vkey=ice_news

lol @ the picture. Was it really necessary to have one so unattractive?

I know. I always notice that too. IN always post the ugly pictures of the skaters that are non-US. That's is not nice hehe.

 

[ks777]

I love Miki new program and dress, too.
The best dress I have seen from her.

Me too!! Her postures gotten better too.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Total combined scores (best PCS and TES achieved by each skater this season)...

1. Mao ASADA - 214.06
2. Yu-Na KIM - 213.77
3. Joannie ROCHETTE - 199.51
4. Carolina KOSTNER - 199.09
5. Miki ANDO - 191.09
6. Yukari NAKANO - 190.85

Thank you so much, Beth. I hope you continue adding on 'bests' throughout the season because that is how well the skater has done during that season. One could even divide by the number of entries to get what the skater averaged.

Personal Bests belong to the judges. They are meaningless when so many different contests take place.

 

[immoiTW]

Me too!! Her postures gotten better too.

I love Miki's new dress, too!
And the music really suit her IMHO.

Too bad for all the URs (four ?)
But still, that QUAD is amazing!
I really screamed out when I saw that,
and the speed coming out of the quad is amazing.
All she has to do is to rotate somewhat 15 degree more to get it ratified.

And I just realize what a technically superb ladies field we have now
Mao did 2 axels and Miki a quad...plus the quality of kim's 3-3
Much more exciting than men's even

 

[Bennett]

I finally saw it, and I'm afraid I have to disagree. There were stretches with very little beyond stroking, and she had some loooong setups on a few jumps. Don't get me wrong - she deserved to win - but I see no problem with a lower transitions score for Ms. Asada.

Sorry, I do not seem to see which ones had particularly long setups. Are you talking about the crossovers going into the jumps or the waiting time to get the right timing after the mohork or the three turn?

Regarding crossovers, I don't think that this program had long preparations for jumps:

• For the first 3A, it was a circle using somewhat more than a half of the rink, after doing small choreographic footsteps to set the tone of the music.

• The second 3A was preceeded by a spread eagle sequence, which is moves in the field that are considered transitions, but not the preparation for the jump. Then the length of crossovers for the jump per se was the same for the first 3A.

• Before the next flip three jump combo, she had footsteps to change the direction of the circle (and perhaps also for the choreographical purpose). The crossovers for preparing for the jump per se were a quarter or a little less than a half of the rink. Then the mohork was preceeded by footsteps.

• The crossovers for the second flip were a little less than a half of the rink.

• The rest of the jumps (3S, 3T, 2A) were either out of (spiral or foot) steps (3S, 3T) or right after another jump (2A).

Although we may be referring to different things by "jump setup", the waiting time to get the right timing after a three turn or a mohork did not seem to me particularly long, either. Esp. little tentativeness going into 3As.

 

[wonderlen3000]

Sorry, I do not seem to see which ones had particularly long setups. Are you talking about the crossovers going into the jumps or the waiting time to get the right timing after the mohork or the three turn?

Regarding crossovers, I don't think that this program had long preparations for jumps:

• For the first 3A, it was a circle using somewhat more than a half of the rink, after doing small choreographic footsteps to set the tone of the music.

• The second 3A was preceeded by a spread eagle sequence, which is moves in the field that are considered transitions, but not the preparation for the jump. Then the length of crossovers for the jump per se was the same for the first 3A.

• Before the next flip three jump combo, she had footsteps to change the direction of the circle (and perhaps also for the choreographical purpose). The crossovers for preparing for the jump per se were a quarter or a little less than a half of the rink. Then the mohork was preceeded by footsteps.

• The crossovers for the second flip were a little less than a half of the rink.

• The rest of the jumps (3S, 3T, 2A) were either out of (spiral or foot) steps (3S, 3T) or right after another jump (2A).

Although we may be referring to different things by "jump setup", the waiting time to get the right timing after a three turn or a mohork did not seem to me particularly long, either. Esp. little tentativeness going into 3As.

For those peoples keep saying Mao doesn't have transition, they should really look at the meaning of the word carefully before start ditching. She has plenty of those. If i want to point out skater with least transition, look at how Carolina glide before she did her flip and lutz (don't get me start on the lutz as she take the most time to prepare for the jump, and what's with the right hand stroking over the head?)

 

[bekalc]

Sometimes I wonder how they will fair as adults, because they have been under the media's microscope for so long now that they have grown up in the spotlight... almost like Britney Spears, but at an even younger age. The Japanese media is relentless. If, say, it was found out that Mao went out underage drinking (this is just an example!), she would probably be so destroyed by the Japanese media that she would lose all of her endorsements and be sidelined from skating. That's a lot of pressure.

I think Mao and Yu-na's situation is different from Britney's. First of all Britney was hanging around Hollywood/music scene where drugs, parties and things like that are everywhere.

Mao and Yu-na in contrast are athletes, and athletes have to live a much more disciplined and regimented life....I mean most of the child figure skating stars like Kwan turned out just fine.

In Yu-na's case especially I'm sure that training in Canada helps keep her in perspective and takes the pressure off of her.

 

[wonderlen3000]

I think this competition is a really close call. If you really look at both of them, both have a fall each and a popped jump/ or missed jump, Kim on her lutz and Asada on 3Lo which was supposed to be the back end of 3F+3Lo combination. And both finished with in very close points. Thanks god the world and olympics is in LA and Vancouver. Imagine the insanity of the Mao and Yuna bots if the events is in either country. Anyway, GP is over and can't wait for the world.
4CC will be interesting is both Mao and Yuna is listed as participant, but nothing will be confirm until end of January.

 

[Wrlmy]

^ Was there any insanity at this event?

 

[DragonPhoenix]

I love Miki's new dress, too!
And the music really suit her IMHO.

Too bad for all the URs

But still, that QUAD is amazing!

I really screamed out when I saw that,
and the speed coming out of the quad is amazing.
All she has to do is to rotate somewhat 15 degree more to get it ratified.

:agree:


Miki

 

[frozenhell]

Yay, my prediction came true. This was the first time I predicted anything on this board and I was right about Mao winning. Didn't see any of their skates yet. If Yu-na wants to beat Mao she can't leave anything to chance. She's gonna have to get in shape AND master her 3L OR maybe get to work on 3A. (Quote)

I don't think so. Unless Mao figure out a way to put 5 triples in her LP, Yu Na won't feel urgency to add loop in her program. Mao would have gotten around only 130 even if she didn't fall in her 3F. Yu Na can easily score 130 with 6 triples and she will have big advantage after sp if she skates clean. I won't be surprised if yu na decides to ditch her loop completely because right now nobdy including Mao gave reason for her to believe she really needs loop to win,

 

[bekalc]

Yay, my prediction came true. This was the first time I predicted anything on this board and I was right about Mao winning. Didn't see any of their skates yet. If Yu-na wants to beat Mao she can't leave anything to chance. She's gonna have to get in shape AND master her 3L OR maybe get to work on 3A.

I think Yu-na not being in as great of a shape right now is part of Orser's plan. If I recall correctly they decided to have Yu-na build her training time so she could be healthy for worlds instead of peaking mid season. I have no issues with this. If Yu-na had skated her long programs the way she skated them at Skate America AND Cup of China, Yu-na would have won. And/or if Yu-na had gone clean in the short.

Mao can plan all kinds of ambitious things all she wants. If she can put them on the ice it's another matter. Mao's three axels do look amazing right now. But other than that, let's point out that Mao has yet to land a ratified 3/3 this season. That's a big problem for Mao...Of course though If I'm team Yu-na I don't think it's a wise idea to count on Mao never getting her 3/3s together

I won't be surprised if yu na decides to ditch her loop completely because right now nobdy including Mao gave reason for her to believe she really needs loop to win,

As for ditching the 3 loop, I don't think that's a great idea, she needs to have that in her arsenal... IF a 3axel is feasible working on that would be a good thing to.. However at this point Asada does have her own issues to work out.

....