Ladies LP - actual competition

[Medusa]

ha ha - that's funny - you really think they aren't looking or do they just not want to see

Since I have never judged a program of 12 elements in the matter of a few minutes + the general performance level - I prefer to think that there are honest mistakes. The pattern of these mistakes doesn't seem deliberate to me, either.

 

[screech]

PJ Kwong was commenting on the ice size - which is odd, since it should be Olympic size... that could have had an affect.

 

[gourry]

Anyone know who South Korea is sending to Worlds with Yu-Na? I'm guessing it's Na-Young Kim, but I would soooo rather see Lil'/Mini/Tiny Kim go.

I know!!!!! Isn't she adorable?? I'm not sure if I can say this to 16 year old girl but she is cute as a button. And her performance was quite enjoyable.
However, I heard it is Na-Young Kim going to the worlds. I wish Na-Young Kim can show her full potential there.

 

[R.D.]

Since Alissa is guaranteed her spot to go for being the National champion, I think the only way Caroline could go to Worlds is if Alissa or Rachael decide for themselves to drop out. And we need Reliable Rachael there so... that leaves Alissa...

I know...I mean, I'm happy she won and all, but...oh well, we'll see. But nothing is guaranteed. Caroline had about as good a comp as she could have. Would she be able to repeat that in LA if given the chance? Alyssa was able to put up a decent score even with her mistakes. But she still has to elevate her game even more to place the same or higher at Worlds.

Let's see. My hopes aren't high, but it's not impossible.

 

[R.D.]

PJ Kwong was commenting on the ice size - which is odd, since it should be Olympic size... that could have had an affect.

The US Nats ice rink was also NHL-size.

But this is the Olympic arena, isn't it? so I'd assume it would have been OLYMPIC size, eh? :scratch:

 

[Particle Man]

Your list doesn't include everyone though... what about people like Cynthia with her 169.41 from tonight?

Cynthia's 169.41 in Canada. I would objectively say that Canadians seem to "benefit" the most from home turf these days - whether you think it is justified or unjustified, fair or crooked, it happens nonetheless. Worlds won't be in Canada. Actually it's in the US, I didn't even factor in the home-turf thing working in our favor.

Long story short, I'm not losing sleep over Cynthia Phaneuf. She's just another wild card, about the same threat as Laura Lepisto. Probably less, since Laura won Europeans.

 

[shallwedansu]

that is ridiculous - Canada loves their figure skating and when an event comes to town - they cater to it!!- if some one is using that as an excuse they should be ashamed -

It's not that ridiculous. The condition of the ice has been known to be a problem in previous competitions. I remember one Cup of China where the ice looked like it was literally melting on screen. There was another time not too long ago when they covered spots on the ice with paint!

I asked this before, but I wondered if the size of the rink might have affected some of the skaters, like Mao. It may have been the Olympic arena, but it wasn't an Olympic sized rink. The ice, the size of the rink, and other details like this can all factor in how a skater performs.

I know!!!!! Isn't she adorable?? I'm not sure if I can say this to 16 year old girl but she is cute as a button. And her performance was quite enjoyable.
However, I heard it is Na-Young Kim going to the worlds. I wish Na-Young Kim can show her full potential there.

I've noticed Mini Kim and Male Kim are both really cute. Male Kim is like anime cute!

I figured Na-Young Kim was going, but again, I would so rather see Hyeon-Jung Kim, especially her LP. And Mini Kim actually beat Na-Young Kim tonight.

 

[Medusa]

The US Nats ice rink was also NHL-size.

But this is the Olympic arena, isn't it? so I'd assume it would have been OLYMPIC size, eh? :scratch:

I think I read somewhere that it isn't olympic size - yet. That they will enlarge it later.

 

[ehdtkqorl123]

I am not making an excuse about a specific skater. The quality of ice was really bad. Even I could see some ice particles when skaters jumped, and also saw a lot of water melt on the surface. Also, what you said about Canada loving their figure skating, that is not always true. Even they decided to have Ice hockey as the last game of the olympics. I can't believe what you said after I saw how poor the ice was

 

[Tonichelle]

Yeah, it'll be no skin off your back, but dozens of young ladies will be working their butts off to be placed on the Olympic team, and the more spots available, the better their chances will be.

then they'll just have to work hard to hit those top two spots... that's what sport is all about.

there are a lot of countries that only get to send one, and others who have to do extra qualifiers just to send that one... wow, our US ladies have it rough.

 

[krenseby]

I know...I mean, I'm happy she won and all, but...oh well, we'll see. But nothing is guaranteed. Caroline had about as good a comp as she could have. Would she be able to repeat that in LA if given the chance? Alyssa was able to put up a decent score even with her mistakes. But she still has to elevate her game even more to place the same or higher at Worlds.

Let's see. My hopes aren't high, but it's not impossible.

Red Dog, let me ask you this. Do you think part of Alissa's problem might be is that she is focused on the jumps that it makes her artistry and performance suffer?

I think she could do better PCS wise. She's got all the elements in place, but she needs more energy and drive.

 

[Kimmie Fan]

Virtual World preview

This is the combined result of 4CC and Euro Championship

1. 189.07 Yuna Kim
2. 183.91 Joannie Rochette
3. 176.52 Mao Asada
(171.22 Caroline Zhang)
4. 169.41 Cynthia Phaneuf
5. 167.74 Fumie Sugari
6. 167.32 Laura Lepisto
7. 165.42 Carolina Kostner
8. 162.83 Rachael Flatt
(160.36 Akiko Suzuki)
9. 159.81 Alissa Czisny
10. 156.31 Susanna Poykio

*Caroline and Akiko are not on the respective world team
**Miki will be at the worlds
***Sarah Meiers' status is unknown for the worlds

For US fans, magic number is 13

 

[Luciana]

But Am I the only one who think USA Judges dislike Zhang?
Zhang always recieves higher score than National.

 

[Particle Man]

there are a lot of countries that only get to send one, and others who have to do extra qualifiers just to send that one... wow, our US ladies have it rough.

How many of those countries have the huge depth of field our ladies skaters do. Let's be serious here...

(We have no phenom, but we have depth coming out our ears...)

 

[2-skaters]

Since I have never judged a program of 12 elements in the matter of a few minutes + the general performance level - I prefer to think that there are honest mistakes. The pattern of these mistakes doesn't seem deliberate to me.

we should pay the judges then so that they are accountable in the end -

yes- the freeskate- was fast - but I think 3.5 to 4 minutes is adequate and if you know your stuff -heck the technical specialist - tells you what they did - you should not fall asleeep while they skate - if you do - they weren't worth it - is what you can write down - but please give them 4 minutes of your time and decide if they are worthy - they must have done something worthwhile - almost every lady tonight did at least one triple(tried) - you can write that down - every lady trains relentlessly - write that down too - give them something - I watched most ladies and there was something about each and every one of them that I thought was good - from their dress to their hair - you are not judging on that - but in the end - something was worthwhile

 

[krenseby]

But Am I the only one who think USA Judges dislike Zhang?
Zhang always recieves higher score than National.

I think you are right. Zhang had a lot of troubles with underrotation and other issues that kept her scores low when she first entered the senior circuit. I think the US judges looked at that and sort of gave up on her. As did many people on the Internet boards, might I add. I think the US judges view her as a second-rate skater.

 

[Tonichelle]

(We have no phenom, but we have depth coming out our ears...)

yes such a depth that we sit and bemoan that we can't even make two spots for the Olympics much less three.

big shocker here - the world of figure skating (or in general) does not revolve around US ladies figure skating.

we should pay the judges then so that they are accountable in the end

Judges are paid. And I'm not just talking the bribes under the table.

 

[gourry]

Not only Kim and Rochette. How about Zhang?
She is slow but Asada is not so fast.
How terrible.

I know!! I knew her 3-3 would get downgraded but for a moment, I thought she was gonna beat Mao and got bronze. *sigh*

 

[krenseby]

I know!! I knew her 3-3 would get downgraded but for a moment, I thought she was gonna beat Mao and got bronze. *sigh*

That would have made things pretty awkward for the USFSA ;-)

 

[Particle Man]

This is the combined result of 4CC and Euro Championship

1. 189.07 Yuna Kim
2. 183.91 Joannie Rochette
3. 176.52 Mao Asada
(171.22 Caroline Zhang)
4. 169.41 Cynthis Phaneuf
5. 167.74 Fumie Sugari
6. 167.32 Laura Lepisto
7. 165.42 Carolina Kostner
8. 162.83 Rachael Flatt
(160.36 Akiko Suzuki)
9. 159.81 Alissa Czisny
10. 156.31 Susanna Poykio

Interesting but I still think my list is closer to the truth. Laura, Cynthia, and Susanna have never been top contenders internationally, yes they are potentially dangerous but if you take their ISU season average they are significantly lower than in your list.

However, if even one of them passes up both our girls, we have basically no chance at 13.