Step Sequence Levels on Kim, Sotnikova & Kostner | Golden Skate

Step Sequence Levels on Kim, Sotnikova & Kostner

usethis2

Medalist
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Before the event began, what interested me most about Yuna's new program "Send in the Clowns" was her revamped step sequence. I heard that she spent much time and energy on improving her steps to receive level 4 while maintaining intricate choreograph of her program. I also thought Carolina would spend much time on step sequence considering her success with Bolero program, so I wouldn't have surprised if she had received level 4 for her steps.

Looking at the protocol, Adelina receive GOE of +1.50, and Carolina received +1.50 as well. Yuna received +1.14.

Then I learned the tech panel called level 4 (3.90) for Adelina, while Yuna and Carolina received level 3 (BV=3.30). Yulia also received level 3.

Here is Yuna's program. Step sequence begins @2:20.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5SDN7NP-Og

Adelina's program. Step sequence begins @2:20 as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IaBFxp84us

Carolina's. @2:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX2e5z8LDRI

I can't find their Olympic performances to link. But assuming they did as well in above clips, do you think the tech panel's calls are justified?

Adelina received 5.40 (3.90 BV + 1.50 GOE), Carolina recived 4.80 for hers (3.30 BV + 1.50 GOE) and Yuna received 4.44 for hers. (3.30 BV + 1.14 GOE) I'd like to hear from experts in the forum.
 

emma

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 28, 2004
Honestly, I think we need to evaluate the step sequences of these olympic short program performances. when those videos are available, I would love to see some analysis of them!
 

pangtongfan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
The technical caller was Russian. Obviously he would have been instructed pre event to give Adelina and Julia all level 4s and all other top skaters mostly level 3s (and if they do anything to legitimately not meet the levels drop them to level 2). Thus he did as he was supposed to do for the one Russian who didnt implode. This is not a competition but a reality show on ice. It is about as real as the Bachelor. Adelina has already been awarded the gold unless she falls atleast 2 times tommorow and Kim or Kostner skates flawlessly. Even then Adelina might be given the gold which Mother Russia has payed so much for. :laugh:
 

usethis2

Medalist
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
I've watched the SP performance twice now and I am convinced that she nailed the step sequence better than how she did in her national competition. I don't know how she could have not received level 4 for that step sequence.
 

Layfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
I find this thread topic so interesting and I hope that someone who knows about the subject want to weigh in.

Usually it seems to me that with COP, the skaters get to the end of their program and let loose with some frenetic step sequence, sometimes wonderful but often times labored and lots of arm flailing. But Yuna and Caro chose to stick with the softness of their music choices. I prefer their step sequences to Adelina's, to be frank, at least in the above videos. I like Adelina's okay but it just seems a bit labored, like she's heaving through it at times.
But also, to my inexpert eyes, it does seem like Caro's and Yuna's are easier, with fewer changes of directions and more in-between moves, like short spirals and glides. Is that correct? Or does theirs just look easier because it's slower and because if flows more?
 

rain

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
I don't know enough about the changes of direction/edge etc. in the footwork sequences to say whether these should be level 3 or 4. I thought all looked intricate. Where I really noticed the difference was in the grade of execution. I loved Sotnikova's performance and I'm thrilled she's in the top three, but I thought her footwork was noticeably much weaker than the other two. Maybe it was hard, but she made it look hard, too, and that's never a good thing. It was laboured and, I thought, a bit slow. The other two ladies looked effortless, with great flow and speed. I thought this was one key area where Sotnikova was overmarked. Her spins, on the other hand...fabulous. The sideways camel where she lifts her leg straight up — one of my favourites ever.
 

bekalc

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Kostner got all Plus 3's from the judges on her footwork. However because her footwork was level 3 not level four she ended up with less GOE on it. Kim and Adelina's scores from the judges were around the same it seemed. Kim herself admitted in an interview she made a mistake on the footwork that costs her a level and in a spin too.As for the technical committee. Only one official on that committee is from Russia. The other is from Finland and the caller is from France. So guess what those two can certainly overrule the one Russian.

Given that Kim herself in a freaking interview, admitted that the caller was right. It amazes met hat Kim's fans are somehow disagreeing with Yu-na on this. Its very possible that Kostner too did something that cost her a level too. It happens.

Once again the judges completely agreed that Kostner's footwork had the best quality. But the way GOE is factored based on difficulty, she ended up with less GOE because she didn't get level four footwork.
 

tempus

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 19, 2014
Sotnikova's step sequence is much easier than Kostner's or Kim', and she makes it look infinitely harder. (nota bene:This is not a virtue in dancing or skating.) She also has extremely poor posture/epaulement for anyone purporting to be a top skater. Her shoulders and back are slightly slumped/rounded (especially during anything she finds difficult, like the step sequence, lol), her foot positions often clumsy, and her solution to these basic problems appears to be flailing her arms even more than she normally does. The fact that Sotnikova's coach may somehow have managed to work the code in order for her to get level 4 for a rudimentary and junior-level footwork sequence does not mean this is correct or conscionable. In addition, Sotnikova clearly received several gifts from the judges...
 

FlattFan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jan 4, 2010
People have said that Kostner's steps might look simple but it's impossible for any other girls to replicate it with that kind of speed and ease.
Adelina's 3F GOE is insane. You can see her flip flopping on her flip entrance. What the hell is that. She has a habit of doing it. No way should it have higher GOE than Kim, even if Kim had a break before her 3F. Kim's 3F is on correct edge, thanks goodness.

I would give

Kostner 75 (37, 38) (Crazy that her SS is lower than Kim's. And only .16 higher than Adelina's, what the ****!!!!!!)
Kim 74.5 (38, 36.5) (Major respect for Kim. She looked nervous, and she just pulled it together. One of the best skaters of all time. The best SP skater of all time for me. I can't believe they give her this horrible SP for her farewell season. I would gag if she did Ashley Wagner's SP. That is the kind of program that showcases her strength.
Adelina 69 (36.5, 32.5) Ridiculous score on that Step sequence and the GOE, ridiculous GOE on that 3F. The rest are ok. So she would lost about 3 points in TES, and her PCS should be 4 points back!!!

I yelped when Carolina did the 3 turn into her combo. Didn't see that one coming at all. This is the shocking Olympics moment for me. Yaaaassssss!
 

JYSkate

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 13, 2014

Thanks for the link, that's really interesting. I rewatched the ladies short program again and while I don't think anymore that Yuna's score is necessarily deflated, I still think Adelina's score is inflated (obviously). A part of me also is thinking that the judges want to put more pressure on Yuna to see if she rightfully deserves a back to back gold medal... idk. For me, Carolina had the most exquisite performance of the night and rightfully deserved her 74 mark. Adelina, imho, does not have the fluidity and smoothness as Yuna or Carolina. Her jumps were great, but her landings weren't very smooth (ex. her triple flip landed with a halt, not much of a flowing edge out of it). Nevertheless, great height on her jumps and her spins were really unique! I look forward to their free skate.

and my heart broke for Mao :cry: really really saddening for her last performances. :no: I wish her well on her free skate tomorrow.
 

ILoveFigures

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 3, 2011
The technical caller was Russian. Obviously he would have been instructed pre event to give Adelina and Julia all level 4s and all other top skaters mostly level 3s (and if they do anything to legitimately not meet the levels drop them to level 2). Thus he did as he was supposed to do for the one Russian who didnt implode. This is not a competition but a reality show on ice. It is about as real as the Bachelor. Adelina has already been awarded the gold unless she falls atleast 2 times tommorow and Kim or Kostner skates flawlessly. Even then Adelina might be given the gold which Mother Russia has payed so much for. :laugh:

The technical caller is not Russian, because it's the technical specialist making the calls, and once the skater finishes his/her performance the panel together can review certain elements if there was doubt. The specialist is Vanessa Gusmeroli of FRANCE, the assistant technical specialist is Olga Baranova of Finland and the technical controller is Alexander Lakernik. Yes, he is Russian, but he is also the leader of the technical commitee.
 

bsfan

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 10, 2011
I will trust the judges' and specialists' professional judgements instead of forumers and stay at home viewers. Plus they are no less decent than anybody else.
 

sky_fly20

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
maybe work more on steps seq then ?
but then this Cop is to blame putting too many minutes on footwork and step seq
 

usethis2

Medalist
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
In LP, everyone in top 4 except Yuna (Adelina, Mao, Carolina) received level 4 in step sequence. This is unreal. So,

Adelina: Level 4 in both SP and LP
Mao and Carolina: Level 3 in SP, Level 4 in LP
Yuna: Level 3 in both SP and LP
 

sky_fly20

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
In LP, everyone in top 4 except Yuna (Adelina, Mao, Carolina) received level 4 in step sequence. This is unreal. So,

Adelina: Level 4 in both SP and LP
Mao and Carolina: Level 3 in SP, Level 4 in LP
Yuna: Level 3 in both SP and LP

Yuna was never good in step seq and footworks
even Mao drastically improved, when her jumps were MIA she used her step seq to get good levels
it was evident since 2011
 
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