Ok, let's see if this works now... Finally posting my impressions of the FS!
1) I was feeling seriously ill (so nervous!) when the final group took the ice. And then it was so hard to tell who was who during the warmup, but then at the very end we saw Aliona do a perfect 3A+2T combo and I was somewhat relieved.
2) When Aliona took the ice she looked confident, not nervous at all, so I had a feeling she would land both those triple axels. The combo was so beautiful, so I was prepared to see her fall on the 2nd one, but she didn't! She hung onto the landing! Amazing! :yes2: It did look tight on the landing, though, so I'm not surprised it got called UR. I held my breath when she got to that final 3Lz, but then she did it, a clean program! WHAT A STAR!!
3) I loved the dress, and I actually really like the blood drops. :luv17: As others have said, I was fond of the choreo to the "Meadow" music that has been mostly been eliminated; I hope they can add some of that back. I really liked the "running steps" to the beat that she used to have. It also is a little bit weird to me that her first three jumps are axel jumps. I think it might be better to switch the 3Lo and the 2A, unless the plan is to give Aliona another chance to do a 3A if she pops one. I still wish that there was more lively, interesting choreo to go to the end part of "Supermassive black hole," because the spirals in the choreo sequence are kind of a letdown, but overall, wow, it is so much fun to see Aliona having so much fun!
4) I really had no idea what to expect with the score. Again, I was kind of worried by the long delay before they announced the scores, but I guess the judges had to make sure they gave her all the points they could? Or maybe they got so caught up in Aliona's performance that they forgot they had to give her scores?
What an amazing feat to beat her previous personal best by about 17 points! It always makes me happy when Aliona is surprised by her scores. :luv17:
5) I'm actually glad that the solo 3A was called UR--that gives her something to improve upon. :yes: If she was completely perfect here, it would have been amazing, but it would have put enormous pressure on her to be perfect for the rest of the season, and it's clear that she's still stabilizing the 3A.
6) I know she was talking about the 4S, but I think stabilizing her existing content (and possibly adding the 3A in the SP) is what she should focus on. Did you see all the tape she had on her hip?
I suspect that is covering up a nasty bruise (from one of her falls on a 3A), and it reminded me that there is a cost to training these new elements.
Staying healthy and injury free should be Aliona's #1 priority! :yes:
7) Wow, how quickly things can change in a week. Last week a lot of people had written off Aliona for the season, and even I thought it would be very difficult for her to beat Liza, let alone make the Worlds team. And now I firmly believe that if she gets that 3A stable and adds it in the SP, she will be in the running for World gold!
1) I was feeling seriously ill (so nervous!) when the final group took the ice. And then it was so hard to tell who was who during the warmup, but then at the very end we saw Aliona do a perfect 3A+2T combo and I was somewhat relieved.
2) When Aliona took the ice she looked confident, not nervous at all, so I had a feeling she would land both those triple axels. The combo was so beautiful, so I was prepared to see her fall on the 2nd one, but she didn't! She hung onto the landing! Amazing! :yes2: It did look tight on the landing, though, so I'm not surprised it got called UR. I held my breath when she got to that final 3Lz, but then she did it, a clean program! WHAT A STAR!!
3) I loved the dress, and I actually really like the blood drops. :luv17: As others have said, I was fond of the choreo to the "Meadow" music that has been mostly been eliminated; I hope they can add some of that back. I really liked the "running steps" to the beat that she used to have. It also is a little bit weird to me that her first three jumps are axel jumps. I think it might be better to switch the 3Lo and the 2A, unless the plan is to give Aliona another chance to do a 3A if she pops one. I still wish that there was more lively, interesting choreo to go to the end part of "Supermassive black hole," because the spirals in the choreo sequence are kind of a letdown, but overall, wow, it is so much fun to see Aliona having so much fun!
4) I really had no idea what to expect with the score. Again, I was kind of worried by the long delay before they announced the scores, but I guess the judges had to make sure they gave her all the points they could? Or maybe they got so caught up in Aliona's performance that they forgot they had to give her scores?
What an amazing feat to beat her previous personal best by about 17 points! It always makes me happy when Aliona is surprised by her scores. :luv17:
5) I'm actually glad that the solo 3A was called UR--that gives her something to improve upon. :yes: If she was completely perfect here, it would have been amazing, but it would have put enormous pressure on her to be perfect for the rest of the season, and it's clear that she's still stabilizing the 3A.
6) I know she was talking about the 4S, but I think stabilizing her existing content (and possibly adding the 3A in the SP) is what she should focus on. Did you see all the tape she had on her hip?
I suspect that is covering up a nasty bruise (from one of her falls on a 3A), and it reminded me that there is a cost to training these new elements.
Staying healthy and injury free should be Aliona's #1 priority! :yes:
7) Wow, how quickly things can change in a week. Last week a lot of people had written off Aliona for the season, and even I thought it would be very difficult for her to beat Liza, let alone make the Worlds team. And now I firmly believe that if she gets that 3A stable and adds it in the SP, she will be in the running for World gold!
Alina would be happy for Aliona is she wins, that's for sure 
Girls support each other and no matter the result, I'll be more than proud for both, which I think applies to majority. There will always be one odd person looking for conspiracies and creating negativity. And whoever decides to start a stink - well, the best option is to ignore it at all costs, don't feed the trolls 
And when that day arrives, as it inevitably will, no one has to participate in it! :cool14:
