2017 GP Skate Canada Ladies SP

[demarinis5]

^^LOL Violet Bliss! This is GS where there is lots of arguing.

 

[NoNameFace]

^^LOL Violet Bliss! This is GS where there is lots of arguing.

I cannot help myself, but throw '300' movie moment of 'THIS IS SPARTA!'

 

[yume]

Rooting for Rika Hongo here (and everyone else of course)! I hope she's recovered from her injuries enough to produce a good performance, as her skate at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy was quite good. Love both of her programs (especially the LP ).

I can't help but root for her, it just feels like she's the red-headed step child among the Japanese ladies. I'm sure that skating with the injury last season with the results that she got didn't really boost her self-confidence, and the "love" she got from the judges didn't help either, but I hope that she pulls trough and manages to surprise everyone!

I'm rooting for Rika too. I didn't expected these performances at Ondrej Nepela but she really did well. I hope she's getting back to her 2015-2016 form.

 

[chuckm]

So, what I am seeing in your post is if she is on and healthy as per 2012/2016, she should do okay, but if not, SC will and has judged her accordingly, based not only in 2015 (11 out of 12 placement), but also 2013, 4th after SP, b/f withdrawing due injury. Where was Canadian H'inflation, when we needed it the most? Dang!

As a result, she'll need to earn it like every other previous winner, as there has not been a repeat at SC since the days of Joannie. So much for 'a gimmee', given this 'field of dreams'. And after a perfect SP last year at SC, KO scored 74 and change, or just under 2 points lower than her World SP.

Just who do the SC judges (with their H'inflation), think they are, cough?

Sorry, ...I had a furball.

Fact is, Kaetlyn only really fully 'competed' at SC in 2012 and 2016.

She withdrew in 2013 after the SP because she fell in the SP and injured herself. She had one injury after another that season and withdrew from CoR because of it. She did not compete at all in the 2014-2015 season because of a broken ankle. In the fall of 2015, she returned at SC but she wasn't really competition ready:

SP: 3f+3t, 3z!, ↓fcsp (nc), 2a↓
FS: 3f↓, 2a↓, 3ze↓, 3lo↓, 3f+rep, 3s↓, 1a+2t

It took her a full season to get back into form.

She was fully in form last year at SC, but faced Medvedeva, undefeated since winning Europeans 2016. There is no one quite of that caliber at this year's SC.

 

[ancientpeas]

Can't believe you guys are already on page 6 for a GP SP that's not going to happen for a day and half. Keep on Keeping on.

This is such a stacked field. May the best lady win.

 

[kwanatic]

I do expect to see Kaetlyn on top and not just b/c they're in Canada. She was really strong at the Autumn Classic; if she skates like that here (hopefully minus the belly flop:hslap I expect her to win by a sizable margin. Kaetlyn is amazing when she's on. If everyone in the field were to skate their best here, she'd still come out on top IMO. Now if she implodes that's another story...but I'm hoping she skates well.

I feel like Maria and Marin will make up the rest of the podium. Both have been really solid so far this season and won their respective summer competitions (Maria won Finlandia, Marin won US Intl Classic). I'm basing that off of their competitive track record, the way they've competed so far (in the off season) and their content and consistency. Both have a few issues here and there but, overall, they are reliable competitors and the judges like them.

What makes this competition so interesting is all of the wildcards. Anna, Ashley, Karen...any of them could have a breakout performance and crash the podium. All three are capable of putting up big numbers if the jumps are working.

I'm going to make a prediction (and will probably regret it later):

Gold - Osmond
Silver - Sotskova
Bronze - Honda
4th - Hongo eeking
5th - Wagner hopelessness

I know! I know! Hongo over Wagner?! What?! Am I nuts?? I just might be...but that's what I'm going with...Can't wait to see how wrong/right I am!

 

[Osmond4gold]

Can't believe you guys are already on page 6 for a GP SP that's not going to happen for a day and half. Keep on Keeping on.

This is such a stacked field. May the best lady win.

Love and miss you ancientpeas, but was not too invested in CoR, as results were predictable even prior to performance. Hopefully we will have a better assessment of where skaters are in the season, at SC.

 

[ancientpeas]

Love and miss you ancientpeas, but was not too invested in CoR, as results were predictable even prior to performance. Hopefully we will have a better assessment of where skaters are in the season, at SC.

I like way too many of the women in this field. I think no matter what someone will be crying in the kiss and cry.

 

[kevinVchicago]

I do expect to see Kaetlyn on top and not just b/c they're in Canada.

This is a sentiment I can get behind!

Kaetlyn or Anna will be on top if they both perform what they're capable of... because they're incredible, not because they're in Canada.

 

[hippomoomin]

I just hope Anna will skate both of her programs, and show that she is not physically injured, because I have a feeling she might withdraw again, since it happened twice already this season.

 

[Sugarpova]

I like way too many of the women in this field.

yep

I do hope Hongo can sneak in to the podium!

 

[OS]

Out of curiosity, perhaps it's the Nathan Laast Mao Dancer effect, I checked out Karen's "Slow Dancing" score and film snippets, and I think she is making a mistake. The film is quite awful, weak, and the protagonist with her leg issues comes across as unconvincing. I get that Carmen isn't the most original program, but she needs to replace it with a character that is equally strong and compelling.

I wonder why oh why she doesn't pick the theme from "Lust, Caution" by Desplat, The Angel, it's hauntingly beautiful and waiting for the right tragic heroine skater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfiz_cgoCjE

The rest of the soundtrack is beautiful too,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IGpcEvA2sw&list=PLB0C134092984C2F7

Plus Ang Lee is a Taiwanese-American director, like Karen.

Desplat's 'lust caution' would have been amazing!! But probably in a few years? Same as Umebayashi's 'in the mood for love' or '2046' (She has done the house of flying dagger already). All mature sensual pieces more worthy than say another Miss Saigon, Madam Butterfly, Memoir of a geisha etc..

I think all skaters should pick the right type of programs at the right time of their career. I am curious how this one go...

----------------------

Looks like odds are stacked against the Canadian ladies..and um... US ladies too... should be exciting. Funny selection. So we have all the leading US ladies pit against each other AND against Osmond in Canada, then we have all the leading Japanese ladies pit against each other in Cup of China, all away games. Talk about each continents sabotage itself or some clever strategic assignment at play here.

I love Karen, Anna, and Marin and hope Ashley can bring some of that Lalaland pizzazz (in spirit) back into her old programs. She will need to pizzazz the heck out of them to keep them fresh amongst for this lot. Fingers crossed for everybody. If you survive this Marin vs Rika, you can survive Cup of China. (How come no NHK for Marin and Wakaba!! Silly Fed. Who's at NHK? Miyahara and Mai?)

Lighting a giant *no splat spasiba* candle for Anna (+ probably just about everybody.)

Osmond getting so much flack in general is quite amusing. You'd have thought she is the one who scored 150 without the the artistry, without 3A, 3lz3t and a fall lol....

 

[Tolstoj]

This should be a really pleasing event: there are 6-7 very polished skaters.

Everyone expect to see Kaetlyn win here, if she has to, i'm just hoping she will do it with two clean performances or at least with the best performances here, the other contenders are very strong.

Excited to see this beautiful program again (hopefully clean)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztt_Vo8PGHA

 

[Tolstoj]

Maria still doesn’t always rotate her triple triples and Kaetlyn is in Canada... so even though Maria is now throwing an arm over her head doesn’t mean she’s a guarantee for a win or podium finish(although it may seem that way)

At Finlandia all her jumps were fully rotated, plus she now skates with more speed and attack, so she is fixing all these issues. The tano jumps don't bother me and if Evgenia and others are doing it, and the judges are rewarding these variations, why not?

The rest was already great like her posture and she creates the beautiful lines almost like Carolina Kostner.

The only question mark is the consistency but for that we'll have to wait and see.

Big fan of her calm soft programs.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

At Finlandia all her jumps were fully rotated, plus she now skates with more speed and attack, so she is fixing all these issues. The tano jumps don't bother me and if Evgenia and others are doing it, and the judges are rewarding these variations, why not?

The rest was already great like her posture and she creates the beautiful lines almost like Carolina Kostner.

The only question mark is the consistency but for that we'll have to wait and see.

Big fan of her calm soft programs.

I agree... I really like Masha!

 

[qwertyskates]

Desplat's 'lust caution' would have been amazing!! But probably in a few years? Same as Umebayashi's 'in the mood for love' or '2046' (She has done the house of flying dagger already). All mature sensual pieces more worthy than say another Miss Saigon, Madam Butterfly, Memoir of a geisha etc..

I think all skaters should pick the right type of programs at the right time of their career. I am curious how this one go...

----------------------

Actually Karen is at the same age as the protagonist in "Lust, Caution", a young lady on the cusp of womanhood valiantly ensnaring a ruthless man in a game of cat-and-mouse, which is why this could be such a beautiful vehicle for her if she is looking for something unconventional. It is almost Miss Saigon/Madame Butterfly with a twist, a strong young heroine who is ultimately tripped by her inability to overcome her innocence, authenticity and capacity for love. It's a big story, but above all it's the soundtrack - it is gorgeously melancholic. It's far better than "Slow Dancing", which will be inevitably unfavorably compared to Nathan's FS. Otherwise, for the Olys, Carmen would be far better, fiercer and with greater impact.

I agree that "In The Mood For Love" is wonderful, wistful but too mature for Karen.

I'm psyched too, such an exciting line-up, though I might not be in town during SC. I'll try to catch up whenever I can.

 

[KMK0902]

What you mean we don't have to? Of course we have to! No matter what happens. :agree2:

Sorry....my bad of course we have to

 

[MaiKatze]

I don't like what I'm seeing of Anna at practice.

Wrote it and saw Anna jump a beautiful 3-3

 

[OS]

Actually Karen is at the same age as the protagonist in "Lust, Caution", a young lady on the cusp of womanhood valiantly ensnaring a ruthless man in a game of cat-and-mouse, which is why this could be such a beautiful vehicle for her if she is looking for something unconventional. It is almost Miss Saigon/Madame Butterfly with a twist, a strong young heroine who is ultimately tripped by her inability to overcome her innocence, authenticity and capacity for love. It's a big story, but above all it's the soundtrack - it is gorgeously melancholic. It's far better than "Slow Dancing", which will be inevitably unfavorably compared to Nathan's FS. Otherwise, for the Olys, Carmen would be far better, fiercer and with greater impact.

I agree that "In The Mood For Love" is wonderful, wistful but too mature for Karen.

I'm psyched too, such an exciting line-up, though I might not be in town during SC. I'll try to catch up whenever I can.

Oh i thought the protagonist is like in her 20s, to think she is only 18 makes me want to weep for the situation even more. I remember Ang lee had a mini breakdown and cried during some of filming because some of the scenes are too raw and close to home. It is a great piece of drama to be realised by the right skater at the right age.

Kind of sensitive subject.... may be not for the Olympic year? Although it would have made a brave choice.

Looking forward to Anna's programs, the SP looks good at Russia Cup, curious to see the FS.

 

[Violet Bliss]

Oh i thought the protagonist is like in her 20s, to think she is only 18 makes me want to weep for the situation even more. I remember Ang lee had a mini break and cried during some of filming because some of the scenes are too raw and close to home. It is a great piece of drama to be realised by the right skater at the right age.

Kind of sensitive subject.... may be not for the Olympic year? Although it would have made a brave choice.

Looking forward to Anna's programs, the SP looks good at Russia Cup, curious to see the FS.

Lust, Caution is a great film, though emotionally deviated significantly from the original writing, but it's really inappropriate for a young skater. The story began when the amateur agent-to-be was in university in her early twenties and continued three year later. The sex scenes are central to the movie story accounting for the emotional progress and deviation from the original story and from the young lady's intention. As well, the music lacks obvious variation and highlights and is very difficult to interpret.

I really don't see how it may be right for Karen at her age and skating maturity.

eta. This is really another case of a totally "innocent" piece of music used in a movie and becoming associated and representative of a story, consequently prohibiting free interpretation of the music on its own for skating.