2017 World Ladies FS

[snd]

Rika's Riverdance was really good last year. It's so sad what happened to her this year. I was physically hurt watching her in this competition.

The ISU has killed Ladies' skating. They've removed and de-incentivized most of everything that is beautiful and interesting and engaging, replacing it with pointless tacked-on movements everywhere.



We're lucky that some of the top men have personalities and care about artistry or at least performing. Otherwise men would be super boring too. Hanyu is a gift from the heavens, he has forced the other guys to still put some emphasis on the artistry. We should be thanking Daisuke Takahashi too, because it's his spirit and performances that also lifted Japanese Men's skating to where it is now. If Nathan Chen wins this competition and/or the Olympics, though, we will likely just see an era of people cloning his strategy. Lots of quads, some basic attention to everything else, and that's it.

agree about the boring sameness. dislike the ladies because of this, too - in general. well, i'll just rewatch giada russo's red violin for a hundred times and be happy, i guess. that was a program for the ages.

re: wakaba.

of course she's not competitive. the judges refuse to reward her outstanding skating skills and deep edges, fabulous choreo and great musicality. it's not her fault though. it's the judges who should be shamed here, not her. a fall is not a meltdown. she's young but her presentation is beautiful and sophisticated. japan SHOULD support her. she was one of the 5 or so ladies i actually enjoyed today.

 

[b-man]

Karen is the new US #1. Do I hear disagreement?

Maybe. Skated big at Nationals, and at Worlds. Yet 7th at CoC,, 6th at NHK, 7th at Golden Spin with a 155 score, 12th at 4CC way behind Nagasu and Bell are not the results of a US number 1.

 

[FlattFan]

Man I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Wakaba. She grabbed a bronze at her first GP event. She's been on the Japanese National podium for years now, even as a junior (it was thanks to this that Mao could go to Worlds last year). She's a two time World Junior bronze medallist, as well as a JGPF bronze medallist. She's not Japan's top lady, and maybe not even 2nd but she's definitely a factor. In any small European Nation she would be a number 1.

Wakaba is not skating for small European nation. And she is regularly overscored at home. This will stop next year. She's done.

 

[luckyguy]

Your inconsistency with logic is astounding. Because you like Anna you emphatically declare she'll survive a bad outing and yet in Wakaba's debut season you said the fed will dump her if she has even one mistake and she won't be able to ever improve. Anna has another epic meltdown and you're of a completely different mindset. That's one moody crystal ball

We saw many epic meltdowns and comebacks in the history: Carolina Kostner, Nobunari Oda, Tomas Verner, Brian Joubert etc.

 

[beki]

Man I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Wakaba. She grabbed a bronze at her first GP event. She's been on the Japanese National podium for years now, even as a junior (it was thanks to this that Mao could go to Worlds last year). She's a two time World Junior bronze medallist, as well as a JGPF bronze medallist. She's not Japan's top lady, and maybe not even 2nd but she's definitely a factor. In any small European Nation she would be a number 1.

I love Wakaba. She's so talented. I don't know why everyone dings her artistry so much. She has much more presence than Mai and Rika.

 

[Kissx3]

I don't think any of the Americans are guaranteed anything at this point, a year out from the Olympics. Outside of this and Nationals, Karen did not have a good season. It's way too soon to fish Gracie's tiara out of the trash and put it on her head. Next year is going to be a battle. Everyone is going to have to fight for it.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

We saw many epic meltdowns and comebacks in the history: Carolina Kostner, Nobunari Oda, Tomas Verner, Brian Joubert etc.

I'm not counting anyone out by any means. I don't really see the point TBH.

 

[silverfoxes]

Man I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Wakaba. She grabbed a bronze at her first GP event. She's been on the Japanese National podium for years now, even as a junior (it was thanks to this that Mao could go to Worlds last year). She's a two time World Junior bronze medallist, as well as a JGPF bronze medallist. She's not Japan's top lady, and maybe not even 2nd but she's definitely a factor. In any small European Nation she would be a number 1.

Only one person is trying to dismiss her and 99% of the comments they make on here are negative. Who ever thought Mai Mihara would do so well this season? Or that Gabby would end up on the Worlds podium? Wakaba has a lot going for her & nobody knows what will happen next year or after the Olys. If everything was totally predictable then why would we need to watch competitions at all?

 

[FlattFan]

I love Wakaba. She's so talented. I don't know why everyone dings her artistry so much. She has much more presence than Mai and Rika.

Lol. In term of real presence, Rika is on a different level compare to Mai and Wakaba. Rika is engaging. The other two are cookie cutter skater and one of them is inconsistent as hell.

Wakaba can sometime jump. Wouldn't go that far to say she's talented. She's just a C level skater in the grand scheme of thing.

If she's consistent, then she is another Mai. I can handle a few mai tai, not a few mai.

 

[sailormoon]

Wakaba's free score was 130.75 and she scored 199.49 at the Japanese championships held last year. I was expecting her to repeat the performance in Finland, which could have secured the three spots for Japan. At the 2016 Trophée de France, her overall score was 194.48 and she can reach the level when she's consistent with her jumps.

 

[Mango]

Wakaba is not skating for small European nation. And she is regularly overscored at home. This will stop next year. She's done.

So say Marin struggles next year turning senior with a lot pressure in the Olympic season. And say Mai for whatever reason isn't feeling too good...maybe her arthritis flares up due to stress. Who's the other lady you'd sent to the Olympics with Satoko? Kaori Sakamoto whose PCS is even lower?

I don't wish for any of these things to happen because I like the Japanese ladies but you've got to understand that a skater whose had as much success as Wakaba cannot be so easily dismissed. Even Pogorilaya can't be dismissed. She's inconsistent but if she's on, she's a World medallist.

 

[Tolstoj]

I don't get how Zijun's cleanish TES only beat Anna's disastrous TES by 0.96 points. Never mind her PCS is 13 below hers as well at measly 49, drop of 6 points after from previous competition. ISU might as well say you don't belong here, just give up. There's nothing you can do. What can skaters like her possibly do at this point?

If you skate in the first group apparently you get low PCS no matter what in ladies figure skating. I've noticed it in the past already. (I think Park So Youn last year at worlds is a good example)

Man I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Wakaba. She grabbed a bronze at her first GP event. She's been on the Japanese National podium for years now, even as a junior (it was thanks to this that Mao could go to Worlds last year). She's a two time World Junior bronze medallist, as well as a JGPF bronze medallist. She's not Japan's top lady, and maybe not even 2nd but she's definitely a factor. In any small European Nation she would be a number 1.

But i like her way more than Mai *crossover* Mihara.

 

[FlattFan]

So say Marin struggles next year turning senior with a lot pressure in the Olympic season. And say Mai for whatever reason isn't feeling too good...maybe her arthritis flares up due to stress. Who's the other lady you'd sent to the Olympics with Satoko? Kaori Sakamoto whose PCS is even lower?

I don't wish for any of these things to happen because I like the Japanese ladies but you've got to understand that a skater whose had as much success as Wakaba cannot be so easily dismissed. Even Pogorilaya can't be dismissed. She's inconsistent but if she's on, she's a World medallist.

Well, if they all can't walk, then Wakaba can go and bomb. But what are the chances? You think Kaori cannot place higher than Wakaba?

 

[OS]

Wakaba's free score was 130.75 and she scored 199.49 at the Japanese championships held last year. I was expecting her to repeat the performance in Finland, which could have secured the three spots for Japan. At the 2016 Trophée de France, her overall score was 194.48 and she can reach the level when she's consistent with her jumps.

(I love your nick!!)

Every skaters have bad days, and they should be judged on what their best is capable of, not their worst. As ultimately, that is the goal of the sport and why people are continuing working towards to.

 

[Mango]

But i like her way more than Mai *crossover* Mihara.

She reminds me of Uno, in some ways. I think both will be a part of the future of Japanese figure skating. Mai though is like Satoko. Consistent except on rare occasions. Hard to deny a skater like that short of giving them lower PCS.

 

[Tolstoj]

I don't think any of the Americans are guaranteed anything at this point, a year out from the Olympics. Outside of this and Nationals, Karen did not have a good season. It's way too soon to fish Gracie's tiara out of the trash and put it on her head. Next year is going to be a battle. Everyone is going to have to fight for it.

I think if Gracie starts to skate again, judges will inflate the hell of her scores to put her on top just what they did this season with Kaetlyn: big marks coming out from nowhere instead of a small new PB by 1 or 2 points.

Gracie, Kaetlyn, Adelina are the type of skaters judges really like.

 

[Mango]

Well, if they all can't walk, then Wakaba can go and bomb. But what are the chances? You think Kaori cannot place higher than Wakaba?

Wakaba has been Japanese silver medallist two seasons in a row. She could reasonably be chosen to go as the 2nd ranked lady, especially if her GP season goes decently and others' do not. I don't know what Kaori can do as a senior. In Japan she's never made the senior podium. She'll have to prove herself next year just as all the other girls will. We assume Satoko is going, but if her hip injury hinders her return then there are no guarantees.

 

[Stolmov]

Radionova chances of being an olympian are getting up unless Polina heals from injury. Maria is slow and Anna is struggling even when she is on.

 

[matmuh]

For the rest of you guys, here's a graphic about how the judges looked at these ladies from Tulup: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8Rd2CSWsAA8nLj.jpg

wow, very interesting comparisons thanks for sharing

MAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!! what a comeback from 15th place, she couldnt have done more

Elizabet!!! finally 2 clean programs with all planned elements and all level 4s!! (will ignore few tight landings considering most of the performances ), similar to SP, i think judges could give more PCS but it is what it is

congratulations to Karen for great fight and securing the 3 spots!!!

very gutted for Ivett, she was awesome at SP, hopefully she will pop less following years but she is still awesome and full of potential

 

[Eclair]

I don't get how Zijun's cleanish TES only beat Anna's disastrous TES by 0.96 points. Never mind her PCS is 13 below hers as well at measly 49, drop of 6 points after from previous competition. ISU might as well say you don't belong here, just give up. There's nothing you can do. What can skaters like her possibly do at this point?

I'm no paranoid person but something must have been going on behind the scenes - fed politicking or Zijun accidentally punching cinquata or whatever - that has to be the reason why Zijun's PCS dropped so low even in the sp, after it was stable for years (!) that now the second Chinese lady (xiangning li) received 6 points higher PCS than Zijun ???!!
I don't know what makes me sadder. Zijun or Pogorilaya...