2018-19 Japanese Ladies' figure skating

[Yatagarasu]

I'm not mad at Wakaba's placements. She's one of the best in the World. This is a chance for her to beat the top 2. I think Japan wants to test her.

Ah that old excuse.

How about they test Satoko for a change? And take away all her bonuses and leave her swinging in the wind, like the others? I'm all for that one.

 

[Colonel Green]

Not really because the Worlds placement is what counts for next season.

We're not talking about practical importance, but rather about prominence.

And yes, I know she had a nice performance there. Pity though how nicely JSF treated Wakaba (and Mai) last season while they took such excellent care of Satoko and made absolutely sure she had every single opportunity to get to the top. Wonder how all of that would have unfolded if they actually bothered to lift a finger during the GP season and tried to help someone else for a change.

Huh? Wakaba made it to the Final last year, she did just fine. She tanked in the Final because of all the pops, which the JSF obviously couldn't do anything about.

 

[Yatagarasu]

Huh? Wakaba made it to the Final last year, she did just fine. She tanked in the Final because of all the pops, which the JSF obviously couldn't do anything about.

No, she didn't.
She had a downward PCS trend, amazingly so, and could have done even better had she had an ounce of support from her Federation. It is also such a fantastic feeling for a skater to know they have zip from that angle, while others do, and that no matter how hard you try it is simply not good enough. Awesome psychological support there. Even at Worlds, it was very obvious how JSF totally let her down, when her PCS was equal to Alina's despite a complete, utter meltdown.

Yes, JSF should have, and could have, supported both Wakaba and Mai when it came to their PCS and their GP assignments last season. Instead they couldn't be bothered. Much like this time around.

And yes, we're so going to talk about the importance of Worlds when it was oh so important last season when Wakaba didn't do all that well. I mean it was Armageddon for the poor girl. She's inconsistent, she's this, she's that, it's so normal JSF isn't supporting her but are favoring others.

Well now that she has performed well, you can bet we're going to talk about it.

 

[Ice Dance]

So they all got in. The lot of them. The full 18 spots. Pretty incredible.

 

[skatenewbie]

I really hope Mai could medal and go to final, its hard and tough but not impossible. If her PCS stayed like in 4CC not like the GP last season then i think she could medaled easier (68 4CC vs 64 GP). What make me confused is... Mai was 5th at 2017 World have always lowballed in FS PCS, never above 65 in GP with super clean skates back to back while Kaori... With sudden good skates jumped 4 point from 63 in CoR to 67 in SA and stayed in 67-68 range until Olympic. Im not hating Kaori but i do think her PCS is a bit too high compared to others but well.

 

[LucyH]

JSF has been ignoring Wakaba, and Mihara, for over a season now. It's criminal what they are doing. If you get to the point that Yulia openly states during commentating that the Fed is not doing enough for Wakaba in re to her PCS then it is really dire. She was the only skater who had her PCS going down, instead of up last season, even if her skates were good.
And I absolutely adore how the Worlds is an "afterthought" now when they have three spots but was a very convenient excuse last season when there were only two, and were somehow larger than life in importance. Strange that, how when Wakaba isn't at her best it is oh so important, and when she is, it's a no biggie.

This is very much JSF's fault, it has just been piling up now for a good while. And it's a very good indication that neither one of those women can expect anything good from JSF this time around either.
But as long as their faves are protected, it's all good in their book.

Yes what the JSF is doing is very strange? Why put all their eggs in Miyahara's basket especially since on paper URs are going to be more severely penalized... Agree that Wakaba has to be squeaky clean at both her events - the toughest ladies GP events are SC and IdF :O Evgenia also has it pretty tough too but at least she has cachet with the judges and built up cushion due to her 2 world titles, 2GPF titles and two silver medals at the Olympics

 

[Ice Dance]

Maybe they think Wakaba can make a splash. I do. If there is anyone who can match Daleman's huge jumps, it's Wakaba. And the Russian ladies are not going to have as many backloading points as they used to over her. It will be a lot of fun to watch these battles.

Look, it's a really tough draw for Higuchi. But she could be a stronger athlete at the end of the season for going up against these top ladies early. Yuzuru never ran from a fight on the GP.

 

[mermaidfestavol3]

Skate America: Very much within Satoko and Kaori's abilities to go 1-2. Even Marin with her new coaching can be a threat. Tsurskaya, Tennell, and Radionova are the main threats.
Skate Canada: Evgenia will probably win. But a clean/semi-clean Wakaba can defeat Daleman, Tursynbaeva, Choi, and even Tuktamysheva.
Finland GP: Zagitova and Kostner will be very hard to beat (I think judges will shower Kostner in +5 GOEs) but Kaori could reasonably medal over Panenkova, Chen, Konstantinova, and Hendrickx.
NHK: (I'm assuming Kihira gets the spot, because Rika H and Yuna are competing the week before). Clean Satoko can probably beat Sotskova, Mihara, Radionova, Tuktamysheva, and Daleman. I think Maria Sotskova will do well as she usually does in early season. Rika Kihira is a bit of a wild card. On her best day she can beat everyone but on her worst she will be 6-12.
Rostelecom: Zagitova is there but Wakaba should be confident in at least some medal if semi-clean. Tsurskaya's PCS will probably be lower. The real threat will be whoever fills Russia's last host spot.
France: Again, Medvedeva is hard to beat along with Kostner. I think Japanese ladies will be fighting for bronze/silver if Kostner is not clean along with Tennell and Sotskova.

Wakaba's situation is tough but when you look at all the competitors she is capable of coming away with at least silver in my eyes. Obviously she faces the 2 Russian titans but aside from them, she doesn't face major domestic competition (Mako's jumps are great but her PCS will be low) and will not contend with Kostner/Sotskova/Tennell. So she may not win gold but silver is a strong possibility, along with making GPF (2 silvers is usually more than enough points). I would argue that Mai has a much harder draw, as she faces Satoko, Sotskova, Daleman, Radionova, (likely Kihira) at NHK and Kostner, Kihira, Sotskova, Medvedeva, and Tennell in France.

 

[chopinskate]

Well, I guess the JSF is determined not to see that Wakaba has the potential to be plainly better than Satoko starting this season. The idea in my head was that she could make the GPF with a win on the circuit, but it might not be.

But no matter, no matter. I still think she'll be making the GPF. Though if she'll beat Satoko when the JSF wants to not pump her PCS up, and if her happening to beat Satoko would even carry forward to JNats is anyone's guess.

 

[KweenAsada]

Maybe they think Wakaba can make a splash. I do. If there is anyone who can match Daleman's huge jumps, it's Wakaba. And the Russian ladies are not going to have as many backloading points as they used to over her. It will be a lot of fun to watch these battles.

Look, it's a really tough draw for Higuchi. But she could be a stronger athlete at the end of the season for going up against these top ladies early. Yuzuru never ran from a fight on the GP.

I agree wholeheartedly. She's my current favorite and I want to see her face her biggest competition sooner rather than later. Imagine if she eeks out a win? Let's try and be positive. This isn't the end of the world. She has the potential to shake up the apple cart in a BIG way. I wish her the best! Can't wait!

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Maybe they think Wakaba can make a splash.

Four years of revenge needs to start somewhere

 

[yume]

As much as Wakaba can fight for podium at her two GPs, Mai can't even fight in France GP. I can already see the girl being 4th or 5th with two perfect skates.

 

[Interspectator]

As much as Wakaba can fight for podium at her two GPs, Mai can't even fight in France GP. I can already see the girl being 4th or 5th with two perfect skates.

:sad21: I hope you are wrong. But I'll cheer for Mai the loudest out of all the skaters this season. She needs it the most.
In the latest shows I've seen her in she seems in wonderful shape. Her 5-jump combo in her EX program looks great!

 

[matmuh]

:sad21: I hope you are wrong. But I'll cheer for Mai the loudest out of all the skaters this season. She needs it the most.
In the latest shows I've seen her in she seems in wonderful shape. Her 5-jump combo in her EX program looks great!

when i think about it, i never seen her out of shape esp last season, i mean how many clean LPs (not gonna mention SPs since i doubt it had anything to do with her form and even those werent disasters by any means) she had last season with 70+ TES is amazing!

 

[yume]

When was the last time Mai fell in free skate?

 

[yude]

Good luck to all ladies

I'm hoping Rika Kihira will skate at NHK

 

[MaiKatze]

Thrilled that Yura and Mako have two spots! Go Aichi girls!

 

[yume]

If Yura fix her URs she can get good scores. She has interesting combos like 3F-3lo and 2A-3T-3lo.

 

[Li'Kitsu]

I agree wholeheartedly. She's my current favorite and I want to see her face her biggest competition sooner rather than later. Imagine if she eeks out a win? Let's try and be positive. This isn't the end of the world. She has the potential to shake up the apple cart in a BIG way. I wish her the best! Can't wait!

Like she should have gotten last season at CoC but didn't?

That's the whole problem, and why IMO this harder GP assignments for Wakaba (especially compared to the relatively easy fields Satoko has) are such a big deal: it just fits into the general feeling that Waka is being undervalued and underappreciated by the Japanese Federation. The same goes even worse for Mai (although she does generally get less outcries in her favor, sadly). Those 2 had the toughest GPs last season, the worst luck with judging (look at CoC compared to the high scores SA was throwing out for Kaori & Satoko), ended up not making the Olympics despite good seasons partly because of that (this especially goes for Mai IMO), and now have the tougher assignments *again*. All accompanied by being the ones often viewed as underscored, where as Satoko at least often gets away with a few carrots (even if her PCS are too low for many too) and Kaori had her scores sky-rocketing last season.

I don't mean to bash or disrespect Satoko or Kaori (I love Kaori actually ), and both workhard, deserve respect and good scores too and all - but IMO it's only fair to point out that Waka and Mai seem to just have it harder by comparison.

 

[skatenewbie]

When was the last time Mai fell in free skate?

its in 2016 Cup of China i believe? It was more than 1.5 years, its incredible tbh. Hate the fact she get lowballed