2018 Olympic Figure Skating Team Event Day 3

[rain]

Agreed - camera work has been awful. It's Cup of China quality. Extremely disappointing - you'd figure for the olympics they could actually get someone decent.

I loathe overhead cams. They are always, always a terrible distraction, leaving you looking at pinheads from above when you're trying to watch skating. I noticed a number of the camera angles managed to miss some of the best dramatic moments in V/M's FD — the side angle of the twizzles with the dramatic stop in Roxanne, for example, instead of the proper head-on view. The terrible shot that left their last lift almost invisible (thanks overhead cam) and that's just off the top of my head.

 

[Xzander]

Ashley: Ok. I respect the competitive approach. But no cannot do this set up. It's not a program. She killed time in the beginning and then just jumped the second half. It's not a performance. I understand that this is what the system allows but it's not all figure skating is about

Ashley, girrrl, I love you. But killing time in the beginning? You think you can do even the half of those skills and transitions...

 

[Suzzzy]

I want Evgenia to win, but to be fair, the possibility that she looses individual gold to Alina is kind of poetic considering how her own rise to the top came to be...

HopeZhenia will be better than Alina and will take ogm.

 

[chopinskate]

4 performances over the timespan of more than a week is not that demanding and he wouldn't have even needed to do that difficult of a layout in order to win the Team LP.

It is ridiculous. He was assigned Rostelecom and SA this season. Are they saying that he would have failed had he been assigned Rostelecom and SC instead?

 

[jenaj]

Honestly, Alina's PCS is ridiculous. But so are Evgenia's GOEs, and her SS/CO points. I think this is one case that far superior jumping ability is more than enough to compensate for lack of PCS. If Alina wins, it will be because she skated cleanly, not because the judges pumped her full of PCS.

I think Evgenia's PCS, while inflated, is more deserved than Alina's. Alina's version of performing is just smiling a lot. Evgenia is better at connecting with the audience. I think she has a natural charm, which Alina definitely does not. But with Alina averaging over 9s, there is almost no way Evgenia can win if Alina goes clean in both programs.

 

[LiamForeman]

Alina was great and much better that anyone else!
I just confused and sad fo Zhenya - 3 years she was unbeatable and on top and went to her OGM but now an ex-junior lady will take her from gold because of her jumps.

Not just jumps, but SPINS! Choreo. BackLoading. Charisma. Evegenia had her day in the sun when there was no one around to challenge her. Alina is probably JUST as sick of DQ as we all are, but let her put this baby to rest with an OGM performance of it! I actually do think if Alina wins that she will continue. She has grown a lot the past two seasons and looks like she's growing into her prime as a skater, unlike poor Medvedeva who seems to be losing weight (lots) to maintain.

 

[charlotte14]

I am still bitter that Skate Canada did not let WeaPo skate. :sad46:

Alina's PCS: Nothing nice to say about that.

HAPPY FOR MIRAI!

 

[chopinskate]

I think Evgenia's PCS, while inflated, is more deserved than Alina's. Alina's version of performing is just smiling a lot. Evgenia is better at connecting with the audience. I think she has a natural charm, which Alina definitely does not. But with Alina averaging over 9s, there is almost no way Evgenia can win if Alina goes clean in both programs.

Again, I think that Alina is overscored. But adjusting both their PCS and GOEs, Alina would still win if she went clean. Far more difficult content, without the constant display of muscling and other sketchy technique that Evgenia has.

 

[Suzzzy]

No, because of her ridiculous PCS, if it happens. She should be getting around 68/69. Her only 9+ score should be in transitions.

Yes, but it already happened and Zhenia has nothing to put in technics. PCS are at the same level. Only Alina’s mistakes in SP could help Zhenia to win

 

[reneerose]

Apparently they did away with flowers during Rio for sustainability reasons and gave them those little weird sculptures instead. Looks like Pyeongchang is following suit, though I think a plush is a nicer idea than some abstract plastic statue.

The stuffed animals are much better than the plastic sculptures.... I love Soohorang! Those could be collector items and yet I saw some athletes tossing them on to the rink side railing... like "oh and a silly stuffed animal". The medal ceremony with flowers....I read was happening later in the day...not sure what time.

 

[badknees]

why did Mirai almost get a deduction?

 

[HollyRose]

Daleman is the reigning World Bronze medalist and a better skater than Bradie. There is no way the judges at the Olympics would have put Bradie ahead when Daleman skated so well. Bradie lost to both Japanese ladies at Skate America, the exact point total is not really worth talking about, it's separate competitions and there has been a consistent clear message that Bradie is considered inferior. Satoko was given TWO underrotation calls in the SP at Olympics and still beat Bradie!

Mirai went out there and gave a HISTORIC performance that was better than what Bradie was capable of. Whatever the points were going to be, Mirai deserved more and deserved to beat Daleman, whereas Bradie would not have deserved to. This was always the correct assignment to make, in order for the USA to have the highest medal chance possible. Unfortunately the USA did not care about the highest medal chance, instead they went with what would give a Bronze medal while "preserving" Nathan Chen, which is such a stupid thing to do when he had the opportunity to make history with Silver + Gold medals (or even Gold + Gold, but he gave away the possibility of Team Gold with his SP performance). Like, is he an athlete or not? 4 performances over the timespan of more than a week is not that demanding and he wouldn't have even needed to do that difficult of a layout in order to win the Team LP.

Ok, agree to disagree about Bradie. I know from the rest of your posts what you think about her. You've repeated it many times.

Still don't agree with the decision-making here. They could have put Mirai in both segments and split dance. I don't really care which of Mirai or Bradie they had do both.

 

[ks777]

why did Mirai almost get a deduction?

I didn't see any deductions.

 

[brens78]

Bugger I had a power outage while at work and didn't get to see it!! Anyone got links for replays?

 

[brens78]

oh and ps. Congrats to all the medalists! Especially Mirai!

 

[HollyRose]

Why? It worked out really well this way. The US got the bronze, as expected, but unexpectedly had to hold off Italy and Mirai nailed it. This way both American ladies got medals--deservedly, because they both skated well.

I know it worked out well this way and that US got a bronze. I just think that with the strength of US ice dance, that's the one that should have been split rather than ladies. Mirai could have done the short, I really don't think it would have exhausted her too much.

 

[ks777]

I know it worked out well this way and that US got a bronze. I just think that with the strength of US ice dance, that's the one that should have been split rather than ladies. Mirai could have done the short, I really don't think it would have exhausted her too much.

so basically you wanted another US Dance to medal? I can understand that. I wish they all could switch so they can all medal.

 

[Vili67]

WOW Mirai what skate and that triple axel:cool2:

 

[colormyworld240]

I think Evgenia's PCS, while inflated, is more deserved than Alina's. Alina's version of performing is just smiling a lot. Evgenia is better at connecting with the audience. I think she has a natural charm, which Alina definitely does not. But with Alina averaging over 9s, there is almost no way Evgenia can win if Alina goes clean in both programs.

I would say Alina has a lot more natural charm. Evgenia has a more dramatic program, facially. But you have to remember Alina is portraying Kitri who is charming and intelligent but a child, and Evgenia is portray Anna Karenina, queen of drama. They're different characters and Evgenia is definitely more mature, but maturity doesn't mean better interpretation and performance. Matching the character does. They were both inflated in PCS of course, but they both deserved to win their sections.

Alina's skate tonight was the highlight; people just didn't like it because of her scores. But she still had the best skate.

All in all, Evgenia should have a PCS advantage, but Alina's GOEs should be miles ahead of Evgenia in all the elements. If both clean, Alina would deserve the gold. If you look at elements in Evgenia's short and Alina's free, Evgenia got equal GOE to Alina in most jumps and spins, but clearly Alina is better at those elements. More spring to her jumps, higher jumps, more effortless, faster spins, more centred, better flexibility in positions. The judges for some reason just likes to make this difference less by giving Evgenia more TES points and Alina more PCS points than what they should have...

 

[HollyRose]

so basically you wanted another US Dance to medal? I can understand that. I wish they all could switch so they can all medal.

That's exactly what I wanted! I think it's the US's strongest field and that they should have taken priority when they were splitting the segments. I don't see how doing both segments would have overwhelmed Mirai or Bradie.