Rika's 3A is higher than any of Wakaba's jumps, except her 3Lz. How does that suggest Rika's strength is rotation speed?
2019-20 Japanese ladies' figure skating
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Rika's 3A is higher than any of Wakaba's jumps, except her 3Lz. How does that suggest Rika's strength is rotation speed?
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- Jan 31, 2018
I'm so thrilled for Wakababy! I'm a true believer in her talent. Wait... I'm... A Wakabeliever?
Oh, dear.
Oh, dear.
Her 3A is slightly higher than Wakabas 2A. If you simply watch all their jumps you can see what their strengths are. I doubt anyone here would say Kihira is a great jumper. Kihira is a good jumper and fast rotater. Higuchi is a great jumper but slow rotater. Higuchi by her own admission limits her height to maintain control.
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- Mar 3, 2018
This seems like a weird distinction to me. I'm sure Kihira could also jump higher if she wasn't as concerned about controlling the jump.
I'm not critisizing Rika. We're talking about jumping power. Higuchi is known as a powerful jumper, Rika is not. But she has a different technique. Everyone is different. Higuchi is faster and more athletic too, but that obviously doesn't make her better. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
And this is why Japan should send senior aged juniors to fall CS to get their minimums. This is very disappointing.
Big congrats to Rika for a great skate and victory!! 
I was hoping she’d go for the 4S in the midst of this splatfest competition but I guess she opted not to risk herself further. I agree with the others that she should skip 4CC and come back in better form for Worlds. I mean, she has the 4CC title already!
Really happy to see Wakaba regain her form completely. Even after her several well-skated SPs this season, I really couldn’t see her getting through a great FS ever again. But wow, she proved me wrong! Just one mistake but the rest was all solid! Program needs a lot of work so I feel the PCS wasn’t underscored at all, but nevertheless it was great to see the Wakaba we know come back.
Haven’t watched Tomoe yet, but I’m just surprised she held it together this time! She’s such a lovely skater with great jumps too. I know she’s eligible for seniors but I don’t think going to 4CC or Worlds will do any favours for her at this point of her career. We’ll see what they decide on.
And wow, I knew from the moment that both Satoko and Kaori stepped on the ice something was going to be off, but...wow. I didn’t either of them to have such disastrous skate, much less both (is this the first time we’ve ever seen Satoko have a complete meltdown?). It’s understandable though given Satoko’s coaching change and fixing up her jumps, but what about Kaori? She already looked pretty tentative even before she started and her FS at IDF was a bit iffy as well. I really hope for nothing but the best for them going forward.
I think the 4CC team will be Rika-Wakaba-Satoko. Tomoe doesn’t have time to get the TES minimums, so if Rika withdraws then I think either Yuhana or Kaori will get the spot. For Worlds, I say Rika-Wakaba should be there for sure, and the last spot is probably between Tomoe and Satoko. If Tomoe doesn’t get the TES minimums/opts for Junior Worlds, then I wouldn’t see anyone beating out Satoko for the spot.
I was hoping she’d go for the 4S in the midst of this splatfest competition but I guess she opted not to risk herself further. I agree with the others that she should skip 4CC and come back in better form for Worlds. I mean, she has the 4CC title already!Really happy to see Wakaba regain her form completely. Even after her several well-skated SPs this season, I really couldn’t see her getting through a great FS ever again. But wow, she proved me wrong! Just one mistake but the rest was all solid! Program needs a lot of work so I feel the PCS wasn’t underscored at all, but nevertheless it was great to see the Wakaba we know come back.
Haven’t watched Tomoe yet, but I’m just surprised she held it together this time! She’s such a lovely skater with great jumps too. I know she’s eligible for seniors but I don’t think going to 4CC or Worlds will do any favours for her at this point of her career. We’ll see what they decide on.
And wow, I knew from the moment that both Satoko and Kaori stepped on the ice something was going to be off, but...wow. I didn’t either of them to have such disastrous skate, much less both (is this the first time we’ve ever seen Satoko have a complete meltdown?). It’s understandable though given Satoko’s coaching change and fixing up her jumps, but what about Kaori? She already looked pretty tentative even before she started and her FS at IDF was a bit iffy as well. I really hope for nothing but the best for them going forward.
I think the 4CC team will be Rika-Wakaba-Satoko. Tomoe doesn’t have time to get the TES minimums, so if Rika withdraws then I think either Yuhana or Kaori will get the spot. For Worlds, I say Rika-Wakaba should be there for sure, and the last spot is probably between Tomoe and Satoko. If Tomoe doesn’t get the TES minimums/opts for Junior Worlds, then I wouldn’t see anyone beating out Satoko for the spot.
I don't think Tomoe is going to be send at 4CC or at worlds. First she would need to take part in an other senior competition before...
And even if she was 3rd at nationals she didn't get a really high score. She managed to be 1st because the usual stronger skaters bombed their performances. I think today was the best we've seen from her and even if she repeats it (not likely) it wouldn't be enough at 4CC or at worlds.
Satoko and Kaori are still more likely to be selected.
I don't really know how the Japanese federation is going to make its choice but I thik it should be Rika (obviously), Satoko (because she had the best GP results among japanese skaters except Rika and still better than Kaori today) and Wakaba (she was very good today).
And even if she was 3rd at nationals she didn't get a really high score. She managed to be 1st because the usual stronger skaters bombed their performances. I think today was the best we've seen from her and even if she repeats it (not likely) it wouldn't be enough at 4CC or at worlds.
Satoko and Kaori are still more likely to be selected.
I don't really know how the Japanese federation is going to make its choice but I thik it should be Rika (obviously), Satoko (because she had the best GP results among japanese skaters except Rika and still better than Kaori today) and Wakaba (she was very good today).
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- Mar 28, 2014
I'd send Kihira, Higuchi, and Miyahara to Worlds. Higuchi, Sakamoto, and Kawabata to 4CCs. Rika needs to rest and Satoko needs time to just focus on training and figuring out why she's been so messy. Maybe a senior B beforehand but she doesn't need the ranking points for Worlds.
Kawabata is not eligible for 4CC, and I don't know of a senior competition happening before then where she can become eligible. She would have time to qualify for senior Worlds though.
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- Mar 28, 2014
There's that Polish senior B in early January that she can go to like Chock and Bates did last year. If not, I'd just send her to senior Bs to boost her world standing to hopefully get a Grand Prix next year and then also give her the NHK host spot.
For what it's worth, this is what Kaori said after IDF:
https://twitter.com/beeeryo/status/1191022762803916800
My translation: "Last year my motivation was really high, but this year I don't have that energy/force that I had last year. First of all, I kinda feel like I can't win against the girls who can do quads. I'd practice, but then I'd go to a competition and do badly, and then I'd practice some more, and then still do badly in competition, and that just seems to keep happening this year."
So to me it sounds like a combination of 1) missing the stimulation she'd get from training with Mai, 2) feeling like training hard isn't translating into good competition results, and 3) feeling like even if she skates well in a competition she won't necessarily win...
Poor Kaori... I hope she can find her motivation again. :yes: I enjoyed seeing her powerful skating at Skate America, and she looked quite good in the early practice sessions, so maybe working with a sports psychologist would help...?
Random Q from me: It's cool that Rika did the 3A+3T again in her FS, but I'm a bit puzzled why she did that. The base value is higher if she does 3A+2T in the first half and 3F+3T in the second half. Has she been struggling with the 3F+3T? Or is it to show that she can do 3A+3T (but other 3A skaters can't/don't)?
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- Mar 3, 2018
The latter, most likely. 3A-3T is only ever about bragging rights, it doesn't actually help your base value due to how the ISU assigns values to combinations.Or is it to show that she can do 3A+3T (but other 3A skaters can't/don't)?
This Japanese article says that Kawabata competed with lower back pain, making her performance all the more impressive.
https://www.nikkansports.com/m/sports/news/201912210001106_m.html?mode=all
https://www.nikkansports.com/m/sports/news/201912210001106_m.html?mode=all
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- Mar 22, 2018
I'm so happy that Rika finally won her national tittle! :sad21: 
I think the selections for 4CC and Worlds will be:
4CC: Rika Kihira, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto
Worlds: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Tomoe is age elegible but she has not competed in a senior b competition yet to get the minimun score and there is not almost time to get those, so she will compete only at world junior championships with Mana Kawabe and maybe a junior b competition just to gain consistency.
Rika will probably withdraw from 4CC to rest and bring back her beautiful lutz and gain more consistency with her 4S, so Satoko will replace her at that competition
so 4cc could be: Satoko Miyahara, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto
But maybe Satoko could also withdraw to improve her new technique an do her best at worlds so, the skaters that will go to 4CC may be: Wakaba Higuchi, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto, this can help Wakaba to regain her reputation and improve her international scores including the triple axel, and be prepared better for worlds.
I think the selections for 4CC and Worlds will be:
4CC: Rika Kihira, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto
Worlds: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Tomoe is age elegible but she has not competed in a senior b competition yet to get the minimun score and there is not almost time to get those, so she will compete only at world junior championships with Mana Kawabe and maybe a junior b competition just to gain consistency.
Rika will probably withdraw from 4CC to rest and bring back her beautiful lutz and gain more consistency with her 4S, so Satoko will replace her at that competition
so 4cc could be: Satoko Miyahara, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto
But maybe Satoko could also withdraw to improve her new technique an do her best at worlds so, the skaters that will go to 4CC may be: Wakaba Higuchi, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto, this can help Wakaba to regain her reputation and improve her international scores including the triple axel, and be prepared better for worlds.
I'm so happy that Rika finally won her national tittle! :sad21:
I think the selections for 4CC and Worlds will be:
4CC: Rika Kihira, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto
Worlds: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Tomoe is age elegible but she has not competed in a senior b competition yet to get the minimun score and there is not almost time to get those, so she will compete only at world junior championships with Mana Kawabe and maybe a junior b competition just to gain consistency.
Rika will probably withdraw from 4CC to rest and bring back her beautiful lutz and gain more consistency with her 4S, so Satoko will replace her at that competition
so 4cc could be: Satoko Miyahara, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto
But maybe Satoko could also withdraw to improve her new technique an do her best at worlds so, the skaters that will go to 4CC may be: Wakaba Higuchi, Yuhana Yokoi, Kaori Sakamoto, this can help Wakaba to regain her reputation and improve her international scores including the triple axel, and be prepared better for worlds.
I like your scenario.
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
OR......
they choose the same skaters for both competitions and they competed as scheduled (20%)
4cc: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Worlds: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Rika WD from 4cc (50%)
4cc: Yuhana Yokoi, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Satoko also WD from 4cc (25%)
4cc: Yuhana Yokoi, Wakaba Higuchi, Kaori Sakamoto
Only Satoko WD from 4cc (5%)
4cc: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Yuhana Yokoi
This is just my opinion
they choose the same skaters for both competitions and they competed as scheduled (20%)
4cc: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Worlds: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Rika WD from 4cc (50%)
4cc: Yuhana Yokoi, Wakaba Higuchi, Satoko Miyahara
Satoko also WD from 4cc (25%)
4cc: Yuhana Yokoi, Wakaba Higuchi, Kaori Sakamoto
Only Satoko WD from 4cc (5%)
4cc: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Yuhana Yokoi
This is just my opinion
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- Dec 5, 2015
Yuhana does not meet any of the Japanese selection criteria. She will not be chosen. Rika is guaranteed the spots at 4CC and World's if she wants them. The other eligible skaters are Wakaba and Kawabata due to nationals placement and Sakamoto, Miyahara due to world ranking.
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