2020 NHK Trophy: Ladies' FS

[Lamente Ariane]

"She'll be taking on all those Russians in Stockholm" with her leg slice move? Because that sounds like a Mission Impossible movie, Simon.

 

[readernick]

Just amazing! I really wanted Wakaba to win, but the podium here is fair. Wakaba landed an axel and Kaori was clean. The rising talent is Japanese ladies is immense.

 

[anonymoose_au]

OMG the score is enormous!!!

Aww Wakaba, it's unfair to make her feel so bad, she was so good! She was definitely second, but not by 29 points, no way!

Think about your choices judges!

 

[LittleLotte29]

153??? WOOOOW.
congrats Kaori
(also the judges got really scared that she's gonna get closer in her next choreo sequence, DON'T POKE THE BEAR)

 

[rollerblade]

I actually asked a few Japanese coaches about this a few weeks ago. They don’t do Eulers because they don’t find them graceful.

Rika Kihira has very lovely eulers though.

 

[yume]

Mai and 4th place: A love story.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

What a reaction from Kaori!!!

She is just the sort of person that you can't help but like.

Absolutely delighted for her.

Right, time for breakfast. No, interview time.

YouTube cut it off just as the pictures went to her, but Eurosport Player is still on air.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Lamente Ariane]

Booo ISU stream cut off before the interview, I wanted the Japanese comprehension practice!

 

[AlimaAsh]

Agreed, the discrepancy in judging is quite clear. Kaori is lovely and deserved to win, but the other girls deserve to be judged by the same standards.

 

[saturdaysun]

I actually asked a few Japanese coaches about this a few weeks ago. They don’t do Eulers because they don’t find them graceful.

That's fascinating! I was just thinking wow the Japanese ladies are really upping the three-jump combo game with everyone doing the 3T-2T instead of the 2T-2Lo most other ladies do.

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

Marin being last in TES is something i understand but her being fourth to last in PCS with 7.30 for SS is something i will be angry about for the rest of eternity.

 

[anonymoose_au]

I just realize I have a few minutes delay (Peacock) so the PBPs probably aren't worth much Perhaps someone else can take over for the Men?

No they're good You even included the GOE! Helpful!

 

[Noxchild]

Love Kaori, but they are punking us with this score, nooo? Lol. Yes, I had to comment just for that. Everyone else's were so stingy, especially Mai wth!! Oh well...

 

[Skatefan15]

Kaori was scored pretty fairly, the problem is no one else was. I love her and her skating but I don’t know...

 

[Ichatdelune]

The judging is still questionable but I'm too tired to hold onto it, I'm just glad that Young had a much better free. She's going to have to go through 2 weeks of quarantine and then do the Ranking Competition in a week, I can only hope she takes care of herself (sigh)

 

[colormyworld240]

Beautiful 3A by Wakaba but again we see that a 3A/quad isn't everything. Kaori's TES was much higher without and her performance was gorgeous, that 3Lo out of the choreo sequence is magical. And she takes the PCS lead in the GPs so far, just ahead of Alena.

I don't think her being that ahead is that much of a scoring discrepancy. I only watched the top 6 but her elements weren't just clean, they were done with such high quality. All of her jumps were integrated into the music; they weren't just jumps they added to the choreography and elevated program. She had so many moments that just kept on building while everyone else was more one-note.

 

[yume]

153 for Kaori...
Now where are those who didn't believe that Kaori is such a fed fave and that Wakaba had a chance to beat her with a clean program that has 3A?
Add the points she lost for the pops + 3 points on pcs and she doesn't even come close to 150.

 

[cake]

I´m so glad to be able to watch a such a bunch of fine skating in this strange season. And I can´t say how much I love the Matrix program

 

[Skatefan15]

153 for Kaori...
Now where are those who didn't believe that Kaori is such a fed fave and that Wakaba had a chance to beat her with a clean program that has 3A?
Add the points she lost for the pops + 3 points on pcs and she doesn't even come close to 150.

I like both of their skating, but it also comes down to GOEs which Kaori does have on Wakaba for most jumps. Wakaba should be overall closer than 30 points for sure, though.

 

[anonymoose_au]

It's just a bit worrying to think the other Japanese ladies might get discouraged after seeing the scores today.

The placements are correct and that's good, but the scores should at least tell the story and they don't here

Still I want to congratulate Kaori! I hated the Matrix movie (I wanted to walk out, but was with friends) :laugh), but her program is just epic!

Congratulations to Wakaba too! I hope she isn't discouraged!

I wonder would she have won if she hadn't popped?