2022 Worlds Pre-Game Chat

[skatedreamer]

It will be exciting in a different way. I agree all the Japanese ladies, Koreans, Loena, Alysa and heck even Karen or Mariah could medal. But look at pairs - yikes. USA could win gold and silver. Why MTM didn't try I don't know - well I kind of understand but this is the greatest opportunity for teams to medal.

That would be something to see, since the US hasn't won any World medals in pairs since 2002 when Ina/Zimmerman got the bronze.
And for the Olympics, you have to go back to Watson/Oppegard in 1988 (also bronze).

Pairs is my favorite discipline and much as I admire the Chinese and Russian pairs, my heart would LOVE to see a US pair on the podium again...even though there would be sort of an * for the medal because the best competitors won't be there.

 

[skatedreamer]

Crazy talk. If USFSA is going to pull some sort of freaky underhanded deal-making shenanigans, I hope they don't waste the effort on Mariah Bell.

Nice girl, but let's be honest. Middling international results, no real competitive future. She's got other things to do, and I wish her well.

I don't want no shenanigans nohow from nobody. Just the idea infuriates me -- I mean, look at the way it made me lose my grammar!

Sorry to say I agree about Mariah. She's had some nice performances at US nats but doesn't hold up on the world stage, sadly. And how the bleep did she get better scores for her FS than Gubanova??? It is a puzzlement...

 

[NanaPat]

The original article I linked didn't contain any info about rerouting, and certainly not in the headline, otherwise I wouldn't have posted it. It has been edited in the hours after I posted it, as you can see below the article. Which means *I* didn't make the article sound more dramatic than it was, thank you nicely.

I am glad alternative routes can be found, and Japanese skaters can hopefully get to Europe in safety.

Sorry I blamed you. News outlets like to overdramatize, then quietly change articles when they get caught.

Yes, the good news is that the airlines are trying to accommodate passengers (including the Japanese skaters) safely. Let's hope they can pull it off!

 

[Arigato]

And how the bleep did she get better scores for her FS than Gubanova??? It is a puzzlement...

She wuzrobbed.

 

[skatingiscool]

Real tea: Mariah was the better skater this season. Karen had multiple opportunities to deliver at the Olympics and as much as she is the best skater artistically (IMO) of the US women, she just is unable to deliver technically. And even PCS won't save her if she's doing her usual underrotations and other critical errors like her loop. Mariah didn't do a 3-3 but she at least CAN do a 3-3 that is reliably ratified. Alysa should also be out for blood too... she pulled 219 earlier this season, and if she just does what she can do (avoid the 3A and go clean in the SP), she has a shot to medal.

Speaking of shots to medal, I really wish Mai were skating - she really could have pulled off a podium finish. Augh, stupid JSF.

or Reno. Both Reno and Mai could have pulled off a podium finish.

 

[skatedreamer]

She wuzrobbed.

Assuming you mean Gubanova, you bet she wuz! And so wuz Yuna in 2014...

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

or Reno. Both Reno and Mai could have pulled off a podium finish.

Matsuike is way too inconsistent at this point. Nice FS at 4CC but the SP buried her.

 

[surimi]

Matsuike is way too inconsistent at this point. Nice FS at 4CC but the SP buried her.

Rino is coming back from injury this season, and her programs are steadily improving. She was super clean last week at Challenge Cup in both programs, and improved on her PB. She has more podium potential than Mana at this point (Rino at Challenge Cup: over 224, vs. Mana's personal best at Japanese Natonals: 209). And, she's on an upward trajectory.

 

[lariko]

So, I basically gave up on trying to understand figure skating scoring balance, so I was wondering if someone who understand the current preferences can tell me if any of the following can happen with a 50% or higher probability?

1. Uno winning gold
2. Grassl on the podium
3. Gubanova in top 6
4. Schizas in top 6
5. Kurakova on the podium
6. You on the podium
7. Smart/Diaz on the podium

Will appreciate this very much.

 

[slider11]

Very excited about Worlds! Although I will miss seeing Tarasova/Morozov, I won't miss the obsession with ladies' quads. It will be nice to just see quality skating and expression on ice.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

So, I basically gave up on trying to understand figure skating scoring balance, so I was wondering if someone who understand the current preferences can tell me if any of the following can happen with a 50% or higher probability?

1. Uno winning gold
2. Grassl on the podium
3. Gubanova in top 6
4. Schizas in top 6
5. Kurakova on the podium
6. You on the podium
7. Smart/Diaz on the podium

Will appreciate this very much.

Uno: possible, he will need to land all his quads and count on mistakes from Nathan, but under 50% chance for sure
Grassl: possible, would need to go clean, rotate his jumps, and again count on mistakes from Zhou, Uno, and/or Kagiyama, under 50% for sure
Gubanova: if she's scored fairly and goes clean, yes, would go 50%
Schizas: if she skates clean, also yes, would go 50%
Kurakova: highly highly unlikely, would need to skate two clean programs and rely on a complete meltdown
You: quite possible, will need to rotate 3As and land both but absolutely a podium contender
Smart/Diaz: as much as I want this, we would need a complete disaster of an ice dance event, as H/D, C/B and P/C have the podium pretty locked up with G/P behind them

 

[lariko]

Uno: possible, he will need to land all his quads and count on mistakes from Nathan, but under 50% chance for sure
Grassl: possible, would need to go clean, rotate his jumps, and again count on mistakes from Zhou, Uno, and/or Kagiyama, under 50% for sure
Gubanova: if she's scored fairly and goes clean, yes, would go 50%
Schizas: if she skates clean, also yes, would go 50%
Kurakova: highly highly unlikely, would need to skate two clean programs and rely on a complete meltdown
You: quite possible, will need to rotate 3As and land both but absolutely a podium contender
Smart/Diaz: as much as I want this, we would need a complete disaster of an ice dance event, as H/D, C/B and P/C have the podium pretty locked up with G/P behind them

Okay, thank you. I will skip the Worlds then.

 

[Skater Boy]

That would be something to see, since the US hasn't won any World medals in pairs since 2002 when Ina/Zimmerman got the bronze.
And for the Olympics, you have to go back to Watson/Oppegard in 1988 (also bronze).

Pairs is my favorite discipline and much as I admire the Chinese and Russian pairs, my heart would LOVE to see a US pair on the podium again...even though there would be sort of an * for the medal because the best competitors won't be there.

Have some faith. I believe with the teams competing if you look at the olympic results and consider the Canadian top team is also gone USA could win two medal including gold though I think the real fave is Japan. USA is sitting in perfect position. I bet the Canadian federation is mad that MTM wouldnt skate an help earn three spots instead of struggling for two. It will be so odd not to have a Russian or chinese team in the top 3, top 5 or 10. And yes, while a win is a win there will probably be in the minds of many an asterik. Alexa take your medal and run - far away .

 

[Skater Boy]

Uno: possible, he will need to land all his quads and count on mistakes from Nathan, but under 50% chance for sure
Grassl: possible, would need to go clean, rotate his jumps, and again count on mistakes from Zhou, Uno, and/or Kagiyama, under 50% for sure
Gubanova: if she's scored fairly and goes clean, yes, would go 50%
Schizas: if she skates clean, also yes, would go 50%
Kurakova: highly highly unlikely, would need to skate two clean programs and rely on a complete meltdown
You: quite possible, will need to rotate 3As and land both but absolutely a podium contender
Smart/Diaz: as much as I want this, we would need a complete disaster of an ice dance event, as H/D, C/B and P/C have the podium pretty locked up with G/P behind them

I would love it if with PC we saw GP and the italians on the podium. I do wonder had russia been able to skate if HD would have shown up to worlds. I don't think you look at Gubanova, Schizas or Kurakova as you have Olga, Loeana, the Koreans, the Americans, the Japanese before you even look at these ladies who would be thrilled to be in the top 10.

 

[skatingiscool]

I would love it if with PC we saw GP and the italians on the podium. I do wonder had russia been able to skate if HD would have shown up to worlds. I don't think you look at Gubanova, Schizas or Kurakova as you have Olga, Loeana, the Koreans, the Americans, the Japanese before you even look at these ladies who would be thrilled to be in the top 10.

Koari is almost guaranteed on podium. Leona and Mariah have huge PCS and GOE advantage. Even if Leona and Mariah falls on jumps and mistakes everywhere, they won't lose GOE and PCS scores as much as Karen. Alysa, Young You and Wakaba have high base value programs (3A, triple triple). For Gubanova, Schizas or Kurakova? top 10 finish? Yes Podium? No. Gubanova, Schizas or Kurakova are good but simply not competitive enough against Japanese, Koreans, and Americans.

 

[sheskates]

I would love it if with PC we saw GP and the italians on the podium. I do wonder had russia been able to skate if HD would have shown up to worlds. I don't think you look at Gubanova, Schizas or Kurakova as you have Olga, Loeana, the Koreans, the Americans, the Japanese before you even look at these ladies who would be thrilled to be in the top 10.

H/D stated at the beginning of the season they would like to win gold at Worlds. They always planned on going.

 

[Skater Boy]

Assuming you mean Gubanova, you bet she wuz! And so wuz Yuna in 2014...

Oh brother...down the rabbit hill we go Sometimes I think it is the loudest "voice" that wins. There have been past world championships where I thought BS should have beaten SP or there could have been outrage that T and M lost to S and H this year or.. It i in the eye of the beholder and the strongest whose perspective that often wins. I can see sports and skating becoming a joke. Politics. Money Drugs Professional Athletes (NHL, NBA) Changing countries like no tomorrow (the Reeds...) Technology ie German Bobsleds Conspiracy theories. Champions are no longer borne; they are manufactured.

 

[skatedreamer]

Oh brother...down the rabbit hill we go Sometimes I think it is the loudest "voice" that wins. There have been past world championships where I thought BS should have beaten SP or there could have been outrage that T and M lost to S and H this year or.. It i in the eye of the beholder and the strongest whose perspective that often wins. I can see sports and skating becoming a joke. Politics. Money Drugs Professional Athletes (NHL, NBA) Changing countries like no tomorrow (the Reeds...) Technology ie German Bobsleds Conspiracy theories. Champions are no longer borne; they are manufactured.

Sorry, no rabbit hole or hijacking intended. There was some joking in another thread about "we wuz robbed" and how often it happens. @Arigato and I had a few funny exchanges about it earlier in this thread, so I was just responding to that.

 

[Skater Boy]

H/D stated at the beginning of the season they would like to win gold at Worlds. They always planned on going.

Ah but marketing some times plays a role and ending on a bronze medal at the olympics is sometimes better than 4th or 5th at worlds. And the have th hoe nation advantage. Winning a gold seems like a stretch unless PC fall a few times. Hoping GP and the Italians can upset HD for a different story.

 

[Weathergal]

Oh brother...down the rabbit hill we go Sometimes I think it is the loudest "voice" that wins. There have been past world championships where I thought BS should have beaten SP or there could have been outrage that T and M lost to S and H this year or.. It i in the eye of the beholder and the strongest whose perspective that often wins. I can see sports and skating becoming a joke. Politics. Money Drugs Professional Athletes (NHL, NBA) Changing countries like no tomorrow (the Reeds...) Technology ie German Bobsleds Conspiracy theories. Champions are no longer borne; they are manufactured.

Just to clarify, "the Reeds" didn't country hop. Their mother is from Japan and father from America. Cathy / Chris won the 2006 novice championship for the U.S. then switched to Japan and skated for them for the rest of their career. When Cathy retired, Chris partnered with Kana Muramoto and continued to skate for Japan.

Only Allison skated for a bunch of other countries - Georgia, Israel, and Lithuania.