2024-25 Senior Grand Prix Final Women's Free Skate

[Lamente Ariane]

Thank you ladies. Such an amazing free skate day!! Loved Kaori's great comeback after the short and Amber's such valuable win both personally and nationally!!! Congrats to US ladies skating

Couldn’t agree more! Everyone brought it today, and such great sportsmanship on display. Wonderful event.

 

[NoNameFace]

Evan Bates parents are there and his mom thanked me twice for crowning Amber.
Today's menu is strong lungs and obnoxiousnes.

 

[lileychristie]

While I'm a bit sad that Rino finished last in GPF, I still think she's on an upward trajectory and this season has been amazing for her
This GPF is probably her biggest competition to date and she kept it mostly together. Heck, she probably didn't think she could even make it to the final when this season started.

Now, I hope she continues the trajectory and continues working on her nerve so she does well at Nationals & can (at least) be in the 4CC team

 

[Weathergal]

Evan Bates parents are there and his mom thanked me twice for crowning Amber.
Today's menu is strong lungs and obnoxiousnes.

That's really cool. Sounds like he has some nice parents - not a surprise considering what a good guy he comes across.

Your crowns are beautiful! I really liked the one you gave Amber - it perfectly captured the colors in her costume! Have a great time!

 

[CellarDweller]

Such a big time gap between the women and dance.

See you all later for the free dance!!

 

[demarinis5]

Well I am doing my happy dance this morning for Amber!!!. Congratulations on her Gold Medal win!
This was a great women FS competition much better than the SP. Congrats to Mone for Silver and Kaori for the Bronze.
Great fight from all of the women today!

 

[Weathergal]

Such a big time gap between the women and dance.

See you all later for the free dance!!

Yup they've put the Junior Men, Junior Dance, and Junior Pairs in between.

Looking forward to all of it, especially the Senior Dance and Senior Men.

 

[lady_bee]

Well done girls, that was really good competition.

I am so happy for Amber, whose autograph I have on my American flag(Lucky me!)

With the All Japan Championships just two weeks away, I'm feeling increasingly nervous. I want Kaori, Mone, Rino, Wakaba and Mai in Japanese team but I know there are only three spots

 

[museksk8r]

With the All Japan Championships just two weeks away, I'm feeling increasingly nervous. I want Kaori, Mone, Rino, Wakaba and Mai in Japanese team but I know there are only three spots

For real! So many Japanese athletes are worthy of a world team spot and it will hurt to see the skaters who don’t make it.

 

[4everchan]

Evan Bates parents are there and his mom thanked me twice for crowning Amber.
Today's menu is strong lungs and obnoxiousnes.

Did you tell Evan's mom who you think Piper and Paul are the true WC ? ok.. just being a brat

 

[4everchan]

For real! So many Japanese athletes are worthy of a world team spot and it will hurt to see the skaters who don’t make it.

but they remain classy in such a competitive field. this is why they are so respected...

 

[elbkup]

I’ll be honest I hid in the kitchen when Amber took the ice hands clasped but I needn’t have worried.. peeking around the corner into the LR TV I saw the whole thing it was Lorca’s Duende .. no words, a privilege to witness. Adore her programs this season and love she went lyrical for the free. And the crown the finishing touch.. did you see her change direction to retrieve it as she came off the ice? Her coach is wonderful!

 

[Joekaz]

Congratulations to Amber, very impressive win by her. mone was my favourite skate of the day, she was gorgeous on the ice. Great fight by Kaori, but she looked nervous and the underrotations cost her a higher spot.

There were some pops and underrotations, but not a single fall today IIRC, which is pretty impressive.

Honestly, despite the fall in the SP, I thought Higuchi deserved 3rd over Kaori in the competition and definitely should have beaten her in the LP. She outskated her here.

 

[Demandred]

Honestly, despite the fall in the SP, I thought Higuchi deserved 3rd over Kaori in the competition and definitely should have beaten her in the LP. She outskated her here.

Kaori is my favourite, but I agree. The PCS gap between them in the free was too big for sure, Kaori was a bit overscored there and Wakaba was underscored.

 

[lileychristie]

With the All Japan Championships just two weeks away, I'm feeling increasingly nervous. I want Kaori, Mone, Rino, Wakaba and Mai in Japanese team but I know there are only three spots

I'm grateful that Japan usually sends different teams for 4CC and Worlds - I'm thinking (hoping... praying..) Rino, Hana and Rion for 4CC and Kaori, Mone and Wakaba for Worlds

 

[Joekaz]

Kaori is my favourite, but I agree. The PCS gap between them in the free was too big for sure, Kaori was a bit overscored there and Wakaba was underscored.

Kaori was saying that she hasn't been good in practice recently, I believe. She has been a very durable skater over her career. Hopefully that workload isn't catching up to her with the Olys coming up next year. We will see at Nationals, which is the real competition anyway.

 

[ManyCairns]

Delightful competition! The women were all so gracious to each other! and gave us the audience lovely skates to watch.

 

[nguyhm]

I'm watching from Peacock and am disappointed that I won't be able to watch the Senior Women's medal ceremony. I love the camaraderie that the japanese women have among themselves and to others. Too bad I won't be able to see it for this event (I do love the backstage clips).

 

[reader3]

Congratulations to Amber especially and all the medalists.

 

[Zora]

Wakaba - I really like her as a skater, but her free program this season is disappointing. There's nothing going on, it gets slightly better in the second half and then in the step sequence she finally comes alive.

Rino - Her music is a bit repetitive, but she immediately transports me into a fairyland and creates an image in my head, so I'm not mad about that. Her program feels very authentic for her and her skating skills are excellent.

Kaori - She makes me really nervous this season. I don't think repeating the Lutz is a good choice for her, she is too often off-axis. It shows she is nervous about her Flip und Lutz jumps and then there are 4 of them. And when she's tense, this program falls a bit flat and her movements become a bit wonky. Still a good skate.

Hana - I don't like her skating, sorry. I don't think I've ever seen a program where she could really show her personality, I feel like she is always just imitating her choreographer.

Mone - Best program for me, so much attention to detail in choreography, arm movements, head movements. Her interpretation of the music is great, also the music offers a lot of opportunities for choreography. The only thing she lacks is confidence. She looks worried before she starts, she looks worried during her program when she's not trying to smile, she looks worried after her performance. She needs to work on that. Even if she's not confident, she should pretend to be... I think it was Satoko Miyahara who said she had to learn how to celebrate after a good skate.

Amber - I'm amazed about the stability of her 3A and I'm happy for her victory. But her program is not good, especially the middle part.