2024 Finlandia Trophy Women's Free Skate

[withwings]

We are having a discussion and agreeing on most things. Im just trying to understand his logic on where we disagree. There is nothing wrong with that on a blog such as this. Just everyone only agreeing with each other is pointless. As far as being in the wrong area, I agree with that. Sometimes discussions lead in unforseen directions and I apologize for that.

there is no need to apologize, there was nothing wrong

 

[nguyhm]

Awwww, lovely! She just floats over the ice.

I secretly wish that Rino and Sota will team up for ice dance. They both have masterful control of the blades and are not very consistent with the jumps (I don't mean to criticize just stating the facts). Rino has great posture (Sota might need some work) and such effortless glides. I love her and really am sad when it's hard for her to get to the top with such fierce competition in Japan.

 

[nguyhm]

that time violation better not be costly

It costed her the gold medal

 

[rain]

Homegirl needs to move to Rafael Arutyunyan STAT! Realistically speaking, such a move really needed to happen at the beginning of this quad back in 2022-2023 to give her the best opportunity to go for the 2026 Olympic team. At this juncture, I fear it may be too late for her, unless she is planning to stick it out for 2030.

Has Rafael ever actually fixed anyone's jumps? Not that I've ever seen. Plus he doesn't seem like a supportive coach at all — honestly not somebody I'd ever want to work with. And no great shakes when it comes to artistry either.

I'm really hoping it's not too late to fix Lindsay's jumps, but it's now or never. Doesn't seem like she has a lot to lose at this point.

 

[Isk]

It's a testament of how much what Rino brings to the table now stands out in the field, despite not holding a candle to the past. And the irony is, most fans wouldn't spare a second look on Rino if she hadn't landed all her jumps.

It depends on what one is looking for. Realistically speaking, there are so few well-choreographed programs skated by skaters who can actually skate and not imitate skating between elements, they are the only reason I still watch figure skating. Last season I was on the verge of calling it quits after many years, it was becoming not worth my time. I am sorry to say this, these kids work hard, etc., but doesn't real skill deserve recognition too? Lori discovered Christopher Tin.

 

[lileychristie]

Lori discovered Christopher Tin.

I observed this as well actually - Rino, Sota, and Hana all got Christopher Tin music from Lori Nichol this season. Makes me wonder if she just recently discovered him and got really obsessed with his music

 

[withwings]

Has Rafael ever actually fixed anyone's jumps? Not that I've ever seen. Plus he doesn't seem like a supportive coach at all — honestly not somebody I'd ever want to work with. And no great shakes when it comes to artistry either.

I'm really hoping it's not too late to fix Lindsay's jumps, but it's now or never. Doesn't seem like she has a lot to lose at this point.

Totally agree about Rafael. IMO he is not having psychological skills or natural ability to be supportive in psychologically challenging times for the skaters, or, more precisely, he is not for everyone.

I think that Korean girl Lim Eun-soo still would be skating if everything would be handled better. She was such beautiful skater.

 

[TallyT]

I think that Korean girl Lim Eun-soo still would be skating if everything would be handled better. She was such beautiful skater.

I think so too.

 

[RafaelAstro]

I think so too.

Agreed, he wasn't that good with Andrea Montesinos nor Marin Honda

 

[rabidline]

It depends on what one is looking for. Realistically speaking, there are so few well-choreographed programs skated by skaters who can actually skate and not imitate skating between elements, they are the only reason I still watch figure skating. Last season I was on the verge of calling it quits after many years, it was becoming not worth my time. I am sorry to say this, these kids work hard, etc., but doesn't real skill deserve recognition too? Lori discovered Christopher Tin.

The thing about Rino is that she's had those real skills ever since she was a junior, but she needed to land all her jumps for the skills to be recognized. And even she had her time of being accused of "overscoring" and being "JSF favorite" simply because she was a junior who still can land all her jumps, who came from Nagoya, and was Machiko Yamada's student. Now, the narrative has changed and she's "a breath of fresh air" and "what figure skating is all about" and "her PCS is severely underscored" but that wasn't the case before.

Which is fair enough, no skating skills can save a skater if they messed up 2 out of 3 jumping passes in the SP, and 6 out of 7 jumping passes in the FS. And Rino had her time (still did it at the SP in Canada) of doing this repeatedly.

 

[Jeanie19]

Agreed, he wasn't that good with Andrea Montesinos nor Marin Honda

And his comments about Sofia Somdelkina training with him, is not nice. Why can't she train with him without him saying she can't expect results right away. Where are his posts about the Sekeveko brothers? There are not any. So why are there posts about her?