2024 GP France: Men's Thoughts?

[Magill]

It's been happening since the 2022-2023 season started.

Unfortunately some top male skaters make for easier "enemies" for fans to pile on while this goes under the radar. Malinin right now is the perfect distraction- you can't even begin to talk about what this European block is doing without someone going "what about Malinin's overscoring??????" Yes, exactly, you fell for the bait while the results that impacts actual qualifications are being maneuvered.

I think manipulating scores is much older than this, maybe as old as FS, but I understand you are talking about this particular block. Unfortunately there is no other reason I can think of to explain such low PCSs scores for Jun or Sota. As much as I like Adam, I like Jun and Sota as much if not more, and it shouldn't matter anyway, We should strive for objective scoring , and with these marks, there is no way I can make myself believe these scores are anyway close to unbiased and objective, So sorry.

 

[rabidline]

I think manipulating scores is much older than this, maybe as old as FS, but I understand you are talking about this particular block. Unfortunately there is no other reason I can think of to explain such low PCSs scores for Jun or Sota. As much as I like Adam, I like Jun and Sota as much if not more, and it shouldn't matter anyway, We should strive for objective scoring , and with these marks, there is no way I can make myself believe these scores are anyway close to unbiased and objective, So sorry.

This particular block and this particular cast of skaters... Junhwan at NHK Trophy 2022, Shun at GP Finland 2023, the list goes on...

You know why Shun was 2nd at Skate Canada? Because unlike Junhwan and Sota who will meet Kevin and Daniel Grassl at GP Finland, he will be at Cup of China instead. Less direct threat.

 

[Magill]

This particular block and this particular cast of skaters... Junhwan at NHK Trophy 2022, Shun at GP Finland 2023, the list goes on...

You know why Shun was 2nd at Skate Canada? Because unlike Junhwan and Sota who will meet Kevin and Daniel Grassl at GP Finland, he will be at Cup of China instead. Less direct threat.

Could be, Too bad!

 

[cailuj365]

Tanking the floor of their components so that the second lowest marks will get counted. All for positioning- Jun 3rd and Sota 4th put them at a disadvantage at GP Finland where they will meet Kevin (2nd) and Grassl (2nd).

Look at from whom Jun got his 6s = French judge (Short), Italian judge (Free). Sota got his 5.75 also from the French judge in the free.

Unfortunately some top male skaters make for easier "enemies" for fans to pile on while this goes under the radar. Malinin right now is the perfect distraction- you can't even begin to talk about what this European block is doing without someone going "what about Malinin's overscoring??????" Yes, exactly, you fell for the bait while the results that impacts actual qualifications are being maneuvered.

I noticed the 6.75 and 5.75 for Jun and Sota too and thought that was absolutely egregious. I actually don't think Malinin's that overscored with the high 8s for PCS. Feels appropriate for what he's putting out there, but 5.75 for Sota?? These are scores that you see for new JGP skaters coming in 10th place. Just completely bonkers.

 

[rabidline]

I noticed the 6.75 and 5.75 for Jun and Sota too and thought that was absolutely egregious. I actually don't think Malinin's that overscored with the high 8s for PCS. Feels appropriate for what he's putting out there, but 5.75 for Sota?? These are scores that you see for new JGP skaters coming in 10th place. Just completely bonkers.

It's why Malinin is a great distraction. Everyone gets satisfied by calling him names and insulting the judges that they all didn't notice the end goal on why these scores were given on certain skaters.

And as you can see, they know very well that certain fans will only hyperfixate on certain top skaters and ignore the possibility of why this is happening because it involves skaters who don't threaten records....

 

[Magill]

Pinpointing who is to benefit from scores' deflation, or simply lowballing, is always a guess and there can always be more than one intended beneficiary. Yet the deflation as such is a fact here and no one will persuade me to believe it was not intentional and these judges believed these skaters really deserved such a low score. If the judges really believed that, well, it just proves them incompetent as judges. Still, I rather tend to think this is a case of intentional misjudgement to keep the PCS giants down. The same thing was practised on Yuzuru Hanyu with outrageously low PCS scores he was receiving for some of his iconic performances, so here the story goes again. Sigh.
Whichever way, these judges should not sit on any panel in the future. Which we know will not be the case. Sigh again.

 

[ElSoteroLoco]

Younghyun Cha

Thanks.....he kinda resembles Yudong Chen when I saw him compete at the Shanghai Trophy earlier this season

 

[lariko]

I noticed the 6.75 and 5.75 for Jun and Sota too and thought that was absolutely egregious. I actually don't think Malinin's that overscored with the high 8s for PCS. Feels appropriate for what he's putting out there, but 5.75 for Sota?? These are scores that you see for new JGP skaters coming in 10th place. Just completely bonkers.

The PCSs are lower this season across the board, and Sota Yamomoto skates on straight legs with bad edges and lands on straight legs like most Eu guys without the soft knees/leg kick back position. He doesn't have the extreme speeds that Kagiyama, Shimada and Tomono demonstrated. And, like, his arms is a choice and his body positions are awkward.

Not all Japanese should get 8+ PCSs automatically. So, yeah, welcome to how European guys get scored because they have firmer knees and longer limbs.

 

[Mathman]

I think manipulating scores is much older than this, maybe as old as FS,

Ulrich Salchow *Sweden) and Gibert Fuchs (Germany) refused to complete at championships such as worlds (1906) and the Olympics (1908) if the other were entered and the judges were from the wrong countries.

Five-time world champion Herma Szabo lost to upstart Sonja Henie at1929 Worlds by a score of three (Norwegian) judges to two (Austrian/German) judges. She promptly retired and never skated again.

 

[cailuj365]

The PCSs are lower this season across the board, and Sota Yamomoto skates on straight legs with bad edges and lands on straight legs like most Eu guys without the soft knees/leg kick back position. He doesn't have the extreme speeds that Kagiyama, Shimada and Tomono demonstrated. And, like, his arms is a choice and his body positions are awkward.

Not all Japanese should get 8+ PCSs automatically. So, yeah, welcome to how European guys get scored because they have firmer knees and longer limbs.

Sota's 5.75 was in composition, not skating skills. In fact, the same judge gave him a 8.50 in skating skills and 6.00 in presentation. That judge REALLY did not care for his program or how he expressed and presented it. The 5.75 is really quite harsh. It's not the most exciting program, but it's not 5.75!