2024 NHK Trophy Women's Free Skate | Page 22 | Golden Skate

2024 NHK Trophy Women's Free Skate

I've just followed this discussion back through the thread. What Chris has been saying is "packed to the gunnels". It means full to the very small spaces and aisles, or completely full. It's a Yorkshire phrase. A gunnel is the same as a vennel or a cut - a small passage between houses or connecting one street to another.
Thank you! I was not aware of the Yorkshire phrase - I have learned something today. I see that the Yorkshire Historical Dictionary has an entry for the small connecting passage under ginnel. Re my comment, "to the gunwales" is also an idiom which is attested in the sense of "packed to capacity". Now I wonder which one Chris was using!
 
Thank you! I was not aware of the Yorkshire phrase - I have learned something today. I see that the Yorkshire Historical Dictionary has an entry for the small connecting passage under ginnel. Re my comment, "to the gunwales" is also an idiom which is attested in the sense of "packed to capacity". Now I wonder which one Chris was using!
I'm watching the pairs short at the moment, and he is definitely using 'gunnels' there.
 
It's not pronounced like that here, though. Gun-wayle.
I don't want to derail the thread further, so this will be my last post on what is Chris saying, but gunnel is an attested British English pronunciation of gunwale in the Cambridge, Collins and Oxford English Dictionaries, and is how the English half of my family has always said it. Given that the U.K. still has relatively rich regional variation in pronunciation, I presume we're just sitting on different sides of this particular isogloss.

Thank you once again for telling me about the Yorkshire idiom - we certainly are having some interesting discussions about British English after the GPs at the moment!
 
While that may partially be true, you also have to be fair and consider all variables, such as the bodies of Eteri girls not lasting past the age of 18. Their technique is meant to have a very limited expiration date. Look at what is happening to Isabeau Levito right now whose camp taught her that Russian technique. She is 17, turning 18 next March, and sadly for her the clock is ticking rapidly. Now with the new age limit for senior competition, it is clear from watching their domestic events that they are really struggling to find a girl who will present a challenge past the age of 18. Kaori Sakamoto has displayed great consistency and has wonderful skating skills and technique! She has a lot of up and coming skaters in her home nation breathing heavily down her neck. Now she will also be in danger of losing her crown this season should Amber Glenn continue building consistency and skate a clean event.
Its 100 percent true. Plus her main domestic competition who ranked above her was removed through injury. Im not saying Kaori doesn't deserve her titles. Im saying Mao would have won many more with Kim Yuna and Miki Ando banned. I don't think Amber's 3As can overcome Kaori's PCS and GOE marks, which honestly are getting a little ridiculous. But with World's in the US and the ISU being the ISU, anything is possible.
 
Its 100 percent true. Plus her main domestic competition who ranked above her was removed through injury. Im not saying Kaori doesn't deserve her titles. Im saying Mao would have won many more with Kim Yuna and Miki Ando banned. I don't think Amber's 3As can overcome Kaori's PCS and GOE marks, which honestly are getting a little ridiculous. But with World's in the US and the ISU being the ISU, anything is possible.
Amber would also have to put together two clean skates
 
Its 100 percent true. Plus her main domestic competition who ranked above her was removed through injury. Im not saying Kaori doesn't deserve her titles. Im saying Mao would have won many more with Kim Yuna and Miki Ando banned. I don't think Amber's 3As can overcome Kaori's PCS and GOE marks, which honestly are getting a little ridiculous. But with World's in the US and the ISU being the ISU, anything is possible.
This is one of the strangest strings of hypotheticals I've seen in my eight decades of watching skating. Specifically, comparing the current ban of Russian skaters to an imaginary scenario involving Mao (whom I loved), Yuna (who bored me to tears), and Miki (who skated to the theme song from an HBO soap opera at the Olympics) is wild.

Anyway, I enjoyed Alysa in this event and Kaori's free program is growing on me. Kurakova was overscored by at least 25 points.

There are merely the opinions of a seasoned skating fan.
 
This is one of the strangest strings of hypotheticals I've seen in my eight decades of watching skating. Specifically, comparing the current ban of Russian skaters to an imaginary scenario involving Mao (whom I loved), Yuna (who bored me to tears), and Miki (who skated to the theme song from an HBO soap opera at the Olympics) is wild.

Anyway, I enjoyed Alysa in this event and Kaori's free program is growing on me. Kurakova was overscored by at least 25 points.

There are merely the opinions of a seasoned skating fan.
Im not comparing them. Im pointing out the fact that if Mao had her primary competition removed, as Kaori has had, she would certainly have won more world titles. As a seasoned skating fan, Im sure you agree.
 
Ok just finished watching, some thoughts:
- I love Alysa. She could have come back skating to Je suis malade, Experience, whatever, but she came to party! I didn't even notice whether she was doing just choreo or step sequence or choreo sequence, she was just on the whole time!
- I loved that Yuna went completely overboard with her costume. Her combinations were very ambitious, not sure if it's worth it, but it was still nice to see some variety.
- Mone was high quality in everything! Her program had very intricate choreography, way more difficult than skating to this modern instrumental stuff or pop songs. Still she needs to work on her it factor a bit.
- Kaori, OMG WHAT WAS THAT?!?!! I think that was the most exciting, entertaining program in women's skating since... Mao retired? Yuna retired? Ever?! 😅 This program is PACKED with choreography! She kept the speed, delivered the choreography, jumps, everything!! Of course the audience helped to create the excitement as well, even more astounding she kept cool!
 
Im not comparing them. Im pointing out the fact that if Mao had her primary competition removed, as Kaori has had, she would certainly have won more world titles. As a seasoned skating fan, Im sure you agree.
The terms “fact” and “certainly” can’t even hold weight in what is a hypothetical scenario. While I do love Mao, she wasn’t known for her consistency. She got more edge calls on her Lutz jump than Kaori does and also many more under-rotation calls in her career than Kaori does. Asada would often really struggle in the short program and then have to claw her way back in the free skate. These struggles allowed other competitors aside from Kim Yu-Na like Miki Ando, Carolina Kostner, and Joannie Rochette to pass her on occasion.
 
Kindly asking, is Kurakova the only woman in Poland competing in seniors?
No, she isn't the only one competing in seniors, but the others are much lower ranked. Laura Szczesna had their second Euros spot last year but finished almost last. She has an ISU PB of 144 and SB of 122, compared to 204 and 162 for Kurakova. Szczesna's highest score this season is 146 at a Slovakian competition this week. She has the technical minimum for Euros but not Worlds. Karolina Bialas has an ISU PB of 136. She took the bronze medal at Diamond Spin in October, with a score of 145, and scored 130 at Tirnavia Cup last week. She is entered for Warsaw Cup, as is Szczesna. Julija Polniuk has an ISU PB of 131 and scored 112 at Diamond spin in October. Agnieszka Rejment has an ISU PB of 102. She competed at Diamond Spin in October, scoring 108.

If your question was whether Kurakova is the only Polish woman competing in seniors, then no she isn't. If you question was really meant to be whether she is the only viable option for Poland, then she probably is at the moment. No-one else has the technical minimum for Worlds and Szczesna is the only other Polish skater with the minimum for Euros.
 
Kaori: It's crazy that everyone is pushing her hard and she is still not collapsing under pressure.Both programs looks much better than last two skates.Only big problem was Stsq which need improvements,but overall she makes it to looks super good with high level on technique asspects.

Mone:Amazing performance.Super quality in every aspect.Great program for her.

Yuna: That's what people should watch and stuck in their brain that is how you execute your program.It's just pure esthetic Even tho her technique points may be low because of jumps she choose it really doesn't matter.Still don't know how Chsq has worse score than Kaori 😂She will be great choreo coach in future.

Alysa:I will say it again.Pleasure for eyes.Need to work for stamina in second half,but still great program.It's just amazing to watch someone having such fun in high level in any competition.

Bradie:Disgrace to this piece of music.Never do this again

Summary of NHK Trophy:
There are few people that are pushing,but Queen is only one and it's not going to change in near future.
 
The terms “fact” and “certainly” can’t even hold weight in what is a hypothetical scenario. While I do love Mao, she wasn’t known for her consistency. She got more edge calls on her Lutz jump than Kaori does and also many more under-rotation calls in her career than Kaori does. Asada would often really struggle in the short program and then have to claw her way back in the free skate. These struggles allowed other competitors aside from Kim Yu-Na like Miki Ando, Carolina Kostner, and Joannie Rochette to pass her on occasion.
I half agree with you. Its hypothetical about many. But a fourth is a certainty as she was second to Ando, who I named along with Kim as her primary competition. And she was considered number one in Japan against her main competition. Whereas Kaori was number 2 to Rika. I really wasn't trying to make a comparison between the 2 skaters however. I just wanted to clarify that Kaori's career has not eclipsed Mao's, even if she wins this year. She has an Olympics next year to potentially add to her resume however.
 
No, she isn't the only one competing in seniors, but the others are much lower ranked. Laura Szczesna had their second Euros spot last year but finished almost last. She has an ISU PB of 144 and SB of 122, compared to 204 and 162 for Kurakova. Szczesna's highest score this season is 146 at a Slovakian competition this week. She has the technical minimum for Euros but not Worlds. Karolina Bialas has an ISU PB of 136. She took the bronze medal at Diamond Spin in October, with a score of 145, and scored 130 at Tirnavia Cup last week. She is entered for Warsaw Cup, as is Szczesna. Julija Polniuk has an ISU PB of 131 and scored 112 at Diamond spin in October. Agnieszka Rejment has an ISU PB of 102. She competed at Diamond Spin in October, scoring 108.

If your question was whether Kurakova is the only Polish woman competing in seniors, then no she isn't. If you question was really meant to be whether she is the only viable option for Poland, then she probably is at the moment. No-one else has the technical minimum for Worlds and Szczesna is the only other Polish skater with the minimum for Euros.
Thanks for your detailed answer. Lucky Kurakova then :)
 
Here's a summary of Grand Prix standings. I included everyone who has a chance of finishing with at least 20 points. Kaori and Wakaba are in bold because they are the two who have qualified for the final:


Current PointsMax Points PossibleRemaining EventScore 1Score 2Combined Score

Kaori Sakamoto

30​
30​
N/A
201.21​
231.88​
433.09​
Amber Glenn
15​
30​
China
210.44​
210.44​
Wakaba Higuchi
28​
28​
N/A
196.93​
206.08​
403.01​
Mone Chiba
13​
28​
China
212.54​
212.54​
Rinka Watanabe
13​
28​
China
195.22​
195.22​
Rino Matsuike
13​
28​
Finlandia
192.16​
192.16​
Rion Sumiyoshi
11​
26​
China
201.35​
201.35​
Hana Yoshida
11​
26​
Finlandia
191.37​
191.37​
Chaeyon Kim
9​
24​
China
199.99​
199.99​
Kimmy Repond
9​
24​
China
191.07​
191.07​
Sarah Everhardt
7​
22​
Finlandia
196.94​
196.94​
Madeline Schizas
7​
22​
China
190.04​
190.04​
 
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I've just followed this discussion back through the thread. What Chris has been saying is "packed to the gunnels". It means full to the very small spaces and aisles, or completely full. It's a Yorkshire phrase. A gunnel is the same as a vennel or a cut - a small passage between houses or connecting one street to another.
I did point it out, though I should have spelled it the old-fashioned way (gunwhales)
 
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