2025 Cup of China Women's Free Skate

[TallyT]

Amber won but her score wouldn't put her on the podium last week. This is going to be very interesting season.

But the scoring all over last week was.... ummm, creative, shall we say?

 

[museksk8r]

Amber won but her score wouldn't put her on the podium last week. This is going to be very interesting season.

I’ve never been a big believer that you can really fairly compare scores from week to week in the GP. Different technical panel and different judges. It’s fun to speculate though.

 

[auser]

Congrats and well done to Amber, Alysa, Rinka and all the beautiful skaters who treated us with their lovely skates!

 

[Isk]

no girl skated clean...what could possibly go wrong with men? (congrats to the medalists!)

 

[cocteautwin]

I’ve never been a big believer that you can really fairly compare scores from week to week in the GP. Different technical panel and different judges. It’s fun to speculate though.

Yes, but in this case, at least for me it reflects what I saw on the ice. Last week top 3 girls all put stronger performances.

 

[readernick]

Wrong thread

 

[museksk8r]

SO happy for Amber, Alysa and Rinka on the podium. What beautiful and talented women!!

 

[museksk8r]

If an actress were to ever portray Amber Glenn’s life store in a movie, it would be an AI de-aged Cate Blanchett.

 

[Dawn825]

Congrats to Amber and Alysa. Was really looking forward to Alysa's Lady Gaga program, so pretty bummed about that. I wonder why she changed it?

 

[museksk8r]

Congrats to Amber and Alysa. Was really looking forward to Alysa's Lady Gaga program, so pretty bummed about that. I wonder why she changed it?

The Lady Gaga program definitely needs to be reworked. She didn’t look at all comfortable skating to it at the Lombardia Trophy. She would definitely need to bring it back for the GPF if she makes it, so that she can receive feedback from international judges prior to the Olympics if she intends to skate the program there.

 

[16Olympics]

Congrats to the medalists especially Amber and Alyssa. 3rd spot for women in the US is going to be.....anxiety ridden.

 

[discodisco]

6. Rino MATSUIKE JPN
FS: The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; choreo by Lori Nichol

3Lo
3Lz!+3T+2T
3F
2A
FCCoSp3
3Lz<+2T
3F+2A+SEQ
3Sq (turns out)
StSq2 (falls on back choctaw)
ChSq1
CCoSp3
LSp3 (exit counted as fall)

SP: 65.91 (6th)
FS: 122.15 (1st)
TOT: 188.06 (1st)
those components are too low. much too low. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT HER TO DO JUDGES

This program is stunning, the skating skills are incredible and every held leg extension is amazing to watch. The jumps were firing so well tonight, and when combined with the quality of her skating, it's just next-level to watch. It's such a shame about the fall on the steps, I gasped out loud, that was a hard fall and lost her 3-4 points.

I think that if you showed me a minute of her program at a time I would agree that it's stunning. However I feel that the weakness of the music, as lovely as it is, is that there is very little variety, and so much of it is essentially the same phrase or very similar musical theme repeated over and over and over with slight modulations and variations, but was very much the same essential feel throughout. So when you put those four minutes sections together, there just isn't enough variety, and get the impression that I'm just on repeat. That said, I agree about the skills, and that spiral section just before she fell was dynamite. So absolutely excellent, but I don't feel like it had a much emotional depth or variety. I feel like it needed a more aggressive or percussive section to provide some variety and allow her to demonstrate greater breadth. But I mean comment in general, there's not much to complain about that program because it is quite lovely. I'm just thinking about how it could be taken to the next level. But, admittedly, I'm not a world renowned choreographer or anything

 

[discodisco]

Wow - Well done, Amber!! She is such a strong, powerful skater. I can't get over how solid her 3A is. It's probably her best/most consistent jump at this point. I don't love the program, until the build-up into the triple loop. I found that the end just kind of petered out. I'm not sure about her dress. I like the bodice, but not the sleeves or skirt.

It almost makes you wonder whether she should replace one of the flips with a second triple axel... if she could swing it, it would definitely help make up those last few points that she's going to need if she wants to challenge for the Olympic podium.

 

[LazyFuzai]

Summary after rewatching:

Amber:Once again that 3A is the salvation for her,because when it comes to presentation she is not even close to Alyce.Overall nice and confident performance today, Hope it's gonna be repeated especially on Olympics.

Alyce:That missed combo on Lutz were the loser unfortunately.Even tho she still looks amazing.I have a feeling it may be even better at Olympics,because today it looks a bit too calm from her compared to Worlds for example.Maybe just managing stamina.

Rinka:It was crazy and scary at the same time.Trying 3A+3T into 3A is crazy try.I don't know what's her mission but breaking 250 points may be.Really well toned and suited dress for this program.She looks way better than i was thinking this season and she is someone to look at,because she is hungry for this.Imagine how good it's gonna look if skated clean.

Gubanova:Much better than expected.Finally something from her that was nice to watch technically and composition wise.

Jia:One day you will find yourself once again.Hope so.

Rino: Seeing that smile after falling in the worst possible moment.Always pleasure to see this delicate and precious skate.

Zhang:Fully respected once again.Nothing complicated,but clean,calm,simple and it looked super nice.

Hana:Lot to work on,but it's typical from her.

Haien:Meh,meh,meh.I don't know if there is a chance to do something with her this season.Looks empty when it comes to power for skating.

Not as good as short competition,but still excited thanks to last 3.
We have amazing season ahead of us when it comes to Women skating.

See you in next destination.

 

[Sai Bon]

The Lady Gaga program definitely needs to be reworked. She didn’t look at all comfortable skating to it at the Lombardia Trophy. She would definitely need to bring it back for the GPF if she makes it, so that she can receive feedback from international judges prior to the Olympics if she intends to skate the program there.

I heard that Lady Gaga is banned in China?

 

[Sai Bon]

Finally caught up. Delighted that Amber won, such a gutsy skate. Even after her jump error she kept on going, business as usual. Solid performance by Alysa, and I have no doubt she will clean up the mistakes over the season. Surprised that Rinka went for the 3A combo - as other people have said, if she lands it (and the solo 3A) it would be a massive score, but can she do it? With so much competition in Japanese women she probably thinks she has no choice.

 

[rabidline]

Upon rewatch I think it's very difficult to convey how good Rino's skating is in PCS I'm not sure that even if she gets higher components it would accurately reflect just how exquisite her quality of movement and control to really embody that music and atmosphere. I do love this program for her (HAUSER cover notwithstanding), I think it challenges her to project better and improve her focus (and she really needs it, as we can see this week) to ensure that her presence is felt from start to finish. The least Olympic-esque FS compared to other Lori's FS this season (Yuma's, Mone's) but I appreciate the trust Lori has in Rino's skating to make it work.

 

[msteach3]

FS: “I Will Find You" by Audiomachine; "The Return” by Clann; choreo by Katherine Hill

A great program from Amber, some of her landings looked a little tight and I suspect she'll get a few jumps looked at but overall a mostly clean skate! At this point in the season... I wish she had a different free skate; I understand that mentally keeping this program has helped her a lot but she can handle better material.

Oh, I disagree! I love this free skate and was thrilled to hear she was keeping it for he Olympic season. Such a beautiful vehicle for her.

 

[Isk]

I think that if you showed me a minute of her program at a time I would agree that it's stunning. However I feel that the weakness of the music, as lovely as it is, is that there is very little variety, and so much of it is essentially the same phrase or very similar musical theme repeated over and over and over with slight modulations and variations, but was very much the same essential feel throughout. So when you put those four minutes sections together, there just isn't enough variety, and get the impression that I'm just on repeat. That said, I agree about the skills, and that spiral section just before she fell was dynamite. So absolutely excellent, but I don't feel like it had a much emotional depth or variety. I feel like it needed a more aggressive or percussive section to provide some variety and allow her to demonstrate greater breadth. But I mean comment in general, there's not much to complain about that program because it is quite lovely. I'm just thinking about how it could be taken to the next level. But, admittedly, I'm not a world renowned choreographer or anything

I agree. Feels like a step back for her. It's a juniorish program, maybe because the story is for kids. Candy-land, too sweet, not much salt and pepper. It is an expressive piece of music, but that cello cover subdued the expression. I am not a fan of her short either. I liked Lux Aeterna FP from last season, it matched her skating style. She is not the best in lines and Nutcracker requires them, but she has good flow and edge skating, which this FP program does not showcase as much. I'd rather she kept it or scrapped it and invented something new than reworked it into another program.

 

[Isk]

I thought something like this might be nice for Rino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDF68eVsUpw
If they wanted Tchaikovsky, they could go for serenade for strings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxZ8K4Y7NIg&t=896
5th symphony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SCS8ofFF54&t=433s would make a very good adult program in Nutcracker style
Chopin's Berseuse would fit her style too I think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZtBwlxL0Aw