I think the issue with Wakaba is she skates ‘small’. Performance is a big part of the overall feeling of a program and you don’t really get that with her. When she finds that program she connects with on an emotional level and projects that to the audience, I think you will see better results. As it is, her sheer talent has carried her pretty far.
2025 World Championships Women's Free Skate
- Thread starter dorispulaski
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2022
For what? I said Alysa deserved to win, just not without any tech calls.
If Kaori had won with the same lack of calls, while Alysa had gotten calls, I would still be unhappy with the tech panel at these Worlds.
It seems like some people clearly only care about high quality and consistent judging if their favourite would profit from it, so much so that everyone who does care regardless has to be a sore loser as well. Kaori's score would be going down with consistent calls too, considering not a single one of her 3 3Lz got an edge call - If anything, she'd be more/just as likely to drop a spot in the final standings as Alysa. Still, I would be more than satisfied with that as long as it's fair - I do not want my favourites to win just because judges and tech specialists ignore their faults.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
I think you mean WORLD CHAMPION Liu has mediocre skating skills, np trabnsitioons, etc.
Last edited:
Or the skater picks up on the energy of the crowd. All of the skaters in the top 6 have been top contenders. Home cooking would be having the competition in Switzerland and Kimmie Repond winning.
After seeing Alysa at Nationals, I was pretty sure she had a great chance for silver, and a good chance for gold. Kaori has had some issues this year. After Kaori skated, I knew it would take a spectacular skate to beat it. Alysa delivered.
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2022
If you think a fee will keep out people who are passionate about the sport, just because you think they are "riffraff", you would be very wrong. Even trolls (not that everyone who disagrees with something is one) are more than willing to shill out money to keep trolling.
Also if only unconditional positivity is allowed, then there is really no use for a forum, and no purpose to this sport either. Things do not improve or develop positively if everyone settles for "good enough" and doesn't question things that are questionable.
Alysa won, deservedly so, and it's not her I'm criticising. It's the tech panel for not doing their job as well as they should be. And no, they aren't the first and they won't be the last, but it should still be talked about. It certainly won't get better if nobody cares, and just because it "didn't matter" for the end result here, doesn't mean it's fine.
Last edited:
I've been at the rink for the competition but I haven't been posting because I didn't want any complaints to kill my joy.
I'm still currently on a high from Alysa and the final group in general. It was everything. I'll post about all of that on Sunday.
One very random little thing that made me happy and I had to mention it: Nina Pinzarrone got the highest choreo sequence score in the free and it was so well deserved. I've never been a huge fan but that program won me over. She did a lunge in the choreo sequence and threw her head back and I literally gasped out loud because it was so gorgeous. Her extension was stunning in person.
I'm still currently on a high from Alysa and the final group in general. It was everything. I'll post about all of that on Sunday.
One very random little thing that made me happy and I had to mention it: Nina Pinzarrone got the highest choreo sequence score in the free and it was so well deserved. I've never been a huge fan but that program won me over. She did a lunge in the choreo sequence and threw her head back and I literally gasped out loud because it was so gorgeous. Her extension was stunning in person.
OK, now that I'm done losing my mind...
Wow, I'm still SO happy for Alysa and Kaori. What a great 1-2.
Kaori is my favorite women's skater currently, and that was a stellar and tremendously difficult free skate that I knew that only she could do in the big stage. I think the performance was better at NHK, but it still brought the house down here. I was so ready to call her 4x World Champion! I think it would have made more sense for Kaori to win the free skate, but it's not like her jumps were flawless either. Plus, she had the popped flip in the SP.
I didn't have any real opinions about Alysa Liu when she was young, didn't think she would have that successful of a comeback, but wow, she has really impressed me starting from that Nationals SP this year. She had the two most memorable and clean performances in both the SP and LP here, and she deserves the title. You can tell that she doesn't feel the pressure, because she's not really here to win it for the medals or the glory or have some lofty goal to raise the sport to new heights. She's just here for herself now, and good things can just happen along the way. I just love this for her, and I can't wait to see what she does next!
Also tremendously proud of Isabeau Levito for really having just one major error in her program after nearly the whole season off due to injury. I love her style, and she's beautiful to watch. Two years ago, I thought she could be an Olympic medalist, and I still think that.
Not gonna lie, I don't truly understand why Amber was being pushed so hard in the last 1.5 years really just for having a triple axel. I like skaters who are competitors, who deliver in the big moments, and she's not that for me even though I think she's a terrific athlete and person. I still do wish for her to do well though, and this was an improvement on last year's World standings. I was kind of rooting for Sarah Everhardt to make the Worlds team this year, but it's just as cutthroat in USA as it is in Japan these days.
My personal top 6:
1. Alysa
2. Kaori
3. Mone
4. Wakaba
5. Isabeau
6. Amber
A very memorable night. And we're only halfway done!!
Wow, I'm still SO happy for Alysa and Kaori. What a great 1-2.
Kaori is my favorite women's skater currently, and that was a stellar and tremendously difficult free skate that I knew that only she could do in the big stage. I think the performance was better at NHK, but it still brought the house down here. I was so ready to call her 4x World Champion! I think it would have made more sense for Kaori to win the free skate, but it's not like her jumps were flawless either. Plus, she had the popped flip in the SP.
I didn't have any real opinions about Alysa Liu when she was young, didn't think she would have that successful of a comeback, but wow, she has really impressed me starting from that Nationals SP this year. She had the two most memorable and clean performances in both the SP and LP here, and she deserves the title. You can tell that she doesn't feel the pressure, because she's not really here to win it for the medals or the glory or have some lofty goal to raise the sport to new heights. She's just here for herself now, and good things can just happen along the way. I just love this for her, and I can't wait to see what she does next!
Also tremendously proud of Isabeau Levito for really having just one major error in her program after nearly the whole season off due to injury. I love her style, and she's beautiful to watch. Two years ago, I thought she could be an Olympic medalist, and I still think that.
Not gonna lie, I don't truly understand why Amber was being pushed so hard in the last 1.5 years really just for having a triple axel. I like skaters who are competitors, who deliver in the big moments, and she's not that for me even though I think she's a terrific athlete and person. I still do wish for her to do well though, and this was an improvement on last year's World standings. I was kind of rooting for Sarah Everhardt to make the Worlds team this year, but it's just as cutthroat in USA as it is in Japan these days.
My personal top 6:
1. Alysa
2. Kaori
3. Mone
4. Wakaba
5. Isabeau
6. Amber
A very memorable night. And we're only halfway done!!
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2024
Yes, exactly. Liu who recently got back to skating and was restoring her jumps. With her program serving mostly as an accompanement of her jumping training routine. Her coaches reactions with very telling - they was not expecting that at all. And your response stressing her title shows that PCS have nothing to do with what happens on the ice - it's only political power of federations. And people are happy to justify it - as long as they like skater who was made a champion by judges.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
That's what I was thinking
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
NBC's Youtube post of Alysa's Free: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW-XnKjykuQ
Again, outside the US, you probably have to play the VPN game.
Again, outside the US, you probably have to play the VPN game.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2020
I agree there was bound to be some pretty huge home cooking for American ladies knowing the common practices of the sport but as much as I would rather see some fair and solid judging for everyone, no matter the country, I can't help but being happy for Alysa who is such a graceful and deserving World Champ despite being obviously overscored. I also think that of the 3 American ladies she was least pushed by the federation and it all came as a surprise to her most of all. And, come on, this is just such a great come back story after all she's been through since winning US Nationals at 13.
I am also very happy for Mone Chiba and her first Worlds medal, hopefully, with many, many more, and more shining, to come. She was great and managed to solidify herself as the Japanese lady no 2 and the most likely next generation successor to Kaori.
I also think that with Alysa being a somewhat surprising winner and Kaori dethroned to silver, the Olympic podium for women is open much more widely now than it would have been with Kaori's fourth win. It seems to me that the way it is now, neither Kaori nor Alysa nor anyone else will arrive there as the decisive one and only favourite, and it makes it much more probable that we might be in for an Olympic surprise.
I am also very happy for Mone Chiba and her first Worlds medal, hopefully, with many, many more, and more shining, to come. She was great and managed to solidify herself as the Japanese lady no 2 and the most likely next generation successor to Kaori.
I also think that with Alysa being a somewhat surprising winner and Kaori dethroned to silver, the Olympic podium for women is open much more widely now than it would have been with Kaori's fourth win. It seems to me that the way it is now, neither Kaori nor Alysa nor anyone else will arrive there as the decisive one and only favourite, and it makes it much more probable that we might be in for an Olympic surprise.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
Look, I've got no problem with you. We disagree sometimes, but even if I don't agree with you on particular points, I concede they're well stated and have some basis in rational thought. You state your opinion, and you back it up. I'm good with that. You and people like you are not riffraff.
I also do not want unconditional positivity. I don't engage in that myself.
But what really and truly frosts my hide is the self-proclaimed "expert" who pops up on a new account to randomly crap all over the place. And YES I am calling them riffraff. They contribute nothing of value.
The "buy in" competition threads were outstanding. They were generally populated by knowledgeable and unbiased contributors who really knew their stuff - better content than any TV commentator provides. And, to disagree with your point about trolls... yes, you bet, an $8 donation to GS for posting rights did keep them out.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2017
Dropping in just to say that I miss when the skating order for the free was a draw and not a simple reverse order. I love crowd moments like how the crowd got totally behind Alysa and think it can get even more interesting when the final skater is not just the top ranked SP skater! I think it can add some more suspense and excitement to an already exciting event.
Those losses allowed her to correct some things, like not getting level 4s on all of her spins and steps. She also improved her 3-3 a lot, getting the second jump around to at least a Q or better. I agree with her that her long program tonight was the best she had ever skated it.
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2005
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2018
Hello GS!!!!
OMG! I wish I could explain the energy that was sooooo evident in the arena tonight!
When Kaori and Mone skated, the energy was amped up!
And then with Alysa's skate, it went even higher! The shouting, cheering, screaming, it was insane! Watching Alysa and Kaori hug was such a touching moment!
I'm still hyped up, so I can't sleep! LOL
I'm hoping that the magic that Kaori, Mone and Alysa had gets passed to Kevin when the men take the ice!
One more thing, only because I've seen the discussion in the thread regarding Isabeau. The people sitting around me all seem to be very knowledgeable fans of the sport, and they all voiced the same opinions on Isabeau. They all enjoy watching her skate, but at the same time feel she really needs to do something about her jumping technique. And I say that with all due respect to Isabeau, and her fans. Not trying to start drama, but I thought I would mention it because her technique has been discussed here, and I thought you might want to know what some non-GS members thought.
OMG! I wish I could explain the energy that was sooooo evident in the arena tonight!
When Kaori and Mone skated, the energy was amped up!
And then with Alysa's skate, it went even higher! The shouting, cheering, screaming, it was insane! Watching Alysa and Kaori hug was such a touching moment!
I'm still hyped up, so I can't sleep! LOL
I'm hoping that the magic that Kaori, Mone and Alysa had gets passed to Kevin when the men take the ice!
One more thing, only because I've seen the discussion in the thread regarding Isabeau. The people sitting around me all seem to be very knowledgeable fans of the sport, and they all voiced the same opinions on Isabeau. They all enjoy watching her skate, but at the same time feel she really needs to do something about her jumping technique. And I say that with all due respect to Isabeau, and her fans. Not trying to start drama, but I thought I would mention it because her technique has been discussed here, and I thought you might want to know what some non-GS members thought.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2021
So what? Anna Shcherbakova is not only a world champion, but an Olympic champion, not to mention that she won the brutal dogfight three times at national championships - and people said the same thing about her here. One person even compared her to a cockroach dying in convulsions. Why should it be any different for Alysa Liu?
Similar threads
