2025 World Championships Women's Free Skate
- Thread starter dorispulaski
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I was in the arena last night and Alysa was brilliant. She was the obvious winner to anyone who was there. And skating to Donna Summer in Boston was a great choice by her team. Don't get me wrong, the other ladies were good, but Alysa and Kaori were the fastest and the most engaging to the audience and with no glaring errors. ....and yes, I've been singing MacArthur Park all morning. 
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- Jan 28, 2013
Two things can be true at once, although "unwashed peasantry" is a little harsh. Those threads were mature, troll-free, and full of insight.Riffraff??? And here I was thinking it was a way to help with running costs, not some skullduggerous plot to keep the unwashed peasantry out
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- Jan 14, 2014
I actually love it.There's that scream in the Dune song again. Spare me, please! I beg of you, no more Dune!
I always find it illuminating one way or the other to look at the protocols. I think the placements in the end were correct. I'm happy of course that the US and Japan got three spots. Two for Korea and Belgium also. I am sad that Canada missed by one placement (Maddie looked both nervous and a little lost before and during her FS with the pressure of getting those two for Canada). Also sad that Italy missed by two placements though I think Lara really tried. A big shoutout to Kaori and Alysa or just being who they are. They shared the Worlds podium before and last night came off as a reunion which I loved. Those hugs!!!!!!!!!
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- Oct 31, 2006
Phew, what a wild women’s event with the judging! My final rankings would have been as follows:
1. Sakamoto - I do think Kaori did enough to maintain her world crown; her programs are so much better constructed and choreographed than Alysa’s and her skating skills really should have blown everyone else away.
2. Liu - Alysa was very fortunate that this was a panel that willed her to succeed as she was forgiven for many cheated jumps in this championship over both the SP and the FS; I think the panel more than anything awarded her because of her dependable consistency and mental fortitude over both programs.
3. Chiba - Mone does appear to skate small in comparison to the other women on the podium; there’s this feeling that she still needs to come out of her shell, let loose, and really sell her performances. Honestly, I could flip Alysa and Mone’s result and be perfectly content and understandable about the result.
4. Glenn - I hope Amber can take pride in how far she has come this season; it couldn’t have been easy trying to maintain focus to train for worlds while mourning the death of her grandmother. She showed tremendous strength in the FS. Had she been clean in this championship over both programs, she would have easily been in the top 2 and perhaps even won; that’s a huge testament to how far she has come this season. Amber from last season would be so proud of how far Amber of today has come with her mental strength.
5. Higuchi - Wakaba’s is such a feel good story; the way things were going just a season ago, she probably would have hung up her skates, but she has displayed tremendous grit and tenacity to fight through adversity. With the spin error and problematic jump rotations, she had too many mistakes in the FS here, but she should be tremendously proud with how far she has come this season and she has returned to contender status looking forward to next season.
6. Levito - by far the most gifted skater of all in this championship, heck, make that all championships, in terms of scoring. The judges here turned a blind eye to all of Isabeau’s issues; the lack of speed and correct jump technique should make her stand out like a sore thumb among these skaters. How much longer can this problematic jump technique sustain her skating career?
Wishing all skaters good rest, health, and success in their training and preparation working toward next season!
1. Sakamoto - I do think Kaori did enough to maintain her world crown; her programs are so much better constructed and choreographed than Alysa’s and her skating skills really should have blown everyone else away.
2. Liu - Alysa was very fortunate that this was a panel that willed her to succeed as she was forgiven for many cheated jumps in this championship over both the SP and the FS; I think the panel more than anything awarded her because of her dependable consistency and mental fortitude over both programs.
3. Chiba - Mone does appear to skate small in comparison to the other women on the podium; there’s this feeling that she still needs to come out of her shell, let loose, and really sell her performances. Honestly, I could flip Alysa and Mone’s result and be perfectly content and understandable about the result.
4. Glenn - I hope Amber can take pride in how far she has come this season; it couldn’t have been easy trying to maintain focus to train for worlds while mourning the death of her grandmother. She showed tremendous strength in the FS. Had she been clean in this championship over both programs, she would have easily been in the top 2 and perhaps even won; that’s a huge testament to how far she has come this season. Amber from last season would be so proud of how far Amber of today has come with her mental strength.
5. Higuchi - Wakaba’s is such a feel good story; the way things were going just a season ago, she probably would have hung up her skates, but she has displayed tremendous grit and tenacity to fight through adversity. With the spin error and problematic jump rotations, she had too many mistakes in the FS here, but she should be tremendously proud with how far she has come this season and she has returned to contender status looking forward to next season.
6. Levito - by far the most gifted skater of all in this championship, heck, make that all championships, in terms of scoring. The judges here turned a blind eye to all of Isabeau’s issues; the lack of speed and correct jump technique should make her stand out like a sore thumb among these skaters. How much longer can this problematic jump technique sustain her skating career?
Wishing all skaters good rest, health, and success in their training and preparation working toward next season!
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- Jun 11, 2012
I think Alyssa deserved her win. Even Kaori thought she deserved it. Isabeau is a beautiful skater and her program fit her perfectly. I don't know how she lands those jumps with that form but she does - and she keeps on doing it. Mine is not to question why. With Amber it's always something - always! All in all I thought it was a good competition and was enjoyable to watch - once we got to the final 10.
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- Jan 29, 2007
My wish to all most Japanese - except Kaori because she has done it - and Korean skaters is that they should dare skate to something else than peaceful ballads while looking beautiful. You girls can do it, just dare to do it.
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- Feb 14, 2018
Agreed! Kaori's skate to the Chicago music was brilliant to see, and not only showcased her talent, but her personality, and really helped the audience to connect to her.
Did you see Wakaba's Lion King? Not a peaceful balled and IMO the best program she's ever done.
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- Sep 14, 2008
Kaori obviously should have won the Long Program. The < call on her 3Sal should've just been a 'q', but it's her team's fault for trying to do this combo anyway, with the dumb scoring system we have. Reminder that it's pointless for most women to do a Triple-Triple combo in the Long Program right now
I'm fine with Alysa winning overall because of Kaori's mistake in the SP. I appreciated the joy Alysa radiated. She actually reminded me a lot of the legendary Stephanie Rosenthal from 2006. Of course, Alysa's programs are not as good since creativity is not really a thing anymore and footwork is so ugly and unmusical these days, and the bad jump technique isn't getting scored properly, but she skated with just about as much freedom as can be expected right now.
Was nice to see Amber land her Triple Axel. I hope she can have a competition eventually where she does a clean SP + LP. She would have been the most pleasing champion here, with her higher level of content and mature presentation.
I'm fine with Alysa winning overall because of Kaori's mistake in the SP. I appreciated the joy Alysa radiated. She actually reminded me a lot of the legendary Stephanie Rosenthal from 2006. Of course, Alysa's programs are not as good since creativity is not really a thing anymore and footwork is so ugly and unmusical these days, and the bad jump technique isn't getting scored properly, but she skated with just about as much freedom as can be expected right now.
Was nice to see Amber land her Triple Axel. I hope she can have a competition eventually where she does a clean SP + LP. She would have been the most pleasing champion here, with her higher level of content and mature presentation.
If we have an award for best use of an unusual word, I nominate skullduggerous!Riffraff??? And here I was thinking it was a way to help with running costs, not some skullduggerous plot to keep the unwashed peasantry out
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- Jun 21, 2003
Well, now we know. But you could improve your effectiveness by adding "I have spoken."
I just finished watching the ladies skate.
I was stunned with the results.
1) Alysa Liu - It was her moment and she delivered. In my opinion, her triple triples were the best I’ve ever seen and were borderline q/clean. Her programs were just better than Sakamoto. That is why she won! I just hope she keeps pushing herself next season with the 3A. I hope she doesn’t think to herself that she is world champion and can just relax with simple triple jumps.
2) Kaori - She should have at least won the free skate. Not the best programs this year. To me, she got a bit worse this season. She needs better programs
3) Mone Chiba - Well deserved bronze medal. I was just happy they gave her enough points to beat Levito
4) Isabeau Levito - I don’t get the hate for her. She is a lovely artistic skater and she was almost clean. Yes, her scores were inflated. But, I would have placed her fourth. Also, three straight seasons in the top 4 is wow!!
5) Amber Glenn - I’m so happy someone went for a 3A. She is the only American lady with no medals and heading to Olympic season, is she the one that is vulnerable? The depth in American ladies might even be higher than Japanese in terms of making Olympic team. She is overscored in PCS.
6) Wakaba Higuchi - Underscored. I would have had her at least fifth and maybe even fourth. Did you not see how emotional she got skating in the second half? I would have placed her first on PCS alone. But, what do I know? Like Amber, she is going to be the vulnerable skater to make Olympics next season as Kaori and Mone really built up their resume just now, with their medals.
Chaeyon Kim - My fave. This was supposed to be her moment. If anybody had asked me that there was a skater scoring 220+ beating Kaori, before Worlds, I would have thought it would be her. Her 3Lz let her down and I think she skated injured
Last, I just want to
about Maddie. She thought she did enough to give Canada two spots. I know she flubbed her 3Lz 3T, but with 190+, she really did do everything to possibly give Canada a chance for the two spots. The cut off was just higher and what I anticipated it to be.
I was stunned with the results.
1) Alysa Liu - It was her moment and she delivered. In my opinion, her triple triples were the best I’ve ever seen and were borderline q/clean. Her programs were just better than Sakamoto. That is why she won! I just hope she keeps pushing herself next season with the 3A. I hope she doesn’t think to herself that she is world champion and can just relax with simple triple jumps.
2) Kaori - She should have at least won the free skate. Not the best programs this year. To me, she got a bit worse this season. She needs better programs
3) Mone Chiba - Well deserved bronze medal. I was just happy they gave her enough points to beat Levito
4) Isabeau Levito - I don’t get the hate for her. She is a lovely artistic skater and she was almost clean. Yes, her scores were inflated. But, I would have placed her fourth. Also, three straight seasons in the top 4 is wow!!
5) Amber Glenn - I’m so happy someone went for a 3A. She is the only American lady with no medals and heading to Olympic season, is she the one that is vulnerable? The depth in American ladies might even be higher than Japanese in terms of making Olympic team. She is overscored in PCS.
6) Wakaba Higuchi - Underscored. I would have had her at least fifth and maybe even fourth. Did you not see how emotional she got skating in the second half? I would have placed her first on PCS alone. But, what do I know? Like Amber, she is going to be the vulnerable skater to make Olympics next season as Kaori and Mone really built up their resume just now, with their medals.
Chaeyon Kim - My fave. This was supposed to be her moment. If anybody had asked me that there was a skater scoring 220+ beating Kaori, before Worlds, I would have thought it would be her. Her 3Lz let her down and I think she skated injured
Last, I just want to
about Maddie. She thought she did enough to give Canada two spots. I know she flubbed her 3Lz 3T, but with 190+, she really did do everything to possibly give Canada a chance for the two spots. The cut off was just higher and what I anticipated it to be.
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- Jun 21, 2003
Yes,the skugegerousness of figure skating judges is rampant these days.If we have an award for best use of an unusual word, I nominate skullduggerous!
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- Mar 14, 2007
I loved her “Like A Bird” program.
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- Jun 21, 2003
I am continually surprised that anyone, anywhere in the world, would consider it worth their time and talent to troll... a FIGURE SKATING board. I would think that they would have more urgent priorities, like who gets to sit at the cool kids table in the seventh grade lunch room.
As to the point about charging fees, I don't think the the majority of posters here realize that this board is maintained, and has been for twenty-five years, largely out of the pocket of one private individual, gsk8, to whom we all owe a huge debt for her love of this sport.And also a big thanks to DorisPulaski for her work in organizing these competition threads.
But I just thought of another way to make money. We could write an AI program that (for a small fee), would supply the subscriber with a basketful of posts filled with stock phrases like "uncalled qs" and "the Azerbaijan judge is a crook."
The program would be trained to maximize use of words like "clearly," "obviously," "as anyone can see," and "indiisutable proof." (In the study of logical fallacies this technique is classified as "proof by intimidation." )
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- Jun 21, 2003
Back to the skating...
I think I agree with the posters who are of the opinion that Kaori gave the best performance of the night in the free program. She was totally in character throughout, demonstrated excellent connection to the music and to the audience. She delivered on all her planned technical content and made the jumps seem like an inevitable part of the choreography rather than an obstacle course. When that performance was over I thought that the competition was, too.
But Alysa skated her heart out and also excelled in all the same categories. Both were in full control of every aspect of their performances. Possibly Kaori might have edged her out in terms of artistic maturity, but not by enough to overcome Alysa's lead from the short program.
That's how I saw it anyway.
I think I agree with the posters who are of the opinion that Kaori gave the best performance of the night in the free program. She was totally in character throughout, demonstrated excellent connection to the music and to the audience. She delivered on all her planned technical content and made the jumps seem like an inevitable part of the choreography rather than an obstacle course. When that performance was over I thought that the competition was, too.
But Alysa skated her heart out and also excelled in all the same categories. Both were in full control of every aspect of their performances. Possibly Kaori might have edged her out in terms of artistic maturity, but not by enough to overcome Alysa's lead from the short program.
That's how I saw it anyway.
Well wow. If you told me 20 years ago that one day I would witness a US lady winning a World championship in person…I would have laughed in your face!!
Anyway…some quick thoughts…
Liu - what can I say? She delivered when it mattered most. Not only that, but she legitimately looked like she was having fun doing it. And that feeling is infectious in the arena! Finally, to deliver that (on home ice, no less) after Sakamoto’s stellar skate and being the leader after the short - that is the sort of mental toughness I’ve not seen since the Kwan years in the US women….
Sakamoto - as someone who hasn’t watched recent international events, this was actually my first time seeing her skate. I thought her FS was phenomenal and I definitely joined in the SO at the arena! I figured she was going to win, deservedly so - and then…
Levito - man, too bad about that fall in the beginning…I think that was the difference between bronze and 4th. Had she not fallen, I’m almost sure she would have been the bronze medalist. Thing is, seeing her live actually altered my opinion of her skating less than I thought it would. She is solid - don’t get me wrong - but next to the Japanese skaters, Liu, etc…IMO she is definitely not a “flashy” type of skater.
The bronze medalist from Japan - Mone Chiba - she delivered and I found her to be more engaging than Levito as well. I would say the bronze was well deserved.
Wasaba Higuchi - I think that was her name - never seen her before, but I thought she was also really good and I actually thought they would score her higher than they did.
Glenn - glad to see her fight back in the free. She looked solid in morning practice so I figured the way the SP went, pressure was now off and she could go on full attack.
There were other several great skates by various competitors in the earlier groups. It was a full house once again (although not quite a complete capacity crowd due to the reserved seating, etc.) I think the upper balcony level was nearly completely full (save for the skaters section in 326). The crowd really showed support for the whole field and many of the skaters remarked about it when they were interviewed after their skates.
At the end of it all, though - Alysa Liu, World Champion - something I never thought I’d type. How about that??
Anyway…some quick thoughts…
Liu - what can I say? She delivered when it mattered most. Not only that, but she legitimately looked like she was having fun doing it. And that feeling is infectious in the arena! Finally, to deliver that (on home ice, no less) after Sakamoto’s stellar skate and being the leader after the short - that is the sort of mental toughness I’ve not seen since the Kwan years in the US women….
Sakamoto - as someone who hasn’t watched recent international events, this was actually my first time seeing her skate. I thought her FS was phenomenal and I definitely joined in the SO at the arena! I figured she was going to win, deservedly so - and then…
Levito - man, too bad about that fall in the beginning…I think that was the difference between bronze and 4th. Had she not fallen, I’m almost sure she would have been the bronze medalist. Thing is, seeing her live actually altered my opinion of her skating less than I thought it would. She is solid - don’t get me wrong - but next to the Japanese skaters, Liu, etc…IMO she is definitely not a “flashy” type of skater.
The bronze medalist from Japan - Mone Chiba - she delivered and I found her to be more engaging than Levito as well. I would say the bronze was well deserved.
Wasaba Higuchi - I think that was her name - never seen her before, but I thought she was also really good and I actually thought they would score her higher than they did.
Glenn - glad to see her fight back in the free. She looked solid in morning practice so I figured the way the SP went, pressure was now off and she could go on full attack.
There were other several great skates by various competitors in the earlier groups. It was a full house once again (although not quite a complete capacity crowd due to the reserved seating, etc.) I think the upper balcony level was nearly completely full (save for the skaters section in 326). The crowd really showed support for the whole field and many of the skaters remarked about it when they were interviewed after their skates.
At the end of it all, though - Alysa Liu, World Champion - something I never thought I’d type. How about that??
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