Campbell's International FS Classic

[Doggygirl]

Sifting through the information...

There is not doubt that Campbell's sounds like it was filled with an abundance of flawed performances. Logically, all athletes have good and bad performances, and especially since this is early in the season, I suppose it's just always possible that an "abundance of flawed performances" event happens.

In sifting through the various reports on the net from those who saw it live, here are the biggest concerns for my faves that jump out at me.

1. Johnny - while there is IMO a lot of "personal preference" that goes into "liking" or "not liking" a skater's music choice, I'm a bit concerned that the preponderance of reports I've read are very negative about how the music and Johnny are "not" coming together. I saw the internet video of Johnny at Japan, and was concerned. Now I'm even more concerned. It's one thing to have a good foundation for a program, but just blow the execution. It's another thing to be at the start of the season with a bad program. I'm a little worried that Johnny may not have the foundation for a good program here.

2. Kimmie - as much as I'm on record with disgust at how the USFSA seems to be over-promoting her based on where she is in the sport, that's nothing against Kimmie as a skater and athlete. She did better than expected last night placement wise for me, but my "red flag" is the notion that she tried a "MK Salome Makeover" that was technically good, but fell flat in other ways. I will reserve judgement (IMO that is) until I see it.

3. Evan - unexpected World medal followed by pressure bugs? Hope not! I'm trying not to be negatively biased by his costume.

4. COME ON E-MAN! OK - please dump the costume right away. But that's trivial. I sure wish he could pull the jumps together. I'm actually looking forward from what I've read, to watching this program despite all the missed jumps. Sounds like it's a great program.

Here's what I'm most encouraged by, in spite of flawed performances:

1. Joannie!! It sounds as though she "had" the audience right up until the fall. I'm hopeful that she has a good package going on!

2. Tim - encouraged by the feedback about his choreo!

3. SASHA!! Hang in there girl. Just keep it going, and keep the program moving forward.

DG

 

[orchid]

a news article of the event

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/10/08/sports/s210755D29.DTL

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I really hope posters are not taking these results as the year's most telling of the future Championships. The Campbells is notorious for a splatfest of the Mens Division except for Evgeni when he skates. I'll be looking for to seeing Takeshi in the TV version as well as the much maligned Michael and questionable Tim. Itseems so far in this division that the mature skaters gave the yunguns their do.

The Ladies Division was more understandable. Sasha and Shizuka are the matronly skaters with one winner and the other on the podium. The sneak-in was Kimmie but the rest of the Field were yunguns, too. Brava for Joannie to coming in at the last minute and skating so well.

Joe

 

[Mathman]

Here's my take on these points, Doggygirl.

1. Johnny's music and program. Johnny is the most stubborn iconoclast in the game. If he likes the music, he doesn't care what anyone else thinks, including the judges. Tarasova tried to give him a progam to more traditional music, but he dumped it because it just "wasn't him."

Reminds me of the poem Casey at the Bat. "It wasn't me, said Casey. Strike one, the umpire said."

2. Kimmie did two triple/triples in a seven triple performance. Have to wait and see in any of them was downgraded for under-rotation.

Still, in the triple/triple department, Kimmie can say to the other girls, "When all is said and all is done, I did two and y'all did none."

4. E-man's costume. What was he going for, the lederhosen of the planet Bizarro Nine?

2. Tim. I greatly fear that the (quad) king is dead. Tim has been "improving" his presentation skills at a glacial rate for years. But without his quads there is nothing about his performances that stand out, even his exhibitions.

Tim used to throw off three quads per program without breaking a sweat. Then came the year of collapse, where equipment and "spinal alignment" problems knocked him out of the picture altogether. He is no more than half-way back to form, and he may never get it all the way back. Hope I'm wrong about that.

MM

 

[Doggygirl]

Hey Mathman...

Glad I'm not the only one looking at this early comp this way. On the surface, it's a collection of majority craptacular performances. But when one digs a little deeper, I think we will all find more (both for better and for worse) that could be telling for the season.

Thank goodness things are finally underway!!

And boy oh boy, I think we're both correct about E-man's costume!! My early on Rusty Hanger nominations thus far are:

Ladies: Yoshie Onda from Japan International.
Men: E-man from Campbells

BUT...the season is early yet.

DG

 

[R.D.]

There is not doubt that Campbell's sounds like it was filled with an abundance of flawed performances. Logically, all athletes have good and bad performances, and especially since this is early in the season, I suppose it's just always possible that an "abundance of flawed performances" event happens.

Well, this was to be expected, really. The first event of the season- the "pre-season" so to speak? This is the time to get a feel for things. And if it means falling all over the place, all the better. Because it's better it happen now than at a major event down the road.

 

[R.D.]

The SF gate Campbell's article- it's things like this that will raise expectations of Cohen. The moment people begin saying, This could be her year, the pressure increases tenfold. This is another reason I was saying earlier that I'm not sure it's all a good thing that she started so strong. Besides, this is really not a good indicator of how the skaters will do later on. I'd hate to get the impression that Cohen will dominate everyone this year or Emily Hughes has NO chance of making the OLY team just by this one competition.

I would bet that the main reason the audience had a strong reaction to her was because at long last someone DIDN'T fall or have a major messup (rather than her being exceptional). But once again, I don't know- I will not comment any further on this till I actually see the competition. (Maybe someone who was there could clarify this?)

 

[kyla2]

I Predict...

I predict that Sasha will continue to maintain her form, whether completely perfect or not. She is back with John Nicks (EXACTLY where she needed to be) and he is her anchor. I am so happy for her. She sounds like she was stunning and this can only help her confidence. I wish Michelle had been there too, but I will wait until she is healed and ready.

 

[brinababy87]

The SF gate Campbell's article- it's things like this that will raise expectations of Cohen. The moment people begin saying, This could be her year, the pressure increases tenfold. This is another reason I was saying earlier that I'm not sure it's all a good thing that she started so strong. Besides, this is really not a good indicator of how the skaters will do later on. I'd hate to get the impression that Cohen will dominate everyone this year or Emily Hughes has NO chance of making the OLY team just by this one competition.

I would bet that the main reason the audience had a strong reaction to her was because at long last someone DIDN'T fall or have a major messup (rather than her being exceptional). But once again, I don't know- I will not comment any further on this till I actually see the competition. (Maybe someone who was there could clarify this?)

I think Sasha did have a couple of mistakes, so perhaps this won't let her lose her focus.

 

[Tonichelle]

2. Tim. I greatly fear that the (quad) king is dead. Tim has been "improving" his presentation skills at a glacial rate for years. But without his quads there is nothing about his performances that stand out, even his exhibitions.

Tim used to throw off three quads per program without breaking a sweat. Then came the year of collapse, where equipment and "spinal alignment" problems knocked him out of the picture altogether. He is no more than half-way back to form, and he may never get it all the way back. Hope I'm wrong about that.

MM

here is his take on what happened: http://www.timothygoebel.net/campbell05.shtml I'm sure many will read into it what they want, but I trust Tim.

and I completely diagree with you on the artistry department. His SP last year was the most amazing program at nationals... it was beautiful without losing the technical. I think Tim has a lot to give outside of the quads...

 

[Mathman]

Of course it's a good thing to start strong. It's a good thing to end strong, and to be strong in the middle, too!

Sasha made a statement to her competitors -- "You can't touch this, suckers!" Now it's the other girls who have to show that they can stand the heat, not Sasha.

MM

 

[Tonichelle]

And of course, hard to not be happy for Mike - who at age 29 - will be the oldest of the men in Torino - an accomplishment to stay in the game this long.

Not that I don't love Mike, which I do, but to say he will be the oldest in Torino is a bit um well... let's just say he hasn't made the team yet.

This is the same guy who didn't make the world team this past season

Don't get me wrong, I would love to be in St. Louis seeing him on that podium headed to Torino, but right now it's anyone's game to lose

Mike, Evan, Tim, Johnny, Matt, and those are just a few that I can think of off of the top of my medicine head.... we have only 3(?) spots and way more men who could all easily make the team...

 

[R.D.]

I think Sasha did have a couple of mistakes, so perhaps this won't let her lose her focus.

A small bobble here or there is alright. Just try to avoid the major mistakes (stumbles, falling on jumps, etc.) If she keeps this up, she has a decent shot at an Olympic medal of some color. (NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PREDICTION.)

Of course it's a good thing to start strong. It's a good thing to end strong, and to be strong in the middle, too!

Wouldn't that be sweet. But that's in a perfect world. Even Irina last year (although she kept her winning streak) couldn't stay strong the ENTIRE year. I think one "mess-up" competition is in order for all the skaters, Sasha included. She just has to make sure that "mess-up" competition isn't the Olympics. (And, ideally, the Nationals and the Worlds.) For example, for Irina this was the Europeans. Luckily she was so far ahead she was still able to win.

Sasha made a statement to her competitors -- "You can't touch this, suckers!" Now it's the other girls who have to show that they can stand the heat, not Sasha.

And Sasha has to show that she can MAINTAIN the heat in order for others to see if they can stand it.

 

[R.D.]

I must say though that it's about time that Sasha becomes the one to put the pressure on the other ladies, rather than the other way around.

But...

Will this happen? Or will the pressure get to HER? Stay tuned. The pre-season is over, and the season is yet to begin.

 

[dancindiva03]

Of course it's a good thing to start strong. It's a good thing to end strong, and to be strong in the middle, too!

Sasha made a statement to her competitors -- "You can't touch this, suckers!" Now it's the other girls who have to show that they can stand the heat, not Sasha.

MM

But, can Sasha maintain her own heat? Or is she just going to melt? I personally can see her getting too cocky from her good performance here, and falling apart later on this season. Besides, its will be that much tougher once Michelle and Irina are in the picture, the competition at Campbell's wasn't really that much of a challenge for Sasha.

 

[R.D.]

But, can Sasha maintain her own heat? Or is she just going to melt?

Some valid questions worth pondering...

Besides, its will be that much tougher once Michelle and Irina are in the picture, the competition at Campbell's wasn't really that much of a challenge for Sasha.

But, I think the fact that the judging system is the Cop enables us to compare more across the board. Of course, we can't tell whether or how the skaters influence each other if they all attend an event, but we can see where Cohen stacks up against the scoring of Irina and MK at other competitions. They don't necessarily have to be at the same event anymore. (This is, of course, considering the judges aren't overly biased at each event.)

 

[gracefulswan]

i don't know. i just think sasha can only go up from here... i mean, wouldn't you want a skater to show strength at the beginning of the season...rather than weakness... to make a good impression on the judges and fans alike? i mean, just send all your top competitors a message: i'm hear to contend for the OGM and worlds! bring it on and i won't back down.

hey, maybe sasha will have an undefeated season. she has room to improve... she did 6 triples (not 7).. and had a wonky combination.

hmmm... should she stick with the 6 triples or go for 7? (and therefore, more points?). will it be too costly? probably a fall will take away from her PCS scores too much. i think she's slated to stick with 6 triples... b/c of her other difficult level 4 elements... spins/spirals. but, if irina or michelle comes out with nice programs in addition to 3/3s... will that force sasha's hand to go for the 3/3?

 

[orchid]

[OUOTE]But, can Sasha maintain her own heat? Or is she just going to melt?{QUOTE}

Some valid questions worth pondering...



But, I think the fact that the judging system is the Cop enables us to compare more across the board. Of course, we can't tell whether or how the skaters influence each other if they all attend an event, but we can see where Cohen stacks up against the scoring of Irina and MK at other competitions. They don't necessarily have to be at the same event anymore. (This is, of course, considering the judges aren't overly biased at each event.)

I believe skaters are influenced by the presense of certain other skaters participation in a competition. In particular, I sense Sasha's confidence factor plummets with the thunderous ovation from the audience at the sight of Michelle.

I predict the US Nat audience noise shall be so loud as to be heard on the space station, a squeege may be required to gather the meltdown.

 

[kyla2]

I Don't Think So This Time.....

I don't think Sasha is going to melt. She has the CoP behind her for support and now John Nicks. She always had more confidence with him there. I think she has been practicing like crazy and it shows. This will also give her confidence. She is landing triple-triple combinations (and it remains to be seen if Michelle can do likewise). This will give her confidence also. I think she feels much less threatened by Michelle now, because CoP doesn't reward Michelle like the old system did (unfortunately). By the time she gets to Nationals, she may have a few more wins under her belt and receive a pretty strong ovation from the audience at Nationals herself. Part of me wants Michelle to win every time, and the other part of me wants to see Sasha get the recognition she deserves. I will be truly of two minds when they compete together, but not at the Olympics; I want Michelle to win that one.

 

[Mathman]

Did Sasha do 7 triples, or 6? Didn't she do a triple/triple sequence (not combo), along with a 3/2/2 combo and a 3/2 combo?