General Ladies Discussion (was original Ladies LP thread)

[fourclover]

Ladies LP is still exciting to watch for me. Even though Yu-na is way ahead, remember at the World's in 2007, she bombed her LP and placed third. I hope she doesn't do that again but it's hard not to think about it. Also, Mao is skating first in her group just like at the GPF in 2007 where she won the free skate over Yu-na. And yeah, Joannie can upset both of them too. I think Joannie is mad and she's on fire to win.

Personally, I'm curious to see how Rachel Flatt and Caroline Zhang will fare. Each time I see them skate there is a slight change in their body language. More confident? It's interesting to see them mature.

 

[Hsuhs]

the newspaper says she is practicing a 3-2(probably 3flip-2loop).

Well, we'll see. But I'm hoping she'll do her best today. She'll be skating in... what? less then 3 hrs? I'll be here to watch.

And thanks for telling what the papers say :thumbsup:

 

[lmarie086]

How can anyone say that the free skate won't be exciting?...

ITA, I think there's a lot to be excited about here. Yes Yu-Na is way ahead of the field, but her SP was just superb, so she's earned the big lead. Now we get to see if she can repeat that kind of performance in the LP. That in itself is exciting.

I think this is a great event, there's a lot to anticipate. I hope everyone does well tonight and I'd like to see the American ladies pull up!

 

[ks777]

The newspaper says Mao struggled throughout the run through. Mao will be replacing the Lutz with toe loop. Looks like Mao is really struggling. I have a really bad feeling about Mao tonight.

 

[Daniel5555]

Well, I'm really sorry for starting all this discussion.
Yuna has a lot of obsessive fans, but I'm sure that right now it's doesn't matter much if she wins or no... at least she did enough to be remembered and praised in South Korea.
She was satisfied with the GPF results, so I would never say that it's a lose.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Matjhman - All your questions have been answered. And it was a good show.

Caroline is a beautiful skater. Needs to do something more mature and grt rid of the mule kick. 4th place for her. That's up there. In some resspects I would have put her ahead of Mao who's program was so boring for me - all that waltzing - but there was the 3A.

Joannie had the best program and she skated it super. She might win in LA. One never know do one?

Yu Na is quite a skater. She'll do well for a long time.

I hope Cynthia keeps on the roll for the next few years. She can really jump.

4CC is in the history books now. Have you changed your predictions for LA?

 

[samba]

Prediction in LA: Yu Na, Joannie, Mao ( I haven't changed my mind since first post ).

Joannie has been consistent and solid this season, she will do well, most likely silver. However, if Mao can correct her problem in the next few weeks, she could end up silver. If Yu Na did not skate well in SP (as she always did), Joannie can take Gold.

 

[Mathman]

4CC is in the history books now. Have you changed your predictions for LA?

The main thing I have noticed in many competitions this year is the switch between the value of the SP and LP.

Under 6.0 judging, the idea was, skate conservatively and get third in the SP, then go for gold in the LP.

Now it is, get a big lead in the SP, coast home with third in the LP.

I don't know what to predict for Worlds. I didn't like Mao's LP at all -- but she won the free skate.

Kim's LP was sort of disjointed and blah (compared to her SP at least), but she's the champion.

Rochette skated as well as she possibly could -- but she didn't win.

Caroline gave a great performance -- but she won't be going to Worlds.

I don't see much hope for Alissa and Rachael to finish 6th and 7th at Worlds. But Cynthia, along wth Joannie's likely top four finish, could very well get three places for Canada at the Olympics.

 

[emma]

The main thing I have noticed in many competitions this year is the switch between the value of the SP and LP.

Under 6.0 judging, the idea was, skate conservatively and get third in the SP, then go for gold in the LP.

Now it is, get a big lead in the SP, coast home with third in the LP.

I don't know what to predict for Worlds. I didn't like Mao's LP at all -- but she won the free skate.

Kim's LP was sort of disjointed and blah (compared to her SP at least), but she's the champion.

Rochette skated as well as she possibly could -- but she didn't win.

Caroline gave a great performance -- but she won't be going to Worlds.

I don't see much hope for Alissa and Rachael to finish 6th and 7th at Worlds. But Cynthia, along wth Joannie's likely top four finish, could very well get three places for Canada at the Olympics.

I generally agree with this accept to add a few points: I think Rochette has a few points left in her, the sequences were both off, but only a few points. so, looks like she needs mao and yu-na to falter if she is to be golden.

Mao and Yu-Na are extremely talented skaters. I think Mao's program is interesting, but really needs to be 'on' to work, and yesterday it was just off. Her line and stretch and finish is fantastic - the best, imo. but there are those jump issues despite her axels.

YuNa was not at her best eithre - and i missed that experience. her fugly lack of toe point does seem though a tiny bit better to me, but yesterday I was feeling like her shoulders were dropping and rounded - did anyone notice that? anyway, I was disappointed in a fan way not to see her shine, it is so wonderful when she does.

 

[fumie_fumie]

The main thing I have noticed in many competitions this year is the switch between the value of the SP and LP.

Rochette skated as well as she possibly could -- but she didn't win.

Caroline gave a great performance -- but she won't be going to Worlds.

I don't see much hope for Alissa and Rachael to finish 6th and 7th at Worlds. But Cynthia, along wth Joannie's likely top four finish, could very well get three places for Canada at the Olympics.

No. Rochette lost 4 to 5 points on 3-3 sequence and she singled one axel in 2-2a sequence. She left 5 to 7 points on the table. That wasn't her best performance by any stretch of imagination. Her best days are still to come.

 

[skatingbc]

No. Rochette lost 4 to 5 points on 3-3 sequence and she singled one axel in 2-2a sequence. She left 5 to 7 points on the table. That wasn't her best performance by any stretch of imagination. Her best days are still to come.

Definitely.

 

[R.D.]

The main thing I have noticed in many competitions this year is the switch between the value of the SP and LP.

Under 6.0 judging, the idea was, skate conservatively and get third in the SP, then go for gold in the LP.

Now it is, get a big lead in the SP, coast home with third in the LP.

Traditionally in the US, the LP is what gets the attention and the TV coverage. If the comp has already been decided in the SP, then that zaps the drama and lowers TV ratings. Not good for the future of TV coverage of FS here in the states.

I don't know what to predict for Worlds. I didn't like Mao's LP at all -- but she won the free skate.

Kim's LP was sort of disjointed and blah (compared to her SP at least), but she's the champion.

Rochette skated as well as she possibly could -- but she didn't win.

Caroline gave a great performance -- but she won't be going to Worlds.

I don't see much hope for Alissa and Rachael to finish 6th and 7th at Worlds.

Pretty much sums up what I think as well.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

IMHO - Mao and Yu-na are speed demons on the ice. Asada not so much with that waltz, and Kim not so much with the lack of style.
Joannie does have style and great flow and intricate choreo which she handles superbly. LA could be golden for her.

I go for the days of Kwan, Cohen, Denise B, Angela N., etc. where I am moved sensuously Neither Mao nor Yu-Na get to me, but they are both excellent competitors and with the CoP, they are really in the lead. One has to remember that the PC scores are the summation of the GoE scores and not that much about artistry

I picked out C.Zhang a couple of years ago when she was in Juniors (she only did doubles then) as something close to a combination of Kwan and Cohen. I still feel that, but she has to get into maturity. The cuteness days are over. and that mule kick has got to go. She has a year to win Natiionals and go on to be a top contender in the Olys.

 

[skatingbc]

One has to remember that the PC scores are the summation of the GoE scores and not that much about artistry.

If that's true, then why didn't Vaughn get massive PC scores in the free program? He had only one -GOE, on a loop and one 0 on a step sequence.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

If that's true, then why didn't Vaughn get massive PC scores in the free program? He had only one -GOE, on a loop and one 0 on a step sequence.

He should have, imo, but not all judges are creaed equal.

 

[JOANNALV2SK8]

4CC implications for US ladies...

I'm depressed about US ladies... not sure what could be done - they're doing the best they can, but the field moved on without them... It looks at this time that Caroline is the only one having what it takes to be competetive but she is not going to Worlds... We lost a bunch of past contenders, Bebe, Kimmie, Emily H and the new possible ones like Angela M, Mirai, Ashley, still have ways to go. Alyssa has what it takes, but does not deliver. Rachel is sweet and hard working, and deserves to be on the team, just lacks that difficult to describe quality - that makes you glued to TV and jump out of your seat when a skater finished... I know my comments are redundant to what many of you have said, just needed to vent to a caring audience...

 

[Spun Silver]

Welcome to GS, Joanna! You're in good company. Lots of worries about US ladies these days. Personally, I think Ashley's the one... I just pray it all goes her way next season. She made big progress this year but couldn't quite hang on to it when she needed to. Caroline - everything depends on losing the kick. Is that possible at this point in her career? Would she and her team have the patience less than a year before the Olympics?

 

[R.D.]

I'm depressed about US ladies... not sure what could be done - they're doing the best they can, but the field moved on without them... It looks at this time that Caroline is the only one having what it takes to be competetive but she is not going to Worlds... We lost a bunch of past contenders, Bebe, Kimmie, Emily H and the new possible ones like Angela M, Mirai, Ashley, still have ways to go. Alyssa has what it takes, but does not deliver. Rachel is sweet and hard working, and deserves to be on the team, just lacks that difficult to describe quality - that makes you glued to TV and jump out of your seat when a skater finished... I know my comments are redundant to what many of you have said, just needed to vent to a caring audience...

Trust me, you are not alone. just take a look at the other 38-page thread, more than half of it is filled with concern about the current state of US ladies skating.

I think in the long run, things will be fine because we seem to have a lot of talent in our ladies pool; that was evident watching Nationals. But the 2010 Games is no longer the "long run"- it's less than a year away, and we have no medal contenders (I think this might be the first time in 40 years!!).

 

[R.D.]

Personally, I think Ashley's the one... I just pray it all goes her way next season. She made big progress this year but couldn't quite hang on to it when she needed to.

Cut!

That statement alone is why she's not the one, at least not this season.

The real underlying issue is that the US ladies have no front-runner (i.e. no "star") and this is just driving people insane. Even if there was one lady who was maybe top 5 material at best, and everyone else couldn't hope for 10th place if they tried, I'm sure more people would pay attention.

 

[Spun Silver]

Cut!
That statement alone is why she's not the one, at least not this season.

I was talking about next season, Red. This season's over (for her), at least as a senior lady.

The real underlying issue is that the US ladies have no front-runner (i.e. no "star") and this is just driving people insane. Even if there was one lady who was maybe top 5 material at best, and everyone else couldn't hope for 10th place if they tried, I'm sure more people would pay attention.

That's kind of funny but I think you're right. It does seem like a favorable moment for Sasha to return! Certainly from the point of view of people paying attention.