I know a lot of people are counting MK out, but would you at least admit

[nubka]

I agree with you about the media over exposure but what is there that's new and interesting to report...these people are skaters...they skate...to most of these once every four year reporters there's no new angle they can cover, they don't ahve the knowledge....even as a knowledgeable fan what new things are there to report?

Not much, that's why it's soooooo boring!

 

[havanamesa1]

She has a chance for the silver. The "sick-with-this-sick-with-that-what's-the-next-drama" superwoman Russian skater is a lock for gold.

 

[Mathman]

She has a chance for the silver. The "sick-with-this-sick-with-that-what's-the-next-drama" superwoman Russian skater is a lock for gold.

True, "Wonder Woman" Slutskaya has been skating circles around everyone else for the last two years. But anything can happen.

 

[cianni]

Mm

Can you explain that. I see Irina wave her arms , jump and do bielmans. I dont see any expression or connection to the music or choro at all. Are you referring to the 6 Bielmans racking up points? Thats all she does. Just wondering cause some other skaters have something more then 6 Bielmans making a program.

 

[Mathman]

Can you explain that. I see Irina wave her arms , jump and do bielmans. I dont see any expression or connection to the music or choro at all. Are you referring to the 6 Bielmans racking up points? Thats all she does. Just wondering cause some other skaters have something more then 6 Bielmans making a program.

I was refering to the fact that she beat everyone in the world last year, winning all of her Grand Prix events including the GP Final, capping the year by dominating the field at Worlds.

This season she far outpointed everyone else except Mao Asada in the GP Final and won a record seventh European championship.

To me, competitively, that's "skating circles around everyone else" that she will have to face at the Olympics.

(But anything can happen.)

MM

 

[JanJam]

To me, competitively, that's "skating circles around everyone else" that she will have to face at the Olympics.

(But anything can happen.)

MM

I agree, Irina's definitely the one to beat. As far as anything can happen, yes, anything -- like Sasha actually skating a clean program (that would be a first!) or Irina coming down with something for the 100th time -- but none of that will have an effect on Irina being crowned the gold medal winner. As far as the judging is concerned, Irina can fall on her jump, roll on the ice, and hit the board and she'll get 10s for her PCS and win the gold medal.

 

[Mathman]

It seems rather strange having said that she hasn't skated all season to then conclude that she hasn't adapted to the COP. I'd have thought knowing whether she has or hasn't adopted to the COP would be something we'd have to judge once we've seen her programs?

To me, the question is not whether she has adapted her programs to the CoP. I think she has tried very hard to do so. Maybe too hard. Working on all the new spin positions, etc., have taken its toll and played a part in all the injuries that she has suffered the last two years.

I think the problem is that the CoP does not smile on Michelle's great strengths the way the old system did. For one example, Michelle is not an exceptional spinner. But her spins are well-centered, she has a nice posture on her sit spin, she came up with a layback variation that was very pretty, and she managed to make her catch-foot Y spin both cute and dramaic at the same time. Under the old system, that was enough to hold her own against other competitors who could spin up a storm.

When she hit her COE spiral (the rest of the program was just a tease) it made strong men weep at the sheer Kwanderfulness of it all. And while the other ladies were slip-sliding away with hands down, two-foots, and free legs swinging to save a landing, Michelle was taking them to school by laying down those text-book 6 or 7 perfect triples.

Now, none of that counts any more. A clean program doesn't matter because a mistake will only cost you a point or two on the GOE. It's how many strange positions you can twist your body into that gives you the points on spins and spirals. As for the PCSs, it has been very difficult for anyone to understand just what it is that the judges are giving them out for.

To me, its the end of an era. Will the new one be as much fun? Anyway, I admire Michelle for taking the new bit in her teeth and throwing her ears back when the Turin posthorn blows.

MM

 

[lisadotdash]

again, may I point out that it's not fair to label all the doubters as "haters". That's so not true. Maybe they have valid reasons (other than "hate") for believing the way they do.

I'm not counting her out, but I'm not optimistic about her chances either. A podium finish IMO wouldn't be a real upset, but a gold would. You see, the top contenders would have to mess up pretty bad and mk would have to have the skate of her LIFE. The odds of that happening aren't very favorable. But MK could bump someone else off the podium (or in the standings) just by being there.

What makes me so disappointed. is like the Lion and the Giselle. E. Hughes really messed up but presumably in Kwan's test skate, she outskated Hughes in the Judge's eyes. It's BeBe Leung that I want to take over my knee and spank. If she would have had the skate of her life both programs at nationals, then Kwan might not be going at all because the (true) Japanese girls are going to keep her from medaling at all, they and maybe Kimmie.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

What makes me so disappointed. is like the Lion and the Giselle. E. Hughes really messed up but presumably in Kwan's test skate, she outskated Hughes in the Judge's eyes. It's BeBe Leung that I want to take over my knee and spank. If she would have had the skate of her life both programs at nationals, then Kwan might not be going at all because the (true) Japanese girls are going to keep her from medaling at all, they and maybe Kimmie.

Right, because the (false) japanese girls can't keep her from the podium... and why are you bringing defenseless animals into the debate? This is figure skating not animal planet... :banging:

edited to delete my true feelings on the quoted post... trying to be more grown up like ptichka...

 

[Mathman]

I assume the "false Japanese girls" are Bebe Leung, Mira Liang, and Michelle Yamaguchi. But did you know that Adolphe Adams composed the entire score for his famous ballet Gazelle in a single week?

 

[marcijack]

Educate Yourself

I am a big Kwan fan but I also don't think she's going to medal.
She hasn't skated all season, she really hasn't adapted to the new COP scoring.
If for some reason she does win a medal of any kind I'll be one of the first to admit I was wrong and congradulate her. :thumbsup:

I get kinda irritated when people base their opinions on Michelle's status way back in December at Marshall's. At her test skate her levels were 3/4 and she did all of the triples except the loop. Here is an excerpt from the USFSA article:

"Kwan performed around 11 a.m. at the East-West Ice Palace, her home rink, in Artesia, Calif. In front of the U.S. Figure Skating panel, a few family members and her coach, Kwan performed her free skate, took a 10-minute break, and then skated her short program.

She had one fall on a double Axel but landed four clean triple jumps and various combinations. All of her levels were deemed threes and fours."

http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=32817

I think that is excellent progress after jumping for only two weeks (since Jan 13 clearance from her doctor). And, her groin and hip injuries are completely healed. I am a fan and watched all of video clips that were available of her Press Conference on Jan 27. I don't expect non-fans to go to that extent. However, I wish people would read a few articles so that they can make a fair assessment when ranking the skaters. Irina and everybody else better watch out. Michelle will be 100% at the Olympics.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

But did you know that Adolphe Adams composed the entire score for his famous ballet Gazelle in a single week?

 

[JonnyCoop]

I assume the "false Japanese girls" are Bebe Leung, Mira Liang, and Michelle Yamaguchi.

I assume they are, too, and I'm also assuming that one of the reasons that they would be the "false" Japanese girls would have something to do with the fact that they are of CHINESE descent?????