Ladies Ice Dancing (what a bore zzzz......)
My gosh,
Missed the first two skaters.......didn't realize it was going to be on so soon.......but was just in time to catch the beginning of
Miki Ando's skate (thank goodness). But what followed are my impressions of the entire women's event (not good btw; forewarning):
LADIEZZZ
Miki Ando (JPN; btw only one who was brave & not a coward) -- gorgeous costume, best one of the night in fact, and is really starting to resemble a Japanese version of Audrey Hepburn IMHO. Also, is mature & elegant out on the ice; her body type helps a lot to present such an image, as well as her improved presentation. However, downside was the fact that she didn't seem to be "on" in her jumps, though she gets a :agree: from me for being the only one to attempt difficult jumps, and thereby show the public that it really is a sport. Opening 3Z/2T/2T was real good, but disappointed not to see the 3Z/3R that she usually does. And then the 4S was a credible attempt, nice power & height, but short 1/3 rotation, and thus the fall (btw heard that she was doubled whammied for it; counted as a 3S & then -3 GOE applied as well, which says to the ladiez "play it safe", thus my hat off to her for going for it anyway). Next up was a gorgeous 3F (nice power & height), followed by a nice 3T later on. Then came a 3S/3R (the 3S was totally awesome btw; easy to see why she goes for the 4S, but the 3R was poor, with 3/4 short of rotation; needs to bring back the 3T/3T that she usually does). Finally, her 3Z at the end was short of rotation & thus the fall (unusual for her btw, usually nails this jump, which makes me think she was just off on her jumps today; better luck next time). As for her other elements ~ still needs to work on her spiral & steadiness in them ~ as well as her spins need to be better executed. However, her flow & fluidity & softness over the ice is very very nice, and her interpretation is getting there. Once she performs this program without error, I see it being a winner (no lie). But that wasn't the case today, thus the low marks: 4 triples + 2 falls + points taken off for the gutsy 4S = 6th place in the FS; however 3rd overall counting her 1st place finish in the SP. Good Job. And now she becomes one of the rare women to ever grab a medal there first time out on the Sr. Grand Prix, joining the lkes of
Sarah Hughes, Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Debi Thomas, Elaine Zayak, Jennifer Kirk, and Carolina Kostner. Not bad at all, for a beginning.
Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN; lots of cowardly pops, resembles Amber Corwin btw) -- nice costume, but trying too hard in her presentation; in fact, whole time I kept imagining Sasha Cohen skating to this (no lie). Unsteady jumps ~ 4 in total, no combos. ~ but what saved her was the generous marks for presentation, and no deductions for all the pops she did. Finished 2nd overall, and also joins the likes of those I mentioned above whom also captured a medal there first time out on the Sr. Grand Prix. For this, my hat goes off to her.
Angela Nikodinov (USA; looks extremely wore out, but good of her to be there) -- nice costume, raggy hairdo, overdone make-up; makes her look older than what she is IMHO; wish she would bring back the look that she had when she skated to "Sleeping Beauty" several yrs. ago. Other than that, vintage Angela, complete with 4 triples, no combos., usual pops at end of program. And overall good enough to capture gold. Good for her, I mean that. Just disappointed in the overall lackluster skating today, wherein pretty cowardly skating gets rewarded over elegant & mature skating with guts (ala Miki Ando, though I didn't think she deserved to win, no way, but IMHO should not have been deducted points for trying more difficult elements; pops should be deducted if anything). JMHO.
Yukina Ota (JPN; pretty skating, but massive pops all over the place) -- best presentation of the whole bunch IMHO, but this is not ice dancing (though one wouldn't know it by watching today's ladiez event), and only landed two clean triple jumps. Thus, placing her 7th in the FS, right behind Miki Ando, which is a complete joke IMHO (Ando should've been placed higher).
Today's ladiez skating told me that someone like
Sasha Cohen can win the whole she-bang by landing 2 triple jumps & popping all over the place, kinda like what she did last year. Btw, I AM a Sasha Cohen Fan, just don't like the direction the sport is going in, doesn't challenge the skaters. Pretty skating is all that is being rewarded (aka pretty spirals & spins & dancing on ice). Ladiez skating has now become ice dancing. :disapp:
Sincerely, Nadine