Ladies Free Skating - 2013 Trophée Eric Bompard

[MasterB]

Finally a clean skate for Adelina. I love her but, not a fan of the program or her Victoria Secret dress.

Not yet a fan of Anna but, I can see that she is a fighter. She looked pissed as hell after her marks came up. Love it when skater won't hide their feelings.

Wagner sure knows how to compete. Like the new dress. Good that she didn't go clean, I want her to put more out there.

Samantha, she is slowly rising. She is another one that has a head for competing. Nationals is going to be so much fun.

 

[bigsisjiejie]

She skated her absolute best, landing all of her jumps and still lost. Judging from her interviews, she is extremely ambitious and she must have felt very frustrated. It doesn't necessarily mean that she thought she was better than Sot or Wagner.

Well, now is as good a time as any for Pogorilaya to learn how take defeat gracefully and also understand that it's not all about jumps--she's got a lot work ahead of her on the PCS side (which I thought was actually generous here and should have been lower than Cesario's). I don't find Miss Anna to have much sense of artistry yet. Sort of a more consistent Russian version of Courtney Hicks.

 

[Shayuki]

I think that Pogorilaya is very beautiful when she has much less makeup and loose hair. She looks so much worse with her usual competition makeup, I don't understand why she does that.

 

[silverlake22]

Or it could be a realization that Adelina will finish ahead of her if she's clean.

Considering where Pogo was last season, and even moreso the seasons prior to that, she should be pretty happy coming within 5 points of Adelina and posting a 184+ on international ice. The girl was a nobody 2 seasons ago and has now made the senior GPF as a 15 year old. Adelina has been the dominant Russian lady for about 5 years now. I like that she is driven to do even better, but really Anna, you and your coach should be proud!

 

[Shayuki]

Considering where Pogo was last season, and even moreso the seasons prior to that, she should be pretty happy coming within 5 points of Adelina and posting a 184+ on international ice. The girl was a nobody 2 seasons ago and has now made the senior GPF as a 15 year old. Adelina has been the dominant Russian lady for about 5 years now. I like that she is driven to do even better, but really Anna, you and your coach should be proud!

Well, I disagree. Being content with third place is the sign of a weak competitor. It's good if you're only happy with gold and always strive to improve.

 

[koatcue]

I'm so sad that there will be just 2 girls going to the Olympics I wish Russia got 3 spots

 

[Oreo]

To me, Anna is still pretty much all arms and legs, which is because she's only 15. At this point, I really don't get her PCS. She'll be much more interesting in another couple of years.

 

[FSGMT]

Well, I disagree. Being content with third place is the sign of a weak competitor. It's good if you're only happy with gold and always strive to improve.

Anna should be proud of what she's achieved in the past 24 months but I absolutely agree with you in general!! :yes:

 

[Ziggy]

Well, now is as good a time as any for Pogorilaya to learn how take defeat gracefully and also understand that it's not all about jumps--she's got a lot work ahead of her on the PCS side (which I thought was actually generous here and should have been lower than Cesario's). I don't find Miss Anna to have much sense of artistry yet. Sort of a more consistent Russian version of Courtney Hicks.

She didn't do anything disgraceful. She felt upset at not managing to hold on to 2nd place or winning despite doing her best and she cried. She is very young and extremely ambitious. She'll get over it and given her attitude, she will probably channel it into working even harder and improving more.

As for your second point, watch her JGP videos from last season. She's improved her presentation a lot since then. Pogorilaya needs more speed and flow and her upper body is a little stiff but both of her programs feature pretty much constant upper body movement and she extends her arm movements decently enough. She just doesn't do cross-overs from one jump to the next. Hicks is very wooden, skates with rounded shoulders and a turtle neck and there's hardly anything other than stroking into elements in her programs.

 

[Shayuki]

Now if Tuktamysheva wins the next Grand Prix, Russia's situation for the Olympics will be interesting to say the least.

 

[silverlake22]

Well, now is as good a time as any for Pogorilaya to learn how take defeat gracefully and also understand that it's not all about jumps--she's got a lot work ahead of her on the PCS side (which I thought was actually generous here and should have been lower than Cesario's). I don't find Miss Anna to have much sense of artistry yet. Sort of a more consistent Russian version of Courtney Hicks.

Pogo is more like a Gracie Gold imo, except with a better competitive mindset. Her strengths are her jumps and spins, and she also happens to be pretty and blonde with long limbs. The speed is pretty good but they both lack polish and can be a bit stiff and windmill-y. Pogo does have more to offer in terms of expression though, I think in time she could be really good and a full package if she can keep up her jumping prowess and consistency. Most 15 year olds are a bit rough around the edges, the only 2 examples I can think of who were not are Mao and Julia.

 

[sky_fly20]

Adelina: So funny we were all talking about how Adelina needed to drop the 3Fs from her programs and she hits on 3 for 3 at this competition. So proud of her for skating so well and winning...yes...winning the FS and grabbing silver here. So happy for her and I'm sure Sky_fly is just thrilled...

thrilled ? Sotnikova has still not won a gold medal
and could not beat a worn out Wagner with a two footed 3-3 and flip errors

 

[silverlake22]

Well, I disagree. Being content with third place is the sign of a weak competitor. It's good if you're only happy with gold and always strive to improve.

That's true too and probably her mindset as well. Certainly not a bad one to have. Anyways, I was speaking more about the coach, who never seems that happy. But Anna speaks highly of her in interviews, so maybe it is just a facade.

 

[koatcue]

Pogo is more like a Gracie Gold imo, except with a better competitive mindset. Her strengths are her jumps and spins, and she also happens to be pretty and blonde with long limbs. The speed is pretty good but they both lack polish and can be a bit stiff and windmill-y. Pogo does have more to offer in terms of expression though, I think in time she could be really good and a full package if she can keep up her jumping prowess and consistency. Most 15 year olds are a bit rough around the edges, the only 2 examples I can think of who were not are Mao and Julia.

:thumbsup: I thought Pogo is like Gracie in some ways! Her jumps are like hers at least..And the way they look on the ice. Gold starts to change her posture though..

 

[Art&Sport]

The color of Ashley's dress is pretty, but I liked the fp costume she wore at SA more than the one here and at Japan Open. I'm happy for Ashley and I hope she builds steam for a great rest of the season!

Sotnikova is fun to watch when she's on. Pogorilaya needs more seasoning and refining. Kudos to Sammi Cesario for having a wonderful showing at this competition.

I agree with most of your views in your #241 post, MasterB, although I don't really love any of the Russian young ladies. I agree with those who feel the bronze at Olympics is up for grabs, but I'd give more competitors than just one of the Russians a chance for grabbing the bronze. It could be anyone from one of the Russians, to Carolina to Ashley to Akiko, or even Gracie if she skates on a level she hasn't reached yet.

 

[Fruit Loops]

This was my first time seeing Wagner's LP and with all the hand-wringing and critisicms I have read on the threads I thought I would not like it at all but I loved it! I'm not especially a fan of hers but I have always kind of liked her. Today's performance just stood out above the rest of the field even with the two-foot landing on the combo and step out on the flip. The dress was gorgeous too.

I also really liked Adelina. I don't know why exactly, but I have never really liked Russian skaters. Nothing against the country, just something about their style just leaves me cold but this program was really appealing to me. The dress could have been better but not as crazy as what I tend to expect from a Russian skater.

Lacoste skated well today and i think she should definitely get her chance to go to Sochi but she is so bland. She has many lovely qualities but nothing that excites me. I much prefer Osmond but with her injuries I think Lacoste can make a serious run for another National title. We'll see.

 

[Shayuki]

Rochette should easily win the nationals if she competes

 

[bigsisjiejie]

Pogo is more like a Gracie Gold imo, except with a better competitive mindset. Her strengths are her jumps and spins, and she also happens to be pretty and blonde with long limbs. The speed is pretty good but they both lack polish and can be a bit stiff and windmill-y. Pogo does have more to offer in terms of expression though, I think in time she could be really good and a full package if she can keep up her jumping prowess and consistency. Most 15 year olds are a bit rough around the edges, the only 2 examples I can think of who were not are Mao and Julia.

OK, I'll buy that. More like a Gracie Gold with a better competitive mindset. And yes, she has come a long way from last year and by most peoples' standards, should be proud of what she's accomplished so far and going forward, use everything as a learning tool to address her weaknesses. However, in one of those interviews somewhere in those links above, Anna P reveals clearly being upset at Jr Worlds last season with her bronze and it's clear she felt she should have beaten "that American" (Hannah Miller, silver medalist), not seeming to understand that her own skating was very deficient on the PCS side....and many thought she didn't even deserve the bronze and it was Cesario that got the shaft. Sorry, but I think there is some sort of misplaced expectation here as evidenced in her attitude. 15 years old is not 5 years old, and a competitive skater at this level should understand that nobody likes a pouter on display regardless of how frustrated she might be with herself or the judging.

And Michelle Kwan at 15 was not rough around the edges either, nor was Sasha Cohen.

 

[koatcue]

Funny how last year people wrote Rus girls off the Oly podium. Now they have a chance to place 3!:yay:

 

[MK's Winter]

thrilled ? Sotnikova has still not won a gold medal and could not beat a worn out Wagner with a two footed 3-3 and flip errors

I wouldn't call Ashley worn out not at all. Adelina has gained confidence and pretty likely secured a spot in the GPF. I am thrilled for her. And she did beat Ashley in the free skate. You are very harsh.