Ladies Short Program - SHOWDOWN - Asada vs. Meissner

[Tonichelle]

Just a reminder to keep the discussion friendly. If you've forgotten how, refer to the guidelines. Attacking members isn't cool.

 

[bekalc]

Rafael commented in an interview that coaching in the states is different than in Russia, so in here he doesn't push it, and respects what his student thinks and wants. Mao very likely shares the same thought of having no intention to correct the flutz.

From what I have heard, what Rafael said was that he would tell Mao to go into the triple lutz the same way in the long program, as she always does. He didn't say they wouldn't work to correct in the long term.

 

[Oscilla]

:disagree: :disapp: That kind of attitude sucks. They both needs to rethink their thought process there.

I think that Peter misinterpreted what Raphael was trying to say. There was an interview with Raphael on icenetwork where he expressed his frustration at the new judging system. He said that the system was supposed to be more fair, but it is twice as messy. He said that the new rules are introduced so frequently that it is difficult to keep track of them and having to adjust to them in a very short time is frustrating and messes up the training shedule. Moreover, for older skaters, like Michelle Kwan or Jeffrey Buttle, it is very difficult to adjust to CoP at all.

He suggested, that CoP should be introduced in junior ranks first, and only when all the kinks are ironed out, to seniors. He compared the ISU to police and coaches to parents, but he said that it difficult to teach a child a new rule if they never grew up with it.

Meanwhile, Mao said in the interview available at japanskates.com that she does plan to correct her lutz, but it will probably have to wait until off-season, as it is too risky to try to do it now.

She didn't have much time to work on the jumps this off-season - she was injured and spent most of the time working on steps, spins and ballet.

 

[tiara]

Her way of "concealing the error" is trying to do the jump as properly as she knows how.

If she really wants to correct her lips, she has to put her toe(right leg) more to the right and move her body weight more to the right. When she does that, her left boot will automatically bend inward and her lips are corrected. She usually puts her toe so close to her left boot as she does her lutz. Because she can use the outside edge so easily in that position when she takes off.

Mao doesn't have a "less obvious" flutz because she's an honest skater who doesn't try to "conceal" the error- it's because her technique is that much worse and she can't do the jump off of anything but an obvious inside edge.

Mao is a "obvious" flutzer, and she is punished for that. So, it is no use criticizing her. However, there are some skaters who have succeeded to escape the punishment. Those dodger skaters should also be punished the same way.

It is not a matter of techniques. Lippers are much easier to conceal their errors and decieve judges than flutzers. Lutzs do
not include a half turn before the jump, so flutzers have to keep the wrong edge longer than lippers. That will end up as "obvious". And also there are not so many flutzers who have succeeded to correct their flutzs.