NHK on TV: Comments

[Rgirl]

LADIES
Shizza: Gets stronger and lovelier with every competition. And I love reminding myself that before her 2003 World's win, she hadn't even made the Japanese team in five years. Here's to late bloomers. Yuk about the costume, but if they kept the bodice and skirt and took the junk off the back and sleaves, replacing it with something simple, I think it could be really lovely.

Ando: Best I've ever seen her skate. Better on the in-betweens and choreography. Maybe she has a little inspiration.

Sokolova: Looking good and great to see her back and healthy.

Onda: Hopefully Weissiger's work on everything besides jumps will bear fruit eventually. I think this may be a season of awkward transition. Still love her.


PAIRS
Petrova/Tikhonov: I know things are tough in Russia but can't this team at least afford some new music? I never want to hear that LP music again ever! But I must say that the COP has brought out a lot of good things in their skating, especially hers, and that his endurance is much improved. A much-deserved win.

Pang/Tong: I'm not seeing the flow in their skating I used to see nor as strong a relation between them. There was only about a 2-1/2 point difference between P/T and Zagorska/Siudek, who blew both their side-by-side jumps. IMO their biggest weakness continues to be their lifts. And there's my usual concern about Qing Pang's health -- JMO.

Zagorska/Siudek: The lifts remain steady and spectacular. When they're on, I don't notice the limitations in things such as their spin positions. They weren't on tonight, i.e., the popped jumps, but I still love this program.


DANCE
Denkova/Staviski: I love their FD. Only one couple in a decade can pull stuff like that off in ice dance, but at least in theatrical dance, something like that is fairly common now even in ballet companies.

Navka/Kostamorov: I was so hoping that their "Tosca" would be the one that would be just right. But somehow it didn't have distinct sections where they could play power and release against each other. Plus she seemed to be smiling hugely the whole time. The scores between N/K and D/S were only about 3-1/2 points apart, but I thought D/S were much stronger.

Delobel/Schoenfelder: Somehow I just don't connect with this couple, and I think at least part of it is because they don't connect with each other, at least theatrically. Too bad, given the history of the French in ice dancing -- even though the Duschaneys were Canadian and Marina Anissina was Russian


MEN
Weiss: Will MW ever get the mechanics of a 3Axel down? I think he moves better with less muscle bulk. ITA with Paul Wylie's comment that he should use and skate up to the music more.

Dambier: Ive been hot and cold on Dambier, but I think this "Summertime/Jazz Medley" program is a strong one and goes well with his natural movement style.

Goebel: As I said on another thread, looked healthy and skated great, but why the screw-up on the COP:scratch:?

Weir: Holy Maria Butryskaya, Batman! Not only is this a much better recording of "Otonal," the choreography and skating also beats Maria, IMO. For my money, testosterone has done nothing but good things for Weir. Of the skaters I haven't seen live, he's number one on my list to see first chance I get. As I think Paul Wylie said about Ryan Jahnke at Skate Canada, which I would also apply to Weir: "There are some skaters who are never able to skate with this kind of passion."


OVERALL
ESPN seems to be highlighting the discipline with the best competition for each GP event, which I think is a good way of getting more out of a smaller pie.

Rgirl

 

[equestrianguy]

Miki was wonderful in the free skate! She was even feeling her program more than Arakawa that night.. I actually saw emotion in her face for the first time.. I was very impressed and Miki was clearly the winner..
I LOVE the Bulgarians free dance! WOW, that music had me up dancing! lol Very powerful.. I love the RUS team and Navka is beautiful, but I'm not feeling their Tosca program yet.. I'm sure it will improve later.. It would be cool if the Americans B/A can upset the RUS team as well this year...
Jonny Weir....WOW!! Brilliant!! If he can add one quad to his program I see him as the next olympic gold medalist.. He may not need a quad under the new scoring system.. His artistry/components is head and shoulders above the rest of the mens field.. Watch out, Plushy!!!! lol

 

[Mathman]

I missed the Skate Canada coverage, so this was the first time I got to hear Paul Wylie commentate. I thought he was great. Lots of interesting facts, and a smooth delivery, IMO.

Mathman

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

ESPN went bananas on commercials, and there was a little bit too much fluff on this one. While it's nic to have Peter away from commentating, he doesn't grab me as a feature speaker either. Paul's voice was much lower this time out. I'm not sure I am all for him getting Dick's job. Susie gets better and better. Hope CoC has less commercials and we don't have to listen to the Americans ooohing and awwwwing the wonderful Chinese sites.

About the Ladies - It was Miki Ando for me, and that's saying much from me because I was never so enthralled with her before. She skates with great stroking and with abandon. Shizuka is just a little too careful for me this season.
Elena S was fine but she is not really a contender in this.

About the Men - Oh Johnny smooth as silk jumps. Spins in perfect order, Long legged flow about the ice, musical, nice choreography. He's got it all but I still do not see a discernable style. Lyric, yes. but dramatic, no. but joy in skating, no. He's head and shoulders above Joubert in relating to the audience, but he still has a way to go. Oh yes, that quad which everyone is going jump on.

Michael has to get that triple axel. It's a must must must. Otherwise the choreography was fine and he can make himself competititve again, I think.

Tim looked fine everything is improved. He's got flow, spins, jumps, footwork and he is beginning to work it all in with body attitude. He should be top 6 in the world.

The Pairs - Pang and Tong has a few flubs but they are moving beautifully around the ice. A perfect pair to replace S&Z when the time comes and maybe even sooner. P&T at their best is a demonstration of what lifts are all about, and not much more. The Polish team is wow when they hit.

I was hoping to see Gregory and Petrukhov but all those commercials would not allow that. As much as I like D&S, I hated that African number. Much to bumpy throughout and not showing real dancing. N&M had their problems but they are the dance team to beat. I loved that French team - just so lyrically quiet with some difficult and beautiful moves - not playing to the judges, just playing to people like me for the warmth of skate dancing.

On to China

Joe

 

[Vash01]

Petrova-Tikhonov are using their last year's music Princess of the Circus. I don't see anything wrong with it. Numerous skaters have used the same program 2 years in a row, and even 3 years (actually S&P's Love Story in 2002 was just too much for me - too stale). This is a good program for them, and I am happy that they won. In the past they were often given the shaft after a good skate while other pairs with major mistakes were given the podium. May be there is something right about the change over to COP.

I absolutely loved Johnny Weir's LP. Is this guy smooth or what? He was so fluid across the ice, interweaving the jumps and choreography! With the COP having a quad is not going to be the defining factor when it comes to the podium. The 6.0 system often overstressed the jump difficulty. Johnny could win it all even without a quad.

I liked Shizuka's skate, even with a fall. The costume is not great but it did not bother me too much. I would have preferred a simple one though. I have to watch Miki's program again. She landed all the jumps. Her spirals really bother me. However, I will look for the other things later. Her 3-3-2 was awesome- sooo easy!

I really liked N&K's choice of Tosca. This program is going to be great by worlds.

Vash

 

[Dee4707]

Weir: Holy Maria Butryskaya, Batman! Not only is this a much better recording of "Otonal," the choreography and skating also beats Maria, IMO. For my money, testosterone has done nothing but good things for Weir. Of the skaters I haven't seen live, he's number one on my list to see first chance I get. As I think Paul Wylie said about Ryan Jahnke at Skate Canada, which I would also apply to Weir: "There are some skaters who are never able to skate with this kind of passion."Rgirl

Rgirl, you have such a way of putting things. Johnny's skate was absolutely gorgeous. I watched it 3 times after. I’ve been keeping my fingers crossed for Johnny ever since the 2001 Goodwill Games. I knew he could do it. His skate at NHK was one of the most beautiful men’s programs in a long time. Tatianna knew what she was doing with him, the flow and passion were magical. Loved it, loved it!!! Now if Sandu and Johnny would be consistent with their jumps, what a competition that would be!! Oh and throw in Jahnke too. :agree:

Dee

 

[Mathman]

With the COP having a quad is not going to be the defining factor when it comes to the podium. The 6.0 system often overstressed the jump difficulty. Johnny could win it all even without a quad.

I will be very interested to see how that plays out. What if Plushenko does three quads, but Johnny almost matches his tech point total with a balanced program featuring a variety of other strong elements.

What I am afraid of is that the judges will just say, "Well, Plushenko did all those quads, so he deserves to win" -- and adjust the component scores accordingly.

Mathman

 

[euterpe]

Plushenko doesn't have Weir's smoothness and grace, but he does have the same total command of the ice. With EP, the emphasis is on strength and power, with JW, on fluid movement and effortless jumping.

I do think that JW will inevitably place second to EP because of EP's inventive and unique quad and triple jump combinations. EP has already gotten his share of high 8 PCS scores, and those aren't going to get any lower. As long as EP has the quad edge, JW will be at a disadvantage.

 

[hrmsk8ngnutt]

I was hoping to see Gregory and Petrukhov but all those commercials would not allow that. As much as I like D&S, I hated that African number. Much to bumpy throughout and not showing real dancing. N&M had their problems but they are the dance team to beat. I loved that French team - just so lyrically quiet with some difficult and beautiful moves - not playing to the judges, just playing to people like me for the warmth of skate dancing.

I was also hoping to see them as well. They came in 4th and I thought that would be enough to get on the broadcast. I also was interested in seeing their new blades.

I liked the African Bach number of D&S. I thought they looked great and am looking forward to seeing how the number develops. (On a side note, the San Francisco Ballet has a piece called Lambarena that will be performed again in the 2005 season and I can't wait to see their take)

I liked N&M, but the only thing I didn't like was the section in the middle where they stopped and posed. They did the same thing in their 'The Feeling Begins' FD 2 years ago. I will have to watch it again. I'm sure that they will come back stronger.

Herm (sk8ngnutt)

 

[nicole_l]

As long as EP has the quad edge, JW will be at a disadvantage.

ITA. Johnny Weir has the fluidity, but it's not as if Plushenko isn't used to getting 5.9s and 6.0s in presentation.

I wasn't crazy about D&S's program. It's out of the ordinary, which isn't bad, but it's just not my style.
I was really hoping to see G&P's freedance. Honestly, the national silver medalists are in the GP, and ESPN doesn't show them?

I've had I&B's long program music before, and I absolutely love it, so it's always interesting for me to see how a couple or skater interprets Beethoven's Last Night. I thought that I&B did a great job. I love them. I hope they get married and have lots of little skating babies.

But it's all about Johnny Weir. Wow! That's about all I have to say, and that I'm looking forward to seeing this program again.

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

Well it will be great to see Weir, Plushenko, and even Joubert go head-to-head at Cup of Russia.

Here is my opinion about the NHK Coverage:

Ladies:

Shizuka Arakawa: A wonderful skater but still is having trouble doing a clean program. I guess that will come in time. Unfortunate that she broke her blade Hope she gets better.

Yoshie Onda: Did very well but fell on a triple Lutz. I do think that this was a great coaching change for her.

Miki Ando: A fantastic performance. She really played to the crowd(especially that Nagoya is her hometown). I think she is getting better and hopefully she makes it to the GPF.

Elena Sokolova: I really like her performance to "Romeo and Juliet"(Ironically it is the same as Shizuka's just a little different at the beginning) I just love that she is back.

Pairs:

Inoue/Baldwin: I liked their program, I think it was much better than at SA. Had the crowd going at the end. A joy to watch

Zagorska/Siudek: Continues to amaze me with their lifts. I do enjoy seeing how this develops in the future.

Pang/Tong: One of my favorite pairs teams, this is an elegant program. I just hope they regain energy towards the end of their program.

Petrova/Tikhonov: I am glad to see that they are well and it was a joy to see them defend their title.

Ice Dance:

Denkova/Staviski: I LOVE THEIR PROGRAM!!!!! I am a fan of fast and cultural music. I really don't think they need anymore work done. They really are one of the best.

Delobel/Schoenfelder: It is great to see them back in the mix. It would be very interesting to see if they can make it towards the podium or possibly medal

Navka/Kostomarov: Still needs a work done on the twizzles. I really don't think the music "Tosca" suits them. They are more of a dynamic team. Irina Slutskaya's program to "Tosca" was magical

Men:

Chengjiang Li: A great program to martial arts music. Hopefully he will be back towards the top at worlds

Michael Weiss: Still needs to work on a clean quad and triple axel. He is such a fun skater to watch. I do hope that he gets better by nationals

Frederic Dambier: A good job despite an injury in his right heel. It would be nice if we see another Frenchman back towards the top at worlds.

Timothy Goebel: A great program. Unfortunate that he did a second 3-combo jump that didn't count. I would to see him back on the podium at worlds.

Johnny Weir: WOW!!!! I don't think have anything to say. He such a fun skater to be around with and he has a great sense of humor.

That is my analysis

 

[Doggygirl]

It was a Johnny Weir night for me too....

After watching him skate this program (by TV) at Campbell's, I wasn't sure about the music selection. Of course, my vantage point for comparison was Dr. Z from National's last year which brought me to tears, literally.

Was it just wishful thinking on my part, or has this program come a long way from the Cambell's version? I'm not talking as much about elements as I am about the way the program was presented. To my untrained eye, Johnny seemed more comfortable with it, and subsequently more intense, confident, etc. He might just have me in tears again before this season is over - and I DO hope that's the GOOD kind of tears LOL!

They mentioned he was doing 4's and 4/3 combos in practice. I assume they meant at NHK practice, and I also assume by saying he was "doing" them that he was "landing" them??? Anyone hear any inside scoop on this? I'm a bit surprised if he's landing them in practice that he didn't try them in his non-scoring event, but of course there is a ton of mental stuff that goes behind each performance and maybe for him it was more important to get a clean and wonderful performance out there.

I am am concerned when it comes down to World's how a no quad routine would fare when folks like Joubert (I guess that one will get tested) and Plushy are all in the game.

Did anyone but me find Weiss's comments entertaining about the COP giving advantages to the last skater???? HELLO!!! How about the old ordinal system, which IMO places MORE empahsis on jumps to win??? Didn't the last skater under THAT system REALLY have an advantage in terms of knowing exactly what to do or not do????? While I certainly think the same advantages exist under COP as it pertains specifically to jumps (quad or triple??) I can't imagine skaters having in their arsenal a "back up plan" for a level 2 instead of 3 spin, footwork sequence, etc. to downgrade their entire program (or upgrade it as the case may be) at the drop of a hat. At least that sort of thing would burn MY brain.

RGirl, I am SO WITH YOU on Shiz's costume. Yee Gads. I was really hoping the sleeves and back on that thing would have been changed by now. And of course, MW prevailed in the Rusty Hanger department for the Men.

DG

 

[eliza88]

Count me in on the Johnny Weir bandwagon! I love to watch this guys skate! I have watched his Campbell's performance several times over--Uncle Dick kept saying the whole program lacked tension and excitement. I wonder what he has to say about JW's LP now! Just stunning and so so fluid from beginning to end! It looked like his speed throughout the program was much better than that of Campbell's. I am going to Nationals and I CANNOT wait to see Johnny live! I love his entrance into the triple lutz! Wow wow wow!

Tim looked good--his presentation looked improved to me as well as his speed. Nice to see him landing those 3A's!!

Weiss--oy the collar! It simply has to go. He really needs someone other than his wife to choreograph his programs. The music picked up and he slowed.

Shiza--I too don't like her costume. However, I have noticed that after any Arakawa program she has an extreme wedgy--the fuller skirt of this costume hides the wedgy better! She does an Ina Bauer more beautifully than anyone! I like this program more than at Campbells and by Worlds it should be stunning.

Elena S--she's perky and energetic, her jumps were there but I thought the choreography (when it was there) was awful.

Miki--this is the first Ando performance I have liked, usually she bores me. She kept energy throughout and looked like she was "performing" out there! Her spiral sequence needs oodles of work!

I loved D/S dance--they skate so close! I always enjoy watching their creativity and innovation. They skated quite well!

I didn't really like N/K program. I didn't like Tosca as a dance program. They had some great lifts and I am sure the program will get refined and be better as the season goes on.

I/B have really improved since last year. This program has lots of potential!

Pang/Tong--I do love the mood they set but I have such a hard time watching her painfully skinny legs! I know I should look past this--I know I'll just look at him instead! They need endurance more than anything else.

When I get home tonight I am going to watch Johnny again!

eliza88

 

[euterpe]

Weir had a sprained ankle when he skated at Campbell's, and it was his takeoff foot. That's why he skated so slowly and carefully there.

 

[Doggygirl]

Eliza...

ITA with you and others about the performances. I too really worry about Pang. All of these elite athletes I'm sure have low body fat %'s and strive to retain as much muscle as possible with as little fat% as possible. There are many tiny female skaters but she looks really skeletal - like she is missing lean muscle mass which she probably needs to perform the "tricks" and also have the stamina for the program. I hope her health is OK....their performances this year seem to be lacking in "something" to my untrained eye that might have to do with conditioning and healthy muscle mass as opposed to weight.

DG

 

[mpal2]

I'm getting more and more upset over the lack of short programs now. I would have killed to get Johnny's short recorded. I downloaded it from the net, but it's not DVD quality which is a real bummer.

I emailed ESPN about the excessive fluff in this one. I don't think it will help but it made me feel better. Just how many times did we have to hear that it was too bad all three US men were at NHK and it made it harder for all three to get to the Grand Prix? I do agree, but give it a rest already. I got the point the first time. I'm not stupid.

Anyway, rant over. Loved the skating I did get to see. I'm going to have to go back and rewatch the dance and pairs because I have a couple of cats getting into power struggles. It's a death match at home.

So far the programs that I really enjoyed are Weir's and Dambier's. I like Shizuka's but I couldn't really enjoy it yet. She's got a little more refining to do on it. I liked parts of Miki Ando's but it was an on and off kind of thing. We'll see how that develops. This should be interesting season.

 

[Nadine]

Here Goes:

Johnny Weir -- this is the next OGM winner in men's (well deserved btw). 'nuff said. On a side note: hate all the 'nelly' acting off ice, which fulfills the general society's stereotype about men's skating, unfortunately.

Shizuka Arakawa -- of the Top 3 elite, she is the one whom personifies extraordinary elegance on ice, from her innate flexible double-jointed limbs (btw Sarah Hughes & Sasha Cohen also are double-jointed as well) right down to every move she performs on the ice. She really does have it all ~ unique spins, powerful jumps, able to 3/3s with ease, fluidity, innovative & difficult entries into her jumps, gorgeous somatype, lovely spirals, et al ~ an unbeatable combination when she skates clean (no lie; which I noticed when I saw her for the first time in the Fall of 2000; she's fulfilled the promise she has always had, which is awesome to see). Only thing I feel she lacks is emotion when she skates (always has IMHO, think it's just the way her face is, b/c even when she tries it's not convincing).....her body, moves & skating are all lovely to look at.....but it's like a mannequin's head on top of all that, or a person who has had too much botox done (not trying to be catty btw) & therefore cannot make an expression no matter how hard s/he tries to do so (luckily that doesn't or shouldn't affect the scoring). That said, if the Olympics was being held this year, I'd say she is our next women's OGM winner (for real).

Yoshie Onda -- lovely little sprite/nymph on ice, and I honestly love that Japanese cherry tree style costume, is the best one I've ever seen her wear (no lie). And her jumps were awesome, as always, nobody but nobody achieves the height on their jumps like Yoshie does (exceptions being Julia Sebestyen & Irina Slutskaya; likewise Miki Ando on her flips & lutzes). That said, I could see that in this particular performance Yoshie was missing her usual Sonja Henie style vivaciousness out on the ice, which is understandable, considering she was skating in front of her hometown. Good job nevertheless. ^)

Miki Ando -- ah, I was waiting for this performance......she put it all together.......and skated the way she is capable of skating ~ awesome! Didn't miss a beat, likewise everything flowed from one element to the next, with no jarring falls/pops/turnouts/etc. And all this integrated with a lovely smile & pleasant personality on the ice. Not to forget her appearance ~ classy, elegant, mature, sophisticated ~ nothing overdone or garish. Definitely a winner. She constantly has me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how much more she has evolved from one competition to another, and you better believe there is more.

Elena Sokolova -- pleasant comeback from last year.......and from a perpetually pleasant skater........nice performance.

Peace & Love, Nadine

 

[GlitterTwist]

Johnny Weir -- this is the next OGM winner in men's (well deserved btw). 'nuff said. On a side note: hate all the 'nelly' acting off ice, which fulfills the general society's stereotype about men's skating, unfortunately.

Peace & Love, Nadine

Omg, the shopping fluff?? Ew, he definitely seemed like he was homosexual there. But I don't think he really is, is he??

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

I don't think so.

He really likes flirting with Sasha Cohen

But seriously, It is not nice to question someone's sexuality only if he comes out and says it himself I'm sorry, but I just feel this way.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Omg, the shopping fluff?? Ew, he definitely seemed like he was homosexual there. But I don't think he really is, is he??

Do you really think there is a certain way homosexuals shop?

Joe