Satoko Miyahara

[OniBan]

I'm with you OniBan. I'm disgusted by what I'm reading and didn't even feel like coming back and posting here. It really ruined my mood too. All that venom is not even directed at the judges, it's directed at her. "She finally got what she deserved" like, really? Where have you all been this season and how many times do I have to repeat the fact that she got UR calls or edge calls at every competition she has been to, except 4CC where a lot of skaters benefited from lenient judging. I have seen no skating specialist or journalist complain about all the stuff people have been moaning about here. FWIW I agree with her score. Except she shouldn't be 3 points behind Gracie Gold in PCS. But that's ok as long as she "finally gets what she deserves".

I thought the same too - while the technical scores are fair, she is lowballed in the PCS. Which sadly, she always has been (but that seems 'fair' to some people).
My concern now is how the growing hate on her (especially in youtube) has gone from picking on her jumps (still justifiable in a way because we know it isn't the best, but still very uncomfortable because it's done in such mean spirited way) to picking and bashing on her PRESENTATION and generally being her actual self.
It's now from 'her jumps are so tiny' to 'she's slow and bad in performance' and 'her tiny jumps are the reason she is so consistent'. Like what in the everloving f***??? Are people blind??? As though being consistent is magical condition brought about by 'doing less' instead of through hard work and discipline.
Had this manner of bashing happened in school to a tiny girl in class - I'd flat out call it bullying.
It's just .. argh! It felt to me like there is an underlying current of systematic bashing of her, first capitalizing on her weak point, and finally onto herself as a whole. It makes me so sad. She's such a beautiful skater. I wish people can see that and celebrate the fact that her abilities makes a her contender, instead of trying to push her down and celebrate when she's down.

 

[ioanna]

I thought the same too - while the technical scores are fair, she is lowballed in the PCS. Which sadly, she always has been (but that seems 'fair' to some people).
My concern now is how the growing hate on her (especially in youtube) has gone from picking on her jumps (still justifiable in a way because we know it isn't the best, but still very uncomfortable because it's done in such mean spirited way) to picking and bashing on her PRESENTATION and generally being her actual self.
It's now from 'her jumps are so tiny' to 'she's slow and bad in performance' and 'her tiny jumps are the reason she is so consistent'. Like what in the everloving f***??? Are people blind??? As though being consistent is magical condition brought about by 'doing less' instead of through hard work and discipline.
Had this manner of bashing happened in school to a tiny girl in class - I'd flat out call it bullying.
It's just .. argh! It felt to me like there is an underlying current of systematic bashing of her, first capitalizing on her weak point, and finally onto herself as a whole. It makes me so sad. She's such a beautiful skater. I wish people can see that and celebrate the fact that her abilities makes a her contender, instead of trying to push her down and celebrate when she's down.

I agree. It's not even about the jumps anymore, it's about everything. She's a very hardworking young girl that doesn't deserve this kind of bashing. She's not judging her own programs. I'm really sad to see people actually celebrating the fact that she's in 6th after the short program. How childish and bad mannered. Well guess what, she's still 3 points away from the podium. Anything can happen in the free but I wouldn't be surprised if they found a way to keep her down. She has so many wonderful qualities about her skating but now they're not good enough either. She's too much like that, too much like this, too short, too introverted, nitpicking, nitpicking, nitpicking. And yes some of her videos on YouTube are starting to be reminiscent of the Adelina Sotnikova "effect". Guess it's too much to ask people to be polite and criticize in a polite manner. No need for throwing parties.

 

[solar]

Here were definitely discontented murmurs in the crowd when her scores went up in the arena. Lots of people, including me, believed Satoko should've scored higher. But I'm trying to stay positive for the FS, as Satoko is someone who always delivers at the right time. I'm just hoping there's not as much home cooking as there was in the SP, and that she gets the scores she deserves.

 

[ioanna]

Here were definitely discontented murmurs in the crowd when her scores went up in the arena. Lots of people, including me, believed Satoko should've scored higher. But I'm trying to stay positive for the FS, as Satoko is someone who always delivers at the right time. I'm just hoping there's not as much home cooking as there was in the SP, and that she gets the scores she deserves.

solar, how did you find her skating overall?

 

[petitebrie]

Satoko is more underscored in PCS than overscored in TES – I'd willingly accept 0s and +1s in GOE because as we all know, while smooth and efficient, her jumps are tiny and she has struggled with complete rotations. That's fair and square. But other skaters with larger jumps of lower quality (stumbles, lack of flow, no extension on landing, laboured combos, wobbly landings) get high GOE too. :noshake:

 

[ioanna]

But other skaters with larger jumps of lower quality (stumbles, lack of flow, no extension on landing, laboured combos, wobbly landings) get high GOE too. :noshake:

My thoughts exactly. But as long as their jumps are big...

 

[liv]

I agree. She has well known jump quality issues, but so do others... and her pcs marks are lower than they should be. Other than those jumps, her skating and programs are high quality.

 

[Plumededragon]

Late to the party, but the "!" and UR on the flip were very unfortunate, she'd have been in top 3 otherwise. But it's far from over. I mean we've seen her coming back strongly before, she can still do it. It's gonna be hard, but with such nerves of steel, she can certainly do it. Go Satoko!

 

[solar]

solar, how did you find her skating overall?

I'm a huge fan of Satoko so I'm obviously biased but she was very calm on the ice, really focused and steady. But When she needed to perform, she did. I'm someone who isn't bothered by her jump size, and I've always said that her jumps are larger in person than on television in my opinion. Basically, I loved her, and it seems as if the people around me did as well.

 

[ioanna]

I was hoping now that her 3Lz-3T is solid and she doesn't get UR calls on it anymore they would use the 3Lz-3T / 3Lz-2T-2Lo layout again but from Jackie Wong's practice reports today, they're sticking to the same safe layout. (And she's still having edge issues on her flip so I guess another ! and/or UR is expected in the free...)

 

[ioanna]

I'm a huge fan of Satoko so I'm obviously biased but she was very calm on the ice, really focused and steady. But When she needed to perform, she did. I'm someone who isn't bothered by her jump size, and I've always said that her jumps are larger in person than on television in my opinion. Basically, I loved her, and it seems as if the people around me did as well.

Are her skating skills as good as they seem on video? To me she seems like she gets decent speed and ice coverage.

 

[solar]

Are her skating skills as good as they seem on video? To me she seems like she gets decent speed and ice coverage.

She is not the fastest skater, but she is still quite speedy and has great edges. Her presentation is also great to see live. May even be better in person. It's my second time seeing her live, and she was great both times. There were a lot of gasps during her amazing layback spin and her spin in both directions

 

[ioanna]

She is not the fastest skater, but she is still quite speedy and has great edges. Her presentation is also great to see live. May even be better in person. It's my second time seeing her live, and she was great both times. There were a lot of gasps during her amazing layback spin and her spin in both directions

Thank you. I think if she gains a little more speed and power in her legs, she will eventually get more elevation in her jumps... hopefully.

 

[solar]

Thank you. I think if she gains a little more speed and power in her legs, she will eventually get more elevation in her jumps... hopefully.

I'm hoping the same unfortunately her height probably has to do with her jumps looking so small. But that's something that she can't change, so I don't know why people are so eager to pick on her about that.

 

[liv]

I think it must be strength, not her height. Remember Midori was teeny tiny and her jumps were massive...although she was an anomaly. Satoko just needs to keep getting stronger and hopefully that will improve those jumps because she has everything else she needs to be competitive. I used to be someone who was negative about her because of those tiny jumps, but the rest of her skating has made me a fan and I hope she does her best tomorrow.

 

[ioanna]

She has no muscle power in her legs and she's jumping against her natural direction which is clockwise. I'm surprised she can rotate those triples in the first place.

 

[Plumededragon]

I think it must be strength, not her height. Remember Midori was teeny tiny and her jumps were massive...although she was an anomaly. Satoko just needs to keep getting stronger and hopefully that will improve those jumps because she has everything else she needs to be competitive. I used to be someone who was negative about her because of those tiny jumps, but the rest of her skating has made me a fan and I hope she does her best tomorrow.

I remember Midori Ito, she had quite the muscles and though being small, she always looked HUGE on the ice. Not that I want Satoko to gain much bigger thighs and legs but if she exercices well, she can, indeed, get stronger and have better muscles.
Uh, maybe a stupid question, but why saying that Midori was an anomaly? Was it because she was way ahead of her time and considered as such by others?

She has no muscle power in her legs and she's jumping against her natural direction which is clockwise. I'm surprised she can rotate those triples in the first place.

The fact that she can do it is already amazing, and many people don't realize that. I agree that the muscle power is low for now, so she's doing the best she can for now. She doesn't lack willing to get better and better, tho. So, even if the jumps only gets better slowly, I'll keep cheering for her. Because she's unique in her own way. :luv17:

 

[OniBan]

Just nipping in here quick to drop a prayer for Satoko: I think I (and a lot of ppl) pretty much know who is going to win already - so I just want Satoko to have the most beautiful skate she can possibly have to end this season. Reach out to people's hearts. Win over the haters. Stay on your feet and be awesome, as she's always been. Best of luck, Tiny Queen!

 

[liv]

Midori was an anomaly because not only was she smaller than everyone else, but she jumped way above what she should have.... like a flea that jumps many times its height compared to what other creatures can do relative to their height. Her jumps were just as high as the best male skater... most women don't jump like her, not now, not ever, except Tonya and that is it, even after all these years. If you were to watch an entire competition from her era, with her in it, the difference between her and the rest was amazing. I loved her skating like crazy.

As for Satoko, since this is her thread, I wish her the best tonight. Good things happen when you do your best.

 

[Sam L]

I think Satoko will fight and give a beatiful performance. Whether that will be enough to medal, not sure. But she'll give her best. She looked angry after the SP. Go Satoko.