Wakaba Higuchi | Page 26 | Golden Skate

Wakaba Higuchi

I like her dress colour, but maybe a lilac/purple shade would suit her better.
I don't like the headband; in my opinion if she wants to keep it, it should be thinner or something like Alina Zagitova
 
Also the underotation on the back end 3T of the 3Lz3T...has she ever had underotation calls before? I don't recall but the Salchow is worrying considering she doubled it in both DOI and FaOI in Byakuyakou. I think the Loop isn't to worrying yet cause she does pop it occasionally along with the Lutz in comps, but the unclear edge call is shocking. Maybe her trying to improve her Flip edge has impacted her Lutz edge? Either way, I hope it's just the beginning of the season that's why, and perhaps she'll have better performances later.

The UR on the back end of her 3-3 is probably a sign that she still hasn't adjusted to this layout yet (the placement of her 3-3 in the second half of the SP). About her lutz/flip, I tried to come up with an explanation in my previous post.
 
She also seems to be having problems with the salchow and the loop. 2Lo<< is a bit :confused:

Not sure what's going on with the salchow but maybe it was with a difficult entry or she's just not used to the program yet. The 2Lo<< was just a normal pop that looked like 1Lo. It was an obvious pop while the 2S looked so natural that I wasn’t sure if she popped it or not although it did look a rotation short. And I see that she received positive GOE for it too.

I was looking up her past protocols to see what she usually pops and found that she’s already received a ! on the Lutz at the same competition 2 years ago. She didn’t get a ! on the Flip there either.
http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2014-2015/fs/13/01/data1203.pdf

Also the underotation on the back end 3T of the 3Lz3T...has she ever had underotation calls before? I don't recall but the Salchow is worrying considering she doubled it in both DOI and FaOI in Byakuyakou. I think the Loop isn't to worrying yet cause she does pop it occasionally along with the Lutz in comps, but the unclear edge call is shocking. Maybe her trying to improve her Flip edge has impacted her Lutz edge? Either way, I hope it's just the beginning of the season that's why, and perhaps she'll have better performances later.

She has received < or << on the 2nd 3T 3 times in 2014-2015 and 4 times 2015-2016.

I saw her live at PIW Tokyo and she skated clean for Byakuyakou although she did pop something during the group performance with Nobu, Sota and Yuka. The lady I sat next to said that she was clean at the previous show as well. I think it’s just a matter of getting used to the programs.
 
Not sure what's going on with the salchow but maybe it was with a difficult entry or she's just not used to the program yet. The 2Lo<< was just a normal pop that looked like 1Lo. It was an obvious pop while the 2S looked so natural that I wasn’t sure if she popped it or not although it did look a rotation short. And I see that she received positive GOE for it too.

I was looking up her past protocols to see what she usually pops and found that she’s already received a ! on the Lutz at the same competition 2 years ago. She didn’t get a ! on the Flip there either.
http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2014-2015/fs/13/01/data1203.pdf



She has received < or << on the 2nd 3T 3 times in 2014-2015 and 4 times 2015-2016.

I saw her live at PIW Tokyo and she skated clean for Byakuyakou although she did pop something during the group performance with Nobu, Sota and Yuka. The lady I sat next to said that she was clean at the previous show as well. I think it’s just a matter of getting used to the programs.

Oh that's good that she skated clean, hopefully by the time the gp starts she'll be used to her programs. I didnt know about the underotation calls on the 3T wow, but thanks for the info.
That's strange that this same competition would give her "unusual" edge calls....
 
It's probably because it's such an early competition that she may still be getting used to her programs. Hopefully she has a better sense of them going into her first challenger skate
 
I like the design of Wakababy's dress, proportion is really flattering for her. The hairband is a little deviated from usual, and makes her cheeks chubby(I like her chubby cheeks though :o:, she is going through puberty, must be hard for her) the pink color in that photo is hard to tell the shade, maybe a little too pastel, maybe due to the lighting. I like the design suits the theme and the choice of pink, suit her tender age. the shade of pink is a little questionable, but need to see in better quality photos and within the program.
 
I don't know why, but this program and her performance reminds me of Tatsuki Machida. She has the "royal" type of aura when she's on ice, just like he had. Anyway, I loved her, great job.
 
Wakababy maybe could consider wearing over the boot socks or skin colored boots to elongate her leg line. Also skirt is kinda tooo long.
Wakababy really is a gorgeous skater. I hope things like this would not hinder her.
Also, Wakababy seems is going through puberty. getting a little bit chubbier than before. This has to be control scientifically. it is tough. but we has seen too many promising skaters disappear due to that.
All best wishes to Wakababy.
 
All level 4's and no edge call. A promising start to the season :cheer: I'm curious about the FS.
 
What a beautiful performance by Wakaba. Can't wait to see her free skate...

Oh my gosh I absolutely fell in love with that step sequence! And the whoke program was really lovely, what a promising start already. 66 is impressive. And I noticed the 8s in SS! Great job to Wakaba and of course many thanks to Shae Lynn for this beautifully choreographed program! Now the free skate will be interesting cause I never liked Scheherazade but I hope she can bring that same power grace and attach into it like she did here in the short
 
I'm so happy for Wakaba! This is an interesting program I won't mind watching throughout the season, hopefully she can make a big splash at NHK!
 
I liked Wakaba's program, not the dress or today's jumps but it's still nice. She popped three times and kayaked and had no triple triple, along with no triple toe. I was kinda worried but maybe it's good she's not peaking yet, still hope she did enough to win tho, she's feeling the music alot and express well as usual. She did seem more tired today, but she didn't seem to let the jump mistake bother her much
 
Yayyy congrats Wakaba to your win in the first senior intl competition! Well done. Not perfect today, but still a good skate for the early season.
 
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