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OriginalCyn

By OriginalCyn
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absnow54

absnow54

6 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

Chock & Bates must be non-thrilled.

Between this and the possibility of Russia being allowed a neutral slot, they’re no longer a sure thing for an individual medal. 

6 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

It will be interesting to see how fast F-B gets her French citizenship (as opposed to the US where it seems to take several years). 

How does that work? Don’t they train in Montreal? It seems crazy that Christina Carriera has been commuting between Montreal and the US for years to maintain residency, while Fournier Beaudry might squeeze out French citizenship in under a year. If Cizeron is gunning for another Olympic medal, I doubt he’d commit to her as a partner if the citizenship change wasn’t a sure thing. 

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ChicksDigScars
ChicksDigScars

“I wish the Shibutanis were [in Milan] because last year I gave them my medal,” Donohue said, “and I don’t plan on doing that this year.” Uhhh..what? Yeah, and they gave you their National title

absnow54
absnow54

I get that figure skating is a jumping sport right now, and Alyssa Lui is the best chance for competing with the Russians, but damn, Mariah Bell’s free skate is the reason I find this sport so compell

Jeddah
Jeddah

I do love the Shibs, but it still would have been an obnoxious thing to say about any team, not just them. It implies that they didn’t earn their medal. That they didn’t work for it. That their two cl

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KittenPokerCheater

KittenPokerCheater

I think I'd have to hear what he said in a larger context before I can pass judgement.  The internet is famous for leaping down someone's throat at a poorly chosen word that can easily be misconstrued. And witchy as he can sometimes be, he loves figure skating, and I think he has done a pretty good job at promoting the sport.  Better that the ISU or Amercian Skating Federation.

If he goes away for good, I will be sorry.

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NUguy514

NUguy514

5 hours ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

I think I'd have to hear what he said in a larger context before I can pass judgement.  The internet is famous for leaping down someone's throat at a poorly chosen word that can easily be misconstrued. And witchy as he can sometimes be, he loves figure skating, and I think he has done a pretty good job at promoting the sport.  Better that the ISU or Amercian Skating Federation.

If he goes away for good, I will be sorry.

Someone on Reddit posted the relevant clip, and it's truly awful.  Of course, he said his comments were taken out of context, but the words he said out loud in that clip were horrific in every conceivable iteration of context.  When even the devil herself, Eteri Tutberidze, excoriates you for being an abominable person, you really have gone too far.

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Avaleigh

Avaleigh

(edited)
On 3/6/2025 at 7:10 PM, NUguy514 said:

Someone on Reddit posted the relevant clip, and it's truly awful.  Of course, he said his comments were taken out of context, but the words he said out loud in that clip were horrific in every conceivable iteration of context.  When even the devil herself, Eteri Tutberidze, excoriates you for being an abominable person, you really have gone too far.

Yeah, the comments really are that bad. I am someone who has defended him in the past, but I just can't this time. I've always felt that his love for skating is genuine and, as the sport has dwindled in popularity over the years, I've always appreciated his enthusiasm even if I haven't always agreed with what he says. 

It's a bummer, but there are consequences for being an asshole. He's already making it seem like he's a victim by saying his comments were taken out of context. 

I admit, I'm curious to see if he'll still end up attending worlds considering they're being held in Boston. 

Edited by Avaleigh
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Notabug

Notabug

Lease' comments were atrocious.  He basically claimed the skaters and their parents shouldn't have even been at the camp because they weren't that talented and were not going to make it to the elite level.  Therefore, their deaths were in vain.  He seems to feel that pursuing skating for the fun of it or to compete to the best of one's ability is not worthwhile, that the only reason to do it is to win major championships.  He essentially said the parents were deluded and stupid and the kids were dupes.

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absnow54

absnow54

Was able to follow along on Peacock this  afternoon. The final group really struggled (except for Isabeau.) I’m glad Amber was able to hold it together after she fell on the 3A. With Sakamoto’s mistake, I think the podium is still pretty open. Alysa has struggled with her long program (and will be skating with her peer group this time) and Isabeau has pretty much missed the whole season, so they’re still wild cards. Congrats to both of them for doing so well in the SP! The ladies are right on track for the Top 10 placements they need to clench the 3 spots for the Olympics AND are serious podium contenders!

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CeeBeeGee

CeeBeeGee

I was there today and I had a feeling as soon as the final group came on for their warmup--Amer had a deer in the headlights look. She didn't look relaxed and ready to go--that said, she rallied beautifully after the first jump. The crowd was cheering wildly for her and the other two Americans.

Isabeau was gorgeous out there. And I just love that dress.

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iMonrey

iMonrey

1 hour ago, CeeBeeGee said:

I was there today and I had a feeling as soon as the final group came on for their warmup--Amber had a deer in the headlights look.

Yeah, it was evident even on TV. Disappointed for her but I can't say I'm all that surprised. She's had a lot of luck this past season because she really still hasn't put together two perfectly clean programs.

Was more surprised by Sakamoto. Isabeau did well but her jump combo looked super awkward, it was like she was practically horizontal on her first takeoff. 

I'll be amazed if Alysa holds onto first place but she's definitely the most relaxed, LOL. 

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Avaleigh

Avaleigh

My heart broke for Gubanova. Seeing her look of disappointment after seeing her scores was hard to watch. I hope she's getting all the hugs right now. I just took it for granted that she'd at least secure her spot on the Olympic team. 

Alysa was so lovely. A small gold for her, and it happened in her home country. I feel so happy for her. She really did create a moment. 

Mone Chiba's program is so fun. I won't be surprised if she stays on the podium. 

IMO Wakaba was underscored as usual. I'd love it if she could medal again. It's been seven or eight years, I think. 

I really hope that Nina Pinzarrone stays in the top ten. I want her and Loena to be in the Olympics next year. 

Amber was disappointing, but at least she didn't give up. Hopefully she has an awesome long. 

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MaryMitch

MaryMitch

I've just watched the women's SP (I DVR'd it). Agree with what has been said. Couple random comments:

1. Why do they use the technical scoreboard that shows the base and total? I like to see the GOE, and they're making me do math!

2. I normally don't like to listen to Tara's constant yammering, but the sound level on her was so low I couldn't really hear her comments at all. Not sure if this is a complaint.

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Salacious Kitty

Salacious Kitty

14 minutes ago, MaryMitch said:

I've just watched the women's SP (I DVR'd it). Agree with what has been said. Couple random comments:

1. Why do they use the technical scoreboard that shows the base and total? I like to see the GOE, and they're making me do math!

2. I normally don't like to listen to Tara's constant yammering, but the sound level on her was so low I couldn't really hear her comments at all. Not sure if this is a complaint.

I watched on Peacock, and they use the ISU score bug that shows GOE for each element. Much preferred to what NBC does.

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annzeepark914

annzeepark914

13 minutes ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

Sigh.  I know I'm supposed to love Alyssa Liu, but for some reason I feel nothing at all when I see her skate.  

Glad to know I'm not the only one. IMO, there's something missing. It feels like she just skates from one element to the next. Poor Amber. I love her powerful style of skating.

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Avaleigh

Avaleigh

38 minutes ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

I wish Wakaba would score higher.  I know since World's is in Boston that it's a foregone conclusion that a US woman will win, but I wish it wasn't so obvious.

I feel like Wakaba is consistently underscored and I have no idea why. Why do the judges seem so lukewarm about her skating? I thought she should easily have been in third today. 

I'm happy if a US woman wins, but it doesn't seem like a foregone conclusion to me. Yeah, they wanted it to be Amber, but I don't think that's happening unless a couple of the others make mistakes. 

Kaori and Mone are still very much in the mix. 

With Alysa, I think it will depend on whether or not she has any UR issues in the long.

Whatever happens, it's been an exciting competition. The standings aren't what I predicted at all. I thought Kaori or Amber would be in first.

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ML89

ML89

Dear NBC Director, do NOT do a facial closeup at the start of the program then switch late to a long shot because it took you forever to switch. You got better at switching by the end of the last group but it was still annoying as all get out.

Amber looked like a bundle of "get me out of here" in all the backstage shots so I wasn't surprised. But I was glad she rallied. And I will stand by my opinion that with all the Janet Jackson songs she could have chosen, that was NOT IT. She could have skated to "Control" and rocked the house. Or "What Have You Done for Me Lately."

Alyssa just charms me and she somehow sells that dreary SP song. As for her free, I love MacArthur Park as a song and it's gotten better over the year but that ending still isn't right. She should have taken the "there will be another dream for me" interlude and sold the hell out of it and made it a highlight. They keep selling it as fun disco when they could have played into her comeback ::steps down from song choice soap box::  I hope she does well in the free. I still don't understand what she's done to her front teeth though. Or how that SP dress stays on.

12 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Was more surprised by Sakamoto. Isabeau did well but her jump combo looked super awkward, it was like she was practically horizontal on her first takeoff. 

Every time Isabeau takes off, I think she's going to pitch forward on her face. I can't believe her coaches haven't stopped her from that. That said, love the outfit and the program.

What was with all the blonde? Tara was really blonde and Kaori Sakamoto with her new blonde looks. I think I've missed a trend.

 

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iMonrey

iMonrey

15 hours ago, MaryMitch said:

1. Why do they use the technical scoreboard that shows the base and total? I like to see the GOE, and they're making me do math!

Thank you! I thought I was losing my mind because sometimes the green box shows the overall score with the GOE added in and sometimes it just shows the GOE. I couldn't decide if it was inconsistent or if I couldn't remember how they did it from one event to the next. I guess it's different on different networks? But why?

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Salacious Kitty

Salacious Kitty

4 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Thank you! I thought I was losing my mind because sometimes the green box shows the overall score with the GOE added in and sometimes it just shows the GOE. I couldn't decide if it was inconsistent or if I couldn't remember how they did it from one event to the next. I guess it's different on different networks? But why?

There's just two scoreboards we see in the US. The ISU one on the world feed (Peacock), and that horrible mess they show on NBC. The ISU one is much better. It shows the base score then the GOE points in another box in green or red. Easy peasy. 

Congratulations to Ilia and Yuma. Class of the field by themselves. 

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CeeBeeGee

CeeBeeGee

When the announcer was interviewing Ilia after his SP, she said something like "what does it feel to have the first standing ovation from this crowd?" and a bunch of us were calling that out. I said "not only did Jason and Andrew get them, it wasn't even just the Americans! We stood for Kevin as well!" (And then after Ilia's program, we stood for Yuma. I think Donovan Carrillo might've also gotten a SO, he was wildly popular.)

Ilia was just in the zone, feeling his oats--I had an insanely good seat at one end of the arena (3 rows back!) and a couple of times as he zoomed past he pumped his fist at us or urged us to cheer. He didn't do the 4A (not sure if he's allowed to in the short) but we all cheered wildly at the Raspberry Twist.

I can't remember who skated before Shun Sato but someone threw out a couple of flowers that hasn't been wrapped (as a bouquet). One of the petals came off and when Sato started to take position a bunch of us were trying to alert the powers that be that hey, there's an obstacle on the ice. No one took notice of it and he went through his program, at one point coming very near the petal. Luckily he was fine and after his program we were able to alert one of the "sweepers" (the little girls--mostly--who fan out after to program to collect the stuffed animals people throw out for the skaters. When she picked up the petal and skated off, we all cheered for her).

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CeeBeeGee

CeeBeeGee

5 hours ago, Maelstrom said:

CeeBeeGee, sounds like you’re having a blast! 😄 Cheer everyone on for the rest of us.

ML89, you weren’t kidding about the camera work. Yikes! Combined with the fantastically bad sound mix, it’s a new low even for NBC.

It's SO much fun. I love the camaraderie of FS fans. Wednesday I was between two older ladies (the audience tends to skew older and female--which, I am, I just look a lot younger ;). As the ladies' SP went on we started chatting and my two neighbors were pumping me for information. (And I realized I know a lot more about the sport than I thought!) I was explaining to Lady on the Left how to tell an axel from the other jumps--you approach facing forward. (I can tell some of the other jumps--I'm better at toe jumps. Honestly I used to know the jumps better, when I was actually taking lessons. Not that I ever got to jumps--I'm too old to jump--but I did study them.)

Lady on the Right asked me about Kaori's program--she'd popped a triple but it was still relatively clean. I said "Regardless of how clean it was [and I honestly don't know if a double instead of a triple in the SP means NO POINTS FOR YOU!] they still have to ding her for the GOE because when your leg flies out like that, it looks sloppy." Her: "GOE?" Me: "Grade of execution." (And then I explained what that was.)

Free day tomorrow--I did not get tickets for the ladies' FS (I didn't want to overwhelm myself). But I will be there Saturday for the men's FS!

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KittenPokerCheater

KittenPokerCheater

I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion about three spots in the Olympics (I think there’s one more competition/qualifying thing), but it’s close.

But I THINK it means three Americans for world’s next year.

@CeeBeeGee, thanks for all the cool in person reports.  And how fun that you got to chat with those women, and explain some of the details of skating.

Sadly, I have to work all weekend, so I won’t be able to watch the international feed.  When I get home, I’ll just have to settle for Jonny and Tara.

I hope Amber or Kaori squeak out a win.  I know it’s a long shot, which is why I’m wishing.  So can I have a pony too?

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Avaleigh

Avaleigh

53 minutes ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

I hope Amber or Kaori squeak out a win.

I have been a loud cheerleader for Team Amber since 2019, so nothing would please me more than to see her win tonight. She's everything this sport needs and I want her to keep her new found confidence going into the Olympics because I think she has a real shot at the top prize.

That being said, I feel like it's more realistic for me to hope for a podium finish tonight. I want clean skates from all of the ladies tonight and let the chips fall where they may.

@CeeBeeGee, I have enjoyed reading about your experience as a spectator at this year's worlds. Please keep sharing! 

I went to Boston for 2014 (nationals) and 2016 (worlds), and I had an amazing time. 2014 was especially exciting because it was essentially an Olympic trials too.

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iMonrey

iMonrey

(edited)
7 hours ago, CeeBeeGee said:

[and I honestly don't know if a double instead of a triple in the SP means NO POINTS FOR YOU!]

It doesn't. It's just a downgrade in base value. I am SO envious of you being there in person! Thanks so much for sharing.

1 hour ago, Avaleigh said:

That being said, I feel like it's more realistic for me to hope for a podium finish tonight. I want clean skates from all of the ladies tonight and let the chips fall where they may.

I don't even think a podium finish for Amber is realistic if I'm being honest. Could she have a huge comeback and skate perfectly in the long? Sure. Is it likely? No. It's Amber. I hate to be so cynical, but I've just been watching her for too long.

Tara and Johnny wouldn't be nearly so annoying if they didn't feel obligated to explain the same things over and over again as if we have never watched figure skating before in our lives. Like how you get bonus points for elements after the halfway mark because it's harder on tired legs. Or how the grade of execution works. I've heard/read they've been instructed to do this but it's what makes them too chatty during the programs. 

19 hours ago, Avaleigh said:

Ilia seems to have this thing in the bag.

Probably. I mean anything can happen, we have seen him fall before. But they showed him in practice doing a quad axel in combination with a triple toe. OMG. At this rate he's eventually going to come up with some jump combination that's worth 50 points all by itself.

Edited by iMonrey
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MaryMitch

MaryMitch

19 hours ago, CeeBeeGee said:

When the announcer was interviewing Ilia after his SP, she said something like "what does it feel to have the first standing ovation from this crowd?" and a bunch of us were calling that out. I said "not only did Jason and Andrew get them, it wasn't even just the Americans! We stood for Kevin as well!" (And then after Ilia's program, we stood for Yuma. I think Donovan Carrillo might've also gotten a SO, he was wildly popular.)

The crowd is great - they seem to be cheering for everyone, which is nice.

1 hour ago, iMonrey said:

Tara and Johnny wouldn't be nearly so annoying if they didn't feel obligated to explain the same things over and over again as if we have never watched figure skating before in our lives. Like how you get bonus points for elements after the halfway mark because it's harder on tired legs. Or how the grade of execution works. I've heard/read they've been instructed to do this but it's what makes them too chatty during the programs.

This would be an awesome drinking game. Drink when

- Johnny mentions "little sprinkles"

- Either mentions tired legs or GOA

- Johnny calls Terry "Terrance"

Ok, folks, what else can we add?

 

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Avaleigh

Avaleigh

(edited)
3 hours ago, absnow54 said:

What I find more shocking is China didn’t have any entries for Pairs. Didn’t they use to dominate that event?

I am curious about why they don't even have one entry. Months back I read that Wenjiing Sui was training with a new partner, but I have no idea if that was accurate or not. 

It's surprising that they don't have at least one team that is competitive. They basically have been (mostly) MIA in pairs for as long as the Russians have. 

Speaking of pairs, I love Riku and Ryuichi, but I thought Minerva and Nikita should have won last night. One team clearly had a winning performance. The other team was shaky throughout. 

With some notable exceptions, I'm not generally fan of reusing programs two seasons in a row, but Pereira and Michaud's long is so gorgeous, I think they should hang onto it because it's worthy of being performed on Olympic ice. Also, their pairs spin is a dream. I definitely look forward to seeing how they shape up over the next few seasons. 

Edited by Avaleigh
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ChicksDigScars

ChicksDigScars

2 hours ago, Avaleigh said:

Speaking of pairs, I love Riku and Ryuichi, but I thought Minerva and Nikita should have won last night. One team clearly had a winning performance. The other team was shaky throughout. 

 

Same. I love Riku and Ryuichi as well, but i really think they got lucky last night and that the Germans got hosed. They even seems surprised that they won, and the crowd, instead of cheering, seemed to be murmuring at the result, as if they were also questioning. As far as three possible spots for the U.S.....whodathunkit?

Just a question. Has Elli Kam ever made it through a program cleanly? 

That said, it is SO NICE to see a loud, enthusiastic, FULL ARENA at a U.S. skating competition. It's been so bleak lately with really bad optics to see so many empty seats. Nicely done, Boston. In fact, give Boston ALL the competitions. Wichita was embarrassing with the empty seats on TV.

Just watched the Rhythm Dance. Nice that the 4 Continents silver seemed to wake Madi and Evan up. 90.18 for a score. Season's best. 

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SeanC

SeanC

Alicia & Paul, Canada's third team, were sitting in likely 21st place going into the final two groups, which would mean we'd have to go to China to secure a third Olympic spot, but then there were two outright disaster performances in the penultimate group that brought them safely in (and in 19th place, at that).

Feel bad for Allison & Saulius, but they should be able to qualify via Beijing without anything special. And they allowed the top Finnish team into the free, which means Finland still has at least a crack at getting two Olympic spots.

Charlene & Marco keeping those garish costumes the whole season was a crime.

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