Figure Skating

[Avaleigh]

Wow, what a nice surprise from Evgenia in the short. I love too how quickly the videos are being put up. Fingers crossed that Elena keeps her lead!

ETA

Julia sounds as though she had a toxic meltdown. The flip is becoming her nemisis.

Edited December 27, 2014 by Avaleigh

[tearbender]

Tatsuki Machida just retired. Surprising. Will anybody be able to challenge Hanyu in the near future?

[honeywest]

I loved Machida's free skate this season and was so sorry to see his meltdown at the GPF. (Apparently he was almost as bad at Japanese Nationals.) I still feel that Hanyu gets gold just for showing up.

 

Julia won't get to defend her European title; she ended up ninth at Russians. Pogorilaya (fourth) made the European team instead of Medvedeva (third).

Edited December 29, 2014 by honeywest

[caracas1914]

Sigh, I miss Midori Ito.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but arguably Midori Ito's 1989 World SP/LP technical content would have landed her on the podium of the men's event. Some of the guys were still "iffy" with the 3 axel that year, and she landed one and a 3/3 toe in her LP that year to win the women's Event.

[ML89]

Caracas1914, I remember Chris Bowman saying that about Midori Ito and he was on the podium at 89 worlds. What's sad is that most of the women are still relying on triple toe triple toe and Debi Thomas had that as her big trick.

 

I have to vote positively for Ashley's long - I've thought for a long time someone should skate to One Day I'll Fly Away. Now, Jeremy Abbott should skate David Bowie's Nature Boy from the same soundtrack.

 

I finally located "Come Together" in Voronov's program but it is really hard to find - it's after Seal's bloodless "Man's World." I did love Terry and Tara snarking about Phantom. I remember Terry making a comment like that about Carmen a few years ago, and loved his characterization of Plushenko's "greatest hits" as a "compliation of B sides." He's definitely a music fan (the interesting thing is I saw the special on Verne Lundquist and his wife said he's a big music fan so that's why he liked skating).

[apgold]

 

I still feel that Hanyu gets gold just for showing up.

 

I will admit that Yuzu is propped a bit b/c he is the OGM and World Champion, but I don't think he gets gold for showing up.  He barely made the GPF but skated a lights out FS (with one fall) and did the same at Japanese nationals and earned his gold medals.  Poor guy had to have surgery last week to correct a congenital bladder issue, so he is out of commission.  I wonder if he'll be healthy enough for Worlds?  He's had a lot of health challenges this year but he's a fighter.

 

I think his skating is actually better this season (when he's on) - his posture is a lot better, too.  If I could change one thing about his skating, I wish he would drop the Biellmann - it looks really awkward and painful.  I think he does it to pay tribute to Plushy, but just no. 

[Avaleigh]

He barely made the GPF but skated a lights out FS (with one fall)

 

 

He falls a lot.

 

Why does it feel like falls in programs aren't a big deal anymore? Falls used to be BAD and these days an OGM can fall twice in a program and it's barely treated as a big deal. 

[apgold]

The current COP (code of points) does not penalize enough for falls vs. the old 6.0 system, so that’s why someone can win a gold medal with a fall. 

 

Perfect example, I found a video online of 2008 Worlds where Mao Asada had a spectacular fall attempting her 3A at the beginning of her free skate.  She didn’t even rotate - she just slipped on the ice and went sliding across the rink – it was not pretty.  Mao being Mao, she picked herself up and went on to skate the rest of the program clean and it was pretty inspiring.  She wound up winning the Gold. 

 

Not to say she didn’t deserve it, but I’m not sure she would’ve won a gold under 6.0 with such a splat.

Edited January 7, 2015 by apgold

[AuntieDiane6]

Oh, please.  Years ago, a Russian skater fell three times in his performance and got a 5.9 in technical merit from the Russian judge.  There's a reason the system was changed.  And Olympic medalist Jan Hoffman?  As The New York Times called him, he was an "oak tree on blades." 

[Avaleigh]

Did this Russian skater in question end up winning? 

 

I understand why the old 6.0 system needed to be changed/done away with, I'm just not convinced that the COP is a much better system. In fact I find it to be hugely flawed.

[Tippi]

One thing I do like about COP is that it's not just basically the top 3 after the short program going for the medals.  There is potential for someone say, in 5th or 6th place (maybe lower!), to come back strong and win or medal if the leaders falter.  I don't remember now where Denis Ten was after the SP in Sochi, but he was able to move up for the bronze.  I like that element of surprise from time to time.

[MaryMitch]

I'm a big fan of the current scoring system. As a "casual" fan of skating, I can look at the score sheets and actually understand why someone got a certain score. There's still the artistic element, but that's part of the sport. I agree that adjustments to the system can be made, especially in scoring a fall. It doesn't make sense to me that a quad that ends on one's butt can score better than a beautiful triple, and after the last Olympics I believe they're trying to address that.

[apgold]

 

One thing I do like about COP is that it's not just basically the top 3 after the short program going for the medals.  There is potential for someone say, in 5th or 6th place (maybe lower!), to come back strong and win or medal if the leaders falter.  I don't remember now where Denis Ten was after the SP in Sochi, but he was able to move up for the bronze.  I like that element of surprise from time to time.

 

Under 6.0 Sarah Hughes won her OGM after being in 4th place after the SP.  I think that was more the exception than the norm, and her surprise win is still debated among die-hard skating fans.

 

Both scoring systems have their good and bad points.  I think COP does a better job with the tech side generally (except for the -1 for a fall), but PCS is more by reputation than actual skating skills/presentation.  Older skaters tend to do much better w/PCS while younger skaters have to earn their stripes.

 

Anyhoo - looking forward to US Nationals less than 2 weeks.  NBC will be airing most of it live, which will be refreshing.  I'm most interested in Sr Ladies and Sr Men.  Jeremy Abbott's father passed away a few days ago and Ricky Dornbush's mother is also ill, so let's send out positive vibes to them.  Jason Brown may be doing his quad finally.  

 

Ladies will be interesting - if Gracie is fully healed and doesn't let the pressure get to her, she may retain her title although Ashley is hungry to get it back and from her skate at the GPF she might be able to do it.  Polina may get her mojo back - we'll see but I think Courtney might take bronze.  As much as I hate to admit it, Mirai is most likely done this season with her UR issue.  Too bad, b/c I really like her Madam Butterfly free skate.

Edited January 12, 2015 by apgold

[Good Queen Jane]

U.S. Ladies skater Polina Edmunds has told NBC Sports what many people have speculated on is true: she has growing pains.

 

“Puberty is upon me,” Edmunds admitted in an interview with NBC as a run-up to Nationals. The sixteen-year-old skater has spent the last several months adapting to physical changes and adjusting her balance and coordination. She says, though, she has been skating mostly clean programs in practice.

 

Edmunds also has another source of growing pains: learning how to be a top-ranked skater in the Senior ranks. Last year at this time, Edmunds had just completed the Junior Grand Prix series and was projected to maybe finish in the top 5 at Boston Nationals. Next thing she knew, she was standing on the second step of the podium and getting a ticket for a plane flight to Sochi three weeks later. There really wasn’t a lot of time to think about all that was going on.

 

This year, Edmunds received her two Senior Grand Prix assignments in the summer and competed  with a lot of high expectations from skating fans. “I was very nervous,” Edmunds declared, but then corrected herself. “Well, not very, but it is a very competitive sport and I had really difficult elements.” She also said that, as a newcomer, the judges were going to be a little more strict with her. Edmunds added she’s  working on becoming more mentally strong, but that the expectations many placed on her for this season were not more than she could handle.

 

Edmunds is okay with going through puberty now, however. “I’m happy that I went through these changes [puberty] right now, versus later in the next four years,” Edmunds said. “Now I can really grow with my skating.”

[OriginalCyn]

(re: Hanyu)

 

I think his skating is actually better this season (when he's on) - his posture is a lot better, too.  If I could change one thing about his skating, I wish he would drop the Biellmann - it looks really awkward and painful.  I think he does it to pay tribute to Plushy, but just no. 

 

His posture is improved, for sure, when compared to even last season, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.  I agree with you 100% about ditching the Biellmann spin -- IMO, when done by men, the position lacks the elegance, grace, and appearance of ease that female skaters are able to achieve and instead looks awkward, strained, ungainly, and in some cases, painful.  Don't get me wrong - over the years I've witnessed Biellmanns by girls/women that were so atrociously fugly, I was gobsmacked that their coaches gave the green light to use it in competitive programs, but as a rule of thumb, women's B. spins are far superior to men's.  

 

During the heyday of the Yagudin/Plushenko rivalry, the fangirls would go batshit crazy when Bird Beak the Edvin Marton Freak would do a Biellmann spin, but even then, I thought he looked didn't just look ungainly  -- to me it looked more like he was re-enacting the climax of the Grimm's Fairy Tale Rumpelstiltskin -- specifically, the part when, upon realizing he'd been bested by the Miller's Daughter due to his own display of evil, selfish glee, Rumpelstilskin, in a fit of rage, grabbed his left leg and tore himself in half.

 

Getting back to Hanyu, in addition to the posture and Biellmann spin issues, he needs to hire someone other than Johnny Weir to design his outfits/costumes.  Hanyu may look up to and be inspired by him, but he absolutely cannot pull off Weir's over-the-top, flamboyant styling.  Physically, Hanyu is as thin as a whippet, and with his boyishly cute face, he looks far more youthful than his actual young age.  I hate to say it, but due to that, he looks utterly and completely ridiculous in the Weir-designed Euro-trashy (actually, not Euro-trashy so much as Russo-trashy) unitards that are encrusted and trimmed with 394875 kinds of whickety-whack.  He just doesn't have the kind of edginess required to successfully pull off that look.

[Good Queen Jane]

NBC will air two show previewing the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships  this Saturday and Sunday. Not sure if these are two different shows or the same show being aired twice. Regardless, at least NBC is giving the Nationals some attention.

 

The preview shows will be broadcast:

 

Saturday, Jan. 17, 5-6 pm

 

Sunday, Jan. 18, 3-4 pm

 

NBC will also be showing the Championship finals live. Saturday January 24 will be Pairs and Dance at 3-6 pm and Ladies from 8-11 pm. Men will be on Sunday January 25 from 4-6 pm. NBC will be showing the exhibition taped delayed on Saturday January 31 from 2:30 -4 pm.

 

Times listed above are EASTERN. Check your local listing for the times in your area.

 

I'm off to Greensboro on Monday. I'm sitting with a group of folks wearing blue sparkly scarves, the better to find us on TV. If you're there, stop by and say hello.

[Quof]

“Puberty is upon me,” Edmunds admitted in an interview with NBC as a run-up to Nationals.

 

Thanks for telling us all about your menarche, Polina.

[Tippi]

I hope you have a great time, Good Queen Jane, and that you get to see some amazing skating!

[methodwriter85]

Thanks for telling us all about your menarche, Polina.

 

"Are you there, God? It's me, Polina."

 

How is Jeremy Abbott still skating? Isn't he a senior citizen by most standards? I wonder if he had to get totally rebuilt like Plushenko did.

[Quof]

I'm so tired of Ashley's "Bad Ass" persona. Girl, you are Wonderbread.

 

And that drag queen hair is such a Don't.

[selkie]

I chuckled at 'Are you there God?..." but I also give props to Polina for being upfront about a subject usually talked about quietly in back rooms and internet message boards. She did look a little bigger this season- still extremely slight but no longer like you could accidentally snap her in half. Most teenagers would be pretty mortified about having that kind of discussion about their body to the national press.

 

Carolina Kostner gets a 16 month suspension. Be interesting to see if she tries to come back from it.

 

http://espn.go.com/olympics/figureskating/story/_/id/12178927/former-world-champ-carolina-kostner-banned-16-months

 

 

Kostner maintains that she did not know Schwazer doped. However, published reports of Kostner's testimony to prosecutors in Bolzano showed she admitted to lying to WADA inspectors who came to her home in Germany looking for Schwazer on July 30, 2012 -- days before Schwazer flew to London for the Olympics.

[MostlyC]

While I am glad that there was a preview show of National's next week, I wish there had been more technical talk, more skating from this season, and less Johnny Weir hair.

 

I didn't know about the pairs drama though.  

 

Hope they all skate well this week.  And that they will show ALL the programs, not just the women and/or ice dancing.  I want to see the whole shebang.

[WhitneyWhit]

I'm so tired of Ashley's "Bad Ass" persona. Girl, you are Wonderbread.

 

And that drag queen hair is such a Don't.

Preach. I am so over Ashley Wagner. She's always saying "just watch me" and acting like, as you said, a bad ass, but she has done nothing to back that up. And I can't take hearing her call herself sassy and fierce anymore.

 

I thought NBC's preview shows were a bit of a joke.

[wintrygal]

Are the Canadian Nationals this weekend also?  Can't seem to find any info anywhere, the CBC site is all about hockey per usual.

 

Yeah, Johnny's hair, now I know where that ball of sock yarn went that my mom lost..

[Barbara Manatee]

Hope they all skate well this week.  And that they will show ALL the programs, not just the women and/or ice dancing.  I want to see the whole shebang.

 

I'm confident you don't have to worry about too much ice dancing - I don't believe NBC showed a single complete dance program during the entire Grand Prix series this season.

 

The preview shows were lightweight, but at least they were something. I was amused that ABC ran an old Disson skating show as counter-programming yesterday. Is there going to be a network battle to corner the U.S. figure skating market?!?

[Quof]

Canadians are this week.

[carrier76]

So are short programs not going to be televised at all this year?

[methodwriter85]

Preach. I am so over Ashley Wagner. She's always saying "just watch me" and acting like, as you said, a bad ass, but she has done nothing to back that up. And I can't take hearing her call herself sassy and fierce anymore.

 

I thought NBC's preview shows were a bit of a joke.

 

Tony Harding would eat her breakfast.

 

God, I'm praying her toddler son will have skating talent and we'll see her come back as the stage mom from hell.

[Shades of Red]

Are the Canadian Nationals this weekend also?  Can't seem to find any info anywhere, the CBC site is all about hockey per usual.

 

Found this on the skatecanada.ca site :  2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

Live Streaming

Live Streaming: 2015 Canadian Tire National… by skatecanada Competition Schedule Start Orders / Results Live Results

LIVE STREAMING INFORMATION

Skate Canada gives you a rinkside seat with live streaming of the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Kingston, Ont. from January 19-25. Competition gets underway at 9:30 am EST on Monday, January 19th. Tune in to see all Novice and Junior performances as well as Senior practices taking place at Rogers K-Rock Centre. Once the competition gets underway, visitors will be able to access the live streaming on this page,  on the event page or the Skate Canada Dailymotion page.

CTV/TSN BROADCAST SCHEDULE Subject to change, please check your local listings for the CTV schedule. Times are listed in EST. No live streaming of competition during these times.

Friday, January 23

TSN 15:00-17:00 – LADIES & MENS SHORT PROGRAM RDS 15:00-17:00 TSN 19:30-22:00 – ICE DANCE & PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM RDS2 19:30-22:00

Saturday, January 24

TSN 14:30-17:00 – LADIES & MENS FREE PROGRAM RDS 16:00-18:00 CTV 19:00-21:30 – PAIRS & ICE DANCE FREE PROGRAM RDS2 19:00-21:30

 

I have tickets for Saturday's pairs and ice dance skate and the Gala on Sunday.  Really looking forward to it!

[BelleBrit]

I get why NBC is pumping up the Ashley vs Gracie drama, but it doesn't really interest me. I'm more interested in some of the other skaters. While Ashley and Gracie have both had some great skates this season (Ashley GPF FS, Gracie NHK SP), I think that they've also shown vulnerabilities. I don't think they are untouchable. I can only hope that the judging is fair and consistent. It seems like the judges can always find extra points for the favorites when they falter, while the other ones get hammered for everything. I'm glad that Ashley has  upped her technical content as the season progressed (I read that she is practicing triple lutz triple toe-maybe inserting into the free?), I wonder if she can pull it off. I don't think any of the American women exactly lit the Grand Prix on fire with their performances this season, even though Gracie and Ashley made the final.  I would be happily surprised if there was an upset at nationals-and not neccesarily by Polina.

[wintrygal]

Thanks Quof and Shades of Red.  I did find it on TSN, usually it's always been CBC that carries it.  Looking forward to a relaxing weekend of figure skating, I love the Nationals the best!

[Avaleigh]

I would be happily surprised if there was an upset at nationals-and not necessarily by Polina.

 

 

I know I'm in a dream world but I want Mirai to have a magical performance. I love the Madame Butterfly program and think it's the best program she's had in ages. I'm hoping the UR issues won't be in evidence for a change. I hate that it seems like because of her reputation that she's held to a different standard than other skaters at times.

 

Ashley thinks she's exciting but I find her skating to be boring and her spins aren't particularly impressive especially her combination spin. I have no idea why US Figure Skating seems to think that the sun shines out of her ass. Her attitude only makes it worse, I don't know who she thinks she is.

[BelleBrit]

Yes, skaters' spins are a big draw for me. Ashley's spins are painful for me to watch (and not in the good way, as in the positions look hard). They are so slow, it really distracts me. I think that her spin levels have actually improved as the season has gone on, but I can't believe that some of them qualify as level 4s (but I know that it's all about hitting the number of positions, revolutions, etc. now). Also interested to see if Ashley will get an edge call on her lutz. She managed to avoid getting one in her GPF FS, I'm afraid that will give the National's caller license not to give her one there too, even if she deserves it. Also, anyone listen to Polina's teleconference when they asked her about the edge calls she got in the GP? She basically said that she's consulted with technical specialists and everyone said she looks fine, so that the question is for "other people" to answer. LOL. As for Mirai, I would love her to get it together too. From the practice reports that I've read, it sounds like she is still UR a lot. But again, people are probably looking for that from her anyway. I wonder if nerves play a role. Please, just let judging be consistent.

[honeywest]

Ladies' short just ended: Ashley in first, five points ahead of Gracie, followed by Polina and Mirai.

[Avaleigh]

What mistakes did Gracie make? Mirai? Thanks in advance!

[BelleBrit]

Did not watch, but from what I've read-Gracie did a triple lutz double toe instead of a 3-3. Mirai got an UR call on her 3 toe in the combo. Consensus seems to be that Ashley should be first, but that the score was verrryy high, and that Polina and Ashley were lucky not to have gotten dinged on their 3-3. Ashley did a 3 lutz 3 toe. It sounds like Courtney, who came in 5th, may have gotten the most screwed. We will see what happens in the long. Looks like they were actually pretty generous with the UR calls tonight and let some skaters slide, but of course Mirai got hers, which I'm not sure bodes well for the free.

[honeywest]

Courtney definitely got screwed. And I don't understand why Christina Gao and Caroline Zhang keep hanging in there.

Edited January 23, 2015 by honeywest

[ariel]

Ashley's 3 toe on the combo was 2 footed. Gracie doubled her 2 toe on her combo.

Edited January 23, 2015 by ariel

[SophiaD]

Ugh.  If Ashley wins, I may have to avoid Worlds altogether.  I admire her fighting spirit intellectually, but I just don't find her skating very musical or compelling. 

 

I really like Mirai and Gracie and thought Polina was fantastic last year - haven't seen her skate this year - and am looking forward to seeing Karen and Courtney skate for the first time, since I don't have Icenetwork..

[ariel]

It sounds like Kevin Reynolds had a very rough SP at Canadian Nationals.  Are there any links online of this from Canadian TV?

[selkie]

I'm very annoyed at NBC for its embargo of short program coverage. Seems like they won't release the shorts to Universal Sports even after the competition is over. (Universal actually tends to rerun meets, games, etc. in the overnights and early mornings rather than doing straight infomercials.)  And it can't be for ratings reasons because Universal is also doing both massive short & free skate coverage or Europeans.

[wintrygal]

ariel, you may find something on cbc.ca, click on Sports, then Figure skating, there are a few videos up on some of the skaters, didn't see any on Kevin, he had a rough outing, sitting in 12th place. 

Edited January 24, 2015 by wintrygal

[ariel]

It's being reported that Kevin Reynolds has withdrawn from the competition.  I guess he's still having boot problems.

Edited January 24, 2015 by ariel

[SophiaD]

The USA Men's Competition appears to be shaping up nicely and turning into quite a good competition.  I'm looking forward to seeing their free skates.

[honeywest]

Josh Farris in second is a very nice surprise.

[Shades of Red]

It's being reported that Kevin Reynolds has withdrawn from the competition.  I guess he's still having boot problems.

I didn't watch the men's or the ladies' singles for that matter, but it sounds like the men's was a clusterf#ck.  Tracey Wilson talked about the boot problem is having and it sounds like it's been going on for quite some time.  I'm paraphrasing and may have misheard her, but I think she said he needs to make a decision and settle on some boots.  Then he can practice and get on with his skating.  I know that changing foot ware can be traumatic, but at some point enough is enough.

 

As for internet coverage, TSN or CTV may have some videos up as they are the ones broadcasting this.

 

Watched the pairs and dance short last night.  I think it's the first time I've managed to see the dance short as it's normally not broadcast.  I like the format vs the old compulsory dance etc etc. 

 

As for the pairs, well, I think unless sometime very bizarre happens Meagan and Eric have this sewn up.  It's very strange watching some of these new pairs.  I do like Dylan Moscovitch with his new partner and think he was blindsided when Kirsten left him.  I want to dislike her for it, but have to admit that I did like the cool lift she and Michael did last night.  Time will tell if they gel as they should.  You can definitely tell the difference between teams that have been together for a long time and found their rhythm and comfort levels vs the new teams who are still getting used to each other.  Have to say all the new teams need a lot of work.

 

I think Eric and Meagan were the only ones who didn't have issues with the side by side spins.  These things seem to go in cycles as each season there's seems to be some element skaters have issues with and when one has it it's almost as if everyone joins into the club.  No one wants to be left out - falls on certain jumps, edges etc.  The side by side camel spins still freak me out.  I have to say that I know they can be done safely but for all the horrifying accidents they have generated it's amazing to me they haven't been banned.

 

On a shallow note, can I say how pretty the few areas they are showing of my city look with the night shoots.  It's a beautiful spot, but the winter isn't the best time to visit for visual appreciation.

[ariel]

Word on the internet is that Toller Cranston has died.  He was a great skater.

[Quof]

The Hell?  Not seeing that news anywhere, ariel.

[Quof]

Well, damn.  Toller's sister has just confirmed.

[LoveMyVike]

I know I'm in a dream world but I want Mirai to have a magical performance. I love the Madame Butterfly program and think it's the best program she's had in ages. I'm hoping the UR issues won't be in evidence for a change. I hate that it seems like because of her reputation that she's held to a different standard than other skaters at times.

 

Ashley thinks she's exciting but I find her skating to be boring and her spins aren't particularly impressive especially her combination spin. I have no idea why US Figure Skating seems to think that the sun shines out of her ass. Her attitude only makes it worse, I don't know who she thinks she is.

Thank you for putting into words EXACTLY what I've been thinking. About Mirai and Ashley. I can't help BUT to root for Mirai. I just want to give her a pep talk and a huge hug most of the time. I hate to see someone so talented wasting it so I'm glad she's fighting through it.

And I've tried but I just can't find much to like about Ashley's skating. Even her jumps don't excite me because I can't get into her programs artistically. The horrible lipstick and over the top faces never stop bugging me.