Figure Skating

[displayname]

Mirai won Bronze for USA!!!!!

[scarynikki12]

I WAS WRONG AND I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!!!!   

[Dots And Stripes]

2 minutes ago, QuinnInND said:

I'm old enough to remember when the song the Canadian skated to was in a commercial for United Airlines. 

Also Lysachek skating to it when he won gold. If we're going to talk about how to value quads, Lysachek vs. Plushenko comes to mind. 

[Jaded]

5 minutes ago, GeminiDancer said:

At least this costume fits the music better than that chartreuse/lime jump suit., I guess?

 

[blackwing]

Just now, stealinghome said:

Yeah, the idea isn’t bad, but somehow the execution doesn’t work at all...it’s quite unflattering for her body type.

It reminds me of those cutout dresses that actresses and singers wear at awards shows to be titillating and sexy.   If that was her intent, doesn't that violate the "not too sexy" rules for costumes?  Moreover, it was ugly as sin and the flesh coloured illusion bit near the stomach made her look slightly pregnant.  

[SeanC]

And Canada now quite literally cannot lose.

[QuinnInND]

2 minutes ago, absnow54 said:

2014 wasn't that long ago!

It was back in the late 70s. Lol  

[scarynikki12]

I hate Zagi’s outfit but she’s already showing more personality and charisma than Med so I’m liking her. Still hate the Part 2 thing though.

[GeminiDancer]

1 minute ago, Jaded said:

 

Gawd that costume is so ugly. The green starts in really odd places.

[Zanzibar]

1 minute ago, Dots And Stripes said:

Also Lysachek skating to it when he won gold. If we're going to talk about how to value quads, Lysachek vs. Plushenko comes to mind. 

Evan Lysacek skated to Rhapsody in Blue when he won Worlds in 2009.  He skated to Firebird and Scheherazade in the 2010 Olympics.

[QuinnInND]

This red outfit is horrible. And the flesh colored tights are just a no. 

[KenyaJ]

2 minutes ago, PoshSprinkles said:

Bathroom time!

I'm completely whelmed right now.

[Shades of Red]

So any of the men back end their routines like this little Russian girl?  This is really annoying!

[Moxie Cat]

2 minutes ago, Dots And Stripes said:

f we're going to talk about how to value quads, Lysachek vs. Plushenko comes to mind

2010 was the year I really got into following skating, largely because I loved Lysacek's routines. Much more enjoyable to watch than "skate to jump, skate to next jump" IMO.

[MaKaM]

I mean, I  thought it was great and strategic. Kid is clearly incredibly talented and definitely deserved the high GOEs. There was no worry that she was going to splat at any point.

[Shaynaa]

She seriously did no jumps for the first 2 minutes and still gets 10 technical points more than Mirai.  WTF?

[Growsonwalls]

I can't stand those tights. It looks awful.

[healthnut]

That was super annoying, flail around for two minutes and then jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, bad spin, over.

[Irlandesa]

10 minutes ago, Shades of Red said:

I'm almost falling asleep as her music is so boring.  I wonder how many in the audience feel the same way?  As much as I don't like so many repeats of other music, I would take a Carmen or Phantom over this.

Oh I love Rhapsody and Blue.

[CarbonCopy]

The Russian girl is really beautiful. She does not look 15. Boring program but she skated really well. 

[Jaded]

Ugggh.

[MaKaM]

1 minute ago, Shaynaa said:

She seriously did no jumps for the first 2 minutes and still gets 10 technical points more than Mirai.  WTF?

She did harder jumps, harder combos, extra arm-over-the-head stuff + the bonus for doing it late in the program. It's math.

[blackwing]

Ok, I get it, this girl can do every jump with her hands over her heads.  Looks ugly.  If it were me, I would make a rule saying you only get bonus points for it once and that's it.  Multiple praying hands don't get you more.  And I definitely would warn people that back loading your program makes it uneven and dock you artistic points.

Between the two Not-Russian girls, however, I prefer this one.  The other one leaves me cold.

[Souris]

11 minutes ago, Minneapple said:

Seriously, what is Carolina Kostner wearing? Oh honey, no.

I trust by now you've seen the lime body suit she previously wore for this routine that was posted upthread? This one is an improvement.

I'm left utterly flat by Zagitova.

[stealinghome]

7 minutes ago, scarynikki12 said:

I hate Zagi’s outfit but she’s already showing more personality and charisma than Med so I’m liking her. Still hate the Part 2 thing though.

The outfit is ALMOST lovely, but the beading on the gloves makes it too much. Take off that beading and maybe tone down the yellow beads on the bodice, and it’d be much better.

This Russian girl was much more impressive than last night’s imo. Much more personality and more engaging, even with the no jumps in the first half of the routine.

Edited February 12, 2018 by stealinghome

[gatopretoNYC]

12 minutes ago, PoshSprinkles said:

I have the salt ready for Zagitova! 

 

I went and poured another pina  colada

[mtlchick]

So since I'm more a casual watcher, I know some elements but not all.  But even I can say this: stacking the deck on jumps in your second half so you can score bonuses needs to be thought over.  You're basically rewarding them for saving their energy and strength for the last 2 minutes. 

[scarynikki12]

Just now, blackwing said:

Ok, I get it, this girl can do every jump with her hands over her heads.  Looks ugly.  If it were me, I would make a rule saying you only get bonus points for it once and that's it.  Multiple praying hands don't get you more.  And I definitely would warn people that back loading your program makes it uneven and dock you artistic points.

Between the two Not-Russian girls, however, I prefer this one.  The other one leaves me cold.

I’m hoping this happens during the next code update.

[NUguy514]

Well, if a Russian woman has to win the ladies' competition, I'm Team Zag, even with the annoying backloading and Tanos galore.  She's a much more beautiful skater than Medvedeva, in my opinion anyway.

[irisheyes]

1 minute ago, MaKaM said:

She did harder jumps, harder combos, extra arm-over-the-head stuff + the bonus for doing it late in the program. It's math.

I think she should get nailed in the PCS scores. Spend the first half of the program skating around and then the second skating from jump to jump is not a well constructed program. 

[KenyaJ]

3 minutes ago, Shaynaa said:

She seriously did no jumps for the first 2 minutes and still gets 10 technical points more than Mirai.  WTF?

Obviously, she's very strategic in backloading her program. I can't complain at all about her technical scores. I just found her program boring and not aesthetically pleasing. 

[Souris]

Just now, irisheyes said:

I think she should get nailed in the PCS scores. Spend the first half of the program skating around and then the second skating from jump to jump is not a well constructed program. 

Except that's canceled out by the Skating While Russian* bonus.

[alexa]

I have never seen Zagitova before. I really liked her and thought it was kind of cool she could do all of her difficult jumps at the end. Finally some competition for Med. 

[displayname]

Zagi's momentum stays alive.

[Vanderboom]

Why bother give bonus points for jumping on "tired legs" in the second half if the first half of the program does not really challenge the skater?  She was very skilled, but the program was too lopsided to keep my interest.

[Minneapple]

I didn't mind Alina Zagitova's routine, but I have the same issue with her that I always have with the Russians: Their routines leave me cold. Like, they're a product of the old Soviet machine, you know? It feels almost robotic, no connection to the music.

Edited February 12, 2018 by Minneapple

[MaKaM]

1 minute ago, irisheyes said:

I think she should get nailed in the PCS scores. Spend the first half of the program skating around and then the second skating from jump to jump is not a well constructed program. 

Well, it is also as bad as cramming all the jumps up front when you are fresh and then just putzing around for the last half. They added the bonus to get people to stop front-loading the programs and now it has bit them in the butt. I agree that the code should be rewritten to limit some of the egregiousness and the PCS crap needs a COMPLETE overhaul because it is totally bullshit nearly all the time. It needs to be better tied to actual movements instead of "you've been around a long enough time (or are Russian) so you get 9s. You aren't Russian and/or are new, you get 7s."

[Jeddah]

I really thought the judges would put Mirai fourth or fifth no matter how she skated. I am so glad I was wrong! That takes a lot of pressure off the Shibutanis! I hope they go out, enjoy themselves, and skate lights out!

Adam and Mirai are roommates in the Olympic Village! I love it!

[Growsonwalls]

Adam Rippon is clearly going to be the NBC interview darling. 

[displayname]

TES WR for Alina in FS, fairly sure.

[Jeddah]

"This might be my first Olympics but this is not my first rodeo."

I think Adam just gave the best quote of the Olympics.

[Dots And Stripes]

Just now, Growsonwalls said:

Adam Rippon is clearly going to be the NBC interview darling. 

As he should be. They were very late in seeing Johnny's potential. 

I'm so happy for Adam. He has a beautiful Olympic program in the bank no matter what else happens. 

[Minneapple]

1 minute ago, Growsonwalls said:

Adam Rippon is clearly going to be the NBC interview darling. 

Yeah, and with good reason -- he's a good interview. Charming, friendly and well-spoken.

Go ShibSibs!

[absnow54]

2 minutes ago, Growsonwalls said:

Adam Rippon is clearly going to be the NBC interview darling. 

No wonder, trying to interview Nathan and Bradie has been like pulling teeth. 

[Thumper]

4 minutes ago, alexa said:

I have never seen Zagitova before. I really liked her and thought it was kind of cool she could do all of her difficult jumps at the end. Finally some competition for Med. 

Yeah, again a casual viewer and heard  the announcers say they get more points for jumping in the second half of the program --- so why not?  (Change the judging/rules if you don't like it.).   I liked her costume.

[BitterApple]

25 minutes ago, QuinnInND said:

I'm old enough to remember when the song the Canadian skated to was in a commercial for United Airlines. 

Me too. United Airlines is the first thing I think of whenever I hear  Rhapsody in Blue.

I am so happy for Mirai. What a performance.

I know I'm supposed to be having orgasms over the Russians, but they're doing absolutely nothing for me. I liked this girl better than the one who skated the short, but the backloaded programs are leaving a bad taste in my mouth. It's like you spend the first two minutes frustrated waiting for something to happen and then the last minute and a half is nothing but frenzied jumping. Blech.

Edited February 12, 2018 by BitterApple

[mehtotheworld]

I hate the Tano when the Russians do it, but the Rippon variation with both arms above the head is really pretty. That said, what a boring program aside from the jumps! Ladies skating is kind of depressing. 

Edited February 12, 2018 by mehtotheworld

[KenyaJ]

4 minutes ago, Jeddah said:

Adam and Mirai are roommates in the Olympic Village! I love it!

His story about them eating In-and-Out at her apartment because they were both depressed during the Sochi Olympics was great.

[MostlyC]

Adam Rippon is punch drunk happy.*  I like how he's also talking about Mirai; didn't know they were roommates at the village.  They both waited a long time for the moments they had tonight.  

 

*Either that, or I want some of what he's having.

[scarynikki12]

He did consider asking the judges for Xanax... Maybe he did some shots before taking his seat.