2017 GP Internationaux de France Ladies FS

[ancientpeas]

In all fairness I would say that most of the ladies work hard. I have no doubt watching Eteri that her pupils work hard. I also have no doubt Kaetlyn works hard.

I think it is fair, however, to state that Kaetlyn does have trouble doing a clean long. The SP is often brilliant but she struggles with the long and with the loop in particular. When she does put it all together she is definitely one of the best in the world. The advantage that Evgenia has is that she is almost always on and she's very mentally tough.

I guess I don't understand why we can't appreciate Evgenia and Kaetlyn and Alina and all the other ladies. Sometimes it seems like some of you watch to find things to dislike about a skater rather than to enjoy skating.

 

[Ender]

When was the last time Osmond skated a clean free skate? I am honestly asking. I don’t remember.

 

[kevinVchicago]

I guess I don't understand why we can't appreciate Evgenia and Kaetlyn and Alina and all the other ladies. Sometimes it seems like some of you watch to find things to dislike about a skater rather than to enjoy skating.

I don't understand it either.

 

[matcha]

A few thoughts on the ladies skating: I'm sure this has been debated extensively but I HATE the proliferation of this hand over the head business on jumps. Once in a while, ok, using 2 hands, sure, looks pretty. But EVERY jump? Maria S and Alina Z are great skaters and I like watching them, except for that. I totally agree w/Tracey Wilson and hope the ISU does something about this. I also dislike the extreme backloading of jumps, whether in the SP or FS. I totally get wanting to maximize points but IMHO doing this just takes away from the overall flow and beauty of the program as a whole.

Maria needs to give it up because it makes her entire jumping pass ugly. Bent at the elbow and at the wrist it's just not aesthetically pleasing. If she can't extend, don't do it. Re: Alina, I think that for the most part her rippon jumps are quite lovely, and suit the nature of her programs; her tanos also have a good enough extension. For example, the variation she did on her 3f 2t lo combo in particular. She also doesn't do it on every. single. jump. like Sotskova.

 

[Osmond4gold]

When was the last time Osmond skated a clean free skate? I am honestly asking. I don’t remember.

Her best performance in comps. was worlds 2017, competing 9 of 10 triples, doubling a loop in the LP. As she and her coaches have mentioned, her goal in skating is towards excellence, not perfection.

 

[Ender]

Her best performance in comps. was worlds 2017, competing 9 of 10 triples, doubling a loop in the LP. As she and her coaches have mentioned, her goal in skating is towards excellence, not perfection.

So the answer is she never skates a clean free skate or clean back to back both programs. Maybe she will then, finally at the Olympic.

 

[ancientpeas]

When was the last time Osmond skated a clean free skate? I am honestly asking. I don’t remember.

Clean or enjoyable? I can't answer the first but her LP at worlds was enjoyable. I can live with it not being clean. Her doubling a loop doesn't diminish my enjoyment of the program. It has to reflect in the marks for sure but at the end a doubled loop doesn't make me think "Wow, that program sucked". Falling or popping multiple jumps is a problem and definitely does take away from the overall program for me.

I also think Black Swan is too heavy for her. One of the reason the SP works so well is that it shows off her playful, flirty side. It's fun and it's crowd pleasing, something I do not find Black Swan to be.

 

[ancientpeas]

So the answer is she never skates a clean free skate or clean back to back both programs. Maybe she will then, finally at the Olympic.

That is my hope too. And I hope it for all the ladies. Wouldn't that make for a great competition? Big win for the ladies and big win for us fans.

If Kaetlyn skates a clean SP/FP I think she will medal.

Now that Satoko and Anna P seem to be having such a rough season in countries were the depth is so great they might not go to Olympics my podium picks are opening up. I'm now leaning toward Alina, a clean Kaetlyn, a cleanish Caro and of course Evgenia.

 

[largeman]

Can't wait to watch the CBC version of Alina's FS :dev3:

Did everyone see the CBC version? They showered Alina with compliments. Not one negative comment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Y7ZgEPU_M

(To be honest, she did skate lights out and was exciting to watch :luv17

 

[Osmond4gold]

^^ She skated lights out in her FS, and deserved her win and the compliments from CBC. However tbh, to all who competed, a 213 and change, will not win a GP final nor an Olympic medal even. All have much to work on prior to. Good luck ladies!

 

[Osmond4gold]

Can't wait to watch the CBC version of Alina's FS :dev3:

And they gave a very fair/honest review...sorry, but the CBC conspiracy theory, has been rebuked. But it made for great ratings!

 

[4everchan]

I don't understand the arguments about Kaetlyn not being a 7 triple LP skater. That's not what she is well-known for. She is well-known for being an excellent SP skater with great all-around and powerful skating throughout her programs. In the LP, she makes her points, usually succeeding still 5-6 triples but also providing a great performance in terms of speed, refinement, power, carriage, etc.... Seeing her skate with such intensity for 4 minutes really sets her apart. There is no superfluous * posing, stopping, slowing down. Her athletic skills are very strong. She is also known to peak later in the season. Well, she is pretty much at her world's level this fall.. if she continues to improve, she will be a really strong contender.

There is no point really comparing her to some of the other skaters who focus on other things.

Apples and oranges..

BTW : why are people so willing to belittle female skaters for failing at some of their jumps while the men get free passes at that? Everyone knows the rules and everyone plays the game with their best assets. Kaetlyn's powerful and excellent all-around skating for instance, wouldn't allow her to backload. It's best for her to fo her big combos right at the beginning... Let her be people... she knows how can she score highest and aims to compete with her best resources... and that is true from everyone who has a good management team. Kaetlyn has a tech specialist as a coach and they know how to play the game to get her as many points as she can get. Let's respect her skating and her personal strategy.

*added to clarify

 

[Osmond4gold]

^^4evenchan, I will need to stand for this one, as "THIS" was more than worth it !!!

 

[Blades of Passion]

Seeing Osmond skate with such intensity for 4 minutes really sets her apart. There is no posing, stopping, slowing down.

This is completely false. She specifically does stop and pose multiple times in her program. There's nothing wrong with that either. Posing well is a skill and skating programs are supposed to have layers and variations in speed. Motoring around the rink non-stop might be a display of stamina and an acceptable approach to take if there are still interesting shapes created throughout the performance, but it's not the only way skating should be.

At the end of the day Osmond's program is simply not an evocative Black Swan, that's why people dislike the scores she receives for such flawed performances.

 

[Osmond4gold]

^^ Others including myself, have a very different opinion than you, bop, but great to see you offer a different perspective than rather simply...repeating...that Mai waz robbed Good to have you back, bop!

 

[Spirals for Miles]

This is completely false. She specifically does stop and pose multiple times in her program. There's nothing wrong with that either. Posing well is a skill and skating programs are supposed to have layers and variations in speed. Motoring around the rink non-stop might be a display of stamina and an acceptable approach to take if there are still interesting shapes created throughout the performance, but it's not the only way skating should be.

At the end of the day Osmond's program is simply not an evocative Black Swan, that's why people dislike the scores she receives for such flawed performances.

Thank you BoP!!
I totally agree.

 

[Sabrina]

Congrats to the first 3 ladies for qualifying to the GP final. Well deserved qualification for all 3. At least the best girls do qualify, while men GP final will miss a few big guns.

 

[Shayuki]

BOP : I acknowledge that this is a forum and that everyone is entitled to their opinions. However, whether or not we disagree, calling out my post as "being completely false" when it is a subjective impression that I am delivering doesn't look good on you.

"There is no posing, stopping, slowing down" is what you said, right? This isn't something you can have an opinion on. It either is the case or is not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As4cDGFCV8U&t=120
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As4cDGFCV8U&t=150


These even are pretty obvious. Especially the second one.

 

[4everchan]

"There is no posing, stopping, slowing down" is what you said, right? This isn't something you can have an opinion on. It either is the case or is not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As4cDGFCV8U&t=120
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As4cDGFCV8U&t=150


These even are pretty obvious. Especially the second one.

yes they are obvious and they are matched perfectly well with the music. What I was referring to is that often, we see skaters that will slow down when the music is asking for flow and speed. These very short choreographical moments in Kaetlyn's programs do not appear as posing as they are perfectly integrated in the music and the program.

Perhaps I should have been more precise but it doesn't matter as some people will always strive to find flaws to skaters just for the sake of it. The gist of my post was to share that it is pointless to expect Kaetlyn to skate in a way that others do because she doesn't skate like that. She has her own strengths and works them well.

We are talking about a world silver medalist here. A bit of respect for the achievements of a skater who not only came back after a major injury but kept on going after falling her way through her first events upon returning, then from losing her national title, not making the world team... and what did she do? Kept on going... and going... and mastering her power, her jumps.

I admire Kaetlyn for what she has accomplished. I admire other skaters as well for what they offer. Everyone is different and I was simply hoping that my post would stop the "but how many times has she been clean?" comments.. because I find them petty and belittling.

YMMV

 

[bobbob]

If Katelyn were attempting quads that all the other men were attempting, I'd give her a pass on not being clean. But when all her competitors are going clean with a similar jump content, she should be penalized score-wise, perhaps moreso than she is.

I appreciate her powerful skating and intensity, but the simple fact is that it is not enough to make up for her lack of technical content. (Not to mention her free has little choreography and actual interpretation of the music.) I don't really know why the judges keep on going with her because other ladies who continually make mistakes have been totally been dumped by the judges. I understand she is well liked by Canadians but it seems like most of you (other than ancientpeas) don't even think (or outwardly acknowledge) that the fact that she can't go clean is a problem. You guys are some of the same people harping on Carolina for doing a 5-6 triple free skate, but Kaetlyn is also doing a 5-6 triple free skate, and it's fine? (and Kaetlyn is definitely not as strong artistically)