Skaters/Results/Performances You've Changed Your Mind About

[Sophie-Anna]

At first I thought that Yuna should have won. After rewatching it I think that Carolina should have won. So I would suggest that you should rewatch Carolina's performances.

Well it didn't came to my mind at all Carolina is not my favorite neither but maybe what you say makes sense Thank you for suggesting

 

[apgold]

This isn’t so much a change of mind about a skater’s performance but her place in history. I always loved Sasha Cohen’s skating but everyone called her a headcase b/c she couldn’t put 2 clean programs together. For most of her senior career she was chasing Michelle Kwan, which I’m sure was hard enough b/c Michelle’s record will be unmatched for years to come.

Looking back on her career, I think she deserves more respect, having won an Olympic Silver medal, 2 World Silvers and 5 GP Gold including one GPF and a US national title. I think any current US lady would kill to have a competitive record like Sasha.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasha_Cohen#Skating_career

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

you have no idea who my favorite skater is.

didn't Chouinard do the Yuna camel long before Kim Yuna did it? Long before. Didn't Biellmann not invent the Biellmann?

Moves can be named retroactively.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

At first I thought that Yuna should have won. After rewatching it I think that Carolina should have won. So I would suggest that you should rewatch Carolina's performances.

I too have changed my mind. I thought that the podium should have been 1 or 2 Kostner, 1 or 2 Kim, 3. Sotnikova. Both Carolina Kostner and Kim Yuna outskated Sotnikova.

But Sotnikova still outscored them. Because the judging system rewards building incremental points.

I no longer see it as clear-cut. The system no longer rewards complete skating. Since it is no longer the case that complete skating is rewarded, maybe Kostner and Kim should have worked on outscoring the others rather than outskating them.

 

[solani]

I too have changed my mind. I thought that the podium should have been 1 or 2 Kostner, 1 or 2 Kim, 3. Sotnikova. Both Carolina Kostner and Kim Yuna outskated Sotnikova.

But Sotnikova still outscored them. Because the judging system rewards building incremental points.

I no longer see it as clear-cut. The system no longer rewards complete skating. Since it is no longer the case that complete skating is rewarded, maybe Kostner and Kim should have worked on outscoring the others rather than outskating them.

Oh, it's certainly not a clear-cut issue! But in my opinion, when you compare Carolina and Yuna, Carolina is the slightly better skater and Yuna is the better jumper. But in Sochi Carolina's jumps where spot on. When I remember correctly she even had a higher base value in the free than Yuna. I didn't realize this immediatly. And because of that I think that Carolina should've hade the edge over Yuna.

Regarding Adelina: I think the judges got carried away, I mean, even a couple of those specialists and tv commentators got carried away. And it was an engaging performance! Her PCS offended me a little bit, but I still don't think that there was an conspiracy.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Oh, it's certainly not a clear-cut issue! But in my opinion, when you compare Carolina and Yuna, Carolina is the slightly better skater and Yuna is the better jumper. But in Sochi Carolina's jumps where spot on. When I remember correctly she even had a higher base value in the free than Yuna. I didn't realize this immediatly. And because of that I think that Carolina should've hade the edge over Yuna.

Regarding Adelina: I think the judges got carried away, I mean, even a couple of those specialists and tv commentators got carried away. And it was an engaging performance! Her PCS offended me a little bit, but I still don't think that there was an conspiracy.

It's hard because Kim/Kostner were so close. I give Carolina the edge because she had the full arsenal of triple jumps (save the axel), all with the correct edge, even if 2A-3T isn't as hard as 3Z-3T.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Oh, it's certainly not a clear-cut issue! But in my opinion, when you compare Carolina and Yuna, Carolina is the slightly better skater and Yuna is the better jumper. But in Sochi Carolina's jumps were spot on.

Eh, I don't think it's accurate to say her jumps were spot on. Her 3Loop was tilted and landed on the wrong edge, the second 3Toe was a bit forward, the last jump combo had no flow out on the end. She got through everything but the whole performance was a bit sedate. Maybe Kostner is a better skater than Yuna but it didn't show up in that performance to me. She didn't have the speed, the choreography was easier, and her footwork sequence wasn't executed as well either - there were a couple little unsteady edges (right after the twizzles at the start and then again towards the end). Kostner's last spin of the program was also messy and she didn't end with that same command.

Regarding Adelina: I still don't think that there was a conspiracy.

Hehehehe. Level 4 calls for her on the footwork in both programs when they were only Level 3, no Lutz edge call, no underrotation call on the 3Toe, a Level 3 call for Yu-Na's footwork in the LP that was level 4.

Whichever home country we were in is who was going to win. The ISU, and the IOC, and the home country, wants to make money. The hometown competitor winning creates more excitement, which creates more revenue by people following the "hero" and taking more interest in their sport and their advertisements. All of them skated well and the judges/tech panel can be controlled to make the outcome of the competition turn out in whatever way is desired when there isn't a glaringly obvious winner.

The correct answer for me will forever be 1. Yu-Na, 2. Sotnikova, 3. Kostner

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Eh, I don't think it's accurate to say her jumps were spot on. Her 3Loop was tilted and landed on the wrong edge, the second 3Toe was a bit forward, the last jump combo had no flow out on the end. She got through everything but the whole performance was a bit sedate. Maybe Kostner is a better skater than Yuna but it didn't show up in that performance to me. She didn't have the speed, the choreography was easier, and her footwork sequence wasn't executed as well either - there were a couple little unsteady edges (right after the twizzles at the start and then again towards the end). Kostner's last spin of the program was also messy and she didn't end with that same command.



Hehehehe. Level 4 calls for her on the footwork in both programs when they were only Level 3, no Lutz edge call, no underrotation call on the 3Toe, a Level 3 call for Yu-Na's footwork in the LP that was level 4.

Whichever home country we were in is who was going to win. The ISU, and the IOC, and the home country, wants to make money. The hometown competitor winning creates more excitement, which creates more revenue by people following the "hero" and taking more interest in their sport and their advertisements. All of them skated well and the judges/tech panel can be controlled to make the outcome of the competition turn out in whatever way is desired when there isn't a glaringly obvious winner.

The correct answer for me will forever be 1. Yu-Na, 2. Sotnikova, 3. Kostner

PCS was rising theoughout that season. And it was unwarranted. The outcome was telegraphed long before the Olympics. It just turned out that the momentum was enough to put one skater at the top of the pile.

Yes. I do agree that the tech controller failed to call the elements correctly. The results are tainted. But that's only part of the issue.

The more glaring issue is the lead up to the Olympics. That and the fact that complete skating is not rewarded. Politicking is, and consistency is being substituted for PCS. The scoring system is subject to manipulation. The lack of transparency just made it all easier.

It is all of those things together that make me reevaluate the results. Is it that the outcome is correct because one can work the system better or because the system was manipulated.

I used to think it was manipulation that decided the outcome but now I'm not so sure - it very well could have been milking the system.

Only the judges know. Therein lies the bulk of the problem.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Anyways...........

 

[solani]

Eh, I don't think it's accurate to say her jumps were spot on. Her 3Loop was tilted and landed on the wrong edge, the second 3Toe was a bit forward, the last jump combo had no flow out on the end. She got through everything but the whole performance was a bit sedate. Maybe Kostner is a better skater than Yuna but it didn't show up in that performance to me. She didn't have the speed, the choreography was easier, and her footwork sequence wasn't executed as well either - there were a couple little unsteady edges (right after the twizzles at the start and then again towards the end). Kostner's last spin of the program was also messy and she didn't end with that same command.



Hehehehe. Level 4 calls for her on the footwork in both programs when they were only Level 3, no Lutz edge call, no underrotation call on the 3Toe, a Level 3 call for Yu-Na's footwork in the LP that was level 4.

Whichever home country we were in is who was going to win. The ISU, and the IOC, and the home country, wants to make money. The hometown competitor winning creates more excitement, which creates more revenue by people following the "hero" and taking more interest in their sport and their advertisements. All of them skated well and the judges/tech panel can be controlled to make the outcome of the competition turn out in whatever way is desired when there isn't a glaringly obvious winner.

The correct answer for me will forever be 1. Yu-Na, 2. Sotnikova, 3. Kostner

We seem to disagree, but I've no problem with that. Carolina is not the everybody's darling type skater.
I only want to add:
"landed on the wrong edge" and "a bit forward"? I can't see that. And Carolina did execute a 3Loop, she wasn't playing it safe. Next to Asada she had the best tech content in my opinion. But anyway, Carolina is perfectly happy with her result.

 

[andromache]

(I was afraid the Sochi debate was going to arise in this thread which was I put positivity only in the first post...Discussing the ladies event in Sochi is perfectly valid here if you want to say you changed your mind about a skater's performance because it won you over although you didn't initially appreciate it, but let's not get into debate. It's an important debate but ultimately unproductive and tends to just devolve into bickering...)

Anyway, I've never paid attention to more than two teams in ice dance until fairly recently. Before V/M and D/W, I was only interested in B/A because it was neat to see a US team doing so well in the discipline. During the V/M and D/W era, I only watched their performances because no one aside from V/M and D/W seemed to matter--which was stupid of me. (Now that the field is more open, I always try to watch everyone in the last group.) Going back and watching other teams from the V/M and D/W era, I've really fallen in love with Pechalat and Bourzat. That Le Petit Prince program is everything.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Moving on from Sochi debate.......

ANYWAYS, there are some skaters that I didn't really pay attention until later on in the season or perhaps skaters who I heard of since the Olympics or somewhere else but wasn't interested in until later on....

Some of these include Ashley Wagner, Polina Edmunds, ShibSibs, Joshua Farris, and some more.

Yeah I haven't been around in the fandom too much to have a "change my mind" thing about.

Though I'm sure there will be some in the future.

 

[randomfan]

The correct answer for me will forever be 1. Yu-Na, 2. Sotnikova, 3. Kostner

I would have had 1. Yuna or Carolina 2. Yuna or Carolina (whoever didn't win gold)
I would have put Adelina 3rd or even Mao actually, because although she was way too behind in the SP, Mao made a strong comeback in the FS but had a low score. Adelina was way too overscored in both programs since her errors weren't detected, but recently when I rewatched her performances, I thought about how Adelina was able to skate the best she ever had and was one of the very few skaters who managed to stay on her feet since she only had one big mistake. Gracie had a fair score in the SP but her FS score was a bit too high. Yulia was also overscored in both segments; she should have been behind Ashley.

Anyways, I think I just got another person on my list: Mao Asada. I liked Mao too when I watched the 2010 Olympics and I knew she was a serious contender, but I didn't watch figure skating until the 2014 Olympics when Yuna and Mao appeared again. Those two were the only skaters I actually knew well. I always thought that Yuna was better than Mao in everything (although Mao was still close), but 2014 Olympics changed my perspective. After that nightmare in the SP she came back with a legendary 8-triple FS with amazing presentation. Then I saw her at Worlds where she had a perfect performance of Nocturne and broke the WR. I immediately saw her other performances from that season and previous seasons. Now I like Mao as much as I like Yuna, which is why I hope Mao will have a strong comeback after the hiatus just like Yuna did. Sorry for the long description.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Let's move on and I suggest we take that conversation to somewhere else private. It's been 15 months. It's over.

Thank goodness I haven't had any skaters that I liked that I ended up not caring for as much anymore.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I wasn't really all that much into Jason Brown when I started watching skating again in the 2012 season. I just didn't connect. I started to soften up to him around Sochi but still was a bit blah.

Then I decided to make a Jason Brown Remix (my version of a fan video) and my second attempt at making one ever . That's when I discovered how much I liked all of his transitions and how he delivered his choreo in between the technical goods. I'd say the moment I knew I was a real fan was when I studied and edited down his FS from this season. Just seeing the spins and steps really come together in what I consider to be a well choreographed program is what did it.

Since Sasha Cohen I've gone pretty cool to American skaters. I credit him with being the first Anerican that I really pulled for. Now Mariah Bell has joined my list of Anerican skaters I follow. I guess I'm just all about #TeamKoRo and Rohene

Wakaba really grew on me to this season . At first I was amazed by her power jumps but just bored to death by her Choreo and all the other little things I look for in a skater but she really grew in my eyes as the season unfolded and was able to capture my imagination especially in the SP. I hope she continues in developing those little things. Jumps will never win me over

 

[sunnystars]

I was never keen of Patrick Chan before due to his foul mouth off-ice and...his splat-tastic renditions in competitions. Seeing him live did change my mind though. His effortless skating probably matched those of V/M and I came to SOI mainly because of duo (and b/c of my sister's need of company). I am still a bit peeved by how he talks in public but I found some understanding to why he won certain competitions.

For Carolina....I guess I'm part of the minority here At first, I thought Caro should've won instead of Yuna or Ade. After many viewings though, I started to feel indifferent about her Sochi programs. They were beautiful but with the accumulating expectations I had, I lost that feel of excitement and awe. At that moment, I thought maybe it's just the music and it would help re-ignite my fascination towards them if I mute the music. That actually made me feel more indifferent. I found more flaws that I thought she shouldn't have at her level. In the end, her programs looked empty. This, however, does not mean I hate Carolina now and stuff. I do appreciate the quality she brings to skating and for her on continuing. My thoughts about her Sochi performances will probably change after awhile but indifference is what I feel about them at the moment.

It's quite interesting that I have the polar opposite feelings now for Adelina's programs in Sochi. Sure she had mistakes and the bias scoring but she had that fire and grit you want to expect from a champion throughout both programs. Those qualities in her skating at that night made me watch her programs more after finally watching them without expectations. Yes, I still have some reservations and criticisms on her programs due to comparisons from Yuna's and etc. but I nonetheless enjoy her performances. At this time, I don't really care who got the gold anyway. I hope Ade keeps her head high and skate with her best.

Another skater would Misha Ge. He was one the skaters that I thought relied on crazy theatrics to be seen artistic or some sort. Hence, I wasn't able to take him seriously last year. HOWEVER, lo and behold he became one of the main skaters I want to keep an eye on for the rest of this quad and maybe also his entire career after his massive improvements this season. He toned downed the cray, had a massive polishing work and just focused on working hard with his technical content. If he can continue his progress and get a quad or two, he's ready take people's titles.

 

[NQShamrock]

Hehehehe. Level 4 calls for her on the footwork in both programs when they were only Level 3, no Lutz edge call, no underrotation call on the 3Toe, a Level 3 call for Yu-Na's footwork in the LP that was level 4.

This. I'm still hurt when thinking of this, even though I always try to remind myself everything is over and I don't care about that anymore

 

[Krunchii]

Honestly if you had switched Mao's FS score with Adelina's all would be right, if only if only

I think I warmed up to Yulia a lot over time, I still don't think she's as great of an artist as everyone says she is but I admire her dedication and tenacity, this girl is fierce. I don't like the super fast spins with lots of positions though, it reminds me of this dog sneezing video I saw on youtube a long time ago, I blame the CoP and not her though but it still takes away my enjoyment somewhat

 

[padme21]

I didn't used to like Javier Fernandez but now I quite like him though not as much a my favorites Jason and Yuzuru. I grew up with ladies and pairs Kwan and Sasha and who could forget the 2002 Olympic pairs scandal that changed the judging system to what it is currently. I only watched figure skating every four years I saw skate Canada on tv and I was introduced to a young cute Japanese skater. His name Yuzuru Hanyu he's what really got me into figure skating. I used to be be more of a ladies and pairs person but now I prefer men's and ice dance.

 

[largeman]

Yuna Kim won me over with her last FS ever - Adios Nonino at Sochi.

Dick Button summed it up perfectly with his two tweets: "Dear Yu-Na, you are a true champion. When I criticize, I believe in recognizing changes. You were a different skater today. Congratulations!" "To the people of Korea: At one point, I had doubts regarding Yu-Na Kim - not after today. She was superb, elegant, charming. Never a wilt."

Her spiral remained unsatisfactory but at least it was very short Those steps, however, were simply breathtaking.

And funny enough, I think the lack of "energy" that some people speak of was exactly what made this program work.