2016 Skate America Ladies SP

[nolangoh]

Finally caught up the event:

1. I agree that Ashley is in first, but the PCS seems a little too generous, esp SS and Choreo. The choreo was very similar to last year. The Stsq needs more speed too. She also got a gift for getting a < only instead of a << on the 3T.

2. Great job by Mai!! Good for her to debut almost perfectly! Nice save on the flip

3. At least Gracie did not...melt down or whatever. She still managed to try to give a good performance. Unfortunate on the flip but that was a tricky entry for sure. Hope she can find her confidence back soon.

4. Gabby's choreo was very well-suited to her program and I like it! Maybe she can go back to 3T+3T? That brings her the most benefit.

5. Mao's SP is getting just better! Maybe its the camerawork so I can see her movements more clearly and it is more fascinating! Great job! (Though I thought her 3Lo is < rather than the 3F)

6. So Youn did great too! I was expecting a higher PCS tho, like an 8 for Perf. But nevertheless it was a great program!

 

[Jaana]

I think the placements were right, but Wagner was a bit overscored in PCS. Well, this is Skate America, after all . Did not really like Wagner´s program, but her self-confidence is huuuge...

Could not agree more, that Gold should do something to her hair! The dark roots are not pleasing to the eye. Her program was enjoyable, but I hope that she had even half of the self-confidence Wagner has.

I really like Mihara, she did not quite get the scores she deserved, IMO.

All in all, top 2-6 are really close and Wagner not so far ahead, so anything can happen in the free program if the judges and technical specialist allow it.

 

[topaz emerald]

Gracie..please give up on 3flip in SP! Otherwise, you were awesome.

I don't recall she ever had trouble with this jump when she debut as a senior. Maybe if she leaves out the hop before the entrance, she'll land it. Or replace it with another jump that's worth as much as the flip.

 

[Meoima]

And people thought Sochi was bad lol. Wow, it is like Gracie and Ashley were the real chosen ones. Level 3s frm Asley and still enormous tes with a ur. A fall by Gracie. They are giving gifts to the American ladies tonite. I wonder what Donald Trump would say?

The tech control is harsh but I think she is fair.

 

[4everchan]

I finally watched Mao. I arrived just after she had skated so i saw the rest as it happened... and Mao just now... I think that she has improved a lot since Finlandia, but I agree the flip looks UR and if you don't have a high BV, skate early in the draw and UR your hardest triple, well.. you are going to pay for it. As someone who likes Mao, I see the positive in here : she skated so much better than at Finlandia. I wasn't sure about the SP (loved the LP there) a couple weeks ago, now I am convinced...

BTW : for those who keep saying she is using the same music in both SP and LP... well... not quite

Let me give you a couple pointers De Falla composed El amor brujo as a ballet first, with narration even... From there various versions came out. including a piano suite version, which you can hear in the SP. The ritual dance of fire used here, is the most famous excerpt.

I haven't watched the LP enough to identify all of the music cuts used by Mao there, and I am not an expert in ballet music nor De Falla but there are other pieces used in the LP from that same ballet piece... though, this time, Mao uses the orchestrated version.

So yes, it's from the same ballet... but no.. it's not the same "music or piece" it's like someone skating to the Nutcracker doing the Sugar Plum Fairy in the SP and doing a mix of the dances in the LP (Chinese, Arabian, Spanish and Russian dancers) ... I hope this clarifies things... some people seemed confused here.

 

[MIM]

I think Ashley was great and deserves to lead! She betters herself every year. Her dress including the details on a shoulder, the cut of a skirt, and all the accessories looks fabulous. She is well prepared.

Mai was a breath of fresh air. She debuted her senior Grand Prix with a clean sp. brava!! Her 3lz3t was effortless. Spins were well timed with a music. Her steps were not hurried, but carefully and patiently exceuted. I did not notice her as a junior. But, she certainly impressed me with this performance.

Gracie seems find a way to settle in skating with anxiety instead of overcoming it. It made me nervous watching her even before her program started. Frank tried to calm her down but, she was busy fixing her dress rigorously... her face was tense. However, it shows how hard she trains when she landed 3lz3t in this condition. Her entry to the flip was not good. The fall was kinda expected. She tried to give a performance while fighting with the nerves. I hope it gets easier for her as the season goes.

Mao has a leg injury and it has been only two weeks since she has competed at phinlandia. 2a and 3-2 was expected. It is the best she can do at this point. But i know how much better this program will be when Mao in on fire.

Mariah and So youn were both exciting. Their presentation were massively improved. Good to see them landing 3-3. In a weird way I like so youn's camel spin- hand on her knee- position.

 

[aftertherain]

Ashley was really fast in person, IMO.

Also, I didn't hear the loud screaming?! Haha, maybe that guy was really close to the microphone?

I didn't hear it until people here pointed it out. I didn't think it was bad. It livened up the audience a bit.

 

[topaz emerald]

I didn't think that was better than Mao.

I'm a huge Mao fan, but this program puts me to sleep. Too monotonous for me.

 

[zebobes]

In the mix zone interview after the Short Program that the Skating Lesson just posted, I thought it was interesting that Ashley said that she was actually planning on some of the spins being just level 3. I wonder if it's just for now, or if she will up the level as the season progresses?

 

[humbaba]

Her level is that of a dancer in a strip club than a world class figure skater.

Many peelers are excellent dancers who study ballet, modern, and other dance forms. I've taught a few. There are many elite skaters who do not have the dance skills of a good exotic dancer.

 

[berry8]

The placements are quite right but I would have given Wagner lower PCS.

The fact that Mao got an UR on her 3F is sooo disappointing :disapp:

Gabby is a threat for Gold's-already-in-pocket-bronze: I bet on her. GO GABBY

 

[topaz emerald]

Gracie's look when she got the scores was priceless. She clearly doesn't understand how she ended up so high.

I thought her marks were fair.

I actually didn't understand how Serafima's marks were so high....only 3 or four points below Mariah bell?? and 1 or 2 points below So Youn's?

 

[MIM]

In the mix zone interview after the Short Program that the Skating Lesson just posted, I thought it was interesting that Ashley said that she was actually planning on some of the spins being just level 3. I wonder if it's just for now, or if she will up the level as the season progresses?

I think it is her layback. She did not have a biellman position. She is 25 and if she think it is too much on her body, leaving it out seems a right decision, imo.

 

[4everchan]

that's what i think she said in the KnC.

I think it is her layback. She did not have a biellman position. She is 25 and if she think it is too much on her body, leaving it out seems a right decision, imo.

 

[topaz emerald]

I feel like Roberta has regressed since last year. Jumps just aren't there.

I actually really like the beat of the music no matter if it's a "prostitute" song. But I thought she didn't perform it very well. I enjoyed her Pretty Woman and Evita programs more.

 

[largeman]

Finally caught up the event:

1. I agree that Ashley is in first, but the PCS seems a little too generous, esp SS and Choreo. The choreo was very similar to last year. The Stsq needs more speed too. She also got a gift for getting a < only instead of a << on the 3T.

5. Mao's SP is getting just better! Maybe its the camerawork so I can see her movements more clearly and it is more fascinating! Great job! (Though I thought her 3Lo is < rather than the 3F)

Agreed and agreed, Nolan! I had the exact same observations...

 

[mcq]

So her 34.7+ PCS are fine???

I hope you are not one of the folks who gets upset when Radionova or Tuktamysheva get 32.5-33 PCS for a clean SP.

Lol, chill. I agree with the judges the majority of the time. There are times I snickered at some judges who gave questionable scores (like 6s for Mao in SS or 7 for Yuzuru in SS recently) but usually the overall scores sit well with me because the lowest and highest get cut (thank ISu for trimmed mean).
Considering Ashley skated clean-ish (but 1 UR) and at home, score below 70 is pretty conservative. Do you see how many junior ladies scoring 66-69 this entire season? And look, if Gracie and Evgenia can get 34-35 in PCS, it is not that ridiculous for me that Ashley get similar score.

And why I usually agree with judges:
a. I am not on the venue. A lot of the time skaters' speed and ice coverage can't really be accurately measured on screen. Some skaters look faster, some look slower.
b. Though I read and discuss about judging criteria etc and read ISU guidelines etc, that doesn't make me a trained and certified judges. So yes, though I question a few, I would eventually agree with the scoring because I don't think I am more knowledgeable than actual judges.
c. Cheers of the audiences do affect judges, skaters who skate at home do tend to get higher scores. Home advantage is a thing in sport, not just figure skating. If ashley is given an advantage now, maybe next time when she skates in Japan or Russia she won't be.

 

[MaiKatze]

I didn't stay up to watch this. So just got up this morning to check the results and well...I'm shocked. What the hell happened to Kanako? Where did her spirit go? I'm disappointed and begin to think she should have retired when she originally wanted to, after Sochi. If your heart isn't in it, where is the sense? *sadface*:sad4:

 

[largeman]

BTW : for those who keep saying she is using the same music in both SP and LP... well... not quite

Let me give you a couple pointers De Falla composed El amor brujo as a ballet first, with narration even... From there various versions came out. including a piano suite version, which you can hear in the SP. The ritual dance of fire used here, is the most famous excerpt.

I haven't watched the LP enough to identify all of the music cuts used by Mao there, and I am not an expert in ballet music nor De Falla but there are other pieces used in the LP from that same ballet piece... though, this time, Mao uses the orchestrated version.

So yes, it's from the same ballet... but no.. it's not the same "music or piece" it's like someone skating to the Nutcracker doing the Sugar Plum Fairy in the SP and doing a mix of the dances in the LP (Chinese, Arabian, Spanish and Russian dancers) ... I hope this clarifies things... some people seemed confused here.

You're absolutely right... As for the movements that were used in the long program, they are:
En la cueva - La noche (In the cave - night time)
Pantomima (Pantomime)
El aparecido (The apparition)
Danza Ritual del fuego (Ritual fire dance)

I thought the four pieces were brilliantly joined together to form a dynamic score that goes from mysterious and beguiling to captivating to fiery and passionate.

Here is a post from insideskating that analyzes and reflects on the two program: Intriguing and addictive: Mao Asada’s programs for this season for anyone that's interested

 

[Shayuki]

I couldn't watch this live so now when I watched it on youtube, I looked at Gracie talking to her coach before her program. Hearing her talk I thought that she was really nervous. Then, I thought "I wonder if she's still going to flip. If she flips, she's going to fall" and sure enough, the moment I noticed that the entry to her solo jump was a flip entry, I was absolutely certain that she was going to fall, which she did.

Maybe that's not a good thing. Loop only loses 0.2 points but should get more GOE every single time because her flip is ! regardless. She's just donating points away.



As for the rest, this is a pretty weak quality for a GP. Essentially every JGP event was of higher quality. Ashley should be getting a free win. It's a shame Americans aren't being properly challenged here. Apart from Ashley, the only one I actually liked was Asada, but her technical content just cannot compete with anyone. I also thought that Park had unfairly low PCS especially when we consider what Gold's soulless performance with mediocre transitions got.