Rank the World Championship-winning ladies FPs from 2000-2009

[shady82]

How would you rank the ladies' winning free program performances at the world championships in this (past) decade?

2000: Michelle Kwan, Miraculous Mandarin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXacr9-HAg4

2001: Michelle Kwan, Song of the Black Swan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37fJ8wTUAA4

2002: Irina Slutskaya, Carmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y118zXrE9IQ&feature=related

2003: Michelle Kwan, Aranjuez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfluAux0Sf0

2004: Shizuka Arakawa, Turandot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xzGdVragbo

2005: Irina Slutskaya, Queen of Spades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBSI97Vuw8

2006: Kimmie Meissner, Queen of Sheba
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a link =[

2007: Miki Ando, Mendelssohn Concerto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ngijAUxLMU

2008: Mao Asada, Fantasie-Impromptu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiUPdwYJjAc

2009: Yu-na Kim, Scheherezade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-xwx-Z3ijc

My rankings:
1. 2004 Arakawa: This performance was ground-breaking! She set new technical standards with a 3lz-3toe-2loop and 3flip-3toe in the same program, and had created a superior artistic impact with Turandot. Her best performance ever!
2. 2003 Kwan: Her Worlds performance was a joy, considering how much pressure and pain she suffered the year before. I only placed it second, in my opinion behind Arakawa's, because her technical content wasn't nearly as high.
3. 2005 Slutskaya: A very inspiring performance after her struggles with sickness (and with her mother's), and a 3lz-3loop as well! In terms of PCS/presentation it wasn't as great as some of the other performances, but it was definitely a great program to watch.
4. 2001 Kwan: Another great program with Kwan - she handled the pressure tremendously well, considering she wasn't the favorite
5. 2000 Kwan
6. 2007 Ando: A solid performance, but it wasn't phenomenal, which was why it only placed 2nd for the freeskate. But her reaction afterwards was priceless, one of my favorite moments :respec:
7. 2002 Slutskaya: A clean program, but a bit conservative and not nearly as much impact as her 2005 winning performance
8. 2008 Asada: She skated wonderfully, but she did have a fall in the beginning
9. 2006 Meissner: Clean program with triple-triples, but the rest of her program just wasn't as impressive, though she received a great reaction
10. 2009 Kim: I can't believe I put this record-breaking performance at the end :lol: But I didn't think her program for this year was that great - it was kind of flat and didn't catch my attention, and she even popped a jump. Not to mention, she skated to Scheherzade:shuffle:

[SkateElectric]

In terms of which performances I would rewatch and remember the most:

1. 2001 SOTBS: There was always something about this program, probably the combination of the unique music Dvorak, the moves in the field, etc. It wasn't technically the best of the decade by any means but probably THE program I have enjoyed rewatching the most.
2. 2004 Turandot: Technically the best skate of the decade for a world-title winning program hands down. Love Shizuka, but she's just steely and doesn't wear her emotions on her sleave ala Kwan. Great skate though.
3. 2000 Red Violin: Loved it
4. 2003 Aranjuez
5. 2005 Wonderland
6. 2007 Violin Concerto
7. 2009 Scheherazade
8. 2002 Tosca: Anticlimactic after the Olympics, but still a great program
9. 2008 Asada: The fall at the beginning just ruined it for me, even though she got alot of points for the skate.
10. 2006 Queen of Sheba: Sorry Kimmie, I just haven't rewatched that skate since umm, the day you skated it.

[BigB08822]

Kwan skated to Red Violin in 2000, not Miraculous Mandarin. She only used that LP for those dumb GPF rules.

[IceJunkie]

Miraculous Mandarin - a cult classic?

[Vash01]

I don't think Irina skated to Carmen in 2002. She used Tosca for the LP.

Michelle never skated Miraculous Mandarin in a world championship.

My rankings:

1.Irina 2005- Queen of spades (awesome 3lutz3loop and 3sal3loop to start off, and incredible energy throughout)

2.Michelle 2001- Song of the black swan (I saw it live in Vancouver, and it was fantastic)

3.Shizuka 2004-Turandot

4.Michelle- 2000 The Red Violin (it would have scored a lot higher if she had skated later, but she won anyway).

5.Michelle 2003-Aranjuez (not as great as at the nationals, but still very good)

6.Yu na 2009 (one mistake, otherwise good)

7.Mao 2008 (one fall, otherwise good)

8. Irina 2002- conservative skate; good enough to win

9.Miki 2007- Mendelsson

10 Kimmie 2006- Queen of Sheba (it looked very good at that time; I saw it live, but compared to other world championship performances I have to rank this lower).

[Loves_Shizuka]

1. 2004 Arakawa - Still say it's the best performance I've ever seen, and the performance that confirmed her as my fave ever. Beautiful blend of technical brilliance, elegant choreo and a build towards a grand finale. Add in the spirals, ina bauer, spread eagles, and it was amazing IMO. Loved the phrasing of the music and how it built toward the end, created such excitement. Some say she wasn't as emotional as Kwan say, but I loved her controlled grace, and how regally statuesque she performed.

2. Kwan SOTBS - I think this MKs best LP (maybe tied with Lyra) I also think it was her last really good programme. Everything after this was a bit bland/samey/:blah:

3. ... having said that, I put Kwan's Aranjuez next, simply because this was a PERFORMANCE AND A HALF. Not as interesting or sophisticated as her past efforts, but this was fab nonetheless. Gosh, if only she'd used this for 02 instead of, what IMO, was an awful Schez, who knows what might have happened.

4. Kwan Red Violin - Don't warm to this programme quite as much, but I can see how complex and gorgeous it is.

5. Irina 2005 - Never quite got why this is so amazing - but then I guess performing at home after all her troubles is enough. Don't think the actual skating was that hot, and that actual programme was pretty horrendous IMO. Still, was a great moment.

6. Mao Fantaisie Impromptu - Beautiful programme after the awful fall. Light, airy, balletic, elegant.

7. Yu-Na Schez - I don't think I've really liked a programme to this music, and this LP paled in comparison to Lark Ascending IMO.

8. Miki Mendelssohn - At her most elegant at just the right time. Just not in the same league as the ones which have gone before.

9. Irina Tosca - Hated this LP and it was a pretty cautious outing.

10. Kimmie Queen of Sheba - yea, yea, Kimmie is lovely, but her being a WC is a bit :o IMO.

[MR-FAN]

OMG... The Olympics are Over :wuzrobbed

[briancoogaert]

OMG... The Olympics are Over :wuzrobbed
But not the off-season yet ;)

Anyway, not sure about the rankings :
1-Michelle Kwan 2001 Worlds LP

2-Shizuka Arakawa 2004 Worlds LP

3-Michelle Kwan 2000 Worlds LP

4-Michelle Kwan 2003 Worlds LP

5-Irina Slutskaya 2005 Worlds LP

6-YuNa Kim 2009 Worlds LP

7-Mao Asada 2008 Worlds LP

8-Kimmie Meissner 2006 Worlds LP

9-Irina Slutskaya 2002 Worlds LP

10-Miki Ando 2007 Worlds LP

[shady82]

Oops, I made some mistakes in the program titles, it wasn't on purpose :lol:

[falling_dance]

1. Kwan, The Red Violin (the best all-around by my lights)

2. Arakawa, Turandot (would be first but for the quality of the 3-3s and the final spin I can't stand)

3. Kwan, Song of the Black Swan (would be first but for the flip and second lutz)

4. Kwan, Aranjuez (see LS's remarks)

5. Kim, Scheherazade (points lost for the lack of edge triples in this one)

6. Ando, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto (a massive technical achievement)

7. Slutskaya, Queen of Spades/Croatian Rhapsody/Wonderland/Gonna Feed the Chickens (Sorry to go all Zayak-rule on this program, but when it's this close between the top nine...)

8. Slutskaya, Tosca (I suppose this would be a good program for a seventeen-year-old who requested a 'starter Tosca'. But why would you want that to begin with?)

9. Asada, Fantaisie-Impromptu (She'll deliver better World Championship-winning performances in the future, I'm sure)

10. Meissner, Belkis, Queen of Sheba (a very complete program; shame about the jump technique)

[MR-FAN]

3. Kwan, Song of the Black Swan (would be first but for the flip and second lutz)

I know the 2nd lutz was a bit tight, but what was wrong with the flip?

[falling_dance]

I know the 2nd lutz was a bit tight, but what was wrong with the flip?

I don't remember it being quite as close on rotation as the lutz, but it wasn't that great, either, by any criterion I can think of. I'm not saying that it wasn't legit, but compare it to the one in the her 2000 LP.

[MR-FAN]

I don't remember it being quite as close on rotation as the lutz, but it wasn't that great, either, by any criterion I can think of. I'm not saying that it wasn't legit, but compare it to the one in the her 2000 LP.

Ah, gotcha. I thought the slo-mo technology revelaed some 2-foot or cheat that I haven't heard of.

[briancoogaert]

I don't remember it being quite as close on rotation as the lutz, but it wasn't that great, either, by any criterion I can think of. I'm not saying that it wasn't legit, but compare it to the one in the her 2000 LP.
:confused:
The Flip was good, just the flow on the landing was not the same as the landing. Landed a bit on the ToePick. But then, she bended her knee to gain speed.
The Lutz was perfect, tight because she had much speed out of the jump.
Her jumps in 2001 were better than her jumps in 2000, IMO. They were lighter. Her glide was better in 2001 and the program was more sophisticated.
In 2000, there was more emotion, that's the only thing I think was better in 2000. ;)

[David21]

Kwan's flip and 2nd lutz in 2001 were clearly underrotated.

List:

1. Arakawa 2004
2. Slutskaya 2005
.
.
.
.
.
8. Meissner 2006 (generic)
9. Ando 2007 (generic, no emotion)
10. Asada 2008 (big splat at the beginning, overscored) :P