Kostner returning to Oberstdorf

[shine]

I really do not agree with comments like she should become a speed skater. Speed is not the only great thing about her skating and some posters don't seem to be able to appreciate the gorgeous and effortless way she is able to attain that speed. It's defininely not the same kind of skating as speed skating She also does some of the most complex and easy looking footwork out there. It takes years of practicing with your basics. But I guess when your primary focus on skating is, say, how much extension a skater can achieve during a spiral you probably will never appreciate her skating

[briancoogaert]

I really do not agree with comments like she should become a speed skater. Speed is not the only great thing about her skating and some posters don't seem to be able to appreciate the gorgeous and effortless way she is able to attain that speed. It's defininely not the same kind of skating as speed skating She also does some of the most complex and easy looking footwork out there. It takes years of practicing with your basics. But I guess when your primary focus on skating is, say, how much extension a skater can achieve during a spiral you probably will never appreciate her skating

I guess it's a joke
At least, she has the speed ! And even with falls and popped jumps, she is always interesting to watch, because of this speed. I never have the feeling that her skating is painful !

[AxelAnnie]

The height might be an issue but I think I remember some posters mentioning that her technique was in some ways less than stellar and Huth has been either unable or unwilling to correct that.

ETA: Ahhh I think I remember now.

Jacek Tascher who is a coach and Polish Eurosport commentator is often making comments about Kostner rushing her jumps (I don't remember the details of what he said though).

I guess that can be a psychological issue as much as a technical one.

Admittedly I am no expert.....but it seems to me that her ginormous speed throws her off. She has a lot of territory to get moved and organized (those gorgeous limbs) before she can jump. It takes a fraction of a second longer for a tall person to bring it all in. I would love to see her slow down a bit, get her jumps more consistent, then add speed. I suspect the speed has served her (like Caroline Z., mule kick) to hoist her into the air, but I suspect it may not be serving her with the jumps.

[aymkjb88]

Glad Caro will continue! Too bad her collaboration with Frank didn't work out. Is there any news on Tomas? Where is he now? Will he return to Oberstdorf too?

[viennese]

I hope she stays on and works on technique and nerves. She did appear to improve this season, despite the Olympic result.

[barbk]

I hope she stays on and works on technique and nerves. She did appear to improve this season, despite the Olympic result.

Has she grown much (physically) in the past six years?

[Dilng]

She needs to retire.

I agree!

[peibeck]

I'm not a Kostner fan, but I am glad she's staying. But I agree with Ziggy, I am not happy to see her return to Huth. He doesn't seem capable of keeping Kostner or Verner's nerves at bay.

[IceAlisa]

I guess it's a joke
At least, she has the speed ! And even with falls and popped jumps, she is always interesting to watch, because of this speed. I never have the feeling that her skating is painful !

TAT has pointed out that her speed is one of the problems with her jumps--she does not slow down for the preparation and rushes it, losing control.

And watching her implode live during the 2009 Worlds was painful.

[Ziggy]

The mouths of people who were working with her at the time. I'm not going to name a specific one, but I'm more confident about this source than I was about my Sasha doing pairs rumor, and even that seems to be true

I also have a source that I trust and respect and according to it, Kostner and Carroll simply were not a good match.

I'll try finding out more. If it's true that she has work ethic issues, those would be apparent under Huth as well (or does he not require his skaters to do full-runthroughs: looking at their competetive form, it wouldn't be that surprising ).

TAT has pointed out that her speed is one of the problems with her jumps--she does not slow down for the preparation and rushes it, losing control.

Yes, that's what the Polish commentator says as well.

[loulou]

I'd like to see Kostner work with an actual sport psychologist and not just Papa Huth.

And I think she worked with an actual sport psychologist the whole past season, from the very beginning of it.

He was interviewed more than once. I don't recall exact sources. But I remember people made comments about the money he was taking. He said he wasn't paid that much on basic contract, but he would get consistent bonuses if the girl would do well in competition.
Of course, in the end, everything goes down to whatever he/people consider "not that much" and "cosistent".

Her problem has been 3-fold:

3. she is a headcase except at the occasional Euros where she has very little competition. The fact that she also telegraphs allows plenty of negative thoughts to creep in while she glides forward/ backward on two feet.

Thank you! - That was a funny line.

Has she grown much (physically) in the past six years?

I think she did.
I saw the first noticeble change following the 2006 olympic season, and a second one about two years later. I haven't checked back though, that's just what I remember from my impressions.

[orbitz]

TAT has pointed out that her speed is one of the problems with her jumps--she does not slow down for the preparation and rushes it, losing control.

But hasn't she been approaching the jumps the same way since she began doing them? Why would the speed suddenly give her issues ?

[IceAlisa]

But hasn't she been approaching the jumps the same way since she began doing them? Why would the speed suddenly give her issues ?

Sometimes she is able to keep control over the jump but sometimes she is not. Her chances go down as her speed increases. Her approach was problematic from the beginning.

[Sparks]

I really do not agree with comments like she should become a speed skater. Speed is not the only great thing about her skating and some posters don't seem to be able to appreciate the gorgeous and effortless way she is able to attain that speed. It's defininely not the same kind of skating as speed skating She also does some of the most complex and easy looking footwork out there. It takes years of practicing with your basics. But I guess when your primary focus on skating is, say, how much extension a skater can achieve during a spiral you probably will never appreciate her skating

My problems with Kostner's skating go way beyond her spirals.

[Wiery]

I'm glad she's staying in, but hate that she's returning to Huth...

[ioana]

But hasn't she been approaching the jumps the same way since she began doing them? Why would the speed suddenly give her issues ?

Like IceAlisa already mentioned, she always seemed to have issues with her jump entrances. When she first started competing as a senior, people talked about her great speed and potential and any mistakes were put down to 'gaining experience.' She seemed to get better for the first few years she competed, so the speed on jump entrances was never brought up. Until she started unraveling and popping jumps left and right.

I do think theoretically she should be able to do the jumps at her normal speed (that is, twice as fast as woman skates into a jump), but it makes sense that the faster you go, the less time you have to adjust a problematic take off. I only do singles and one double jump on my good days, but most jump take offs have a certain rhythm. For example, you hold the edge before the three turn for a certain count and the edge after the turn for another count. The faster you skate, the more chances you have to start pre-rotating or getting out of alignment before you even jump. Once you add in nerves to that mix, you could see why she has issues with her jumps once she gets tight.

[pinky166]

Why is she going back to Papa Huth? She skated so well at Worlds! I thought she and Fassi were a good team! Most of Huth's skaters are very inconsistent.

[aaron]

Why is she going back to Papa Huth? She skated so well at Worlds! I thought she and Fassi were a good team! Most of Huth's skaters are very inconsistent.

Agree. ...Oh, Thomas

[siouxdonym]

Ban Huth

[Fallcolor]

I think she and Fassi would have been a good match. Worlds 2010 LP was the first time in a LONG time i've seen that killer drive from her! She fought so hard for everything.