Skating 'queen' Kim set to return (Threads merged)

[McIce]

Quite a few actually. Not only Liza and Adelina. Julia Lipnitskaia, Gracie Gold, Kostner has 3F-3T, didn't Osmond have it too?

I'm not even talking about if they have any edge calls on any of their jumps (Obviously Gracie Gold got edge calls on 3F at both GPs). Let's just talk about if they have edge calls on their triple triple combination (excluding 3t-3t).

Besides Gracie and Liza, who else has reliable and regularly-used 3-3 (other than 3t-3t)?

[peibeck]

For NRW Yu-Na is not going to need a 3/3 anyway so long as her spin and step levels are good. This comp is about her getting the TES requirements for Worlds.

[naan]

I think Yuna has one of the best 3-3s - huge(height, distance), great speed, powerful, effortless, consistent and beautiful! I have never seen that gorgeous 3F-3T and 3Lz-3T in ladies.
She is a great skater with combination of artistry and athleticism. I'm so glad and excited about her comeback!

[Vash01]

Quite a few actually. Not only Liza and Adelina. Julia Lipnitskaia, Gracie Gold, Kostner has 3F-3T, didn't Osmond have it too?

Kostner did not even compete in the GP this year, and last year she did not have a 3f-3t (it's been a long time since she landed one) or a 3Lz. You are obviously thinking of several years back. Julia and Gracie both had edge calls, and Julia's jumps are quite small compared to Yu na's (and I am not even a Yu na uber).

At Worlds 2011 Yu-na did not do a 3/3 in the short program. She had one ur at Worlds 2010 and at worlds 2009 she had an edge call in the short as well as in the long and also a ur in the long.

Every skater is going to have a ur or an edge call occasionally. Yu na is no exception. Most of the time though her jumps are fully rotated and edge calls are rare for her.

[Coco]

Her speed & control were so amazing to watch. Never found her to be super artistic (ducking for cover) but her presentation was plenty good enough.

We'll see what shape she's in, kinda hilarious that she'll be upstaging the GPF. Wonder what the ladies there will have to say about that.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I do think Yuna is one of the most technically proficient skaters ever. I'm happy to see her come back just to raise the standard and push the other ladies.

That said, I have never liked any of Yuna's actual choreography nor her interpretation. She's sort of blank, but like Coco said, her presentation is pleasant enough.

So I guess you can say, I'm happy to see her comeback, but she doesn't raise enough passion in me to get excited about it.

[riveredge]

Well, she said before leaving to Dortmund that she's about 80% level in Vancouver. I'm excited to see her skate again.Good luck yuna!

[4rkidz]

who is coaching her now? I wish her good luck as well, will certainly add to the drama for the women's skating and nice timing for Sochi.. hope this means we might see her at worlds?

[Sylvia]

who is coaching her now?

She has returned to 2 of her Korean coaches from the past: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...5-Yuna-s-coach

[4rkidz]

thanks Sylvia Les Miz is very timely with the movie coming out at Christmas..

[riveredge]

credit c/o ynkf

yonhap news

Free of stress, figure skater Kim Yu-na believes hard work will pay off
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...06200315F.HTML

[Shaia]

A new German article about NRW Trophy that starts today:
http://www.derwesten.de/sport/lokals...id7359078.html


[English Translation - courtesy of Eclair from yunaforum.com]
-----
The figure skating world is looking at Dortmund

When world stars attend B-rate competitions, dearly treasured normality goes derail. This is experienced by the management of the NRW-Trophy in Dortmund, which until now was characterized by being a regional figure skating event with only a reasonable fan-block.

But this belongs to the past. From today to sunday, a young lady from Korea turns everything upside down. Kim Yu-Na, 2010 Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, holds court in Dortmund. And one might almost say that the whole figure skating world is watching Dortmund. Film crews from Korea, Japan and the USA are coming, requests are overwhelming. Everyone wants a TV-signal for live TV-coverage. Within a few hours all tickets were sold out. Fan groups from Korea and Japan are flying to Westfalen to experience Kim Yu-Na live. Too bad, that all the Asians seemed to think, that the competition will be held in the big ice rink. Wrong: The competition will be held next-door, in the figure skating centrum (I don't know the english name for the rink), which will only provide enough space for a handful of audience. "We can't offer more than 200 seats.", organizer Frieder Dieck had to admit.

The limited space is one problem, another the technical requirements for TV broadcasts. "I can barely sleep, when I'm merely thinking about it. This is a whole new league", Uwe Kisker admitted. To meet the requirements he will have to greatly improvise. The TV man probably will be dealing with the biggest challenge of his life.

The media hype around the mulit-millionaire Kim Yu-Na is huge. The Olypmic champion, who, despite of her many fans and worshippers at home, seems to be known as being down-to-eath and easy to care of, is going to come with an escort of 9 persons. "As for extra-wishes, her management only asked for additional ice-time and a seperate shuttle.", said Ulrike Swillims from the figure skating centrum Dortmund. The hotel, in which she's going to reside, remains even after repeated demands, a secret.

What else is happening in Dortmund? A lot of stars. From 38 nations, 223 sportswomen and sportsmen are going to come. Among them are exotic figure skating nations as Puerto Rico, the Philippines or Thailand. Though 7-time European champion Jewgeni Plusheko has cancelled his entry, the dream-duo of figure skating is coming to Dortmund instead. The world champions Aljona Savchnko/Robin Szolkowy are starting on Saturday.
"Can we come?", their coach Ingo Steuer asked Frieder Dieck. "Of course you can", was the answer. Not completely voluntarily. After all the pair from Chemnitz missed the qualification for the simultaneously planned Grand Prix Final in Sochi due to illness.

From German perspective, attention is also focused on Isabel Drescher and Nicole Schott. Nico Ulanowsky, last years German junior champion, drops out due to an injury. It's too bad that at least Saturday and Sunday are completely sold out. For Friday there still seems to be some tickets. And everyone in Germany, who is hoping for a live TV broadcast, will also be disappointed. ARD and ZDF didn't express broadcasting interests, neither did Eurosport.

Article from Peter Kehl

[End Translation]

Yuna arrives today, and is physically in very good shape - about 80~90% of her Vancounver condition according to her interview. All signs are indicating that the Queen is really back.



'

[Japanfan]

Artistically only Mao and Carolina can compete with her, but neither is a strong jumper at this point. Yu na is certainly beatable, but her presence alone will make other skaters try to raise their level of skating.

Also, I don't think she will attempt a comeback if she did not believe that she could win. I don't think she is coming back to win silver or bronze.

I appreciated, rather than adored, Yunah. She just never had that 'wow' or 'magic' factor me. But truth is if she got back in form, she could probably win Worlds this year. The ladies field is a bit lacking at the moment. Which reminds me - where is Kostner this season? Injured?

[jiggs]

Which reminds me - where is Kostner this season? Injured?

She skipped the Grand Prix because she wanted to take a longer rest and is scheduled to compete at Golden Spin Trophy in 2 weeks.

[kwanfan1818]

If Kim is 80% of what she was in Vancouver, then she'd be looking at TES of around 35 in SP and 62 in the FS, which is well over the 28/48 she'd need for the World TES minimums. That's a little bit more than the 32.97 TES in the SP and 61.72 TES in FS she scored at 2011 Worlds. There, she did 3Lz, 3F/2T, and 2A, plus L3 steps and L4 spins in the SP, and the base for that program is 28.5, which shows how high the TES minimum actually is. (The minimum for 4C's/Euros is 20, and the base value for the easiest jumps to fulfill the requirements -- 3T/2T, 2A, 3S -- plus 3-L1 spins and L1 FW is 20.2.) In the FS, she singled the T in the 3S combo and singled the flip, but she did not get a single -GOE on any element.

[misskarne]

"additional ice time and a seperate shuttle".

Wow. Isn't there a thread in the Trash Can about "entitled" skaters? Maybe this belongs there.

And as suspected, the Yunabots got all the tickets, and real skating fans who want to see other skaters have missed out.

[alilou]

"additional ice time and a seperate shuttle".

Wow. Isn't there a thread in the Trash Can about "entitled" skaters? Maybe this belongs there.

And as suspected, the Yunabots got all the tickets, and real skating fans who want to see other skaters have missed out.

And you know this how?

[os168]

"additional ice time and a seperate shuttle".

Wow. Isn't there a thread in the Trash Can about "entitled" skaters? Maybe this belongs there.

And as suspected, the Yunabots got all the tickets, and real skating fans who want to see other skaters have missed out.

Actually this comment definitely belong there, also known as the "entitled" trolls thread.

[lowtherlore]

"additional ice time and a seperate shuttle".

Wow. Isn't there a thread in the Trash Can about "entitled" skaters? Maybe this belongs there.

And as suspected, the Yunabots got all the tickets, and real skating fans who want to see other skaters have missed out.

I think you’re mistaken. She's RENTING additional ice time at a nearby practice rink. And it’s reasonable for her to arrange for a shuttle van since she has some company (a group of nine including her coaches). I assume she’s paying for that too.

Your comment on Yu-Na fans is quite rude. Are you saying the fans, who go distance to see her from Korea, other parts of Europe, and Japan, are not real fans? Every fan has his/her favorites, and all fans want to see exceptional athletes live. They had no better chance than others when it comes to getting the seats.

I can’t wait to see Yu-Na's new programs -- the routine, the music cut, the costume, everything! It’s great the event organizers are making extra efforts to provide good TV coverage.

[jatale]

For me, Yuna is the most brilliant female skater since Michelle Kwan. Period. BUT, everybody has their own favorites, just like we all have our own favorite singers, etc. Nevertheless, regardless of how some skating fans feel about her, her return to skating will bring much needed attention to ladies figure skating, and that IS a good thing.