Grand Prix De France 2023 - Ladies SP “Don’t Rain on my Blah Skate”

[Private Citizen]

Sumiyoshi: blood in the water early on that axel. I want to see the other two jumps on replay. Spins underwhelming but I kinda dig the program. Could eventually be good.

 

[Rukia]

I saw the vids of her landing quads in practice, but I'm not overly impressed by her skating tbh.

 

[skatingguy]

Sumyoshi, Rion
Coach: Koji Okajima, Noriko Sato
Music: Blood in the Water by KSHMR

2Aq - fall
3F+3T
Ch Combo Spin 4
3Lz
Layback Spin 2
Step Sequence 3
Fly Camel Spin 3

Rough way to start the program, but everything else was well done.

61.72 = 1st Place

 

[tony]

Why. would. we. want. zoom. ins. on. their. upper. bodies. during. jump. replays?

 

[BlueRidge]

I'm trying to pretend I'm working here. I liked that from Rion.

 

[4rkidz]

Oh I liked Rion, such a shame about that double axel. Hope it doesn’t bury her too much.

 

[Rukia]

Why. do. we. want. zoom. ins. on. their. upper. bodies. during. jump. replays?

they're tired of hearing us complain about their rotations

 

[skatingguy]

Serna, Lea
Coach: Michael Huth, Robert Dierking
Music: I am Fire by J2, Eivor

 

[rfisher]

skating skills significantly higher than what we've seen already...way to slam Mazzara Mark since she's the only skater we've already seen.

 

[tony]

they're tired of hearing us complain about their rotations

If you're going to call me out, just say it directly!

 

[Rukia]

If you're going to call me out, just say it directly!

lol I'm also guilty of this IT'S FINE

 

[airgelaal]

I'm trying to pretend I'm working here.

I feel your pain

 

[tony]

Serna is the most well-rounded French woman by far, and she skated really well in Budapest. 3Lz+2T plan, eh.

I think Joubert was with her at the Masters earlier in the season, so the Huth change must be very recent? Or maybe I'm misremembering.

 

[JoannaLouise]

I really enjoyed that from Lea! Her presentation has often looked a bit awkward, but she seemed a lot more natural here - like she was really feeling the music, instead of just following the step-by-step moves that someone else laid out for her.

 

[ChelleC]

I enjoyed Serna.

 

[skatingguy]

Serna, Lea
Coach: Michael Huth, Robert Dierking
Music: I am Fire by J2, Eivor

2A
3Lz+2T
Fly Camel Spin 4
3F! - hung on - really close to the boards
Ch Combo Spin 3
Step Sequence 3
Layback Spin 3

The jumps were very French. The Lutz rotation was too open to get a triple-triple, and the flip went way into the corner & she nearly ran out of room.

58.75 = 2nd Place

 

[PRlady]

Is this the skater that used to be with Brian? With the icy K&Cs?

 

[Private Citizen]

Serna not really fire but getting it done. Lutz looked flutzy to me; not sure about the flip rotation. Fascinating to watch the judges switch back and forth between writing paper notes and their tablets.

 

[ChelleC]

Go Wakaba!!!!

 

[skatingguy]

Higuchi, Wakaba
Coach: Koji Okajima
Music: Never Tear Us Apart by Bishop Briggs, Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence

 

[JoannaLouise]

Is this the skater that used to be with Brian? With the icy K&Cs?

Yup; it sounds like the coaching change is relatively recent.

 

[Colonel Green]

Go Wakaba!

 

[miffy]

Yup; it sounds like the coaching change is relatively recent.

Aww poor Brian, everyone leaves him

Does no one want to live in Poitiers for their whole career?

 

[Rukia]

I love the camera shots from 10 miles above the ice or whatever brilliant plan

 

[airgelaal]

2F

 

[tony]

The flip is a MAJOR outside edge and won't get any points anyways, but why she doesn't just do the beauty of a loop she has is beyond me.

This program is kinda just there. She's capable of much better and has already shown such.

 

[skatingguy]

Higuchi, Wakaba
Coach: Koji Okajima
Music: Never Tear Us Apart by Bishop Briggs, Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence

2A
3Lz+3T<
Fly Camel Spin 4
Ch Combo Spin 4
2F* - invalid element
Step Sequence 4
Layback Spin 4

Great to have Wakaba back. Too bad about the flip.

60.29 = 2nd Place

 

[Private Citizen]

Higuchi - just an unbelievable step up in basic skating quality. Double axel deserved a +3. Not sure about the rotation about either jump in the combo. Double flip (e) (0 points) will hurt but bonus points for the cantilever leading into it. I liked an illusion ending to a spin, for once. Not sure about ending the program with a relatively weak layback.

 

[PRlady]

Damn that flip. She looked really good.

 

[BlueRidge]

so glad to see Wakaba again, and all that attack! She'll get it.