Finnish skating news 2017/18

[nimi]

Viveca withdrew from Finlandia Trophy before the FS because of a knee problem. I hope it's nothing serious... She's still currently leading in The Race For The Oly Spot because Emmi scored lower (152.23, TES 23.37+47.80) than Viveca did in Nebelhorn (154.10, TES 30.35+51.28).

My local newspaper had an article/interview about Emmi's Finlandia performance today. It mentions that not only her dad Ville but also her grandpa Esa Peltonen went to Olys (ice hockey) so if she makes it to Korea, she'd be a 3rd generation Olympian. Her coach Sirkka Kaipio also says Emmi's travelling to California in late Oct to train with Rafi for a month or so, and that while in Cali she'll have unlimited ice time whereas in Finland it's unfortunately only an hour or max two per day...

Emmi's FT programs: SP & FP

Oh btw, yesterday was the first time I've seen Emmi skate live and wow that 3T3T is even more impressive live. The way she accelerates heading to the take off and the height she gets... It's almost scary!

 

[SmallFairy]

Great for Emmi to get those good training conditions in California! Go go go go! Emmi!!!

 

[nimi]

Great for Emmi to get those good training conditions in California! Go go go go! Emmi!!!

Yeah, her skating is sooooo beautiful (esp. in comparison with proficient but forgettable skaters like the two Chois that were in the same FS group) so I really, really hope her time with Rafi will help her with her consistency issues...
Because watching all those spin mistakes and those pops (and that random splat) in Finlandia was a bit...

 

[nimi]

I was also very impressed with Sofia Sula at JGP Zagreb this weekend. She finished 7th in both segments of the competition, scoring a very respectable 96 points in the LP. She landed good loop, flip, and lutz, the jumps are high. PCS is good too, not incredible, but definitely above average for a 14 year old. She also attacked the program well, which isn't always the case with the Finnish junior girls. I'm looking forward to seeing her develop!

Sofia just got another chance to skate in JGP when Viveca withdrew from JGP Italy: http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat03108216.htm

 

[nimi]

So... The new pair Efimenko/Penasse debuted their SP in Nice and it was nice (sorry, bad puns are hard to resist!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRqzopnFZXg

They got the SP TES mins for Euros and Worlds but withdrew before FS because Matthew's pre-existing neck injury started bothering him too much.

https://www.stll.fi/2017/10/15/pari...t-keskeyttamaan-nizzassa-ennen-vapaaohjelmaa/

ETA: The protocol is here.

 

[nimi]

The results page of the Nats is here: http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1718/YLPLJTSM2018/index.htm

STLL's write-up of yesterday's SP/SD event (in Finnish) is here: https://www.stll.fi/2017/12/16/sm-kisojen-lyhytohjelmien-tulokset-ja-tunnelmat/

Emmi (61.25) is the leader after SP but Viveca (59.89) is a close 2nd with a higher TES (relevant for the Oly selection criteria, IIRC).

In men, Bela Papp (56.45) is the 1st after SP, Valtter is right behind (55.79).

Sofia Sula (53.79) is the leader in jr girls, the free skate will start in an hour or so.

No surprises in the dance standings so far.

Efimenko/Penasse didn't show up so no pairs event.

 

[Kelvster]

Dr V retained his title wheee

 

[barbarafan]

The results page of the Nats is here: http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1718/YLPLJTSM2018/index.htm

STLL's write-up of yesterday's SP/SD event (in Finnish) is here: https://www.stll.fi/2017/12/16/sm-kisojen-lyhytohjelmien-tulokset-ja-tunnelmat/

Emmi (61.25) is the leader after SP but Viveca (59.89) is a close 2nd with a higher TES (relevant for the Oly selection criteria, IIRC).

In men, Bela Papp (56.45) is the 1st after SP, Valtter is right behind (55.79).

Sofia Sula (53.79) is the leader in jr girls, the free skate will start in an hour or so.

No surprises in the dance standings so far.

Efimenko/Penasse didn't show up so no pairs event.

is Penasse still injured?

 

[Sylvia]

STLL's write-up of yesterday's SP/SD event (in Finnish) is here: https://www.stll.fi/2017/12/16/sm-kisojen-lyhytohjelmien-tulokset-ja-tunnelmat/

Thanks, @nimi. Here's today's FS/FD recap: https://www.stll.fi/2017/12/17/sm-kilpailun-vapaaohjelmien-tuloksia-ja-tunnelmia/

Emmi (61.25) is the leader after SP but Viveca (59.89) is a close 2nd with a higher TES (relevant for the Oly selection criteria, IIRC).

The 2018 Ladies' national medalists:
1 Emmi PELTONEN EVT 164.11 1 1
2 Viveca LINDFORS ESJT 159.89 2 2
3 Jenni SAARINEN KOOVE 124.35 4 3

Top 2 FS scores:
1 Emmi PELTONEN EVT 102.86 48.42 55.44 7.10 6.45 6.80 7.20 7.10 1.00 #10
2 Viveca LINDFORS ESJT 100.00 50.60 50.40 6.55 5.95 6.30 6.45 6.25 1.00 #9

In the FS, Peltonen again had a lower TES but much higher -- does this mean she is behind Lindfors in the Olympic race?

According to the Olympic selection criteria document (link: https://www.stll.fi/luistelijalle/kilpailijalle/arvokilpailujen-valintakriteerit/yksinluistelu/ ):

The Figure Skating Association makes a presentation of a selective athlete to the Olympic Committee. The final athlete selection is made by the Olympic Committee.

The presentation to the Olympic Committee will take place after the EM 2018 competition on 21 January 2018.

ETA:

Benjam Papp won his second consecutive Junior men's title (coming back from 3rd in SP), and older brother Bela ended up with the silver behind Valter Virtanen who won his 5th career Senior title.

Cecilia TÖRN / Jussiville PARTANEN won the Dance event (150.94) but the FD gap was less than 2 points between them -- 89.19 to 87.65 -- and Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS (142.58).

Sofia Sula held on to win the Junior ladies' title (139.93) over Vera Stolt (135.82) who won the FS; Laura Karhunen got the bronze (126.73).

 

[Sylvia]

From this Finnish article on Peltonen and Lindfors: https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000005493821.html

"Olympiapaikka ratkeaa tammikuussa käytävissä EM-kilpailuissa, joissa molemmat suomalaiset ovat mukana. Moskovassa paremmin sijoittunut luistelee olympialaisissa."
The Olympics will be solved in the European Championships in January, where both Finns are involved. A better positioned in Moscow skates in the Olympics.

ETA that I've since been corrected on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ritti9/status/942473263917207552

The original article has a mistake though: whichever lady has the best SB score after Europeans will be suggested for Olys; the NOC will then make the final selection/decision. So, it's not automatically the one finishing higher in Moscow.

Finnish federation's SB scores ranking list (dance, pairs, singles) updated after Nationals: https://www.stll.fi/luistelijalle/kilpailijalle/seasonbest/season-best-yksinluistelu/

 

[Finnice]

The Finnish judges very obviously prefer Peltonen to Lindfors. Both were not at their best today. It will be interesting to see what happens in Moscow and how the international judges will rank them.

 

[Elka]

The Finnish judges very obviously prefer Peltonen to Lindfors. Both were not at their best today. It will be interesting to see what happens in Moscow and how the international judges will rank them.

I think the judging was fair. Peltonen deserved better component scores. But I am sure, that there are persons on this board, who are thrilled, that there is a Finnish lady pushing the usual technical (jumping) content by doing a 3Lz/3t combination (touch down with the hand this time), though not in the SP but in the FP.
Emmi looked really good in the SP. Never seen her such sharp (not that I have been watching her a lot, but anyhow).

 

[Sylvia]

Team Finland for 2018 Europeans and The Nordics: https://www.stll.fi/2017/12/18/em-ja-pm-kisojen-joukkueet-nimetty/

Europeans:
Cecilia Törn – Jussiville Partanen
Emmi Peltonen, Viveca Lindfors
Valtter Virtanen

The Nordics (Feb. 1-4 in Rovaniemellä, Finland):

SENIOR:
Emmi Peltonen
Viveca Lindfors
Jenni Saarinen

Valtter Virtanen
Bela Papp
Roman Galay

JUNIOR:
Sofia Sula
Vera Stolt
Laura Karhunen
Enja Ruokonen

Benjam Papp
Lauri Lankila
Mikla Case
Lucas Tiilikainen

NOVICE:
Selma Välitalo
Mai Helske
Tilda Liukkonen
Minttu Heikkinen

Jan Ollikainen
Makar Suntsev

 

[Finnice]

I think the judging was fair. Peltonen deserved better component scores. But I am sure, that there are persons on this board, who are thrilled, that there is a Finnish lady pushing the usual technical (jumping) content by doing a 3Lz/3t combination (touch down with the hand this time), though not in the SP but in the FP.
Emmi looked really good in the SP. Never seen her such sharp (not that I have been watching her a lot, but anyhow).

I agree with the judges also. I just see the very slight preferance. But it is hard with two so differently talented skaters.
@Elka your thougts of the ice dance?

 

[Kelvster]

Why does Lindfors keep skating to this princessy music ....

Peltonen really is so sophisticated ... she just oozes class and makes a lot of the Euro ladiezzzz even more trashy by comparison ! But some of the harder jumps (flip, lutz) are kind of non-existent (though I think she landed a 3lutz this season)! Hope she can have a successful career with Lepisto's jump content ...

 

[Elka]

@Elka your thougts of the ice dance?

I am sure they have fun training together (and it looks like they are getting funding from the FFSA for it). There will be more kids for cute and heart touching group exhibition numbers at nationals before victory ceremonies.

 

[maija]

About ice dance: I enjoyed watching all the couples free dances. Monica Lindfors and Juho Pirinen surprised at least me. They have learned so much in a year!

 

[Elka]

I absolutely enjoyed watching all the ice dancers, including the cute kids in the group number. I had not seen Lindfors/Pirinen so I could not compare with any earlier performances, but they looked like they will be catching up fast.

 

[Hanna]

Apparently Anni Järvenpää is back to training with plans to return to competition after about two years away.

 

[Bellanca]

Apparently Anni Järvenpää is back to training with plans to return to competition after about two years away.

Ah, that's great! Wishing Anni much success.

 

[nimi]

Apparently Emmi just won some competition in Abu Dhabi(!)

STLL article (in Finnish): https://www.stll.fi/2018/01/07/emmi-peltonen-ykkoseksi-abu-dhabissa/

Protocols: http://uaeisf.com/results/2018/

 

[nimi]

Team Finland for 2018 Europeans and The Nordics: https://www.stll.fi/2017/12/18/em-ja-pm-kisojen-joukkueet-nimetty/

Europeans:
Cecilia Törn – Jussiville Partanen
Emmi Peltonen, Viveca Lindfors
Valtter Virtanen

A new(wish) article with soundbites from the team members: https://www.stll.fi/2018/01/10/suomen-taitoluistelujoukkue-valmis-em-jaalle/

The TL;DR version:
- Emmi & Viveca just want to skate good programs and not get distracted by the whole Oly selection business (currently Emmi is leading with 164.11 points, Viveca's SB is 159.89)
- Cessiville hope to make it to top15 even though they know that's a tall order, considering the level of competition
- For Dr. Virtanen, it'll be the 7th time he's competing in Euros. He's feeling good about his condition & training

 

[Jeschke]

- Emmi & Viveca just want to skate good programs and not get distracted by the whole Oly selection business (currently Emmi is leading with 164.11 points, Viveca's SB is 159.89)

What's the criteria here?
SB after Euros (kinda weird criteria that would be comparing different competitions ) or best finisher at Euros?

 

[nimi]

What's the criteria here?
SB after Euros (kinda weird criteria that would be comparing different competitions ) or best finisher at Euros?

This tweet (quoted above in @Sylvia's post #40) explains it.

Basically: whoever has the highest SB after Euros goes to Olys, but the NOC has the final say.

 

[Jeschke]

This tweet (quoted above in @Sylvia's post #40) explains it.

Basically: whoever has the highest SB after Euros goes to Olys, but the NOC has the final say.

Thanks!
Sorry I was too lazy to re-read

 

[nimi]

Emmi's SP (#11, 52.68) - YT
Viveca's SP (#14, 51.62) - YT
SP protocol

Haven't found Valtter's (#24, 60.23) SP vid yet... But here's the protocol.

 

[Cant Skate]

is Penasse still injured?

I cant comment on Penasse's injury but I did notice today that Liubov is on ice partner search and Matthew's instagram bio lists himself as "former" pairs skater

http://icepartnersearch.com/showbio.php?i=6121

 

[nimi]

I cant comment on Penasse's injury but I did notice today that Liubov is on ice partner search and Matthew's instagram bio lists himself as "former" pairs skater

Damn.

 

[Hanna]

I cant comment on Penasse's injury but I did notice today that Liubov is on ice partner search and Matthew's instagram bio lists himself as "former" pairs skater

http://icepartnersearch.com/showbio.php?i=6121

That's a shame. Hopefully Liubov can find a good partner who's in it for the long term.

 

[nimi]

ICYMI: Valtter skated his FS (vid) better than his SP and he ended up 19th, which is the best he's done in a major comp so far. He says he intends to keep competing... and now that he has included the quad in his repertoire (although it was 2footed and downgraded in the FS) he's going to resume his battle with the 3A. Yep, at the age of 30. Respect!

- Cessiville hope to make it to top15 even though they know that's a tall order, considering the level of competition

Cessiville are 16th after the short, so top15 is possible IF (and that's a big if) they hit their levels in the FD. In their SD (vid) they got level4 for the rhumba and lift but both stsqs were level2 and twizzles 3 (protocol).

ETA: ...and they did indeed place 15th!