Chinese skating news & social media updates pt. 5, 2023 onwards

[Karen-W]

Have you seen their free skate? It was ROUGH. Not just with the struggle on the elements the skating wasn't smooth either. The scoring is a complete joke.

Well she can't have lol

Just trying to lighten the mood

No, not yet. I haven't seen a link for it yet and I've been getting ready to head to work (it's just 7:40am here on the West Coast, lol). I'll have to watch it tonight after I get home from work (and after I watch the Quebec Summer Champs stream, lol).

Even if it is rough, I'm considering the entire field they'll be competing against at GP Espoo - they might very well also lose to McIntosh/Mimar, but I've seen Les Kovs implode before and they aren't that smooth themselves.

 

[On My Own]

【23-24】好的开始！彭程/王磊｜冠军 (122.53) 2023花样滑冰俱乐部联赛呼伦贝尔站 成年组双人自由滑_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

https://weibo.com/l/wblive/p/show/1022:2321324933285687197892, 视频播放量 18189、弹幕量 80、点赞数 381、投硬币枚数 3、收藏人数 43、转发人数 35, 视频作者 薄荷山茶hydrangea, 作者简介 id和薄荷茶没关系～，相关视频：少女们闪闪发光的的14岁 - Young and Beautiful【花样滑冰｜女单混剪】，【花样滑冰混剪｜女单群像】奔向北京的路或许坎坷 但她们一往无前 k宝｜莎莎｜千金｜飞天｜花织｜ET 冬奥，【Ice Age Kids的孩子们】表演极具张力的小女单Maria Rebrova...

www.bilibili.com

Definitely rough, but have to say, love this artistic side to Peng. I always thought Peng/Jin were underrated next to Sui/Han, and maybe that was perfectly correct, but I hope she can shine now. Wang doesn't do anything for me yet though, even if pleasant. But a sluggish outing, and have to agree they should have lost to this:

【23-24】张嘉轩/黄一航尝试捻转四周获得亚军 (117.33) 2023花样滑冰俱乐部联赛呼伦贝尔站 成年组双人自由滑_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

https://weibo.com/l/wblive/p/show/1022:2321324933285687197892, 视频播放量 9281、弹幕量 30、点赞数 73、投硬币枚数 1、收藏人数 17、转发人数 9, 视频作者 薄荷山茶hydrangea, 作者简介 id和薄荷茶没关系～，相关视频：【郭蕊/张益文】郭张一些非常Huuuuuge的抛跳纯享，花样滑冰#...

www.bilibili.com

I think CFSA is being realistic, though, since Zhang/Huang won't be competing till 2025-26. Might as well pretend Peng/Wang were the best, because who really watches Chinese local grand prix? And cross your fingers their PCS will be scored appropriately as China's number one Pair on the international stage.

ETA: If China chooses to use all of its CoC Pairs spots, then the TBDs will be Peng/Wang, Zhang/Yang, and Wang Yuchen/Zhu Lei, based off the standings (ignoring Zhang/Huang and who're STILL alive and kicking).

ETA2: Does anyone know what happened to Yang/Deng? https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1E44y1c7y9/ Maybe the SBS triples will never happen, but I was hoping for at least one throw triple by now.

Also, Zhang Tianci is totally still there, here he is in the background of their SP: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1zh4y1D7dx/

 

[raruki]

Seeing how a giant baby Huang was in Kiss & Cry yesterday(and he is famous for badmouthing his previous partner by calling her incompetent and fat), I enjoyed that they scored second regardless of how difficult their contents were. ?
Feel bad for Zhang though, she didn't make any mistakes yesterday and kept her flow and speed all the time, but at the end of the day she needed to take care of this giant fat baby. ?
Crossed my fingers for Zhang to kick out Huang and find a decent partner after getting a medal in NWG.

Sina Visitor System

 

[On My Own]

but at the end of the day she needed to take care of this giant fat baby. ?

Just because he called his previous partner fat doesn't mean you need to stoop to his level.

And no, his problems don't extend to her, and even beyond that it's still biased scoring.

 

[otisgear]

Seeing how a giant baby Huang was in Kiss & Cry yesterday(and he is famous for badmouthing his previous partner by calling her incompetent and fat), I enjoyed that they scored second regardless of how difficult their contents were. ?
Feel bad for Zhang though, she didn't make any mistakes yesterday and kept her flow and speed all the time, but at the end of the day she needed to take care of this giant fat baby. ?
Crossed my fingers for Zhang to kick out Huang and find a decent partner after getting a medal in NWG.

Sina Visitor System

Lol I don't like Huang either but having that skate lose by 12 points in PCS to Peng/Wang's double extravaganza with a bombed lift is just ridiculous…

 

[On My Own]

Going by the men's results, the CoC host spots are going to be David and Zhang He apart from Jin. Pity about Peng, but this was the qualifier, and he did lose it. Very sluggish and phoned-in from David, with an aborted spin. Also, where's his Flip? Hopefully the stamina issues will be better when the season rolls by properly for all of them.

 

[Gris]

Peng / Wang's FS protocol says "3Tw2" when it's obvious they only did a 2Tw. I mean...

Yihang Huang is a typical example of too big an ego, but too little competence.

 

[On My Own]

Yihang Huang is a typical example of too big an ego, but too little competence.

He and Zhang did very well here, apart from the SBS.

That 4Tw was absolutely huge, and couldn't have happened without him. That TP "error" probably cost them the gold.

 

[On My Own]

Well, the women's free skates have started appearing on my bilibili notifications, and Beverly only scored 98 points for the LP. I'm guessing China will give up two of its Women's CoC spots (and honestly might give up on the third Men's and Pairs' spots).

I don't really get why they made the CoC qualifier the 5th stop, but I guess for China this season, NWG is more important.

Also, haha, seems like Yudong was watching? His comments are on the i花滑 weibo post. (ETA: And is still in the US!)

 

[On My Own]

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Y44y1c7yT/ Zhang Mengqi has some nice qualities to her arms and upper body movement, but think it's a bit too lacking in overall quality as of now.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV14j41167Qk/ Have to say this 11 point gap over Zhang Mengqi is another gift to An. And the ChSq and steps are pretty much what an Eteri girl would do. Spins choreographed better than the SP, but the layback now lacks a good exit... Still loses her centre too much on the "other direction" feature of the combo spin, and takes too much time to get into the sit spin after the change. One of those things that's difficult, but not done well, so it cancels out.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1D44y1c7Up/ And Tong Ruichen heads into the JGP having handily beaten China's number one. (An is in fact third behind both her and Jin Shuxian) I am grateful she did a held out inside ina bauer. Don't like the program, but more musical relevance than the other two in the top 3, for me. But the jumps are such a jarring spot to her skating, she needs to work on them there. Basic skating could be less laboured, too.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1m14y1q79R/ Guessing Jin Shuxian has Korean heritage as well? Arirang. Or maybe just a Jin Yan'er fan. Her spins are my favorite of the event, especially that stunning catch-camel she hits in her combo spin, but clearly not there in terms of overall skating (but a talented up-and-comer). She in fact WON the LP... Not sure I agree, but anyway.

ETA: Hongyi was pleasant, to be frank more mature program than any of the top 3, but just don't think they're going to give her that spot because she's not competition ready by any means. Think they'll use only one host spot for women.

 

[Gris]

If CFSA is still going to keep the current host spots at CoC (3M, 3W, 3P, 2D), then the non-WS Top 50 spots should go to:

Dawei Dai, He Zhang; Xiangyi An, Hongyi Chen, Yi Zhu; Cheng Peng / Lei Wang, Siyang Zhang / Yongchao Yang, Yuchen Wang / Lei Zhu ETA: Xizi Chen / Jianing Xing

(Sorry, I forgot Dance)

 

[Karen-W]

If CFSA is still going to keep the current host spots at CoC (3M, 3W, 3P, 2D), then the non-WS Top 50 spots should go to:

Dawei Dai, He Zhang; Xiangyi An, Hongyi Chen, Yi Zhu; Cheng Peng / Lei Wang, Siyang Zhang / Yongchao Yang, Yuchen Wang / Lei Zhu

And the WS Top 50 go to - Boyang Jin; Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu.

Do we think they'll stick with this being the sole deciding factor in allocating those spots? Or that they'll actually use all of those spots? The only 3 that I could rationalize assigning immediately are An, Zhang/Yang and Chen/Xing since they all at least managed to earn the Worlds TES mins last season.

Personally, if I was the CFSA, I'd get the rest of those skaters/teams who didn't compete internationally last season to Nebelhorn or Finlandia to see how they do in front of an international panel before confirming them for CoC. I know Dai is slated for Asian Open next week, but those two pairs teams and the other singles skaters really need to show they're capable against an international panel in the next month or two.

 

[On My Own]

Do we think they'll stick with this being the sole deciding factor in allocating those spots? Or that they'll actually use all of those spots?

Beverly scored 98, and Hongyi scored 100 in the LP. Hongyi's protocols are a carrot fest.

It might be wise to let them go to a CS event, but I don't think I expect them to suddenly improve (although Beverly did do well at her previous stop, beating An in the LP there, in fact, so who can predict). Still, I think they should be sent anyway, just so they can have subs for Worlds, even apart from the CoC spot. Not to mention, 4CCs this season are in China, and they need mins for that too.

Zhang He, I wouldn't send at all. Here I would definitely recommend sending Zhiming out to a CS so we can see how he fares internationally, and if this wasn't a fluke. He has all those jumps, would be a waste to not at least try. But even without him, China is (probably) going to have three men with the mins for 4CC, depending on David at Asian Open (the other two being Jin and Chen Yudong), as well as subs for worlds, so they might not do this.

Peng/Wang should 100% go to a CS or two, because I would personally not like to see a team with only doubles occupying a spot, and they're going to need to show if they have competitive tech content, to me. IDK about Wang/Zhu. Why not, I guess.

ETA: Oh, but I think CFSA will be a cheapskate and just not spend money on any of this lol, and will instead drop spots, or just assign spots based off how it went down here.

 

[Gris]

Sending these skaters to a Challenger first makes sense, but CFSA doesn't send skaters to Challengers often. However this year there have been some positive changes (such as the clearly stated selection criteria for ISU Championships), so maybe things will change in this aspect too (hopefully!).

 

[On My Own]

Sending these skaters to a Challenger first makes sense, but CFSA doesn't send skaters to Challengers often.

I expect CS events, just not "strategically".

Peng/Jin, W/L, and JBY appeared at Finlandia in 2017-18. Basically nothing happened in 2018-19 because of all the chaos, but JBY appeared in Lombardia in 2019-20, W/L went to two events, and Peng/Jin appeared at CS US Classic (and apparently Yan was supposed to appear in Nebelhorn but withdrew). 2020-21 was COVID season. In 2021-22, Wang/Liu were slated to appear at ACI, before whatever it is that happened happened (everyone else was in China and appeared at Asian Open).

Sui/Han were sitting out most of these seasons apart from 2017-18 and 2019-20. The former was a misfire, but the latter was a "they definitely don't need it" case. It makes sense that CFSA only spends the money it needs to since the skating program is so small even now.

So I don't think it's so dire. Clearly, something hit them in 2017-18, and they started sending their top skaters to CS events. But I don't think it's going to be strategic as Karen suggests.

 

[Karen-W]

Sending these skaters to a Challenger first makes sense, but CFSA doesn't send skaters to Challengers often. However this year there have been some positive changes (such as the clearly stated selection criteria for ISU Championships), so maybe things will change in this aspect too (hopefully!).

I feel like there are definitely some good changes happening within the CFSA, to be fair. They have clearly stated criteria for the JGP assignments and the CoC host spots - though I think the CoC host spots could use some additional tweaking because while I know the host spots don't HAVE to meet the min total score, they really should. I know it's not easy getting skaters out internationally to meet the TES mins unless you've got a ton of $$ for trips to Europe either.

I'd forgotten there's Shanghai Trophy the first weekend of October. That would be an excellent test run for some of these question marks.

 

[On My Own]

I feel like there are definitely some good changes happening within the CFSA, to be fair.

They are clearly investing in their skating program, lol. Chinese skating fans want everything RIGHT. NOW. and believe "insider rumours" about how this guy did this and that woman did that, nobody gave their favorites anything and everyone needs to work the graveyard shifts at their local strip clubs or whatever, but I think anyone who can read this thread and the last few pages of the previous one can see there've been clear steps. It's not suddenly all going to happen in seconds.

 

[Samurina]

They are sending Jin Hengxin and Cheng Jiaying to AsianOp an Jin did very well at her latest cup stage

 

[otisgear]

Regarding the two internationally 'untested' pairs that qualified for COC host spots I'd love to see them get some kind of international outing before COC too. But Peng/Wang's got Espoo anyway and Cfed already has their heart set on making them their number one so...

As for Wang/Zhu I don't know what's going on but someone needs to get him some new skates. His boots were literally held together with tape and looked visibly on the edge of buckling which resulted in some really terrifying moments in the lift. Idk if they're struggling with funding, but they (and tbh most of the teams from both Zhang Tianci's camp and Heilongjiang camp) have also seemed really unprepared for the season and competition in general. Lots and lots of recycled programs and/or recycled costumes, turning up to competition in training gear because new costumes not ready etc... It's not a surprise to anyone who's been following but Luan Bo is the only pairs camp right now that seems well managed and properly staffed to get everyone to where they should be with new costumes new programs and everything and maintain decent consistency/improvement with their training. I'm quite looking forward to see her teams make their international debuts, perhaps more than the senior pairs.

 

[On My Own]

Who are Peng/Wang's coaches, right now, by the way?

It's not a surprise to anyone who's been following but Luan Bo is the only pairs camp right now that seems well managed and properly staffed to get everyone to where they should be with new costumes new programs and everything and maintain decent consistency/improvement with their training. I'm quite looking forward to see her teams make their international debuts, perhaps more than the senior pairs.

It showed with Zhang/Huang.

I'm sure her Pairs will rise. CFed can't keep pretending pairs with only doubles are the best ones around, if it comes to that.

 

[otisgear]

Sorry I still can't get over what a joke it was that Peng/Wang were gifted the win with such shoddy tech content in the free. Their tech content was actually inferior to a team like Zhang/Feng (literal 12/15 year old babies)

Peng/Wang: 2Tw2, SBS 2T+2T, SBS 2S, BoDs2, 3LoTh, 3STh, 5RLi4, 5ALi3, 3Li (aborted)
Zhang/Feng: 2Tw1, SBS 2Lo+2T, SBS 2F, FoDs4, 3LoTh, 3STh, 5RLi4, 5SLi4, 3Li4

Not saying that Peng/Wang can't improve before their international assignments, but the results from this comp clearly signaled who the fed is behind...

 

[On My Own]

Misha Ge recently posted a photo of the pair Siyang ZHANG / Yongchao YANG who worked with him and Yura Min on their SP in Artesia, California: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuddocwrB5-/
It's a martial arts concept but I'm not sure if "Wushu (Wukong’)" is supposed to be a music title or just the theme?

Well I Shazamed it, and it tells me it's something called "Wushu" by "Gothic Storm".

【23-24】张思阳/杨泳超 (58.73) 2023花样滑冰俱乐部联赛呼伦贝尔站 成年组双人短节目_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

https://weibo.com/l/wblive/p/show/1022:2321324932947739542174, 视频播放量 3375、弹幕量 6、点赞数 52、投硬币枚数 0、收藏人数 4、转发人数 3, 视频作者 薄荷山茶hydrangea, 作者简介...

www.bilibili.com

That's the program anyway.

ETA: Anyway, P/W's training centre is listed as "Beijing Winter Sports Management Centre". 北京市冬季运动管理中心

 

[otisgear]

ETA: Anyway, P/W's training centre is listed as "Beijing Winter Sports Management Centre". 北京市冬季运动管理中心

P/W are training under Beijing Century Star club（北京世纪星）if I'm not mistaken. Not sure who their actual coach is though.

 

[On My Own]

P/W are training under Beijing Century Star club（北京世纪星）if I'm not mistaken. Not sure who their actual coach is though.

Sina Visitor System

Idk then. I gave up trying to understand how Chinese system works. Last thread, someone told me about the provincial team system and all, but going off that, some of these don't make sense to me, lol, so I gave up.

 

[otisgear]

Sina Visitor System

Idk then. I gave up trying to understand how Chinese system works. Last thread, someone told me about the provincial team system and all, but going off that, some of these don't make sense to me, lol, so I gave up.

So their official 'affiliation' here is the sports administration or club that they are officially representing on paper, but does not necessarily mean that this is the place where they are training. For example Zhang/Huang are representing Tianjin when they are in fact from the Qiqihar group. Sometimes skaters (or their home club/administration) 'sell' their affiliation for money/funding etc...

As for Peng/Wang the "Beijing Winter Sports Management Centre" is more of the sports administration that handles registration rather than a training facility. They train with the Beijing Century Star group.

 

[otisgear]

Gonna post some of the baby pairs' performances from the recent competition because why not. At least they have new programs and actual costumes

The JGP pairs that we'll be seeing at Linz (and one more stop):
SHI Wenning/WANG Zhiyu
Short program
Free program
This team has SBS 2A (kinda wonky but they do land it) and 3S (often underrotated). Recently upgraded to 3Tw. Weaker on throws with 2LoTh and 2STh. They've improved a lot recently and can't wait for them to make their JGP debut.

WANG Yunjie/LIU Helin
Short program
Free program
One of the weaker Luan Bo baby pairs but getting their shot at JGP because the others aren't age eligible yet ?. Recently acquired 3STh and 3LoTh although frequently double-footed/stepout. This team did do a FoDs in competition in April but appear to have dropped it perhaps due to poor levels.

And the ones to watch who will be junior eligible in 2024-2025:
GUO Rui/ZHANG Yiwen
Short program
Free program
FoDs baby team #1, very solid 3Tw3 and lifts. Huge 2FTh and 2LoTh which make me feel like they should have their triple throws already (hopefully they'll get them soon). Two mostly clean programs yet again from these two.

ZHANG Xuanqi/FENG Wenqiang
Short program
Free program
FoDs baby team #2, landed BOTH triple throws (3STh and 3LoTh) cleanly in the free. Also previously landed 3FTh in competition in April. Screwed up their lift entry in the SP but these two have great potential once they stop tripping over themselves.

And all of these programs are choreographed by Sui Wenjing so shoutout to the busiest woman of the competition~

 

[On My Own]

SHI Wenning/WANG Zhiyu
Short program

Oh that's so good. Can't wait for Wenjing to get her ISU Choreographer award some day.

 

[Gris]

JGP Osaka entries: Zhiao Jiang; Ruotang Li, Ruichen Tong; Xuantong Li / Xinkang Wang

Substitutes: Tonghe Tian; Ruiyang Zhang; Tong Liu / Quanshuo Ge

Li / Wang getting 2 spots means that either Xinyi Yu / Tianyi Liu or Tong Liu / Quanshuo Ge won't get any - I'd guess it's the latter since she looked visibly injured at the Inter-club League.

 

[On My Own]

Zhiao Jiang

Video to jog up memory?

 

[Gris]

Video to jog up memory?

姜智敖 小男单大心脏 成年组男单自由滑 2023年中国花样滑冰俱乐部联赛海拉尔站_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

https://weibo.com/u/6290293780开场空了个勾手，后面大心脏赞一个上了3Lz+2A连续跳👏 两套总分181+ 小朋友JGP加油, 视频播放量 493、弹幕量 0、点赞数 10、投硬币枚数 0、收藏人数 2、转发人数 2, 视频作者 缇可张, 作者简介 主要收集了我国花样滑冰小女单们的比赛视频，有时候会剪点花滑脑洞放上来，相关视频：阿尔山最全最全的攻略玩法，4K60帧 2025.8.24乌兰图雅呼伦贝尔演唱会 站在草原望北京，如果只能用一个字概括我的前40年，我想一定是：敢，4K60帧 2025.8.24乌兰图雅呼伦贝尔演唱会...

www.bilibili.com

(I wrote his given name as Zhi'ao with an apostrophe before)