It was mentioned just to give you some ''meat'' to write the comments you write now and to find excuses for Zagitova's loss.Maybe injury being downplayed now. It would not been mentioned if not serious. I feel Alina will have less pressure to have the undefeated season after this loss and she will skate more free. If injury heals.
Nope. Clean Zagitova will lose to clean Kihira. Kihara has higher TES and judges have shown that they're willing to give her similar PCS now too.
Keep trying.
It was mentioned just to give you some ''meat'' to write the comments you write now and to find excuses for Zagitova's loss.
I didn't say that Kihira will win Worlds, although I would be happy for her if this would be the case... There are still 3 months up then, many things can change. Plus Rika's programs are more difficult and therefore more risky.I only posted factual from competition and not more. We will have to wait for worlds to find out results. No attacking or fighting. My opinion is Alina will be champion. Your champion Kihara. Best clean skate that night wins. Maybe it will be Tukt. I would not mind.
Plus, we've seen Rika in the new-senior, no-pressure phase. How will she react to being talked about as a potential world champ in her first season in seniors? So far she seems unflappable but it's not easy being the favorite, as Alina could tell her.I didn't say that Kihira will win Worlds, although I would be happy for her if this would be the case... There are still 3 months up then, many things can change. Plus Rika's programs are more difficult and therefore more risky.
I am curious what would happen at Russian Nationals if Sofia, Liza, and Janny are clean while Alina does decent but not clean.
I do not dispute Alina's current rankings, but she appear more vulnerable.
I don't think Zhenya is ready for a clean performance yet. She is still in the adjustment phase.Sofia and Liza have been consistent so far, and they could receive the benefit of the doubt if they make small mistakes. Alina has her worlds 2019 spot locked up, as the reigning OGM winner. She will not be dropped even if she has 3-4 mistakes (not necessarily falls). She does seem more vulnerable as you pointed out but her spot for worlds is safe.
The most likely world team will be Alina, Liza, and either Sofia or Zhenya if the latter has a decent outing.
I personally don't think Alina lost due to this injury, and I am a fan. Alina lost because Rika was better, I really like Rika's skating. To me, the information about the injury explained Alina's terrified look at the starting pose and her mistake in the combo. I am glad she was able to collect herself after that and did not fall apart like we've seen before. I really liked the energy during the second half of the program. I hope Alina survives the growth challenges, I would really enjoy her competing with Rika (and others) in the years to come.It was mentioned just to give you some ''meat'' to write the comments you write now and to find excuses for Zagitova's loss.
I am afraid Satoko's low PCS and called under-rotations are due to Rika being the new star. I think Satoko will slowly loose her status in the Japanese team, even as number 2. Kaori's skating skills and jumps are stellar, she may well take second spot from Satoko at the upcoming Nationals already. With Mihara and Higuchi improving, Satoko unfortunately may be on her way out of the Japanese team altogether.I'm surprised but happy that judges didn't give better PCS to Zagitova compared to Kihira. Now, I'm waiting for Miyahara to receive same PCS (or higher), her skating is so smooth !
I hope you are correct. It will be interesting to watch how things will work out between Japanese and Russian older and younger skaters this season.I don't think it's time to ring the alarm bells just yet. Satoko was 5th at last year's GPF and came back to win Japanese nationals; I'm pretty sure she can still pull off a top 3 there. She's one of the hardest-working women in skating and she knows exactly what she needs to keep working on. She's not done yet, not by a long shot.
I am afraid Satoko's low PCS and called under-rotations are due to Rika being the new star. I think Satoko will slowly loose her status in the Japanese team, even as number 2. Kaori's skating skills and jumps are stellar, she may well take second spot from Satoko at the upcoming Nationals already. With Mihara and Higuchi improving, Satoko unfortunately may be on her way out of the Japanese team altogether.
I quite liked it, especially after the sugary Claire de Lune. The music (Jennifer Thomas, A Beautiful Storm) didn't make a strong impression on me, but it was a more modern and mature program, and she handled it well. I was relieved she didn't pick R&J or Carmen!Rika Kihira is very good and may very well win Worlds but I was a bit dissapointed in her free skate music. I found it difficult and and a bit boring. Am I the only one?
I am afraid Satoko's low PCS and called under-rotations are due to Rika being the new star. I think Satoko will slowly loose her status in the Japanese team, even as number 2. Kaori's skating skills and jumps are stellar, she may well take second spot from Satoko at the upcoming Nationals already. With Mihara and Higuchi improving, Satoko unfortunately may be on her way out of the Japanese team altogether.
Rika Kihira is very good and may very well win Worlds but I was a bit dissapointed in her free skate music. I found it difficult and and a bit boring. Am I the only one?
Rika Kihira is very good and may very well win Worlds but I was a bit dissapointed in her free skate music. I found it difficult and and a bit boring. Am I the only one?
I mean, we just saw her under pressure at the Grand Prix Final, where she went in with everybody saying she could beat Zagitova in a straight fight (as opposed to having Zagitova beat herself, as in Milan). And she did, in form about as good as her best previous competitions.Plus, we've seen Rika in the new-senior, no-pressure phase. How will she react to being talked about as a potential world champ in her first season in seniors? So far she seems unflappable but it's not easy being the favorite, as Alina could tell her.
Rika aside