hoodie axel

I rewatched this. I don't think that user meant "dying swan" in the way of tragedy or drama at all. In her step sequence she looks like she is just going through the motions, and doesn't bring a good form or outward expression that doesn't resolve to looking simply generic. Better speed, and especially being able to accentuate the cymbal crashes better (hops have been well-placed with some of them, but she needs to hit them) would make it look much better. She needs to hit some of her poses more dramatically. Kwan did a good job there. I do think the step sequence is the best part of the program (although overall I'm just not a fan of that program), so hopefully she'll do a better job at worlds.

I do not know if I'd use a bell curve to fit this data. There are stresses on the scores which would change the distribution... (your flowchart for instance) Do we know if they're going to perform a traditional play, or have they also written something new for this purpose? The latter would be even cooler.

Yeah, his SS became worse, especially when he "returned" in 2010.

Basic skating, I mean. Not as lacking as Tukt, IIRC.

Yeah, that too. It all contributes to that lack of outflow to make it stable enough for combos, I guess. Also, I remember people said her 3A was better than mao's, but Mao had better air position and better flow in and out IMO, so I guess air position in some jumps could be better. I think Mishin's philosophy can be criticized, but still it stands that he's trained good combination jumpers in the past. Plus, Plushy's basics weren't bad either, when he was at his best.

Do we know why she isn't that great a doing combinations? She has great solo jumps, but even with 3Lz+3T she's had troubles in the past... Is it because she doesn't have great outflow from all her jumps? She doesn't cheat the jumps, so that automatically makes it harder for her, but still with her jumping capabilities she's had too much trouble.

Fair. I get it's frustrating, and it is a frustrating topic.

Could be. I just personally hand people the benefit of the doubt.

Yes, and it goes all the possible different directions in a discussion. People are quick to paint the ones who go against popular opinions as trolls and only meaning to cause strife. The internet is simply not a place to hold a debate, but it happens anyhow.

But I wasn't talking about cheating at all, nor was I talking about Canadian coaches exclusively. Back room dealing in-so-far as they involve money are disliked the world across. Skate Canada's politicking is well known, and there was very good speculation about why Gadbois took on all those international teams this season. Influence does matter in skating, and Canada is a big Fed. I don't see how the coaches there are exempt from the same pitfalls as other big feds in skating. I don't think you understood my point, or maybe I didn't convey it well... Anyway, I'll move on from this topic.

First the 90k claim, now this... What is wrong lol

Hmm. For me it is definitely inferior to Kaori's LP, but idk if it's because the choreo is sparse...

Why do you say so? I'm strictly talking about fs, and it would somewhat snarky, but yes, from what I've heard, top coaches at least in the US do indeed have bad politics that help them. I'm not sure what you're saying in the rest of your post either.

No one is a tool to be used for PR. He IS used for PR already though: look at Olympic Channel's Twitter, for instance. Orser might indeed end up using him to get Med some support back.

But in a judged-sport, this propping-up and taking-down will definitely take place. I don't like it at all, but it's true. I wish it didn't have to be like it. The sport itself is built on criticism of what looks good: thence springs the need to talk behind your competitors' backs, hoping someone important has an ear turned towards you...

That entire tweet is PR. Post it on Twitter, and then of course someone (Papadakis here) comes along to praise [admin edit: bashing], as would most skaters in their agenda to make sure everyone knows they support each other (I'm just saying it's clever. Around 90% of that is tongue-in-cheek).

It is not. Some criticism towards someone who made a comment that people took offense to is fair. People here aren't vilifying Medvedeva. Of course, no one here is pretending like it is, either.

He certainly is. People will do well to remember that he's a top coach -- and like any other top coach, [admin edit: bashing]. They got where they are through skill, but also backroom deals, politics, and PR. (Unless you're Gambill/Z/Krall: then it's entirely through backroom deals, politics, and PR).

But we don't know if that's true now that a conditional has been added. Well, we have Nats. The LP showing was bad. But it's just one datum point.

It's different now, with her being criticised so much, and the added pressure of her being OGM (vs Med's OSM).

I thought her best step sequence ever was here: It's not that great. Her strength used to be control. This season, as she learns to stroke more powerfully, and dig through her edges using her ankles and knees instead of swinging her entire body, she is losing energy as she skates through her program, not to mention she hasn't yet managed to make her technique look natural (hence the "heaviness" you notice). It takes time. She doesn't have it contained in less than a month.

I do agree here. But also I wonder if without Tukt (and Med instead of her), Zagitova will feel pressure to "prove herself" and bomb again... Then it will be interesting to see what happens.

I don't know if it'll happen. I don't see her gaining the correct precision with the new way of skating in a month.

Trankov was rooting for Tukt.