What a weird final! It's been a rather interesting finish to the season, what with Patrick Chan getting booed for winning (stealing) the gold medal, to Carolina Kostner actually skating good enough (for me anyway) to win her first World title. Here are my thoughts on the events that went down this week....mainly on the ladies' event, because Eurosport messed up the timetables that they ended up not showing anything on TV. I did find a stream for the ladies at the end and the videos for the men's have been available online, so fragmented though it has been, I managed to watch most of the Worlds.
LADIES:
After making the GPF final, and then withdrawing because of the death of her mother...then finishing 2nd at Four Continents, Mao Asada (JAP) skated lackluster programs that ultimately placed her at 6th place. She missed fell on her opening triple axel in the short, which she went for in memory of her mother (it was Kyoko's favourite jump) therefore hurting her scores, and then in today's free programme, she only landed three triples (3FL-2T, 3L, 3Sal), a 2A-2T, and 2FL. She singled her opening axel and the final loop, and in the end she scored 164.52. From where I stand, its all psychological with Mao. It seems to be a mixture of trying to prove she's still a top skater hence all the triple axel attempts, a lack in confidence because of her jump training, and the loss of her mother. It's unfortunate that all of these elements caused another season off the podium, especially after a wonderful start at the Grand Prix and a promising return of her 3-3 combo...but we can forgive her for losing steam. In fact, through it all..as her PCS showed tonight (60.52), her skating quality was still top grass. Hopefully she will take the time off-season to reevaluate where she wants to be by next winter. She does not need the Japanese press harping down her neck on her failure to land triple axels....it's not the only thing that makes her a champion. Also, I think however stubborn she is, she needs to realise that there is nothing left to prove to the world. I kinda wish Yu Na was competing in the circuit again just push back Mao into old form like back in the old days.
On a much brighter note, WELL DONE to Akiko Suzuki and Kanako Murakami, who finished at 3rd and 5th respectively. Team Japan came out strong, and the Suzuki earned a bronze medal after a fabulous skate to Die Fledermaus with only a singled Lutz tarnishing what was otherwise a gleaming performance. With a strong 180.68, she edged out Ashley Wagner (USA) who was also astounding with her clean Black Swan programme. After tumbling down to 8th in the short programme, Wagner restored the pride of the US team by hitting seven triples and earning 176.77, way ahead of her teammate Alissa Czisny who finished at 22nd place with 124.11 with a sloppy performance full of falls. Carolina Kostner (ITA) finished at the top with a nearly perfect performance that earned her 189.94 points. She hit five triples and capitalised on her component marks by upping the artistry, even with that hideous jumpsuit costume of hers (really, why is nobody commenting on her camel-toes this season!?). That was enough to take the lead from Alena Leonova (RUS) who was emotional after skating a solid programme, eventually finishing at 2nd place.
MENS:
Surprise, surprise..Patrick Chan (CAN) takes the gold medal despite botching a planned triple lutz and falling on a double axel. With a collective score of 266.11, he takes his second World title ahead of Team Japan's Daisuke Takahashi and Yuzuru Hanyu, who was a surprising bronze medallist. Takahashi landed a beautiful quad and skated a beautiful programme for the ages, but obviously that wasn't enough for the judges. Seriously, what does it take to take Chan out? Personally, I feel that this season Takahashi has been robbed of many a gold medals, but whatever. I'm no judge so if they say Patrick in untouchable....then I'm sticking with the crowd with their booing. After a rocky short programme, Hanyu unleashed his inner Romeo and jumped ahead of veteran Brian Joubert (FRA) and fellow team member Florent Amodio (FRA) by landing a quad and eight triples. This boy has got such a bright and shining future ahead of him, I have nothing but love! I have adored that step sequence since the beginning of the season and he recovered and delivered effortlessly, I can only applause and smile. Another surprise was Joubert's comeback! After two less than desirable seasons, he serves us two clean programmes alongside gratuitous bum angles that remind us of why we love him so much. Woop woop! Jeremy Abbott (USA) did enough to secure a top ten finish, with only a fall out on a triple axel and a little flaw with his step sequence, he fought for his jumps enough to earn 226.19 points. That just made him so much more adorable to me.
PAIRS:
Oh the joy! The joy on Takahasi/Tran's (JAP) faces when they finished with a bronze medal was priceless! I couldn't help but smile at Narumi's Tom-Cruise-at-Oprah's-couch reaction to their scores, wasn't it just heartwarming? They just beat Pang and Tong (CHI) and earned the first ever Pair's medal for Team Japan. That on it's own was reason enough to watch the competition.
Actually, watching Maxim Trankov (RUS) fall on a pivot, dropping Tatiana Volosozhar on a death spiral was also a jaw-dropping moment. Team Russia did not have the best of luck going into the free programme, after unanimously falling everywhere on the ice. But the curse was countered by Mother Russia for they made up for it with a clean skate at the free, earning the silver medal with 201.38 points. Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (GER) won their fourth World title, with a minutely flawed skate but considering how relatively....average? the field had performed, it did not take much to win. No, actually, it was .11 points that set them just ahead of the Russians. That's how good their comeback was.
Overall, it was a rather surreal season finish. All week there was talk of how the quality of ice at Nice left more to be desired, and perhaps the warm weather proved a little too taxing for the skaters. But at the very least, with Mao being less than stellar, it gave Kanako, Akiko, Ashley and Carolina an opportunity to shine. Caro deserved her gold and it's about time for her. I never really peg Alena as a medal contender, mostly because I'm not her biggest fan and I find her programmes quite unbecoming, for lack of a better word. Kana-chan and Akiko came to win and they did..especially since Kanako had not medalled at all this season, at least she raised her season's best this week. Shame about Ashley, but she made up for Alissa's crap. I'm happy for the Japanese men for their medals but I stand on my ground that Chan was overscored and was not deserving of that title. Hopefully, next season will be more interesting and exciting. For some reason, this Championship felt a little under the weather, so to speak. With the Russian jumping babies debuting next season alongside the promising Gracie Gold of the US, the field might just be shaken with some fresh talent. Finally, here's hoping Mao gets it all together. If Sochi is her goal, she only has two more seasons before her time is up. I will be here to support all the way :)
Hope you enjoyed the season!
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