Who is gong to GPF? (Ladies)

At this point in time, I would think it's set with Mao, Yu-Na, Miki, and Joannie - in no particular order - as they are without much doubt the top 4 ladies in the world in terms of both placements and scoring potential (if I'm not mistaken, the only ladies beside the aforementioned that scored over 190 total in a competition are the Torino medalists - Shizuka, Sasha, and Irina).

Both Caros (Z+K), Sasha AND Yukari are going to have a hard time making it because of their draw to TEB where placing 3rd will be crucial. That leaves Rachael as the most likely 5th finalist due to her consistency, rising scores, and draw. The 6th lady...is anyone's guess, really. Most likely that spot will belong to whoever sneaks into 3rd at TEB. Should they not accumulate enough points, it is very possible for the dark horses to snatch that spot as well (Akiko, Mirai, Ashley, and Alena).

Conclusion: The 5th/6th finalists are going to heavily depend on how TEB goes!

Mao, Yuna are a lock.
Miki and Joannie are going to be comfortably making it.
Yukari and Fumie will snatch the final two spots because I love both of them and they are eternally artistically gifted

I want Miki, Mao, Yu-Na, Carolina, Yukari and Fumie to go.



Good luck to all!

Definitely Mao and Yuna.
Almost positively Miki and Joannie.
Most likely Caroline Zhang.
Maybe Yukari, Rachael, Mirai.
Who knows? Sasha.
That's what I think

Ok, well, I thought about posting this on the Mao news thread too, but I guess it fits here as well..

So, after reading all the news about how Mao's music is not quite what we would have wanted, and hearing about how difficult and challenging her programs are going to be, I have to admit that I am a little afraid. What if (gasp!) Mao doesn't make GPF?!

Let me explain...

It seems that the JSF has arranged a grand send-off for Mao for the Olympics. Four years ago, she won the 2005 GPF in Tokyo and became a huge star - but she wasn't able to go to the Olympics.

I feel like the JSF wants a do-over. They want to give Mao a chance to win the GPF in Tokyo again, clinch her ticket to the Olympics there (since they voted that the top-placing GPF finisher will get a spot for the Olympics), and then claim her Olympic gold medal like she should have done four years ago.

So here's my big fear:

We all know that Mao starts off the season a little rusty and then gets better and better as it goes on.

So let's say that Mao has a bad competition at TEB 2009. She really has an off-day, and since the competition is pretty stiff, she ends up 3rd or 4th.

5 days is not enough time to recover and regroup, so at COR, she has ANOTHER bad competition, and ends up 3rd again. So she's out of GPF!

The Japanese fans and the JSF will be crushed, BUT NEVER FEAR! The story, as I imagine it, does not end badly!

So midway into October, Mao and TAT realize that they need to make major changes. So they either work really hard on Mao's existing programs, or maybe they scrap them and use old programs, or create new ones altogether.

There's plenty of time until Japanese Nationals, and no competitions to distract Mao.

So, at Nationals, Mao comes out and completely blows everyone else away. She scores 220 points, and wins her Olympic spot.

But the rest of the skating world has forgotten about Mao. They've ruled her out since she didn't make the GPF, and all the attention is on Yu-Na/Sasha(?)/Joannie(?)/Miki(?) etc.

So then, in February, full of confidence, Mao shows them the true champion she is, and skates away with the gold medal.

Shizuka Arakawa never made it to the 2005 GPF.

I do worry that Mao might not make the 2009 GPF, but I DO NOT think that would be the end of the world. No, not at all!

Don't worry about TEB. Last year, Mao got 167+ points with six errors. The favorites of GPF host countries are always held up at qualifying GPS (remember Kostner of two years ago). And you know, Russia is the home for Tarasova's student. Bells of Moscow in Moscow must create a miracle.

Most of voters seem expecting Kim as a lock, but I think she doesn't show at TEB. Facing unpredictable Mao in this competitive field is very risky. Whatever the excuse, she wants to avoid GPF in Tokyo.

Batsuchan wrote:

Ok, well, I thought about posting this on the Mao news thread too, but I guess it fits here as well..

So, after reading all the news about how Mao's music is not quite what we would have wanted, and hearing about how difficult and challenging her programs are going to be, I have to admit that I am a little afraid. What if (gasp!) Mao doesn't make GPF?!

Let me explain...

It seems that the JSF has arranged a grand send-off for Mao for the Olympics. Four years ago, she won the 2005 GPF in Tokyo and became a huge star - but she wasn't able to go to the Olympics.

I feel like the JSF wants a do-over. They want to give Mao a chance to win the GPF in Tokyo again, clinch her ticket to the Olympics there (since they voted that the top-placing GPF finisher will get a spot for the Olympics), and then claim her Olympic gold medal like she should have done four years ago.

So here's my big fear:

We all know that Mao starts off the season a little rusty and then gets better and better as it goes on.

So let's say that Mao has a bad competition at TEB 2009. She really has an off-day, and since the competition is pretty stiff, she ends up 3rd or 4th.

5 days is not enough time to recover and regroup, so at COR, she has ANOTHER bad competition, and ends up 3rd again. So she's out of GPF!

The Japanese fans and the JSF will be crushed, BUT NEVER FEAR! The story, as I imagine it, does not end badly!

So midway into October, Mao and TAT realize that they need to make major changes. So they either work really hard on Mao's existing programs, or maybe they scrap them and use old programs, or create new ones altogether.

There's plenty of time until Japanese Nationals, and no competitions to distract Mao.

So, at Nationals, Mao comes out and completely blows everyone else away. She scores 220 points, and wins her Olympic spot.

You are an g
But the rest of the skating world has forgotten about Mao. They've ruled her out since she didn't make the GPF, and all the attention is on Yu-Na/Sasha(?)/Joannie(?)/Miki(?) etc.

So then, in February, full of confidence, Mao shows them the true champion she is, and skates away with the gold medal.

Shizuka Arakawa never made it to the 2005 GPF.

I do worry that Mao might not make the 2009 GPF, but I DO NOT think that would be the end of the world. No, not at all!

You are a genuis.

Batsuchan, I will know who to call if I need a scriptwriter for my new film. Weeeheeeheheee

snowdrops24 wrote:

Batsuchan, I will know who to call if I need a scriptwriter for my new film. Weeeheeeheheee

Ooh, ok, I will get started on my script then!

I was thinking about something along the lines of a retelling of Cinderella, except with skating....

So we have poor, over-worked Nao-chan, who finally gets to go to the Masquerade Waltz Ball with the help of her furry godmother, TAT, where she meets the 'Thoroughbred Prince' (and part-time Romeo), Takahiro. Who later declares that he will marry the girl whose foot fits the skate!

And in the end they live happily ever after with all the yakiniku they could possibly eat.

Something along those lines...

Hmm, this has nothing to do with GPF, oops...

I'm pretty sure Yu-Na and Miki will make it, not sure who else...

I think you're overthinking things Batsuchan! Lol! Although I would love to see Mao do multiple programs this season, I wouldn't want it to be under those circumstances!

Batsuchan wrote:

Ooh, ok, I will get started on my script then!

I was thinking about something along the lines of a retelling of Cinderella, except with skating....

So we have poor, over-worked Nao-chan, who finally gets to go to the Masquerade Waltz Ball with the help of her furry godmother, TAT, where she meets the 'Thoroughbred Prince' (and part-time Romeo), Takahiro. Who later declares that he will marry the girl whose foot fits the skate!

And in the end they live happily ever after with all the yakiniku they could possibly eat.

Nao-chan =