GPF 2015: Celebrating 10 yrs of Mao's skating career in GP

zarinaballerina wrote:

BelieveInMaoself wrote:

WowMao wrote:

I thought the double ur call on the 3F / 3L was too harsh, especially given some of the urs that were not called on others in the the SP. What's new!

Tired of this double-standard. The eurosport guys praised her combo.
She lost so many points from that, had it been judged fairly like everyone else, she would be in the lead even with the lutz mistake.

I've watched the russian stream and Tarasova imediately called the loop ur'ed, and in the replay the male commentator also called the flip ur'ed.  I'm not saying you're in the wrong, but it is interesting to hear how differently commentators saw it. I must admit I couldn't catch an ur in the replay. The camera was weird.
And I'm also so sick of seeing her getting picked upon by the tech specialists, while others are being judged very generously.
@WowMao, I absolutely agree about the lutz. Mao please, for the love of everything holy, loose the lutz in the SP. It's costing her so much and she's unlikely to fix the edge under such pressure. It will only lead to more pops. She should keep it in the LP and work on correcting the edge. There she has plenty of cushion to make up for a possible pop. And it's also less pressure.
I'm hoping for a fabulous LP tomorrow.

The eurosport commentators praised Mao's 3F / 3L in the Grand Prix Final and the judges gave it well over 10 points. They said nothing about a ur MUCH LESS TWO which is bogus. I don't scratch my head in wonder at the calls because I often think they are part of the ISU's plan. the head of the ISU, Speedy, said he doesn't want any more Eric Heidens as speed skaters or Michelle Kwans in figure skating and under this scenario Mao has won too many Grand Prix finals and Worlds titles already. Several have commented that Elena should have received a ur on her triple / triple and that Satoko should have as well. I didn't see these performances, but the opinion is out there. I can understand Russian fairly well and I noticed at NHK that of all the commentaries I heard of Mao's skating, including eurosport and the Canadian broadcast with Kurt Browning, that  Tarasova's was the least complimentary and spent more time talking about urs. She even called Mao's ratified 3F / 3L in the SP a ur, though she at first said she rotated it all the way round. I honestly believe many skaters never get a second look unlike Mao. I considered the Canadian broadcasters to be the most considerate to Mao because they acknowledged her obvious illness as a reason for her difficulties.

I am sure Tatianna likes Mao, but I think she probably likes Elena more since she is closer to her and she is Russian. There sometimes seems there is a line of argument to follow. The male announcer also said how high Mao's tech scores are without an element, which takes the focus off the ur calls. Take another example. I remember  in the Sochi LP, in addition to Maxim Trankov, who called Mao's LP the skate of the Olympic champion, there was another announcer who "predicted" that Mao's score would be only 140 before it was announced, which is absurdly low for the elements Mao completed especially since Julia Lipnitskaya had already scored higher than this in the team competition. So when 142.7 came up the other announcer said what a great score it was. It was obvious  that Maxim's comments were not the "official line." That's why the other announcer repeatedly tried to get Maxim to tone down his high praise for Mao. That's why I respected him so much for speaking his mind.

As far as Mao's overly harsh ur calls in the Grand Prix Final SP,  they seem especially suspect when you consider the absurdity that Gracie Gold got a higher score in her step sequence than Mao. This is ridiculous. This establishes a pattern of disadvantageous and or fixed scoring against Mao. I like Evgenia, but I don't think Evgenia's PCS scores should be within 1 point of Mao's  and I think Elena's PCS are too close to Mao's as well.

Basically, the scores have no real meaning to me.
The injustice in scoring that Mao endures is the main reason I want to stop watching thsi sprot

All the best for Mao tomorrow in the LP. May she come out with a fierce commitment to the jumps and a beautiful subtlety of expression that springs forth naturally from her genuine spirit.

Here is an interview with Mao and a translator after the SP. She is so beautiful, gentle and kind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHF6_Cxaw04

Thanks to ultra for posting.

I downloaded all the ladies SP videos in 1080p and went through frame-by-frame.

The double downgrade on Mao's combination is fake.
The flip frontend was particularly agonizing to watch, because it was huge and flawless by the standards of this competition.

This is what Satoko Miyahara's 3-3 backend looked like:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O02CvQWbCzo/VmvYyrl8oQI/AAAAAAAAAVc/-SFt1KTr_PI/s10000/_.png

This got 10.30 base value points, plus 0.60 positive GOE - for forward-landed jumps that barely cover 1m.
Versus 6.10 points and up to -3s in GOE for Mao, the biggest 3-3 combination that not even most men can do, the first jump of which was at least 6-7m in the air.
That is insane and a fraud.

Elena Radionova's 3-3 backend is just as bad.
Evgenia Medvedeva's combination would also be downgraded if Mao's reputation were attached to it.
(I will post more videos and images when I have time.)

If Mao were judged by the same standard as everyone else, she would leading instead of a triple flip worth of points behind.

The judging is completely fake, like kayfabe level fake, and the whole ladies competition appears to be a giant predetermined hoax.

BelieveInMaoself wrote:

I downloaded all the ladies SP videos in 1080p and went through frame-by-frame.

The double downgrade on Mao's combination is fake.
The flip frontend was particularly agonizing to watch, because it was huge and flawless by the standards of this competition.

This is what Satoko Miyahara's 3-3 backend looked like:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O02CvQWbCzo/VmvYyrl8oQI/AAAAAAAAAVc/-SFt1KTr_PI/s10000/_.png

This got 10.30 base value points, plus 0.60 positive GOE - for forward-landed jumps that barely cover 1m.
Versus 6.10 points and up to -3s in GOE for Mao, the biggest 3-3 combination that not even most men can do, the first jump of which was at least 6-7m in the air.
That is insane and a fraud.

Elena Radionova's 3-3 backend is just as bad.
Evgenia Medvedeva's combination would also be downgraded if Mao's reputation were attached to it.
(I will post more videos and images when I have time.)

If Mao were judged by the same standard as everyone else, she would leading instead of a triple flip worth of points behind.

The judging is completely fake, like kayfabe level fake, and the whole ladies competition appears to be a giant predetermined hoax.

I've rewatched the slow-mo of Mao's jumps. Very difficult to see anything because camera man apparently doesn't know that when you show jumps in slow-mo, you're suposed to zoom in on the landings, not show it from a mile away.  The flip was to me at least, impossible to say whether it was within 1/4 or not, but the loop did look a bit short. At least from a far away. Now per rules, IF the jump is shorter than the allowed 1/4, then it is an UR'ed jump. Ok I can live with this. So according to them, Mao was shorter than the allowed 1/4, so they punished her for it. Fine.  But now, kindly find me a rule which says, "we will only look extra hard for UR's in Mao's skating, yet blatantly ignore everyone else's, or will be giving the benefit of the doubt to almost everyone, except Mao and a few others". You can't find this rule? Than why are they doing, and have been doing this for years?!

On a positive note, I absolutely adore this SP.

Zhenya's jumps looked OK to me, I haven't rewatched Lena. But no way did Zhenya (and I really like her), deserve those PCS. Hello judges, Sochi was over two seasons ago. No need to insanely inflate the russians anymore.  And Zhenya please, either tuck those tights into the boots, or completely cover them. Not this half-half training look. She has a beautiful costume, nice hair-do, and nice make-up, yet she comes out with thights looking like she's at practice. What's the point of paying big bucks for costumes, if you don't complete the look? Sorry, but it's one of my pet-peeves. If I were ISU, I would demand an automatic 1 point deduction, for skaters with this look.

WowMao wrote:

the head of the ISU, Speedy, said he doesn't want any more Eric Heidens as speed skaters or Michelle Kwans in figure skating and under this scenario Mao has won too many Grand Prix finals and Worlds titles already.

Speedy said what?  When did he say this? What an idiot. What does he think this sport will gain popularity, if a different "junior" wins it every year? People are already scratching their heads at how are those jumping beans capable of scoring the same or almost the same in PCS, as the veterans, whose skating sets them a mile apart from these newcomers. And it's obvious to everyone except to the judges. It's time for Speedy to say bye-bye. Though the thought of his very likely  successor, is making me physicaly ill. He's an even bigger idiot than the current one. The rumor has it, it's going to be the president of the French Fed. Can't pronounce his name.

Besides, Mao has won "only" 3 world titles in the 8 years of being a full tiem senior. I'd hardly call this being dominant. Speedy, just retire please.

As for Tarasova, I do think she loves Mao, but is conflicted about it. She is russian, commentating for a russian TV, with very good russian skaters competing at the same competition. She has to and also wants to make the russian skaters look good, so she'll pick up on their rivals. I have no doubt, had she not worked as a commentor her words about Mao would be kinder. Especially if Mao would still be working with her. Then Mao would be the best skater in the wolrd to her, and she would have no problems saying that.

I do like the male commentator next to Tarasova. He seems fair and is complimentary when skaters achieve big tricks.

Iceriver wrote:

Today is a very very special day for me. After more than 10 years of following Mao on TV, I've finally got to see her live in my city. Not only that but I walked about a minute or so next to her in her way to the hotel. She is gorgeously beautiful in person and radiates joy with her smile.

As for her skating, she is light as a feather and moves effortlessly across the ice. She floats calmly and with ease, without hurrying.

I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now because I've witnessed one of Mao's best 3 axels. No kidding, that has to be one of the best of her entire career in terms of rotation! I've rewatched it in my computer amd god that was gorgeous!

I'll be there tomorrow again!! Hoping for a great Butterfly!

OMG, I'm so jealous! Though if I were to find myself in your situation, she'd probably call the body guards on me, because I wouldn't stop staring at her.
It's great to read impressions about her from someone who was actually there. On TV, you rarely get a real picture of how fast, light...the skaters are on the ice. Since you've seen Zhenya live, do you agree with her very high, barely lower than Mao's, PCS? Maybe in live action, Zhenya is much better than on TV, but to me personally, Mao is in a league of her own, when it comes to feeling the music, covering the ice and those gorgoeus SS.

I hope that fabulous 3A gave her a huge confidence boost, and she'll skate lights out today.

All the best for Mao in the LP. May she come out with a fierce commitment to the jumps and a beautiful subtlety of expression that springs forth naturally from her genuine spirit.

Here is a comment by a poster who has a history of being fairly critical of Mao who believes the judging system is ridiculous because of the unjust double standard given to Mao's jumps, regarding Mao's 3 Flip and 3 Loop.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyCR-dg9nRs

B Brooks 13 hours ago (edited)
+girolle01 I'm so shocked that her (Satoko's) opening 3Lz+3T combination wasn't marked as under rotated because it was clearly VERY short of rotation on both jumps and she only received a -1 in GOE from one judge. Meanwhile Mao got -2's and even one -3 in  GOE for her 3+3 combination that the technical caller marked BOTH jumps as under rotated. So why was Mao penalized so harshly yet Satoko got a free pass? This judging system is absolutely ridiculous...

Here is another post by Sam-Skwantch who likes Mao overall but has been critical of her before.
I'm not so sure I consider (Satoko's) fully rotated 3-3. The 3z is borderline at best and the 3t is an entire 180 degrees rotated on the ground. To me it's clear she under rotated and only Mao got called out for it.
https://youtu.be/DBY837tqaoA


If Mao had done her SP yesterday or at Cup of China during 6.0, she could have done the flutz and gotten full credit for the 3 A and 3Flip and Loop and been way ahead of everyone else, especially since the 3A counted for a lot more then. Corruption in 2002 is the reason for the new faceless COP system that perpetrates even more corruption.

Therefore, the scores really have no meaning because they constantly change based on who the ISU wants to win, in my opinion.

zarinaballerina wrote:

I hope that fabulous 3A gave her a huge confidence boost, and she'll skate lights out today.

I really hope so, too!

Here is a beautiful HD fancam of Mao's SP posted by largeman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwc5dPUndYs

Exuberant Italian guy, kissing and congratulating #MaoAsada:
"Bellissima, bravissima Mao!" The Princess Mao smiled.

https://twitter.com/insideskating/status/675464879684341760/photo/1

Hey guys! Long time no see....
Unfortunately a lot of Mao fans switched to our Facebook Group ("Mao's Guardian Angels" - wanna join? ) and that's why a lot members aren't visiting this forum as often anymore. Although our love for Mao is as big as ever!

This morning I wrote a text regarding Mao's popped 3Lz and a lot of fans seemed to find it helpful and explaining, so I thought I could post it here too...

----------------

About the nature of popping jumps

In the last few hours I often read something like "Oh just rotate your Lutz, Mao!"... And as a skater myself I wanna try to explain why this is easier said than done!
Although pops are really annoying to see (especially as a fan) and it is the worst mistake you can do in a SP, to me it's just a logical consequence of reworking the technique.
You have to understand that popping is often a natural protective instinct of your body and mind. If something feels just a tiny little different than normal on your take-off you have only a milli-second to decide what to do and in that moment your whole body screams "DANGER!". In figure skating you always have to overcome some fears because you hurt yourself A LOT! And of course you want to prevent yourself from hurting your body....
So if you force yourself to jump although it doesn't feel 'right' your whole body works against it and you're tense and it often results in terrible and hurtful falls. (At least in my experience)
So you have to imagine that Mao is doing 3Lz since she is 9 years old or something. So she's practicing since more than 15 years with a technique that is comfortable and "right" for her. And after all these years and thousand of flutzes she has to learn a jump that is totally not natural to her. I can imagine that everything in that Lutz feels strange and wrong for Mao and that is a terrible feeling because you think you can't control the jump and will hurt yourself!
Mao has to overcome that certain barrier of mind and body to jump a clean Lutz and that just takes time and hundreds and thousand of repeats. And especially in competitions you're even more tense and nervous and sometimes you just can't help it!
Of course I can't look into Mao's head but that's just how I would interpret her popping - even in practice.
So obviously as a fan I'm also thinking "oh, if she would just jump" and I was screaming yesterday when she popped it but from a skater's perspective I just feel for her and forgive her immediately because it's just logical and we have to give her some time...!
Sorry for that long gibberish of my thoughts but I just felt I had to share them with you....
I'm sure Mao will overcome her difficulties with the Lutz! Maybe not today in the Freeskate, maybe not even this season but she definitely will!
Because she is Mao Asada: a living legend and a great Champion!

----------------

Good luck in the FS, Mao. You will slay - with or without 3Lz!

Here's a stream: http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/isu/live.html?id=7

Anyways, go Mao! Be awesome!

Okay... post-GPF opinion post:

1. I like Zhenia's programs and her skating, but I keep feeling like she's overscored.

2. Satton was amazing and this is the first time I haven't been bored by her FS.

3. Lena needs better music. I think the Cirque de Solei music would work well for her.

4. Ashley was also very good.

5. This is the first program of Gold's I've liked in three years (+her SP), but it was kind of a mixed bag and there's a lot of posing in there.

6.

7. I find it interesting that the top 6 at worlds last year and the order everyone finished in here has the same countries in the same order in it.

Hey you guys....

CLEAN LUTZ!!!!!!

http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gpf1516/gpf1516_Ladies_FS_Scores.pdf


HAHA TOLD YOU!!!!!!!

It doesn't matter that the GOE is negative at this point. She got the edge right and they gave her credit. No UR, no e.



That said, I agree that others were overscored.
Sochi league overscoring.

Guys, her lutz got ratified!  She received minus goe for the bad landing, but acording to protocol, she took off from the right edge.  This is great news, unfortunately I can't say the same for the rest of her program.
I don't understand, is it the nerves, is her program simply too difficult? I kept thinking of JO, she wasn't perfect there, but she trully looked amazing, like a whole new Mao. What happened? I know it's only December and worlds is in March so she has three months to go, and better to mess up here then there, but I do worry a bit.  

Protocol:
http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gpf1516/gpf1516_Ladies_FS_Scores.pdf

i don't understand why she didn't add a double something to 3 loop.    Since she didn't do 3f-3lo she was left with only two combos instead of the usual three. It would only be 1 more point, but it would mean she'd be 5th and not last. Though I can imagine this makes no difference to her.

Edit: @ BelieveinMaoself, I see  you beat me to it.  I absolutely agree, the overscoring is out of this world. I like Zhenya more and more, but she got 3 points less than a current WR.  RIDICULOUS. What will they give at worlds, 75 in PCS? The same for Ashley.

So, the men just finished, and Yuzu was perfect again. Needless to say, he smashed his own WR, again. 219 for LP, 330 overall. I don't know what to say. This is surreal.

Hanyu is amazing. Actually, a lot of the men had good FSes.

I will always love your skating Mao. I love your skating Mao! A lot of this has been said before, but I just wanted to get all my ideas down. Mao had some problems in her LP and it did make me a bit sad mainly because I felt she wasn't satisfied with her performance. I have never sympathized with any skater the way I do with Mao. But, I am not the only one who thought she looked ill and or weak a lot like she did in the NHK trophy LP. The poster JustRozy posted this first and said that their friends thought the same thing. Mao was also breathing heavily and perspiring a lot at the end. In addition to this poster, I think Mao appeared a bit pale with circles under her eyes.

At least, I think she is still recovering from an illness and lacked the mental and physical strength to deliver both a solid SP and LP because of it. Coach Sato himself said he only had half expectations coming into this competition and that Mao was suffering from fatigue and the inconvenient results of it. Mao herself said that the consistency of her runthroughs was not good enough yet to give her the confidence she needed, so I think it is a combination of factors. It's good to see that she got the triple lutz ratified and she did a good job battling through to the end, and there was still a great deal of beauty in the performance. I think it probably would have been better for Mao to have practiced the first half of the season and not compete, but she had to in order to qualify for Nationals and then the illness at NHK added another difficulty for her to overcome. I believe Mao will bounce back. She just needs time to recover, get healthy and do more runthroughs to gain more consistency and confidence.

Many great world and Olympic champions like Midori Ito, Katarina Witt and Miki Ando had a lot of difficulty with comebacks. But, Mao has delivered two excellent performances in the Japan Open Freeskate and the Cup of China SP and a really good performance in the SP at the Grand Prix Final except for the triple lutz, so I think she will still deliver more great performances. I think it is honorable that Mao has made an effort to come back and risk her reputation in this way when so many others champions have had difficulties. I will support her through the challenges she faces and she will always be a great and inspirational champion to me.

I don't expect Mao will be scored fairly after the huge inflation for other skaters at the Grand Prix Final, even though others did skate well. A new precedent has probably been set, but many people on forums are already very critical of this. I do know that people can feel when Mao delivers a great performance because she has the power to move many people's hearts and emotions in a way that is exceptionally rare.  And to me totally unique and this is something that a score can't measure.

By the way, Mao has been invited to the gala, but it appears that Gracie hasn't. Only five can be invited from each discipline.

Maooooo

coachtomz
It's been a great week in Barcelona and I have watched many great skaters practice and compete in all disciplines.
One of the most impressive moments was watching Mao Asada sign autographs for and take pictures with everyone of
her hundreds of fans who followed her from the arena, across the street and into the hotel lobby.
My skater, Vincent Zhou was one of them. She did this with a genuine smile on her face and sincerity in the tone of her voice.
She could have simply stopped after 15 minutes but she waited until every fan who showed up to see her was content.
No matter how many more triple axels she lands or what other titles she wins while coming back again this season
-- being this kind of role model -- is perhaps the most important part of her legacy she leaves for the next generation
of champions in our sport. Mao, you rock!

https://www.instagram.com/p/_MyA2DjY6X/

What a nice story!!! Thank you very much

Thanks for the wonderful story about Mao, silenceisgolden.

Plumededragon posted this news about Mao's illness:

On other news, Mao has withdrawn from the Gala, because of illness. She looked under the weather ever since NHK, I hope it's nothing serious... hopefully, it's nothing to worry about and she withdrew to get more time to rest before Nationals, as prevention.


I hope Mao recovers quickly. She definitely looked ill and I am glad that Mao is finally considering her health by withdrawing from the gala and admitting her condition. I think she performed marvelously and above and beyond the call of duty given her weakened condition over such a long period from the NHK through the Grand Prix Final. It's incredible to me that she could do such a great triple axel and triple flip and loop in poor heath. She is a beautiful and courageous fighter inside and out and a true inspiration. Rest and get well soon, Mao.

http://www.sankei.com/sports/news/151213/spo1512130033-n1.html
According to this news article, Mao skipped the gala and now on her way back to Japan because of her poor health condition.  It says she's diagnosed with gastroenteritis.
I hope she'll get better soon.
If she's been sick before FS or even SP, it tells everything why she looked pale and tired. Poor Mao ...  
But, she did a great job at this competition.  

The nationals will be in two weeks. I'm really worried about her health.  
I really hope she will get good rest and come back strong and healthy.

Addition
http://news.biglobe.ne.jp/sports/1213/nsp_151213_4519524183.html
Ms. Kobayashi of JSF says Mao felt sick in her stomach around noon of the day of free skate and didn't feel well. After the game was over, she went back to her hotel and got relief from the pressure, and then she felt really sick.

I heard that Shibs also withdrew from the gala because Alex got sick.

Alex Shibutani@AlexShibutani
I've never been so sick in my life, but when I heard our music and felt @MaiaShibutani by my side, I knew we could do it.

Alex Shibutani@AlexShibutani
No sleep the night before the FD. Received IV fluid during the day and didn't do a lift, spin, or twizzle on practice or warmup