OFFICIAL World Figure Skating Championship Thread!

[joeybee12]

And let me start off by saying how ticked off I am that the finals are on ESPN ONLY!

I'd really like to see more of it because it appears as if the new scoring system is causing some problems.

[pilgrimsoul]

1. Well, joeybee12

it looks like you and I are the only two skating fans on DU! I'm rooting for Michelle to win her 6th World Championship. Do you frequent any of the online skating boards for real time results, or are you going unspoiled?

[joeybee12]

2. I was wondering when anyone would reply to this!

I tried going real-time at the nationals, but they weren't really real-time--about half an hour delay in posting scores.

This should be easier, though, since it's in Moscow. We'll know around noon if we need to stay up and watch it!

And, I agree: Go Michelle!

[JimmyJazz]

9. Not a chance! I'm a huge fan. I was just waiting for the

right opportunity to chime in! I can't wait to start watching.

[joeybee12]

3. I now declare this official thread offically closed.

Shit!

[HuckleB]

4. Well, I don't have cable.

So that leaves me out of the excitement, unfortunately. If it were on a network, it would be on in our household.

Ugh.

[joeybee12]

5. Hey, this is closed!

Americans are blowing it big-time!:hi:

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

6. Joeybee, tell me more.

I was on Figure Skating Universe earlier today and there are some really pissed off people in that forum.

The take at FSU seems to be that the big fix is in already.

Yeah, I'm not too happy that everything is going to be on ESPN, but you gotta take what you can get.

I was hoping Michelle would have a better qualifying round, but apparently she doubled two planned triple jumps. I'll have to check Figure Skating Universe and see what happened today.

Don't close this thread!!!

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

7. Just back from FSU and it really doesn't look too bad for

Michelle Kwan.

She's in 7th place overall right now, but the short program is today and if she performs it well, she could still be in contention for a medal.

I don't mean to sound anti-Russian or anything here, but I'm pretty sure they will sweep all four competitions. Plushenko is the defending world men's champion, Irina Slutskaya will get the sympathy votes, no one ever beats a Russian pair or Russian ice dancing team in Moscow.

The only prediction I'm willing to give on is Slutskaya, the Japanese girls are terrific and one of them could win. Sasha Cohen should be in the mix, if she performs during the competition and doesn't leave it on the practice ice and I wouldn't count Michelle Kwan out just yet.

Again, Joeybee, please don't close this thread. I probably won't be on-line tomorrow. It is Paddy's Day and Mr. Wonderful and myself have plans, but if I'm not too boozed up tomorrow night, I'll check in.

See ya...

[joeybee12]

8. Technically, I can't close the thread--just venting frustration at that!

I'm really hoping Slutskya blows it--she won't win if she falls--otherwise they'll pad the voting in her favor.

The bad thing about Michelle is that she isn't in the final 6--the preliminary scores don't count other than how you're scheduled to skate. If she skates really well, and the others falter, she'll make the top six for the free skate. Plushenko doesn't look too good, so maybe the Russians won't skate--why even bother holding the pairs--we already know the outcome!

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

10. Standings after Ladies SP

1. Irina Slutskaya - Russia - 92.61
2. Sasha Cohen - USA - 89.78
3. Carolina Kostner - Italy - 87.27
4. Miki Ando - Japan - 86.96
5. Michelle Kwan - USA - 86.21
6. Shizuka Arakawa - Japan - 85.74
7. Elena Sokolova - Russia - 84.02
8. Fumie Suguri - Japan - 83.47
9. Susanna Poykio - Finland - 80.68
10. Joannie Rochette - Canada - 80.55
11. Elena Liashenko - Ukraine - 79.77
12. Julia Sebestyen - Hungary - 75.40
13. Idora Hegel - Croatia - 70.75
14. Annette Dytrt - Germany - 70.43
15. Joanne Carter - Austrialia - 67.78
16. Jennifer Kirk - USA - 67.53

Things to note: Carolina Kostner did the only triple/triple combination in the competition. Irina Slutskaya had a turn out after her first jump in her combination, triple lutz and then double toe.
Sasha Cohen apparently had a glitch during her spiral sequence and ended her program after the music, therefore she received a 1.00 deduction. Michele Kwan had some problems as well with a combination spin, but landed all her jumps cleanly.

Hate to say this, but Slutskaya's got the gold wrapped up. Things will be very interesting tomorrow night between #2 through #8.

Anyone of these girls/women could win the silver or bronze medal. Be sure to tune into ESPN tonight from 6:30 pm CST through 10:pm CST. I personally can't wait to hear comments from Peggy Fleming regarding this short program. Should be verry interesting...

[joeybee12]

11. What happened with the Japanese women?

Love to see one of them overtake Slutskya. She is such a clumsy, graceless skater, but the fix is in, and you can't do anything about it.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

12. Joeybee, the consensus on FSU is this:

Shizuka Arakawa, the defending ladies world champion, had a slight slip on her triple flip and the fact that Tatiana Tarasova is her coach isn't helping her either. Apparently TT is not as revered in Russia as she once was.

As for Fumie Sugurie and Miko Ando, it's just the fact that they're not Irina Slutskaya. Actually I think Fumie had a fall in her short program, but I'm not quite sure. I don't feel like going back through the now 51 page thread on FSU re: the Ladies Short Program.

I really thought this new scoring system would help figure skating. I think I'm wrong. It's the same old, same old.

BTW the line up tonight on ESPN is the pairs long program, the original dance in ice dancing and something else. They're not showing the ladies short program, unless something changed from last night. I guess ESPN is saving it for tomorrow night, when they'll show the free dance in ice dancing along with both the SP and LP of the ladies.

BTW, the last time I checked the standing in the ice dancing, which was yesterday, Belbin & Agosto were in 2nd place, but that could have changed by now. I know who won the Pairs, but I won't spoil it for you. Tune in tonight, if you have ESPN, if not PM me and I'll give you the final results.

Finally, I wouldn't say the Irina is graceless, but from what I gather, the judges really love those god-awful Biellman spins she does. I've hated those things since Denise Biellman did them in the 1980's. I just don't think this spin is very attractive for anyone. Give me a good layback any day over a Biellman.

[joeybee12]

13. Thanks for the update...I do know who won the pairs, though, so

it won't be a spoiler...did you hear about Xhao colliding with what's-her-name "M??????" the female of the winning Russian pairs. Xhao apologized, said it was a mistake, but the Russian coach ain't buying it...says that it was intentional, to scare M after her big fall a few months back! I think all the Russians know how to do is whine!

Also, I gather they all had little problems with their routines, but yet Slutskya still comes out on top!

And you're right--this new system stinks--I think it might even be worse!

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

14. No, I hadn't heard about that.

Shen and Xhao withdrew from the competition. Wonder if it was because of the collision.

As for that Russian coach, f*ck him or her. I know the couple that won trains here in the Chicago area, Bensenville to be exact, but I really doubt that any of the Chinese pairs would do anything like that on purpose. Now the Russian pairs, that's another story... I agree, the Russians are becoming class A whiners.

Just watched my tape of the men's final from last night. Johnny Weir was robbed of a bronze medal IMHO. Don't get me wrong, I like Evan Lysacek, but come on, his long program leaves a lot to be desired compared to Johnny Weir's.

Joeybee, I love the fact that another DU'er loves figure skating as much as I do. It's a gas posting with ya....

Off to watch ESPN. I'll check in later.

[joeybee12]

15. Yeah, I was surprised about Evan...as for Johnny, there was an interview

with him on Salon a couple days ago--didn't make me want to like him! Still, healthy, he is the future of US men's skating.

What's going on with what's-his-name--Timothy Goebbels! I can't recall reading anything about him--he was pretty much off all last year, and I was sure he was going to be challenging Plushenko this year. Heard anything?

I think I read the collision story on Yahoo sports, in case you're interested.

Yes, those Russians are whiners--collisons probably happen more frequently than you hear about--unless they involve the big names.

Catch up with you later!

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

16. Tim Goebel placed 2nd at the US Nationals this year.

But I think he's got some injury problems. Not too sure, but I'll check it out either later tonight or tomorrow and let you know for sure.

This is my opinion, but I think Plushenko has major injury problems. If he doesn't rest himself and take care of that groin injury, it could be the end of his career as an ice skater.

I don't know if you remember Alexei Urmanov, he won the gold medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics, he had the same injury, didn't take care of it and he had to quit skating and if I'm not mistaken, his coach was Alexei Mischin, Plushy's coach.

[joeybee12]

17. I thought Tim competed at the Nationals, but then couldn't understand

why he wasn't here...I was thinking that maybe I was hallucinating and he never was at the nationals! Thanks for clearing that up.

I recall Alexi's name, but I can't picture him. Yes, now I can--after the Olympics he never really did anything else--long black hair, puffy shirts. He beat out what's his name--the Canadian who was the great jumper--they really put his scores down low for the artistic portion, and Alexi won. Actually, I don't think that was that bad, what's-his-name really was awful between jumps.

Time for bed--we'll chat again tomorrow!

[MaineDem]

18. SPOILER - WOmen's results

MOSCOW, March 19 — Irina Slutskaya won the gold medal for the second time at the world championships Saturday, combining strength and style to cap an extraordinary season in which she prevailed despite a heart ailment and knee injury.

The Russian delivered a draining and dramatic program that featured seven clean triples to the delight of the home crowd.

Sasha Cohen of the United States won the silver medal for the second straight year, and Carolina Kostner of Italy took the bronze. Michelle Kwan, the five-time world champion, was fourth, the first time since 1996 the American finished a world championship without a medal.

''I can leave Moscow satisfied, but disappointed, satisfied — kind of a roller-coaster ride and not as consistent as I wanted it to be,'' Kwan said.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusspt/ap03-19-011318.asp?spt=fig&vts=31920050745

[joeybee12]

19. Thanks for the update...

...No changes in the top three--do you think they kept Michelle in fourth just because she was so low to start--I mean, I'd be willing to bet she probably skated better than Carolina, and placing third in the long should have put Michelle ahead of her.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

20. I checked out FSU and from the postings there

this is what I caught.

Irina Slutskaya definitely deserved the gold medal. Apparently her long program kicked ass. Sasha Cohen had a good one as well, but had small mistakes which cost her. Carolina Kostner won the bronze medal by .38 points and most of the posters on FSU figure that if Michelle Kwan hadn't done so badly in QR, she would have definitely won the bronze medal.

Now everyone's talking about Turin and the Olympics next February. It will be exciting to watch the Grand Prix series next year and the US Nationals in St. Louis in January are gonna be humdingers.

Congratulations to Irina, Sasha and Carolina. Can't wait til next season, to see what happens...

BTW, Jenny Kirk placed 17th, but the USA still has 3 spots for the ladies, men's and I think in ice dancing next year. Pairs spots are only two.

Have to run, but will check in again tomorrow...

[joeybee12]

21. Thanks--I just read that Michelle fell...probably dind't help, and Sasha

never seems to finally put it all together in her long program. I just hope Michelle competes in some of the Grand Prix this coming season--she really needs work getting confidence with the new scoring.

What'd you think of the ice dancing? I have trouble taking that seriously--the judges have already made up their minds--the skaters all know it, and if they keep their mouths shut, they are eventually rewarded.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

22. Joeybee, I just finished watching my tape from last night's

broadcast.

My opinion of the ice dancing is that the Russian couple that won it, deserved the win. Belbin & Agosto were fantastic and I'm ecstatic that they won silver. It's too bad B&A can't compete in Turin next February because of her citizenship, but they seem to be dealing with it very well. The only problem is the USFSA is going to have a problem filling those three spots with decent ice dancing teams.

I hate to say this, but even with this new system, politics will rear its ugly head over and over. What I'm wondering is if the Russian federation will let Irina Slutskaya retire or make her wait until after next year's Olympics.

My prediction for the Olympics in Turin is this the Russians will win 3 of the 4 disciplines. They have a lock on the golds for pairs and ice dancing and if Plushy gets healthy, there's their 3rd gold. The ladies is going to be a real treat to watch. I'm pretty sure Michelle Kwan will give it a go next year, Sasha Cohen seems to be finally getting her act together and the rest of the US ladies field is really deep.

I was really impressed with Carolina Kostner of Italy. She'll be one to watch in the next few years.

Oh well, another skating season is now over. Can't wait until October when it starts all over again and I'm hoping to go to St. Louis in January for the US Nationals.

Don't forget ESPN is showing the exhibitions this afternoon. They start at 4:30 CST.

[joeybee12]

23. I keep trying to reply, and keep getting cut off!

I'll try to post a longer response later!