Lombardia Trophy 2024 - Women's SP & FS

[mtnskater]

What an amazingly unexpected result!

Major props to Amber! That triple axel has become reliable and solid. She held it together quite well with just a couple of smaller errors. I really like her programs, packaging and performances here. She should be so proud and thrilled she won the title.

Sarah Everhardt is showing she is a strong competitor. Her jumps are mostly pretty great. But get her to a camel spin specialist please! Leaps and bounds overall improvement in all aspects of her skating. Get some expression stat and she might really go places.

Why are so many U.S. women skaters with Tammy Gambill and not flocking in droves to Skornikov/Malinina????

Hated Kaori’s free program for her. Judges didn’t seem to like it either. Musical comedy/camp is not her wheelhouse. Give her the power music and stop with all this unsuitable music for her skating strengths. Made her look very sloppy, which power music hides more. Spin positions not very aesthetic. But Kaori will be back…not to worry. But just maybe she will have more close competition now.

 

[Coco]

Thanks for posting the vids. I like this for Kaori. It needs more time to cook, but this is the best she's ever used her arms and hands.

The 3loop at the end is a bit of a trademark for her, but every year it gets less effortless. Maybe consider switching it with one of the 2a's from the front. Also switch the combo spin with the flying spin. Shorter and easier elements at the end will let her make better use of the music.

 

[Private Citizen]

The 3loop at the end is a bit of a trademark for her, but every year it gets less effortless. Maybe consider switching it with one of the 2a's from the front. Also switch the combo spin with the flying spin. Shorter and easier elements at the end will let her make better use of the music.

The other thing I just noticed about Sakamoto's program is that she has three jumps past the THREE minute mark of the program. She's doing those jumps after her footwork sequence and two spins. That may be overly ambitious, and it's going to put her at a disadvantage (without any real scoring benefit) v. those skaters, e.g., Levito, who do three jumps just after the two-minute mark with only one spin to tire them out.

Sakamoto has her final three jumps as elements 8, 10, and 11. Levito's are 6, 7, 8.

 

[skatfan]

Why are so many U.S. women skaters with Tammy Gambill and not flocking in droves to Skornikov/Malinina???

Well, she’s in Colorado Springs so she can suck up to the officials at USFS and has judges over for dinner. Plus there’s a lot there - the Olympic training center, choreographers. Skornikov/ Malinina don’t have other top flight talent nearby.

 

[PRlady]

I finally got a chance to watch the four top women.

Gubanova s music and dress are ethereal and lovely. She still needs more power and speed but this is a great program that plays to her strengths.

Kaori - no, dear. She has a goofy side and a strong, woman of power side and what she doesn’t have is old-fashioned glamour girl sexy. I hope she ditches this program, it’s not just the layout that’s the problem.

Sarah’s choreo and jumps are great. Obviously she has to work on expression but that’s probably easier than teaching an expressive skater not to UR. Much prefer Ava who I’m so sorry is again losing important comps to injury.

Amber, good for her. The program’s a little soft and slow for her but she really held it together. After Worlds last year I kinda wrote her off but maybe that was premature.

 

[leilaofpaper]

I think it’s also worth remembering that at Worlds last year there was the whole situation with Nina Pinzarrone right before Amber skated, which she did talk about how that frazzled her. Yes, it would be great if she could get to a point where she would be on her game no matter the circumstances, but I do wonder how Worlds would have gone if not for that.

Amber is well aware that her inconsistency is a mental issue and has been working with sports psychologists to address it, and you can clearly see the results in this competition at least.

Even last season with finally getting the triple axel in competition showed how far she’s come.

 

[skateboy]

Amber was great, what progress she's made!

I'd like to see her ditch the ponytail and go for a more mature and stylish hairstyle.

 

[Karen-W]

Amber was great, what progress she's made!

I'd like to see her ditch the ponytail and go for a more mature and stylish hairstyle.

Her hair is just fine. She doesn't have very long hair and she had it tastefully pulled out of her face and curled. She looks like she's ready for her Maid of Honor/Bridesmaids era and I'm digging it.

 

[peibeck]

I actually feel like Amber and Sarah's programs are a bit overly choreographed, you rarely get a moment to enjoy prolonged edges or stretched movement. And that can work if the skating is pretty clean, but I could see how a awkward fall could get them easily behind as well.

Sakamoto has seemed ill at ease with several of her programs at the start of the season, but usually ends up finding her way into them technically and emotionally later, so I guess we'll just have to see how this one progresses. She certainly seemed like she wasn't even going for or caring about pulling out top tech here, but just getting milage on the new vehicle.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Amber was great, what progress she's made!

I'd like to see her ditch the ponytail and go for a more mature and stylish hairstyle.

Absolutely not, so then 100% of all skaters have buns? Oh my gosh lets someone break the mold and be just a little bit different.

I’m even grateful for Alysa having a bit of a different hairstyle instead of blending in with everyone else.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

And Amber wins! Yay! (Waiting now for ANLove's post )

Hahahahah I made it … a month later but I’m here

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Quick, someone fax him!!

I was all out of paper. What can I say?

 

[skateboy]

Absolutely not, so then 100% of all skaters have buns? Oh my gosh lets someone break the mold and be just a little bit different.

I think Amber would look spectacular with short hair.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I think Amber would look spectacular with short hair.

I have been wanting Bradie to do that and also go platinum blonde