Comments on: NRW Trophy 2009 final results

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:46:18 +0000

It wasn’t that bad that I assumed after seeing the score! There were many downgraded jumps but no major mistakes except 2Lz and 1Lo. I wonder why the spiral sequence was only level 2, during this season she has got level 4. Also her flying sit spin was only level 2. Well, I’m not the judge, maybe they have their reasons to give those levels. Imho this program looks good, I just wish she would remember the beat in her step sequence – that’s the problem of many skaters. They forget the basic beat of music and makes movements twice as slowly as in music. Do you understand what I mean?

By: kovachik

kovachik — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:24:10 +0000

The program looks very promising for me. It’s a fast, dynamic FS, with only one slower part during the spiral. It’s very ambitious and also very challenging, booth physically and mentally, a brave step forward from Kiira and her team. Hopefully she will be healthy and has enough time, to polish the program for the Euros.

By: Northeagle

Northeagle — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:35:36 +0000

I saw for the first time her FS in Dortmund: how many indecisions! I strongly hope Anna should be right, for the incoming ECs… sincerely, my sensation is that this program has got more difficult for her too quickly: perhaps, she’d have had more time to testing it…

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:27:26 +0000

Kiira’s interview in YLE website (in Finnish):

http://www.yle.fi/urheilu/lajit/muut/taitoluistelu/2009/12/kiira_korpi_entista_vahvempana_olympiakauteen_170208.html

She tells her plans for this season and how they have made her program more difficult. Nothing new to fans who already knew all this

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:41:50 +0000

But we remember in 2009 EC after falling and single lutz she made a gorgeus program and was 5th. Only a few years ago it was a miracle if a Finnish skater was in top 6. It feels that she can concentrate only in very hard circumstances. I think every skater has some uncertainty with their programs in autumn. Kiira still has the best score of European ladies during this season according to this: http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/sb2009-10/sbtslto.htm, that’s why I think Kiira has a good chance to be on EC’s podium IF she can focus on clean programs. Her program is now techically more difficult than Laura’s program: Laura has only one lutz (which she hardly ever survives) and no flip at all. Yes, she has 3T+3T combination (base value 8.0), it’s not much higher than 3Lz+2T combination (base value 7.3). If you make beautiful 3Lz+2T, you can have more points than bad 3T+3T or if you ease it even 3T+2T (base value 5.3).

Well, a week left to nationals, let’s hope to see Kiira with a strong self-confidence as last year!

By: Northeagle

Northeagle — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:26:14 +0000

In my opinion, at the moment it’s very difficult to see her on EC’s podium: athletes like Kostner, Leonova, Lepisto and even McCorkell, Marchei, Gerbold, Gedevanishvili could do very good performances, but Kiira can make better than them only if she should do both clean programs: the real problem are the new triple jumps series she added, that have been tested only in Dortmund.

By: Finner

Finner — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:35:33 +0000

Kiira have everything what it takes to be a successfull skater. I think she is mentally strong enough to do very well in “big games” also with her FS. I remember that in some interview or something like that, she said that she is on her best in tough spots. And i believe that. If i remember correctly (i’m too lazy to check it), in EC’s 2008 she did her personal best both in SP and FS, but the competition was so tough, that it was only enough for 5th place.

And last year.. Well, what can i say. She did great job in Nationals, but have to remember that EC’s was her 2nd competition of season. I think it was a very emotional spot to skate in front of her home crowd after all those problems. So maybe it had something to do with her fall there, but it’s really hard to say that as an outsider.

I’m also sure that she is doing all what can be done with her mental coach to get a best mental state for competitions. Of course if she even have mental coach. But many top athletes have one on these days so i at least hope that Kiira have also..

By: kovachik

kovachik — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:22:10 +0000

I think she can easily score above 170 or even 180 points on an ISU event, if she skates clean. She is technically well trained and graceful as a skater, and an amazing human being. Although, I think, she has some problems with the nerves during competitions. But if once everything goes perfectly…

I think there is definitely a place for her on the podium at the Euros. (and I think I’m not alone with this)

But it doesn’t matter, what I (or anyone else) think, just what Kiira feels and want.
Goo Kiira! Feel good!

By: Finner

Finner — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:08:53 +0000

Well those three girls are just about it. Jenni, as far as i know, haven’t competing or perhaps even trained during this season. At this moment there’s a quite big gap after Kiira, Laura and Susanna what comes to a scored points. 4th best girl’s all time best score is under 120 points. There are many great juniors coming up in the future, but i don’t think that they could really challenge those three girls yet.

By: takashi

takashi — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:15:35 +0000

Hi everyone,

First, thanks Taskinen for the blog entries.
Hi Finner, Anna and kovachik, thanks for your comments.

Well, it’s sorry about her results in Dortmund.
I have something to write here but have no time… I’ll be back soon.

Anyway, who is the eligible members of Finnish Ladies “A” team?
Susanna, Kiira, Laura, (Jenni)… anyone else?