Feeding the Zamboner, Part 2: The Ladies’ Short Programs
Chery Sutjahjo, Slant editor and chief figure skating correspondent, has been covering the Olympics in an amazing display of figure skating knowledge. Catch Part 1 and Part 3, and don’t forget to subscribe to The Slant.
As anticipated, I quit commentating for a short time. I missed the men’s programs because of work and doing other things like living my damn life (I’m really sad about it honestly). However, I’ve put living my damn life on hold while the most important event at the Winter Olympics takes place (women’s figure skating, obviously).
On Tuesday, my sister and I commentated via text. Here are some excerpts for your viewing pleasure.
On cheating
Cheating, or under-rotating, means that the skater didn’t complete the rotations required to get full points for the jump. In this case, a triple toe loop requires three complete rotations. Cheating means that this skater still landed the jump, but after only completing 2 ¾ rotations, or worse, 2 ½ . You can tell by how they land — their exit edge is a lot more hooked and they touch down facing the wrong way.
There really is something to be said about music
Skaters work really heavily with coaches and choreographers and other specialists to select music that matches their style and energy while still being a good canvas to execute the technical feats required. Poor music selection can be consequential.
Weir also noted that it’s extremely disappointing to not be able to deliver 100% when your music is really amped. “Can’t do that when skating to Liza with a Z!” (re: Canadian skater Larkyn Austman).
The expressive nature of figure skating
While the technical elements like jumps and spins make it really exciting to watch, a truly good skater is able to balance the creativity and grace of skating with those technical elements. Skating requires a level of expression and synchronicity with the music to evoke emotions in the audience. This is another reason why musical selection is so important.
Some skaters are over-expressive because they choose over-expressive music. Then they make facial expressions similar to those you’d find in a low-budget infomercial. WOW, ONLY $19.99 IF YOU CALL NOW? :O
As a generally non-emotive human I find this an off-putting, forceful attempt at connecting with the audience. Sorry, Kailani Craine.
When you “pop” a jump, you BAIL.
Instead of completing three rotations, you only complete two or (God forbid) one. As my sister points out, it truly is better to fall on an attempted triple rather than complete a clean single rotation. Popping is instinctive — something isn’t totally right, maybe your edge or takeoff really is wrong, maybe you’re overthinking the jump, maybe it’s nerves.
Whatever it is, it leads to the skater not committing to the jump and sacrificing a lot of points and a lost technical element. Shows you how much mental tenacity and commitment needs to occur when you’re approaching jumps.
A note on scoring
Our commentators, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, name the ranges that are “good” and “great”, as well as noting that there is a range that is “just Russia”. Case in point: the Russian women later go on to neatly secure positions 1 and 2 going into the freeskate with their flawless programs. And they make it look easy!
One strategy that some skaters employ is to stack all of their jumps and tougher technical elements into the latter half of the program. There’s a 10% increase in points for these elements during the second half of the program to account for the stamina and endurance required for skaters to be able to complete those elements when they’re tired and have already been performing at 110% for some time.
Poor Mirai
NBC later showed a lot of replays of Mirai Nagasu taking the fall on her triple Axel (my sister noted that you can see the spit flying out of her mouth). They also interviewed her and she gracefully responded stating that she was still proud to have landed the triple Axel during the team event, even though she took an L for the individual short.
No sore loser whiny-baby vibes from Nagasu. Love ya.
Karen Chen’s costume has really pretty “bird gloves” that are reminiscent of the bird gloves that Johnny Weir rocked back in the day. The commentary also notes that Chen choreographed her own routine, which is awesome because you usually have an external choreographer, and a lot of skaters spend some BIG BUCKS to get a reputable choreographer.
Many skaters (usually more early in their careers) also make their own costumes, or ask their moms to make their costumes. Notably Michelle Kwan, Tonya Harding, Amy & Chery Sutjahjo, etc. Gotta start somewhere before you can get Vera Wang designing your shit.
I should probably stop calling them the Russians and use their real names.
They are Evgenia Medvedeva, who set a world record with how many points she scored during her short program, and Alina Zagitova, who broke that world record maybe 10 minutes later. They are Not Fucking Around. We are basically speechless watching these two. They truly embody Reese Witherspoon of the “lemme just go to Harvard” days.
TLDR, Russians rule everything around me.
Hopeful AF for some clean skates from Team USA, but chances are pretty slim for the medal podium.
Stay tuned for my recap of the free skate. It’ll be solo because my sister is in Paris, so maybe I’ll get drunk to make this more interesting for you? TBD.
