I love this performance. No excessive arm waving, no turns for the sake of turning, and footwork that doesn't make you cringe. Just beautiful, you can pick at little things like landings and whether her foot was a quarter turn short, but I prefer to just admire the beauty of this program. Well done Yuka and I hope she's enjoying her coaching life. Her smile always makes me smile. :)
I think her best competitive performance by far. Never a great toe jumper, she did manage to pull them off. She skated with such speed, power, and confidence here. A deserving winner.
@alistairkok - Couldn't agree more. Skating is about flow, speed - the point is too look effortless. The new footwork requirements in the sport bring people almost to a standstill.
This program is simply elegant yet powerful. I remember watching it when I was younger on TV. Her back is absolutely flawless; shoulders down and complete upper body control (which helps because there's a few landings that are a bit scratchy and a few moments like 1:42 where her upper body control saves her, but really who cares). I remember seeing her in person many times and was always blown away by her deep edges.
Now THAT was a footwork sequence (Sandra Bezic: "Watch her Fly")! There's excitement, speed and flow, unlike these slow, meandering, directionless and disjuncted footwork sequences that we see in competitive programs today under the new COP. The new step sequences may garner points, but they don't flow with the programs and seem forced and awkward.
@roldanpinsky I wouldn't say horrible. I thought the loop was lovely. The lutz and toe loop were a bit hairy though. Everything else she does is just beautiful.
