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Kiss & Cry - Episode 4

Welcome to the fourth Episode of “Kiss & Cry”, Max&Angelo’s Podcasts.

If you missed previous Episodes, you can catch up with it here (1), (2), (3)

This third podcast is 154:17 minutes long (so, good luck to anyone who’ll be brave enough to go through it all ;) and even biggest thanks to our editor and proofreader, Gladi: please don’t kill anyone of us three! ), and it’s available to be listened in Italian here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talk-sport/puntata-4_1

In the following translation, (M) indicates when M. Ambesi is speaking, (A) indicates when A. Dolfini is speaking, (H) when the Host, A. Genuzio, intervenes.

Translated by The-A-Factor Team. Please do not repost without permission.

Table of Content

Junior Grand Prix - Analysis of what happened at Egna and during qualification stage.

Senior Grand Prix - Preview of first Event, Rostelecom Cup.

Q&A Session

Continua a leggere

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When you realize you've said enough gratuitous b***s*it about Kostner and try to make up for it in the most nonsensical way.

Phil Hersh, everyone:

Degree of facepalm:

(thank you Gene)

Also, this reminds me of the time someone tried to explain him why Yuzuru's SEIMEI (NHK '15) and Fernández' s Guys&Dolls (Worlds '16), although close in scores, weren't comparable programs because of the different level of complexity among other things. Short of words, good ol' Phil couldn't but reply "Yes, but the other one has more duende."

Phil for you. 😂😂

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Welcome to hell.

STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

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Kiss & Cry - Episode 2

Welcome to the second Episode of “Kiss & Cry”, Max Ambesi’s latest podcasts series.

If you missed first Episode, you can catch up with it here (x)

In this second Episode, Max chatted about various topics with Angelo Dolfini (former Figure Skating Italian Champion, Tech Specialist and now Figure Skating Coach, plus Technical Analyst for Italian Eurosport), while Alessandro Genuzio acted only as host.

This second podcast is 116.08 minutes long, and it’s available to be listened in Italian here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talk-sport/puntata-2

In the following translation, (M) indicates when M. Ambesi is speaking, (A) indicates when A. Dolfini is speaking, (H) when the Host, A. Genuzio, intervenes.

Translated by The-A-Factor Team. Please do not repost without permission.

Table of Content:

Nebelhorn Trophy Results, Olympic Qualification & Judges’ draw for Pyeongchang.

Fantasy Skating - Pick your Skater.

Junior Grand Prix

A New Scoring System? Yes, but it must be done rationally

Programs’ Comparison: Yuzuru Hanyu’s and Shoma Uno’s Short Program

Various Q&A from listeners

Continua a leggere

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Kiss & Cry - Episode 1

Welcome to the first Episode of “Kiss & Cry”, Max Ambesi’s latest podcasts series.

For this first Episode, Max was accompanied by Alessandro Genuzio (Winter Sport Journalist, with his field of interests being mainly focused on Skiing in all its variation), who did the introduction, the ending and asked various questions.

By next Episode, Angelo Dolfini (Max Ambesi usual partner for Eurosport Commentary) will be back in the Team.

This first podcast is 104.29 minutes long, and it’s available to be listened in Italian here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talk-sport/puntata-1

In the following translation, (M) indicates when M. Ambesi is speaking, (A) indicates when A. Genuzio is speaking.

Translated by The-A-Factor Team. Please do not repost without permission.

Table of Content:

Nebelhorn Trophy – Analysis and Talks over the last Olympic Qualification Competition.

Junior Grand Prix – Thoughts over the qualification phase so far. Russian fields and Eteri Tutberidze’s School.

Challenger Series – Yuzuru Hanyu updates one of his World Records, Overview of what Challengers Series offered up to now.

ISU Scoring System – How to changes rules to try and reach a balance between Technical Scoring and “Artistic” One?

Continua a leggere

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Welcome to “The A Factor” (Ambesi's Kiss&Cry)

Photo Credits to https://twitter.com/helsinki_2017

This blog is meant to be an archive for Italian Eurosport commentaries and traslations of Max Ambesi & friends’ podcasts.

After a successful first series of Podcasts in Summer/Autumn 2015 (Tutti Contro Ambesi and Tutti Con Ambesi), Max started a new series last week!

As many of you may already know, Max is the main voice of Winter Sports on Italian Eurosport, and one of the most passionate and knowledgeable journalists you can find.

Many of you may just know him for his appreciation for Yuzuru Hanyu, but you do him a disservice to box him into just that.

As people who have the privilege to hear him talk about sports and figure skating in general, we felt like we had to share these podcasts with whoever might be interested.

We have already started translating the first podcast and we hope you will appreciate our work.

Sadly the first podcasts’ series is no longer available on the net. We plan to share some translations we did back then and to add some bits more from the few episodes we saved anyway.

We are open to requests for translations of Max & Angelo’s commentary. We have videos from Worlds 2017 and we may be able to bribe right people to find videos from other competitions, so feel free to hit us with your requests!

Also, since in this newest podcasts series, Max & Angelo will also answer questions from fans, feel free to send us any questions you’d like them to answer and we will forward it to them.

Enjoy!

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Honestly I’ve been anticipating this since Yuzuru won in Sochi... But I have to say reality surpassed fantasy by a mile lmao

Another day in GS-land, follow up

GS-land should change its name to “The Bold and the Beautiful”, I think it’s more suited to what that place is.

Anyway, since all this stuff is reaching epical dumbness proportion and I’m always attracted by trash and dumb, here you are latest news!

1. Prologue: https://fuckyeahdearlybeloved.tumblr.com/post/160095865956/another-day-in-gs-land

2. Friday Night

After the whole “What’s a World Record?” Shakespearian Dilemma, our hero CSG decided to bring the thread to new heights insulting everyone involved in video’s creation. GS being GS, and CSG being CSG, his insults stayed up so, what a surprise, some posters didn’t feel the pouring of love and care coming from him and were just a tiny bit annoyed he had no useful contribution to give to thread but was allowed to derail it as usual (well, people, really. From someone who can’t recognise a half-loop from a downgraded loop what do you expect? To recognise what a crossover is?!)

Enough is enough, the thread was closed. Our Saviour and Hero reigned again.

3. Let’s party on Saturday!

Like in all best subversive circles, perplexed people (well, it’s GS, people. Being perplexed of what happens there shouldn’t be a news!) re-told what happened on Yuzuru’s Fan Fest. They may have grumbled a bit about how our hero’s efforts didn’t get recognized this time around either.

4. Surprisingly Saturday!

Like in all best thriller novels, Mathman (although I wish to understand why someone who claims to be such a mathematics lover can have so little logical sense. Mysteries) completly deleted the old video thread and all its content and opened a new one, like nothing had happened. Cue, relatives of the trolls on point 2 came out to join the party

5. Stupid Sunday (:

In the meanwhile, someone on mods and admin team decided to have a go on Yuzu’s FF and started giving out infractions to people who commented abt our Hero (should I call him “Who Must Not be Named”? I admit for the pics I’ve seen around of him, the similiarity is there. Voldy is cuter, tho. Sorry, CSG!) and one of oldest member of the thread (one that casually didn’t share a big friendship with a mod I won’t name but it’s the one at point 4) got banned over… multiple infractions for being “Off Topic”. OFF. TOPIC. Can you believe it? GS banning people for being Off Topic.

If being Off Topics is a bannable offense, shouldn’t GS ban itself since it regularly speaks of everything but Figure Skating? Yours Fuckyeahdearlybeloved is almightly confused here.

6. Wait, you mean people notice? Sunday

Almost at same time as point 5, our dear mod of point 4 asked on the new thread to open new threads on Feedback forum to give suggestions to mod teams. And ops, people did: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?64124-Mathman-s-suggestion

7. The short and sad story of a thread

It’s with great sadness and tears that I report you the thread at point 6 lived for less than 4 hours before being closed.

8. The Great Finale

With *another* thread closed, those subversive grumblers went back to FF, asking there for some explanations. They were been told to suck it up and being grateful for having a free platform where to chat, ungrateful bunch who is harassing GS bandwitch and servers.

What can I say, I have read better “let’s try to put this mess behind us” lines, but GS can’t be judged by mortal standard, I guess.

Let’s say things didn’t turn out well.

9. To the Infinite and Beyond!

So the FanFest was closed with this message (it was edited multiple time, in the first one last paragraph was left out):

I personally love the “So, if another forum is made, GS can save a few hundred dollars on bandwidth a month - I can just add that to an earlier donation I made on behalf of the tsunami.“ line.

Classy and what’s better way to bring home the point but to resort to charity and at the “look what I did for you! I could have donated so much to charity instead!”

Well, speaking of REAL work to help Tohoku regions and other areas hit by natural catastrophes, remember to check out @sendaid and their etsy shop that hopefully will be opened soon again.

The story - for today - ends here. But don’t worry, GS being GS new episodes will be soon be out for sure!

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Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaalloooooooooooo?!?! Are you there?!?!?!

@fuckyeahdearlybeloved…guess who’s back, back againShady’s back, tell a friend..guess who’s back, guess who’s backguess who’s back, guess who’s backguess who’s back..

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my cutiepie <3 pls don’t be a disaster bb

Wakaba is on her way to Korea!

During the pre-departure interview, she said that she would really like to meet Yuna Kim and to take a picture with her. She was really impressed by Yuna`s performance at Vancouver Olympics.

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Nathan and Shoma [Uno] are going to be 26 and 28 at the end of their career and not be able to ever do any other sports. They are going to be so banged up

Patrick Chan (full article here X)

US & Shoma ubers riot in 3..2..1..

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There is your wicked witch who exploits her athletes and cooks little children who can’t jump a 3-3 at 8 years old.

*ok maybe Cersei was a poor choice but you get the point*

does it make sense if i say that i don't hate russian skaters i just hate the russian skating system where they whip out these young skaters at 15, 16, 17 then they all disappear after three years its like. i dunno. theyre working them too hard i feel?

I think Russian skating system should be studied because (on women side, at least) is working miracles.

You are a bit too harsh saying that skaters “disappear” after three years for the following reasons:

1. Russian wave is quite young. It’s the result of a deep reworking in their system done starting a little more than a decade ago and that started bringing in its results in the last 4/5 years, so to make a judgement over it… I think we should wait a bit longer.

2. While there are many young skaters ready to come up, I don’t think Anna P. (almost 19), Zhenia (17+) are going anywhere. And I’m pretty sure Liza T (20). is still in the game - if only she could get back to being healthy for a whole season. Adelina… I guess she lost some of her motivation after the troubled post-Olympic season, but she would much still in the game otherwise. I’m not a fan of Elena R. but I doubt she is waving white flag either. (Yulia… now that’s another story, I don’t believe in her come back. But not for having been worked out too hard when young).

The real problem all these ladies have is they can’t afford to have a dip in form, because the field is so deep that there is always someone ready to fill their place. I wouldn’t say that’s a minus, tho. Simply, many of those Russian who can’t get a spot into European or World Team would still beat many of other girls from other countries but the way ISU hands out Championship Spots doesn’t allow us to see them all.

P.S: Bonus video about Eteri and her training and her character (subbed in English, last part of the video is translated in comments).

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The Chen people do the same thing to Max Aaron. Like, before Chen, Aaron was the ONLY man in the US to have consistent quad combinations? And he was doing two quads in the free which was WAY more than anyone else? But people are like NOOO HE'S SUPER UNARTISTIC WE CAN'T HAVE A JUMPER. And then suddenly Chen is like "woo look at me go with these quads and nothing but stroking in between" and people are like WHEEE YOU ARE CHAMPION. What gives?

Well, to be fair both Chen (and Boyang) have more potential than Aaron. I mean, Chen has more chances to improve his overall skating than Aaron at least. But that’s the logical answer, and übers aren’t logical.

I guess the reason why fans reacted like this to Chen, I think the answer is relatively easy: he has more potential to win.

Besides the fact that Aaron has never been really consistent (and that I don’t know what he’s doing with his coreo ._.) he has never truly been a gold medal contender. Also, as of now even people who were still living in 2010 have realised that you need quads to win. Among the top guys having 2 quads in the SP and 3 in the LP is normal. There are people who go for 2+4 or 2+5. I guess that’s why Nathan is suddenly perfection. They needed someone to root for for the Olympics, someone who’s among the top guys and so…let’s throw coherence out of the window. *that obviously doesn’t mean that everybody who supports Nathan is like that. Some people have followed him and liked him since he was a junior etc, so don’t take offence for this. 

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I'd add "when you don't understand the first thing about CoP and you keep bragging about it".

Super Combinación!

When you are the current men world champion and you brag about your Super Combinación but even a 14 years old junior girl mocks you.

Jnr Russian Nationals, Last Group Warm-Up, A. Zagitova, 3Lz3Lo3Lo

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my bb §___§ Please don’t be a headcase @ 4CC, thank you. Also, since you enjoyed Italy come and stay here forever, k?

Wakaba`s interview for Kiss&Cry magazine: 

Q: Higuchi-sensei, do you have any pre-competition routine?

Wakaba: Before or after my name is called I drink water and then stretch for once. This makes me feel relaxed.

Q: Do you  see the audience’s faces at the venue while performing?

Wakaba: I do, although I cannot really see the the audience sitting on the second floor. Except people sitting in the first floor, I see total darkness. Despite this, while performing, I want my expression to reach the whole audience.

Q: Do you think yourself about design of your costumes?

Wakaba: Yes, I think of it myself as well. In regard to the costumes for this season, I thought about the shape, but then left it to the maker. I also do the make-up by myself which is tough but fun.

Q: You have quite a lot of competitions in foreign counties. Do they give you any memories?

Wakaba: I like going overseas, however, it`s difficult to control the physical condition when I compete there, therefore, competing in Japan in easier for me. Frankly speaking, I`ve never been abroad for private purposes. I always go there with my skating boots. (laughs) Up to now, among the places I`ve been to, Toronto, Italy, and Barcelona were probably the most enjoyable. Also, when I go abroad, I bring rice and side dishes from Japan.

Your next competition is 4 Continents Championships in Korea starting from the 14th of February. This will be your debut at this event, so please share some excitement about it.

Wakaba:  My goal for this season was to qualify for 4CC so I am very pleased that I am going there. Since I moved into seniors, during practices I have been focusing on my expressions the most, so I want to show it during my skate. For short program, I want to concentrate in order not to make any mistakes. In free skating, I want to win over the people who will watch my performance. And it would be good if I can also do this at World Championships. So please support me!

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(X) This baby up here is not yet 13 but yesterday she managed to skate this and place 4th at her first Junior National Championship, missing the podium by just a handful of points.

I AM SPEECHLESS.

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I don’t know if someone has already shared videos with subtitles, but during the men’s FP at euros, Massimiliano Ambesi and Angelo Dolfini talked about Yuzuru and well, apparently Yuzu has landed 4lz several times in training, and he landed a 4SLo4S. :P I don’t think 4lz is happening this season, but still…he ain’t joking around. 

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LMAO This is her ruling us all btw

RUSSIAN JUNIOR NATS - GIRLS PREVIEW part 4

“A Russian baby a day keeps the doctor away” (old Russian saying)

Welcome to another preview post! Today I was going to post about one of my favourite cutipies skaters, but unfortunately she won’t take part in Jr Nats. :((( Anna Shcherbakova WD from Nats, she broke her right arm several weeks ago and she didn’t recover in time.. Get well soon Anya!!

The competition won’t be the same without her so, as a self remedy for the terrible news I decided to preview ALL OF ETERI’S GIRLS also known as

“The Deadly Five”

Get ready.

First one and leader of the squad, in all of her venerable 15 years of age is Polina Tsurskaya, aka the girl who will save ladies figure skating. No pressure Polya.

pic by Sharov

Polina (b.11 July 2001) is currently the best jumper in ladies field in the whole world. Her jumps hit basically every GOE bullet: they have great height & distance, great flow in and out of them, they have difficult entries and creative exits, her axis and extensions on landings are gorgeous, she has steps before most of them and they are as effortless as you can get. Not only that, her SS are top class: her edges are deep, she uses many and varied steps ad turns, she has godlike flow and glide and she can generate speed with just a couple of crossovers using just the edge, like all the top skaters do. She’s not the best spinner in the business, but she has no problem bringing home the levels. In one word, she’s the greatest I’ve ever seen at her age. She had a troubled start of the season, healing the ankle injury that made her WD from Junior Worlds last March and then undergoing surgery for a knee injury in October, which prevented her from taking part in JGPF and Russian Nats. But the it seems now she is again in good shape, as this recent video of her SP run through during a training session shows.

Moving on here we have Alina Zagitova, Second Lieutenant of Eteri’s army and undoubtly one of her biggest success as a coach.

pic from Alina’s IG Alina (b. 18 May 2002), previously coached by Natalia Antipina, joined Tutberidze’s group last year in spring. She’s obviously very talented and promising but her first months at Sambo 70 were stormy and rough. Once she adjusted to the new coaching method and new training mates she basically burst on the junior international scene setting 3 new World Records in the Junior Grand Prix Final in Marseille. Not only that, she managed to take silver at her first appaerance in Russian Senior Nationals placing behind her new training mate Evgenia Medvedeva. Here is her SP runtrhough (X) in a recent training session filmed by Mihail Sharov and this is her incredible LP at Russian Nats

Next in line is Daria Panenkova.

pic from Daria’s IG Dasha (b. 8 December 2002) is one of the best examples of how deep the ladies field is in Russia. She had very good results last season in Nats and Russian Cup, but she wasn’t able to qualify for a spot in JGP. She’s best known for using the Tano or Rippon variation on all of her jumps, but she also has nice lines and extensions. This year, a top 6 finish will likely grant her a spot in the team. Here is her SP from her latest competition and her LP (X)

Time now for the yougest and the cutest the most lethal of them all, Alexandra Trusova.

pic by Sharov

Sasha (b. 23 June 2004) joined Eteri’s group in the summer and she immediatly felt home on the new ice. Her rivarly with training mate Anna Shcherbakova is one of the best examples of how having a strong competitor as a training mate will make you grow each day more and more. (*waves at Javi*) Sasha has a disarming jumping ability, but she also uses deep edges, skates fast and covers the ice spectacularly. She is consistently training the 3A. This will be her first Jr Nats, but she’s going there to enjoy herself, she’s going to fight for the podium. Here is her SP (X) and LP. Watch the jumping quality.

Last but not least, we have Ekaterina Mitrofanova.

pic by Ekaterina’s IG

Katrin (b. 5 May 2002) debuted quite well last season in the JGP, but then puberty hit her and she suffered an injury. She had lost some motivation and decided to move from her section of Sambo 70 (the one directed by Anna Tsareva) to Eteri’s. Believe it or not, the evil witch did it again XD Now Katrin is completely another skater and she’s getting back her consistency competition after competition. She wasn’t originally meant to be here, but since Lozko WD she qualified for Nats. Here is her SP and LP (X) from her latest competition.

Lol I know it was long. Forgive me XD