Just watched the ladies short program six times with the top three ladies: Wagner, Sotnikova and Gao.  Wagner and Sotnikova have the more recognizable names internationally, but Goa had the better program technically and artistically with a georgeous intrepretation of the music.  Please America get it right as we head to an olympic season.  Waiting to see what Goa does in the FS.

Agreed. I thought Gao was grossly underscored. I thoroughly enjoyed her short program.

I agree with you both. I thought Gao was underscored. My initial reaction was 60-62. It probably does not matter now (SPOILER ALERT).................... cause she won silver with Wagner way out in front. I'll have to watch again...maybe i missed something.

I thought her scores were fair.  She skated much slower in her short program and her transitions were not quite as difficult as some of the other skaters.  When you look at all the ladies, excluding the leaps and bounds better Wagner and Sotnikova, the individual second marks were quite fair.  Gao was marked lower in Skating Skills and Transitions which were not her strong point.  Her other three marks were higher as they should have been. 

Personally I thought her PCS marks were a bit high in the long program.  She simply did not keep up with the music and had little speed and lacked crispness, which I thought was accentuated by the music.  It was however a great performance and one which I hope spurs her to keep getting better and better!

I agree, Gao needs to increase the difficulty of her skating in between the jumps to get a higher overall score.  The jumps were excellent with lots of height and distance, so if she could blend both her transitions and her jumps together, she could be a real threat for a spot at worlds.  But she's not there yet.

 

I personally loved Ashley's program.  She looked stunning in that dress, and she interpreted the music really well.  I don't think I've ever seen her move with so much fluidity and grace.  Her jumps were better with less questionable landings, although she may have two footed the salchow and another jump.  But that 3loop2axel combo was a great save and not to mention very difficult.  So I think she's showing a consistency that we have not seen in quite some years among American ladies. 

 

And I also liked the fact that her stockings were not pulled over her skating boots.  The white boots made her edging and flow seem more noticeable, and made you appreciate it more. 

So, I have to admit that I did not watch the free program for the ladies, yet (will have to wait until Tuesday) but after watching Gao's short and Wagner's short back to back here is my assessment:
-Gao was essentially mistake free
-Wagner two footed her triple loop but she received extra points for her first triple/double combination (hands up on second jump)
-Wagner, through mediate television, looked to have more speed on the ice, which i know judges appreciate
-I thought there was not a significant difference on their foot sequences, although I realize speed is appreciated and rewarded
-I thought Wagner's spins were slightly better

So, I can see how Wagner pulled a 61+ (and would have been higher if she didn't two the triple loop) but was Gao really 5 points below that? I thought Gao's skating went with the music, as did Ashley's, so i'm not sure a speedier Gao would have been appropriate.

Either way, (and though i'm not a Wagner fan) they both impressed for the first major competition of the season.

In an interview by Icenetworks, Gao admits that her entries into her spins were off thus slowing her spins. She also states that she recently bought new skates, so did not attempt any triple triples but will once those skates are broken in. I suspect that if she can remain consistent throughout the year that she will clean up this program and receive higher scores. But also suspect that the other competitors will do the same (i.e. improve their programs and in turn their results)

In the short, CG did beat AW on the technical marks. 

ok, so after watching the long program, I thought Gao's score was where it should be but Wagner scored 127+ or 10 points higher than Gao. I thought this was a mistake. Wagner scored higher in both TES and PCS even though some of her jumps were not clean and she bobbled on some of her spins. Her combination triple loop followed by a double axel was impressive but her bobbles on some of her other jumps and inconsistent spins seem to suggest a lower score to me. I'm not saying she did not deserve the gold, but her combined programs I have a hard time thinking were 14 points better than Gao.

Gao and Wagner -- there are 2 very distinct styles, here.  Gao has a way to go in her transitions, I agree, and while her spins were beautiful, I have a feeling that they could have been better.  Ashley skated spectacularly, but a bit sloppily. Ashley's jumps are bigger (tho somewhat sloppy), but Christina's jumps are more precise and graceful; they fit her personna.  I believe that if and when Christina gets her transitions in order (more difficult), adds some triple-triple's and cleans up her spins (which I believe she'll do) she will be the "dark-horse" of the season.  I do think that while Ashley definitely deserved the gold, that her scores were inflated.  She is definitely a complete marketing package, as she was last year, even to the color of her hair (this was mentioned in an article and I took notice that yes, the match is quite perfect with the color of her costume).  Could she be becoming the new darling of the lady skaters?

 

The U.S. ladies should give us a run for our money this year, and it just might translate to the international scene.