Overall I enjoyed watching Worlds, as I always do, but there's some things that need to be discussed which are issues in most or all of the disciplines.
The first being: please pay attention to what others are skating to. When the season starts and half your competitors are skating to the same music, it's time to consider a music change. Also consider what has been chosen for the short dance. When music choices will be limited (like with the paso) try to avoid music in that style. This isn't for everyone else (though the audience will appreciate it). When this many people are skating to the same music, it's easy to get lost in the crowd of Carmens. You'll leave less of an impression on the judges, or worse leave a bad impression. When you're the 6th person they've watched with the same music, there's a good chance they're more than a little irritated with you, and this will reflect poorly on the PCS.
Secondly: I never thought I would have to say this, but can we at least see some crosscuts in the transitions for big elements? I get it, your attempt at your biggest element is going to have minimal transitions going in, but this is getting ridiculous. The number of skaters I watched this week just pumping into their big elements was insane. I never thought the bar for transitions would be so low
On a related note: when the requirement for the element is "out of footwork" this does not mean crosscuts. It doesn't mean a threeturn and a hiptwist. It means actual footwork. It's a pity that so many skaters have abandoned the pretense of attempting footwork into the elements. I get it, they're difficult elements, but if you can't do it out of footwork, it's okay to put in an easier jump so that the requirements can actually be met. This is an issue that comes from the coaching staff. Choreographers give skaters what they can do in their programs. There needs to be a greater emphasis on elements other than the jumps.
Also on a related note: though some skaters have good spins, many (especially the men) do not. In some cases the spins are worth more than the jumps. The way to get ahead is not to just improve the jumps but the other elements as well. A lot of skaters have mediocre to sub-par spins, and it seems that the IJS standards are getting more relaxed over time, probably because skaters aren't meeting them.
Finally: one of the things which has irritated me to no end is the skaters with elements in their footwork, spins and transitions that they really can't do. The worst of these elements is the allusions. All too often they look like bad one-revolution camel spins. I must look like an insane person yelling at my TV or laptop about these allusions, but they can be really bad. Too many skaters have bad alignment, don't drop their upper body, or just don't have the flexibility to hit the position. There are other ways to get level fours doing elements the skaters are (hopefully) capable of.
There's a whole lot to talk about with these world championships and my recaps will be extensive. Some will come in more than one part, but hopefully they will all be up this week
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