Wakaba HIGUCHI | Rinkside: Women Practice | Day 2 | 2025 Saatva Skate America

For Wakaba Higuchi of Japan, followed by Ekaterina Korokova. Oh, it's crazy. Every time. I didn't even see her. No, no, no, like. Where'd she go? Yeah, she is trying to jump on this one. Just a skating skill. Stop. So good. The way that she accelerated into that triple lutz on the way down with the music accelerating is so well done. And this is, Wakaba for me is one of those competitors which like you can see in her eyes that she would be like a like a lion in terms of like you know when you you get on the ice and you could look at your other competitors in the eyes and for me I was never like oh it's fine. She would be somebody that you see and you're like yeah I'm gonna stay out of your way. Like you are just you are here and you're here for business and that's what's so cool about her skating. So the way that you're seeing her skate here is similar to what we have been seeing from her. Like the timing of the jumps are just not quite there because of the lack of reps that she's had. So some doubles, some unders, like not in the same sort of category of consistency that she had last season. I also love she's not afraid of the wall. She can't be with that power. Top notch. Oh my god. Right? I love how she just threw up the little Wonder Woman sign. Did you see that? That was crazy. So musical. Oh my gosh. Yeah I just think that like in terms of her skating skill like she is so it's I mean differently but like oh yes. She just does stuff which is insane and what I love is she gives you softness and she also gives you strength. It's not just powerful the whole time. I mean I will say her Lion King free skate is still one of her best ones. This one is up there with her best.