2015 US Nationals Senior Ladies FS Jan 24

[Nan]

Congratulations to Ashley Wagner! Everything about her program was terrific, she delivered it with energy, style and she deserved the win.

 

[smarts1]

Does anyone know if Adam did both Ashley's SP and LP choreography?

He only did the SP, but apparently, he was not good at constructing it so they needed to bring in Cindy Stuart to fix the program.

Shae Lynn Bourne did Ashley's LP.

 

[deneuved]

I am definitely not a specialist hen it comes to technical finesses like transitions and stuff. I can judge the jumps, the underrotations and the spins maybe. What I can certainly judge from a more amateur point of view is that the fact if a programme captures the audience or not. Last night, Ashley was on fire and it showed in any gesture that she is giving everything she has. And people recognize that. Gracie, on the other hand, while probably the more gifted skater per se is on the verge of boring people. Yes, her jumps are there (minus flip), yes, the spins are there, and still she is - for me - totally replaceable by many of the ice princesses we had in the past (I feel the same about Mao Asada btw) - all pretty but along those well-known lines. No, no, give me some Ashleys any day.

 

[cl2]

"Ego" in its original Fruedian definition, as well as in religious and spiritual teachings, is about a part of self, mostly conscious and rational or constructed with beliefs, the self that one is aware of. These days, it often means self esteem. As such, no one can be successful without a strong ego. But these days it's also a common synonym for "pride" or "arrogance" when it's "hefty" as is used in recent posts. But by any definition, "ego" is an inner part of self whereas "arrogance" is perceived from observation of one's words and behavior.

Some people are careful with their words and behavior to exhibit humility, a popularly exalted trait taken to be the opposite of "hefty ego". It's culturally correct and good for one's image and PR. But by any definition, no champions can be without an ego, a hefty one if it means self esteem and believing in one's own ability and deservedness. The difference between Ashley and those model champions is not so much about their egos but how they express themselves. Ashley simply offers more of a revelation of her real thoughts and feelings, or ego, by being much less filtered. Personally, I appreciate such opportunity to study a champion's mindset.

:agree: Thanks for your level-headed analysis!

 

[auga]

I think the next Olympic champion will be Karen Chen-she is the whole package-speed, power, jumps and flexibility. She is better than the Russians, except for Eliza perhaps..

She lost to Russian skaters her age on the junior grand prix. And she is underrotating jumps already at age 15. She is not the whole package, a label that has been applied far too liberally to skaters in the past, to their detriment. People used to say Nagasu and Zhang were the whole package...

 

[whatif]

LMFAO at Ahsley's TES.

I think US judges are doing a great disservice to Wagner by handing out these scores. It's going to be a very rude awakening for her in Shanghai and that's just cruel.

 

[Mrs. P]

Richard Sherman once declared, "I am the best corner(back) in the game!" after winning he kept quarterback Colin Kapernick from successfully passing the ball for the NFC title last year. For days, people called him a thug and other names. He later help his team win its first Superbowl and the will take try to make it back-to-back next week.

So Ashley should just keep what's she doing cause clearly whatever it is, it's working.

As for the scores, again, I think the skaters know they are inflated. Ashley is not stupid to think she is going to receive world record scores when her best international score to date is a shade under 130.

FWIW, her TES PB is 66 points from 4cc 2012. She got 65 with a UR in the 3l-1l-3s combo. So 70 is obtainable.

The PCS was probably more crazy, 9 points above her pcs from Sochi.

 

[OS]

I don't blame Ashley for this attitude. Anyone been following her career will have seen the amount of unfair bash she got from US nationals over the years and especially last year, for basically messed up her performance and still being sent to the Olympics instead of Mirai. (For the record, I have always supported her spot, but had problem with Polina sent instead of Mirai since the same reason used to send Ashley should have applied to send Mirai equally, not applied loosely and selectively - the excuses were bordered line on ridiculous, Polina's Russianess helps her selection. *** is this 1930s?!) It must have made Wagner feel undeserved for an Olympics spot, even though she did deliver at these Olympics, her mark felt repressed relative to Gracie's, so basically she has to claw her reputation back up all this year. The fact Gracie had injury and miss out the GPF really boosted her momentum + federation support. She took entire advantage of that. 3lz3t is pretty impressive for Ashley after talking about it forever, UR or not.

Her comments were clearly someone who feels vindicated. Similar to the ones Jeremy goes through and then lashed out which I entirely feel sympathised with. They are survivors. One thing I have noticed about US Champions while it may all be hunky dory as long as they keep winning, but the moment they don't, they are in danger of getting discarded, politically bashed and trashed talked like crazy over the smallest things. Federation playing favourites doesn't help either, it is too fickle minded. I bet Gracie is mad now how she is clearly passed over this Nationals, the enormous gap was too obvious. Overtime, no one can survive this sort of pressurised environment without develop some healthy self defensive mechanism and ego. If the world is against you, it is the only way to survive and fight back... which old timers like Jeremy and Ashley have all got, Adam probably gained quite a bit, and soon Gracie.

 

[karlowens2]

However, these three were basically child stars and everything came relatively easy.

I agree if you look at early performances of Mao and Caro they could do everything. But, at a place in their career what they did in the past no longer worked. Mao had a few years when she was reworking her jumping technique and was hit or miss in competitions. Caro really went thtough it alsmost quiting altogether in 2010 only to come back beautifully in time for Oly 2014; she's a miracle.

Ashley hit a wall and seems to be moving past it. Gracie may have her own wall to face and overcome. Isn't this why sport inspires?

I'm a big Kerrigan fan. If you compare those nail-biting performances of the early 90's with the asurance and command of Lilihammer it's not the same skater. I can't imagine what she put herself through to get there.

I come out of classical music. It's not uncommon for a pianist or a singer to stumble across the issue that has limited them. Suddenly pianists are playing things they never imagined they could and singers find an extra octrave of 'gold'.

I hope this compeition helps US ladies believe that they CAN win.

 

[ks777]

Richard Sherman once declared, "I am the best corner(back) in the game!" after winning he kept quarterback Colin Kapernick from successfully passing the ball for the NFC title last year. For days, people called him a thug and other names. He later help his team win its first Superbowl and the will take try to make it back-to-back next week.

So Ashley should just keep what's she doing cause clearly whatever it is, it's working.

That's because Crabtree kept calling Sherman "mediocre" before the game.

 

[Violet Bliss]

Richard Sherman once declared, "I am the best corner(back) in the game!" after winning he kept quarterback Colin Kapernick from successfully passing the ball for the NFC title last year. For days, people called him a thug and other names. He later help his team win its first Superbowl and the will take try to make it back-to-back next week.

So Ashley should just keep what's she doing cause clearly whatever it is, it's working.

Mohammed Ali called himself "The Greatest" and many people felt he was entitled because he delivered.

Such bragging is much better accepted in more macho sports and the athletes work to earn the bragging rights.

 

[ks777]

My favorite last night was Mariah Bell. Hopefully she gets to go to 4CC.

 

[aftertherain]

Another one from my YouTube channel:

U.S. Nationals 2015 - Samantha Cesario FS NBC (1080p HD)

U.S. Nationals 2015 - Mariah Bell FS NBC (1080p HD)

i've been looking forward to these, thanks!!!

 

[Mrs. P]

That's because Crabtree kept calling Sherman "mediocre" before the game.

Oh yeah. Still I remmember numerous articles afterward and comments of how thuggish the comment was. And this is in football. So I'm not surprised a figure skater get just as much, if not more constrination over similar comments.

 

[tulosai]

LMFAO at Ahsley's TES.

I think US judges are doing a great disservice to Wagner by handing out these scores. It's going to be a very rude awakening for her in Shanghai and that's just cruel.

While the scores for all the top skaters (particularly the top 3) were craaaaaazy inflated, I can guarantee you that Ashley does not think she's going to get those scores in Shanghai. The skaters are not brain dead or total morons. Just like us, they get that they would not receive these scores internationally and that Nationals inflation exists..

 

[whatif]

I can bet with anyone that Ashley will never crack 70 in TES internationally with even a remotely strict tech panel. Not with those jumps and spins.

I am sure she will go back to flips at Worlds, which would be smart. But her second jumps in the combos and salchow ALWAYS warrant a replay.

 

[R.D.]

For some reason, the "he" amused the crap out of me... must be the sleepies but spot on analysis (aside from the Kwan comparison, no need to be as overblown as the scores...) and here's hoping for worlds...

You, of course, are free to prefer MK - but this isn't about comparison of performance, it is a comparison of moments.

When was TRULY the last time there was a performance like this in ladies, at US Nationals, SINCE Kwan? There have been many clean skates in the past 10 years, but I remember watching that skate by MK in '04 and that was a MOMENT. None of the other performances since then have given me that feeling- but last night's by Wagner came very, very close. It's a moment because, as she put it so bluntly afterward, it's a "Now you REALLY need to take me seriously" kind of skate. It remains to be seen whether she can duplicate or top that at worlds, but there were LOTS of people (me included at times) that had her out of the picture, thought her best days were behind her, she peaked in 2012 but apparently not. This is some of her best skating yet.

That said, the score was laughable but it's nationals, I'm not going to make a big deal out of it. Unlike in the past, it's pretty hard to dispute THIS win by Wagner. I just hope she realizes there's still room for improvement - the level issues on the spin and potential edge issues with the 3Z will be a much bigger issue on the world stage. She still has work to do, as solid an effort as this was.

I'm glad she [Nagasu] was able to finish, but I don't agree she was "doing so well" up to that point. She tried five jumps before she fell and < two of them, including a double toe.

No...I meant up until her freak fall into the "boards".

 

[whatif]

While the scores for all the top skaters (particularly the top 3) were craaaaaazy inflated, I can guarantee you that Ashley does not think she's going to get those scores in Shanghai. The skaters are not brain dead or total morons. Just like us, they get that they would not receive these scores internationally and that Nationals inflation exists..

I hope so, but the internet memes with her KandC reactions so far have proven otherwise. I actually like her and hope she can medal.

 

[Matilda]

I loved Ashley's performance last night--the woman is spunky and fierce as all get out!

I must say that I find criticism of Ashley being too outspoken and "cocky" very troubling. I have a nagging feeling that if she was male, many of those critics would find the self-confidence and outspokenness simply the sign of a tough athlete. Well, she is. These women are hard-working athletes and fierce competitors. As Johnny put it so well last night, ladies' figure skating is "brass knuckles under velvet gloves".

Stay true to yourself Ashley, and let your confidence and competitiveness shine!

 

[tulosai]

Teams (minus men) are announced:
http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story...897&type=media

Surprised Mirai got an alternate spot for Worlds. Otherwise basically as expected except for that I did not think Ashley, Polina, and Gracie would ALL do 4CCs. Good for them though.