It is a bit early to say that about Mirai no?Since when did she ever start her season with a +160-170 score..
I am more interested to see the actual program and it's potential..
Anyway,very impressive by Hicks!She seems to be in a very good place right know and hopefully she will get that Skate America slot.
The other American ladies needs to bring their A game this fall, really exciting!I wonder about the potential for Hicks to score even higher?
I just hope her programs looks a bit more refined this year..
What, no love for Polina? I think I am going to pay attention to this girl for the next few years. She is tall and gangly right now but she has presence and when she fills out those long arms and legs could be like weapons racking up GOE points.
Hicks did well here, but...can she keep it up?
This season is a marathon, not a sprint...so we'll see who impresses when it counts most. That said, she has to like where she is now.
I suppose I can forgive her this competition b/c it is August and she did just get back from Japan and any other excuse we want to use. The point of the matter is this kind of skating will not fly on the GP this year...not at all. I think both programs have potential but Mirai is going to need 100% more energy/life/personality/charisma/spark than she showed here. She needs to rewatch her 2010 national performances to remind herself of how to sell a program.
I don't want to write Mirai off yet but this competition did not inspire much confidence. Courtney OTOH seems to be making her case early for that 3rd spot. I'll admit she's moved up on my list of potentials...and Mirai has moved down. It doesn't matter that it's early. Every competition counts this year for anyone who isn't Ashley or Gracie when it comes to who is going to get that spot.
Like FlattFan said, Mirai isn't really an underdog anymore. In the fans' eyes I believe she is but she's not from the judges' standpoint. She's finished out of the top 5 two years in a row and her results on the GP have consistently been mediocre over the last few years. They will not be throwing her any bones this year, not when there are so many promising young skaters coming up behind her who are clearly the future. Last time around Mirai was the obvious future star of US skating...that's not the case this time.
I would love to see Mirai magically cure all of her issues and skate to her potential. I'm not sure how likely that is right now. She has an uphill battle and she has far less room for error than anyone else...my fingers are always crossed for her but, to be honest, I'm very skeptical of how far she can go this season.
I agree with this assessment. After watching the new Bond LP, I am not feeling optimistic. The program didn't thrill me, nor did Mirai's skating. Her jumps, speed, spins, performance level, everything, looked about the same as last year. And the program is not so great. Too many music cuts; the cuts don't seem to be in the best order; and the choreography looks ho-hum. And yes, it will suffer in comparison to Yuna's 2010 SP. Why invite those comparisons, which will not be in Mirai's favor??
Here is a close-up of Mirai's LP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVIufDAjIgc
she looks so tired in this close-up. Although it is a lackluster performance this time, I just have a soft spot for Mirai, whenever she steps onto the ice.
Mirai still has stamina issues, her spins are awfully slow too
Hicks did well here, but...can she keep it up?
This season is a marathon, not a sprint...so we'll see who impresses when it counts most. That said, she has to like where she is now.
She's finished out of the top 5 two years in a row and her results on the GP have consistently been mediocre over the last few years.
I would love to see Mirai magically cure all of her issues and skate to her potential.