Gao beat Kanako and Polina? Hmm, I just can't see it. Her jumps are OK and she is cute enough to look at, but the "inbetweens" just are not up to the level of the rest of field. Even Baga's execution of her program content is so much better.Originally Posted by silverlake22
Having seen all of these ladies live - Kanako twice (lucky me) I just don't see why the "next one" is Gao.
And speaking of Angela - Maxwell over Gao everytime! Too bad Angela is injured. Hope she's better for JR World's!
First of all, I don't think any US lady will surpass Abbott in popularity going into the Olys. It just isn't a Lady's Year. Having said that,back to the US Nats:
Sasha and Rachael seem to be the top Faves for Nats' results, and will go quietly unto the Olys. But the bronze medalist, which is up for grabs,will also go to Worlds since I don't think Sasha will stretch her return that far.
We will be speaking of this later on another topic thread, but we need 13 points at Worlds to have 3 Ladies next season. I'm not sure the Selection Committe is aware of that from recent events.
Baga fell 3 times at the JGPF though and managed to get two JGP golds despite not skating very well at either competition.
Kanako is good, but I really don't see all this hype about Polina, she's kinda boring. The other thing is Kanako always gets edge calls for her lutz and her 3t-3t is often UR. It really just depends on how they all do there, Mirai won senior US nationals in 2008 then went on to Jr. Worlds and struggled a bit to finish 3rd. At this point I think Gao, Murakami, and Shelepen are all about even.
I agree that Angela is better though, it's just that after last year when she got 8th place when she should have been in the top 5 I kind of just accepted that the USFSA would keep her down in the scores. I didn't know she was injured though, that's too bad
To help jump-start some last-second discussion of ladies before the SP on Thursday, Sylvia (Thanks FSO) has been tweeting practice info from today's session:
http://twitter.com/SylviaUnseen
[Ashley] Wagner's FS run thru: 3F-2T-2T, 3Lo, spirals into 2A, 3S, 3Lo-2A seq, 3F-2A(ur?), 3Lz off-balance.[Caroline] Zhang also landed 3F-3T, 3Lo-2T-'tano 2Lo, 3Lo, and several 3S. Only saw 1 fall and 1 step out -- both on 3F.Czisny did a FS run thru, landing 3Lz-2T, 3F, 3Lo, 2A, 3Lz, 3T-turns-2T, 3T fall. Afterwards she landed 2A-2A seq., 3Lz-2T, 3Lo & 3T, etc.[Mirai] Nagasu ran thru her SP: 3Lz-2T, 3F, 2A. Some of her Lutz & flip landings looked iffy but some had good flow out as well.1st official practice for Sr ladies at Eagles rink has started. Sasha's SP music was just played.--she's not here.
As we know, practice means nada when it comes to competition, but it does give an idea of how far the skaters have progressed since the fall. Everyone seems to be in good shape based on those tweets.
^^Thanks for the update RD.
Sasha wasn't even there for practice?
Sasha trained on Tuesday morning in LA and then later flew to Spokane.
Mr Nicks said Sasha would first practice in Spokane at Wednesday's training sessions.
So no, she did not get off the plane and rush to practice last night.
Her first practice in Spokane is supposed to be today.
Don't be so nervous kandidy - Sasha will practice today and skate tomorrow.
Thnks for your clarification.Sasha trained on Tuesday morning in LA and then later flew to Spokane.
Mr Nicks said Sasha would first practice in Spokane at Wednesday's training sessions.
So no, she did not get off the plane and rush to practice last night.
Her first practice in Spokane is supposed to be today.
Don't be so nervous kandidy - Sasha will practice today and skate tomorrow.I'm so nervous afraid she was just doing kind of " I came to Spokane, but just for commercial and broadcast thing lol"
Hey with Sasha we never know...........but it's part of her charmThnks for your clarification.
I saw the practice yesterday (on tv), and these were my observations-
Flatt looked the slowest and most labored.
Mirai skated the fastest and looked the most polished. Did someone sprinkle fairy dust on that girl's skates? (But she stole Sahsa's signature, end of the program spin. tsk tsk)
Wagner had an expression of pure determination on her face when she finished her run-through. It would have made me cower.
Alissa looked very relaxed and confident.
That's my biased but completely honest opinion, just for a different, non-technical POV.
Oh, and I think its going to be a fierce competition.
Last edited by Dark-Eyes; 01-20-2010 at 08:04 AM.
I saw the practice yesterday (on tv), and these were my observations-
Flatt looked the slowest and most labored.
Mirai skated the fastest and looked the most polished. Did someone sprinkle fairy dust on that girl's skates? (But she stole Sahsa's signature, end of the program spin. tsk tsk)
Wagner had an expression of pure determination on her face when she finished her run-through. It would have made me cower.
Alissa looked very relaxed and confident.
That's my biased but completely honest opinion, just for a different, non-technical POV.
Oh, and I think its going to be a fierce competition.
I agree - I am incredibly excited to see how everything plays out. Thank you for your observations. If you go to the practice today, we would all really appreciate more observations, especially about Sasha!
Caroline is landing triple - triples? and 'tanos? How dare she?? Doesn't she know NBC already picked Sasha and Rachael to win? Doesn't she know ratings and sponsorship money are on the line?
Somebody go out there and straighten her out right now!!
Well Bob, you're in MA so you know redemption is possible!! Keep hope alive!
Hey Bob many would be delighted to see Caroline skate great and win the title.Caroline is landing triple - triples? and 'tanos? How dare she?? Doesn't she know NBC already picked Sasha and Rachael to win? Doesn't she know ratings and sponsorship money are on the line?
Somebody go out there and straighten her out right now!!
Maybe she has been sandbagging us all season and is gonna surprise the heck out of us at Natls!
Go Caroline!
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