Rachael defers Stanford, skates for another year?

[FlattFan]

In what year do science undergrad students usually start lab work?

She probably can't AP out of the first year chem class unless she got a 5 on the AP exam, even so, if she wants to go to med school eventually, she would need to take the 31 series. Lectures, mandatory sessions with TA, plus lab, plus everyone's gunning for the top spots, she just can't afford to skate and go to school full time. Let's face it, most of her HS classmates aren't smart. . I know a lot of students took the easier route and went to Santa Clara University to fulfill the chem requirements. Even full time stanford students took the easier way out.

I wouldn't defer college, but I'm no Rachael Flatt. College was all I got. Rachael is brilliant, and she picks the right school. I'm very happy for her.

[prettykeys]

Rachael is wise to defer Stanford for a year to see what she can do with figure skating. As others have said, school can wait, but the peak years for skating competitively are very limited and if she skates her heart out now she can go forward into school later without any regrets (and focus on school, then.) I think it also shows that she does truly love skating, rather than the speculated it's-more-of-a-hobby-for-her-on-her-way-to-another-career, so I respect that.

As for skater's bodies, I am sorry for those who disagree, but Rachael looks completely vibrant and healthy; for me, she has the ideal feminine body type. (I myself have an athletic body type that is a little too much on the slim side--unfortunately, if I try to gain healthy body fat, it unevenly distributes to my tummy and thighs, so I just stick to what I've been given. I'm not saying that others who have this or any other body type can't be beautiful, but balanced and curvy is my favourite.)

Unfortunately, I think it's Rachael's skating, that looks a bit heavy. I don't think it's her body; it's the way she executes her moves, and I hope she improves on her grace and artistry.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/mm/photo/...263407_m14.jpg

[chuckm]

For the past four years, Rachael's divided her time between school and skating, and only a small portion of her training was earmarked for off-ice training, including ballet and strength training. This coming season, Rachael will be able to devote all of her attention to her skating. Let's wait and see what improvements she can make.

[Mathman]

...so I just stick to what I've been given.

You are so wise.

In skating as in life, go with what you got.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/mm/photo/...263407_m14.jpg

[R.D.]

About the controversy over Rachael's scores at U.S. Nationals and then at the Olympics, I think the only thing for certain is that it brings the judging system into the crossfires again.

My personal opinion (many agree, including the NBC television commentators) is that Mirai should have won U.S. Nationals. But she didn't, despite a rousing performance, because of two under-rotation calls.

At the Olympics, I think Rachael should have placed fifth. But she didn't, despite a rousing performance, because of two under-rotation calls.

In both cases the jumps in question seemed no worse than many others in the competition that were ratified. This leaves the impression -- at least for me it did -- that the new judging system is just as whimsical as the old. It leaves the impression that it is the technical panel and the judges that are deciding the contest, not the athletes on the ice.

I don't know if there is any cure for this problem. Figure skating is a judged sport. The athletes just have to grin and bear it.

Precisely. IMHO, they gave Nagasu's 2nd US title to Rachel Flatt.

And possibly, Flatt's title to Czisny in 2009...

You pointed out more succinctly than I could why I'm so frustrated with the scoring right now. I may not even watch any more comps until something is done about this ridiculous downgrade rule. Hell, with no skating on TV anyway this'll be easy.

[Mathman]

There are other judged sports where artistry is a factor: Diving, Gymnastics, Children's Pagaents.

I have been thinking some more about the music factor, and this is what I came up with. What every successful spectator sport needs is an emotional hook to draw in the attention of the audience. Baseball is a very exciting sport to watch because a baseball game is packed solid with little emotional peaks and valleys, with crescendos and diminuendos, and occasionally a cymbal-crashing climax.

The base-runner leans off first base. Is the hit-and-run on? Here comes the pitch. The catcher has called for a pitch-out! The runner is dead meat! Horray for the home team!

Without that emotional commitment, it is just some overgrown boys hitting a ball with a stick.

In figure skating, never mind "artistry," I think the role of the music is to provide the setting for that kind of emotional commitment on the part of the audience.

Hongbo Zhao flings Xue Shen halfway across the rink -- OK.

Hongbo Zhao flings Xue Shen halfway across the rink to the achingly beautiful strains of Nessun Dorma -- not a dry eye in the house!

[FlattFan]

About the controversy over Rachael's scores at U.S. Nationals and then at the Olympics, I think the only thing for certain is that it brings the judging system into the crossfires again.

My personal opinion (many agree, including the NBC television commentators) is that Mirai should have won U.S. Nationals. But she didn't, despite a rousing performance, because of two under-rotation calls.

At the Olympics, I think Rachael should have placed fifth. But she didn't, despite a rousing performance, because of two under-rotation calls.

In both cases the jumps in question seemed no worse than many others in the competition that were ratified. This leaves the impression -- at least for me it did -- that the new judging system is just as whimsical as the old. It leaves the impression that it is the technical panel and the judges that are deciding the contest, not the athletes on the ice.

I don't know if there is any cure for this problem. Figure skating is a judged sport. The athletes just have to grin and bear it.

There's a difference. Mirai's underrotated jumps were visible during real time. At slow mo, they became even more apparent.
Rachael's flips underrotation weren't visible. Even Sandra Bezic said if she can execute a triple flip triple toe cleanly, how could the flip be underrotated and didn't agree with the call.
I think the fairest way is to attach some kind of device to track revolution and mark it accordingly. The technical specialists can join the Michigan auto workers at the breadline.

[Mathman]

Precisely. IMHO, they gave Nagasu's 2nd US title to Rachel Flatt.

And possibly, Flatt's title to Czisny in 2009...

On the third hand, they might have given Rachael's first U.S. championship -- 2008 -- to Mirai. (Rachael won the LP. Mirai was third. But Mirai got some big (inflated?) scores in the SP and was able to hold on, much as Alissa did in 1009.)

I may not even watch any more comps until something is done about this ridiculous downgrade rule.

You're in luck! They just changed the rule!

http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sho...nder-rotations

[R.D.]

You're in luck! They just changed the rule!

http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sho...nder-rotations

*golf clap*

now THAT is fair. "Downgrade" only if it's underrotated more than 1/2 turn. We're actually getting somewhere now. Someone over at ISU FINALLY "gets it".

ETA: Of course, the judges still have the power between choosing between a "full jump" and "1/4 under" jump. At least there won't be as big a penalty but still...well, let's see.

[Mathman]

*golf clap*

I love this board. I had to check that out on the online urban dictionary.

[silverlake22]

Precisely. IMHO, they gave Nagasu's 2nd US title to Rachel Flatt.

And possibly, Flatt's title to Czisny in 2009...

You pointed out more succinctly than I could why I'm so frustrated with the scoring right now. I may not even watch any more comps until something is done about this ridiculous downgrade rule. Hell, with no skating on TV anyway this'll be easy.

Yeah agreed. Although I don't think Rachael should have been 5th in Vancouver, Miki had a clean LP too and clean Miki trumps clean Rachael any day - Miki has better speed, better jumps, better spins, better stretch. I think Rachael should have been 6th though ahead of Lepisto because Laura had the 3t-2t as her combo in the SP and doubled a jump in the long, while Rachael landed and seemingly rotated all her triples.

[R.D.]

I dunno. I think Nagasu earned her 2008 title fair and square. The past two years, though, the judging has been suspect...I feel that since there hasn't been a clear leader, there's a bit of influence going on BTS. Oh well, whatever.

[princess9]

ITA. I am not the biggest Racheal fan, but skated like a champion in Vancouver when it counted but was not scored as such. I didn't see anything wrong with her jumps then nor do I now. Yes, sometimes her jumps look borderline to me and she does not get called out on it, but they looked very clean in Vancouver. I don't know what Racheal did to tick the tech caller off, but I think it really played with her confidence at worlds where she did not skate up to par.

Exactly my intuition about Worlds, Tiny! You could see the confusion/disappointment in her face as she rec'd her scores at Olys. Miki's LP was laborious and slow and no fun to watch. I think Miki should quit competing. Her gala skates are so much better. She looks happy when not competing! This woman is a world champion and has been on the scene a long time. The judges do give points for that.

And they clearly like Laura Lepisto a lot. She certainly LOOKS great and is a pleasant skater but technically? I think we will see great effort from Flatt and while she is never going to look like Sasha, she will improve her line and her posture. I really enjoyed her spunky SP and though there are more talented skaters around, she does deliver a clean and joyous program. It is so great to see beautiful Alissa do her spins/spirals but its not worth watching the nerves/splatfests for moments of beauty. Kwan was great because she was so "solid." Imagine what Rachael might have accomplished if she were a full time skater like most of them?

In a sport where many great champions peak at 16, 17 we have to remember some people are great at an older age. Kristi at 28 was still competitive with most eligibles or could have been had she chosen. Olympic gold was her beginning. She was not a great artistic skater then but she became IMO the most exquisite woman. Rachael won't be in for a long time because she has other plans for her life, so we are not likely going to see all she can do. She knows Mirai will be the focus anyway. Look at the women she is skating against. The heavily favored Kim, the awesome Asada. The sophisticated heroine Rochette. Did she do a bad job for us? I'm so sick of the nasty comments about the hair bump and her neck. She's still a great skater. Yes, she was tinier 3 years ago and maybe she could get in better shape with off ice work. But she IS a student/athlete. Emphasis on the STUDENT. Flatt! Not your ordinary bunhead!

[Tonichelle]

I love this board. I had to check that out on the online urban dictionary.

seriously? you DIDN'T KNOW what a golf clap was?

[Mathman]

^ But in compensation, I can remember when Eisenhower was President and Ozzie and Harriet was the big TV show (not that anyone had a TV).