How the heck was Gracie Gold not at Nationals this year? I would love to see her skate with the Seniors next year at Nationals if she qualifies.
She was ill during (Regionals? Sectionals?) and bombed.
Basically, Gracie had a disastrous performance at sectionals and did not make Nationals and they use the results from Nationals to determine who gets spots. They take summer competitions into account too, that's how Gracie got a spot, but her nationals results were not good enough to get too. In reality the only people who got two spots were Courtney Hicks (1st place, Junior) , Vanessa Lam (7th pace, Senior) and Samantha Cesario (Qualified for nationals with a first place at sectionals and regionals but WD). Yasmin Siraj (8th place, senior) also had two spots, but gave one up so she could prepare for Regionals. Ashley Cain (6th junior) ended up getting that second spot
The ones who got one spot were: Lauren Dinh (2nd, junior); Katarina Kulgeykom (3rd, junior); McKinzie Daniels (4th junior); Hannah Miller (1st, novice) and Gracie Gold came to the top for that last spot, beating out Leah Keiser and Angela Wang (who both did not qualify for Nationals).
How the heck was Gracie Gold not at Nationals this year? I would love to see her skate with the Seniors next year at Nationals if she qualifies.
Julia is quite the prodigy, so I'll leave her out of this, but comparing Risa and Gracie is like comparing Abbott and Joubert. If they both skate well, they will get similar big PCS because they are both great skaters. Joubert's big jumps and flashy style have gotten him far even though I find his skating nowhere near as elegant or sophisticated as someone like Abbott, who has a lyrical and somewhat introverted style.
Risa and Gracie do have different styles, but I'm not sure Abbott and Joubert are the right comparison to make. Gracie is a lot more musical than you're suggesting, which I think will be more apparent in her FS tomorrow. The big jumps are just a plus. I actually think Risa has a pretty bold, edgy SP this season (as well as her tango last season), which isn't necessarily her style, and that may be why it didn't work as well for her. Kinda like Abbott's flamenco SP a couple seasons ago, which was gorgeous and extremely intricate but didn't necessarily bring in the big scores. But anyway, good luck to both girls in the FS!
I'm really relieved that [Bobak/Beharry] qualified for the final...it looks like they may be the only Canadians in the field at all. It'll give the audience someone to cheer for.
Well, I can say the same about Gracie's SP. Such a weird version of The sugar plum fairy's dance that doesn't suit her at all. And I didn't like choreography. Risa's SP doesn't suit her either, but at least choreography is better.I actually think Risa has a pretty bold, edgy SP this season (as well as her tango last season), which isn't necessarily her style, and that may be why it didn't work as well for her. Kinda like Abbott's flamenco SP a couple seasons ago, which was gorgeous and extremely intricate but didn't necessarily bring in the big scores.