Senior Ladies Free Skate at 7:00 pm EST. | Page 19 | Golden Skate

Senior Ladies Free Skate at 7:00 pm EST.

Joined
Jun 21, 2003
By the way, on Christina's perfect 800 on her math SAT, less than 1 percent (0.8%) of students achieved that last year.
 

drivingmissdaisy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
I think the muscular look comes from the fact she is wearing a sleeveless dress. I do not particularly like the look, and I remember even Sasha Cohen looked more muscular when wearing this type of dress.
 

pangtongfan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Alissa seems to have fallen into the pattern of skating like a zombie up until she has that first fall that takes her out of contention. Once that's settled then she can relax and skate her best.

Good on Rachael! Good on Caroline! Good on Christina!

If Ashley skates like that, I don't see why she can't aim for the podium at worlds.

If she is scored the way she has been in the past by international judges she has no shot even if she skates her best BUT now as U.S Champion they might pay her more respect and see her scores rise appropriately relative to how she skates. I think they saw her as a second tier American lost in the shuffle in the past. Still based on the GP scoring they see someone like Leonova well above her (a bad Leonova beat a good Ashley in their head to head meeting) so alot will have had to changed with the judges for her to have a podium shot.
 

pangtongfan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Well that was an all-around sucky event! Kudos to Ashley, Caroline and Christina...the rest were a hot mess!

Ashley: She put her boot where her mouth was and I'm very happy for her.:) Ashley has been very determined all year long and I'm glad to see it work out for her. I have a lot of respect for people who can put it out there when it counts and that's what she did. I hope she's able to have a similar program at worlds. If she can be strong there and Alissa doesn't implode, those three spots could actually be a possibility this year.

Alissa: Well, in terms of her down-years, this one isn't so bad. Usually she'd have ended up 9th or 11th, but 2nd is damn good considering what she put out. I don't disagree with the results though. She fought her way through the rest of that program and that's the difference in her placement. Alissa is the 2nd best person to send to worlds so I'm glad she's going, but she can't expect to make the podium or even make top 5 skating like that. I hate that freakin' dress! SPEW!! She usually has such good fashion sense. For the US's sake, I hope Alissa pulls herself together. She's been fragile all season long. She needs to rediscover some of that focus, confidence and strength she has last season...

Agnes: I was proud of her for her SP, but not for one minute did I think she was going to win this. Agnes is not a long program skater...I can't remember the last time I saw her give a solid LP. Still, I hope she realizes that if she ever gets her act together she will be tough to beat. Her jumps are gorgeous but her nerves will keep her out of that number one spot every time. It was very sweet to see Ashley comforting her after the competition...

Caroline: I AM SO PROUD OF HER!!:clap: I can't believe how far she's turned herself around! She was only about a point away from bronze! Other than the step out on the flip, she was wonderful. Obviously, she still needs work: her lutz is as flutzy as ever and she doesn't have a salchow, also her spins (except her kick-@$$ layback) looked very slow...but she's a work in progress. She wasn't as good in this program in terms of really feeling the music and selling it. Undoubtedly she was concentrating on the jumps and good on her b/c it paid off. I hope she continues to work and improve. What a comeback story! I'm so proud!!:biggrin:

Christina: Very proud of her too. I think this might be the third year in a row she's been 5th but it's not a terrible place to be. Her jumps were very lovely and I'm happy she was able to settle herself and skate her program relatively cleanly. Her 3f-3t was gorgeous and the only 3-3 in the last group. Christina's still a little awkward looking on her feet but with a little more refinement, she'd be a lovely skater. I'm happy for her for having such a good skate.

Rachael: Naturally, she wasn't going to be anywhere near that podium and rightly so, but congrats to her for pulling off a mostly clean skate. I don't think she'll gain anything from continuing to compete. Her podium days are pretty much over but she's got a bright academic future ahead of her and I think that is what she should focus on. I don't know how good her chances are of getting a GP next year and, in the future, I seriously doubt she'll be in contention for an Olympic spot. She's had a successful figure skating career but IMO her time has passed.

Mirai: I'm officially done with Mirai at this point. :scowl: The crappy programs, the lifeless skating...I can't do it anymore with her. I give up. I'm sick of her bullsh*t excuses. Did anyone hear what she said when she came off the ice? Right before they went on commercial break, you can hear Mirai say, "I don't know what happened. I think I was focusing too much on my facial expressions..." and then it cut off. What facial expressions?! I saw the same dead-in-the-face look she always has. I'm sick of Mirai at this point. She's not the skater I thought she'd be when I saw her at nationals in 2010. She's obviously missing something and it appears to be something that Frank cannot give her.

I'm happy with the results. Congrats to Ashley, the new US champ...she deserves it. I think Alissa has a lot of work to do before nationals but I really hope she does it...we need her to do well. So who is going to 4CC? Ashley, Alissa and Agnes? (triple A!):laugh:

I agree with everything you said.
 

Chris_E

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 14, 2005
It is amazing to think there are atleast 6 women with a good shot at making the U.S Olympic team for 2014- Wagner, Czisny, Agnes, Gold, Nagasu, and now Zhang. Maybe a 7th with Gao and maybe some more to come. Other than the certainty Flatt wont make it (if she is even still competing by 2014) it is hard to predict what will happen.

Yes, completely agree. I hope that they continue to challenge each other to become better skaters. I think that's what's happening and why we've seen Ashley fight back to a National title and Caroline working so hard to fix her jumps and get back on the podium. Really great to see. Perhaps Alissa has inspired them that hard work will pay off, even if it takes a few seasons.
 

WeakAnkles

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Just a few random notes...

Caroline Zhang's final spin may be one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. And the comeback trail sure is a prettier place to be than being put out to pasture.

Rachel Flatt...uhm. Pretty dress. And when your pasture is Stanford University, that's not a bad thing. Is it?

I actually thought Alissa Czissny's dress was quite beautiful, as is the program. Quiet sophistication is a difficult thing to pull off.

Agnes...dear, Gershwin is so not the music for you. You may be a big jumper, but that music is too big for you. Find yourself a nice soundtrack that hasn't been done to death. Big, but not bombastic (or, unlike the Gershwin, too familiar, which can create unreasonable expectations). You'll be glad you did. ETA: And for those who read Tom & Lorenzo, I can just hear them say, you need to get yourself some good gays. You're a pretty woman, but you're being styled as a tacky nightmare. Quiet sophistication may be a difficult thing to pull off, but I think it could do wonders for you..

Ashley Wagner. Well yes, all things considered, she did earn that title, but am I the only one who finds some of the choreography a bit strange? I think it may be those periodic staccato arm movements. Softer, dear, softer. And I wish she would hold the endings of her jumps just a tad longer. It would give the program a far more "finished" look.

Mirai...oh dear. I think the first thing someone needs to do is have Frank write 1000 times on a blackboard, Mirai is not Michelle Kwan. Mirai is not Michelle Kwan. That music just screamed Michelle Kwan to me. And it simply doesn't fit Mirai's personality. In fact, as much as I think Frank is a wonderful coach, I think Mirai should seriously consider asking Mr Nicks if there is room for her. It's the Bela Karoli trick: pit two top prospects (in this case, Mirai and Ashley) in practice on a daily basis, and let their competitive spirit take over, so that they push each other on a daily basis. It's certainly done wonders for Jeremy Abbot and Adam Rippon this season...

As always, YMMV!
 
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Joined
Mar 14, 2006
^ Skateluvr, I actually disagreed with you on this one above.

I guess it does seem like an insult to call a woman skater masculine. That could be questioned, but for now I just beg to differ about Agnes.

For some reason she's been going in for big, brassy, jazzy music. She does it well because she skates big. I'd like to see that big style in a romantic warhorse with softer packaging. She could look grand instead of hard.

Look at the pictures on her website. She's a beauty! It's just not coming through in her costumes and makeup.
http://www.figureskatersonline.com/agneszawadzki/

ETA: Weakankles, I agree about Caroline's spin. Her Biellmann was jawdropping!
 
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lmarie086

Medalist
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Just realized- Ashley is the same age that Sasha was when she won her first title. Their careers may not have been at the same stages, but I just thought it was interesting to think about. :)

So happy for her-was a bit disappointed that NBC didn't air the medal ceremony!
 

icellist

On the Ice
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Just a thought that popped up when I took a shower, there is still the world team trophy. if the world team trophy picks skaters by season's best ranking, most likely it will be Alissa and Ashley (will the points she'll get from 4CC and worlds). If the world team trophy picks skaters by world ranking, it will be Alissa and Mirai because Ashley won't garner enough points from 4CC and worlds to catch up to Mirai (even if she wins the events). And the next closest skater is Rachael and Agnes. Rachael can't get anymore points and Agnes would have to win Worlds to catch up, 4CC doesn't give enough points.

so do we know if they choose by world or seasons ranking?
 

gold12345

Medalist
Joined
Dec 14, 2007
If she is scored the way she has been in the past by international judges she has no shot even if she skates her best BUT now as U.S Champion they might pay her more respect and see her scores rise appropriately relative to how she skates. I think they saw her as a second tier American lost in the shuffle in the past. Still based on the GP scoring they see someone like Leonova well above her (a bad Leonova beat a good Ashley in their head to head meeting) so alot will have had to changed with the judges for her to have a podium shot.

I don't see this win making a difference. I doubt the judges really care where skaters finish at their respective National Championships (except, maybe, in ice dance). What holds Ashley back internationally is that she flutzes, tends to 2-ft jumps, doesn't have great flexibility/spins (getting better though), doesn't have a reliable 3-3, and just doesn't stand out artistically (getting better though). Her best qualities are selling her programs and skating solidly. If others skate well, someone like Ashley would have trouble making a World podium, absolutely. But she has definitely held her own internationally. She has several strong finishes in GP events. And if she just skates well at Worlds, regardless of finish, it would be a great success. The last time she was there, she was a wreck.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Ashley Wagner. Well yes, all things considered, she did earn that title, but am I the only one who finds some of the choreography a bit strange? I think it may be those periodic staccato arm movements.

I think she was trying to be Natalie Portman sprouting feathers after going off her rocker and stabbing her imagined rival?
 

sky_fly20

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Ashley won ? that was indeed a surprise, anyways congrats to her.
I think Alissa and Ashley for Worlds would be solid enough.
 

meem

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Wow - can't believe it's the same girl! While watching the LP tonight I thought, "Agnes...you need a better hairstyle; this one's too harsh". If she cut her hair, had a softer style, and then invested in some modern, soft costumes, she'd have a whole new look. Her SP and LP costumes remind me of the Jill Trenary days (too much sparkle, brash colors, etc).

snip
I guess it does seem like an insult to call a woman skater masculine. That could be questioned, but for now I just beg to differ about Agnes.

For some reason she's been going in for big, brassy, jazzy music. She does it well because she skates big. I'd like to see that big style in a romantic warhorse with softer packaging. She could look grand instead of hard.

Look at the pictures on her website. She's a beauty! It's just not coming through in her costumes and makeup.
http://www.figureskatersonline.com/agneszawadzki/

snip
 

kwanatic

Check out my YT channel, Bare Ice!
Record Breaker
Joined
May 19, 2011
Mirai...oh dear. I think the first thing someone needs to do is have Frank write 1000 times on a blackboard, Mirai is not Michelle Kwan. Mirai is not Michelle Kwan. That music just screamed Michelle Kwan to me. And it simply doesn't fit Mirai's personality. In fact, as much as I think Frank is a wonderful coach, I think Mirai should seriously consider asking Mr Nicks if there is room for her. It's the Bela Karoli trick: pit two top prospects (in this case, Mirai and Ashley) in practice on a daily basis, and let their competitive spirit take over, so that they push each other on a daily basis. It's certainly done wonders for Jeremy Abbot and Adam Rippon this season...

It'd be sad that Mirai would have to encroach on Ashley's territory (ie. working with Nicks) just to get some motivation out of her. I just don't think she wants it bad enough. Call Ashley cocky or overconfident, but at least she knows what she wants and attacks for it. Ashley made visible changes to her skating and now she's reaping the rewards for the hard work she's put in. I've never heard Mirai say anything but "I want to be the best"... It's easy enough to say that but her actions have never reflected that statement. We get the same stories we've been getting since she was 15 about how she's lazy and lacks the motivation to practice and that she's emotional or she let's the negative voices get in...I'm sick of the excuses at this point.

I think it's a shame that the only time she seems motivated to skate is when Evan Lysacek is skating on the ice with her. That's pathetic. :sheesh: Why is it so hard for her to motivate herself? The reason Evan is a world and Olympic champion and the reason Michelle Kwan is the legend she is is because they worked for it. Frank didn't have to kick them in the @$$ to get them to work. Michelle and Evan did it because they loved the sport and they wanted to be the best, thus they put the work in.

I know I'm being really hard on her, but I'm SO frustrated with Mirai!!:mad: God, why can't she get her sh*t together?! It's so upsetting because for the past two years I've rooted so hard for her and damn near every time she's let us (the fans) down. It's sad really. I think her time with Frank has passed. She's stagnant at this point which means it's time to move on. He's tried his hardest but Mirai hasn't improved much...she's actually regressed a bit, especially when you look at what she did in 2010 to where she is now. That light that she had has gone out...the energy and excitement is completely gone. She looks nothing short of depressed whenever she skates now...I just keep thinking back to that girl I saw just two years ago and it breaks my heart that someone so promising can't seem to pull herself together.:disapp: She needs to make some changes next season. I never thought I'd say it, but she needs to leave Frank and train elsewhere. Maybe with Rafael, whom she seems to like. She needs to find a different choreographer. Lori just ain't cutting it for her. Mirai excels with upbeat energetic music, something that compliments her personality. Her programs this year were too far of a departure from who she is and it's obvious she wasn't really feeling either of them. She was never comfortable being "sexy" in her SP and that LP was a boring disaster that stifled her personality to the point that she was complete void whenever she skated it.

Something needs to change for this girl and it needs to change now if she's shooting for a trip to Soichi because right now it's not looking good for her at all.
 

skfan

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
It'd be sad that Mirai would have to encroach on Ashley's territory (ie. working with Nicks) just to get some motivation out of her. I just don't think she wants it bad enough. Call Ashley cocky or overconfident, but at least she knows what she wants and attacks for it. Ashley made visible changes to her skating and now she's reaping the rewards for the hard work she's put in. I've never heard Mirai say anything but "I want to be the best"... It's easy enough to say that but her actions have never reflected that statement. We get the same stories we've been getting since she was 15 about how she's lazy and lacks the motivation to practice and that she's emotional or she let's the negative voices get in...I'm sick of the excuses at this point.

I think it's a shame that the only time she seems motivated to skate is when Evan Lysacek is skating on the ice with her. That's pathetic. :sheesh: Why is it so hard for her to motivate herself? The reason Evan is a world and Olympic champion and the reason Michelle Kwan is the legend she is is because they worked for it. Frank didn't have to kick them in the @$$ to get them to work. Michelle and Evan did it because they loved the sport and they wanted to be the best, thus they put the work in.

I know I'm being really hard on her, but I'm SO frustrated with Mirai!!:mad: God, why can't she get her sh*t together?! It's so upsetting because for the past two years I've rooted so hard for her and damn near every time she's let us (the fans) down. It's sad really. I think her time with Frank has passed. She's stagnant at this point which means it's time to move on. He's tried his hardest but Mirai hasn't improved much...she's actually regressed a bit, especially when you look at what she did in 2010 to where she is now. That light that she had has gone out...the energy and excitement is completely gone. She looks nothing short of depressed whenever she skates now...I just keep thinking back to that girl I saw just two years ago and it breaks my heart that someone so promising can't seem to pull herself together.:disapp: She needs to make some changes next season. I never thought I'd say it, but she needs to leave Frank and train elsewhere. Maybe with Rafael, whom she seems to like. She needs to find a different choreographer. Lori just ain't cutting it for her. Mirai excels with upbeat energetic music, something that compliments her personality. Her programs this year were too far of a departure from who she is and it's obvious she wasn't really feeling either of them. She was never comfortable being "sexy" in her SP and that LP was a boring disaster that stifled her personality to the point that she was complete void whenever she skated it.

Something needs to change for this girl and it needs to change now if she's shooting for a trip to Soichi because right now it's not looking good for her at all.

well, for a time (and for the most important time) brian orser made YNK a happy (or at least happier) skater. he's done wonders for elene G as well. is christina going to harvard or deferring to skate with brian as her coach? even if brian could make mirai happier skating, so that she would find other reasons to work at it beside the type-A relentless drive to be the absolute best, would he take her with christina gao already his student?

i understand where you're coming from, but i will wait til the moment mirai finds it. she's got something that keeps me watching.


ETA: re weakankles (sp?) comment--i find ashley's staccato arm movements during the spiral a detraction from the rest of her program as well. i'm glad i wasn't the only person to think this :)
 
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FTnoona

Final Flight
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
I agree with one of the posters about how Sandra was being a bit harsh about Mirai. Whenever Alissa would bomb her jumps a couple of years back the commentators always found something positive to say about her like her spins are beautiful, she's a beautiful skater if only she could put it together. It sounded like Sandra was angry and frustrated at Mirai.

On another note why are the ladies having problems with the 2A, Christina, Caroline, Alissa. Caroline's performance really made me smile. She fought through the whole thing. If she could fix the lutz it would be even more amazing. It reminds me of Asada's comeback story. The two worked so hard to fix their technique issues. For Agnes I wouldn't call her program after the fall on the lutz a melt down. Compared to what she did on the GP circuit this was quite good.
 
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drivingmissdaisy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Sandra may be harsh with Mirai, but her comments reflect many of our frustrations with her. Commentators find nice things to say about Alyssa because even when she bombs, and I felt like she bombed tonight, her spins are among the best in the world and she doesn't let the performance go. While I'm tired of Alyssa always making the world team even when she bombs, at least she tries from beginning to end. So many of these skaters look ready to run off the ice halfway through their error-filled programs.
 

Kwanford Wife

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 29, 2004
It'd be sad that Mirai would have to encroach on Ashley's territory (ie. working with Nicks) just to get some motivation out of her. I just don't think she wants it bad enough. Call Ashley cocky or overconfident, but at least she knows what she wants and attacks for it. Ashley made visible changes to her skating and now she's reaping the rewards for the hard work she's put in. I've never heard Mirai say anything but "I want to be the best"... It's easy enough to say that but her actions have never reflected that statement. We get the same stories we've been getting since she was 15 about how she's lazy and lacks the motivation to practice and that she's emotional or she let's the negative voices get in...I'm sick of the excuses at this point.

I think it's a shame that the only time she seems motivated to skate is when Evan Lysacek is skating on the ice with her. That's pathetic. :sheesh: Why is it so hard for her to motivate herself? The reason Evan is a world and Olympic champion and the reason Michelle Kwan is the legend she is is because they worked for it. Frank didn't have to kick them in the @$$ to get them to work. Michelle and Evan did it because they loved the sport and they wanted to be the best, thus they put the work in.

I know I'm being really hard on her, but I'm SO frustrated with Mirai!!:mad: God, why can't she get her sh*t together?! It's so upsetting because for the past two years I've rooted so hard for her and damn near every time she's let us (the fans) down. It's sad really. I think her time with Frank has passed. She's stagnant at this point which means it's time to move on. He's tried his hardest but Mirai hasn't improved much...she's actually regressed a bit, especially when you look at what she did in 2010 to where she is now. That light that she had has gone out...the energy and excitement is completely gone. She looks nothing short of depressed whenever she skates now...I just keep thinking back to that girl I saw just two years ago and it breaks my heart that someone so promising can't seem to pull herself together.:disapp: She needs to make some changes next season. I never thought I'd say it, but she needs to leave Frank and train elsewhere. Maybe with Rafael, whom she seems to like. She needs to find a different choreographer. Lori just ain't cutting it for her. Mirai excels with upbeat energetic music, something that compliments her personality. Her programs this year were too far of a departure from who she is and it's obvious she wasn't really feeling either of them. She was never comfortable being "sexy" in her SP and that LP was a boring disaster that stifled her personality to the point that she was complete void whenever she skated it.

Something needs to change for this girl and it needs to change now if she's shooting for a trip to Soichi because right now it's not looking good for her at all.

Couldn't agree more... right down to needs to move on from Frank and perhaps to Rafael...
 
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