I would say Kwanatic's logic makes sense to me. Agnes and Caroline must have had good reasons to turn down the offer. That's a lot of money.
Here is a nice article from Figure Skating International.
http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/...iking-comeback
Last edited by PolymerBob; 04-12-2012 at 10:02 PM.
I like your logic, and its as good a guess as any. However, I don't know why Caroline or Agnes would decline. Caroline is on a roll, things are finally working for her. She hasn't gotten much international exposure in the last 2 years, and as Polymer Bob says, this event pays a lot of money. I am sure Agnes would like some redemption for her 4CC performance. Somce say Caroline was busy with David Wilson on next years program, but she still had a couple week to get ready, as much time as Gold would have.Originally Posted by kwanatic
I would think after Worlds, a possible reason for turning down an invite to WTT would be that you don't think your team would place well and therefore not take home as much $. After this year's worlds, its not unreasonable to think the US team would not medal...
Caroline Zhang Makes A Striking Comeback
http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/...iking-comeback
“Despite what people thought or wrote, I was never unhappy while skating,” she said candidly. “I am and always have been truly happy while skating. It was my disappointment with how I was performing that gave the impression I was unhappy.”
[snip]
“The change in my performances this year was triggered by a number of things,” she explained. “I changed my overall outlook on skating and took a different approach to training, both mentally and physically.”
Prior to the 2012 U.S. Championships, her training plan went into high gear. “We focused more on jump consistency, and training programs in different situations,” Zhang explained. “I also started doing double run-throughs a couple of months before nationals.”
[snip]
With her season complete, Zhang is already chomping at the bit to begin preparations for next year. “I’m not taking a break,” she said. “I was excited to get back to the rink the day after Four Continents. There are so many things to work on, and I’m happy to start.”
While many of her former classmates are making college plans Zhang has deferred continuing her education for a year to see how far she can take her skating career. “I love the idea of going to college, but this would not be the best time. When I do go I want to give it my full attention and get the full experience,” she explained.
To me Caroline needs a lot of work to really make a mark internationally. She still skates slow and she doesn't seem to have the same elegance that she had a few years ago. To me her skating is rather blah.
Let's say ( hypothetically ) that Caroline could make the podium at a major ISU championship, would that qualify as a mark?
the phrase "really make a mark" to me sounds like a trajectory similar to what Wagner did this year. By finishing 4th, 3rd in her GP events, winning 4CCs and placing 4th at Worlds/3rd in the FS, I'd say she "made her mark".
OTOH, Zhang had a weak SA, didn't qualify for worlds, but rebounded nicely to a 3rd place at 4CC.
Thanks for the link RD. Caroline certainly sounds focused and very mature. I am looking forward to seeing what she can do next season and
will be rooting for her to succeed.
True, but once you downshift and go into preparation for next season mode, it might not be beneficial or easy to switch gears again and go back into competitive mode. Caroline said at 4CC that she was happy to have had a clean performance of her FS b/c that was the last time she'd be performing it. Maybe going out on a high note at 4CC was her intention all along, and she had no intention of competing at WTT. I'm sure they knew prior to the selection of the team that the event was being held.
Yeah it's a lot of money but it can't always be about that. Caroline ended her season wonderfully. Internationally, she made her mark by placing at an ISU event. After the season she had last year, her work was done; she proved to the US and the world that she was on the upswing. There's no need prove anything further at this point heading into the off-season. Plus, confidence can be fragile during a comeback. What if she went and had a bad performance? That'd be hanging over her head all summer...better to end on a definite high note and use that feeling and momentum to get started on next season.
Agnes might be in the same boat. After her disappointing showings at nationals and 4CC, undoubtedly, she's found her way back to the drawing board and is working on improving for next season. Maybe she didn't want to step back into the season after already leaving it behind?
For all intents and purposes, World Team Trophy is a bit of a high dollar cheesefest. It really doesn't mean anything in terms of who wins. I'm pretty sure they were asked...just turns out they had better things to do.
Whether or not she achieves her skating goals, the fact that she showed such dedication and hard work to come back and achieve her best results in several years will serve her well in life after she is done skating. I think her problem is that she was trained under the assumptions that (a) flutzing wouldn't be penalized and (b) one could compensate for weak skating skills with 7 triple programs. This was true in the early COP years when results would more closely resemble those under the old system, but as time has gone on things like transitions have become more closely scrutinized (see: Joubert, Plushenko 2006 vs 2010), edge penalties enforced, etc. and now we have results that raise the eyebrows of those who still have a 6.0 mindset (like myself).
I think David Wilson is a great choice for her. It she skates the programs to their intended potential, she should milk every possible point out of them through all the nuances Wilson designs. She's obviously not going to do it with speed and huge jumps. I've always thought of Caroline as one of our more mentally tough competitors (in the Rachael Flatt mode). Hopefully her technique and speed will continue to improve.
She seemed to be more in shape than in the past 2 seasons. If that trend continues, she should do well.
Also, I hope Caroline can stay grounded. It's tough for any skater to not let the pressure get to them once they start getting some success.
I think Wilson is a good choice, but I also wish Caroline would go back to Tom Dickson for more choreography! His Spanish Gypsy SP is still my favourite Caroline program.
The one good thing is that Agnes and Caroline can afford to turn down $30,000 . It proves that they are both doing fairly well in the money department.
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