Alissa Czisny plans to compete next season

[drivingmissdaisy]

I agree macy. My only concern is if she achieves that high level for one event (nationals), makes the world team again then bombs. There is no excuse for a senior skater in singles (or even pairs) to not land at least ONE clean 2A or 3T in the span of two programs.

[Jammers]

If Gracie improves during the off season then i think we saw our team for Worlds next year. Finally two skaters who seem to be good competitors and will fight.

[Srin Odessa]

In 2008 4C's was in Japan and now it was Japan's turn to try to make something of the event. They sent Mao Asada (first) and Miki Ando (third). The next year was the pre-Olympic year and 4Cs was held in the Vancouver at the same facilities as the Olympics. All the Olympic hopefuls came. The ladies podium was Yiu-na Kim, Joannie Rochette and Mao Asada. Patrick Chan beat Evan Lysacek for the men and Davis and White placed over Virtue and Moir in dance. The event was off to he races.

2008's Four Continents was actually in Goyang, South Korea.

Nonetheless, your point still stands. Travel time between Japan and South Korea isn't that significant. Mao used the 2010 4CC in Jeonju South Korea to bug test before the Olympics when most skaters were a no-show.

[R.D.]

The same was said for Wylie...

I wonder how often lightning strikes twice in the same spot...consecutively.

_____________

If Gracie improves during the off season then i think we saw our team for Worlds next year. Finally two skaters who seem to be good competitors and will fight.

I hope so but let's not count chickens yet. Wagner has been able to reach (near) the top, but now she has to prove she has staying power. Meissner/Hughes were unable to do that.

[Jammers]

The one thing Ashley has that Alissa and Mirai don't have is being a tough competitor. When she skates she attacks and doesn't back down. No deer in a headlights look on that girl she likes to compete. And she usually brings it in the LP while Alissa, Mirai or Agnes usually bomb or are very shaky.

[R.D.]

The one thing Ashley has that Alissa and Mirai don't have is being a tough competitor. When she skates she attacks and doesn't back down. No deer in a headlights look on that girl she likes to compete. And she usually brings it in the LP while Alissa, Mirai or Agnes usually bomb or are very shaky.

Perhaps, but my point still stands. After all, I considered Meissner and Hughes to be fairly strong competitors as well.

Wagner just needs to stop messing up the short program. She's a strong freeskater, which is good, but if she keeps having to come from behind, she's not winning anything any time soon.

I won't count out Nagasu or Zawadzki yet- they could still get it together as they are young- but I do agree that Wagner/Gold looks to be best bet IF both can keep the upward trend going.

[drivingmissdaisy]

Perhaps, but my point still stands. After all, I considered Meissner and Hughes to be fairly strong competitors as well.

I'm a bit more optimistic for Ashely because the body changes that might have affected Kimmie and Hughes are behind her.

[Jammers]

Ashley is a much better skater then Hughes ever was and Gracie has more potential also. We'll see next season. It should be fun.

[Tonichelle]

I wonder how often lightning strikes twice in the same spot...consecutively.

I was unaware that Paul had a sex change, as well as turned back the hands of time... It's not like Wylie's story happens all the time, and it may not happen for Alyssa, but if there's one thing Paul teaches us is - it can and does happen... I'm a believer!

[silverlake22]

If Gracie improves during the off season then i think we saw our team for Worlds next year. Finally two skaters who seem to be good competitors and will fight.

My only concern for Gracie is that she's still young enough that her body could change like Kimmie's did and totally throw off her jumps/consistency. Meissner didn't struggle with the puberty monster perse because her struggles came after puberty. Her height was the same when she won Worlds to when she was struggling so much the following two seasons, but her body build was much different. Gracie probably isn't growing any taller, but like Kimmie she also used to be a little waif and now is getting sturdier. I guess the fear is that if she continues to fill out, it could hurt her jumps, although maybe it's different, because Kimmie's jumps were never as big and her 3-3s were always suspect, and Gracie's jumps actually seem to have gotten bigger since she started filling out, but who knows. Also the pressure could get to her later, Adelina seemed to be fearless just last season and now the pressure seems to affect her a lot. Ashley is really impressing me this season but for Gracie, I want to see how she does in her first senior season first.

Gracie is similar to Agnes in a LOT of ways and Agnes has not exactly taken the senior international ranks by storm, at least not yet. She was consistent the year she won junior, and though her body did change some since then, she still has enormous jumps, she's just no longer very consistent, and her weaknesses (bad packaging, awkwardness, lowish PCS) still seem to be hurting her.

[Jammers]

I think Gracie is further ahead in her development then Agnes.

[Mrs. P]

My only concern for Gracie is that she's still young enough that her body could change like Kimmie's did and totally throw off her jumps/consistency. Meissner didn't struggle with the puberty monster perse because her struggles came after puberty. Her height was the same when she won Worlds to when she was struggling so much the following two seasons, but her body build was much different. Gracie probably isn't growing any taller, but like Kimmie she also used to be a little waif and now is getting sturdier. I guess the fear is that if she continues to fill out, it could hurt her jumps, although maybe it's different, because Kimmie's jumps were never as big and her 3-3s were always suspect, and Gracie's jumps actually seem to have gotten bigger since she started filling out, but who knows. Also the pressure could get to her later, Adelina seemed to be fearless just last season and now the pressure seems to affect her a lot. Ashley is really impressing me this season but for Gracie, I want to see how she does in her first senior season first.

Gracie is similar to Agnes in a LOT of ways and Agnes has not exactly taken the senior international ranks by storm, at least not yet. She was consistent the year she won junior, and though her body did change some since then, she still has enormous jumps, she's just no longer very consistent, and her weaknesses (bad packaging, awkwardness, lowish PCS) still seem to be hurting her.

Anything can happen of course, but I have been impressed with how she handled herself at this competition. She really soaked up the experience rather than worry about the pressure. I think it was smart she had her senior debut here instead of the GP. Unlike Agnes, who basically came into the GP cold turkey, Gracie now knows how she stacks up with the top competition and what she has to work on. (It's pretty awesome to get compete against the top 5 from the World Championships, I'm sure!)

She seems to LOVE Daisuke and CaroK, so I'm hoping perhaps she glean some lessons on what makes them tick and apply them to her own skating.


As for her body, she seems pretty developed, both height and lady wise.

Look at this photo: http://yfrog.com/nvctkuij

She is about the same height as Ashley and Meryl and she's definitely no waif! In fact, I didn't know she was 16, I probably think she was closer in age to those two.

[Tinymavy15]

The one thing Ashley has that Alissa and Mirai don't have is being a tough competitor. When she skates she attacks and doesn't back down. No deer in a headlights look on that girl she likes to compete. And she usually brings it in the LP while Alissa, Mirai or Agnes usually bomb or are very shaky.

ashley looks like she enjoys skating and enjoys competing. she also has presence on the ice, every arm movement is defined, clear, intensional whereas Mirai forgets half the choreography when she missed a jump. Ashely holds herself like national champion, something Flatt, Nagasu or Czisny ever grew into.

[Jammers]

ashley looks like she enjoys skating and enjoys competing. she also has presence on the ice, every arm movement is defined, clear, intensional whereas Mirai forgets half the choreography when she missed a jump. Ashely holds herself like national champion, something Flatt, Nagasu or Czisny ever grew into.

Well said.

[Jammers]

Anything can happen of course, but I have been impressed with how she handled herself at this competition. She really soaked up the experience rather than worry about the pressure. I think it was smart she had her senior debut here instead of the GP. Unlike Agnes, who basically came into the GP cold turkey, Gracie now knows how she stacks up with the top competition and what she has to work on. (It's pretty awesome to get compete against the top 5 from the World Championships, I'm sure!)

She seems to LOVE Daisuke and CaroK, so I'm hoping perhaps she glean some lessons on what makes them tick and apply them to her own skating.


As for her body, she seems pretty developed, both height and lady wise.

Look at this photo: http://yfrog.com/nvctkuij

She is about the same height as Ashley and Meryl and she's definitely no waif! In fact, I didn't know she was 16, I probably think she was closer in age to those two.

I just hope Gracie's body doesn't change much. Look at Mirai she is much more stocky then when she was Gracie's age. But luckily Gracie has much better jump technique so she may be all right in the future.