So...after Skate America, what are your thoughts?
I admit I underestimated Gao's ability- she came out and really surprised a lot of us with solid routines. She has also developed apart from jumps and is not as shy as she used to be (although her style is still very much the reserved kind). But then- I like surprises. I hate it when everything is boring and predictable. I like it when someone shakes things up. Especially one of our own!
I thought Gao's program was a boring jumpfest. I don't get why people fawned over it. Guess I'll have to watch it again to be sure.
And as for Flatt, I think I was right about her. I take it she is on her way out as she said school is now her #1 priority. Frankly I don't even know why she bothered to compete this year...I'm sure she could have found a show or two to skate in because that's really all she's bringing to the table. She is no longer competitive. Then again, having said that, she is nursing an injury so it's possible that held her back. But somehow I feel it's less the injury and more her just simply moving on mentally and physically from top-level skating. Someone else (Nagasu?) probably should have gotten her SA spot.
It's really sad to see. I guess she just couldn't pass up her ivy-league acceptance. Whatever. I'm curious if anyone can quickly summarize why she only got a 92 in the free skate though? Not to mention only a 43 in the short? And "they sucked" isn't the response I'm looking for. Just wondered specifically what was missing in terms of our wonderful CoP scoring system, be it jumps or spin/spiral levels or GOE or what. Or just "everything."
Hahahaha Janetfan you are too funny Me thinks you like Mirai - and I do too but I do think she needs to gain some consistency and I am not sure where head or heart is.
I've met her briefly in person. She definitely takes herself too seriously, and I also get the impression that she's a bit ... how to put it... like the gossipy kids in school who are always in their little clique and constantly talking about someone or another. That's the kind of mannerism she had when talking with her friends during a practice. Maybe that will go away with maturity, but to relate that personality to skating, what I'd be concerned about would be whether she blames others for her problems and whether she has the humility to take advice from coaches. Unfortunately my mind draws parallels to Sasha Cohen's struggles with her coaches and her personality here. So much raw talent and unique ability, forever curtailed by personal failings.
Also, she's dumped Frank Carroll because "the drive was too far." That seems like a grave and childish mistake to me. I know it's hard to leave the nest at her age, but she only gets this shot for a short period of time in her life. I'd have thought a top skater would want to relocate closer to their world-class coach for a while until the Olympics, rather than settle for a lesser coach.
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