Can Gracie Gold handle the pressure?

**mskater93** · 02-11-2013, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Orange Cat

Except for the fact that Christina has out-skated Gracie in every international competition, and was arguably held down at Nationals. I think it's a bit late to replace Gracie with Christina, and I'm not sure it would do wonders for Gracie's confidence or her ability to deal with nerves, so I'm not sure whether a replacement should occur (even though I personally prefer Christina's skating).

This is the first time in Seniors they have gone head to head internationally. Last year, at JW, Gracie outskated Christina...

**noskates** · 02-11-2013, 09:42 AM

Well becalc I guess we just have to agree to disagree. I think Gracie is hand over hand a more complete skater than Christina Gao. She's alot younger, too, so certainly has time to grow and gain that consistency. Maybe it's just personal preference but I just find Christina kind of boring. But then - shoot me - I was never a Czisny fan either. Since Michelle retired there really hasn't been a clear star on the women's front. For years Ashley had all the promise and usually shot herself in the foot - as did Alyssa. They would start out with all the confidence and gusto and then self-destruct. Alyssa at Nationals - 3rd, 9th, 1st, 10th, 1st, 2nd, WD! Not a poster child for consistency. I think the highlight of her career was winning the Grand Prix! Last year at Nats was Ashley's break-out year. She was awesome. This year - not so much!!! Her LP at Nats was just not good. She looked tenuous on the ice. Whether it was injury or reverting back to her old self - who knows. (and yes I do know she had success in the Grand Prix series) Mirai Negasu was supposed to be the heir apparent and something happened there. I still think she's a beautiful skater but, like Jeremy Abbott, she skates in her head instead of on the ice. I find little or nothing visually pleasing about Agnes' skating. IMO though - Gracie does light up the arena and she had the crowd in her pocket at Nationals this year. I still maintain she is the US hope for the future. I wish all of our ladies much success and I do think this next year is going to be a seminal year for many of them. I guess I just have my favorites.

**noskates** · 02-11-2013, 09:49 AM

eek! double post for some reason

**prettykeys** · 02-11-2013, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Trewyn

Since it was my quote, I probably need to back it up

hehe, I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that. Just thought I would attribute it to you since I thought it was an interesting bit.

Thanks for sharing!

**sky_fly20** · 02-11-2013, 10:44 AM

4CC was a fluke for Gracie
Im sure by Worlds she will deliver as she will ahve less pressure Top 5 or bronze medal is still within her reach

Gracie is the future of US ladies
No US lady can match her presentation and jumps
she can score the highest amongst all Americans if she is at her game.

**R.D.** · 02-11-2013, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Jammers

People screaming for Gao to replace Gracie remind me of the same kind of people who watch football and are always screaming for the backup quarterback to play when the starter is struggling. When the backup does finally play he doesn't end up doing any better then the starter and most times he does worse. There's a reason why he's the backup.

That's a good analogy to make. Any lady we send other than Wagner is a gamble (and even Wagner herself is, even if to a lesser degree, considering how she's skated lately).

And thanks for the clarification Trewyn.

**noskates** · 02-11-2013, 11:27 AM

Have to agree with R.D.

And I really like Jammers analogy! I really get cranky when people blame the judges for favoritism or analyze scoring to death as to why someone is better than another one. There is so much that goes into judging and the technical specialists really dont' have an axe to grind in my opinion. And in the final analysis, unless figure skating enacts "instant replay" (oh God, please, no, just NO) it's still a human making a judgement call in a split second!

Historically the USFSA has just almost automatically chosen the gold, silver (and when possible) bronze placers on the World or Olympic team being the easiest way to decide. Todd Eldredge was an exception and I thought at the time it was a good call to put him on the team. If there was truly favoritism I think Jeremy Abbott would have been on the men's World team because of his past accomplishments and what was really a bad skate in his LP. I guess there will always be cries of favoritism and judges or the federation holding someone up or supporting one over the other. Unfortunately that's probably the nature of most sports. "What have you done for me lately!"

Regardless of what went down this year, a new season will start in Octoberish (Skate America?) and we'll start all over again!

**Nigel** · 02-11-2013, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by bekalc

All we needed was a 9th place finish at last years worlds and that third spot was ours. Ksensia was 9th with a score of around 149.40 . Both Agnes (with not even a particular great skate) and Zhang were WELL of clear of that mark at Four Continents.

Similarly all we needed was an 8th place finish at worlds the year earlier that one with a mark of a 167 plus would have been harder.

In both cases a US citizen was there.

I won't get into 2009 worlds where yes I think Zhang and Flatt could have done it.

The problem is the US selection procedures. How ridiculous how crazy is it to insist that at the very least you MONITOR your skaters before worlds. Worlds is three months away and injuries things can happen. So how hard would it be to insist legally that people are named provisionally but have to show a form of readiness right before Worlds.

Rachael Flatt was badly injured and skating badly, if she had been made to show readiness do you think she'd have remained on the team? Alissa showed us right before Worlds and in practice that she could no longer land a single triple jump? Do you think its ridiculous to suggest maybe she didn't belong on said team anymore?

It was that selection procedure that has doomed us. Any other federation would have monitored their skaters and told them to stay home if they can no longer land a freaking triple jump.

All of the Colorado skaters that were attending worlds in 2011 were closely monitored by USFS following US Nationals, thru 4CC and up to and including the week of departure for worlds. That has been stated in other threads over the last few years.

When will everyone realize that the ladies single skating discipline has been dominated by other countries (non-US) for the last five or six years? There is an ebb and flow to dominance in any discipline. Right now, dance is dominated by North American skaters. Pairs, once dominated by the Russians and Chinese, has seen an influx of strong talent from Europe and now potentially the Canadians. What I like is that these competitions are no longer coronations. (as seen in results from US Nationals men's results....as much as I like Abbott, there is new blood pushing the envelope, and if that is the wake up call Abbott needs to push himself to make the team for Socchi, so be it).

Wagner and Gold need to be able to lay down two clean programs each in London, ONT to get the US women back to 3 spots for 2014. Simple as that. And, quite honestly, neither of them has shown the ability to skate two clean programs recently.

**Jammers** · 02-11-2013, 01:29 PM

I just hope Gracie when she competes at Worlds doesn't worry about her placement so much or getting that 3rd spot back. I hope she just goes out and skates like she knows she can and shut out all the other nonsense.

**Ziggy** · 02-11-2013, 03:02 PM

She hasn't been able to handle the pressure all season and it's a very big mistake on USFS' part to send her to Worlds.

**Mathman** · 02-11-2013, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Ziggy

She hasn't been able to handle the pressure all season and it's a very big mistake on USFS' part to send her to Worlds.

Traditionally, I think the USFSA has taken the (in my opinion laudable) position that the Federation does not send skaters to worlds. Skaters earn that reward at the big National Championship Competition, come one, come all!

I like it. It's quaint, it's old-fashioned, it's egalitarian -- and it sort of thumbs its nose at the ISU, saying that your grand world thingy is not so important as you think it is.

**chuckm** · 02-11-2013, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by Ziggy

She hasn't been able to handle the pressure all season and it's a very big mistake on USFS' part to send her to Worlds.

At least Gracie finished top 6 at 4CC against some formidable competition and she landed most of her jumps.

USFS sent Czisny to Worlds after a B event where she fell 3 times, landed one in the SP and no triples in the FS.

**mskater93** · 02-11-2013, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Ziggy

She hasn't been able to handle the pressure all season and it's a very big mistake on USFS' part to send her to Worlds.

I don't see anyone who stepped up at Nationals more than she did...please point to someone who did...

**Ziggy** · 02-11-2013, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Mathman

Traditionally, I think the USFSA has taken the (in my opinion laudable) position that the Federation does not send skaters to worlds. Skaters earn that reward at the big National Championship Competition, come one, come all!

I like it. It's quaint, it's old-fashioned, it's egalitarian -- and it sort of thumbs its nose at the ISU, saying that your grand world thingy is not so important as you think it is.

See, I find it absolutely infuriating and the typical example of Americans looking down at everybody else.

At the end of the day what really matters is how you perform at major international competitions in front of an international judging panel.

Originally Posted by chuckm

USFS sent Czisny to Worlds after a B event where she fell 3 times, landed one in the SP and no triples in the FS.

That wasn't very clever either, to be honest. It was clear at that point that something wasn't right (and it did turn out she had a serious injury).

Originally Posted by mskater93

I don't see anyone who stepped up at Nationals more than she did...please point to someone who did...

Gao has just very comfortably beaten Gold at 4CC.