Wagner, I believe, and this is what it's probably going to be, unless she injuries or bombs, but I think that the battl will be between Gold and Nagasu...Who are we assuming is going in as the National Champion?
For Sochi, who is our besthope? Who'll be number 2 at Nationals. I think Mirai may be peaking again next year. It wont daunt her. Is she a possibility besides Grace?
I think with the downfall of Russia and Canada's lady lacking experience things are looking good for three spots.
I think Russia will do okay. Liza T's PCS aren't the best but her TES should keep her close to the top 5 and even though Adelina is a headcase, even when she tanks she scores well. Both ladies have the hardest content (3-3s in the SP and LP and a 2a-3T in the LP as well) and are capable of scoring well enough to earn three spots. Alena has been MIA all year long so I'm not expecting much from her (she is going, right?).
The Russian's aren't dominating the way everyone assumed they would two years ago but I think they have a decent shot at getting three spots this year as well.
As for the OP's topic, I hope Ashley and Skater X are able to earn three spots this year. I'd love to see Ashley stay on top as the US champ and lead the team to Sochi. As for the other two spots, it's wide open right now.
A lot of people are putting their faith in Gracie based on her potential but until she's far from a lock for Sochi or even worlds this year. She has not proved herself to be a strong competitor yet. She's had one good SP and two mediocre LPs this season. I'm not convinced she's the best bet. I still don't see the hype about her...
If Mirai continues on the path she's on now and is able to add some better programs and consistency to her skating, she'd be a good candidate...If Christina settles into her style and really learns to sell her programs to the judges, she'd in the mix. If Agnes can find some consistency...if Alissa makes a full recovery and gets back to where she was in 2011...and then there are the newbies: Angela has all 5 triples including 3-3s and a lovely style, but she's unknown outside of the junior circuit...then there's Hannah Miller, Leah Keiser, Samantha Cesario...any one of these girls could have a breakout year and position themselves to get on that team.
It's way too early to guess and waaay too many thing that could factor in.
At the gpf Liza did well on jumps and her tes was 63 but so was maos! Mao tied Liza on tes and then of course pcs was not even close! lizas jumps didn't mean anything because even though Mao is a terrible jumper she filled all her jumping slots and did grea spins and steps and got great goe. At worlds you will have Yuna and Carolina and akiko and Ashley all with much superior pcs and near equal Tes. Plus there are others as well. Lizas Tes isn't actually high enough to make up for the pcs being so atrociously awful. That's why she needs near 70 or above which may require triple Axels plus two 3/3's.
Really? I think it'll be harder to get three spots this year than last year or the year prior, actually.
1. The first members of Russia's baby brigade are finally eligible for worlds. Leonova and Marakova were able to get three spots!!! With Sotnikova and Tuktamisheva, it should be at least equally easy for them.
2. Canada's lady definitely lacks experience. But a top ten spot is certainly within the realm of possibility.
3. Meanwhile, so many other skaters are fighting here. Korpi, Suzuki, Asada, Murakami, Kim, Kostner, Zijun Li, Mae Berenice Maete.... all have the ability to skate well enough to make it difficult for two ladies to earn that third spot. THAT stated, Wagner's best score along with Gao/Nagasu/Gold would be enough to get the third spot. But it would be a get, and would suggest that the two Americans skated at or above par.
4. I'd argue that the seismic shifts that took place in pairs means that it's the easiest discipline for any nation with two slots to earn a third one (four of the top 12 have either split up or been injured; five if you include Dube/Wolfe who've been question marks)
The 2nd U.S lady will definitely place atleast 9th (probably higher) if she has a decent competition, .
So I'd say it's too close to call -- tossup.
I I will guarantee right now that if the 2 U.S ladies both have even a reasonably good competition (which for Gold and Nagasu would be something comparable to how they skated at their last GP event, not something worse than that), the .