State of American Ladies: 2013-14 Season | Page 42 | Golden Skate

State of American Ladies: 2013-14 Season

Jammers

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Country
United-States
Did anyone see Gracie tonight in the Intl Challenge competition (streaming live on Ice Network)? She was NOT impressive. Fell on the double axel and had a wonky landing on the triple lutz. I also thought the program was a bit manic. Looks like Marina Zoueva is choreographing for her. Worried abt Gracie's season given this very shaky start.

Agnes wasn't very impressive either. It's the start of the season. Gracie needs to work out those nerves also since she skated tentatively.
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
^ I only caught the end of AZ's routine. Whenever it's available I'd like to go back and watch the whole thing...
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
And the idea being? Doing mime to play Sleeping Beauty?

I guess I see this mime as being more program-neutral. If this helps her learn how to express herself better period, then more power to her.

FWIW, I found this 1974 newspaper article about how people use mime for emotionally-disturbed children:



Obviously Gracie is not an emotionally disturbed child, but I can see how better body control and concentration on emotions would help her...

If what I saw her do today in SLC is any indication, then :eek: I was right after all. :slink:

But it is early, we shall see.
 

wordsworthgirl

Medalist
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Agnes wasn't very impressive either. It's the start of the season. Gracie needs to work out those nerves also since she skated tentatively.

Oh I missed Agnes! Did she fall? I totally agree that Gracie skated tentatively. I think that may explain the missed timing on jumps and pushing too hard for expression.
 

Selene

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 7, 2012
Just watched the day one recap posted on TSL. Dave and Jenny referred to Carroll working with Gracie on numerous occasions. At first, I thought they were joking or stating their wishes, BUT one time they said "when Gracie goes to Frank next week". Don't know if they are right, but in my mind they have staked a bit of their credibility on her alleged coaching change.

It's so obvious. Her former coach isn't even at the SLC event with her.

Frank desperately needs to repackage her. Her programs are all wrong for her and do not highlight her strengths as a skater. I don't know if they can be salvaged by being reworked, or need to be totally scrapped. And I think she and her mother must be doing her costuming, because her dresses, hair (with the weird braids), and makeup are awful. She needs a new look on the ice.

I feel like USFS saw her horrible programs at Champs Camp and advised her to make a coaching change. Hopefully Frank can repackage her and make her into a competitor. She does not have the mental fortitude to be a winner. She seems to do so well in the practices, but she cannot seem to skate two good programs in an actual competition.
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
It's so obvious. Her former coach isn't even at the SLC event with her.

Frank desperately needs to repackage her. Her programs are all wrong for her and do not highlight her strengths as a skater. I don't know if they can be salvaged by being reworked, or need to be totally scrapped. And I think she and her mother must be doing her costuming, because her dresses, hair (with the weird braids), and makeup are awful. She needs a new look on the ice.

I feel like USFS saw her horrible programs at Champs Camp and advised her to make a coaching change. Hopefully Frank can repackage her and make her into a competitor. She does not have the mental fortitude to be a winner. She seems to do so well in the practices, but she cannot seem to skate two good programs in an actual competition.

FINALLY from a reputable source: Hersh confirmed the move (secondhand) in a tweet just now.

ETA: actually, for all we know TSL could be his "source"...but it's seeming more and more like this rumor is true.
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
It's so obvious. Her former coach isn't even at the SLC event with her.

Frank desperately needs to repackage her. Her programs are all wrong for her and do not highlight her strengths as a skater. I don't know if they can be salvaged by being reworked, or need to be totally scrapped. And I think she and her mother must be doing her costuming, because her dresses, hair (with the weird braids), and makeup are awful. She needs a new look on the ice.

I feel like USFS saw her horrible programs at Champs Camp and advised her to make a coaching change. Hopefully Frank can repackage her and make her into a competitor. She does not have the mental fortitude to be a winner. She seems to do so well in the practices, but she cannot seem to skate two good programs in an actual competition.

Woah, there. It's only September!

And I think it's a bit much to say she lacks "mental fortitude." She wouldn't be where she was last season if she didn't have any.
 

aftertherain

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
https://twitter.com/olyphil

Philip Hersh ‏@olyphil 16m
Have texted Team Gold. Waiting for response
Expand

Philip Hersh ‏@olyphil 19m
Ouriashev just amended his earlier text to say. "She (@GraceEGold) just said she doesn't want to work with me anymore."
Expand

Philip Hersh ‏@olyphil 29m
Asked Ouriashev if @GraceEGold told him why she was leaving. His answer: "She didn't say anything."
Expand

Philip Hersh ‏@olyphil 33m
@GraceEGold ex-coach Alex Ouriashev just texted me: "I am very shocked and disappointed in her decision."
Expand

Philip Hersh ‏@olyphil 53m
Waiting to hear from Frank Carroll, but source tells me they want some in-person sessions before making it @GraceEGold switch official
Expand

Philip Hersh ‏@olyphil 55m
Source just confirmed that @GraceEGold is going to join Frank Carroll. Odd time for coach switch. Oly year panic?
Expand


Well, Philip Hersh just came right out and said it. At least someone is listening to Mrs. P!
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
https://twitter.com/olyphil




Well, Philip Hersh just came right out and said it. At least someone is listening to Mrs. P!

Exactly. He didn't need to listen to me, as that is what he would do when he gets information. He goes and gets to the bottom of it. Don't reveal the source, try to get confirmation elsewhere. Also it does help that Hersh is based in Chicago, so he probably knows Alex O pretty well.
 

Skater Boy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Oh, gosh, I don't agree with that at all. That's why they call it "acting." Superman can't really fly, he just acts like he can.

What? You mean Superman can't really fly? When did this happen. And next you are going to say Evan Lycacek isn't really coing back? My image of skating is ruined. Okay I am over it. I think Gracie lets watch the acronyms folks is really coming into her own. Give her time and room to grow and make mistakes.
 

aftertherain

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
What? You mean Superman can't really fly? When did this happen. And next you are going to say Evan Lycacek isn't really coing back? My image of skating is ruined. Okay I am over it. I think Gracie lets watch the acronyms folks is really coming into her own. Give her time and room to grow and make mistakes.

In the original comics, Superman did not have the ability to fly. It was not until Superman cartoons were made that he was given the ability to fly due to the difficulty of constantly animating him to leap.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Powers_and_abilities
As originally conceived and presented in his early stories, Superman's powers were relatively limited, consisting of superhuman strength that allowed him to lift a car over his head, run at amazing speeds and leap one-eighth of a mile, as well as an incredibly dense body structure that could be pierced by nothing less than an exploding artillery shell.[107] Siegel and Shuster compared his strength and leaping abilities to an ant and a grasshopper.[108] When making the Superman cartoons in the early 1940s, the Fleischer Brothers found it difficult to keep animating him leaping and requested to DC to change his ability to flying; this was an especially convenient concept for short films, which would have otherwise had to waste precious running time moving earthbound Clark Kent from place to place.[109]
 

LuisRollerArg

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 29, 2013
I think Gracie can not beat Ashley ... at worst Ashley skills always got around 60 points for SP .. Grace in SLC obtained 58 with a combo 3-3, 3F< and 2A .. She is still very unstable, quite the opposite with Ashley, which is very consistent .. I think we should watch their backs Alissa, while it has a no highest TES its PCS always been higher than those of Ashley, and if you have a good day there is no doubt it can be # 2 :) GO ASHLEY AND ALISSA FOR SOCHI!
 

Selene

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 7, 2012
I think Gracie can not beat Ashley ... at worst Ashley skills always got around 60 points for SP .. Grace in SLC obtained 58 with a combo 3-3, 3F< and 2A .. She is still very unstable, quite the opposite with Ashley, which is very consistent .. I think we should watch their backs Alissa, while it has a no highest TES its PCS always been higher than those of Ashley, and if you have a good day there is no doubt it can be # 2 :) GO ASHLEY AND ALISSA FOR SOCHI!

I'm surprised the 3T wasn't called UR, too. It was way short of rotation, imo. Her short program was bad all around - bad jumps, screachy music, windmilling arms, tacky costume & atrocious hair style. Frank would be wise to scrap the program and get her a new one. Changing coaches this late in the game smells of desperation & I do think Ashley is in a much stronger position than she is.
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
I'm surprised the 3T wasn't called UR, too. It was way short of rotation, imo. Her short program was bad all around - bad jumps, screachy music, windmilling arms, tacky costume & atrocious hair style. Frank would be wise to scrap the program and get her a new one. Changing coaches this late in the game smells of desperation & I do think Ashley is in a much stronger position than she is.

Why don't you say how you really feel? :laugh:

I guess I'm in the minority, but I liked the hairstyle. Maybe not with the barrette, but i like the part-braid, part floating ponytail, I thought it framed her face nicely.

As for changing coaches now, would you rather she do it after the Grand Prix? Before Nationals? Sure, a few extra months in the off-season might have been nice, but I don't think it's too late to make changes. People have made drastic mid-season changes in the past. Gracie is not the first, nor the last, to make a coaching change at this point of the season.

And just because she's made the decision now doesn't mean that she made some sort of the off-the-cuff sudden decision. There might have been problems during the off-season we're not aware of.
 

aftertherain

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
I'm surprised the 3T wasn't called UR, too. It was way short of rotation, imo. Her short program was bad all around - bad jumps, screachy music, windmilling arms, tacky costume & atrocious hair style. Frank would be wise to scrap the program and get her a new one. Changing coaches this late in the game smells of desperation & I do think Ashley is in a much stronger position than she is.

... were there gold skate blades too? I guess I'm okay with those--the gold UGG boots that NBC (presumably) made her wear were so bad. Dear heavens.
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
... were there gold skate blades too? I guess I'm okay with those--the gold UGG boots that NBC (presumably) made her wear were so bad. Dear heavens.

No gold blades, LOL.

I will defend her regarding the mime stuff + her decision to change coaches at this point in the game, however after watching that program again (I only saw the end earlier), I do agree that it's a mess. A bit frantic and too much going on.

However, it's EARLY. Better to make all and any changes now than later.
 

LeCygne

Final Flight
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
To those people who think Ashley is in a better position than Gracie, just remember earlier in the summer when Ashley was going through her own coaching/choreographer change situation, breaking down backstage at Stars On Ice, etc. How dare Mr. Nicks retire from traveling right before the Olympics.. how could she leave Phillip Mills.. there's no way Artunian can fix her 3-3 technique in time.. etc etc etc.
 

Krislite

Medalist
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
People keep saying it's early. The Grand Prix starts next month! Is it really that early?
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
...the gold UGG boots that NBC (presumably) made her wear were so bad. Dear heavens.

I never noticed the notorious gold UGGs on her feet, but recall that they have been mentioned more than once by naysayers. Maybe Ms. Gold simply likes gold? In a group photo at a dressy event (WTT closing dinner, IIRC?), she was carrying a large-ish shiny gold handbag, presumably of her own free will. She's a teen, her name is Gold, and she seems to like sparkly stuff ... no harm, no foul.

I do roll my own eyes a bit when some of her fans gush way too much over her "destiny" as the next superstar, etc. But if I keep an open mind, it can be endearing to see her behave like a normal young person -- experimental fashion choices and all. When she recently tweeted about a #ThrowbackThursday group photo from a few years ago, two of her hashtags were #bangs and #whatwasIthinking. She looked absolutely fine, of course, but her poking fun at her former self made me like her more.
 

aftertherain

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
People keep saying it's early. The Grand Prix starts next month! Is it really that early?

Yes, because there seems to be no medium between "early" and "panic mode."

i.e. Reading about the US Classic this weekend makes me feel like our skaters have ample time to progress. However, once the GP series start, I will probably start to get emotional and cry, question some skaters' choices, and then start to panic for them. All because it is the Olympic season.
 
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