Ashley did withdraw from THE ICE and that was a wise decision. She admitted that she has a lot to work for reaching her goal this season and I saw several picture with her at training. Also she did a good thing going to Rafael and changing her coreographer (this as we know wasn't on good terms). She had a much clear image of what she wants. I don' t really understand what Gracie wants. She said she is going to Zoueva for increasing the PCS and she really bought that?? I mean she could have said this isn't what I am looking for, it's worse than last year. If she doesn't see that, well that is a problem. Then, I think her coach was good for her, she should have waited one more year before leaving him. This was her first senior season that went pretty good, I don't think that Frank Carol can do miracles for the Olympics,maybe for the future seasons. But then, maybe she has somekind of plan we don't know of. I just hope this will not be a disastrous season after such a promising one.
Again, we should be careful to play revisionist history on Ashley here, who I have a lot of respect for. Let's remember that it took Ashley several seasons -- this will be her sixth season at the senior level-- to reached her desired goals and that it did not come without struggles along the way, i.e. not making the 2010 Olympic team. It wasn't that long ago (i.e. 2011 Nationals) that people were saying that Ashley was done.
Also the other thing is that sometimes unexpected things happen. Things don't go to plan. The key test for Gracie is now how will she hand when things go off-course. And I hope she'll learn from it.