- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
i am inviting posters to share their opinions about skaters/teams who may be struggling, injured or semi retired to talk about will these skaters come back and be competitive.
1. Carolina Kostner - I still am not sure but she is progressing so we will see. But to be honest she is not bringing anything new or reinvigoration really. I mean spin doctors will say that but I haven't seen that yet. The short program may be an attempt and to be honest from another skater it would be marked as a bit of a disaster despite the attempt to be "artistic" with someting different.
2. Virtue and Moir - while they are not necessarily bringing something really new this team has brought a refinement and connection not seen by the other teams I was worried thejudges would not embrace them and gift the French but it appears they have a chance
3. Julia Lipnskaiya - I really want her to come back with a vengeance but mentally, physically and injury wise plus timing - so many good Russian skaters make this really hard. There is something charming about her but another time and another country who knows what could have been.
4. SK/K - I am not sure they will make a huge top 5 or medal break through but they will have a successful comeback if not for the factor the USA has no one else. Brutal but true - that's why a team with no competitoins under their belt for the last year is going to worlds and 4ccs without having to recently prove themselves.
5. Davis and White - I think we will know within a month after worlds. I don't know if they want it bad enough. I think in their case they have more to lose - better ending up on a high note. They are very popular at least on this site but if they do come back I really hope they can find their niche - they were just a real good dance team but not overly specially. Technically great, well polished and consistent whereas v and m would make errors leet alone the Russians. But they imho don't have the connection or real deep down passion of say even Navka and kostmorov, Bestmianova and Bukin, Krylova and Oksianikov, Klimova and Ponamoroenko, Anissina and Peizerot or V and M. Let them be - gold medallists.
6. Gracie Gold - in a year we will know. I do think she will try to reinvigorate herself. I think she needs to 'get out of the pool' and stop flailing. Find what she wants. The thing is she is the most talented skater in the world and has all the natural things favoring her - looks, athleticism, grace even the name and resources. She might be the one who does it at the olympics which with my bias would be a little unfortunate to those Michelle Kwan's who have shown great consistency but that is life.
7. Kavaguti and Smirnov - I feel so sorry for this team. Two major injuries and both ironically may have ended their olympic dreams. The Russian Fed never really seem to back this team and they got pushed down the Russian ranks. THey are aging and it makes it so hard to come back from such a serious injury as Kavaguti who is such a fighter but with age and this injury/surgery it seems like it might be too much - not to mention they are not the pets. Mind you a lot depends on S and K as well as V and T - will they compete next year and are they healthy.
8. Jeremy Abbott - wonderful skater but I think his time has passed. He needs a consistent quad and I doubt the American federation will back two pretty skaters (Jason Brown) with inconsistent or non existent quads.
9. Jason Brown - I just don't know if he will get the quad but I am not sure he is in the comeback category - he will be held up with his pcs but next year if Vincent Zhou and Adam Rippon compete well and Adam has the quad toe and or lutz and Jason doesn't I would say bye bye Jason. Well liked, popular, you had your chance, you had the backing time to give others the chance. You will always have your fans - but who knows he m ight get the quad and he is a gorgeous skater (I am not against him but I just think for exampleAdam too is an exquisite skater - though he might want to not dotoo campy programs - not sure if it is appreciated by judges.
10. ET - Liza so sad to see her just sort of dye on ice. She just isn't doing it technically or artistically and with the Russian battlegrounds the 2015 world champ seems a memory.
11. How could I forget Mao. I think she will give it a valiant try but she needs to address not relying on h er reputation, skating skills or the 3A I think she needs to look at her other jumps and in particular she needs a 3 3 in the short though I can see 3loop 3loop combo and 3 flip with the issues with her lutz givingg her a competitive program. She needs maybe some time off ice to heal. Retrain the 3A and get the 33 combo.
12. Coomes and Buckland - I think this team has huge potential in part because the secondary Russians are flailling and falling but they are not exactly a particularly outstanding or unique team. But being the British champs and not a lot of competition I expect they will be at the Olympics but not as a top 5 threat which at one point i thought might happen.
1. Carolina Kostner - I still am not sure but she is progressing so we will see. But to be honest she is not bringing anything new or reinvigoration really. I mean spin doctors will say that but I haven't seen that yet. The short program may be an attempt and to be honest from another skater it would be marked as a bit of a disaster despite the attempt to be "artistic" with someting different.
2. Virtue and Moir - while they are not necessarily bringing something really new this team has brought a refinement and connection not seen by the other teams I was worried thejudges would not embrace them and gift the French but it appears they have a chance
3. Julia Lipnskaiya - I really want her to come back with a vengeance but mentally, physically and injury wise plus timing - so many good Russian skaters make this really hard. There is something charming about her but another time and another country who knows what could have been.
4. SK/K - I am not sure they will make a huge top 5 or medal break through but they will have a successful comeback if not for the factor the USA has no one else. Brutal but true - that's why a team with no competitoins under their belt for the last year is going to worlds and 4ccs without having to recently prove themselves.
5. Davis and White - I think we will know within a month after worlds. I don't know if they want it bad enough. I think in their case they have more to lose - better ending up on a high note. They are very popular at least on this site but if they do come back I really hope they can find their niche - they were just a real good dance team but not overly specially. Technically great, well polished and consistent whereas v and m would make errors leet alone the Russians. But they imho don't have the connection or real deep down passion of say even Navka and kostmorov, Bestmianova and Bukin, Krylova and Oksianikov, Klimova and Ponamoroenko, Anissina and Peizerot or V and M. Let them be - gold medallists.
6. Gracie Gold - in a year we will know. I do think she will try to reinvigorate herself. I think she needs to 'get out of the pool' and stop flailing. Find what she wants. The thing is she is the most talented skater in the world and has all the natural things favoring her - looks, athleticism, grace even the name and resources. She might be the one who does it at the olympics which with my bias would be a little unfortunate to those Michelle Kwan's who have shown great consistency but that is life.
7. Kavaguti and Smirnov - I feel so sorry for this team. Two major injuries and both ironically may have ended their olympic dreams. The Russian Fed never really seem to back this team and they got pushed down the Russian ranks. THey are aging and it makes it so hard to come back from such a serious injury as Kavaguti who is such a fighter but with age and this injury/surgery it seems like it might be too much - not to mention they are not the pets. Mind you a lot depends on S and K as well as V and T - will they compete next year and are they healthy.
8. Jeremy Abbott - wonderful skater but I think his time has passed. He needs a consistent quad and I doubt the American federation will back two pretty skaters (Jason Brown) with inconsistent or non existent quads.
9. Jason Brown - I just don't know if he will get the quad but I am not sure he is in the comeback category - he will be held up with his pcs but next year if Vincent Zhou and Adam Rippon compete well and Adam has the quad toe and or lutz and Jason doesn't I would say bye bye Jason. Well liked, popular, you had your chance, you had the backing time to give others the chance. You will always have your fans - but who knows he m ight get the quad and he is a gorgeous skater (I am not against him but I just think for exampleAdam too is an exquisite skater - though he might want to not dotoo campy programs - not sure if it is appreciated by judges.
10. ET - Liza so sad to see her just sort of dye on ice. She just isn't doing it technically or artistically and with the Russian battlegrounds the 2015 world champ seems a memory.
11. How could I forget Mao. I think she will give it a valiant try but she needs to address not relying on h er reputation, skating skills or the 3A I think she needs to look at her other jumps and in particular she needs a 3 3 in the short though I can see 3loop 3loop combo and 3 flip with the issues with her lutz givingg her a competitive program. She needs maybe some time off ice to heal. Retrain the 3A and get the 33 combo.
12. Coomes and Buckland - I think this team has huge potential in part because the secondary Russians are flailling and falling but they are not exactly a particularly outstanding or unique team. But being the British champs and not a lot of competition I expect they will be at the Olympics but not as a top 5 threat which at one point i thought might happen.
Maybe we just don't share similar taste as I love it.
