I actually understood it to mean that she will skate on the JGP circuit before going to 2008 senior national's. If senior National's is a fishbowl, then the SGP would be the shark pond!
What to expect from Caroline?
- Thread starter Tinymavy15
- Start date
I actually understood it to mean that she will skate on the JGP circuit before going to 2008 senior national's. If senior National's is a fishbowl, then the SGP would be the shark pond!
No matter what happens to Caroline, I am confident that she will mark her spot on the senior Grand Prix and make a name for herself which is already a lofty thing to achieve at her age entering the senior circuit for the first time. People will take notice of her even if she doesn't make it to the finals (although I think she probably will). Her spins and her flexibility set her apart from the others.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
So at US Novice Nationals and US Junior Nationals, Caroline met competitive skaters who pushed her hard and caused her to falter. But at the Junior Grand Prix and Junior World Championship, which are major international competitions, she met less talented skaters who allowed her to relax and did not push her as much. Does this sound correct?
- Joined
- May 2, 2007
well i'm just hoping that she's not the next cohen.
for if she's the next sasha cohen then we may just hand out the olympic medal to asada,
just as cohen did to arakawa.
and i just moved for fear of all cohen-lovers here will burn me at the stake.
for if she's the next sasha cohen then we may just hand out the olympic medal to asada,
just as cohen did to arakawa.
and i just moved for fear of all cohen-lovers here will burn me at the stake.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
I think Caroline and Mirai are just too young to get overly nervous in a senior competition.
They will not be skating among their peers in St Paul. However, Caroline in the senior GP will likely feel she is not expected to win any of these GPs. Of course, she may win one (Sebestyen won one). If she wins SA, that will put her into a nervous state for China. I think what everyone wants is that she skates her best takes it all up as experience.
Mirai, on the other hand, will be in the Junior GPs, and skating among her peers may shake her up a bit. But at her age, I think she will get a comfortable feeling after the first triple and she will be excellent.
Joe
They will not be skating among their peers in St Paul. However, Caroline in the senior GP will likely feel she is not expected to win any of these GPs. Of course, she may win one (Sebestyen won one). If she wins SA, that will put her into a nervous state for China. I think what everyone wants is that she skates her best takes it all up as experience.
Mirai, on the other hand, will be in the Junior GPs, and skating among her peers may shake her up a bit. But at her age, I think she will get a comfortable feeling after the first triple and she will be excellent.
Joe
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2006
"I think Caroline and Mirai are just too young to get overly nervous in a senior competition.
They will not be skating among their peers in St Paul.
Are you defining their peer group by ability or age? (or both?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nigel
"When Caroline has been in the spot light with other competitive skaters, she has faultered.... US Novice Nationals, US Junior Nationals . The JGP series and JW were probably more tests of her ability to skate solid performances with less competitive skaters on the rosters, but under greater pressure, she has not delivered at this point. "
And from Polymer Bob: "So at US Novice Nationals and US Junior Nationals, Caroline met competitive skaters who pushed her hard and caused her to falter. But at the Junior Grand Prix and Junior World Championship, which are major international competitions, she met less talented skaters who allowed her to relax and did not push her as much. Does this sound correct?"
Just a general observation at this point. Let's face it, the JGP was not as packed with talent last year as prior years with the Japanese and Korean skaters. I really don't feel that Caroline felt much pressure at the JGP this past season, even at the JGPF. US Nationals is a different sort of spotlight...literally...And if you ask any skater who has been to a SGP event, it is very different than the JGP. JGP events are generally not well attended, very little to no media...somewhat like a summer club event in the US.
I am not saying that Caroline has nerves of steel, but at the same time, she is moving into a new range of exposure, media coverage that she has never seen the likes of. Easy to get distracted and loose focus of what her goals are. Perhaps a maturity level that a 14 yr old isn't quite ready for. She just needs more seasoning
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- Joined
- Mar 19, 2006
ITA every word. I see her getting caught up in the moment and just loosing concentration. JMO, but it seems like the nerves and concentration are not hand in hand in this particular case anyway - yes I think they usually are connected though.
I also don't see the "puberty issue" arising for her. Just a hunch I 'spose, but I think she will stay in "the right shape" to not have it effect her - or at least very little. Like I say, JUST a hunch.
Also, Asian girls, even when living in America, tend to have smaller bodies and be smaller than Americans. It's not a general rule, but when you reach 16-17 years old, you noticed that she shortest girls in a class are often Asians. Caroline could have this going for her, as opposed to Ashley, perhaps. Just my opinion, though.
Kypma
Ashley already looks as though she's gone through the puberty monster...her physique is quite womanly as it is.
Although Caroline may remain thin and small, she probably won't stay the way she is for too long, judging from the fact that both Mao and Yu-Na didn't stay as tiny as they were at 13. With her questionable jump technique, I'd say even a small change will affect her significantly.
I actually think this works in Ashley's favor. She already looks like she's gone through the worst of the puberty monster and is still a consistent skater with good jumps.
Caroline is definitely going to grow in the next few years, even if she ends up being a petite girl. I worry about her jumps because her technique is highly flawed, especially with the toe jumps.
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
I'd say what I think but apparently some people are not allowed to have opinions so I'll just say, whatever will happen, will happen.
- Joined
- May 17, 2007
hmm
Sasha flutzed and lipped, but she still did incredibly well under the new system. I don't want to pre-judge how I think Caroline will do, but I hesitate to say that just because she has a problem with her jumps that she won't medal. Jumps are a significant part of the program, but they can't determine all of the success of a skater. It's the whole package that counts, and while Caroline may not have a great jumping techiniqe, she does have high level spins, spirals, and most importantly consistency. Like I said before, i think that she has the determination to improve; she proved that to us this year. She learned how to rotate her triples, moved up from eighth to second on the national level, and took home a gold at the junior worlds.
Sasha flutzed and lipped, but she still did incredibly well under the new system. I don't want to pre-judge how I think Caroline will do, but I hesitate to say that just because she has a problem with her jumps that she won't medal. Jumps are a significant part of the program, but they can't determine all of the success of a skater. It's the whole package that counts, and while Caroline may not have a great jumping techiniqe, she does have high level spins, spirals, and most importantly consistency. Like I said before, i think that she has the determination to improve; she proved that to us this year. She learned how to rotate her triples, moved up from eighth to second on the national level, and took home a gold at the junior worlds.
Next season, new rules will be in place to penalize (at least, I hope they are used) the skaters who flutz and lip, which will definitely affect Caroline since she has a pretty severe flutz. What I'm guessing most people are concerned about (myself included) is that Caroline will have a harder time with her triples once she hits a growth spurt because her technique is flawed. And it takes a long time to correct flawed technique and to rework muscle memory.
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2004
Caroline Zhang is not an Asian girl living in America, but an American girl (of Asian descent).
If you meant American girls of Asian descent tend to have smaller bodies than American girls of non-Asian descent then say so, but you should not imply that Asian descent =/= American.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
The young ladies are moving up in one way or another to the Senior level. I just don't believe that creates nervousness, butterflies, pressure or whatever you want to call it. (If anything, it would get them excited.) They are not expected to win the Worlds this season. They know that. All they want to do and what would be expected of them, is to do their best and leave the impression they will be a force on 2010.
It's not like they are the only competitors who will be nervous. I guarantee that ALL the competitors will be nervous. The question of nerves is, and always will be, can it be controlled?
Joe
It's not like they are the only competitors who will be nervous. I guarantee that ALL the competitors will be nervous. The question of nerves is, and always will be, can it be controlled?
Joe
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
exactly. that is where kimmie has shined. Even with early program probelms she has been able to complete the program cleanly. I think that it is really this asset alone which has brought her to the top ( and maybe the lack of consistant ladies at nationals. let's face it... she would not have beaten wither sasha nor michelle had they been in spokane.) Kimmie is a great competitior and this quality makes up for the lack of bellimans and artisty in her programs.
Wow, thanks for making me notice. I never realised she had no Bielmann... although doesn't she do one in her spiral sequence?
Kypma
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2006
