What's next for Ashley Wagner?
- Thread starter Johar
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- Jul 26, 2003
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I believe she's going to Jr Worlds.. She's still young enough for the next Olympics.
And I hope she will continue to work to eliminate the 2 footed jumps and the technique that leads to her having edge calls. She's a determined, competitive lady, so I am sure that she will!
And I hope she will continue to work to eliminate the 2 footed jumps and the technique that leads to her having edge calls. She's a determined, competitive lady, so I am sure that she will!
She is most certainly young enough for the next Olympics and there are plenty of national competitions and world competitions in between. She did well this season. Very well. That should be motivation enough for her to keep going. It's just bad luck for her that there were only 2 spots for the Olympics. But I do not think she is facing a crossroads the way Alissa, for instance, may be. Ashley's path is obvious: keep working, keep competing.
How far she will go and whether she can stay within the top pack probably depends on how much she can improve. I don't think U.S. skating will remain in this state of mediocrity for long. At least I hope not. But I definitely see a chance for improvement in Ashley's skating. More than I did before nationals. Before I feared she had reached her peak and wasn't going to improve much. But now I do think she can be even better than she is.
How far she will go and whether she can stay within the top pack probably depends on how much she can improve. I don't think U.S. skating will remain in this state of mediocrity for long. At least I hope not. But I definitely see a chance for improvement in Ashley's skating. More than I did before nationals. Before I feared she had reached her peak and wasn't going to improve much. But now I do think she can be even better than she is.
I would say 'work on her SP' but I'm not even sure what that even means or would entail. Long program specialists have always perplexed me...In order to skate clean freeskates they have to land the first 3 jumps right....so why can't they skate clean shorts?
Anyway, Ashley's still got Junior Worlds and while I find that to be a bit of a step down, she seems excited about it in her vlog so gotta be happy for her I suppose. Does anyone else think she'd benefit from a coaching change? I'm not the biggest fan of P.Hill though I acknowledge Ashley's made alot of progress after switching to her...But I feel like, ok, she's maxed out what Hill can bring to the table and now its time to move on and improve the other aspects with someone else.
Anyway, Ashley's still got Junior Worlds and while I find that to be a bit of a step down, she seems excited about it in her vlog so gotta be happy for her I suppose. Does anyone else think she'd benefit from a coaching change? I'm not the biggest fan of P.Hill though I acknowledge Ashley's made alot of progress after switching to her...But I feel like, ok, she's maxed out what Hill can bring to the table and now its time to move on and improve the other aspects with someone else.
It could be that Ashley is one of those marathon-type skaters. Some people thrive on the challenge of endurance. And I think Ashley gets quite a bit of adrenaline from coming from behind or being the underdog.
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I'd like to see Ashley go to a jump specialist (Arutunian for example). And I'd like to see her do what Ryan Bradley did--do some lessons with team Shpilband on basic stroking to get more power in her skating.
(Lest those of you think Shpilband is the wrong person, may I remind you that Brian Boitano told the Sports Illustrated reporter that Charlie White had perhaps the best stroking he had ever seen)
(Lest those of you think Shpilband is the wrong person, may I remind you that Brian Boitano told the Sports Illustrated reporter that Charlie White had perhaps the best stroking he had ever seen)
Maybe Yuka Sato? Jeremy and Ashley seem to be good buddies (judging from their twitter msgs) and perhaps training with him might help her. I've been impressed with her coaching. It seems that Sato plays a good mix of mentoring and technical coaching.
I think Arutunian might be good too.
Ashley should be very proud. Great athlete, the right attitude, and plenty ahead for her in this sport. Coming so close is a heart break of course but of all of the skaters who "just missed" - she is one that I think can find motivation to rise above and beyond.
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- Dec 28, 2006
She will just have to put this behind her and focus on being the next national champion and make the 2011 world team. maybe we will be 3 spots for that (although I doubt this).
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
she's tweeted and facebooked that she's shooting for the next games.
Delightful
I hadn't seen much of Ashley Wagner before nationals, and let me say I found her skating a delight and a breath of fresh air (sorry to use so many cliches), esp. her joyous free skate.
I am glad she finished ahead of Cohen. Cohen truly is a wonderful skater, but those judges are often shady. This time they called it right....
Hope to see more of Ashley!!!!!
I hadn't seen much of Ashley Wagner before nationals, and let me say I found her skating a delight and a breath of fresh air (sorry to use so many cliches), esp. her joyous free skate.
I am glad she finished ahead of Cohen. Cohen truly is a wonderful skater, but those judges are often shady. This time they called it right....
Hope to see more of Ashley!!!!!
Ashley Video Blogged on YouTube after nationals about her plans,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5RtRpRAJzY
Such a cheerful attitude !! best of luck to her !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5RtRpRAJzY
Such a cheerful attitude !! best of luck to her !
Really? You don't think Rachael and Mirai can place a combined 13th? :think:
I don't see why not frankly.
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- Nov 22, 2009
It's possible but not likely. Three things will need to happen in combination:
1) Between them, they will need 4 great skates (2 x SP + 2 x FS). That means Mirai needs to fix her UR's.
2) Skaters generally thought of as "better" will need to falter. Not all of them, but some of them (** see below)
3) Judges will have to call things fairly, based on what's put out on the ice and not use reputation judging.
** Skaters who, barring meltdown, are candidates for the top 10 in addition to Rachael and Mirai (alphabetical order): Ando, Asada, Kim, Korpi, Kostner, Lepisto, Rochette, Suzuki. Wild cards (based on Europeans): Gedenevashvili, Meier, Sebestyen. That's a total of 13 ladies include Flatt and Nagasu.
I would have felt a little more of a possibility of achieving 13 with a Flatt + Wagner combo, only because Wagner is lately getting dinged for fewer downgrades. Stress on "little". Moot point now.
I think Flatt/Nagasu have a decent shot at getting back 3 spots in 2011 IF they both skate their best and one or more of the Olympic medalists skip Worlds.
Wagner still has Junior worlds and she is the first Olympic alternate, so that's not too shabby. After all, Emily Hughes as the first alternate in 2006 got to go when MK pulled out.
She's on her way up. Nothing to be ashamed about. She's in MUCH better shape than, say, Caroline Zhang...right?
Wagner still has Junior worlds and she is the first Olympic alternate, so that's not too shabby. After all, Emily Hughes as the first alternate in 2006 got to go when MK pulled out.
She's on her way up. Nothing to be ashamed about. She's in MUCH better shape than, say, Caroline Zhang...right?
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- Nov 22, 2009
You have a valid point. But my guess is most of those ladies will be at Worlds--actually Nakano was named to team and Suzuki is 1st alt for Japan. Whichever Japanese lady (-ies) don't show, Japan will surely send a potential other contender for top 10 in her stead. I think Kim has already said she will skate at Worlds. Rochette I don't know what she's planning to do. Wouldn't be surprised to see most of the European ladies on above list there also (barring injury) I don't think there will be so much attrition among top skaters, that Rachael and Mirai will find a "Lucky 13" finish an easier task.
I find it very likely that Kim and Ando and/or Asada will not be at worlds if they make the podium in Vancouver. All three have world titles so if they medal at the Olympics I don't think they'll have much interest in going to worlds. It could depend on how disappointed Ando and Asada would be if they don't win OG, however.
Rachael already beat half the people on that list at 2009 worlds. Granted, Kostner and Lepisto didn't skate their best. But they rarely do. If Rachael is judged the same way she was at nationals, I think she beats Kostner's performance at Europeans.
Gedenevashvili, Meier, Sebestyen ... bah. Lovely ladies, but I don't think they are better than Rachael and Mirai.
As for Wagner, she's wonderful, but it was she who fell in the SP, not Mirai. Mirai has outscored her in the SP all season, even when Wagner doesn't fall.
To me, Mirai and Rachael have proven themselves this season to be at least as consistent and talented as half the wild cards you mentioned.
Obviously, either can have a meltdown at worlds. But that's not the same thing as saying Mirai and Rachael don't have a good chance of placing combined 13th.
I guess Mirai still has to prove herself to a lot of people. I hope she will at the Olympics and worlds. Fingers crossed.
I think Flatt/Nagasu have a decent shot at getting back 3 spots in 2011 IF they both skate their best and one or more of the Olympic medalists skip Worlds.
Wagner still has Junior worlds and she is the first Olympic alternate, so that's not too shabby. After all, Emily Hughes as the first alternate in 2006 got to go when MK pulled out.
She's on her way up. Nothing to be ashamed about. She's in MUCH better shape than, say, Caroline Zhang...right?[/QUOTE]
Not to mention Alissa.
