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?
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)
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).
Really? You don't think Rachael and Mirai can place a combined 13th? :think:
I don't see why not frankly.
^^ Will all the ladies' Olympic medalists attend Worlds though? If there are some top 3 absences, I think that would bode well for Rachael's and Mirai's placements total to equal 13 or less. We'll see come March.
d(Lest those of you think Shpilband is the wrong person said:Yes, Charlie has beautiful basic skating skills.
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?[/QUOTE]
Not to mention Alissa.