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- Jan 1, 2014
This. While Gracie certainly has some flaws, if both skate clean I'd put Gracie just above Satoko. Gracie needs better programs that actually suit her.
State of US Ladies in skating III: 2014-15 Season
- Thread starter R.D.
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- May 19, 2011
Agreed. Gracie has great speed and good positions in her spins but I think Satoko has great speed and great positions in her spins...she also spins in both directions.
Gracie is faster and leaves a bigger impression on the ice but, IMO, that is her only real advantage over Satoko. In terms of choreography, interpretation, presentation, musicality and reaching an audience, Satoko wraps rings around Gracie. Gracie's jumps are bigger but Satoko is more consistent at landing jumps. Satoko URs and Gracie pops/doubles. Satoko is the superior competitor. She's able to keep her focus and land jumps while simultaneously delivering and selling a program. Gracie hasn't learned how to do that yet. Despite Satoko's brilliance on the ice it's very frustrating that her scores hardly ever reflect it.
If I had to choose who to watch, I'd pick Satoko over Gracie every time...smallish jumps and all.
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- Oct 22, 2005
Spinning in both directions is rewarded on the tech mark but it's not the only way to be rewarded on the tech mark for bullet points in spins. As long as you check the boxes, you're good.
When I first saw Gracie I never would have thought she would have consistency issues on a double axel. I will not write her off for now, but if she doesn't get it together this season, she's gonna start looking like another hyped-up, inconsistent skater like all of the other US Ladies whom have come and gone after Cohen/ Kwan.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
I agree with all of this. I'd be inclined to have them more even but Satoko's LP is just so much better than Gracie's and Gracie's SP is meh.
- Joined
- May 19, 2011
^^They are definitely different skaters. Gracie has had to have just about every aspect of performing taught to her...I get the sense that it came a lot easier for Satoko. It's much more natural to her and I think that's why I connect to her more when she skates...and also why I just don't get Gracie when she skates.
Unfortunately for Satoko if she doesn't grow a bit more and add some power to her jumps, I don't think the judges are ever going to put her in a position to be competitive with the top girls.
Unfortunately for Satoko if she doesn't grow a bit more and add some power to her jumps, I don't think the judges are ever going to put her in a position to be competitive with the top girls.
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2014
I totally disagree that Satoko is that much better than Gracie. I like both of them but Gracie just has more polish to her skating, even if her jumps are a little wonky this season. And I don't get why people don't appreciate Gracie's spins a little more -- I think they're up there near (but obviously not as good) Alissa's in quality and control. The fact she screwed up her final spin at Skate America was embarrassing not just because it happened, but because it happened to HER. I've always felt her spins were extremely reliable and centered. They look a lot more comfortable than Ashley's and definitely better than say Anna Pogo's or Liza's... but those last two should go without saying 
Her layback positions are really strong, too. Yeah Mirai's are great and always have been, but Gracie's have been kind of forgotten because she's such a strong jumper. I love Gracie's Bielmann and haircutter spins!
You know, originally I hated Gracie's LP music but the more I listen to it the more I think it actually has a lot of potential. It's just, if she only does "meh" it really then goes TERRIBLY. But imagine if she had gone out to Skate America and skated as well as she did in the Team Event at the Olympics. I think it has the ability to get to that quality of performance and if her jumps are with her, it can be pretty good! I've been listening to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL6u5t77Wa8
Her layback positions are really strong, too. Yeah Mirai's are great and always have been, but Gracie's have been kind of forgotten because she's such a strong jumper. I love Gracie's Bielmann and haircutter spins!
You know, originally I hated Gracie's LP music but the more I listen to it the more I think it actually has a lot of potential. It's just, if she only does "meh" it really then goes TERRIBLY. But imagine if she had gone out to Skate America and skated as well as she did in the Team Event at the Olympics. I think it has the ability to get to that quality of performance and if her jumps are with her, it can be pretty good! I've been listening to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL6u5t77Wa8
Congrats to Hannah Miller, who took gold at the Ice Challenge in Graz, Austria. After a lackluster sp where she was 10 points out of first place, she came back to win the FS and the title! Hannah also took silver at Lombardia (behind Satoko) so she's doing well on the Challenger circuit.
Hannah could be a spoiler at Nationals - she skates with speed, has difficult tech content and is a nice mix of artistry and athleticism. If she could put together a strong sp and fs, I think she could get on the podium.
Hannah could be a spoiler at Nationals - she skates with speed, has difficult tech content and is a nice mix of artistry and athleticism. If she could put together a strong sp and fs, I think she could get on the podium.
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2003
I cannot stand this comment. First, she has no control over how her body grows and looks. Second, how she looks should not matter as long as she does not SKATE like a 10-year-old, which she most definitely DOES NOT.
to me polina needs to skate faster in long to let people know she is skating to peter pan. I don't feel the fly across the ice.
u.s. ladies need to improve the jumps , keep the pcs
to me too many focus on pcs in lieu of jumps, other country skaters are gaining based on technique or quality of jumps
gracie skates well, but for me needs to focus on skating when she uses lyrics.
the 3 that has stood out for me so far
are
gracie, polina, Courtney,
with close behind samatha,
Ashley as always.
mirai needs to improve.
Ashley cain, showed improvement but believe in herself more
Christina. was what I expected after Olympics which she didn't get to go and with her love of college. so I wasn't expecting much from her.
I cant wait to see Hannah though. seem like she improved. I
I am not going to focus on the ladies who skated in juniors even though old enough for seniors, I wait until nationals for that because I don't know which ones are skating senior.
I am assuming, Karen, amber, leah.
u.s. ladies need to improve the jumps , keep the pcs
to me too many focus on pcs in lieu of jumps, other country skaters are gaining based on technique or quality of jumps
gracie skates well, but for me needs to focus on skating when she uses lyrics.
the 3 that has stood out for me so far
are
gracie, polina, Courtney,
with close behind samatha,
Ashley as always.
mirai needs to improve.
Ashley cain, showed improvement but believe in herself more
Christina. was what I expected after Olympics which she didn't get to go and with her love of college. so I wasn't expecting much from her.
I cant wait to see Hannah though. seem like she improved. I
I am not going to focus on the ladies who skated in juniors even though old enough for seniors, I wait until nationals for that because I don't know which ones are skating senior.
I am assuming, Karen, amber, leah.
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Gracie's problem is she's a nervous skater. Unlike some of the other US Ladies who are chronic UR'S or two foot their jumps Gracie has none of those problems. It's being tough enough to finally skate clean programs and not make stupid mistakes. She's wasting time skating down to her competition and the judges won't wait forever for her to finally get it together.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2013
She does seem very nervous. The fear on her face is almost palpable. Too bad that it would be almost impossible to skate with a good dose of Xanax in a person! I really hope she gets it together this season, I really want a reason to love her skating!
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2014
I really want to like her as well! but her nerves...
I think her LP music is the best POTO music cut that I've listened to. It's cohesive, there's no distracting cuts, and it's unique from the others- I mean it doesn't have the usual DUN DUN DUN DUN shtank that the others have. The lyrics actually works with her program. I just wish she could have an amazing skate with it.
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2014
Maybe a .25 dosis? Just kidding, of course. A sports psychologist would be great not only for her but all the skaters (heck, even "cold-hearted" Russians are full of nerves this season).- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
The American ladies are just fine as the Russians and Japanese are no better. Heck the Russian supposed top ladies haven't competed or haven't won gold. All of the Russians have been inconsistent except Liza perhaps. Gracie and Ashley still have time to show their stuff. I am interested to see if Polina will stay up with these ladies or regress? What a cat fight for the American podium.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2013
I agree. I think all of the top level skaters should be working with a sports psychologist. The pressure on them would make a weaker person implode.
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No one skates clean program after clean program for an entire season. Not even Michelle Kwan. So far on the GP circuit, the Russian ladies have won three out of three events, with three different skaters. Unless the US sweeps the next three GPs, they're not comparable. So far the best US result was a silver from "old, technically challenged, should retire" Ashley Wagner.
I mean, after Polina's SP meltdown and Alaine's bronze medal, should this Canadian say that the American ladies are no better than the Canadian ladies?
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- Jan 12, 2004
Polina's SP performance doesn't qualify as a "meltdown", IMO. She fell on the combo, which I grant is a major mistake. Probably the most serious mistake a skater can make in the short. However, she recovered and executed the rest of her elements. Other than the fall, the rest of the GOEs ranged from 0 to 2.
To me a "meltdown" is when a skater falls apart and makes multiple serious errors all through a program. Lip's LP at COC would be an example. Polina started with a big mistake, then pulled it together to deliver the rest of the program. That shows a lot of grit and is quite the opposite of a meltdown.
- Joined
- May 19, 2011
The reason the Russians are better than both the US and Japanese ladies is b/c even though Russia's top two skaters are out for the season (Adelina) or struggling a bit (Julia), there have been three other skaters who have stepped in and won events. No other country has that kind of depth. For most countries when their top two are out, that's it. You're left with a bunch of C- and D-list skaters who don't have a prayer of reaching a podium. Russia is so deep that even their #3, #4 and #5 skaters are all gold medal threats.
I disagree about all of the Russians being inconsistent. Elena has skated well so far this season (won Japan Open ladies event, won SA), though it's hard to compare anyone to Liza T b/c no one has competed as much as she has this season.
Hopefully Polina will have a better showing at NHK but she's already at a disadvantage. Her PCS are in the gutter right now and that's going to prevent her from placing as high as she needs to.
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