State of US Ladies in skating III: 2014-15 Season

[FlattFan]

If the US federation starts paying for coaching, stipend, housing, the US will have a massive depth of talents as well.

 

[Jammers]

If the US federation starts paying for coaching, stipend, housing, the US will have a massive depth of talents as well.

Exactly. One of the reasons the Soviet Union was so strong in athletics was because the State supported their athletes unlike here where it's up to the individuals and their families to pay for most everything. Imagine the domination the US would have at the Olympics if the State paid for the training, coaches etc etc.

 

[FlattFan]

This is why it's so silly to compare the depth and how good these girls are. One is fully funded by her parents, one is funded by the country. Say what? I would expect the Russians to have better costumes, better programs, better packaging, better skates, better everything.

Imagine Gold getting a free apartment, her parents don't have to work, and can just live off of her stipend paid for by the US government. She would probably fail massively. Girl can't handle the pressure.

Now, imagine Adelina having to pay for her own lessons. She probably works at a mall instead of sitting out of the GP with an injury. Pick your poisons, but don't mix them up.

 

[minze]

Exactly. One of the reasons the Soviet Union was so strong in athletics was because the State supported their athletes unlike here where it's up to the individuals and their families to pay for most everything. Imagine the domination the US would have at the Olympics if the State paid for the training, coaches etc etc.

Agree. But for those of us who believe in capitalism (without getting too political) prefer it this way. Support athletes, but not to the point of tracking a kid from very early on and owning that kid because of their talent. I like the American way.

 

[Ophelia]

Yeah, I rather pay my own way through training than be owned by the state.

 

[Pippuripihvi]

Exactly. One of the reasons the Soviet Union was so strong in athletics was because the State supported their athletes unlike here where it's up to the individuals and their families to pay for most everything. Imagine the domination the US would have at the Olympics if the State paid for the training, coaches etc etc.

Agree. But for those of us who believe in capitalism (without getting too political) prefer it this way. Support athletes, but not to the point of tracking a kid from very early on and owning that kid because of their talent. I like the American way.

Athletes in Russia are supported only once they get into the national team (and the support they get is not that huge). The sums of money they are given are not infinite, but rather limited. Even junior national team skaters struggle for money - Serafima Sakhanovich had to move to Moscow because she was tired of her parents making debts so that she could skate, and she could not find any sponsors in St Petersburg. And finding personal sponsors in Russia is almost impossible for an athlete.

In the US, on the other hand, in many sports kids are tracked down by colleges and universities. Collegial sport is huge and most kids have an opportunity to get a university scholarship based on their athletic achievements. Scholarships for athletes are huge, and every university has a number of teams. There's no such thing in Russia.

So, I don't think that the system is the one to blame. Skaters everywhere around the world are struggling to make it financially. It's just figure skating is more popular in Russia right now: more kids - more talent.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Agree. But for those of us who believe in capitalism (without getting too political) prefer it this way. Support athletes, but not to the point of tracking a kid from very early on and owning that kid because of their talent. I like the American way.

It also means if a kid want to pursue skating, they just need to pay for it. Some skaters in the USA have had remarkable success even when they started relatively late in life. I doubt Johnny Weir would have gotten anywhere in Russia starting at i think it was 11.

 

[Scovies]

In the US, on the other hand, in many sports kids are tracked down by colleges and universities. Collegial sport is huge and most kids have an opportunity to get a university scholarship based on their athletic achievements. Scholarships for athletes are huge, and every university has a number of teams. There's no such thing in Russia.

That's true for sports like football, baseball, and basketball, but I've never heard of figure skating scholarships. Does anyone know if any U.S. colleges give them out? And even so, that would only start once the athlete is 18 or so -- I think that would work for men, but female skaters are generally expected to peak far younger than that. Also, the NCAA limits the amount of training hours allowed for athletes.

 

[ice coverage]

...In the US, on the other hand, in many sports kids are tracked down by colleges and universities. Collegial sport is huge and most kids have an opportunity to get a university scholarship based on their athletic achievements. Scholarships for athletes are huge, and every university has a number of teams. There's no such thing in Russia. ...

... I've never heard of figure skating scholarships. Does anyone know if any U.S. colleges give them out? And even so, that would only start once the athlete is 18 or so -- I think that would work for men, but female skaters are generally expected to peak far younger than that. Also, the NCAA limits the amount of training hours allowed for athletes.

Figure skating scholarships are NOT available in the U.S., according to a very forthright statement on the USFS website that I once came across.

USFS clearly wants to give fair notice to to skaters and their families that scholarships are not available -- but opportunities to compete at the collegiate level are.

 

[Pippuripihvi]

Figure skating scholarships are NOT available in the U.S., according to a very forthright statement on the USFS website that I once came across.

USFS clearly wants to give fair notice to to skaters and their families that scholarships are not available -- but opportunities to compete at the collegiate level are.

Hmm, what about these ones?
http://www.usfsa.org/About.asp?id=445#memorial

 

[ice coverage]

... In the US, on the other hand, in many sports kids are tracked down by colleges and universities. Collegial sport is huge and most kids have an opportunity to get a university scholarship based on their athletic achievements. Scholarships for athletes are huge, and every university has a number of teams. There's no such thing in Russia.

Hmm, what about these ones?
http://www.usfsa.org/About.asp?id=445#memorial

Your original post was about scholarships from universities, or so I believed.

The USFS Memorial Fund is something entirely different.

In the U.S., the typical scholarship for an athlete playing football or basketball, for instance, is from the school itself. Not from a national governing body like USFS.

 

[Pippuripihvi]

Your original post was about scholarships from universities, or so I believed.

The USFS Memorial Fund is something entirely different.

In the U.S., the typical scholarship for an athlete playing football or basketball, for instance, is from the school itself. Not from a national governing body like USFS.

Oh, sorry about the confusion. I totally used the example of the university scholarships just to illustrate that athletes in the US are also supported in some way. At least they can get through the university for free and with a number of privileges.

 

[ice coverage]

Oh, sorry about the confusion. I totally used the example of the university scholarships just to illustrate that athletes in the US are also supported in some way. At least they can get through the university for free and with a number of privileges.

I don't know for sure, but I would be surprised if the USFS Memorial Fund is able to provide full scholarships for figure skaters.
But every little bit helps.

And I'm no expert, but I would venture to guess that many athletic scholarships for other sports are only partial as well.
Whether a 100% free ride is offered would depend on the school, the sport, and the specific athlete.

 

[Mrs. P]

FWIW, being a member of the Scholastic Academic Team provides a scholarship ($2,500 in 2015, per this year's application: http://www.usfsa.org/content/2015 SHT Application.pdf)

Some notable senior-level alumni of the team include: Hannah Miller (2014), Yasmin Siraj (2014), Kaitlyn Hawayek (2013), Jason Brown (2012), Christina Gao (2012), Lukas Krugars (2012), Maia Shibutani (2011), Rachael Flatt (2009-2010), Daniel O'Shea (2009), Emily Samuelson (2008).

 

[Mrs. P]

Sectionals are over for the ladies and here are those who qualified:

Mariah Bell 174.76 (1st, Midwestern), 13th in 2014
Karen Chen 171.58 (1st, Pacific Coast) WD from U.S. Nationals at the Jr. Level in 2014; was 4th as a Junior in 2013.
Leah Keiser 162.34 (2nd, Pacific Coast), 10th in 2014
Amber Glenn 157.20 (2nd Midwestern), 1st in Junior in 2014
Tyler Pierce 155.31 (3rd, Pacific Coast), 2nd in Junior in 2014
Madison Vinci 149.93 (1st, Eastern), was 11th at Eastern Sectionals as a Jr. in 2014, was 4th as a Novice in 2013.
Ashley Shin 145.86 (3rd Midwestern), 3rd in Junior
Caroline Zhang 145.14 (4th, Pacific Coast), 19th in 2014
Franchesca Chiera 141.84 (2nd, Eastern), 17th in 2014
Katie McBeath 135.82 (3rd, Eastern) (I think this is her first time qualifying to Nationals; she was 10th in Eastern Sectionals as a senior in 2013)
Maria Yang 135.72 (4th, Eastern), 7th in Junior in 2014
Christina Cleveland 132.55 (4th Midwestern), 11th in Midwestern sectionals as a Junior in 2014.

Nine ladies have byes to Nationals, making the total field of 21 participants.

***

Karen Chen currently has the 7th best SB score among the U.S. Ladies from JGP Croatia (169.41). Leah Keiser has the 11th best SB score from her JGP in Slovkia (149.24). Amber Glenn has the 13th best SB score from JGP Courchavel (148.08).

Mariah Bell will compete in her second senior B event in Croatia (Golden Spin of Zagrab) during the first week of December, so i hope she can improve on her SB score of 148.48 from Nebelhorn Trophy, which is the 12th best among the U.S. ladies currently.

Caroline Zhang has not competed internationally since 2013 Skate America.

***

Sadly Barbie Long (5th, Midwestern with 132.48; 7th at 2013 Nationals) did not qualify.
I also feel bad for Katarina Kulgeyko, who was 5th at Pacific Coast of 140.32, but her score would have put her within the top 4 at the other two regions.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

No disrespect to anyone else but I'm really pulling for these two!!

Mariah Bell 174.76 (1st, Midwestern), 13th in 2014
Karen Chen 171.58 (1st, Pacific Coast) WD from U.S. Nationals at the Jr. Level in 2014; was 4th as a Junior in 2013.

So glad they are doing well and hopefully Mariah can nail it at Golden Spin!!!

 

[stella luna]

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.

Not much of a cat fight, really ... whoever of the favorites who falls the least (Gracie, Ashley, Polina), and Grand Prix results. Sad to say.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

All of the Russians have been inconsistent except Liza?! What about Radionova who's got two golds, Anna who's got a gold and a silver, and Lipnitskaia who's got two silvers.... all enough to qualify for the GPF?

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Pogorilaya deserved to place off podium at Rostelecom and so did Lipnitskaia at cup of China.

 

[karlowens2]

Pogorilaya deserved to place off podium at Rostelecom and so did Lipnitskaia at cup of China.

There was some shabby scoring this season. No one was more suprised than Lipnitskiaia when she saw the score. And after the Hanyu 5-fall silver I wouldn't be surprised if ISU doesn't make a guidlines change. I'm sure they never imagined that would happen.