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

[StitchMonkey]

OMG, what an awesome idea. What are you going to eat?! (Sorry, I like to eat.). Maybe I will make my Team USA whoopie pies again...(Last year I made it with Irish creme filling in honor of Jason's Riverdance...maybe I'll do something french in honor of Ashley's Moulin Rouge program?)

Well I personally think frozen daiquiris and margaritas are appropriate for an ice skating competition.

 

[R.D.]

Speaking of Nagasu, I did something I almost never do - I actually went back and watched her 2010 Nationals freeskate on YT again. Wow, she really was at the peak of her career back then - and expressed so much joy and energy out there...(still think she should have won, but that's long gone) Since then it's been the total opposite - a drag, a bore, like she doesn't want to be out there. If Nagasu EVER got back into 2010 form she'd be right up there with Gold and Wagner even on their good days...

But as it is, more than anything else her chronic UR problem will be her undoing. Unless she gets it fixed pronto...maybe even take a season or two to re-work things, if that's not what she's already doing...

 

[IcyEdges]

OMG, what an awesome idea. What are you going to eat?! (Sorry, I like to eat.). Maybe I will make my Team USA whoopie pies again...(Last year I made it with Irish creme filling in honor of Jason's Riverdance...maybe I'll do something french in honor of Ashley's Moulin Rouge program?)

You could always try to make macaron's in honor of Ashley's Moulin Rouge program!

 

[ice coverage]

For the first time, Nagasu failed to win a GP medal, or even a medal in a B event. ...

Her biggest competition may come from Courtney Hicks, who won the inaugural US International Classic and silver at the 2014 US International Classic and finished 4th in both of her GP events this season.

Small correction. First time since the 2009-2010 season that she did not win a GP medal. accuracy and all that

Another small correction to chuckm's post:

Zawadzki won the inaugural U.S. International Classic -- which was in 2012.
Hicks won the event in 2013, its second year. accuracy and all that​

 

[Sandpiper]

Mirai won't be a factor unless the judges ignore < as they did last year for both her and Ashley.

As long as the USA has three spots, and no one making a credible bid for that #3 spot, Mirai will remain a factor. Just like Polina, Courtney, Samantha, ect. at all factors. It would take a miracle for them to medal at Worlds, but to go? Sure, why not.

 

[Puchi]

Her biggest competition may come from Courtney Hicks, who won the inaugural US International Classic and silver at the 2014 US International Classic and finished 4th in both of her GP events this season.

Courtney is my pick for that 3th spot. She's really improved this season and if she can nail her jumps, she'll score decently (PCS will follow the TES in time )

 

[amc987]

I think the team will be Gracie, Ashley, and Polina again. I don't see Mirai having a good shot because of the URs. Courtney and Samantha have opposite problems with PCS and technical content. Cain isn't consistent enough. I think the judges will see Polina as the best option for the 3rd spot.

 

[mao_da_artist]

Ashley and Gracie are essentially locks. I think Polina and Courtney are fighting for that third spot. Samantha Cesario and Mirai are long shots that won't score well internationally. Typically after they dona free skate at least 4-5 of their jumps are under review

Anyone know if Karen Chen is elligible for worlds?

 

[Mrs. P]

Ashley and Gracie are essentially locks. I think Polina and Courtney are fighting for that third spot. Samantha Cesario and Mirai are long shots that won't score well internationally. Typically after they dona free skate at least 4-5 of their jumps are under review

Anyone know if Karen Chen is elligible for worlds?

Karen Chen is too young for senior international competitions. I expect she will be sent to Junior Worlds again.

 

[Mrs. P]

So based on SB's so far (see below) here's how I see the gals

Top contenders for National Title: Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold
Contenders for podium: Polina Edmunds, Samantha Cesario and Courtney Hicks
Dark Horse: Mirai Nagasu, Karen Chen, Hannah Miller, Angela Wang


Here are the Top 8 Season's Best this season:

Overall
Gracie Gold 191.16 (NHK Trophy, 1st)
Ashley Wagner 189.50 (Grand Prix Final, 3rd)
Polina Edmunds 176.35 (U.S. International Classic, 1st)
Samantha Cesario 174.58 (Skate America, 4th)
Courtney Hicks: 174.51 (Skate Canada, 4th)
Hannah Miller: 170.26 (Lombardia Trophy, 2nd)
Karen Chen: 169.41 (JGP Croatia Cup, 2nd)
Mirai Nagasu 165.88 (Rostelecom Cup, 4th)

SP
Gracie Gold 68.16 (NHK Trophy)
Ashley Wagner 63.86 (Skate Canada)
Polina Edmunds 63.27 (U.S. International Classic)
Karen Chen 62.71 (JGP Croatia Cup)
Samantha Cesario 58.96 (Skate America)
Mirai Nagasu 58.90 (Rostelecom Cup)
Courtney Hicks 58.90 (U.S. International Classic)
Ashley Cain 57.18 (Rostelecom Cup)

SP TES

Gracie Gold 36.53 (NHK Trophy)
Karen Chen 35.94 (JGP Croatia Cup)
Polina Edmunds 35.31 (U.S. International Figure Skating Classic)
Samantha Cesario 31.99 (Skate America)
Courtney Hicks 31.70 (U.S. International Figure Skating Classic)
Ashley Wagner 31.56 (Skate Canada)
Angela Wang 30.80 (Lombardia Trophy)
Amber Glenn 30.79 (JGP Courchavel)

SP PCS
Ashley Wagner 32.30 (Skate Canada)
Gracie Gold 31.66 (Nebelhorn Trophy)
Mirai Nagasu 28.26 (Rostelecom Cup)
Polina Edmunds 27.96 (U.S. International Figure Skating Classic)
Courtney Hicks 27.80 (Skate Canada)
Angela Wang 27.04 (Skate Canada Autumn Classic)
Samantha Cesario 26.97 (Skate America)
Karen Chen 26.77 (JGP Croatia Cup)

FS
Ashley Wagner 129.26 (Grand Prix Final)
Gracie Gold 123.00 (NHK Trophy)
Hannah Miller 118.83 (Lombardia Trophy)
Courtney Hicks 118.15 (Skate Canada)
Samantha Cesario 115.62 (Skate America)
Polina Edmunds 113.08 (U.S. International Figure Skating Classic)
Mirai Nagasu 108.92 (Skate America)
Angela Wang 107.30 (Skate Canada Autumn Classic)

TES
Ashley Wagner 65.18 (Grand Prix Final)
Hannah Miller 64.59 (Lombardia Trophy)
Courtney Hicks 61.81 (Skate Canada)
Gracie Gold 59.67 (NHK Trophy)
Polina Edmunds 59.29 (NHK Trophy)
Samantha Cesario 58.02 (Skate America)
Mirai Nagasu 56.19 (U.S. Figure Skating Classic)
Leah Keiser 55.70 (JGP Ljibuana Cup)


PCS
Ashley Wagner 64.92 (Skate Canada)
Gracie Gold 64.49 (Nebelhorn Trophy)
Polina Edmunds 59.44 (U.S. International Figure Skating Classic)
Samantha Cesario 57.60 (Skate America)
Mirai Nagasu 56.56 (U.S. Figure Skating International Classic)
Courtney Hicks 56.34 (Skate Canada)
Angela Wang 56.64 (Skate Canada Autumn Classic)
Hannah Miller 54.24 (Lombardia Trophy)

 

[OS]

Karen Chen is too young for senior international competitions. I expect she will be sent to Junior Worlds again.

Might as well... she need 1 year to pace herself and recuperate, but the Russian babies are looking mighty strong. Hope Karen have a good US nationals, she has been doing some shows lately for the holiday seasons, and a pairs program with her brother Jeff... very cute!

I agree Ashley and Gold are essentially a lock, 3rd spot is uncertain right now.

I desperately want Mirai to be on it, but actually this year looks about as uncertain as last.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I agree that Gold and Wagner are locks given their GPF qualification, and GPF bronze medal, respectively. The third spot will be between Edmunds and Hicks. I don't know what's going on with Edmunds but hopefully she can get herself together. I mean, she's still clearly capable of a 3-3 and the other jumps... she just needs to get her head in the game and avoid costly errors.

 

[desertskates]

OMG, what an awesome idea. What are you going to eat?! (Sorry, I like to eat.). Maybe I will make my Team USA whoopie pies again...(Last year I made it with Irish creme filling in honor of Jason's Riverdance...maybe I'll do something french in honor of Ashley's Moulin Rouge program?)

I was going to just go all American for US Nationals, homemade chicken fingers and stuffed potato skins with frozen fruity drinks, but I like the idea of something French for Ashley's program! I like it a lot. Or maybe spanakopita for Spartacus. I think I'll start a competition eats thread in Le Café later
These would give a nod to my husband's prediction: that chick Ashley's gonna win.

 

[Mrs. P]

I was going to just go all American for US Nationals, homemade chicken fingers and stuffed potato skins with frozen fruity drinks, but I like the idea of something French for Ashley's program! I like it a lot. Or maybe spanakopita for Spartacus. I think I'll start a competition eats thread in Le Café later
These would give a nod to my husband's prediction: that chick Ashley's gonna win.

Awesome. I have decided to take the later half of that week off so I can just relax, eat and watch skating. LOL

 

[desertskates]

Here's something that just crept into my mind: If Mirai should finish lower than fifth or sixth, does anyone thing she'll hang it up at the end of the season? Or do you think she'll fight on? I'm not saying she should move on, I enjoy her skating. But one does have to wonder.

 

[Mrs. P]

Here's something that just crept into my mind: If Mirai should finish lower than fifth or sixth, does anyone thing she'll hang it up at the end of the season? Or do you think she'll fight on? I'm not saying she should move on, I enjoy her skating. But one does have to wonder.

Hard to say. She seems to be a determined person, so I'm inclined to say no. But on the other hand if she finishes that low after getting on the podium last year, perhaps she might reconsider given her financial situation.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Here's something that just crept into my mind: If Mirai should finish lower than fifth or sixth, does anyone thing she'll hang it up at the end of the season? Or do you think she'll fight on? I'm not saying she should move on, I enjoy her skating. But one does have to wonder.

Mirai is not one to be deterred by poor results so I think when she retires it will be because her body has had enough of top-level skating.

 

[R.D.]

I'm hesitant to say that anyone is a lock for anything at this point...way too much can happen.

Not even Gold - she's coming off injury, and is the defending champ. Is she the favorite? Yes, I figure...but nothing's certain.

Wagner? No...I suppose she's got the GPF medal to wave in the committee's face if she doesn't finish top 3 - but I don't think she wants a repeat of last year. There WAS quite a bit of stink raised over that and it may not necessarily go in her favor again should there be a "next time"...

Edmunds? Not after what we've seen of her so far this season, although one should not count her out.

I don't think I need to mention anyone else, as it's self explanatory.

 

[stella luna]

I'm hesitant to say that anyone is a lock for anything at this point...way too much can happen.

Not even Gold - she's coming off injury, and is the defending champ. Is she the favorite? Yes, I figure...but nothing's certain.

Wagner? No...I suppose she's got the GPF medal to wave in the committee's face if she doesn't finish top 3 - but I don't think she wants a repeat of last year. There WAS quite a bit of stink raised over that and it may not necessarily go in her favor again should there be a "next time"...

Edmunds? Not after what we've seen of her so far this season, although one should not count her out.

I don't think I need to mention anyone else, as it's self explanatory.

Here's hoping somebody brings her A game!

 

[Sjs5572]

Please, please, do not have a cushy technical panel. Ignoring underrotations/flutzes/lips may inflate scores at Nationals, but it won't serve us well when a repeat offender gets gutted at Worlds. Ceteris Parabis, the Worlds team should be Wagner/Gold/Hicks (unless Edmunds, Cesario and Nagasu can clean up their acts at Nationals).