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

[yyyskate]

doable, but what about short program?

 

[MK's Winter]

doable, but what about short program?

She could do a 3T/3T. She does rotate that well and could shoot for GOE

 

[jenaj]

She could do a 3T/3T. She does rotate that well and could shoot for GOE

If Mirai could do that and the axel, which is first-rate, and maybe add the lutz(?), she could definitely be competitive but she has to skate her short without mistakes. She missed her combo at SA, as I recall, and that doomed her. She needs to view the short program like it was viewed under 6.0--execute or be executed. And then in the long program, she wouldn't have to worry so much about a difficult 3-3. She and Tom Z need to study Miyahara's layout and consider it for Mirai, if not this year, then next.

 

[chuckm]

It's the 3t that gives Mirai problems. She never gets 3f+3t or 2a+3t ratified, so 3t+3t would be just as much of a problem. She might even wind up with 3t<+3t<.

 

[MK's Winter]

It's the 3t that gives Mirai problems. She never gets 3f+3t or 2a+3t ratified, so 3t+3t would be just as much of a problem. She might even wind up with 3t<+3t<.

It was ratified at Nationals last year and done quite well.

 

[Gullygirl84]

It was ratified at Nationals last year and done quite well.

I believe it was also ratified at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup. I remember Tom Z. saying this year before the season that he had plenty of drills to help with Mirai's underrotations, I'd be curious to have more details on what specific work they are doing, since we haven't exactly seen the fruits of their labor yet. Also, while Mirai seemed surprised by her Rostelcom free skate score this year, I remember thinking that she didn't look particularly surprised by her Skate America free skate score (she more of did a grimace and then nodded in acknowledgment), and I think I read that the first thing she said when she went into the press room was "I know that I underrotated a lot of jumps out there." I'm sure that Tom Z. and Mirai are working on it, but again wondering what drills they do, and how much she does the underrotating in practice. I'm still not counting her out, because when I do, she surprises me with a comeback skate. I also hope that she continues to skate as long as she wants to, some seem to be really offended that she is continuing, but she has had a rough four years and is still keeping at it, so I don't think she would be doing it if she didn't love it. If anything makes her call it quits, it will probably be finances/body changing as she grows older.

 

[MK's Winter]

I believe it was also ratified at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup. I remember Tom Z. saying this year before the season that had had plenty of drills to help with Mira's underrotations, I'd be curious to have more details on what specific work they are doing, since we haven't exactly seen the fruits of their labor yet. Also, while Mirai seemed surprised by her Rostelcom free skate score this year, I remember thinking that she didn't look particularly surprised by her Skate America free skate score (she more of did a grimace and then nodded in acknowledgment), and I think I read that the first thing she said when she went into the press room was "I know that I underrotated a lot of jumps out there." I'm sure that Tom Z. and Mirai are working on it, but again wondering what drills they do, and how much she does the underrotating in practice. I'm still not counting her out, because when I do, she surprises me with a comeback skate. I also hope that she continues to skate as long as she wants to, some seem to be really offended that she is continuing, but she has had a rough four years and is still keeping at it, so I don't think she would be doing it if she didn't love it. If anything makes her call it quits, it will probably be finances/body changing as she grows older.

ITA. She should continue as long as she wants. Last year had to be difficult for her. I have no doubt that her and Tom are working on things, I think she needs to get her mind in a good place. She trained like a gypsy last season and was able to pull out 2 solid skates at Nationals. I like her programs better than last year's as well. She is working hard I hope she puts it all together

 

[kwanatic]

It's the 3t that gives Mirai problems. She never gets 3f+3t or 2a+3t ratified, so 3t+3t would be just as much of a problem. She might even wind up with 3t<+3t<.

It was ratified at Nationals last year and done quite well.

And at nationals in 2013, plus COR last year and NHK the year before that. She can land a 3T-3T much better than she can land a 3F-3T or 2A-3T.

I'd like to see her try a 3T-3T and 3Lz in the SP and then do a 3T-3T in the FS as well. She has all 5 triples now which means she can play around with her jump layout in the FS much more. She could do a 3T-3T and still have enough triples left over to fill up her other jumping passes.

 

[TonyaHardlyEver]

Caroline Zhang-done Too bad that her poor technique wasn't addressed from the beginning. She was hyped and held up and that is her demise. At least we have the pearl spin to remember her by.
Mirai Nagasu- almost done. Her head got in the way of a very talented skater that had so much promise. Another skater that was babied and should have had her jump technique corrected. Instead coaches and judges let her get by with it.Now it's too late. A real shame.
Samantha-too little too late She didn't really start making an impact until Olympic year and she is aging. Great skater but sloppy and a bit slow.
Gracie- running out of time to live up to the hype. Needs to learn not to choke. Maybe go back to being a power skater instead of a princess. Missing double axels at her level is ridiculous. Frank ruined her style by reeling her huge jumps in.
Wagner- on her last leg. It just isn't going to happen. She has peaked and is on her way to ice shows. I like Ashley and her skating but her days have passed. She should have made the team Olympic team in 2010. I look for her to retire in a season or two.
Gao-another one who had immense promise and talent but was poorly coached and school came first
Polina Edmunds-having a bad season. Needs to develop her own style but better hurry as the Russian girls are leaving everyone in the dust. She burst onto the scene out of nowhere. But is waning.
Hanna Miller- awesome speed and choreography. Unique style and presence but small inconsistent jumper. How can you coach someone to have bigger jumps? She looks the most comfortable on the ice out of all the American girls.
Ashley Cain- Still looks like a Junior skater. Not much to really sink my teeth into.
I think we need to look at the up and coming skater and maybe even concede the next Olympics to the Russians again unless some a phenom of a skater comes onto the scene. Gracie and Polina are our best bets but with the strength of Russian girls they had better figure something out. There just isn't much depth in american skating right now.

 

[TonyaHardlyEver]

Caroline Zhang-done Too bad that her poor technique wasn't addressed from the beginning. She was hyped and held up and that is her demise. At least we have the pearl spin to remember her by.
Mirai Nagasu- almost done. Her head got in the way of a very talented skater that had so much promise. Another skater that was babied and should have had her jump technique corrected. Instead coaches and judges let her get by with it.Now it's too late. A real shame.
Samantha-too little too late She didn't really start making an impact until Olympic year and she is aging. Great skater but sloppy and a bit slow.
Gracie- running out of time to live up to the hype. Needs to learn not to choke. Maybe go back to being a power skater instead of a princess. Missing double axels at her level is ridiculous. Frank ruined her style by reeling her huge jumps in.
Wagner- on her last leg. It just isn't going to happen. She has peaked and is on her way to ice shows. I like Ashley and her skating but her days have passed. She should have made the team Olympic team in 2010. I look for her to retire in a season or two.
Gao-another one who had immense promise and talent but was poorly coached and school came first
Polina Edmunds-having a bad season. Needs to develop her own style but better hurry as the Russian girls are leaving everyone in the dust. She burst onto the scene out of nowhere. But is waning.
Hanna Miller- awesome speed and choreography. Unique style and presence but small inconsistent jumper. How can you coach someone to have bigger jumps? She looks the most comfortable on the ice out of all the American girls.
Ashley Cain- Still looks like a Junior skater. Not much to really sink my teeth into.
I think we need to look at the up and coming skater and maybe even concede the next Olympics to the Russians again unless some a phenom of a skater comes onto the scene. Gracie and Polina are our best bets but with the strength of Russian girls they had better figure something out. There just isn't much depth in american skating right now.

 

[R.D.]

Gracie [Gold]- running out of time to live up to the hype. Needs to learn not to choke. Maybe go back to being a power skater instead of a princess. Missing double axels at her level is ridiculous. Frank ruined her style by reeling her huge jumps in.

Hardly. She's young in skating years, she has time to figure things out but that said, it is true that the medal opportunities are limited. She already threw one away...but she should be able to create at least a couple more.

Wagner- on her last leg. It just isn't going to happen. She has peaked and is on her way to ice shows. I like Ashley and her skating but her days have passed. She should have made the team Olympic team in 2010. I look for her to retire in a season or two.

As for Wagner, she APPEARS to have peaked (in 2012) but upon review, she has proven to be somewhat resilient. Every time we seem to think she is done, she pulls something out of thin air - like that GPF LP skate (w/rotated 3-3!!) & resulting bronze.

As for deserving to be on the 2010 team, one can also make the case that she SHOULDN'T have been on the 2014 team.

Not sure what to expect from her in the near future, but it isn't very much, I'll say that.

Polina Edmunds-having a bad season. Needs to develop her own style but better hurry as the Russian girls are leaving everyone in the dust. She burst onto the scene out of nowhere. But is waning.

I'll wait for her nationals skate before making further judgment on her progress, but it's practically a given that she would struggle at some point as she grows. If she's in it for the long haul, this is the time to figure things out.

 

[TonyaHardlyEver]

All skaters have slumps and bad skates. But if they are declining season after season then it is rare that they will succeed. Alissa is one exception. With all the younger skaters that are coming up the ranks it is difficult to keep the faith that they will get better. Yeah Gracie is still young but she better hurry.

 

[Jammers]

Gracie backs down when she has a chance to win or medal. Instead of being aggressive she starts popping jumps and making stupid mistakes and looks scared at times like Alissa or Mirai did. Not sure if she will ever be a great competitor your need to want to win and be the best has to overcome whatever nerves you have and Gracie hasn't shown that kind of grit yet. When you watch those Russian girls skate no matter how tacky their programs or costumes might be you just know they are going to go for those triple jumps no matter what and not hold back.

 

[chuckm]

Sorry, but Julia Lipnitskaia has been doing a lot of holding back in her free skates this season. And doubling those triples. And falling.

Gracie had several uncharacteristic errors in her FS at NHK----but then it turned out she had a stress fracture in her foot. Of course, none of her detractors are going to cut her a break for that.....

 

[KweenAsada]

I like Ashley Wagner. If she get's full rotation on all of her jumps, hits the 3flip/3toe and the 3/3 sequence she has a chance to medal in any competition. I didn't see her short program at the GP final, but her free was great outside of the two-footed landing on the salchow. If she fixes that and has two clean skates, I think she will win Nationals and medal at Worlds.

 

[Jammers]

Sorry, but Julia Lipnitskaia has been doing a lot of holding back in her free skates this season. And doubling those triples. And falling.

Gracie had several uncharacteristic errors in her FS at NHK----but then it turned out she had a stress fracture in her foot. Of course, none of her detractors are going to cut her a break for that.....

Gracie tends to make a lot of errors in the LP. She has yet to skate a clean LP at a international event. Most have had minors errors and when she makes mistakes she doesn't keep pushing and instead tends to make more mistakes. She needs to learn to keep skating when she's struggling and keep the performance going and not look be shaken but some skaters are just nervous skaters.

 

[R.D.]

[Gold] has yet to skate a clean LP at a international event.

But - pretty sure she went clean in the Sochi team event?

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Criticizing a skater's inability to skate a LP is a bit silly because accruing points is far more important than skating clean. Gracie is good at accruing lots of points with her jumps, spins, and PCS. She can fall once and still beat most skaters who perform their program clean.

 

[R.D.]

Gracie is good at accruing lots of points with her jumps, spins, and PCS. She can fall once and still beat most skaters who perform their program clean.

Yes, like Wagner for example. This will play to Gold's advantage at Nationals, although as the defending champ she will have a target on her back (and more pressure) so that element will play to Wagner's advantage. Will be interesting to see what/who wins out. Or maybe someone comes along and tops both of them (unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility)

 

[Mista Ekko]

Yes, like Wagner for example. This will play to Gold's advantage at Nationals, although as the defending champ she will have a target on her back (and more pressure) so that element will play to Wagner's advantage. Will be interesting to see what/who wins out. Or maybe someone comes along and tops both of them (unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility)

She can't fall and beat Wagner if Wagner goes clean.