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

[Mista Ekko]

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.

She lost a bunch of points in the SP, Stepping out of the 3f and then adding just a shaky 2t to make a combination with the loop,
If she ever gets consistent with the 3-3 she'll be the real deal, The judges imo are ready to go with her, She stands out performance wise.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Ashley will do well if she can just rotate all 7 jumps in the LP, even with a step out or two. Under rotation combined with a 2 foot landing is brutal, scoring-wise. If she < the 3-3 and another jump or two later in her program it will be very tough for her to challenge for gold at Nationals.

 

[makaihime]

Has there been any updates or news about Gracie's injury?

 

[stella luna]

I don't agree with this guy, but this article was sort of interesting ...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/09/figure-skating/golds-motive-gp-final-pullout-question/

"Gold’s motive for GP Final pullout in question"
by Jack Gallagher

Dec 9, 2014
.

This is how I felt at the recent NHK Trophy in Osaka when American Gracie Gold spoke to the media after winning the women’s singles competition on Nov. 29.

Something just didn’t sound right
....

 

[shiroKJ]

I don't agree with this guy, but this article was sort of interesting ...

“I think there are positives and negatives in qualifying for the GP Final,” Gold stated on Nov. 28. “When you consider the U.S. Nationals are in January, it kind of interrupts your schedule for that but of course it means you have done very well.”

No comment on her injury, since I'm inclined to believe athletes wouldn't lie about such injuries, but that statement.. At least US skaters get a month off....Spain, Russia, and Japan nationals were all held 1-2 weeks later! And she doesn't have nearly as much competition as the Russians ladies (and Japanese men) do. She clearly thinks very little of the GPF... :disapp:

 

[R.D.]

Has there been any updates or news about Gracie's injury?

Not really, but in a NYE picture she posted she was missing the cast on her left foot - looks like she got it off.

 

[el henry]

I don't agree with this guy, but this article was sort of interesting ...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/09/figure-skating/golds-motive-gp-final-pullout-question/

"Gold’s motive for GP Final pullout in question"
by Jack Gallagher

Dec 9, 2014



When you grow up in a country or culture, you can usually tell when somebody from the same place or background is being insincere. The tone of voice and body language often give them away.

This is how I felt at the recent NHK Trophy in Osaka when American Gracie Gold spoke to the media after winning the women’s singles competition on Nov. 29.

Something just didn’t sound right

...

I think there was a thread on this article when it first came out??? And was criticized then for the obvious flaws: the conclusion was based on absolutely no facts. Didn't work then, won't work now...

 

[makaihime]

Not really, but in a NYE picture she posted she was missing the cast on her left foot - looks like she got it off.

Thanks. Nationals is in 2 weeks or so and Gracie might not have even started doing her triples yet... so judging by the state of the ladies right now, I'd bet my coins on Ashley taking her title back Is there a possibility that the judges would go for Ashley if Gracie doesn't deliver since Ashley had a good showing on the GP?

 

[R.D.]

I would hope they'd go by what they actually see on the ice, not something that happened 3 months ago...

I would assume that in a close call, the nod would go to Gold. But if Wagner delivers, Gold will have to work for it if she hopes to defend.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I would assume that in a close call, the nod would go to Gold. But if Wagner delivers, Gold will have to work for it if she hopes to defend.

I'd probably give Gold the edge myself. I think Ashley has better artistry but I am very disappointed in her LP this season.

 

[R.D.]

I think skate order could potentially play into all this as well.

If Wagner skates before Gold (particularly in the FS), Wagner has the opportunity to throw it down and really put the pressure on Gold to deliver (not Gold's strong point).

But if Gold skates first, depending on whether she gives into her nerves or not, it'll be on Wagner to do enough to win if she wants the title back. This is not even including the possibility of a revamped Edmunds or a Hicks coming in and taking advantage of any mistakes made by Gold...and then there's Nagasu, chilling in the back like the wildcard that she is.

 

[Mista Ekko]

I think skate order could potentially play into all this as well.

If Wagner skates before Gold (particularly in the FS), Wagner has the opportunity to throw it down and really put the pressure on Gold to deliver (not Gold's strong point).

But if Gold skates first, depending on whether she gives into her nerves or not, it'll be on Wagner to do enough to win if she wants the title back. This is not even including the possibility of a revamped Edmunds or a Hicks coming in and taking advantage of any mistakes made by Gold...and then there's Nagasu, chilling in the back like the wildcard that she is.

Let's have everyone get through their Short programs first shall we?

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Mirai and Edmunds and most of the other US Ladies should all be grateful that they did not, at last US Nationals, and will not, at this US Nationals, have to face the technical panel that judged the ladies SP at Japanese Nationals 2014-2015.

The international judging community is not going to be loosening standards for UR's any time soon. If anything, it is going to be tightening them. It is not just Russian technical specialists who are sticklers for fully rotated jumps.

I would hope the US nationals judges would be no more and no less stringent on UR's than the international standard.

I guess it depends on whose on the panel at Nationals. It seems to me Mirai was hit hard at 2010 Nationals for URs in her FS which cost her the title.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

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.

My aren't you all full of sunbeams.

 

[ice coverage]

Not really, but in a NYE picture she posted she was missing the cast on her left foot - looks like she got it off.

But Gold never had a cast, so the New Year's Eve photo gives no indication either way of the state of her recovery, IMO.

What she has been wearing for her stress fracture is a removable walking boot that she can take off and put back on as her activities dictate.
No telling whether the absence of the boot from her glamorous Instagram was just a brief hiatus for a special night out.

[The removable boot can be seen in this photo in Aspen on Dec 20.

http://instagram.com/p/w1xUyorAhS/)​

ETA, another photo of Gold's removable boot:

http://instagram.com/p/wdFbpTLAt8/ (Dec 11)]​

I hope that Gold at this point does not need the boot at all, but who knows??

 

[apgold]

Gracie appeared on the Today Show before Christmas and she skated on the Rockefeller Plaza rink. She looked pretty strong although she did not do any jumping. I think she said she was going to start training with jumps very soon with her Dr's okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXdWg3ydnns

 

[Mista Ekko]

Does anyone have a guess as to wether Wagner might add another double to her 2a-2t combo?

 

[ice coverage]

Did Gracie Gold perform a triple loop in this mini-video with Carly?? GG posted it on Christmas Day on social media. (I can't play it.)

https://www.facebook.com/GracieGold/posts/333324160192320
http://instagram.com/p/xCY1DCLAtU/​

Gracie appeared on the Today Show before Christmas and she skated on the Rockefeller Plaza rink. She looked pretty strong although she did not do any jumping. I think she said she was going to start training with jumps very soon with her Dr's okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXdWg3ydnns

BTW, on the same day as her live Today show appearance, Gold taped another performance that aired on Christmas morning on Today. I don't know whether video was posted, and I didn't see the Christmas broadcast. Just mentioning in case any diehards want to look for it. It wouldn't necessarily give any more clues about her recovery b/c the taping was on the same day.

Luckily, it is not uncommon for skaters to omit or scale back jumps when they perform at Rockefeller Center. The rink is very small. Plus weather conditions can be adverse.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Does anyone have a guess as to wether Wagner might add another double to her 2a-2t combo?

If she does the 3Lo-0.5Lo-3S combo, that is her only allowed three jump combo.

 

[Vanshilar]

Did Gracie Gold perform a triple loop in this mini-video with Carly?? GG posted it on Christmas Day on social media. (I can't play it.)

https://www.facebook.com/GracieGold/posts/333324160192320
http://instagram.com/p/xCY1DCLAtU/​

Yup it's a triple loop, very much in sync. I made a gif of the jump here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/120676593@N05/16176885211/sizes/o/in/photostream/

I guess it makes sense given that her injury is on her left foot, since it's the only jump where the left foot isn't taking a lot of stress.

EDIT: Updated with the gif.