2015 US Nationals Senior Ladies FS Jan 24

[Watermelondrea]

Compared to the parade of +3s we saw for the men in the SP, her GOEs were pretty conservative when you consider nationals inflation. Lots of 0s and 1s. The judges really only went nuts on her step sequences.

Just wanna clarify something, are we talking about Wagner or radionova??

 

[RABID]

Polina definitely goes to Worlds. If she hits the jumps, she has more scoring potential than Samantha does, especially once you add in the transitions in her program, and the speed. I like Samantha, but I think it's either she goes to 4CC or her season ends here; USFS might want to give Polina another opportunity before Worlds to get her jumps under her correctly. Same for Gold, as she's continuing to return from injury. And Wagner will want to go to continue to show that she can be in the running for a World medal (which can also apply to Gold).

I wouldn't have thought it before but I think this is a woman on a mission and that mission is a World title and the way she skated Nationals was like they were merely the preliminaries to the REAL show. Stay tuned!

 

[emma]

I'm missing RD here, hope he/she got to watch! I'm still so gutted for Mirai but her tweets sound positive so I'm hoping she can physically recover and that we get to see her continue to compete and improve. I saw so much that was great in her at this comp!

There are a number of younger skaters - including Chen - who just were wonderful to watch! And once again, I was so happy/for Cesario's skate...Nationals is rough, but it has its bright spots!

 

[leolion11]

Wow Ashley!! That skate was amazing

Looking at the protocols, the judges would probably have given her 150+ if she had gotten all her spin levels sighs Ashley needs to work on her spin levels ASAP

 

[creaturelover]

I thought the same. But it is understandable, she just lost her title. Nothing wrong with that.

Back to her skating, actually I think Gracie did very well after seeing Ashley's huge score. She put up such a fierece fight and didn't wilt at all.

Karen is such a talent, my jaw dropped to my chest when I saw her jumps. Plus, her spins and transitions are great as well!

Ashley was fantastic tonight. Regardless of her score, she totally deserved to win and win big!

I agree on all levels! Gracie shouldn't feel bad about losing that title, she put up a strong fight, especially after hearing those scores

 

[tulosai]

Considering the circumstances I don't see why she wouldn't receive a Grand Prix next year. Her blade catching the board was a freak accident and she started so well

Unless we are talking about the US host pick (which honestly there are many fine candidates for) there is objective criterion. First: the seasons best scores list, located here: http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/sb2014-15/sbtslto.htm

Top 25 are guaranteed a slot. Mirai is 27. No guaranteed slot. She'll almost surely be a few spots lower after the season is actually over.

Then the worlds ranking list. TOp 25 are guaranteed a spot- but if they are also in the top 25 seasons best scores only one spot is guaranteed. That is here http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsladies.htm

Mirai IS currently 21. She may be bumped below 25 once the season is over, because skaters who get Worlds , 4CCs, Euros may pass her. Polina will pass her, so will a Canadian, at a minimum. If she stays top 25, she is guaranteed 1 spot.

Of course, skaters in the top 12 at Worlds are also guaranteed spots, but she won't be there.

That's it. It's all very linear and logical. She is guaranteed 1 spot next year currently. She probably will get two due to alternates but finishing higher at this Nationals would really have helped her case for a host pick which would have been the easiest route to two for her.

 

[Watermelondrea]

No need for discussion of this and that. It taste "bitter". Just grab your favorite wine and join us... and let's make a toss for Ms. Ashley Wagner. It's more fun than trying to be an expert on subject matter when you know you're really not. Because if you are, you should be traveling and judging at every competition.

I got meh wine!!!!!!

 

[Sandpiper]

Holy crap, I just saw Ashley's LP on Youtube. Even on a less-than-ideal video, I could tell that she blew the roof off. It was impossible for Gracie to catch her.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

I wouldn't have thought it before but I think this is a woman on a mission and that mission is a World title and the way she skated Nationals was like they were merely the preliminaries to the REAL show. Stay tuned!

if she's smart, she will pretend nationals never happened

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

She actually left points on the table, LOL. Level 2 spin and level 3 spin, ha!

I would love for her to win the world title and break the score record to silence her critics once and for all. Tonight was the first time she put it all together. I'm so happy for her.

 

[slider11]

So relieved that Mirai did not sustain a serious injury. Probably her season is over. If the usfsa didn't send her to the Olympics when she was 3rd, they sure aren't sending any where when she's 10th or where ever she ended up. She's still young. I hope Tom Z and some sponsors don't give up on Mirai. I think/hope there is a magical year still in her future.

 

[KweenAsada]

lmfao Ashley. calm your ego .

She threw down the skate of her life after saying that she would do so. She earned the right to pat herself on the back.

 

[flying camel]

I'm so happy for Ashley. Who would have thought she could improve so much. She and Gracie will really push each other toward the next Olympics. I loved little Karen Chen. What a breath of fresh air she is. Polina, well she was shocked to be in fourth. I think she was lucky. She needs to re-think the poddle skirt and the barrettes before Worlds. Yea, for Sam. Another great skate. She needs to find away to move up. But I love her. Great Skate from Miss Bell. She is so improved from when I saw her skate a few years ago. Poor Cinderella!

 

[shiroKJ]

How did Polina get no edge calls on her flip? Even on my crappy phone stream I saw that outside edge

 

[OS]

I thought Gracie skated as good as can be expected to be honest... 10 points apart is too artificial!

 

[emma]

She actually left points on the table, LOL. Level 2 spin and level 3 spin, ha!

I'm surprised by the levels, yet this too makes me happy - like something to work on and continue to building upon. as you said earlier, the momentum she has generated from GPF, not to nationals, bodes really well for the remainder of the season and perhaps beyond. It's like the pieces she has been trying to arrange finally fell into place!

 

[aa456]

Wow Ashley!! That skate was amazing

Looking at the protocols, the judges would probably have given her 150+ if she had gotten all her spin levels sighs Ashley needs to work on her spin levels ASAP

I agree, especially on that last spin. these points could prove crucial at worlds.

 

[kwanatic]

What an amazing competition!

Ashley: MAJOR RESPECT!! I'm so proud of her! So many people doubted her (me included, I won't lie) but to see her come out and nail that FS tonight...I was clapping and screaming for her. I love how she manages to find a way to elevate herself. So proud of her.

Gracie: I have to give her props for skating so well after Ashley tore the roof of the building. There was no way (even if she hadn't fallen) that she was going to catch Ashley. I thought she gave a gutsy performance but there was no "performance" from her. She focused solely on the jumps and that caused the program to fall rather flat. She's gotta work on that. I actually would have had her 3rd in the FS. Still good to see her put up a decent fight...Ashley was just too good.

Karen: I've been singing Karen's praises for years now, so it feels so great to see her come out and deliver at her first senior nationals. She was outstanding in both programs and I'm so happy to see the judges give her her due. Incredible speed, big jumps, wonderful spins, great performance and sparkle...she was my pick for a potential spoiler and she did it! Boy, do I love being right!

Polina: After the pizazz and flair of Ashley and Karen, Polina almost put me to sleep with her FS. I really do like her but her skating is missing something. It was good to see her have two strong skates but in order for her to move up she is going to have to re-evaluate her packaging. The dress, the hair...the pleasant but not particularly interesting FS music. She needs something to help her stand out and that FS, pretty as it is, is not it.

Great night of skating! I'll do my complete review on my blog but wow! Great event!

 

[tulosai]

So relieved that Mirai did not sustain a serious injury. Probably her season is over. If the usfsa didn't send her to the Olympics when she was 3rd, they sure aren't sending any where when she's 10th or where ever she ended up. She's still young. I hope Tom Z and some sponsors don't give up on Mirai. I think/hope there is a magical year still in her future.

Yup, 10th. I do not think Tom Z looked ready to give up, that I will say. I too hope she'll keep skating, but realistically her year is over.

 

[KweenAsada]

she's so cocky (more confident, very glib), and i think i love it tbh. Attitudes like this are commended in men, reviled in women.

exactly!