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

[StitchMonkey]

I thought Gracie handled the pressure pretty well at Nationals, especially after seeing the huge score from Ashley, but at 4CC, she is just going backwards. I think what makes the Russian girls strong is that they are training with skaters of similar levels on a daily basis, so each day you are comparing yourself with other skaters.

That likely is a big advantage for them. Look at the cricket club, they may not be the same country, but they seem to be pushing one another successfully.

Maybe USFSA needs to start doing camps similar to the gymnastics Karoli camps. Get the skaters together more often to work with other skaters of their level. We may have a few too many big fish in small ponds.

 

[Jammers]

First things first get Gracie away from Lori Nichol. If Nichols isn't inspired by a skater like Michelle or Carolina this is what you get.

 

[RABID]

Poor Gracie is just plain nervous. I know it because I have it (with much less at stake). But I can see she's terrified. It's plain to see that she's highly talented, but with nerves like that, I sadly doubt she'll go too far.
I think a sports psych and a kinder coach like Kori Ade is what she needs.

I once read some where that a great actor admitted to nerves or "stomach butterflies" but the difference between him and others who let the butterflies affect them negatively was that he made his butterflies fly in formation. I think that is what all performers need to do; don't be scared of nerves; embrace them.

 

[TontoK]

Gracie had a great tweet, I thought, after 4CC LP. I paraphrase..."Courage is looking at tomorrow with conviction to try again...." something like that. A part of this is dang luck. Sometimes you're on, sometimes not. But I do think Davis and White proved that strong determination and lots of hard work helps alot. As someone (Edison, Lincoln?) said, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." Gracie needs to find a place and a coaching personality that she's comfortable with. Then she needs to work her butt off. Then hope for a little luck to put it out when it counts. Maybe that's with Frank, maybe someone else.

This is an excellent point. I don't particularly know Gracie's work ethic, but I am very familiar with reports of David and White, who I see as role models in this regard.

I don't think they're necessarily more gifted or musical or stylish than V/M, but they worked their butt off to pass them, and once they did, they continued to work very hard to stay in front.

American skating history seems to be littered with super talented skaters who weren't willing to put in the hard work and extra hours and focus to be sustained champions... Christopher Bowman, Nicole Bobek, Tonya Harding. I'd think that when you are nervous, it would be beneficial to be able to rely on a lot of preparation to carry you through, rather than hoping it's one of you "on" days.

 

[Tutto]

I once read some where that a great actor admitted to nerves or "stomach butterflies" but the difference between him and others who let the butterflies affect them negatively was that he made his butterflies fly in formation. I think that is what all performers need to do; don't be scared of nerves; embrace them.

I guess it is easier said than done. No matter how excellent advice or coaching is given to a skater, in the end of the day everyone has to find their own way to deal with nerves. Adelina had what two or three bad seasons when she could not put 2 clean skates together, her coach herself suggested a coaching change but Adelina refused, and then bang she came out and skated like never before in Sochi. Lisa after a disastrous season finally last summer found that inner calm and oozes confidence since. I liked her interview where she said: 'suddenly I had that feeling of not caring too much, I said to myself after all it is only a competition, it is not like I am going to the execution. What could possibly happen to me worse than the last year? [not even being on the Olympic team after 5 years of hype as a the main hope for Sochi]'

Sometimes you need to hit the bottom before you find your way up. Maybe 4CC will have that effect on Gracie, I wish her well, but I am rooting for Ashley to medal at Worlds. I must admit I never noticed her that much till this season, but with Yuna/Mao/Carolina gone I realised that Ashley is the performer No 1 for me now (as much as I love Lisa!). Compared to Russian 'babies', Ashley is presenting herself like a pro, every position every gesture speaks for itself. Also her determination to improve is endearing.

 

[beki]

I think Yuka attracted emotionally fragile skaters after she helped Czisny and Abbott pull themselves together (temporarily, before backsliding, or injury problems?). It looks like a pattern but it might not be in the long run. Valentina Marchei really came into her own working with Yuka, before she switched to pairs.

 

[noskates]

When did Abbott and Czisny "pull themselves together?"

 

[carriecmu0503]

When did Abbott and Czisny "pull themselves together?"

Czisny went to Yuka and Jason right after the 2010 season. In 2011, she won the GPF, regained the national title, and was one fall on a 3L away from a world bronze medal. If that is not "pulling herself together," I don't know what is. The rest of her career was sadly done in by injury.

Abbott had how many amazing skates at nationals while working with Yuka and Jason? He also has won many GP medals. He was responsible for bringing back 3 spots to the American men due to his strong skates at 2014 worlds. Inconsistent? Yes. But it is not like he has never skated well!

 

[UnsaneLily87]

First things first get Gracie away from Lori Nichol. If Nichols isn't inspired by a skater like Michelle or Carolina this is what you get.

Or Denis! I can't believe it's the same choreographer that did Denis' LP as Gracie's.

 

[LRK]

Well, maybe Lori's style suits Denis but not Gracie? Or Denis and Lori have worked out how they best work together to come up with the best material for Denis? - and something similar hasn't happened with Gracie?

 

[NAOTMAA]

Denis fits the Lori mold very well. He is a very soft skater and that works really well with what Lori does. Gracie comes off as harder.

Lori does very well with elegant, passionate and intense but Gracie at this point in her career is none of those. She is a power skater and Lori isn't that type of choreographer.

 

[Jammers]

Denis fits the Lori mold very well. He is a very soft skater and that works really well with what Lori does. Gracie comes off as harder.

Lori does very well with elegant, passionate and intense but Gracie at this point in her career is none of those. She is a power skater and Lori isn't that type of choreographer.

Exactly why Gracie needs to look to someone else for choreography. But sadly Frank and Lori seem to be a package when you get Frank as a coach.

 

[Coltrocks12]

I am wondering if a rut with Carroll/Nichols not changing or updating styles is what caused Michelle Kwan to leave them. I loved some of the new things she was doing with music/style with the team of coaches/choreographers she hand chose after Frank/Lori. Michelle had soft style but she was also innovative and exotic. She could skate with power and with finesse. I see Gracie as balanced as well. I would like to see her change coaches/choreographers to make better use of her unique style and skills.

 

[Coltrocks12]

Gracie had a great tweet, I thought, after 4CC LP. I paraphrase..."Courage is looking at tomorrow with conviction to try again...." something like that. A part of this is dang luck. Sometimes you're on, sometimes not. But I do think Davis and White proved that strong determination and lots of hard work helps alot. As someone (Edison, Lincoln?) said, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." Gracie needs to find a place and a coaching personality that she's comfortable with. Then she needs to work her butt off. Then hope for a little luck to put it out when it counts. Maybe that's with Frank, maybe someone else.

Legendary Texas Football Coach Darryl Royal once said, "Luck is when hard work meets opportunity." Maybe Gracie and others who work hard and have opportunity but have trouble with "luck" can remember that.

 

[LyraAngelica]

That likely is a big advantage for them. Look at the cricket club, they may not be the same country, but they seem to be pushing one another successfully.

Maybe USFSA needs to start doing camps similar to the gymnastics Karoli camps. Get the skaters together more often to work with other skaters of their level. We may have a few too many big fish in small ponds.

USAG did an amazing thing by utilizing the training camps for their gymnasts. The coaches and gymnasts being able to train and be pushed by each other only improved their results. US women have been a powerhouse ever since. I think Figure skating could adapt to something like that. It would definitely push tougher training standards and mental toughness in competition.

 

[samson]

^a more consistent training camp of sorts could be really interesting. It would then beg the question who would be the right Marta. In many ways Frank seems to be a logical choice, but he would have to then completely drop ALL is students... as far as I'm concerned. (They also would probably have to base it in LA or Palm Springs). There's also the fact however, that he seems to have at least one foot out the door. Honestly I think finding the right Marta is crucial to a successful system like that.

Who else would be good/has the experience? Maybe someone like Todd Eldridge. Although he's young and doesn't have tons of coaching experience, he's got competitive experience in spades and he clearly has a strong philosophy about what it takes to be a strong competitor. I keep trying to think of other coaches, but I can't think of anyone interesting who doesn't have a major player. The Scotvolds? They haven't really been relevant since Jenny left them but they also have a few olympic medals in their pocket.

 

[samson]

I was just thinking if Gracie stays with Frank, what if she worked with Sandra Bezic for choreographer? Based on the work she did with Lu Chen in the 90s I feel like she could still deliver an aesthetic Frank would be happy with, but she also has experience working with skaters like Tara and Brian Boitano (and helped both skaters get Olympic Gold) who were known for their athletics but not their artistry.

Also Sandra is known for her appreciation of the sassy and sexy with her many SOI programs so if Gracie was inclined to want to skate to T-Swift (I'm not for that, but maybe she'd more in her element?) I think a choreographer like Sandra could get down with that.

 

[beki]

Well, I hope Sandra will choreograph more now that she isn't commentating. I thought the COP programs she did for Brandon Mroz were good even if they didn't turn things around for him.

 

[mrrice]

Exactly why Gracie needs to look to someone else for choreography. But sadly Frank and Lori seem to be a package when you get Frank as a coach.

Ultimately, it's up to Gracie. She doesn't strike me as the type who would just go with flow. She clearly feels she's on the right track or she would make a change.

 

[mskater93]

This is an excellent point. I don't particularly know Gracie's work ethic, but I am very familiar with reports of David and White, who I see as role models in this regard.

American skating history seems to be littered with super talented skaters who weren't willing to put in the hard work and extra hours and focus to be sustained champions... Christopher Bowman, Nicole Bobek, Tonya Harding. I'd think that when you are nervous, it would be beneficial to be able to rely on a lot of preparation to carry you through, rather than hoping it's one of you "on" days.

When Gracie trained here in Chicago, her work ethic was excellent. I won't ever forget the morning she came in, told her coach she had 3 finals and was incredibly nervous for them and that she had limited time that morning at the rink, warmed up ran her SP (clean), waited a couple minutes, then ran her LP (clean) and then left to go take her finals.

As for her current issues from 4C, it's very possible that because she was unable to jump for several weeks after NHK, that, while she was mostly able to keep herself together at Nationals (first combo in the SP and the 3F in the long notwithstanding) that at 4C she just really didn't feel ready or that she had enough mileage on her programs. It's seemed to me as if her program timing is off a bit (she's waiting longer to pick in on the opening 3Lz combo from before her injury). If she gets enough mileage (and angry enough at herself like she did after the 2011 season) in practice, she could be back to her normal self. As for her mental strength, that has been and will need to continue to be worked on.