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

[minze]

Yeah, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva was so average these Worlds. Totally...

Yep 4 triples in an SP is very average

 

[Jammers]

Hard to believe that Gracie came so close to medaling after her terrible SP. She really needs to get it together Miyahara should not be getting on the World podium before Gracie. If both skate clean Gracie beats her every single time. Maybe being so close ot getting on the podium will finally light a fire in her. 6th then 5th and now 4th she's getting closer. Will Boston be when Gold breaks the streak?

 

[minze]

Hard to believe that Gracie came so close to medaling after her terrible SP. She really needs to get it together Miyahara should not be getting on the World podium before Gracie. If both skate clean Gracie beats her every single time. Maybe being so close ot getting on the podium will finally light a fire in her. 6th then 5th and now 4th she's getting closer. Will Boston be when Gold the US breaks the streak?

Honestly there is only one thing Gracie does better than Satoko and is jumping. And why shouldn't Satoko get on the podium if she delivered

 

[R.D.]

1. Polina get a makeover, stop wearing fairy dresses and skating to fairy music. She's long-limbed and those dresses with stuff flapping around her on her arms, etc. just makes her look gawky IMO.

She does need to take the next step but I strongly disagree that this is the way to do it.

If it doesn't get points, why bother? Better strategy and element planning is a good place to start. Too much focus on pretty princess or costumes or look and not enough on technique and mental toughness. THAT's why it's been 9 years people.

2. Gracie get a new choreographer! Someone a little more current and not as staid.

This I agree with - and of the 3 of them, I am most disappointed in her. For the second straight year Gold fails to capitalize on opportunity. Stand up on that combo and you probably would have been the silver medalist. Anyway, woulda coulda shoulda and what's done is done. At least she probably still has at least a couple more years left in her, but chances are always finite.

On the positive side, the way her freeskates have been going lately, it definitely could have been worse. She showed some fight at least, but gotta learn to put it together when it counts most.

3. Ashley............hmmmm, I don't know what I wish for Ashley. Maybe spend a little more time working on her URs and a little less roaring "I Am Woman"

There really is nothing much to say on Wagner, except perhaps she remains the almost girl. I did not predict her to medal, given her history with the SP, but she really did throw away her best shot at one here.

4. Karen Chen - be allowed to develop without all the hype and pressure and skating to something a little more age and gender appropriate than The Godfather!

Jury's still out on Chen, but as for now she is no upgrade over any of the seniors.

 

[Mrs. P]

I think Gracie came in 6th in 2013.

Yep! Typo...I will edit.

 

[NAOTMAA]

Gracie and Ashley did great although moving up to 4th and 5th isn't that surprising considering the LP history of those above them. I suppose it was expected.

It was also probably easier for them to be more free knowing their chances of medaling were either gone or very unlikely. I wonder if they would have done the same if they were in medal contention after the SP, especially Gracie.

Polina should be happy considering the bumpy season she has had. Now she just has to build on it for next season.

 

[tulosai]

I'm glad the Americans ladies were able to bounce back from a disaster SP. But the opportunity was there for not just one medal but two. Perhaps even World Champion since neither Russian lady was that great. I can see the improvement, and the fight for the landings for all three US girls, but I still wanted a medal!:disapp:

I agree it is frustrating especially knowing how the LP went. As was said yesterday, it really illustrates the importance of getting into position in the SP. It is unbelievably frustrating they were unable to do so. However, you do realize elizaveta tuktymesheva is Russian, right? World champion was not in reach after her SP and that's the truth.

 

[samson]

I suppose my take on it is bitter sweet. I so wish we had ended our medal drought. Perhaps it's meant to happen in Boston. Which would have some poetry to it, being both on home ice and on the 10th anniversary of Kimmie's title. Still... the opportunity seemed so ripe and based on the way the long program played out it really was well within Gracie and Ashley's hands. Man, could you guys imagine if we had gone 2 and 3?? But I find coulda woulda shoulda's useless for me. Calling a spade a spade is one thing - and it does feel a bit like there's this invisible barrier our ladies can't get past - but there's still a lot for us to cheer about after last night.

I'm curious what Wagner will be up to next year. She mentioned how she's now really learning to compete and she finally has the technique. I don't disagree with that sentiment. Her nerves way got the best of her in the short, but all things considered I would say her technique IS improving. She played a risk with the triple lutz - and I think it played out ok for her. Rafeal keeps saying how there's so much work he has to do and you can see the slow but steady transformation her jumps are taking. The mental side is what she needs - understanding yourself and your brain is a constant journey. I'm not much older than her but the difference between the person I was at her age and the person I am now is astounding. I'm curious to see where she goes.

Gracie... I didn't love the program still yesterday. She had a very "I give no fudge" look on her face but you know what... she had 6 clean triples and a 7th that was not good but rotated and landed on one foot. I just have no idea where her and Frank go from here. Their relationship seems amicable enough but where is the investment?

I always go back to one of my favorite phrases - It's about reinvestment, not reinvention. She'll need to do that if she wants to avoid another season like this year. I hope she works with Shae Lynn and Sandra. I think either lady would have a lot of fun working with Gracie's playful side, and Lori and her are no match made in heaven.

I think it will be interesting to see where Polina is next year. She's due for some kind of upgrade on her team. I'm inclined to think it's more rooted in choreography and styling rather than coaching but who knows. But I think she's ready for a new challenge. It's a shame her long didn't score like it did in 4CC, but I'm also ready to say bye to both programs. She's someone I could see having a real "A HA" moment with Lori. Her skating is very reminiscent of a young Carolina, but she's got great arms and the type of foundation I think Lori would enjoy working with and she said in her TSL interview how she loves skating to light, ethereal pieces. That is so Lori's wheelhouse.

 

[andromache]

How about the state of Gracie's programs?

Obviously I think we all want to say goodbye to her POTO program forever (and to POTO music forever ) but her new dress for it is among one of my favorite dresses ever, and definitely my favorite dress that Gracie has ever worn. It'll be a shame if this is the only time we get to see it.

If Gracie stays with Frank, does she have the option of working with choreographers besides Lori? Or are Lori and Frank too much of a package deal? The Lori programs just aren't doing anything for her aside from the usual Lori Nichol polish; Gracie doesn't bring anything to them to make them really special. Contrast that with Ashley's Moulin Rouge, who really connects with the music and brings the character to life. I agree that Polina might benefit from a Lori program, since Lori does the delicate thing very well. I don't think Gracie NEEDS a coaching change, and I worry that the disruption of a coaching change might do her more harm than good for next season, but she'll benefit from a choreographer change.

 

[apgold]

Her new dress for it is among one of my favorite dresses ever

Yes, to be completely shallow, I loved the new dress on her, and no stupid feathers in her hair either. When I was trying to stream the ISU website thru Zenmate, I actually caught a little of her program but it kept freezing up, I was so happy to see her in the new dress. Maybe it gave her mojo to do as well as she did. I don't like her POTO program or Lori's choreography with the weird arm movements, but for the first time this season, I was invested in Gracie and shed a few tears when she finished. She finally delivered when it mattered.

Maybe she'll keep the dress for next season? It seems to bring her luck!

 

[noidont]

Gracie is great to watch live. I think she is the only one embodying the North American power skating style. Not so much nuanced but great speed, great ice coverage and she can skate to powerful/lyrical music Liza and Elena can't quite do. I don't hate her programs. I do think she has stage freight and should do a Lizarathon season to get over her nerves for good.

 

[chuckm]

Gracie was great in the FS. Now if she could just do the same in the SP, she would easily be on the podium.

 

[flying camel]

I think Gracie's program works when she skates well. When she doesn't skate well you start to pick the program apart. I think She will stay with Lori. What Gracie needs to do is start picking out her own music.

 

[LRK]

How about the state of Gracie's programs?

Obviously I think we all want to say goodbye to her POTO program forever (and to POTO music forever ) but her new dress for it is among one of my favorite dresses ever, and definitely my favorite dress that Gracie has ever worn. It'll be a shame if this is the only time we get to see it.

Actually, seeing that dress scared me - yes, it's a nice dress, and I certainly liked it much more than the old one, but... I wondered what it could mean getting a new dress so late in the season? And the (to me) hideous notion struck me that, what if this meant she intends to keep her LP next year? But maybe I'm just being alarmist, and she's sprung for a new outfit just for the fun of it... (shrug)

Meanwhile, if you want to see it again - maybe there'll be WTT?

 

[Mrs. P]

Actually, seeing that dress scared me - yes, it's a nice dress, and I certainly liked it much more than the old one, but... I wondered what it could mean getting a new dress so late in the season? And the (to me) hideous notion struck me that, what if this meant she intends to keep her LP next year? But maybe I'm just being alarmist, and she's sprung for a new outfit just for the fun of it... (shrug)

Meanwhile, if you want to see it again - maybe there'll be WTT?

Maia Shibutani also had a new dress for the FD (it was a peach-colored one she wore during practices, I think) but she ended up wearing her "old" dress (FD dress version 2.0). And Hubbell and Donahue got new outfits for their FD as well. So I don't think it's crazy to change a dress for the final competition. I think part of it, as H/D noted, is wanting to give an additional impression to the overall package.

 

[Lenny318]

Actually, seeing that dress scared me - yes, it's a nice dress, and I certainly liked it much more than the old one, but... I wondered what it could mean getting a new dress so late in the season? And the (to me) hideous notion struck me that, what if this meant she intends to keep her LP next year? But maybe I'm just being alarmist, and she's sprung for a new outfit just for the fun of it... (shrug)

I recall other skaters switching up their costumes for worlds and not keeping the program the following year. Michelle Kwan is one that sticks out. She changed her long program dress in 1997 and in 2001 I think she changed both her short and long program dresses. Sarah Hughes had also changed her long program dress for the 2nd time(?) that season at worlds. Sasha changed her Romeo and Juliet dress late in the 2005-2006 season but it was the Olympics.

Also didn't Gracie alter her dress for 4CC? Maybe it wasn't worth it to change it again so they just went for a new dress altogether? I dunno. But I doubt she's keeping the POTO program.

 

[flying camel]

Ashley says on Twitter she is coming home with a small bronze medal. Was there a ceremony? I think we deserve to see something.

 

[ice coverage]

Ashley says on Twitter she is coming home with a small bronze medal. Was there a ceremony? I think we deserve to see something.

Yes, the Ladies FS would have had a small medal ceremony. I have seen the odd photo online of other small medal ceremonies from this year's Worlds.

Videos of small medal ceremonies from past ISU championships occasionally have shown up online. (Don't recall seeing any yet from this year in Shanghai, not that I have been actively looking.)

 

[carriecmu0503]

I recall other skaters switching up their costumes for worlds and not keeping the program the following year. Michelle Kwan is one that sticks out. She changed her long program dress in 1997 and in 2001 I think she changed both her short and long program dresses. Sarah Hughes had also changed her long program dress for the 2nd time(?) that season at worlds. Sasha changed her Romeo and Juliet dress late in the 2005-2006 season but it was the Olympics.

Also didn't Gracie alter her dress for 4CC? Maybe it wasn't worth it to change it again so they just went for a new dress altogether? I dunno. But I doubt she's keeping the POTO program.

Michelle wore different dresses at 2001 Worlds not by choice. She did not receive one of her suitcases in time- the one that had her competitive dresses. Luckily, she had her practice dresses in a different suitcase, and she had two practice dresses that were competition appropriate.

 

[andyjo24]

People are saying that Ashley is and has always been the "it" girl. But IMO, it's not only Ashley. Gracie has always been the "it" girl, too. Always finishing near the podium but not on the podium (so close, yet so far).