2016 US Nationals Senior Ladies SP

[stella luna]

I think sometimes people don't give Ashley and Gracie enough credit for the things they do well. They have much better, more convincing programs and deliver many elements with great skill that is far beyond the rest of the American ladies field. Tyler's skating is not at their level yet - I am ok with seeing that reflected in the PCS scores. Mirai's program today was so completely expressionless - Ashley and Gracie deserve to receive points for the effort they put into creating and selling internationally competitive programs. Gracie's step sequence and spins today were very good. I never thought I'd her do a triple flip-double toe in a short program palmf, but she landed it in the second half, and was able to salvage a lot of valuable points after a big mistake. Ashley delivered her program with spirit and personality, and her triple loop and double axel were great. I am also frustrated that Ashley and Gracie fail to live up to their potential time and time again but I don't understand this mentality that they're "being held up" or getting points they don't deserve. If other people had delivered today, Ashley and Gracie would have fallen in the rankings. Unfortunately, basically everyone was terrible and even the people who didn't make big mistakes failed to deliver anything noteworthy (with the exception of Polina who was actually great). Idk I don't see the conspiracy here.

Except ... pretty much every announcer at the all of these events says you can't afford to have major errors in the short program. I believe this was for the old and new judging systems. To the average contender, such errors are devastating, score-wise. And you can't explain those mistakes away.

 

[bixby]

I keep reading post talking about Gracie 'leap frogging'. What is leap frogging?

Let me see if I could help you. Umm.... the frog leap? It's a jump jump and no walking I guess.

 

[randomfan]

Wagner going first. Ruh roh.

I think she's going second. The final group today had 6 skaters.

 

[TwinnerA]

And she shouldn't be. If she has a repeat of last year's FS there's probably nothing Edmunds can do even with an 8-point advantage.

Still, this is vintage Wagner all over again. She is d*** lucky that everyone else flubbed up too...or she would be in an even bigger hole.

It should be concerning to her because while the mistake is OK here at US Nationals (no one else showed up, right?), it'll bury her internationally. It's a hump that she cannot seem to get over and she will forever be B-list if she can't shake it off.

And Gold - I think her own words afterward basically sum it up.

What did Gracie say?

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Ohh....Lexiglass. I think Ashley and Gracie both get plenty of credit and scoring for what they do.

I say this as a fan of both to some degree. Still....Polina is just as deserving and TBH...on the upslope of skating.

 

[topaz emerald]

Hi Everyone, I am new to this site. Just wanted to say I've been a big fan of figure skating ever since I saw Kristi Yamaguchi win Gold in Lilyhammer. Then came the Great Michelle Kwan, and then the rest I say this because there hasn't been a skater like her that puts consistent programs nearly every time. Yes, she never won Olympic Gold, but she skated with her heart, and with her technical abilities she was just amazing to watch. Anyway, I've been following the top three girls skating over the years they've been competing: Ashley, Gracie, and Polina. I have to say technically, Polina blows the first two out of the water. NOt only that, she's the only reliable one to come through when it counts. The problem is...she has not been rewarded fairly for her excellent skating time and time again. Unlike Gracie and Ashley, Polina CANNOT afford to make mistakes....why? it seems judges scrutinize her every spin, twist, and turn in the air. If she does make one mistake, it is costly....whereas, Gracie and Ashley can pop or fall on a combination jump and still only be 8 or 7 points behind, which is proven tonight.

I must admit I never enjoyed Ashley's skating until her Moulin Rouge program she skated to at I believe it was Nationals last year? I thought it was such a well choreographed and emotionally powerful performance....You can say she WOKE me up to her skating after all those previous years of falling on her butt all the time. She deserved to win that day and I congratulate her for that. However, I still thought she needed to amp her game up technically because one day she'll be on and the next day, she'll lose concentration and pop or fall on a jump. Gracie is the same as Ashley technically in that she's very inconsistent, and although she can still do a clean triple lutz triple toe loop, I feel as she ages, her jumps are losing the height she had before when she first entered as a senior. And it's showing, I think that's why, along with her seeming nerves, she pops a jump or falls on it, just like Ashley. However, Gracie, Ashley, and Polina, in my opinion, are the three best the US has to send to worlds to compete against the over-inflated Russian girls, whom, I do enjoy watching a few of them skate.

i feel Ashley and Gracie need to move over, Polina is 18 years old now and IT'S DEFINITELY TIME FOR US FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION TO START PROMOTING POLINA EDMUNDS. I think she is America's best hope to compete against the international ladies. She has it ALL, the only thing I would say she severely lacks is a good choreographer.

Cheers everyone.

 

[Interspectator]

Hi Everyone, I am new to this site. Just wanted to say I've been a big fan of figure skating ever since I saw Kristi Yamaguchi win Gold in Lilyhammer. Then came the Great Michelle Kwan, and then the rest I say this because there hasn't been a skater like her that puts consistent programs nearly every time. Yes, she never won Olympic Gold, but she skated with her heart, and with her technical abilities she was just amazing to watch. Anyway, I've been following the top three girls skating over the years they've been competing: Ashley, Gracie, and Polina. I have to say technically, Polina blows the first two out of the water. NOt only that, she's the only reliable one to come through when it counts. The problem is...she has not been rewarded fairly for her excellent skating time and time again. Unlike Gracie and Ashley, Polina CANNOT afford to make mistakes....why? it seems judges scrutinize her every spin, twist, and turn in the air. If she does make one mistake, it is costly....whereas, Gracie and Ashley can pop or fall on a combination jump and still only be 8 or 7 points behind, which is proven tonight.

I must admit I never enjoyed Ashley's skating until her Moulin Rouge program she skated to at I believe it was Nationals last year? I thought it was such a well choreographed and emotionally powerful performance....You can say she WOKE me up to her skating after all those previous years of falling on her butt all the time. She deserved to win that day and I congratulate her for that. However, I still thought she needed to amp her game up technically because one day she'll be on and the next day, she'll lose concentration and pop or fall on a jump. Gracie is the same as Ashley technically in that she's very inconsistent, and although she can still do a clean triple lutz triple toe loop, I feel as she ages, her jumps are losing the height she had before when she first entered as a senior. And it's showing, I think that's why, along with her seeming nerves, she pops a jump or falls on it, just like Ashley. However, Gracie, Ashley, and Polina, in my opinion, are the three best the US has to send to worlds to compete against the over-inflated Russian girls, whom, I do enjoy watching a few of them skate.

i feel Ashley and Gracie need to move over, Polina is 18 years old now and IT'S DEFINITELY TIME FOR US FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION TO START PROMOTING POLINA EDMUNDS. I think she is America's best hope to compete against the international ladies. She has it ALL, the only thing I would say she severely lacks is a good choreographer.

Cheers everyone.

Welcome to Golden Skate! :thumbsup: Post often and long. Polina had a stand out moment here in the Short Program but earlier in the season she was not so consistent and lost levels on spins, had edge call problems etc.
Still, if she continues to be consistent she will also be able to climb the ranks, like Satoko has done this year.

 

[stella luna]

Welcome, topaz emerald. You have a lovely moniker.

 

[Jammers]

Hi Everyone, I am new to this site. Just wanted to say I've been a big fan of figure skating ever since I saw Kristi Yamaguchi win Gold in Lilyhammer. Then came the Great Michelle Kwan, and then the rest I say this because there hasn't been a skater like her that puts consistent programs nearly every time. Yes, she never won Olympic Gold, but she skated with her heart, and with her technical abilities she was just amazing to watch. Anyway, I've been following the top three girls skating over the years they've been competing: Ashley, Gracie, and Polina. I have to say technically, Polina blows the first two out of the water. NOt only that, she's the only reliable one to come through when it counts. The problem is...she has not been rewarded fairly for her excellent skating time and time again. Unlike Gracie and Ashley, Polina CANNOT afford to make mistakes....why? it seems judges scrutinize her every spin, twist, and turn in the air. If she does make one mistake, it is costly....whereas, Gracie and Ashley can pop or fall on a combination jump and still only be 8 or 7 points behind, which is proven tonight.

I must admit I never enjoyed Ashley's skating until her Moulin Rouge program she skated to at I believe it was Nationals last year? I thought it was such a well choreographed and emotionally powerful performance....You can say she WOKE me up to her skating after all those previous years of falling on her butt all the time. She deserved to win that day and I congratulate her for that. However, I still thought she needed to amp her game up technically because one day she'll be on and the next day, she'll lose concentration and pop or fall on a jump. Gracie is the same as Ashley technically in that she's very inconsistent, and although she can still do a clean triple lutz triple toe loop, I feel as she ages, her jumps are losing the height she had before when she first entered as a senior. And it's showing, I think that's why, along with her seeming nerves, she pops a jump or falls on it, just like Ashley. However, Gracie, Ashley, and Polina, in my opinion, are the three best the US has to send to worlds to compete against the over-inflated Russian girls, whom, I do enjoy watching a few of them skate.

i feel Ashley and Gracie need to move over, Polina is 18 years old now and IT'S DEFINITELY TIME FOR US FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION TO START PROMOTING POLINA EDMUNDS. I think she is America's best hope to compete against the international ladies. She has it ALL, the only thing I would say she severely lacks is a good choreographer.

Cheers everyone.

Gracie skates with much more power and speed then Polina does and it makes a big difference in the scores. Polina could be timed with a calender when she goes into her 3-3 combination jumps she telegraphs them so much. She is still slow on the ice compared to the top skaters too.

 

[jenaj]

Except ... pretty much every announcer at the all of these events says you can't afford to have major errors in the short program. I believe this was for the old and new judging systems. To the average contender, such errors are devastating, score-wise. And you can't explain those mistakes away.

It's not quite as crucial to skate clean in the short in the IJS, like it was under 6.0. But it's going to be hard for the pack back in third, fourth and fifth place to move up when Polina has such a big lead. It looks to be a battle for the silver and bronze. I really don't understand why Gracie and Ashley continually seem to blow their chances by skating poorly in the short program. Gracie, in particular, should not be popping out of her big combo. Turn it into a 3-2 if necessary. Just don't pop it. She has a good and consistent lutz. There is really no excuse. As for Ashley, she is an over-achiever so it's not as surprising to see her make a mistake in the short. But it's killing her. She conceivably might not make the World team.

 

[FlattFan]

So Emily and Vivian for Jr. World?

 

[topaz emerald]

Gracie skates with much more power and speed then Polina does and it makes a big difference in the scores. Polina could be timed with a calender when she goes into her 3-3 combination jumps she telegraphs them so much. She is still slow on the ice compared to the top skaters too.

Yes, Polina lacks some speed. She needs to work on that. But she isn't so much slower where she doesn't deserve to be given fair marks. Gracie always falls down. Not consistent at all.

 

[havefun]

Hi Everyone, I am new to this site. Just wanted to say I've been a big fan of figure skating ever since I saw Kristi Yamaguchi win Gold in Lilyhammer. Then came the Great Michelle Kwan, and then the rest I say this because there hasn't been a skater like her that puts consistent programs nearly every time. Yes, she never won Olympic Gold, but she skated with her heart, and with her technical abilities she was just amazing to watch. Anyway, I've been following the top three girls skating over the years they've been competing: Ashley, Gracie, and Polina. I have to say technically, Polina blows the first two out of the water. NOt only that, she's the only reliable one to come through when it counts. The problem is...she has not been rewarded fairly for her excellent skating time and time again. Unlike Gracie and Ashley, Polina CANNOT afford to make mistakes....why? it seems judges scrutinize her every spin, twist, and turn in the air. If she does make one mistake, it is costly....whereas, Gracie and Ashley can pop or fall on a combination jump and still only be 8 or 7 points behind, which is proven tonight.

I must admit I never enjoyed Ashley's skating until her Moulin Rouge program she skated to at I believe it was Nationals last year? I thought it was such a well choreographed and emotionally powerful performance....You can say she WOKE me up to her skating after all those previous years of falling on her butt all the time. She deserved to win that day and I congratulate her for that. However, I still thought she needed to amp her game up technically because one day she'll be on and the next day, she'll lose concentration and pop or fall on a jump. Gracie is the same as Ashley technically in that she's very inconsistent, and although she can still do a clean triple lutz triple toe loop, I feel as she ages, her jumps are losing the height she had before when she first entered as a senior. And it's showing, I think that's why, along with her seeming nerves, she pops a jump or falls on it, just like Ashley. However, Gracie, Ashley, and Polina, in my opinion, are the three best the US has to send to worlds to compete against the over-inflated Russian girls, whom, I do enjoy watching a few of them skate.

i feel Ashley and Gracie need to move over, Polina is 18 years old now and IT'S DEFINITELY TIME FOR US FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION TO START PROMOTING POLINA EDMUNDS. I think she is America's best hope to compete against the international ladies. She has it ALL, the only thing I would say she severely lacks is a good choreographer.

Cheers everyone.

Agreed. Except unfortunately Polina's jumps are eeked out. For 5'8 she is remarkable but on the international stage she gets killed because....slo-mo shows ur. She barely gets her rotations in even with with her exceptional technique. It is a shame.

 

[jenaj]

Gracie skates with much more power and speed then Polina does and it makes a big difference in the scores. Polina could be timed with a calender when she goes into her 3-3 combination jumps she telegraphs them so much. She is still slow on the ice compared to the top skaters too.

I agree. Polina has not done well on the international circuit, probably for those very reasons. I will admit I am not a fan, but she did skate well tonight. But I don't think she will get those component scores if she goes to Worlds, which seems likely.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Let the Polina hating begin

It's just the short program folks.

 

[mrrice]

Gracie skates with much more power and speed then Polina does and it makes a big difference in the scores. Polina could be timed with a calender when she goes into her 3-3 combination jumps she telegraphs them so much. She is still slow on the ice compared to the top skaters too.

It doesn't matter as long as she stays on her feet. Polina reminds me of Jennifer Robinson from Canada. She was tall for a skater and didn't have great speed. She was also prone to under rotating. She was however, a beautiful performer and would always do well in what are now PCS. Polina has a much more difficult program than Jennifer ever did and if She executes it, she deserves the win. Add Gracie and Ashley and we have a great team. The finishing order doesn't really matter.

 

[wordsworthgirl]

Did anyone see the women's press conference? Is there a link?

 

[shine]

Agreed. Except unfortunately Polina's jumps are eeked out. For 5'8 she is remarkable but on the international stage she gets killed because....slo-mo shows ur. She barely gets her rotations in even with with her exceptional technique. It is a shame.

They are not. Her lutz and flip are big and effortless, with textbook picking technique. She underrotates not because her jumps are small - it's the speed of her rotation. And whoever comparing her jumps to Jennifer Robinson is quite ridiculous.

 

[Skater Boy]

Oh no, Courtney!!! NO! You should have brought back your Phoenix program! This sucks!

Polina is going to make the Worlds team again now for sure.

So sad for Courtney. :noshake:

Maybe she will rise like the Phonenix in the long. Kind of in shock Wow, didn't expect that but score isn't bad.

 

[sabinfire]

Let the Polina hating begin

It's just the short program folks.

You can lose it in the short.

Also, skaters have won comps this year with just the SP... so you never know.