2016 Four Continents Ladies Free Skate

[mrrice]

I don't think that is going to happen but can you imagine how Polina"s camp would react to that? Rest her for Worlds only to have her place given to someone else. Talk about controversy....

Controversy is right. Polina is turning into the "Rachael Flatt" of the US ladies and no matter how well Mirai skated, I'd definitely put Polina ahead of her. I always trusted Rachael to deliver and she rarely disappointed. IMO, We have the strongest team we've had in years and if they hold it together, our 3 spots will be secure.

 

[eta]

BESP 1 will be showing the ladies highlights shortly if anyone is interested.

 

[karlowens2]

It was nice to see Gracie and Mirai yukking it up in the green room. I never see Gracie laughing and smiling.

It must be lonely. She’s been singled out held up as the next great thing by the USFS since she was 17. Hard to make friends with other skates when you’re held above like that. And the weight of all that expectation. Crippling to a self-conscious teenager I should think.

I wonder if would have gone better if she had been just another of the girls – skates good some days and others not so. It would probably be good for Gracie to be set down from the pedestal. Does she have any skating pals? I noticed at Skate America Leonova consoling Tut. And, Med and Pogo yukking it up at Europeans.

 

[Jammers]

Controversy is right. Polina is turning into the "Rachael Flatt" of the US ladies and no matter how well Mirai skated, I'd definitely put Polina ahead of her. I always trusted Rachael to deliver and she rarely disappointed. IMO, We have the strongest team we've had in years and if they hold it together, our 3 spots will be secure.

Unfortunately like Flatt Polina while she does deliver will continue to not get near the podium at Worlds unless she works on her speed and power and get some better programs.

 

[jenaj]

And how many times has Mirai proved she's the better skater then Gracie? Seems before 4CC Mirai never came close to beating Gracie. And it took a disaster of a competition for Mirai to beat her.

Mirai is a better skater than Gracie in some respects. She has better spins and is more artistic. Gracie, of course, is a better jumper--when she is on. Give Mirai a chance now that she has a better coaching and training situation. And if the number of times she has beaten another skater is the measure, she has beaten Ashley quite a few times!

 

[mrrice]

Unfortunately like Flatt Polina while she does deliver will continue to not get near the podium at Worlds unless she works on her speed and power and get some better programs.

True!!! And costumes. I hope Polina comes up with better packaging next year.

 

[Krislite]

As much as I dislike Satoko's tiny jumps, she does have an undeniable graceful, mature and elegant style on the ice--and lovely arm movements--that remind me very much of my all-time favorite skater. Too bad she doesn't have the same jumping power. I think her PCS are well-deserved. The jump GOEs, though, are laughable.

 

[luckyguy]

I didn't watch the event, but Miyahara' technical scores in the LP routine are really a surprise to me: 74+ ? Such low & tiny jumps? Wow, that really tells something.

Yes, it is really surprising. I cannot explain it. She is overrated. Compare her jumps with Pogorilaya or Medvedeva.

 

[solani]

Agree, and let's be real. Gracie has been the highest US lady in the biggest competitions recently. She placed highest among all US ladies at Sochi, then Saitama, then Shanghai. She is super inconsistent and a headcase. But it's not like other US girls have done better than her at the biggest events for about 3 years.

Not exactly. Polina won 4CC last year. We shouldn't forget that. I know, it's only 4CC, but as we're in the 4CC 2016 thread I think it's mentionable.

 

[KwanIsALegend]

Just catching up....
Gracie didn't fall, but really her program was weak. Just one slow combo for a national champion? . And honestly, how can she be smiling after that? No, she didn't fall but that was not a great skate. Not a skate for someone who wants to be a serious worlds contender. 5th at 4CC where a lot of the top world skaters didn't attend?
Not my favorite program or music, the arm flapping. (What is it about firebird that causes arm flapping?). Happy she did better.

Mirai forgot her lipstick ( just an observation) and seemed so cut ff from the audience. When her name was being announced she didn't even look up and smile at the audience. Like I said before maybe it is because she really has to focus down to concentrate on her program. But it seems rather cold and unfriendly. But so nice to see her doing well. Too bad her season is over, would love to see her at worlds.

 

[Kinga]

This competition was interesting. Lots of unexpected turns of action, except for Satoko's stellar performances.

Mirai did great, she looked poised from the minute she took the ice. She also looked a bit different "physically" - I do not know how to put it right, but maybe she is trained better now? However, I am a bit underwhelmed with this program - the concept, the choreo and interpretation. Yet, well deserved silver.

I would have either Osmond, Rika or So Youn in 3rd (all 3 preferably! ).
Osmonds jumps are huge, gosh, what a talent she is! Not to mention her performance abilities. She was robbed big time on PCS both in LP and SP. So was So Youn, although to a lesser extent. It annoys me to no end that PCS are awarded according to your performances earlier in the season. I hate it!:dev2:
I am a bit disappointed with Rika. I like her a lot, but she has not improved at all in terms of posture, flow, edges and her spins are still so painful to watch.

Gracie, what can I say.. Had she only put some fire, energy, fight into this performance, she would have medalled. I really did not like her attitude. Her PCS was faaaar to high.

Zijun - I have hard time enjoying her, sorry. She does not have any energy and joy out there. And it does not have anything to do with etheral style - She moves so anemic, her moves are noodles like. I think she was absolutely at her best when she finished 7 at worlds couple of years ago. She was totally a different skater. I know - injuries, growth spurt, but still...

A side note about jet lag. I do not understand all these excuses for NA skaters at this competition. I mean, they travel and compete at GP series too? Just like all Euro and Asian skaters. I have never heard anyone trying to justify a poor performance of an Asian skater due to jet lag. Sorry, i dont buy it.

 

[Meoima]

Not exactly. Polina won 4CC last year. We shouldn't forget that. I know, it's only 4CC, but as we're in the 4CC 2016 thread I think it's mentionable.

I'm talking about Olympic and WC only. Gracie has always been the highest US lady at all of these events ever from Sochi.

 

[solani]

I'm talking about Olympic and WC only. Gracie has always been the highest US lady at all of these events ever from Sochi.

Yes and after Sochi she was almost bound to win the big events. It's troubling.

 

[RABID]

As much as I dislike Satoko's tiny jumps, she does have an undeniable graceful, mature and elegant style on the ice--and lovely arm movements--that remind me very much of my all-time favorite skater. Too bad she doesn't have the same jumping power. I think her PCS are well-deserved. The jump GOEs, though, are laughable.

The difference between the two is that one occupies the WHOLE ice surface whilst the other just the spot she happens to be skating on. One skates larger than she is; the other, as big as she is.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

How is Satoko getting such high GOE on her jumping passes?

Her jumps, while small and somewhat pre-rotated still look very clean and "neat", and effortless (which I believe is a GOE bullet point). Like Lipnitskaia a while ago at her best, the judges reward her for getting them done and without stumbles, even if they're not big. It's not like she's getting +3s.

But good on her for TES personal best and a FS PB too!

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Can't US send Mirai instead of Polina...

Uh, that would not be fair to Polina who essentially had two clean skates at Nationals. I don't really think there's a case for sending Wagner either.

It's funny - both US and Canadian champions were beaten by skaters who won't even be going to Worlds.

 

[solani]

Can't US send Mirai instead of Polina...

US could only send Mirai instead of Ashley. And this isn't going to happen. Was there ever a case in U.S. figure skating where the top two from Nationals didn't go to Worlds if they weren't injured?
It was really unfortunate for Mirai that her boot broke at Nationals. Bad luck.

 

[Dan]

Congratulations to all. I especially like when a skater gets excited by their placement even when they aren't on the podium (So Yun Park). Would someone please explain to me how Miyahara was able to repeat the 2A+3T? How is this not a repeated jump under the Zayak rule? How can this combination be repeated but a 3Lz+3T cannot? Interestingly, these two combination jumps looked identical to me and the judges thought so too, giving her identical GOE for both combinations. I would love to interview two judges that failed to give her identical GOE to find out what differences they saw. I can't find any.

 

[cheerknithanson]

I'm not a FAN of Mirai, But WOW! I'm so proud of her! Not only she got silver, but she got a personal best score!

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Mirai did well and good on her but that FS is just hilarious with the music. I really wish she would just get it over with and bring a support team who will be throwing out #MiraiGotYou t-shirts during the techno parts of that program. Maybe Tom can use a T shirt canon too and further send the crowd into a frenzy! :dance:

Please girl...take your free skate music more seriously next year. Hit me up if you need a Sam-Skwantch remix. I got you. Free of charge.