State of U.S. Ladies' skating 2016-17

[Arriba627]

Thanks for sharing - finally got a chance to watch it. This is gorgeous. More of this energy in the competitive programs, please! If she could find a way of combining the asymmetrical, contemporary dance-influenced arm and upper body movements with a level 4 step sequence, you could have Giada Russo-esque levels of musicality on someone who can also bring the high tech content. And that could result in a really new and refreshing style. Push it Polina! I'm a big Wagner fan, but I think P has the goods in a unique way and really want to see it come together for her.

I feel like she is an important part of our future. I think even just a little better packaging with different hairstyle (please put the hair UP), makeup, and costuming would be a huge help. There are a few other issues, but these are the easy things. I really love Polina and have high hopes for her for the upcoming season.

 

[ice coverage]

Angela Wang is in tonight's USFS class photo from Champs Camp, so my prediction that she would be included there has come true .

And I'm guessing that Angela's presence means that USFS has selected her for the Skate America TBA slot?
Could there be any other explanation for her inclusion in Champs Camp??

 

[temadd]

There's the Challenger Series too.

 

[ice coverage]

There's the Challenger Series too.

Can't tell whether you are trying to say something related to Champs Camp??

If you are, then my reply is:

Champs Camp is for Team USA skaters with GP assignments.
Challenger assignments are not a basis for invitations to Champs Camp.
Perfect examples are 2016 Lombardia Trophy assignments, which include Pfund/Santillan and Biechler/Dodge. No sign of them at Champs Camp, because they do not have GP assignments.​

---

ETA:

Right after the Champs Camp for GP skaters from all four disciplines, USFS holds a pairs-only camp, also in Colorado Springs.
The GP pairs stay over for the pairs-only camp, and are joined by some non-GP pairs (who were not included in the Champs Camp for all four disciplines).

I'm not sure of the official name for the pairs-only camp held at this time of year.
In past years, I occasionally have seen unofficial references to it as something like "pairs champ camp" -- so the terminology can get a little confusing.

I hope/expect that Pfund/Santillan have been invited to the pairs-only camp .​

 

[just wondering]

Angela Wang is in tonight's USFS class photo from Champs Camp, so my prediction that she would be included there has come true .

And I'm guessing that Angela's presence means that USFS has selected her for the Skate America TBA slot?
Could there be any other explanation for her inclusion in Champs Camp??

None that I can think of! Congrats to Angela, and best wishes to her this upcoming season. :luv17:

 

[skylark]

Angela Wang is in tonight's USFS class photo from Champs Camp, so my prediction that she would be included there has come true .

for posting this photo! And, oh dear, that's Jeremy A. in the front row between Tarah and Alex, isn't it. I wonder why. I hope it doesn't mean he's going to compete this year. He has such a history of winning nationals and then splatting at worlds. Sorry to JA fans but US men's field is such a blood bath this year already.

 

[ice coverage]

for posting this photo! And, oh dear, that's Jeremy A. in the front row between Tarah and Alex, isn't it. I wonder why. I hope it doesn't mean he's going to compete this year. He has such a history of winning nationals and then splatting at worlds. Sorry to JA fans but US men's field is such a blood bath this year already.

No, Jeremy is not in the photo.

Ross Miner is in the photo -- and I was very surprised to read on FSU that some people think Ross bears such a close resemblance to Jeremy that telling the two skaters apart seems difficult.

I myself cannot fathom why Ross and Jeremy are being confused for each other.
I guess their coloring is similar, but to my eyes, their facial features are easily distinguishable.
YMMV.

 

[skylark]

No, Jeremy is not in the photo.

Ross Miner is in the photo -- and I was very surprised to read on FSU that some people think Ross bears such a close resemblance to Jeremy that telling the two skaters apart seems difficult.

I myself cannot fathom why Ross and Jeremy are being confused for each other.
I guess their coloring is similar, but to my eyes, their facial features are easily distinguishable.
YMMV.

Oh. whew, what a relief, thanks for the quick reply.

And btw, it's the hair. Maybe Ross is parting his hair differently, or growing it out or something and it curls more.

While I've got you here, whose arm is around Adam's shoulders? It's too far away from Ashley's head to be her hand, isn't it? Or is my sense of perspective way off?

Well at least I got myself back On Topic to US ladies.

 

[mrrice]

Angela Wang is in tonight's USFS class photo from Champs Camp, so my prediction that she would be included there has come true .

And I'm guessing that Angela's presence means that USFS has selected her for the Skate America TBA slot?
Could there be any other explanation for her inclusion in Champs Camp??

No Joshua............:sad21: My child is really retired. I'm so sad. I seriously thought that Ross Miner was Jeremy Abbott when I first opened that picture. Best of luck to the US team this season. It's really a promising time for all of you.

 

[mrrice]

No, Jeremy is not in the photo.

Ross Miner is in the photo -- and I was very surprised to read on FSU that some people think Ross bears such a close resemblance to Jeremy that telling the two skaters apart seems difficult.

I myself cannot fathom why Ross and Jeremy are being confused for each other.
I guess their coloring is similar, but to my eyes, their facial features are easily distinguishable.
YMMV.

I have seen Ross and Jeremy in person and they don't look very much alike. Especially when they're standing as Jeremy is much taller. However, when I opened that picture I seriously thought that Ross was Jeremy. Weird.

 

[ice coverage]

Oh. whew, what a relief, thanks for the quick reply.

And btw, it's the hair. Maybe Ross is parting his hair differently, or growing it out or something and it curls more.

While I've got you here, whose arm is around Adam's shoulders? It's too far away from Ashley's head to be her hand, isn't it? Or is my sense of perspective way off?

Well at least I got myself back On Topic to US ladies.

LOL, I hadn't looked closely at the arm around Adam before. And I agree that the perspective is weird and/or Ashley has an exceptionally long arm.
Can't figure who else the arm could belong to???

And my computer froze as I was trying to quickly go back to add the following to my post about Ross:

Lest I sound like an arrogant jerk, please know that my own eyes have been known to play tricks on me even when it comes to two of my favorite skaters, Josh Farris and Liam Firus. On separate occasions, I have gotten each of them mixed up :hopelessness: with Jamie Wright. All three of them are very handsome guys, but my instances of confusion left me rattled .​

 

[skylark]

LOL, I hadn't looked closely at the arm around Adam before. And I agree that the perspective is weird and/or Ashley has an exceptionally long arm.
Can't figure who else the arm could belong to???

And my computer froze as I was trying to quickly go back to add the following to my post about Ross:

Lest I sound like an arrogant jerk, please know that my own eyes have been known to play tricks on me even when it comes to two of my favorite skaters, Josh Farris and Liam Firus. On separate occasions, I have gotten each of them mixed up :hopelessness: with Jamie Wright. All three of them are very handsome guys, but my instances of confusion left me rattled .​

LOL.

I am really weirded out about who else that arm could belong to.:eeking:

 

[temadd]

LOL.

I am really weirded out about who else that arm could belong to.:eeking:

It's Ashley's arm. I think it just looks weirdly long because her arm is straight. Zoom in and it doesn't look so strange.

 

[mrrice]

Max, I know you're a Hockey Dude but, you have a great smile and after I saw you in that Justin Timberlake video, I think you should smile more. I don't know if people say this anymore but.... "You've Got It Goin On"

 

[jenaj]

No, Jeremy is not in the photo.

Ross Miner is in the photo -- and I was very surprised to read on FSU that some people think Ross bears such a close resemblance to Jeremy that telling the two skaters apart seems difficult.

I myself cannot fathom why Ross and Jeremy are being confused for each other.
I guess their coloring is similar, but to my eyes, their facial features are easily distinguishable.
YMMV.

They do look alike in that picture. But otherwise, no.

 

[icellist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP1xEDI4nag

Here is a video of Angela Wang's Somewhere Over the Rainbow from a competition early in the summer
It's a bad recording, frame freezes on important sections. I'm also not a fan of the rendition used.

 

[Tavi...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP1xEDI4nag

Here is a video of Angela Wang's Somewhere Over the Rainbow from a competition early in the summer
It's a bad recording, frame freezes on important sections. I'm also not a fan of the rendition used.

Katherine McFee isn't Judy Garland, is she! But I do like that they included the recit ("When all the clouds darken up the skyway...") which is rarely heard. In this Broadmoor clip, she doesn't look nearly as good as Mariah did at GF - but then Mariah herself looked awful at Broadmoor, and Angela may have looked really good at Collegiates. More important, although their results at Nats this year were similar, Angela has a higher international PB by about 6 points and has more and better international results than Mariah does at the Sr B and Jr GP levels. So, much as I love Mariah, I can kind of see why they chose Angela for SA.

I was actually surprised to see how little international experience Mariah has (8 comps total since 2012, vs Angela's 14, even though they're the same age). For me it helps explain her inconsistency - I don't think she's competed enough to feel comfortable doing it. Sadly, if you don't do well, you don't get as many chances, so it's kind of a vicious cycle - but hopefully they'll give her some low pressure Sr Bs so she has a chance to improve her consistency without worrying too much about the impression she's making. Her skating is just so beautiful that I would hate to see her just fade away.

 

[FlattFan]

Does anyone know what happened to Vivian Le? I'm surprised she doesn't get a Jr. GP assignment yet. She dropped out of Glacier Falls earlier this month and just disappeared. I hope it's not due to injury.

 

[Mrs. P]

Katherine McFee isn't Judy Garland, is she! But I do like that they included the recit ("When all the clouds darken up the skyway...") which is rarely heard. In this Broadmoor clip, she doesn't look nearly as good as Mariah did at GF - but then Mariah herself looked awful at Broadmoor, and Angela may have looked really good at Collegiates. More important, although their results at Nats this year were similar, Angela has a higher international PB by about 6 points and has more and better international results than Mariah does at the Sr B and Jr GP levels. So, much as I love Mariah, I can kind of see why they chose Angela for SA.

I was actually surprised to see how little international experience Mariah has (8 comps total since 2012, vs Angela's 14, even though they're the same age). For me it helps explain her inconsistency - I don't think she's competed enough to feel comfortable doing it. Sadly, if you don't do well, you don't get as many chances, so it's kind of a vicious cycle - but hopefully they'll give her some low pressure Sr Bs so she has a chance to improve her consistency without worrying too much about the impression she's making. Her skating is just so beautiful that I would hate to see her just fade away.

FWIW, Angela did burst on the senior scene (nationally) earlier -- in 2012. She impressed at 2012 nationals when she finished 8th overall (and 6th in the FS) with a 3Z-3T-2T combination. That's what prompted the TPTB to giver her JGP and Angela for a while continued to impress in the JGP, winning one JGP and medaling on the other, making the JGPF that season. She remained in the top 10 at nationals, finishing 9th. But since then, she sort of faded, dropping to 15th at nationals in '14 and '15. Angela started to make a little bit of comeback last season but was sidelined with injury.

At Collegiates, Angela scored 63.80 in the SP (with a 3F-3T combo). She didn't do as well in the FS but still scored 109. It sounds like she's going for a 3F-3T and a 3Lo-1L-3S in hat program.

Angela also trains at World Arena, so USFS are probably pretty aware of her training...

Mariah's technical content I think always held her back in those junior years. While Angela and other juniors were doing 3-3, Mariah wasn't doing any. She wasn't really doing any 3-3 until she started training with Kori in the fall of 2014. She also didn't move up to the senior level until the 2013-2014 season.

 

[Tavi...]

FWIW, Angela did burst on the senior scene (nationally) earlier -- in 2012. She impressed at 2012 nationals when she finished 8th overall (and 6th in the FS) with a 3Z-3T-2T combination. That's what prompted the TPTB to giver her JGP and Angela for a while continued to impress in the JGP, winning one JGP and medaling on the other, making the JGPF that season. She remained in the top 10 at nationals, finishing 9th. But since then, she sort of faded, dropping to 15th at nationals in '14 and '15. Angela started to make a little bit of comeback last season but was sidelined with injury.

At Collegiates, Angela scored 63.80 in the SP (with a 3F-3T combo). She didn't do as well in the FS but still scored 109. It sounds like she's going for a 3F-3T and a 3Lo-1L-3S in hat program.

Angela also trains at World Arena, so USFS are probably pretty aware of her training...

Mariah's technical content I think always held her back in those junior years. While Angela and other juniors were doing 3-3, Mariah wasn't doing any. She wasn't really doing any 3-3 until she started training with Kori in the fall of 2014. She also didn't move up to the senior level until the 2013-2014 season.

I hope Angela can recover her old form and wish her all the best at SA. I think she's Josh's old training mate, no? So it would be nice if she could lift Team Damon / Christy up a little with a great showing at SA.

I remember Kori saying in her TSL interview that it wasn't until Mariah placed 6th at Nats that she began to believe she could compete with the top women, and that Kori had worked hard to build her confidence - so maybe Mariah didn't even have the confidence to try the 3-3 with her old coach. Also, can't remember if I mentioned that while I was in Colorado, Team KoRo did that Scott Hamilton benefit, and Mariah fell on a lot of her jumps. So if anyone from USFS was there, or heard about it, that might have factored into their decision not to select her for SA.

Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed that Mariah is offered a few Sr Bs and that she does brilliantly this season!