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

[MK's Winter]

Sadly, Mirai skated the FS with her usual blank face, which definitely does NOT go with the song The Winner Takes it All. Another skater used the same song earlier in the FS (the original ABBA version) and she did act out the emotions the singer was feeling. Mirai would get much higher PCS scores if she would just show that her connection with the music is an important part of her performance. Ashley Wagner has learned over the years just how important that is, and it did help earn her a World medal.

Well if you compare Demons from the beginning of last season to worlds- there was major change in her selling. Both her short and long are still fairly new having them done late July early August. You could tell she is getting used to the choreography still. I think she will be ready by SC.

 

[mrrice]

Sadly, Mirai skated the FS with her usual blank face, which definitely does NOT go with the song The Winner Takes it All. Another skater used the same song earlier in the FS (the original ABBA version) and she did act out the emotions the singer was feeling. Mirai would get much higher PCS scores if she would just show that her connection with the music is an important part of her performance. Ashley Wagner has learned over the years just how important that is, and it did help earn her a World medal.

100% Correct! Who is Mirai's Choreographer? When I was doing choreography for solo dancers, I would always explain the premise, theme, and emotion of the character to the dancer. I would often stop them in the middle of a run through and ask them what their Character was feeling at that exact moment. I often heard..."What??" "I don't know, I was worried about my Chaine Turns." My response.....Ughhhh, Go Back!!! :disapp:

If Tom is so worried about Mirai's technique, ( Which, BTW is much better this season ) he should hire someone else to help Mirai with Character Development. It's the last step if she has any hope of getting back on top of the US podium.

 

[chuckm]

Well if you compare Demons from the beginning of last season to worlds- there was major change in her selling. Both her short and long are still fairly new having them done late July early August. You could tell she is getting used to the choreography still. I think she will be ready by SC.

She isn't doing any new jumps and the choreography isn't terribly different from what she's done before. I was in the audience at Worlds, in the first two rows, and I could clearly see her face. After an entire season with last year's programs, she still skated them with the same expressionless face she had the first time around. The only time Mirai looks animated when she's skating is with exhibition numbers, when no judging or ranking is involved.

If she truly wants to succeed and move up domestically and internationally, she has to show she is fully invested in her music and she has to sell her programs to the audience and the judges. Her programs are technically not as difficult as some of the other ladies, so she needs high PCS scores to close the gap.

 

[mrrice]

She isn't doing any new jumps and the choreography isn't terribly different from what she's done before. I was in the audience at Worlds, in the first two rows, and I could clearly see her face. After an entire season with last year's programs, she still skated them with the same expressionless face she had the first time around. The only time Mirai looks animated when she's skating is with exhibition numbers, when no judging or ranking is involved.

If she truly wants to succeed and move up domestically and internationally, she has to show she is fully invested in her music and she has to sell her programs to the audience and the judges. Her programs are technically not as difficult as some of the other ladies, so she needs high PCS scores to close the gap.

The final Paragraph of your comment is perfect. Even with the strength of Mirai's program, she will be crushed by the Russians in PCS. Mirai is such a beautiful skater and has every quality she needs to be a champion. She is also in the best shape of her life but, her lack of performance quality could be what keeps her from getting on the World Team. I hope she addresses this problem as she is looking like a contender.

With the strength of the younger girl's, she really can't afford to have a weakness. Ashley, Gracie, Polina, and Mariah Bell, are all looking to do well and set themselves up for the Olympics. Mirai has to be spectacular at Nationals. Also, Emily Chan, Karen Chen, Tyler Pierce, and Courtney Hicks are hot on her heels and she has to deliver the goods at Nats.

 

[MK's Winter]

She isn't doing any new jumps and the choreography isn't terribly different from what she's done before. I was in the audience at Worlds, in the first two rows, and I could clearly see her face. After an entire season with last year's programs, she still skated them with the same expressionless face she had the first time around. The only time Mirai looks animated when she's skating is with exhibition numbers, when no judging or ranking is involved. If she truly wants to succeed and move up domestically and internationally, she has to show she is fully invested in her music and she has to sell her programs to the audience and the judges. Her programs are technically not as difficult as some of the other ladies, so she needs high PCS scores to close the gap.

I am speaking in reference to her short program performance at Worlds, which was the most emotionally charged I've seen her. It's there and I hope the more comfortable she becomes with the program we can see that.

 

[NAOTMAA]

Mirai has always had a natural grace to her skating but she was never much into expressing the music. She got away with it when she was younger with youthful exuberance but when she got past that age, and the music matured, she struggled and we were left with a inexpressive blank face. Last year's program worked because she was playing a specific character that fit her girlish personality and allowed her to be youthfully exuberant again but not too young. With that program she a young lady having fun out on the town, mature yet still youthful.

Has she ever skated to Chicago or Cabaret? Those would work for her better I think.

 

[chuckm]

I am speaking in reference to her short program performance at Worlds, which was the most emotionally charged I've seen her. It's there and I hope the more comfortable she becomes with the program we can see that.

Her FS was just the opposite. The singer was intoning "will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful" just as Mirai passed in front of me, and she was completely blank-faced. I can't imagine skating to those lyrics and not feeling or showing emotion. But Mirai remained impassive even as she started doing the Charleston, which you'd think would make for a fun, lively, smiling face, but no, still nothing. Finally, she broke into a smile-----as she struck her final pose.

 

[MK's Winter]

Her FS was just the opposite. The singer was intoning "will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful" just as Mirai passed in front of me, and she was completely blank-faced. I can't imagine skating to those lyrics and not feeling or showing emotion. But Mirai remained impassive even as she started doing the Charleston, which you'd think would make for a fun, lively, smiling face, but no, still nothing. Finally, she broke into a smile-----as she struck her final pose.

I think she just wanted to get through the free skate. She did not have expression during the free skate just focus. I am hoping that Jeff Buttle and David Wilson will give feedback. We all know how much Tom works on that.....

 

[chuckm]

As another poster pointed out, Mirai was never much for musical expression even as a young skater. She's 23 now, and it's going to be very, very hard for her to change that now after 10 years of deadpan. But if she wants to move up, she has to work on that because she needs the PCS boost.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

As another poster pointed out, Mirai was never much for musical expression even as a young skater. She's 23 now, and it's going to be very, very hard for her to change that now after 10 years of deadpan. But if she wants to move up, she has to work on that because she needs the PCS boost.

It probably won't make much of a difference. There's really nothing she can do to catch Ashley and Gracie if they maintain their level. The other US women are such weak competitors that a clean, expressionless Mirai should land anywhere from 3rd to 5th place at nationals; I think only Polina and Karen could get marks to top Mirai since the US judges seem unwilling to award Courtney the PCS she earns internationally.

 

[skatelikewind1966]

It probably won't make much of a difference. There's really nothing she can do to catch Ashley and Gracie if they maintain their level. The other US women are such weak competitors that a clean, expressionless Mirai should land anywhere from 3rd to 5th place at nationals; I think only Polina and Karen could get marks to top Mirai since the US judges seem unwilling to award Courtney the PCS she earns internationally.

I'm looking forward to seeing what some of the new Sr blood can do - I think Emily has some momentum behind her (despite some poor outings so far this year) and Vivian getting over her injury with a new coach s/b able to put up some impressive numbers?! Karen made the podium in her first year as Sr. but couldn't repeat that performance last year due to some injuries throughout the season. Hopefully this season is a little more exciting.

 

[topaz emerald]

As another poster pointed out, Mirai was never much for musical expression even as a young skater. She's 23 now, and it's going to be very, very hard for her to change that now after 10 years of deadpan. But if she wants to move up, she has to work on that because she needs the PCS boost.

WOW, Can't believe she's 23 now....it's as if it was only yesterday she was this little girl in pink bow ties on her hair.

 

[jenaj]

100% Correct! Who is Mirai's Choreographer? When I was doing choreography for solo dancers, I would always explain the premise, theme, and emotion of the character to the dancer. I would often stop them in the middle of a run through and ask them what their Character was feeling at that exact moment. I often heard..."What??" "I don't know, I was worried about my Chaine Turns." My response.....Ughhhh, Go Back!!! :disapp:

If Tom is so worried about Mirai's technique, ( Which, BTW is much better this season ) he should hire someone else to help Mirai with Character Development. It's the last step if she has any hope of getting back on top of the US podium.

It was just an early B competition. Do judges really give points for facial expressions? They are much less apparent in person than on video, by the way. Her choreographer this year is David Wilson, who did choreo for Yuna Kim, who did pretty well despite being rather unanimated (especially after she left Orser). There is one poster, by the way, who never misses the chance to slam Mirai. Thank goodness for the ignore list!

 

[mrrice]

It was just an early B competition. Do judges really give points for facial expressions? They are much less apparent in person than on video, by the way. Her choreographer this year is David Wilson, who did choreo for Yuna Kim, who did pretty well despite being rather unanimated (especially after she left Orser). There is one poster, by the way, who never misses the chance to slam Mirai. Thank goodness for the ignore list!

I have a soft spot for Mirai and it's because she's looking so good physically, that I think she has a real shot at the podium this season. However, after seeing some of the early competition's I think if Mirai misses anything and Mariah Bell or Tyler Pierce skate clean, I could see one of them beating Mirai. My Jury is out on Gracie right now but, with her technical strength, reputation, and coaching staff, I could see the federation giving Gracie the nod like they gave it Ashley in 2014.

Remember that Polina, and Ashley have yet to be seen ( At least by me ) but they both beat Mirai last year. Frankly, Polina could be spectacular this year. There's something about being happy that makes a skater work harder. It will be interesting to see if having Nam in town helps or hurts her training. I still haven't given up on Angela Wang and I hope she can put all her talent together and put out too strong programs at Nationals this year.

 

[fallingsk8er]

I'm excited about the US ladies this year. Ashley is a reigning world medalist. Gracie and Mirai were in the top 10 at worlds and they are looking good so far in 'pre-season'. Polina is competitive with all 3 of them and she will keep everyone on their toes.
The US is in good shape as far as ladies. If only the men would get their act together.(sigh)

 

[R.D.]

I'm excited about the US ladies this year. Ashley is a reigning world medalist. Gracie and Mirai were in the top 10 at worlds and they are looking good so far in 'pre-season'. Polina is competitive with all 3 of them and she will keep everyone on their toes.
The US is in good shape as far as ladies. If only the men would get their act together.(sigh)

Gotta say, it STILL feels so weird to read that

 

[Biellmann]

I'm excited about the US ladies this year. Ashley is a reigning world medalist. Gracie and Mirai were in the top 10 at worlds and they are looking good so far in 'pre-season'. Polina is competitive with all 3 of them and she will keep everyone on their toes.
The US is in good shape as far as ladies. If only the men would get their act together.(sigh)

:clapper: :gclap:

 

[hippomoomin]

Gotta say, it STILL feels so weird to read that

:agree:

 

[Crossover]

It was just an early B competition. Do judges really give points for facial expressions? They are much less apparent in person than on video, by the way. Her choreographer this year is David Wilson, who did choreo for Yuna Kim, who did pretty well despite being rather unanimated (especially after she left Orser). There is one poster, by the way, who never misses the chance to slam Mirai. Thank goodness for the ignore list!

Funny you should say that considering your own post here. Though I don't use the ignore list function not to miss any undeserved bashing about my favorites.

 

[jenaj]

Funny you should say that considering your own post here. Though I don't use the ignore list function not to miss any undeserved bashing about my favorites.

Unfortunately, ignored posters' posts show up when someone replies.