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

[topaz emerald]

Poor Gracie. Even when she wins, she can't win (according to some people). Not you Topaz Emerald. By the way, what a pretty name you have!

Ha-ha, no worries. Yes, I like my name too, lol. I admit I am a bit harsh on Gracie sometimes, but I just want to see her do better, as she's been a senior for quite some time already. I actually like her long program music to Mr. And Mr. Smith, that movie, I like it a lot more than last year's tango music. I just hope she finds a killer sexy costume to go with her performance and hope she sells the heck out of it.

 

[topaz emerald]

Is it a good idea? I'm inclined to disagree. Unless there's a real JGPF candidate in one of the older junior ladies, JGPs should go to the junior ladies under or at the age of 26. It's super unlikely that a 17 year old junior is ever going to be a major factor as a senior lady, and the US ladies post-Gracie and Ashley need all the help they can get. That JGP experience is soooo important. Counting alternates, none of the Russian ladies on the JGP were born earlier than 2000 - correct me if I missed one. Two Japanese ladies were born before 2000. 5-6 US ladies were born before 2000. With the limited number of JGP spots, those spots should be going to ladies who have a shot of going to the JGP Final, potentially medaling at JW, and having international impact as a senior.

Obviously that's a tall order, but that seems to be the strategy for Russia and (sort of) Japan. I'd love it if Vivian Le, for example, had two spots. She won bronze at both her JGPs last year and should've gone to Junior Worlds, but instead we sent two 18ish year olds to lose to 14-15 year olds.

It's nice the USFS gives the older girls a shot, but maybe not the best for elite US ladies skating.

I remember Vivian le falls on her jumps a lot though. And maybe that's why they didn't send her to worlds. Who knows....

 

[topaz emerald]

I read somewhere that Jeff Billings would be doing Polina's dresses this year. He was responsible for some of the gorgeous dresses that Angela Nikodinov wore later in her career. That should be a HUGE improvement!

That's great to hear. Hopefully no bows on her dress this time, please give her a more sexy mature adult look

 

[Chemistry66]

Ashley Lin is 13, why don't they send her? She has Sid triple triples, good skating skills, and transitions leading up to her jumps. This is my observations based on seeing her at glacier falls event. I know 13 is still young, but in my opinion, she is ready to compete in the international scene. In fact, I think she, Ashley Kim, and Starr Andrews are the top three juniors at the moment. I will hold off on Kaitlyn nguyen, as she is still not age eligible yet.

Probably due to when she showed readiness at summer competitions vs. the other junior ladies who were assigned. That's the problem with the limited JGP spots. She was probably high on the substitutes list, but until Vivian wasn't ready for Slovenia, there just wasn't a spot for her.

 

[topaz emerald]

Ashley Lin is in Slovenia right now.

She is in the 5th warmup group: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1617/jgpslo2016/SEG003.HTM

Go Ashley Lin!!!!!!!!!!!! Rooting for her from a far! Kill it

 

[R.D.]

Ha-ha, no worries. Yes, I like my name too, lol. I admit I am a bit harsh on Gracie sometimes, but I just want to see her do better, as she's been a senior for quite some time already.

4 years, this will be her 5th.

Interestingly, folks did not quite have this same impatience with Wagner, I presume, due to lower expectations. That's aside from the general frustration with having only 2 spots, and later no world or Olympic medal.

But we did see it with Nagasu, and last decade, with (Sasha) Cohen. The "talent" curse indeed lives on.

 

[topaz emerald]

4 years, this will be her 5th.

Interestingly, folks did not quite have this same impatience with Wagner, I presume, due to lower expectations. That's aside from the general frustration with having only 2 spots, and later no world or Olympic medal.



But we did see it with Nagasu, and last decade, with (Sasha) Cohen. The "talent" curse indeed lives on.

for me, Ashley has come a long way to finally being noticed as a competitor......I give her a lot of props, I think that girl has worked really hard to earn her achievements thus far.

we have a few talented juniors on the rise.....hopefully, Ashley Lin, Ashley Kim, Star Andrews, Kaitlyn Nguyen (if puberty holds up, I predict she will be the face of US Figure Skating as I see a lot of promise/potential), Alysa Liu (I predict she will be right up there with Kaitlyn if she grows taller). They sent Ashley Lin (I think she will be a good rival to Nguyen in the next year) to Slovenia Grand prix....I hope she medals! It remains to be seen how she will be judged against Marin Honda and Alina Zagitova....crossing my fingers for her!

 

[frida80]

4 years, this will be her 5th.

Interestingly, folks did not quite have this same impatience with Wagner, I presume, due to lower expectations. That's aside from the general frustration with having only 2 spots, and later no world or Olympic medal.

But we did see it with Nagasu, and last decade, with (Sasha) Cohen. The "talent" curse indeed lives on.

Ashley flew under the radar for a long time. People expected a lot from Caroline, Mirai, Alyssa, etc. Ashley underperformed until 2012. That was the same year Gracie won Juniors with her 3lz+3t combo. All of a sudden, everyone was talking about Gracie being the next talent.

I have to give Ashley some serious credit for constantly fight all these years even though it seemed the world was ignoring her. Since 2012, she's won three US titles, medals from GP and GPF, and a world silver.

 

[topaz emerald]

Ashley flew under the radar for a long time. People expected a lot from Caroline, Mirai, Alyssa, etc. Ashley underperformed until 2012. That was the same year Gracie won Juniors with her 3lz+3t combo. All of a sudden, everyone was talking about Gracie being the next talent.

I have to give Ashley some serious credit for constantly fight all these years even though it seemed the world was ignoring her. Since 2012, she's won three US titles, medal from GP and GPF, and a world silver.

I could not agree more....that girl is a fighter, a competitor. Somehow, she made it all come together for her.

 

[R.D.]

Whoever may be on the rise, let them be. It's a broken record - talented skater comes up ranks, media and fans begin hype story, expectations rise, skater faces rising pressure, skater falls short of said expectations, fans get mad with/frustrated at skater, then another one comes up the ranks, etc.

 

[topaz emerald]

Whoever may be on the rise, let them be. It's a broken record - talented skater comes up ranks, media and fans begin hype story, expectations rise, skater faces rising pressure, skater falls short of said expectations, fans get mad with/frustrated at skater, then another one comes up the ranks, etc.

I think US junior skaters have always skated under the radar, if I'm not mistaken. It seems more like the Japanese and Russian junior skaters have gotten all the hype and limelight. Maybe it's because the media coverage for US juniors doesn't exist like it does for Japan and Russia. Not until they get to the senior ranks. I remember the American audience didn't know who Gracie was until she entered the senior ranks, and I am willing to bet many still do not know who she is.....

 

[frida80]

Whoever may be on the rise, let them be. It's a broken record - talented skater comes up ranks, media and fans begin hype story, expectations rise, skater faces rising pressure, skater falls short of said expectations, fans get mad with/frustrated at skater, then another one comes up the ranks, etc.

Yes!!!!

I love being a skating fan and getting to know them, but the hype is horrible! It's hard enough to compete with out the pressure of fans who don't understand that skaters need room to grow and make mistakes.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I think US junior skaters have always skated under the radar, if I'm not mistaken. It seems more like the Japanese and Russian junior skaters have gotten all the hype and limelight. Maybe it's because the media coverage for US juniors doesn't exist like it does for Japan and Russia. Not until they get to the senior ranks. I remember the American audience didn't know who Gracie was until she entered the senior ranks, and I am willing to bet many still do not know who she is.....

I think the reason is because the Russian junior women have been so good the last several years that each JWGM would have been a contender for a world senior medal in their winning season. Each of the last 5 JWGM from Russia that are still competing have won a senior world or Olympic individual medal. Americans seem to have a short attention span when it comes to following athletes unless they are consistently dominant like Michelle Kwan.

 

[bosskil]

Kaitlyn Nguyen (if puberty holds up, I predict she will be the face of US Figure Skating as I see a lot of promise/potential)

Wow, hello Kaitlyn!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QjeM8NO5k0

 

[Ice Dance]

I think US junior skaters have always skated under the radar, if I'm not mistaken.

Sasha was far from under the radar. And Tara was never under the radar either. Both were being watched by the press before exiting juniors. Jennifer Kirk & Deanna Stellato were performing on National TV for the Keri Lotion Classic in January 2001 prior to their first senior nationals. Silverstein & Pekarek were invited to perform an exhibition to a similar event based on their Junior Worlds win. And, of course, Nathan made the National TV coverage before entering juniors.

 

[Blades of Passion]

They skated at the Senior level, though.

 

[Ice Dance]

They skated at the Senior level, though.

Some of them did. Yes. So did Marin, Tsurkskaya, Shiraiwa, etc. at their Nationals last season. Though I just finished editing the post and added a couple more names. Tara & Nathan were definitely being featured by the press prior to skating at the Senior level. (I should probably add Kimmie Meissner to the list, but I can't honestly say I remember). And, finally, there is Caroline Zhang and Mirai Nagasu, both of whom were featured in interviews at the junior national level.

 

[Skater Boy]

4 years, this will be her 5th.

Interestingly, folks did not quite have this same impatience with Wagner, I presume, due to lower expectations. That's aside from the general frustration with having only 2 spots, and later no world or Olympic medal.

But we did see it with Nagasu, and last decade, with (Sasha) Cohen. The "talent" curse indeed lives on.

I hate the word curse ie the Canadian men's at the olympics. LOL. But was Sasha fourth at an olympics. Then Nagasu the Gold? I am wonderingif it is the pressure of being in a nation so full of great skaters. One slip and you are off the podium. I had such hope for Mirai and Caroline Zhang years ago. I thought Sasha could have been as big as Kwan because she had such a beautiful graceful style but not the mental toughness I guess. The burning questions for me this year is will Ashley step up to the plate and diva her way to be the no. 1 american and olympic hopeful? Will Gracie fight back. Will Mirai shows she really means business? Courtney, Karen,Tara, et al will you step up to the plate. Is Caroline Zhang really skating for pure joy or does she want to go to the Olympics? Can she change her jump issues and speed? How is her recover? What new protege awaits - calling Vivian? Will Polina reassert herself after injury and can she grow as an artist? I think talent wise Gracie wold be the fave. Even artistically the judges will give her huge marks if clean. Her jumps have an amazing spring. Ashley has feist, fight and fierceness and good overall skating skills and jumps and she can project. She needs a program where she can project and sell it. USA could dominate the podium at worlds if they skate clean (Ashley and Gracie). The other challenge to their dominance is the huge question mark in Caroline Kostner, the Japanese and Russian ladies (of whom they manage to somehow find someon to ascend the podium - might be a newbie but the last few years they someone find someone to challenge the world. Next year will Medeveda stay on top? Will Lipinskaya re emerge and go to the top something she hasn't done? Will ET bring it or what about the aging vet Adelina? When you talk about fierceness you can't forget Rad who may have hit puberty.

 

[mrrice]

Some of them did. Yes. So did Marin, Tsurkskaya, Shiraiwa, etc. at their Nationals last season. Though I just finished editing the post and added a couple more names. Tara & Nathan were definitely being featured by the press prior to skating at the Senior level. (I should probably add Kimmie Meissner to the list, but I can't honestly say I remember). And, finally, there is Caroline Zhang and Mirai Nagasu, both of whom were featured in interviews at the junior national level.

This is very true. I remember seeing fluff pieces with Caroline and Mirai. I think it was in 2000 that they made a big deal about the "Baby Ballerina's" They were Sasha Cohen, and Sarah Hughes. Here's Sasha's SP from 2000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2LYxZYrowg

Here's Sarah's SP where Dick mentions that the "Baby Ballerina's are in charge!!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Acr8QDJpyA

 

[Ice Dance]

This is very true. I remember seeing fluff pieces with Caroline and Mirai. I think it was in 2000 that they made a big deal about the "Baby Ballerina's" They were Sasha Cohen, and Sarah Hughes. Here's Sasha's SP from 2000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2LYxZYrowg

Here's Sarah's SP where Dick mentions that the "Baby Ballerina's are in charge!!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Acr8QDJpyA

The "Baby Ballerinas" included more names. Naomi Nari Nam and Beatrisa Liang were on the list as well.