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

[Mrs. P]

another thing regarding the vitriol towards Gracie I wanna add is that, Some people just assume she is bitchy (exact word from people in those events) based on her appearance that is stereotyped related to such appearance I think that is actually racist against white people of this kind. People should have the freedom to choose whatever style they wanna appear for their everyday life.

I wouldn't go there yyyskate. I agree with you it's totally unfair to dislike/streotype based on appearance, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it racist.

Given the state of race relations in the U.S., I don't think it's good to prop a white girl getting picked on social media/online as representing race issues.

I know it's semantics, and the vitriol sucks and not deserved, but you don't want to direct more vitriol at her by playing the race card.

 

[Princessroja]

Yeah, I hope I didn't sound too harsh. I honestly was more responding at what seem like a underhanded dig at Mirai (though didn't name her) by saying that Mariah did well enough consistently and wasn't peaking in September.

Sometimes a medal is earned in a messy way; but it still counts. I was thinking she did much better here than she did the last time she was at the same competition.

Ah yes, I remember that conversation snippet. And yup--going from 6 and 13 last year to 2 and 3 this year at the same two competitions is a huge accomplishment, even if I don't think she's ready to challenge for the senior title yet.

 

[yyyskate]

I wouldn't go there yyyskate. I agree with you it's totally unfair to dislike/streotype based on appearance, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it racist.

Given the state of race relations in the U.S., I don't think it's good to prop a white girl getting picked on social media/online as representing race issues.

I know it's semantics, and the vitriol sucks and not deserved, but you don't want to direct more vitriol at her by playing the race card.

I kr, racist is a too strong a word. I will change my words a bit. Also I dont mean to play the race card, or play the race card to get sympathy for Gracie.
Not at all.it is just my own observation, that, racist/sexist against white people of specific types/appearances( or replace it with weaker expression) is also exist.

 

[mrrice]

another thing regarding the vitriol towards Gracie I wanna add is that, Some people just assume she is bitchy (exact word from people in those events) based on her appearance that is stereotyped related to such appearance I think that is actually racist against white people of this kind. People should have the freedom to choose whatever style they wanna appear for their everyday life.

I want to add something here. Gracie is much closer to geeky than bitchy. She reminds of Sasha Cohen. I always thought she was a little diva and came off as a brat but, that was as far from how she was as could be. Sasha and the rest of the Stars On Ice cast came to Fresno and I was able to watch them rehearse. Sasha was very popular with cast and she was much closer to a dork than a diva. I mean that in the nicest way.

 

[Mrs. P]

I kr, racist is a too strong a word. I will change my words a bit. Also I dont mean to play the race card, or play the race card to get sympathy for Gracie.
Not at all.it is just my own observation, that, racist/sexist against white people of specific types/appearances( or replace it with weaker expression) is also exist.

No I know that's not your intention! But I just didn't want YOU to get tomatoes thrown at you (and Gracie for that matter).

I do agree that perhaps there is some sexism at play.

 

[luckyguy]

Junior Ladies

I studied now the results of JGP.
http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2016/jgpsladies.htm

What is happened to US junior ladies? Who can explain the bad results? Can Vivian Le change it next week?

 

[Mrs. P]

I studied now the results of JGP.
http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2016/jgpsladies.htm

What is happened to US junior ladies? Who can explain the bad results? Can Vivian Le change it next week?

I think they're all relatively inexperienced. Unlike the Russian ladies, they have not had a lot of tough competition in the lower levels. Tessa Hong is coming back from injury. As I said elsewhere this is similar to the poor men's showing in the JGP in the 2014-2015 season.

 

[mrrice]

I think they're all relatively inexperienced. Unlike the Russian ladies, they have not had a lot of tough competition in the lower levels. Tessa Hong is coming back from injury. As I said elsewhere this is similar to the poor men's showing in the JGP in the 2014-2015 season.

I agree especially about the Junior Men. We had swept the World Podium the season before and when Josh, Jason, and Shotaro moved up to Seniors, they was definitely a gap. Who was the top US Junior after that season?

 

[frida80]

I studied now the results of JGP.
http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2016/jgpsladies.htm

What is happened to US junior ladies? Who can explain the bad results? Can Vivian Le change it next week?

No Vivian can not. She is coming off a bad injury and her jumps aren't there yet. Like said by a poster before, these are inexperienced girls who had never skated against high level skaters like this before. I suspect in a year or two the U.S. juniors will be much more competitive.

 

[mrrice]

Oh for goodness sake if watching Gracie bothers some of you so much then just don't watch her live any more, problem solved.

I think people need to lay off of Gracie. She is a real person and it can't be easy for her skate badly in front of that HUGE audience. I have a question, who does Gracie train with? It's starting to look to me that a change is in order. Of course, it depends on how serious she is about her career. She might be ready to move on. I toured for a very long time because I loved it. However, there were several members of our cast who wanted to get Married or "Get A Real Job" outside of the entertainment industry. As you can see by Gracie's result in Japan. Your life is like a roller coaster and sometimes you want to get off the ride and get some cotton candy. Maybe she needs a year off to decide if she wants to keep going.

In any case, I'd hate to see her show up at Nationals and skate like she did here. I think it would break her heart, and mine. If she were to finish 10th. With this latest score, she would definitely have missed the final flight.

 

[matcha]

another thing regarding the vitriol towards Gracie I wanna add is that, Some people just assume she is bitchy (exact word from people in those events) based on her appearance that is stereotyped related to such appearance I think that is borderline racist against white people of this kind. People should have the freedom to choose whatever style they wanna appear for their everyday life.

lmao sis, this is impossible.

 

[Eclair]

another thing regarding the vitriol towards Gracie I wanna add is that, Some people just assume she is bitchy (exact word from people in those events) based on her appearance that is stereotyped related to such appearance I think that is borderline racist against white people of this kind. People should have the freedom to choose whatever style they wanna appear for their everyday life.

I don't think a lot of people on this forum dislike Gracie because of her looks. I think a lot (including myself) are annoyed by her inflated pcs relatively to other skaters, even though she skates stiff and performs zero. Plus, the thousand chances the USFS gave her relatively to other skaters. Also, her interviews and twitter just didn't convince me that she's a nice person. It's not always rasicm. Sometimes people just don't like you because your personality (at least perceived one).

 

[apons575]

another thing regarding the vitriol towards Gracie I wanna add is that, Some people just assume she is bitchy (exact word from people in those events) based on her appearance that is stereotyped related to such appearance I think that is borderline racist against white people of this kind. People should have the freedom to choose whatever style they wanna appear for their everyday life.

Oh my god, PLEASE stop typing.

 

[skatelikewind1966]

I think they're all relatively inexperienced. Unlike the Russian ladies, they have not had a lot of tough competition in the lower levels. Tessa Hong is coming back from injury. As I said elsewhere this is similar to the poor men's showing in the JGP in the 2014-2015 season.

I love you Mrs. P, lol, you bring such calmness to the junior ladies 2016 JGP season mess I agree with this statement and your original post about inexperience and rebuilding as I see a bottleneck of some really good talent and potential at the Junior and Novice levels. I personally though, unlike some on this board, am not ready to hang my hat on any thoroughbred yet. I am very old (experienced not smart) and have seen many talented young girls due to injury, puberty, other interests, academics, etc. not be able to cross the finish line - in this case, competing at the highest level domestically and internationally as a senior competitor.

 

[yyyskate]

I don't think a lot of people on this forum dislike Gracie because of her looks. I think a lot (including myself) are annoyed by her inflated pcs relatively to other skaters, even though she skates stiff and performs zero. Plus, the thousand chances the USFS gave her relatively to other skaters. Also, her interviews and twitter just didn't convince me that she's a nice person. It's not always rasicm. Sometimes people just don't like you because your personality (at least perceived one).

I appreciate that you can give some legit reasons here.

 

[yyyskate]

Oh my god, PLEASE stop typing.

why should I? I have my right to voice my observation and my opinion!

also, I will not spoil this thread by debating with you about racist. My posts and my discussion with Ms. P is quite clear here in terms of issues involved, no more explanation needed.

 

[skatelikewind1966]

Mariah did not medal because she skated well here. She made a ton of mistakes but the field was weak.

A little harsh but so true - one of my many pet peeves, talking about placement/score rather than actual performace or level of competition.

 

[hippomoomin]

I don't think a lot of people on this forum dislike Gracie because of her looks. I think a lot (including myself) are annoyed by her inflated pcs relatively to other skaters, even though she skates stiff and performs zero. Plus, the thousand chances the USFS gave her relatively to other skaters. Also, her interviews and twitter just didn't convince me that she's a nice person. It's not always rasicm. Sometimes people just don't like you because your personality (at least perceived one).

That's a strong comment. I don't really care much about a skater off ice, but I have never felt Gracie is not a nice person, or other skaters are better person than Gracie. WHat I know about Gracie is she is afraid of performing in front of a huge crowd, and she is not good at, or has never thought about crafting her pubic image (vs. Ashley).

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Yikes.....the sharks are out. I've always liked Gracie but there are some things about her skating that put me a bit off. She can come across as stiff and even disconnected at times from the music but there is a huge difference in not feeling someone's artistry and saying they are overscored. I think a lot of Gracie's scores come from an overall feeling that the judges get watching her perform live and while it's not in the official PCS guidelines I'd simply call it presence. The feeling you get watching her whisk around at fast speeds and the completeness her spins offer to her programs.

Personally I find her interpretation a bit underwhelming at times but I think it's just personal preference and not anything that has any credible argument for lower scores. Not sure why people feel she's so overscored because I think she has a lot to offer that many judges pick up on even if I may not really look for those things in a skater YMMV.

 

[NAOTMAA]

If there is any "vitriol" against Gracie now its because she was insanely hyped by the USFSA and its lackeys basically a whole year before she even stepped onto senior ice, despite the fact her junior career wasn't exactly the most "OMG WOW." USFSA and her PR team made the expectations that the people hold Gracie to,much to her own detriment, and she isn't living up to them.

Early in her senior career people were giving her the benefit of doubt and patiently waiting for the breakthrough but people are getting tired of waiting, especially since the US ladies aren't challenging for the top spot as they should be. It was already bubbling throughout last season but Worlds was the domino that is knocking all the others down and more people are openly getting irritated, Japan Open makes it worse.

It's worse because its clear as day that despite not living up to any expectations the USFSA still holds her as defacto #1 and the other ladies get paid close to dust. Ashley is where she is only because she fought tooth and nail for herself and Gracie falters so they got no choice, Polina isn't getting any politiking or big push (last years nationals where she should have won overall and the competition that should have been a message from the fed. to Gracie "skate two clean parts or else...") and it feels like to them the other girls almost don't exist. So if there is any "jealously" its because Gracie, who hasn't lived up to the hype, is still getting all the attention much to the detriment of all the other girls.