- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: perpetual GoldenSkate favorite Liza Kulik qualified to Pacific Coast Sectionals out of SWP Regionals in Junior Ladies.
State of U.S. Ladies' skating 2016-17
- Thread starter R.D.
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2015
I always thought she looked kind of pasty. Less make up is better. And is it just me or she's losing height on her jumps?
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
Being in ISP does not translate in to an athlete being on Team USA. An example of this is Maxine Bautista who is in ISP (qualified) but not on Team USA (has not qualified and has not been assigned an international event yet).
On the other hand, an athlete being on Team USA does not qualify them to be in ISP. An example, Sierra Venetta is on Team USA (qualified) but is not in the ISP (has not qualified yet this year).
Bumpy trip for Gold at Japan Open (that second fall!!), looked a bit out of sorts as well but I say it's still early, and no need to press the panic button.
Wagner, on the other hand, looks ready to roll. Looks like that World Medal has given her some newfound confidence. Just hope that she doesn't run out of steam near the end.
____
Umm...Wagner too...
Wagner, on the other hand, looks ready to roll. Looks like that World Medal has given her some newfound confidence. Just hope that she doesn't run out of steam near the end.
____
Umm...Wagner too...
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2005
Great inquiry! ^
I always (mis?)understood that inclusion in the ISP made an athlete eligible to be on Team USA. To me, a member of Team USA is a higher status, meaning the skater had been assigned to (and had competed at?) an international assignment as a representative of USFS.
So interesting. I was totally unaware that a skater could be on Team USA, but not in ISP. Even more interesting is that when I look at USFS's website, I do not see Venetta assigned to an event, which to me denotes Team USA status, nor is she appear in the ISP, as you indicated. In what way have you confirmed that Venetta is on Team USA? That might help solve the mystery.
Hopefully someone will advice us! (sorry if I'm missing something hugely obvious!)
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
"Team USA" as used above is referring the the Team Envelopes (listed to the right on the linked page). Sierra Venetta is listed on "Team D" with is the Developmental Team Envelope.
Every year, USFS releases criteria to qualify for this envelopes. The 2016-2017 criteria are listed here. Developmental Team Envelope criteria are:
Sierra won bronze in Novice Ladies at the 2016 US Championships, which is why she's on the Developmental Envelope.
Technically, you are correct in your interpretation of Team USA as the USFS page says "Team USA is defined as those skaters who are selected by the International Committee, International Committee Management Subcommittee and/or the International Skating Union to represent the United States at ISU events". So, Venetta is on the Team Envelopes but not quite Team USA as defined by that statement yet.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
What is it with the white dresses this year?! They look terrible against the ice. Just watched Satoko's Japan Open, and I was struggling to find her on the ice amidst all the white. And of course then Yuzu came out in white pants. That really gave me quite a laugh! Liked the SP, but please change the pants!
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2014
This might be an unecessary question, but does Gracie work with any ballet instructors at the moment? I like Gracie but her upper body stiffness and windmill arms just irks me. I didn't mind it in her Firebird but in Daphnis et Chloe, it's just annoying me
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2013
I actually really liked the program TBH but I did notice by about the halfway point the power windmill flails become a bit overdone and the StSeq is littered with them. I'm not familiar with the music or the story but it's a got very beautiful feel to it that just sort of reminds me of the freedom one feels in a wide open field with a gentle breeze. Kind of cheesy I know but if the windmills were toned down and just some basic skating skills done slow and drawn out were inserted in place I think it could be really nice. That spiral at the beginning goes well with the music and sets a very nice tone and is my favorite part and gives me serious Mao vibes.
It sounded like the Japanese announcers really felt for her as the pops began to appear.
I'm a fan of this program at this point.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2014
Okay, I watched Gracie's program. And I have thoughts.
1. Yeah, it was kind of a disaster, but a lot of that might have had to do with the first fall. It looked like a really hard one, and speaking from experience, a painful fall can really throw you off. An example: I recently started trying the Axel in my program. I usually fall on it, and if it's a particularly bad fall, it can throw off the next element (a layback spin). The layback is my best spin, so that would normally never be an issue-but falling really throws me off, thus I mess up an element that I normally wouldn't. That could well have been what happened to Gracie.
2. As to the program, I actually really like it! It's interesting (I was afraid it'd end up being a boring POTO-type program), and the choreography seems to suit her. (It kind of reminds me of her Sleeping Beauty FS, actually.) Could use more softness in the arm and upper body movements. She seems to be feeling the music more in this program than in some of her other programs, although the slightly blurry video might have, uh...allowed me to be optimistic. Still, so far, I like it!
It was a meltdown, yes, but the Pogo-Splat-esque fall makes me slightly less concerned. The pain from a fall like that definitely makes it harder land the jumps.
1. Yeah, it was kind of a disaster, but a lot of that might have had to do with the first fall. It looked like a really hard one, and speaking from experience, a painful fall can really throw you off. An example: I recently started trying the Axel in my program. I usually fall on it, and if it's a particularly bad fall, it can throw off the next element (a layback spin). The layback is my best spin, so that would normally never be an issue-but falling really throws me off, thus I mess up an element that I normally wouldn't. That could well have been what happened to Gracie.
2. As to the program, I actually really like it! It's interesting (I was afraid it'd end up being a boring POTO-type program), and the choreography seems to suit her. (It kind of reminds me of her Sleeping Beauty FS, actually.) Could use more softness in the arm and upper body movements. She seems to be feeling the music more in this program than in some of her other programs, although the slightly blurry video might have, uh...allowed me to be optimistic. Still, so far, I like it!
It was a meltdown, yes, but the Pogo-Splat-esque fall makes me slightly less concerned. The pain from a fall like that definitely makes it harder land the jumps.
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
You were right, Mrs. P. As of today Vivian is no longer assigned to JGP Germany. She is substituted by Nina OUELLETTE. http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028725.htm I'm very sad though that this happened. I was so looking forward to see her :sad21:
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
Sabinfire *bows down, I love you!!!* has uploaded high quality videos from Japan Open. Gracie does indeed have softer arms, not airplaneing nearly as much as she did during Firebird. I know that is not saying much, but I still do very much like the improvement.
Gracie Gold
https://youtu.be/xWcNH22wTsk
Ashley Wagner
https://youtu.be/5lg-mz1mwu4
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2015
Never mind ballet, I'd love to see her work with some modern dance instructors. Modern tends to make stiff ballet dancers relax.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2013
Nina Ouellette is really fun though! Last year she struggled in the FS but I really liked her skating. I'm curious as to how she looks this year.
She should most certainly include a backward shoot the duck just for old time sake
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
Hey JW, it is really confusing that is for sure. Being added to ISP (13 y.o+) simply means a skater has earned a "required score" during a competition in that skating season - most recently, Starr earned that "score" in Salt Lake City and was then added to ISP and then selected to compete internationally at a tier II ISU competition so she will now be a part of Team USA. Don't forget, the "traditional" process is the Team Envelope of which there are 5 - the most well known skaters Team A/B and then the younger ones with potential Team D/Development. That is why to me it really doesn't matter who does what until they reach Senior level.
IMO, the qualification process to make ISP is flawed because judging differs from local competition to local competition and many club competitions really have no high level skaters to compete with one another. When this happens (and it is quite often), a "good" skater competes against a less competitive field and will therefore shine and receive a much higher score (I know, the skater still needs to skate well) which will then qualify that skater to ISP.
One last point - you asked for clarification about Sierra - she made Team USA by earning 3rd place at Nationals (Novice) last year, Team D requirement. However, she has not been selected to ISP status because she has not earned the "required score" so far this year so she is not eligible to compete internationally and represent Team USA, despite being a part of Team USA.
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2016
Nina Ouellette is really fun though! Last year she struggled in the FS but I really liked her skating. I'm curious as to how she looks this year.
She should most certainly include a backward shoot the duck just for old time sake
Haha, that was a pretty cool save!!!
Nina did not make Nationals last year (she was 6th in her sectionals), but must've done well enough over the summer to warrant a JGP spot. She is 14, so glad she has an opportunity to get some more international experience.
She won the FS at Silicon Valley club competition in August with a score of 101: http://peninsulaskatingclub.org/sites/default/files/2016_SVO_IJS_Summary.pdf
I suspect she will not be a medal threat, but she has an opportunity to improve on her JGP result from last year. She has the TES Jr. Worlds minimums for the SP, but not the FS.
Speaking of TES minimums, the following do have both:
Haley Beavers
Emily Chan (she is still Jr. eligible)
Amber Glenn (she is still Jr. eligible)
Vanna Giang
Tessa Hong
Vivian Le
Ashley Lin
Brynne McIssac
Akari Nakahara
Alexia Paganini
Tyler Pierce (still age eligible)
Paige Rydberg (still age eligible)
Bradie Tennell (still age eligible)
Megan Wessenberg
Need TES minimums in one or both
Starr Andrews (both - assigned to Golden Bear later this month)
Maxine Bautista (both -- added to International Selection Pool (ISP); not currently assigned)
Sarah Feng (both -in ISP ; not currently assigned)
Ashley Kim (both - assigned to Golden Bear later this month)
Nina Ouellette (FS - At Germany this week)
Alice Yang (FS - in International Selection Pool (ISP); not currently assigned)
Rebecca Peng (both - in ISP, but not assigned)
Shannon Porter (on ISP; not currently assigned)
USFS strategy is a lot more clear to me. It seems like they gave an initial assignment to a few folks who showed promise but when it was clear that none of them had a shot at qualifying for JGPF (and Vivian Le injured), they opted to spread the wealth and get as many junior girls the minimum TES as possible.
There are still a few other competitions to get junior TES minimums including Golden Bear, where Starr and Ashley are assigned; Tallinn Trophy (which is a Challenger Event, but has a junior segment); Warsaw Cup (another challenger that has a junior segment) and Bavarian Open, which is in February, so basically a last minute event.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
This is a very good thing. Get more girls more experience AND ensure there's less chance of an issue when Juniors Worlds comes around.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2015
Ashley beat Gracie at last year's event as well. She was 5th (117.84) and Gracie 6th (114.43). So neither had a good outing last year.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
But he is hot in white pants
I love it
Oh he looked pretty cute - no doubt about that. Made me think of the skater who got a deduction for inappropriate costuming because you could see right thru the white pants! No such luck for Yuzu's fans!
topic: I thought though at the Japan Open, both Gracie and Satoko would have looked better in something with a little color to it. Both gorgeous costumes, but not out on the ice.
