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

[Tavi...]

“To get thrust in at this moment, I think if I did two clean programs I would have a very good chance of winning, just like any other season.”

NOPE. This girl continues to vastly overestimate her own potential relative to others. Everyone deserves to be king/queen in their own head but that doesn't mean he/she should bring his/her delusion into the world for everyone to see.

I bet the closest she comes to competitive ice this season is the ice luge at one of those frat parties she frequents.

I guess it depends on how you look at it. On the one hand, she hasn't had Medvedeva-like success in most of her senior international events (e.g., GP, Worlds, Olympics). On the other hand, she won junior Nats and both of her junior Grand Prix events in 2013, placed 2, 4 and 2 at Senior Nats in 2014, 2015, and 2016, won her only Sr B (SLC) in 2014, and won 4CC in 2015.

I personally like Polina's confidence and intelligence.

 

[creaturelover]

It takes a year to get over a bone bruise?

Sure does. Sometimes bone bruises are more of a pain to heal from than actual fractures.

 

[topaz emerald]

Looks like Alysa Liu has her triple triples now. Good job.

Alysa Liu, Novice ladies short program, 2017 Pacific Coast Sectional Figure Skating Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXIk5jeRK68&t=43s (short program)

Alysa Liu, 2017 Pacific Coast Sectional Figure Skating Championship, Novice ladies free skate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX_LZ-TY748&t=49s

eta: omg, I think that's Rudy Galindo I see at the boards.

 

[christinaskater]

I hope some of the Russian girls start going to the US- those who are 10-12 years old.
The level is so high, other skaters are not given the chance. Same with Japan.
Ashley I reckon would win this , Mariah bell and Karen Chen.

I think Gracie needs to get a new coach or go back to her previous coach.
She needs a Russian coach or Brian Orser

 

[christinaskater]

I think a change of training facility to canada with Brian Orser and David Wilson will
Make her really reach her full potential. I will people wlll start tweeting Gracie LOL.
I think that's a match made in heaven.

Once Gracie has Brian Orser- the sky is the limit

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I hope some of the Russian girls start going to the US- those who are 10-12 years old.
The level is so high, other skaters are not given the chance.

I watched some of the programs from the Russian champs women's event and what was interesting was not only the mastery of the jumps, but also the speed and intricacy with which the top skaters move across the ice. Elena, who didn't even medal, would probably have won any nationals (outside of Japan) with her performances.

 

[ice coverage]

FYI re Tyler Pierce:

Her name does not appear on a Dec 22 version of the list of Nats qualifiers.

http://www.2017usfigureskatingchamp...ploads/2016/12/2017-Qualifiers_12-22-2016.pdf​

IIRC, her name did appear on an earlier version of the qualifiers list.

And her name was on the Nats practice groups PDF dated Dec 17.

Practice groups:
http://www.2017usfigureskatingchamp...ps2017PracticeGroupsVersion4.0121716clean.pdf

So I fear (but am not sure) that Tyler has withdrawn???

ETA:

FWIW, Tyler can be seen in a group on-ice Halloween photo:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMO9oxdjglk/?taken-by=mikaela_manoogian​

.....By the way, Where has Brandie Tennell been all year?

Bradie just got a bronze at a Senior B; Talinn, I think. It's why she wasn't at Sectionals.

mrrice, I believe in some of your previous posts you have inquired about Tyler, but I can't find one of those.

Anyway, adding to Moxiejan's reply re Bradie:

Bradie not only earned the bronze at Tallinn Trophy (a Challenger), she outplaced Mariah, who was fourth there.​

---

Gracie, Carly, Karen Chen, and Hannah Miller were among a big group of skaters who performed in a holiday ice show in Santa Barbara.
Also ice dancers Layla Karnes and Jeffrey Chen (Karen's brother); Sean Rabbitt, Brendan Kerry, Scott Dyer.

I really liked this quote from Gracie :

... "We all love doing the holiday shows, and things like this, because it’s our fun time. We all love going to competition but we all love doing outings like this," Gold said. "Especially when they’re so local with kids that we’re going to know and see coming up through the ranks. And, we’re reminded that we were there – we were the little kids in the reindeer costume." ...
https://www.noozhawk.com/article/ice_in_paradise_holiday_skating_show_gracie_gold_20161224
https://www.noozhawk.com/media/deta...g_club_presents_celebrate_the_holidays_on_ice​

 

[juliaskate99]

Why doesn't USFS give junior skaters two JGPs?

 

[mrrice]

Ice Coverage, I have been asking about Tyler. Has she or her team given an official statement on status for Nationals? I would assume that if she were attending, she'd be on the entry list by now. Maybe I missed her name, is she currently listed on the schedule for nationals?

 

[ice coverage]

Ice Coverage, I have been asking about Tyler. Has she or her team given an official statement on status for Nationals? I would assume that if she were attending, she'd be on the entry list by now. Maybe I missed her name, is she currently listed on the schedule for nationals?

mrrice, everything I "know" about Tyler's status is in my post above.

Am not aware of any statement either way from Team Tyler.

My post above has the two existing lists (AFAIK) so far from USFS: the list of qualifiers and the list of practice groups.

IIRC from last year, I think Josh's name had appeared on the original list of 2016 qualifiers (because he had a bye based on his placement at 2015 Nats).
But on a later version of the qualifiers list, Josh's name had disappeared .... and as we know, he did have to withdraw from 2016 Nats :sad4: (sorry :hopelessness: for the sad mention, karne).

IMO, does not bode well that Tyler is included as of Dec 17 on the list of 2017 practice groups, but no longer included as of Dec 22 on the list of 2017 qualifiers.
Thus my fear that Tyler has withdrawn.
But again, I am not 100% certain. I hope that eventually we will hear something one way or the other from Team Tyler and/or USFS, but no telling if or when we will.

ETA:

Found an old photo verifying my recollection that Tyler's name was on an earlier version of the list of 2017 qualifiers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNd9oRYAvui/ (Dec 1)​

So her name was there, but now it has been removed. ​

---

ETA: fwiw, Polina's name continues to appear on both lists, so I have my fingers crossed that competing at KC is in her future.

 

[Ice Dance]

Why doesn't USFS give junior skaters two JGPs?

I believe USFSA has some specified, required criteria that must be met in the first JGP event in order for a U.S. junior athlete/team to earn a second JGP spot. It must be score or placement related, but I have no idea what the required score/placement is. Lewis & Bye earned their second spot in dance, but Gropman & Somerville and Gunter & Wein apparently didn't. Kraznozhon, Zhou, and Torgashev earned their second spots this season, but Hiwatashi didn't. None of the U.S. junior ladies appear to have earned a second event.

ETA: I think the criteria must be score related (and I would guess specified for each discipline). Both Lewis & Bye and Tomoki Hiwatashi finished sixth in their first events this season, but L&B went to a second event and Tomoki didn't so the criteria can't just be the placement.

 

[juliaskate99]

I believe USFSA has some specified, required criteria that must be met in the first JGP event in order for a U.S. junior athlete/team to earn a second JGP spot. It must be score or placement related, but I have no idea what the required score/placement is. Lewis & Bye earned their second spot in dance, but Gropman & Somerville and Gunter & Wein apparently didn't. Kraznozhon, Zhou, and Torgashev earned their second spots this season, but Hiwatashi didn't. None of the U.S. junior ladies appear to have earned a second event.

ETA: I think the criteria must be score related (and I would guess specified for each discipline). Both Lewis & Bye and Tomoki Hiwatashi finished sixth in their first events this season, but L&B went to a second event and Tomoki didn't so the criteria can't just be the placement.

Thank you!!

 

[narcissa]

I believe USFSA has some specified, required criteria that must be met in the first JGP event in order for a U.S. junior athlete/team to earn a second JGP spot. It must be score or placement related, but I have no idea what the required score/placement is. Lewis & Bye earned their second spot in dance, but Gropman & Somerville and Gunter & Wein apparently didn't. Kraznozhon, Zhou, and Torgashev earned their second spots this season, but Hiwatashi didn't. None of the U.S. junior ladies appear to have earned a second event.

ETA: I think the criteria must be score related (and I would guess specified for each discipline). Both Lewis & Bye and Tomoki Hiwatashi finished sixth in their first events this season, but L&B went to a second event and Tomoki didn't so the criteria can't just be the placement.

Why?! So they just don't use the spots? Um, competitive practice is better than no practice?

 

[Ice Dance]

Why?! So they just don't use the spots? Um, competitive practice is better than no practice?

In the case of the ladies, USFSA used all the spots. They spread them out among different athletes. Setting a specific criteria for a second event ensures that if the criteria is not met, more athletes have an opportunity to compete internationally. I believe USFSA also used all the available spots for the men.

In dance this year & within pairs in the past, you are correct. USFSA didn't use all the spots earned. I completely agree that practice is better than no practice. And in both cases, I think it is foolish to throw away placements due to a relatively lower start. USFSA's pairs program needs all the development it can achieve. Encouragement at the junior level could only help. And it takes longer to climb the ranks in dance. Most debut teams have an excellent chance of climbing higher at their next event. Throwing away that placement just means starting from behind again the following season.

But that is the system. I can only think of two reasons for it. 1. Limited funding. 2. Politics. Obviously, there has to be some clear criteria for selecting athletes who earn a second spot. But I see no reason why there cannot also be clear criteria for filling open spots if they are available. Only a select number of juniors are in the USFSA international selection pool anyway. Those athletes have already met a certain level of criteria in order to be selected for their first event.

Also, this year, both junior dance teams that did not earn a second JGP spot were sent to Europe for another international competition following the JGP. Is it somehow cheaper to do this than to send them to fill JGP slots already earned? Clearly USFSA does feel these athletes merit international experience. (USFSA also sent Tomoki to a Senior B).

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I think what's happening is the skaters in the first few events aren't contending for a JGPF birth or even scoring all that well. Since JGP rosters are a bunch of spots given by the federations the "under performers"don't always get a shot at redemption. Russia and Japan have been notorious the last few seasons for shuffling up who goes where. One thing I think I remember is the list of US eligible ladies for JGP was the longest list of any federation when considering how many reserves/subs they carry.

 

[christinaskater]

Ashley needs a new FS
I know I'll get a lot of negative comments on this
But the FS of Ashley doesn't fit her . She is best when she skates to powerful classical or broadway music.
Opera programs .

 

[skylark]

I don't know why people would comment negatively. You expressed an opinion, in a positive way, saying when you think she's best.

I'll admit I was nervous about her FS choice of music this year, exactly for the reason you gave. But I'm completely converted. Many people have criticized Ashley for going for the drama, while others have wished she'd allow herself to skate to something more lyrical. Well, here it is. She may have been thinking the same thing. A great thing about performing is you get to stretch yourself, do something different; maybe she was ready for that. She can always go back to powerful classic or movie music for the olympic year.

I'm not just pleasantly surprised at what she's able to bring to Exogenesis, with Shae-Lynne's choreography; I'm thrilled. Ashley feels the music and expresses it in a way that shares her emotions and communicates with audience members who are open and willing. She's putting her heart and soul into this skate. It makes a nice contrast with her SP, which is fun, daring, and sassy. She gives both programs her all!

 

[stella luna]

I like her FS music, but so many other people are skating to it this season.

Ashley needs a new FS
I know I'll get a lot of negative comments on this
But the FS of Ashley doesn't fit her . She is best when she skates to powerful classical or broadway music.
Opera programs .

 

[Nathan13]

FYI re Tyler Pierce:

Her name does not appear on a Dec 22 version of the list of Nats qualifiers.

http://www.2017usfigureskatingchamp...ploads/2016/12/2017-Qualifiers_12-22-2016.pdf​

IIRC, her name did appear on an earlier version of the qualifiers list.
So I fear (but am not sure) that Tyler has withdrawn???
​

Her name was definitely on the original qualifiers list, so I'd say you're probably right and she is out.

I must say, I'm surprised Polina is still on the lists...I guess she did wait a long time to withdraw from NHK and then Golden Spin. I would love to see her shock everyone and win ​

 

[skatelikewind1966]

Why doesn't USFS give junior skaters two JGPs?

Like everything else, there is a process that the USFS follows:
1. Jr competitor must qualify for the ISP
2. Once an ISP skater is selected for JGP, Jr skater must qualify for a second JGP
3. If Jr skater qualifies for 2nd JGP, USFS removes a future marker (another skater who was unofficially placed to hold that eligible spot) with this competitor.
4. If Jr skater does not qualify for 2nd JGP, USFS can officially assign said marker to future event or officially assign another ISP skater
5. This process repeats itself until JGP season ends.