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

[drivingmissdaisy]

After what I just saw from Kaetlyn Osmond..... I think all of our ladies need to step it up. We'll see after the free program if Gracie can skate clean. She, at least on paper, is the only skater with the content to medal at Worlds right now.

Gabrielle gave a commanding, powerful performance too. I don't think anyone from the US except Ashley can beat her.

 

[KatGrace1925]

I would say our best chance at Olympic podium is Gracie Gold (and that's IF, IF, she can shape up, top form). karen did great last night, but that 3T uR problem always sneaks up on her....Mirai (for me, I haven't watched her enough to know where she stands technically, but I just don't think she will score well with the international judges), mariah (love her, but she lacks the international reputation), and Ashley is just getting old (not sure how much longer she can keep up technically).

I'd say Gracie can shape up. She just got serious a couple weeks ago. She's got a fire to her now and a desire to win. Next year I could see her back in top form and winning competitions easily. If she makes the world team we may also see vast improvements by then.

 

[KatGrace1925]

The LP is shaping up to be a complete disaster. Our two best skaters are off form, while Karen and Mirai will be under immense pressure to hold on to their spots.

I'm okay with this. Let's see how Karen and Mirai act under pressure.

 

[Eclair]

I would say our best chance at Olympic podium is Gracie Gold (and that's IF, IF, she can shape up, top form). karen did great last night, but that 3T uR problem always sneaks up on her....Mirai (for me, I haven't watched her enough to know where she stands technically, but I just don't think she will score well with the international judges), mariah (love her, but she lacks the international reputation), and Ashley is just getting old (not sure how much longer she can keep up technically).

What's Karen's BV? She has a 3lz-3T and a 3F in the first half, a 2ax-1/2loop-3sal, 3Loop, 3sal-2Ttano, 3lz, 2ax in the second half. Her BV should be higher than Gracie's on paper, but could someone verify that?

 

[princessalica]

I'd say Gracie can shape up. She just got serious a couple weeks ago. She's got a fire to her now and a desire to win. Next year I could see her back in top form and winning competitions easily. If she makes the world team we may also see vast improvements by then.

I think she will do it. I think she got a little scared the moment before she popped the jump, and who wouldn't with all of the crappiness from earlier this year. But I think that the short program got her legs under her, and I think she will go into the long program with a mission and a purpose and passion! And then I think an upward trajectory will follow. She didn't start to shake off the funk until recently. The sky is the limit!

 

[Sydney Rose]

I'd say Gracie can shape up. She just got serious a couple weeks ago. She's got a fire to her now and a desire to win. Next year I could see her back in top form and winning competitions easily. If she makes the world team we may also see vast improvements by then.

I don't ever see Gracie winning competitions easily. I think she'll continue doing what she's been doing for years: sometimes she'll skate well and sometimes she won't. She could win that OGM or not be on the podium at all. Must be maddening for the USFSA.

 

[topaz emerald]

What's Karen's BV? She has a 3lz-3T and a 3F in the first half, a 2ax-1/2loop-3sal, 3Loop, 3sal-2Ttano, 3lz, 2ax in the second half. Her BV should be higher than Gracie's on paper, but could someone verify that?

I'm afraid I don't know, I'm sorry.

 

[Eclair]

I'm afraid I don't know, I'm sorry.

Well me neither. I think I remember that someone said at last nationals 2016 that Karen had the highest BV out of all ladies, but I'm not sure (it's been a year).

 

[andromache]

Just occurred to me that it'd be kind of funny if Gracie doesn't make the Worlds team, Ashley does and skips 4CCs, Gracie goes in her place, and wins it. How would USFS scramble then?

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Well me neither. I think I remember that someone said at last nationals 2016 that Karen had the highest BV out of all ladies, but I'm not sure (it's been a year).

IIRC Ashley's is higher than Gracie's because of the number of jumps they do in the bonus. I think Ashley has 5 in the bonus but Karen has both her 2As there, so it's very possible that Karen has the highest.

 

[KatGrace1925]

I don't ever see Gracie winning competitions easily. I think she'll continue doing what she's been doing for years: sometimes she'll skate well and sometimes she won't. She could win that OGM or not be on the podium at all. Must be maddening for the USFSA.

The reason I see it that way, is she says she rediscovered her love of skating is that she wants it. We have seen skaters who move beyond the fear and posess a desire to win. If Gracie has found that desire she could win her grand prix events and next nationals.

 

[FlattFan]

Just occurred to me that it'd be kind of funny if Gracie doesn't make the Worlds team, Ashley does and skips 4CCs, Gracie goes in her place, and wins it. How would USFS scramble then?

One of the lambs will come down with some sort of illness a week before World. If they refuse to be sick, USFS will send Tonya.

 

[tulosai]

The reason I see it that way, is she says she rediscovered her love of skating is that she wants it. We have seen skaters who move beyond the fear and posess a desire to win. If Gracie has found that desire she could win her grand prix events and next nationals.

Look, you keep saying due to Gracie's interviews that she's a new skater now. Anyone can say anything in an interview. A logical person will judge by what she does on the ice. So far this competition, I haven't seen the mind blowing change you keep trying to claim has happened. You also keep saying it's obvious from how happy she was when the program was over, but what about how she looked before and during the program? Isn't it possible she only looked so happy afterwards because she was relieved it was over? Do you really think she skated with any joy and passion during the program?

I'm honestly not trying to be mean but so far all I see is same old same old. Some good jumps, one horribly botched jump, skating like she's performing at her own funeral.

I would be happy if, as you predict, she kills it in the long. But I'm not impressed by what she said. Sasha Cohen gave interview after interview about how she'd finally figured it out and gotten it together. She still never skated a clean long program (other than once at the nestle cup of all things) in her whole senior career.

 

[gravy]

I would be happy if, as you predict, she kills it in the long. But I'm not impressed by what she said. Sasha Cohen gave interview after interview about how she'd finally figured it out and gotten it together. She still never skated a clean long program (other than once at the nestle cup of all things) in her whole senior career.

Sigh. I'd take Sasha's "implosions" leading to world silver/bronze medals over the US mess now.

 

[OS]

I wonder what we will get with an Angry Gracie, instead of a okay i must uphold US#1 reputation Gracie.

Angry Gracie at Sochi was pretty good

 

[icellist]

overall, Sasha competed in a time when there wasn't as many consistent competitors who were also technically demanding. Case in point are Evgenia and Satoko, the number of competitions they've even had a fall at can probably be counted on a hand.

I'd be interested to learn what their secret to consistency is.

 

[Layback11]

I'd be interested to learn what their secret to consistency is.

Oftentimes, it has more to do with personality than anything else. Some people naturally thrive on the pressure that comes with skating in front of an audience. I really don't know how to explain it, but that's what I've always seen in really consistent skaters.

 

[Nigel]

overall, Sasha competed in a time when there wasn't as many consistent competitors who were also technically demanding. Case in point are Evgenia and Satoko, the number of competitions they've even had a fall at can probably be counted on a hand.

I'd be interested to learn what their secret to consistency is.

Secret...no secret. "Train like it is a competition, and you will compete like you train."

 

[KatGrace1925]

Look, you keep saying due to Gracie's interviews that she's a new skater now. Anyone can say anything in an interview. A logical person will judge by what she does on the ice. So far this competition, I haven't seen the mind blowing change you keep trying to claim has happened. You also keep saying it's obvious from how happy she was when the program was over, but what about how she looked before and during the program? Isn't it possible she only looked so happy afterwards because she was relieved it was over? Do you really think she skated with any joy and passion during the program?

I'm honestly not trying to be mean but so far all I see is same old same old. Some good jumps, one horribly botched jump, skating like she's performing at her own funeral.

I would be happy if, as you predict, she kills it in the long. But I'm not impressed by what she said. Sasha Cohen gave interview after interview about how she'd finally figured it out and gotten it together. She still never skated a clean long program (other than once at the nestle cup of all things) in her whole senior career.

It's clear from the interviews with her coaches that she is mentally there now but she just picked up on doing proper conditioning. I think her new mental outlook sets her up well for next season, what I have seen on her countenance this nationals is different. Reporters are saying she's had more attack in practice than before. At some point someone in her talent has to break out of the nerves and the slump. I think with what we've seen happen to her this year it's going to make her fight greater than ever before. I don't actually think the long today will be it, because Frank Carroll and Alex said she is not 100% yet but made it clear their goal is to make the world team and make the next two months count. She has come far since Zagreb. I have hope that this season can change her whole trajectory. I'm cautiously optimistic.

If she doesn't make the world team, which is a possibility that I haven't completely ruled out, it could put even more of a fire in her or it could shatter her confidence yet again. It's all up to Gracie but I am hopeful that she will overcome.

With her short program I think she was trying to conquer the demons from last competition. That's not easy. I thought she was happy with her performance at the end because of the improvement's she's made. Her face at her grand prix event in the K&C was drawn with worry and doubt all the time. She skated like she hated being there. The short here was skated with more desire to take it, which is why she fought for her combo. The long could be a mixed bag but she's shown she is at least willing to fight for a jump combo.

The truth is I can go on forever about how I see it but we just see it differently and that's not a bad thing. You could very well be right, I am generally an optimistic person and what I have seen so far is different than the grand prix events. She looked unhealthy and depressed in France. She doesn't look like that now.

 

[KatGrace1925]

overall, Sasha competed in a time when there wasn't as many consistent competitors who were also technically demanding. Case in point are Evgenia and Satoko, the number of competitions they've even had a fall at can probably be counted on a hand.

I'd be interested to learn what their secret to consistency is.

I have also heard Sasha didn't want to do things differently. That she would shuffle to a new coach and when that coach demanded a change she would go back to John Nicks who would let her have it her way. I don't know if any of that is true but she was a very interesting skater.