2017 U.S. Nationals Championship Ladies FS

[stella luna]

I can't even believe people are doubting she deserved to win.

"They" didn't "let" Karen win. Karen won.

 

[rain]

I think Gracie is going to get the World Spot. Her 4th place finish at last year's world and Frank's power in the USFS will allow this to happen. There is no way USFS is going to send two newbies to Worlds prior to the Olympics. Sorry Mariah, you are out!

I think they'd be nuts to send Gold. She hasn't had even a decent competition all season and this certainly wasn't it. I think she needs to take this time now between this season and next and decide why she's skating and if she really wants to continue. This season is a wash for her. I think others have far more likelihood for scoring better at worlds, and have earned the spots.

 

[OS]

Not for long, my friend. The wall is coming.

and people will keep breaking them down

 

[andromache]

I wouldn't mind a Tessa/Starr team either...just so Starr can get her feet wet before JGP.

That's fair. The experience would be good for her, even if she doesn't have the tech to compete with the best there.

 

[whatif]

The way I see it play out in Helsinki:
1. Russia
2. Russia
3. Japan
4. USA
5. Russia
6. Italy
7. Canada
8. Japan
9. Japan
10. USA

 

[RABID]

What are you trying to start?

 

[mrrice]

I think Gracie is going to get the World Spot. Her 4th place finish at last year's world and Frank's power in the USFS will allow this to happen. There is no way USFS is going to send two newbies to Worlds prior to the Olympics. Sorry Mariah, you are out!

I don't think so. First of all, we have 3 spots so it's not like Ashley can't beat Karen at Worlds. Just like she beat Gracie (National Champion) at last years Worlds. I think Karen may have lit a giant fire under our Diva Wagner and we all know that she loves a big challenge and will be ready for battle. I'm hoping that she and Mariah will go back their rink and prepare to do battle with rest of the World. The battle against each other is basically over as far as spots go for the US. Now it's about keeping our 3 spots and for Ashley, defending her Silver Medal from last year. I think we're looking good.

 

[solar]

Assuming the Nathan wins the men's event I believe we have never had so many Asian Americans as title holders, a positive milestone. I meant only to recognize this achievement in a positive way.

Again apologies and goodbye.

Don't worry, I think we understand what you mean now I am also proud of having many Asian Americans as title holders! I love more diversity in American figure skating. (Plus the possibility of 2CHEN winning gold in ladies and mens seems too good to pass up )

 

[Mathman]

I think Gracie is going to get the World Spot. Her 4th place finish at last year's world and Frank's power in the USFS will allow this to happen. There is no way USFS is going to send two newbies to Worlds prior to the Olympics. Sorry Mariah, you are out!

This would cause me to lose all respect for figure skating as a "sport."

 

[bobbob]

I actually think Karen and Mariah are both very capable of placing top ten - I would be surprised if they didn't. Mirai came in 10th last year at an exceptionally well-skated Worlds, and I think both Karen and Mariah have higher ceilings than Mirai. International judges like them both, even if they haven't had many opportunities to reward them.

Ashley has a chance at a bronze this year at Worlds, too.

I have no idea if international judges like them, Mariah had one good showing this year coupled with a few bad ones, while Karen had some mediocre scores as well. Yeah, Ashley has a chance at bronze no doubt but with Zhenia, Pogo, Sotskova, Satoko, Katelyn, Ashley, probably Carolina Kostner for sure ahead PLUS possibly Wakaba, Gabby Daleman, Mai Miahara, etc. it will be borderline impossible to get 12 combined total. Say Ashley finishes 5th, a likely prediction....then Mariah or Karen would have to finish 7th???...

 

[skate29]

Karen: love love love. She has such an aesthetically pleasing technique and well-developed artistry for her age. If she's on in Helsinki, she could be a force to be reckoned with
Ashley: Great free skate but I am kind of over this whole Ashley Wagner narrative. I feel like she is always trying to create a character for herself: she has to be an underdog and be third place after the short program, or she has to be "in a really difficult position." She claims she skates like a veteran, but she does not have those skating skills and attention to detail. She does have a lot of pressure on her shoulders, but at some point I feel like she just needs to skate. I was hoping to see her improve on all the things that cost her on the Grand Prix: levels, underdeveloped transitions in the short, underrotations, but she didn't, and it cost her a national title that was really hers to lose. Still rooting for her though: I'll take the real emotion of Exogenesis over the Russian ladies' elevator music program any day.
Mariah: She's a delight to watch. I will probably throw something if they don't send her to worlds.
Mirai: I have been waiting for her to come back since her Pirates of the Caribbean performance at 2010 worlds and this past year has been so exciting. She is a real firecracker though and I still prefer her artistry over most of the US ladies, so I have hopes for her for 2018.
Gracie: I don't even know anymore. I feel like she needs time off the ice, but at the same time isn't that exactly what got to her during the Grand Prix? It is quite clear she doesn't really enjoy skating anymore and is only skating because of the pressure she and the USFS have put on her.

 

[stella luna]

So true. I just hope she has or can find a life outside the rink to give her perspective. It seems that may be part of the problem.

That will never happen. It has been quite clear from the way they've covered Gracie this season, that the USFSA is done holding Gracie up. I think her abbreviated pre-season training really upset them especially after her poor showing during the GP. I begged her to take the season off and train but, alas, I have no power. Gracie needs to keep her chin up and train the way she used to. It's not like she can't skate but, she has lost all confidence and I'd rather see her retire, than skate like this again. The last thing she needs is more time away from the rink. This time will either make or break her. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[katymay]

I like Karen but doesn't she get lowballed internationally? I recall her free at NHK was pretty good, but judges placed her low compared to the ladies who were in-front of her who didn't have as great skating skills, etc.

Yes she does, and yes this is a worry.

 

[Mrs. P]

That's fair. The experience would be good for her, even if she doesn't have the tech to compete with the best there.

I think it's just going to be a rebuild year and Amber needs to stay on the senior circuit and get more experience there. I don't think we have enough juniors at the moment to justify a full-slate of junior spots.

FWIW, Jason Brown in 2012 fell three times in the FS and ended up 9th (he was 6th after the SP). He ended up winning bronze at Jr. Worlds -- so I can see a similar outcome for Tessa -- I think she can score well if she executes her content.

 

[Scovies]

Outside of conspiracy theories about one 3-3 being called underrotated and the other one not, could it be a simple matter of Karen's triple lutz being so enormous that our eyes assume the second jump was bigger than it was? She doesn't (yet?) have a reputation for UR calls, not the way that Ashley does (her triple-triple combos will forever be under scrutiny, even when they're clean), so maybe she's just being given the benefit of the doubt.

That said, I did think she got way higher scores than she would have internationally, although I'm fine with her winning. I just would have had her score lower.

I dunno. Karen's 3T looked scratchy and UR even in real time, but it wasn't even flagged for review. She'd get hammered by a Shin Amano-style tech panel.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[skatinggold]

I don't think so. First of all, we have 3 spots so it's not like Ashley can't beat Karen at Worlds. Just like she beat Gracie (National Champion) at last years Worlds. I think Karen may have lit a giant fire under our Diva Wagner and we all know that she loves a big challenge and will be ready for battle. I'm hoping that she and Mariah will go back their rink and prepare to do battle with rest of the World. The battle against each other is basically over as far as spots go for the US. Now it's about keeping our 3 spots and for Ashley, defending her Silver Medal from last year. I think we're looking good.

Hopefully now she is national champion, the USFS will have someone go in to fix her underrotated toe in her combo prior to Worlds

 

[lutzlover]

Gah, I hadn't even thought of that. She did do a JGP last season. I have no idea if her score is high enough or not though.

If USFS doesn't send Tessa Hong I will be beyond ticked. Tessa might've had a disaster LP, but she desperately needs more experience. The potential is there. Now let's get her out there to develop those nerves. As for Amber, I just think she's the most promising girl of her age we've got. A little old for juniors (compared to the Russians and Japanese), but none of our more junior-aged girls aside from Tessa seem to be at the right level to send.

What about Ashley shin, Bradie or Paige...

 

[Kissx3]

I wouldn't even worry about 3 spots at this point. If it happens it happens. On paper, I think Canada actually has a better shot at it than the US, and that sounds like pure craziness typing it out but I really do. It's too bad Polina isn't well enough to skate.

 

[andromache]

I'm not ringing the death knell for our three spots yet - I think it's about 50/50 and can really go either way. The men last year were doomed - they all skated their best and the third spot was lost anyway. Meanwhile, if all our ladies skate their best, they can definitely keep the three spots.

 

[Mrs. P]

Don't worry, I think we understand what you mean now I am also proud of having many Asian Americans as title holders! I love more diversity in American figure skating. (Plus the possibility of 2CHEN winning gold in ladies and mens seems too good to pass up )

Also trivia: In 2012, the year Karen won the Novice title, Nathan won the junior title! So there's a precedent.