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

[frida80]

According to TSL, Tessa Hong will be returning to Frank Carroll. (Because he is a USFS consultant, it sounds like he had to clear taking Tessa on with them, and I was approved, probably with enthusiasm.)

Sounds like good news to me. Even though I felt Frank was no longer the right coach for Gracie, he's still a great coach. Why did Tessa leave in the first place? But tbh at his age I'm surprised he is taking on someone so young, but good for him!

I knew there would be consequences for Tom Z with Tessa. Pushing Mirai and Max was a bad move, but there more likely to forgive him and move on. Tessa is still a minor, and when parents see bad results why wouldn't they be mad? I still think not backloading would've salvaged her score. Losing an easy trip to JW was really sad.

That said, I wonder what changed Frank's mind? Tessa left Frank a few years ago. She's very talented and she had a awesome season with Frank. I hope this works out for her because she deserves to go far. Hopefully that osgood Schlatter won't be an issue next year.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

I knew there would be consequences for Tom Z with Tessa. Pushing Mirai and Max was a bad move, but there more likely to forgive him and move on. Tessa is still a minor, and when parents see bad results why wouldn't they be mad? I still think not backloading would've salvaged her score. Losing an easy trip to JW was really sad.

That said, I wonder what changed Frank's mind? Tessa left Frank a few years ago. She's very talented and she had a awesome season with Frank. I hope this works out for her because she deserves to go far. Hopefully that osgood Schlatter won't be an issue next year.

I just hope that frank doesn't give Tessa music like phantom of the opera. Seems to me that frank wants a pretty little generic princess skater. But good news that someone who skates as lovely as Tessa does will have Lori as choreographer. Tessa has a bright future.

 

[Barb]

I just hope that frank doesn't give Tessa music like phantom of the opera. Seems to me that frank wants a pretty little generic princess skater. But good news that someone who skates as lovely as Tessa does will have Lori as choreographer. Tessa has a bright future.

At least Tessa has all the capability to be the perfect princess skater.

 

[hippomoomin]

Tessa's skating is very mature for her age. Her jumps are not high enough right now, and she will go through a major growth in the next few years. She needs a strong jump coach since other aspects are pretty good for her.

 

[mrrice]

I just watched Tessa's SP from Nationals. In spite of Tara's blabbering the "Entire" program, she was quite lovely. Hopefully she'll be happy with Frank and now that Gracie is gone, I'm sure she'll receive the attention she's looking for.

 

[skatefan17]

This is an interesting development. I think Frank is dissatisfied with how the situation with Gracie went down and wants redemption too for his career. It must be embarrassing to have such a public split.

 

[frida80]

This is an interesting development. I think Frank is dissatisfied with how the situation with Gracie went down and wants redemption too for his career. It must be embarrassing to have such a public split.

He was the one that made it public. He if didn't want to be embarassed he could've at least waited until after nationals and after telling Gracie first.

 

[frida80]

I just hope that frank doesn't give Tessa music like phantom of the opera. Seems to me that frank wants a pretty little generic princess skater. But good news that someone who skates as lovely as Tessa does will have Lori as choreographer. Tessa has a bright future.

Correction: He wants another Michelle Kwan skater. One day I hope he realizes that he can't make skaters into something that they are not. And the pressure of being someone like Michelle is terrible. I wish hope that he allows Tessa to grow into her own style instead of making it for her.

 

[Skater Boy]

The entrance into that 3Loop solo jump is so amazing.
If Carolina skates to The Winner Takes it All with the serenity she has in Claire de Lune, she will still earn massive PCS. So, really, doesn't matter about the face! Face is not PCS.

Is Carolina becoming an American? It seems rather odd since she has a much better chance of going to worlds and the olympics representing Italy. Yes, she would strengthen the current US lady team. She would bring yet another experienced and nuanced skater to the fold. It is a bit disturbing that she is missing some jumps but I guess her pcs might be enough to still medal at the world level.

 

[Skater Boy]

Correction: He wants another Michelle Kwan skater. One day I hope he realizes that he can't make skaters into something that they are not. And the pressure of being someone like Michelle is terrible. I wish hope that he allows Tessa to grow into her own style instead of making it for her.

Generic princess skater v. Michelle Kwan isn't that kind of the same thing? Wears pretty dresses, has nice but delicate jumps, hard worker, hair in a bun, Miss America answers to the media - yep that is pretty much Ms. Kwan. Or was that sarcasm?

 

[Skater Boy]

That's a quality that she and Gracie have in common. IMO, that is what separates Ashley from those two. Ashley is always on.

True. Maybe Gracie and Mirai are like that Canadian woman - Josee Chouinard. A woman who had huge jumps and tonnes of charm but never could compete well under pressure. On the positive side Mirai and Gracie have done maybe better internationally than Chouinard - well Gracie at least. Some skaters you can see the huge potential but they can't do it when it counts.

 

[Skater Boy]

Caroline surprised me at Nationals. I thought her techniques cannot be corrected at this stage but I was wrong. She showed a completely different approach to her jumps (in a positive way). So there are always exception and she might be the one. Kostner is almost 30 and is skating well, so you never know.

I have a soft spot for Caroline. The romantic in me would love her to qualify for the olympics. The key is the continued improvement in her jumps including the correction of the mulekick. And the big issue is speed and amplitude which will have her pcs and over all impact. I do think, while it isn't nice to say, that if Mariah and karen don't do well at worlds it will help her chances as well. I think she is back on the US team probably B maybe even A? Though if Gracie comes back strong one assumes it is Gracie and Ashley and then probably a more junior skater. I see Ashley as almost a sure thing. but I don't think we will see two other seasoned skaters on the team and it is down to two yikes. I really can't see Caroline and Mirai both making it; only one. Put it this way, she was fifth at nats and had this been the oly year she would have been probably the second of three american ladies at 4ccs. So that is realistic.

 

[Skater Boy]

Caroline Zhang won silver in the SENIOR LADIES event at Challenge Cup. Canada's Larkyn Austman won bronze. Both earned Worlds TES minimums in both SP and FS.

In JUNIOR LADIES, Emmy MA won the gold medal, Canadian Olivia GRAN won silver. Both met the minimum TES for Junior Worlds in both SP and FS. Canada's Megan YIM slipped to 4th after a messy FS.

In NOVICE LADIES, Kaitlyn NGUYEN and Hannah HARRELL won gold and silver, respectively.

I think the big surprise is Joshi not doing better. But kudos to Zhang - I would have loved to see her win it. And wow to the Canadian - I was a bit surprised she held up under the pressure and beat Joshi.

 

[mrrice]

Does anyone know the nature of Tessa's injury? I don't see her on the list for Junior Worlds so I'm guessing she's injured, is that correct? I thought maybe they were sending her to Senior Worlds but she's not listed there either. I'm confused....

 

[Princessroja]

Does anyone know the nature of Tessa's injury? I don't see her on the list for Junior Worlds so I'm guessing she's injured, is that correct? I thought maybe they were sending her to Senior Worlds but she's not listed there either. I'm confused....

No, they just chose not to send her. AFAIK she's not injured.

 

[mrrice]

Was she even eligible? I had never seen her before Nationals this year and I thought she was great. I just assumed she was a Junior.

 

[frida80]

Does anyone know the nature of Tessa's injury? I don't see her on the list for Junior Worlds so I'm guessing she's injured, is that correct? I thought maybe they were sending her to Senior Worlds but she's not listed there either. I'm confused....

Initially she was third on the alternates list, which a lot of people disagreed with. Shortly after the list was released, her name was taken off. I assume because her injury flared up again. She has Osgood Schlatter.

 

[Chemistry66]

Was she even eligible? I had never seen her before Nationals this year and I thought she was great. I just assumed she was a Junior.

Tessa fell badly during Regionals in the 2014-2015 season, thus ending her season. Then she broke her ankle before 2015-2016 Sectionals, ending that season.

If you search her name (both on here and on Google) you can find more information about her injury issues.

 

[concorde]

Tessa was the 2014 Intermediate National Champ which is how she got the initial spotlight. The following year, she broke her ankle and has been slowly coming back.

She is a lovely skater! I was disppointed she did not do better at Nationals.

 

[louisa05]

Generic princess skater v. Michelle Kwan isn't that kind of the same thing? Wears pretty dresses, has nice but delicate jumps, hard worker, hair in a bun, Miss America answers to the media - yep that is pretty much Ms. Kwan. Or was that sarcasm?

Uh...Michelle had short hair for part of her time with Frank. 1999 and 2000 pictured here:

http://68.media.tumblr.com/d0b7630e7fdf055313f332799d4cbd97/tumblr_mld2p0ivdU1r5ashao1_1280.jpg

So obviously, he was dictating that she must always have long hair in a bun and she, obviously, complied and that, obviously, was to maintain a "princess" image because all princesses wear their hair in buns. Like this most famous princess and her iconic buns:

http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/106/590x/Princess-Diana-will-online-571341.jpg

Or we could retire this rather sexist nonsense of criticizing every female skater who appears slightly feminine with that ridiculous label.