State of U.S. Ladies' skating 2016-17 | Page 126 | Golden Skate

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

According to Christine Brennan, Ashley will be doing Hip Hip Chin Chin for her SP next season, which is exactly what I think she should be doing. It's a much more complex program than the SP she did this year, and repeating it means there's more time to work on the new LP.

Or maybe "If I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate". ROTFL
 
I think we are prone to jump on the band wagon. If Karen had placed say 15th we would not have been surprised. She came fourth and well done and deserved. But she has yet to show herself consistently in that echelon so we will have to wait and see. It is clear though Ashley is stil top 8 stuff even in an off day so that is key. We will see whether this inspires Karen ie. like Cohen or will she be up and down like Mirai and Gracie. That being said the most consistent top 8 skater is Ashley. Yes, there are potential medallists with Karen, Gracie, maybe Mariah and Mirai but they all also could be out of the top ten or not even top six at nationals. As to Ashley's tweet I think we might be reading more into it. I am sure she was disappoiinted in her performance and was congratulating Karen for saving the day. Regardless we do not need the American ladies fighitng each other. Karen should be celebrating; I am sure she is disapponted but eerily like Mirai in 2010 at the olympics she wasn't really close to third (Daleman) For now at least. The US ladies have a decent shot at an olympic and world podium. The Russians showed they were vulnerable. The Canadians were solid this year but we have seen chinks in their armour - still it would appear one of the ladies might throw in a wrench or beavertail to the American party. There are going to be screams of joy and pain next year at Nationals So lucky they have three spots still.
 
I think we are prone to jump on the band wagon. If Karen had placed say 15th we would not have been surprised. She came fourth and well done and deserved. But she has yet to show herself consistently in that echelon so we will have to wait and see. It is clear though Ashley is stil top 8 stuff even in an off day so that is key. We will see whether this inspires Karen ie. like Cohen or will she be up and down like Mirai and Gracie. That being said the most consistent top 8 skater is Ashley. Yes, there are potential medallists with Karen, Gracie, maybe Mariah and Mirai but they all also could be out of the top ten or not even top six at nationals. As to Ashley's tweet I think we might be reading more into it. I am sure she was disappoiinted in her performance and was congratulating Karen for saving the day. Regardless we do not need the American ladies fighitng each other. Karen should be celebrating; I am sure she is disapponted but eerily like Mirai in 2010 at the olympics she wasn't really close to third (Daleman) For now at least. The US ladies have a decent shot at an olympic and world podium. The Russians showed they were vulnerable. The Canadians were solid this year but we have seen chinks in their armour - still it would appear one of the ladies might throw in a wrench or beavertail to the American party. There are going to be screams of joy and pain next year at Nationals So lucky they have three spots still.

There is another lady who could throw a monkey wrench into both the US and Canadian works: Mai Mihara. She was the only lady in the top 10 other than Medvedeva to skate a clean FS (all +GOE). If she had skated her usual clean SP, and had skated in the last group, she could have been on the podium. And now that she is a seeded skater in the GP, she won't be held down in PCS the way she was last year, even with clean programs.
 
I just realized....Mirai Nagasu is the only US lady to medal at a major competition this season :eeking:

:clapper:
 
I just realized....Mirai Nagasu is the only US lady to medal at a major competition this season :eeking:

:clapper:

Skate America is a major competition; both Ashley and Mariah medaled there. And iirc, Courtney also medaled at a GP event.
 
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There is another lady who could throw a monkey wrench into both the US and Canadian works: Mai Mihara. She was the only lady in the top 10 other than Medvedeva to skate a clean FS (all +GOE). If she had skated her usual clean SP, and had skated in the last group, she could have been on the podium. And now that she is a seeded skater in the GP, she won't be held down in PCS the way she was last year, even with clean programs.

The Japanese world and Olympic team selection will be the most interesting of all, considering that one of Satoko, Mai, or Marin will be left off...
 
Skate America is a major competition; both Ashley and Mariah medaled there. And iirc, Courtney also medaled at a GP event.

I don't consider GP a major competition, but I guess YMMV. :)

Mirai Nagasu was the only US lady to medal at any Championship/Finals this season. Good Job Mirai! :agree:
 
The Japanese world and Olympic team selection will be the most interesting of all, considering that one of Satoko, Mai, or Marin will be left off...

Well I think Russian drama will put a run against Japanese jumpers. You have comeback kid Yulia Lip and reigning Olympic champ Adelina not ot mention Grandma and forgotten Leonova and the forgotten world champ Liza T, then there is the queen of splat Anna P, and the overlooked Radinova with upstart seniors Alina and out prove she is a t hreat Polina and that doesn't even take into consider the ho hum but solid Sotskova or the two time world champ. I am sure I forgot a few threats along the way. But there is American drama too. Gracie, Mirai et al should be thrilled the US held on to three spots. There is much hope with three legitimate medal threats - Ashley, Karen and Gracie. Three threats. Of course it could go like this year more like a dream or nightmare. I do think the US will not send three mature skaters ie Mirai, Ashley and Gracie -one newbie is bound to be sent. The thing is no one has been that consistent other than maybe Ashley. With the rest they could podium or be out of the top ten maybe out of the top fifteen. Still the Americans are serious threats to the podium especially in light of the chink in Russia's armour seen here. AT the same time it isn't impossible that the Japanese, Russians and Canadians could cause havoc for the Americans. Surely one would think one American at the worst, and this is if things go crazy, one lady would be in the top ten but....if it became a nightmare. Gracie makes it and crashes like she did and Karen does what she did at 4CCs. Ashley is a bit flat and underrotates and you end up with say 3 Russians, 2 Japanese, Carolina, 3 Canadians as well as say a Chinese or S Korean or ET ahead and no American is in the top 10. I think it might cause some fans here to have heart attacks but it would be like the world stopped.
 
Well I think Russian drama will put a run against Japanese jumpers. You have comeback kid Yulia Lip and reigning Olympic champ Adelina not ot mention Grandma and forgotten Leonova and the forgotten world champ Liza T, then there is the queen of splat Anna P, and the overlooked Radinova with upstart seniors Alina and out prove she is a t hreat Polina and that doesn't even take into consider the ho hum but solid Sotskova or the two time world champ. I am sure I forgot a few threats along the way. But there is American drama too. Gracie, Mirai et al should be thrilled the US held on to three spots. There is much hope with three legitimate medal threats - Ashley, Karen and Gracie. Three threats. Of course it could go like this year more like a dream or nightmare. I do think the US will not send three mature skaters ie Mirai, Ashley and Gracie -one newbie is bound to be sent. The thing is no one has been that consistent other than maybe Ashley. With the rest they could podium or be out of the top ten maybe out of the top fifteen. Still the Americans are serious threats to the podium especially in light of the chink in Russia's armour seen here. AT the same time it isn't impossible that the Japanese, Russians and Canadians could cause havoc for the Americans. Surely one would think one American at the worst, and this is if things go crazy, one lady would be in the top ten but....if it became a nightmare. Gracie makes it and crashes like she did and Karen does what she did at 4CCs. Ashley is a bit flat and underrotates and you end up with say 3 Russians, 2 Japanese, Carolina, 3 Canadians as well as say a Chinese or S Korean or ET ahead and no American is in the top 10. I think it might cause some fans here to have heart attacks but it would be like the world stopped.

Unbelievable how US-centered that post is. There is a thread next to it about Tatiana Tarasova being "prosecuted" and the posters laugh that there is no drama like the Russian style.
So I will add to it:
- drama Russian style
- meltdown Canadian style
- self-centeredness American style.

In reality Ashley is done. Done. Even at her best she is regressing and the best she can get at OG is maybe 10th position. She is not Carolina who can make up some PCS with "artistic" facial grimaces. Without TES Ashley is done. Even at her best. She is spent. History. If Ashley is everything that the Japanese, Canadians and Russians worry about then the medals are already printed.
Gracie - you know what, it's a nice evening right here and laughter is a good thing.
Karen is the only one who can potentially threaten the world order. I also hope Mariah will make some progress to squeeze into top 10.
That's it. I don't even think the US can fill those three spots with quality.

I am also disappointed by seeing Mirai being treated by USFSA like a doormat. The girl deserves much more. Give the girl a chance. Let her build her self-confidence with time, rather than constantly kicking her in the teeth.
 
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I am also disappointed by seeing Mirai being treated by USFSA like a doormat. The girl deserves much more. Give the girl a chance. Let her build her self-confidence with time, rather than constantly kicking her in the teeth.

How is she being treated like a doormat?
 
How is she being treated like a doormat?

Who goes to TCC?
I think USFSA morally owes Mirai a lot after Sochi. A lot.
Obviously she is not helping them with her inconsistency, but who is consistent in the US? Show me one.
I am wondering if media decided marketing values of particular skaters and USFSA is now going with it. And Mirai is not high on that list.

P.S. I was wrong. There is one US skater who is amazingly consistent. It's Gracie. My mistake.
 
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Who goes to TCC?
I think USFSA morally owes Mirai a lot after Sochi. A lot.
Obviously she is not helping them with her inconsistency, but who is consistent in the US? Show me one.
I am wondering if media decided marketing values of particular skaters and USFSA is now going with it. And Mirai is not high on that list. P.S. I was wrong. There is one US skater who is amazingly consistent. It's Gracie. My mistake.

Obviously, if Mirai had had even a shred of consistency in the 2 years leading up to Sochi, she would have been on the team. She didn't, and thus wasn't. Her fault; no one else's.

Want to talk real consistency? Tell me who in the world (not just the U.S.) has placed 7th or higher in the past 6 Worlds. (Heck, tell me who in the world has even been at the the past 6 Worlds.) Same with the Grand Prix: Who in the world has won at least one medal in the past 8 seasons? Yes, it's Ashley. And this consistency is not a case of U.S. officials somehow deciding to promote her at the expense of poor Mirai. Give it a rest, please.
 
Unbelievable how US-centered that post is. There is a thread next to it about Tatiana Tarasova being "prosecuted" and the posters laugh that there is no drama like the Russian style.
So I will add to it:
- drama Russian style
- meltdown Canadian style
- self-centeredness American style.

In reality Ashley is done. Done. Even at her best she is regressing and the best she can get at OG is maybe 10th position. She is not Carolina who can make up some PCS with "artistic" facial grimaces. Without TES Ashley is done. Even at her best. She is spent. History. If Ashley is everything that the Japanese, Canadians and Russians worry about then the medals are already printed.
Gracie - you know what, it's a nice evening right here and laughter is a good thing.
Karen is the only one who can potentially threaten the world order. I also hope Mariah will make some progress to squeeze into top 10.
That's it. I don't even think the US can fill those three spots with quality.

I am also disappointed by seeing Mirai being treated by USFSA like a doormat. The girl deserves much more. Give the girl a chance. Let her build her self-confidence with time, rather than constantly kicking her in the teeth.

I also think that Ashley si done.
Mariah Bell and Karen Chen have better jumps and PCS-wise are not that far away from her...

Try to compare this year and last year performances at WC: no many differences !!
Wagner did not deserve to be the silver medalist at 2016 WC 😔
 
Unbelievable how US-centered that post is. There is a thread next to it about Tatiana Tarasova being "prosecuted" and the posters laugh that there is no drama like the Russian style.
So I will add to it:
- drama Russian style
- meltdown Canadian style
- self-centeredness American style.

In reality Ashley is done. Done. Even at her best she is regressing and the best she can get at OG is maybe 10th position. She is not Carolina who can make up some PCS with "artistic" facial grimaces. Without TES Ashley is done. Even at her best. She is spent. History. If Ashley is everything that the Japanese, Canadians and Russians worry about then the medals are already printed.
Gracie - you know what, it's a nice evening right here and laughter is a good thing.
Karen is the only one who can potentially threaten the world order. I also hope Mariah will make some progress to squeeze into top 10.
That's it. I don't even think the US can fill those three spots with quality.

I am also disappointed by seeing Mirai being treated by USFSA like a doormat. The girl deserves much more. Give the girl a chance. Let her build her self-confidence with time, rather than constantly kicking her in the teeth.

Wow someone makes one comment in another thread and you have to come back with some really prejudiced posts about other nations. Good job stooping to their level.

A lot of people have said Ashley is done, but of all international results since 2010, she has been the most consistent US lady. Ice is slippery and the judges like to give Ashley high PCS marks.

USFSA gave her chances in 2010 but she just never delivered at the right time. It is unfortunate but they aren't kicking her in the teeth if she can't hold herself up at the right moments. Mirai didn't have the international results Ashley had for the last quadrennial leading up to Sochi; they owe her nothing.
 
Every year, Mirai has a mixed season of highs and lows, and then comes Nationals, where she manages to blow her chance to make the team. Same scenario this year. Mirai did well in her Challenge events, then came the GP: of the 39 ladies who participated in the GP this past season, Mirai placed #22, with a 9th and a 5th. At Nationals, less than a point behind Karen Chen in the SP, she lost concentration and fell on the second jump in her FS and then went on to UR four jumps, finishing 4th in the FS and 4th overall.

She did well at 4CC, which has not been a high-pressure event for her, unlike Nationals and the GP. And that is the key---pressure. Mirai does not do well under pressure, which doesn't bode well for Nationals 2018, with a berth on the Olympic team at stake.
 
I have read a very insightful article (even though it is quite old) about the state of FS in the US.
I'll post it bere:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...-20140207_1_u-s-figure-skating-olympic-usfs/3

I felt sort of sad when Ashley was quoted as saying "Younger audiences don't want to watch skater after skater after skater. They want a light show, live music, images on a huge screen." I love watching all of the skaters, especially those I haven't heard of before. If you don't like watching that many you can always show up later or watch a shortened version like the NBC coverage. Or just catch up on Twitter or something.
 
I felt sort of sad when Ashley was quoted as saying "Younger audiences don't want to watch skater after skater after skater. They want a light show, live music, images on a huge screen." I love watching all of the skaters, especially those I haven't heard of before. If you don't like watching that many you can always show up later or watch a shortened version like the NBC coverage. Or just catch up on Twitter or something.

At the end the decline in popularity of FS is mostly US skaters' fault...

These quotes are a bit annoying for sure.

''Younger audiences don't want to watch skater after skater after skater. They want a light show, live music, images on a huge screen''
That's a bit odd... If you watch a figure skating competition you'll see a skater, then another, then another...

The more I think about these quotes the more I find them weird...
 
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