State of U.S. Ladies' skating 2016-17 | Page 130 | Golden Skate

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

Skater Boy said:
Can you imagine if Mirai was fourth and Ashley was third at next year's nationals??? Oh the drama! Trauma!
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I feel like Ashley won't have a performance like 2014 Nationals next year, no way. She hasn't fallen in a competition in a long, long time. She does underrotate, but the tech panel at nationals will ignore it anyway. She won't be fourth again.
 
narcissa said:
I feel like Ashley won't have a performance like 2014 Nationals next year, no way. She hasn't fallen in a competition in a long, long time. She does underrotate, but the tech panel at nationals will ignore it anyway. She won't be fourth again.
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I think Ashley could certainly be fourth again at U.S. Nationals next year - anything is possible. Especially if everyone else in the final flight skates great and she makes a few mistakes like popping some jumps. And a lot can still happen in nine months.

BTW, very few things in figure skating irritate me more than the scoring inflation and judging leniency that occurs that U.S. Nationals. I feel like if U.S. Nationals is really supposed be a "tryout" for 4CCs/Worlds/Olympics, then it should be judged as so. That mentality has certainly worked in USA Gymnastics for the women.
 
Ashley was extremely nervous in 2014 because she had missed out on making the Olympic team in 2010 when she finished 3rd behind Flatt and Nagasu---there were only two spots then. The last time US had had 3 spots was back in 2008, with Meissner (7th), Liang (10th) and Wagner (16th). Flatt (5th) and Czisny (11th) couldn't get the 3rd spot back in 2009.

In 2014, Mirai had already been to the Olympics and wasn't as nervous as Ashley. For 2018, now they have both been and would like to go back. It's probably the last chance for both of them.
 
musicfan80 said:
I think Ashley could certainly be fourth again at U.S. Nationals next year - anything is possible. Especially if everyone else in the final flight skates great and she makes a few mistakes like popping some jumps. And a lot can still happen in nine months.
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Indeed. It will not be easy for Wagner, and in fact could possibly be even more intense for her as the 2014 controversy is brought up again and with this being her final shot.

The X-Factor could very well be if Gold is able to come back to form. If so, that's one that can easily outperform Wagner; as for the others, they are very beatable unless she sabotages herself (which she has done multiple times this season). That being said, if Chen becomes consistent, Wagner will need to start looking out for her too.

So it's up to Wagner, really, where this takes her - and the shape she can keep herself in (e.g., injuries, etc.). It's certainly doable, even if the deck seems a bit stacked at this point. 9 months IS a long time, so we'll just have to see.
 
It's hard not to let the present color our view of the future. Although Ashley is in a relative slump, she's someone who has come back before. I know she has it in her (even if age isn't on her side). I don't yet know whether Gracie or Polina do.

No predictions from me; it's wide open! I'd love it if Tessa Hong realizes her potential. Failing at backloading annihilated her.
 
i think a good USA team would be karen, mirai, and ashley

mirai peaks later in the season, ashley somewhat more consistent and can get the PCS
karen can glow if she doesn't have boot problems and doesn't underrotate/ect. i know this past worlds was only one competition but i trust that she'll deliver when it counts.

gracie looks like her hair is thinning out (it even appeared as if she had a bald spot near her scalp on one of the instagram photos). im legitimately worried about her health and she doesn't seem too happy on SOI. this just reeks of 2016 where she got herself depressed because everyone else had just gotten a medal at worlds for the first time. and sure, no one really got a medal this time around but it must feel bad to hear them talk about how they did worlds while she wasn't even on the team. it's another slap in the face to her conscious and unless she works on her self esteem i fear it will tear her apart again.

i would love to see polina come back again! though i don't think she would get as high scores as the other girls would (internationally, at least). unless she can come back drastically transformed and wow the judges... which i kind of doubt given she's still with the same team. yes she's now at college but it still feels like she's in high school mode in a way. she will be 19 next season so hopefully that isn't considered "too old," since unfortunately everybody loves to toss that phrase around now. -__- im pretty sure mariah bell is older than her though. but mariah somehow feels younger since we've seen polina back in the older years since she was coming up pretty young. i just hope she can come back and completely wow with the PCS, that's always where she's lagged behind and honestly it had a lot to do with packaging and judges. her skills and details are lovely in my opinion. just a matter of the judges.
 
yuzushenko said:
but mariah somehow feels younger since we've seen polina back in the older years since she was coming up pretty young.
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Mariah is a new face but her skating isn't "younger" than Polina's...Polina's packaging hasn't improved since Sochi, whereas Mariah's packaging and performance ability could make her a contender for medals anywhere if she builds consistency. No offense but I'm a little :yawn: when I watch Polina so yes, three senior seasons is more than enough for me. :bed:
 
narcissa said:
Mariah is a new face but her skating isn't "younger" than Polina's...Polina's packaging hasn't improved since Sochi, whereas Mariah's packaging and performance ability could make her a contender for medals anywhere if she builds consistency. No offense but I'm a little :yawn: when I watch Polina so yes, three senior seasons is more than enough for me. :bed:
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Mariah isn't really even that young she turns 21 tomorrow the same age as Gracie in fact. She just wasn't a wunderkind when she was younger and it took her a few years to make a name for herself.
 
Mariah's skating really appeals to me. On her best day, she would be my favorite American lady. But she seems to lack confidence, and looked shaky in Helsinki. Strange to say, she reminds me of Kolyada. Someone who has the goods, but isn't comfortable at the top yet.
 
oh yeah agreed, mariah's packaging is a lot more mature than polina's and it never even had to be Deep Solemn Mature Adult type of thing

even though polina is in college, if you check her social media, she's practically doing the exact same things she did before (partying, hanging out with friends, hanging out with her younger siblings) and you would never even think she went off to college or anything everything seems exactly the same in terms of personality and social media presence (and of course im obviously judging solely off of that)

the thing about her is i feel she is so independent (great thing) that i can't really see her doing traditional figure skating mature programs. everyone wants to just put these skaters into the traditional figure skater mold but polina seems different to me, she isn't a follower. it's probably cuz she never had that typical skater packaging but it's hard to imagine her in it. that makes it exciting though and i really look forward to seeing her return.

there is something to be said for somebody who despite constant barrage, never lets outsiders influence her actions. which in a way is probably the most mature thing any skater can do. perhaps why mariah seems more juvenile in a sense is that she lets herself be packaged into this nancy kerrigan esque person, and never lets her true self out. she is a lovely skater but there is more maturity in somebody knowing what they want and pursuing it despite people telling them otherwise (polina) vs someone letting themselves be packaged to somebody else's desires (mariah).


(anyways it's kinda silly to compare skaters this way but idk polina eludes me and i can't wait to see her return). the above also kind of applies to gracie and ashley. gracie lets her mom package her into the princess vision, while ashley even though she has the easiest programs transition-wise is determined to make it sexy and showy and will stick to it despite people suggesting otherwise.
 
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So sad that Mariah lacks confidence. I saw her live at SA and she had nothing to lose so she was relaxed and absolutely gorgeous there, but subsequently got more and more nervous as the buzz around her increased. She looked terrified at Worlds before her skates and I even heard she was holding back tears at practice :ohwell: I felt a little torn seeing her celebrate at the end of her free at Nationals even with those mistakes because I wish she knew she was capable of more :p but of course, I'm not the one under all that pressure. Somehow I can see Mariah being the one to pull it all together ahead of Ashley, Gracie, Mirai, and all the veterans who've been under the spotlight since juniors and outskating them all at an important event like the Olympics :)
 
narcissa said:
So sad that Mariah lacks confidence.
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I wonder if it would have helped if she had received the chance to do at least a couple of shows on Stars on Ice. It's too bad - I think doing Stars on Ice in 2014 really helped skaters like Jason Brown and Joshua Farris for the 2014-2015 season. Both of their performance abilities in competition improve greatly.
 
Polina Edmunds will perform on Apr 29 at a fundraiser for the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association.


Alysa Liu also will be performing.

Kristi Yamaguchi donated an auction item of a private session with herself :cool:.

Speaking of shows, reminder that Starr Andrews will be one of the guest skaters in Colorado this weekend at Showtime on Ice.

Max Aaron and Ryan Bradley are the other guest skaters.

Following up on Brynne McIsaac's move to Colorado:

Per her website, her new coaches are Tom Z and Becky Calvin.

Phillip Mills choreographed Brynne's new FS.
Cute pics of them together:

Caroline Zhang and Angela Wang were among the AAC athlete reps who mentored skaters at the 2017 USFS Program Components Camp this past weekend.

Others included: Adam Rippon, Sean Rabbitt, Tim Dolensky; Grant Hochstein; Kaitlin Hawayek; Jean Luc Baker; Ryan Devereaux; etc.
(Not sure whether Alex Krashnozhon was there as a camper or a mentor?? Seen here in a group number: https://twitter.com/Grant_Hochstein/status/856108329768243200)

More about USFS components camp:

(BTW, USFS jump/TES camp will be back in May for its second year.)
 
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Forgot to mention above:

It's just about time again for the NBC pre-Olympics promotional shoot (for all Team USA winter sports) too.

Seems that it will be taking place this coming weekend in Hollywood?
(In 2013, it was in West Hollywood, IIRC.)

I assume that the NBC shoot is one of the reasons that the US SOI tour will not resume until May 4.

Anyway, FWIW, it will give us an idea as to whom NBC views as the frontrunners for the Olympic team.

And we'll be getting some nice photos, and maybe some interviews.

(I hope Mirai is among those invited :yay:.)

Rosa74 said:
Really??? Thanks! I'm buying tickets now! :love:
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:cool: Hope you have a great time.

After the show, hope you will share some of your observations :popcorn:.
 
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drivingmissdaisy said:
That's a strange thought. Mariah exhibits so much more youthful exuberance.
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Mariah, Gracie and Kaetlyn are all the same age (21 that is). However, I don't remember Mariah competing with them as juniors. Gracie and Kaetlyn last competed as juniors with the class of 2012, and results were as follows;

1 Yulia Lipnitskaya
2 Gracie Gold
3 Adelina Sotnikova
4 Satoko Miyahara
5 Li Zijun
6 Polina Shelepen
7 Christina Gao
8 Kim Hae-jin
9 Joshi Helgesson
10 Kaetlyn Osmond
 
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Osmond4gold said:
Mariah, Gracie and Kaetlyn are all the same age (21 that is). However, I don't remember Mariah competing with them as juniors.
9 Joshi Helgesson
10 Kaetlyn Osmond
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She competed as a junior nationally until the 2012-2013 season, when she placed second behind Polina Edmunds. She did JGP in the 2013-2014 season, but competed as a senior at 2014 nationals, where she placed 13th. She made her senior international debut at Nebelhorn Trophy at the start of the 2014-2015 season, so two years after Gracie and Kaetlyn did.

So basically she was in the same "class" as Polina Edmunds, but it took a few seasons for her skating to gel.
 
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Mariah always had well-developed presentation skills as a junior, but she struggled with lutz and flip.
 
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