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

[qwerty]

Some footage of Gracie at Stars on Ice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf4XtfXgvYA

I don't think it's unkind to mention she doesn't look on track to make the Olympic team at this juncture. Hopefully with the remaining time and some inclination, she can get ready for the upcoming season over the summer.

 

[KatGrace1925]

Some footage of Gracie at Stars on Ice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf4XtfXgvYA

I don't think it's unkind to mention she doesn't look on track to make the Olympic team at this juncture. Hopefully with the remaining time and some inclination, she can get ready for the upcoming season over the summer.

What is on track at this point when looking at a stars on ice program. She doesn't even look like she tried to do more than she did here.

 

[qwerty]

What is on track at this point when looking at a stars on ice program. She doesn't even look like she tried to do more than she did here.

It would've been assuring to see a rotated triple jump, or a double axel. Of course SOI isn't where one makes or breaks the Olympic team, but I guess I was hoping to see a bit more from Gracie. We'll see how she progresses once the real season starts and she's put in some more training time- assuming that's still what she wants to do.

 

[mrrice]

It would've been assuring to see a rotated triple jump, or a double axel. Of course SOI isn't where one makes or breaks the Olympic team, but I guess I was hoping to see a bit more from Gracie. We'll see how she progresses once the real season starts and she's put in some more training time- assuming that's still what she wants to do.

That's the real question when it comes to Gracie. She looks to be lacking some fire these days and I have to wonder how motivated she is..

 

[skatinggold]

Gracie just looks out of shape. Hope she gets fit in the next few months. I don't think her mind is in skating anymore, she is ready to move on from this.

 

[qwerty]

[/B]

That's the real question when it comes to Gracie. She looks to be lacking some fire these days and I have to wonder how motivated she is..

I wonder that too, but don't want to speculate too much about it. Time will tell!

 

[skylark]

Ashley's doing Exogenesis for SOI, and wearing the silvery rain costume I love!:luv17: I'm so glad she's sharing this beautiful program with SOI audiences. And even in this abbreviated version, she did a lovely triple flip, a gorgeous triple loop and 2 solid double axels.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU2yxgsKB-Q

 

[skylark]

It would've been assuring to see a rotated triple jump, or a double axel. Of course SOI isn't where one makes or breaks the Olympic team, but I guess I was hoping to see a bit more from Gracie. We'll see how she progresses once the real season starts and she's put in some more training time- assuming that's still what she wants to do.

Whether she intended to do a single axel and a double ... what was that, a double toe?.... I find it equally upsetting. If she meant to do single axel and a double jump, then to me it seems she didn't think much about the people who paid for tickets to see their beloved Gracie skate. If she popped both jumps, where in the world was her training for show skating? She had plenty of time to be ready.

Motivation is the question, you're right. Hopefully Marina can help her figure it out. I did like her Russian split and falling leaf jumps near the end.

 

[skylark]

A beautiful "Butterfly Lovers" skate by Karen Chen for SOI. Okay, she popped a jump but completed several others. I'm usually a little ambivalent about programs featuring props. But these really showed off her spiral series in spectacular fashion. Especially the middle spiral position. She has such beautiful extension.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhk4JcA5GU

 

[LiamForeman]

A beautiful "Butterfly Lovers" skate by Karen Chen for SOI. Okay, she popped a jump but completed several others. I'm usually a little ambivalent about programs featuring props. But these really showed off her spiral series in spectacular fashion. Especially the middle spiral position. She has such beautiful extension.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhk4JcA5GU

She's such a beautiful skater. I agree, I cannot stand props. Have some butterfly wings attached to your dress. It just looked like a glittered up leotard and props. I could see where they were going with it, but this program had me thinking a prettier dress with butterfly wings would have been much more effective. But still, a good outing for her!

 

[Ice Dance]

I could see where they were going with it

Karen has had this program since 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_nH1dPb_90

It is stunning, IMO, exactly as it is.

 

[silverskates]

Karen has had this program since 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_nH1dPb_90
It is stunning, IMO, exactly as it is.

I think so, too!

Have some butterfly wings attached to your dress. It just looked like a glittered up leotard and props. I could see where they were going with it, but this program had me thinking a prettier dress with butterfly wings would have been much more effective.

I kind of disagree. Attaching wings to a dress would be tacky (reminds me of a girl playing dress-up), not to mention that they might limit mobility and get in the way of jumping, etc. Plus, they would be static -- just part of the costume. The way that Karen used her props to accent the performance was lovely and dynamic.

 

[sarama]

Regarding Gracie, I want to believe that she took a break from training, so that she will be well rested to start preparing for the Olympic season. Otherwise yes, she doesn't look on the right path towards Pyeongchang.

 

[truthbooth]

That clip of Gracie is discouraging. I know it's only one instance, and it's a show, but yikes, even the layback looks out of form.

 

[leafygreens]

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.

But you're forgetting why Ashley performed like that in 2014 - she can't handle pressure when Olympic spots are on the line. She did poorly at worlds '17 with the pressure of earning three spots, and the only reason she has a chance for the third spot now is because of Karen.

A case could be made that Ashley won't be worried about placing 4th or lower at nationals, since USFSA bailed her out with the "body of work" loophole. If Ashley knew there was going to be a bailout in 2014, I doubt she would have done so poorly.

It really depends on if USFSA makes it known early whether they're going to use the loophole again this season. In '14 they didn't start leaking murmurs about using the loophole it until practice started at nationals. One of the favorites was unexpectedly bad in practice and they had to hurriedly put out the damage control.

But I don't think they want to make a habit out of using the loophole, which is why they left the pairs standings alone. So it's hard to say what they'll do this time around. Now that Gracie is pretty much out, I doubt they'll have as many endorsements to protect by keeping the favorites intact as a team. Nor do they want to repeat the bad publicity of '14. Can you imagine if Mirai places 3rd again and gets bumped?

 

[Moxiejan]

There was not a "loophole" in 2014 to put Ashley on the team and there wasn't a "loophole" for teams in 2015 and onward. There was/is a selection criteria that USFS has in place prior to the start of any season. By the criteria for 2014 (posted by USFS in the summer of 2013), Ashley was far ahead of both Polina and Mirai. Unless she had a total meltdown at Nationals, she was going to be on the team. Losing by a relative few points to Mirai wasn't going to do it, since she beat her in every other category.

Remember, it was never stated that Mirai was bumped for Ashley. It's more likely that Mirai was bumped for Polina.

 

[frida80]

But you're forgetting why Ashley performed like that in 2014 - she can't handle pressure when Olympic spots are on the line. She did poorly at worlds '17 with the pressure of earning three spots, and the only reason she has a chance for the third spot now is because of Karen.

A case could be made that Ashley won't be worried about placing 4th or lower at nationals, since USFSA bailed her out with the "body of work" loophole. If Ashley knew there was going to be a bailout in 2014, I doubt she would have done so poorly.

It really depends on if USFSA makes it known early whether they're going to use the loophole again this season. In '14 they didn't start leaking murmurs about using the loophole it until practice started at nationals. One of the favorites was unexpectedly bad in practice and they had to hurriedly put out the damage control.

But I don't think they want to make a habit out of using the loophole, which is why they left the pairs standings alone. So it's hard to say what they'll do this time around. Now that Gracie is pretty much out, I doubt they'll have as many endorsements to protect by keeping the favorites intact as a team. Nor do they want to repeat the bad publicity of '14. Can you imagine if Mirai places 3rd again and gets bumped?

2014 was a full on PR nightmare that hurt a lot of parties. Since Ashley only got 7th when before nationals she was expected to be just off the podium with a possibility of bronze. She can't count on being bailed out again. they'll probably go with the top three and move on.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Regarding Gracie, I want to believe that she took a break from training, so that she will be well rested to start preparing for the Olympic season. Otherwise yes, she doesn't look on the right path towards Pyeongchang.

The problem is that "taking a break" was part of the problem last year. She got a late start and never got caught up. She can't really afford a slow start to her season this year. She really needs to start off with a bang.

 

[moriel]

The problem is that "taking a break" was part of the problem last year. She got a late start and never got caught up. She can't really afford a slow start to her season this year. She really needs to start off with a bang.

I wouldnt mind a late start if she looked in shape here.
She looks kinda awkward and slow here, also those jumps =/ Just too much to catch up.

 

[Plisskin]

I wasn't expecting Gracie to bust out with 3-3's on this tour, but I was expecting to see her in-shape atleast, and doing more than a single and a double... Even her layback wasn't very good... I'd love to see a new reformed Gracie, but after this, If I'm being honest, I've kind of lowered my expectations so I won't be disappointed if she shows up in the same shape she was earlier this season or worse.