2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating
- Thread starter R.D.
- Start date
I hope we'll get to see protocols...I haven't seen those yet.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2006
Until this weekend I was firmly in the "I don't understand the appeal of Bradie Tennell" camp, but having seen her skate IRL, I can see why she's in the mix. She is an incredible jumper and spinner, and her programs this season are beautifully choreographed (SP is Scott Brown; FS is Benoit Richaud). I get the sense with these two programs, she is looking to spend one final year on the JGP* before moving up to the Senior ranks? That was my impression. Who knows, Mai Mihara had a similar youthful packaging this past season and fared well on the Senior circuit.
* Correct me if I'm wrong on JGP age qualification; I never seem to get the age calculation right for it.
She's too old. Last year was her last year eligible as a junior.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2006
Thanks. Wasn't too sure if she was age eligible.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
Ugh, if Bradie competes in another junior competition I'm going to be so fed up. My biggest USFS pet peeve is when they send girls ages 17+ - the age when girls usually seem to be at their competitive peak on the senior level - to junior competitions. Those junior spots should be going to girls who have real potential to be ~the future~ of the sport in order to help them develop and to give them a chance to compete against the top girls of their age (Japanese and Russian ladies, who are all 16 or younger*). I have zero interest in seeing an 18 year old losing to 14 year olds. Sure, there are late bloomers, but even Queen of the late bloomers Ashley Wagner was on the JWC podium at ~16 and then moved right up to seniors.
If Bradie can skate with Mai Mihara consistency, it doesn't matter how she's packaged - she'll make the US team. But blah blah blah consistency and underrotations - it's the same old story for the US ladies.
Even though I'm coming off as very harsh, I do think Bradie deserves the SA spot above all others, and if she goes and places in the top 6, that will be a victory for her.
*There's probably an outlier or two. Don't pick on me.
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
Preach!!!
Only, imo, bradie 's skating is so blah and boring and sloppy and juniorish. She just can't sell her footwork sequence, and I don't know who's idea it was for her to use Cinderella.
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
Preach!!!
Only, imo, bradie 's skating is so blah and boring and sloppy and juniorish. She just can't sell her footwork sequence, and I don't know who's idea it was for her to use Cinderella.
I'm not a Bradie fan whatsoever but the choreo was probably a joint decision between her, her coach and Benoit Richaud who is a very good choreographer.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
I finally got to see Bradie's Free Program on YouTube. IMO, she's more of a 3-6 placement skater going into Nationals. Nice jumps but, to me, she still lacks the artistry that the older skaters have. Karen, Ashley, Mirai, Mariah Bell, and a healthy Gracie are far more mature. Her jumps are great but, she needs a bit more time develop her component mark. She'll be great for the future but, I don't see her making the Olympic Team unless some of the top ladies make mistakes at Nationals. Something I hope doesn't happen.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
I just watched Bradie's LP myself too! Her jumps look bigger than I remember.
And her music + costume gives me many shades of Gracie 2014, just appearance-wise. All she's missing is the high bun.
Also, Bradie is 19. One of the "older" skaters you listed, Karen, is 17 now. I think if Bradie was 15-16 right now, skating like she does now, I would be excited about her.
Ugh, I hate harping on age, but with the US ladies, it is a major factor. Our "up and comers" for the future can't be the ladies who are older than the current two-time World Champion.
Post-2018, depending on who retires, Bradie could be an okay #3, rather like Mariah Bell is now, who is a late bloomer herself (though Mariah had to first change coaches to Kori, then to Raf in order to develop artistically and technically). But I'll be (pleasantly) shocked if she's ever responsible for helping the US ladies retain 3 spots at Worlds, for example.
And that's not to knock Bradie's skating or her accomplishments. Different skaters have different ceilings, different levels of potential, and being a top 6 girl at US Nationals is a wonderful achievement. Getting to compete at a few senior GPs and maybe even Four Continents will give her more goals to reach for.
So, I'm watching Courtney Hicks's FP from Philly. She begins her program with StSq and then does a super sharp 3F3Lo. Impressive!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0cJQEMTOLM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0cJQEMTOLM
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
I agree with this. IMO, Karen is the skater we need to be focusing on. For some reason, I thought Mariah Bell was in her 20's. This is a weird time in US Ladies skating. In most cases, skaters like Ashley and Mirai would be retired by now. Especially Mirai, who will be trying to make her Olympic Team for the 3rd time....This GP Season will be a mental test as well. We have a deep field of Ladies who are looking good and it's a very exciting time.
Yes! Despite Courtney's later mistakes in the program, I was much more impressed by her than by Bradie. So much more attack and emotion. I'd love for her to get a Grand Prix assignment (either the Skate America TBD or as a replacement for a withdrawal) & then still be in the third-spot discussion come Nationals.
I wish I liked Bradie more than I do. She has crisp jumps & pretty spins. But, yes, all I keep feeling when I watch her is "Gracie clone"; even the costumes.
There's only a 1.5 year difference between Bradie and Karen. And yes, 19 is "old" relative to the Russian wonderkids, but she's hardly a senior citizen. Another thing to keep in mind is that she dealt with injuries leading up to the last two seasons -- and it's quite note worthy that she has managed to recover well enough to post two solid top-10 U.S. Nationals finishers in spite of those setbacks.
I feel like putting out my pom-poms for Granny Bradie from now on.
Also for Granny Courtney too! Go GRANDMAS.
ETA: Regardless of how old Bradie is -- she is giving MAJOR notice. She's basically hit her 3Z-3T and 2A-3T at both her summer competitions (Philadelphia and Broadmoor Open) so far (and she also landed a 3Z-3T at a small club comp as well IIRC). That consistency is pretty amazing considering the inconsistency of our ladies.
I feel like putting out my pom-poms for Granny Bradie from now on.
Also for Granny Courtney too! Go GRANDMAS.ETA: Regardless of how old Bradie is -- she is giving MAJOR notice. She's basically hit her 3Z-3T and 2A-3T at both her summer competitions (Philadelphia and Broadmoor Open) so far (and she also landed a 3Z-3T at a small club comp as well IIRC). That consistency is pretty amazing considering the inconsistency of our ladies.
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- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
There's only a 1.5 year difference between Bradie and Karen. And yes, 19 is "old" relative to the Russian wonderkids, but she's hardly a senior citizen. Another thing to keep in mind is that she dealt with injuries leading up to the last two seasons -- and it's quite note worthy that she has managed to recover well enough to post two solid top-10 U.S. Nationals finishers in spite of those setbacks.
I feel like putting out my pom-poms for Granny Bradie from now on.
Ha, responses like these are why I hate being that person who keeps talking about age
.I want everyone to kick butt - but I also want to have realistic expectations of what someone is capable of achieving, and competitive results are dependent on what the competition is achieving, too. If wunderkinds are setting the bar, that's how we should evaluate someone's potential competitive results.
I'm also perfectly happy to be proven wrong by the skaters I may be underestimating. I'd love nothing more, really.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I like Courtney a lot, but I'd have to give Bradie the nod for Skate America. Courtney has got to execute her jumps more consistently and not lose focus after achieving her big opening combo.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
I agree. Based solely on the result of their most recent head to head competition. This was an event where Courtney could have locked down the spot by defeating Bradie and Angela Wang. That didn't happen and I think Bradie deserves the spot. If Courtney can beat her at some GP's then it won't matter by the time Nationals rolls around.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
Just watched Tessa's SP. It wasn't as bad to watch as it looked on paper. She's very polished, and her 3-3 didn't have bad height and distance even though it was URed.
I'm (optimistically) hoping that with her talent and the experience of her coaching team (aka Frank Carroll), that maybe next year will be her time to make a splash. She's doing all her SP jumps in the second half, and even if they aren't there yet, it shows that she has her eye on the future.
That said, if she's still underrotating during the JGP, USFS should NOT send her to any. I'm all for young talent getting competitive experience, but she would do well to avoid getting a reputation for URs while she's overcoming injury and growth.
I'm (optimistically) hoping that with her talent and the experience of her coaching team (aka Frank Carroll), that maybe next year will be her time to make a splash. She's doing all her SP jumps in the second half, and even if they aren't there yet, it shows that she has her eye on the future.
That said, if she's still underrotating during the JGP, USFS should NOT send her to any. I'm all for young talent getting competitive experience, but she would do well to avoid getting a reputation for URs while she's overcoming injury and growth.
Courtney can't beat anyone in the GPs; she didn't get an assignment. Perhaps you meant Senior Bs?
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
You're right. Well, if she was hoping for the TBD spot at Skate America, I don't think she should get it over Bradie. This year will be about delivering the goods under extreme pressure and Bradie answered the call. When will we see Courtney again? I remember back in 2015 when Tuk competed in several Senior B's and it really paid off for her. IMO, it's still to early to get over involved in results. Right now, I just like seeing the programs and imagining where they'll end up at the end of the GP season.
