2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[MarinHondas]

Although Bradie will get the spot and I'm happy for her, because I think she does have a nice way about her skating and she's semi-consistent, I would have liked to see USFSA take a chance and give it to Amber. Amber has something in her that I have not seen from a US lady in a long time. Her jumps are really amazing and her performance quality is through the roof. Her spins do not lack either. Of course, It's hard to make an arguement for her bc she has major major major consistency issues. She needs to get the popping habit under control. Love both of them though and wish both the best of luck moving forward.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Sorry but I don't feel like Bradie should have the spot for SKAM. She was consistently second at best at the Philadelphia competition in scores but luckily scored around a point and a half or so to top Angela Wang there. I'll take Angela any day over Bradie. Sorry not sorry.:sarcasm:
https://www.facebook.com/IFSmagazine/photos/pcb.10156419048077538/10156419044102538/?type=3&theater

 

[Ice Dance]

Sorry but I don't feel like Bradie should have the spot for SKAM. She was consistently second at best at the Philadelphia competition in scores but luckily scored around a point and a half or so to top Angela Wang there. I'll take Angela any day over Bradie. Sorry not sorry.:sarcasm:

It's a sport, and Bradie got the job done. I'd assume Angela will get a Challenger. Nothing is stopping her from earning her own place onto the GP. At least she is healthy enough this season to be able to compete.

 

[Ice Dance]

Angela had an argument, as I said earlier in this thread. But she lost in head-to-head competition. If stating that is rude, you are correct. Nothing can be done to make me say it less rudely. I'm sorry she was injured last season when she had the opportunity to attend. Likewise sorry that Bradie was injured as well. Personally, I was rooting for Caroline to go to SA.

But Bradie had the strongest results this summer & the guts to go out twice. I can be disappointed and acknowledge her success at the same time.

 

[hippomoomin]

The good thing about Bradie is that she is probably done with growth spurt, and she is probably one of those naturally thin ladies, so I can only expect she gets better in technique. I wish she had better LP though this season. It is too junior-ish.

 

[Seren]

I'm not sure what to think about Bradie. I think my issue with her is that at 19, she's not all that competitive with juniors (7th in Junior Worlds last year) so I'm not exactly confident in how she'll do this year in Seniors. Part of that is the fault of USFS in sending older skaters to get beat by skaters 5 years younger but that isn't the point. If Bradie was going to be a threat we likely would know by now.

 

[Ice Dance]

I'm not sure what to think about Bradie. I think my issue with her is that at 19, she's not all that competitive with juniors (7th in Junior Worlds last year) so I'm not exactly confident in how she'll do this year in Seniors. Part of that is the fault of USFS in sending older skaters to get beat by skaters 5 years younger but that isn't the point. If Bradie was going to be a threat we likely would know by now.

I don't think she is likely to be an international threat at SA either, but she is good enough to be one to the other ladies in the running.

That said, Karen Chen finished 8th & 9th at Junior Worlds. Mariah never earned her way there at all. Amber Glenn's highest finish was 7th. Kaetlyn Osmond's highest finish was 10th. Mai Mihara didn't make it to Junior Worlds and finished 6th only last year at the JGPF. The junior field is very, very tough. (Shiraiwa was fifth and outscored the entire senior Japanese ladies field in TES during the free last year at Japanese Nationals). I do think Bradie has the potential to grow as a performer, and that a trip to the GP might be a good push in that direction. I'm sure if the U.S. had an age-eligible junior lady who had finished higher than 7th last year, we would be discussing sending her. But no such young lady exists. And there's no evidence that any of these other ladies would be more competitive against the current crop of junior ladies. Along with Bradie, all the competitors in the free skate in Philadelphia lost to Hanul Kim, who did not medal on the JGP last season.

 

[mrrice]

Where does Courtney Hicks fit into all of this? Unless I missed her, She is not in the Champs Camp photo.

 

[Moxiejan]

Where does Courtney Hicks fit into all of this?

Very good question. She got a GP medal last year, is higher than others (Polina, Bradie, etc.) in international rankings and has had strong moments in summer events.
And yet, not even one GP for this year. And no Senior Bs yet.

Maybe USFS figures that she'll get one or two GPs if/when people pull out. But in that case, it would have made sense to include her in Champs Camp.
Very odd.

 

[hippomoomin]

I don't think a spot at SA is meant to be given someone with a wow factor, not even the 3rd ranked US lady no matter who she is right now. Bradie should be an example of if you try hard and be consistent and make steady improvement, you will have a chance no matter how old you are.

I'm not sure what to think about Bradie. I think my issue with her is that at 19, she's not all that competitive with juniors (7th in Junior Worlds last year) so I'm not exactly confident in how she'll do this year in Seniors. Part of that is the fault of USFS in sending older skaters to get beat by skaters 5 years younger but that isn't the point. If Bradie was going to be a threat we likely would know by now.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

I live in the US, Michigan. Can someone tell me what time the first JGP event for singles skaters begins?

 

[Ice Dance]

Where does Courtney Hicks fit into all of this? In less I missed her, She is not in the Champs Camp photo.

I think she is ranked second on the Grand Prix replacement list.

On the plus side for Courtney, she has one of the highest summer scores after Bradie. The judges' feedback for Courtney's new programs seems to be quite good.

On the negative side for Courtney, Amber Glenn is ranked ahead of her on the replacement list (so it's possible USFSA could support Amber first for any openings, and the odds aren't good for two American ladies getting an opening). And Courtney absolutely tanked at Nationals. She is in a bit of the same sticky situation that Mirai was in a couple years ago. Very high up on the replacement list. But while her GP medal last season might help her win support from USFSA, it may also backfire in that other countries may not want to invite her to an event. There should be openings. It's ladies singles. But will the host countries where there are openings want to invite an athlete who could medal? Some countries would. Some will not.

We wait and see. And, in the meantime, Courtney needs to go out and show her stuff on the Challenger series. I would assume she will get a spot there, based on her summer results, experience, & scoring potential.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I live in the US, Michigan. Can someone tell me what time the first JGP event for singles skaters begins?

Even though this isn't the place for this:

Thursday:
Ladies SP: 12 am
Mens SP: 3.45 am

Friday:
SD: 12.45 am
Men LP: 2.45 am
Ladies LP: 10.30 pm


Saturday:
FD: 2.30 am

 

[frida80]

I think she is ranked second on the Grand Prix replacement list.

On the plus side for Courtney, she has one of the highest summer scores after Bradie. The judges' feedback for Courtney's new programs seems to be quite good.

On the negative side for Courtney, Amber Glenn is ranked ahead of her on the replacement list (so it's possible USFSA could support Amber first for any openings, and the odds aren't good for two American ladies getting an opening). And Courtney absolutely tanked at Nationals. She is in a bit of the same sticky situation that Mirai was in a couple years ago. Very high up on the replacement list. But while her GP medal last season might help her win support from USFSA, it may also backfire in that other countries may not want to invite her to an event. There should be openings. It's ladies singles. But will the host countries where there are openings want to invite an athlete who could medal? Some countries would. Some will not.

We wait and see. And, in the meantime, Courtney needs to go out and show her stuff on the Challenger series. I would assume she will get a spot there, based on her summer results, experience, & scoring potential.

Courtney is next in line for the WR list and just after Amber for the SB. I hope that she gets chosen.

But the good news is that she will have two challenger series to gain more points and clot going into nationals. Her new programs are truly beautiful. I hope she does well this season.

 

[frida80]

Even though this isn't the place for this:

Thursday:
Ladies SP: 12 am
Mens SP: 3.45 am

Friday:
SD: 12.45 am
Men LP: 2.45 am
Ladies LP: 10.30 pm


Saturday:
FD: 2.30 am

Let me stock up on my coffee now. Ting is already in Australia and at practice. Good luck to her and Kaitlyn!

 

[SnowWhite]

Courtney is next in line for the WR list and just after Amber for the SB. I hope that she gets chosen.

But the good news is that she will have two challenger series to gain more points and clot going into nationals. Her new programs are truly beautiful. I hope she does well this season.

The alternate list is entirely based on the SB list. From the ISU 2017-18 GP announcement:

The alternate list needs to be worked through in ranking order for the top 75 ranked Skaters/Couples according to their Season’s Best. All Skaters/Couples of the alternate list will be grouped in top ranked groups of ten (10) Skaters, out of which the respective Organizing ISU Member may pick one Skater/Couple for invitation.

Skaters/Couples, who place first in any of the ISU Challenger Series events for 2016/17 and can prove to have skated the minimum total score or the minimum Technical score as mentioned in paragraph 2.3, as well as Skaters/Couples, who can prove to have skated the minimum Technical score will be added to the alternate list, bottom ranked according to their scores.

 

[frida80]

The alternate list is entirely based on the SB list. From the ISU 2017-18 GP announcement:

How unfortunate. Amber may very well get the next spot.

 

[SkaterX]

My two cents: What Bradie lacks is a persona. I don't know what she's all about. The programs I've seen from her are very generic. If she could develop some memorable, unique programs then I think she has a shot. Ashley has done this very well and I think it's a major factor in why she's had success on the senior circuit.

 

[R.D.]

My two cents: What Bradie [Tennell] lacks is a persona. I don't know what she's all about. The programs I've seen from her are very generic. If she could develop some memorable, unique programs then I think she has a shot.

Well said - for some reason she seems to be dominating the current conversation in this thread, but initially I had to recall who she even was, and once I did recall, remember her debut at US Nationals last year and that she "blended in with the crowd" so to speak.

 

[Ice Dance]

With regard to Courtney, I forgot about Polina.

Polina is a return skater. Her SB score from 2015/2016 serves as her SB score. It slides in above Courtney's and below Amber's on the replacement list so that would make Courtney third on the replacement list. Unless, of course, I've missed noting someone else (entirely plausible). Regardless Courtney is on the list.