Champs camp coverage

[Tallorder]

Honestly if money is that tight I kinda think one less day of camp team building and more skaters would be the wiser investment.

I believe it may have less to do with the number of days, than the cost of air fare for a skater and accompanying coach. Housing I believe is mostly provided at below hotel rate costs with athletes and coaches staying in the dormitories of the Olympic Training Center (OTC) so an additional night is less of a needle mover from a cost standpoint.

There are monitoring sessions at many of the major summer events (Glacier Falls, Detroit, Lake Placid) which does expand the opportunity for feedback for a broader group of competitors.

 

[Ice Dance]

Yes, which is why it seems odd that two who are high on the replacement list (Amber and Courtney) did not get invites.

No. It's more odd that there are two pairs teams without an assigned GP. Athletes have come off the replacement list and gotten a surprise GP without having attended Champs Camp before. I don't think it is that uncommon. Can anyone think of an example recently of an athlete being invited that did not get a GP? (Other than those that had to pull out due to injury).

Skate America is much later this year than normal. So that may have something to do with it. Or perhaps USFSA knows something about the pairs GP field that we do not know.

 

[karne]

It's almost like Gracie showed up mainly for the team picture and interaction with TPTB. If she did just change her SP, she could have at least marked a few sections with music, to give an idea of it. And if it's not far enough along to do even that, she's very behind for the season.

Whoa there. That is a massive and unfair speculation to make based on exactly no evidence. Literally the only "evidence" that Gracie "didn't skate her SP" comes from, of all people, Dave Lease. You know, that crazy egomaniac who likes to get attention...? And who certainly was NOT ACTUALLY THERE?

 

[mrrice]

Here's my question. Are the skaters required to have a program ready to attend Champs Camp? What is the point of going if they don't have something to show the Judges when they get there? Perfect or not, at least Courtney Hicks has programs to be evaluated. If Gracie doesn't even have an SP, other than comradery, what's the point of her attending this camp? Why not stay home and work with Marina and her team to get herself ready for the Olympic Season. I'm baffled by everything I've seen from her ever since her poor performances in the summer shows. Can someone explain the process.

 

[qwerty]

I wonder if the Gracie situation is something of a Michelle Kwan Torino story- keep the hype alive for one last season even if physically reaching the Olympics is not a strong possibility. Of course the difference is unlike Michelle, Gracie could still achieve top physical form if she trained rigorously (I imagine).

All speculation on my part.

 

[hippomoomin]

Sorry I am a little behind. Were skaters only expected to show their sp only, not the lp at Champs Camp?

For those looking for more Champs camp "news", according to The Skating Lesson, Gracie Gold didn't skate her SP. Also, Lynn Rutherford was there and she's going to be on the next Ice Talk episode and she's going to talk a little about Champs Camp.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Here's my question. Are the skaters required to have a program ready to attend Champs Camp? What is the point of going if they don't have something to show the Judges when they get there? Perfect or not, at least Courtney Hicks has programs to be evaluated. If Gracie doesn't even have an SP, other than comradery, what's the point of her attending this camp? Why not stay home and work with Marina and her team to get herself ready for the Olympic Season. I'm baffled by everything I've seen from her ever since her poor performances in the summer shows. Can someone explain the process.

The main point of Champs Camp is to present your programs for the season to a closed evaluation team to get feedback and/or approval. Gracie couldn't stay home because she was pretty much required to be there and Marina and her team (Massi Scali as well) were all there for her and others they coach. If Gracie indeed did not present her SP it may have been because she's in the process of getting a new one and had already gotten the approval of the USFS for that.

 

[karne]

Sorry I am a little behind. Were skaters only expected to show their sp only, not the lp at Champs Camp?

They generally show both programs.

However, ONCE AGAIN: THE ONLY "EVIDENCE" OF THIS IS A TSL TWEET. Literally a tweet from a raging, attention-seeking egomaniac WHO WAS NOT THERE.

You know, I feel pretty bad for Gracie, that everyone seems to immediately jump to assuming the worst of her.

 

[Ice Dance]

I would think of Champs Camp as mandatory, barring injury or something like a family tragedy. The Camp is a big deal. (I&Z flew all the way to Russia last season for Russian Champs Camp while still dealing with injury and unable to skate their programs for the public. S&K went while he still had a shoulder injury and couldn't perform the lifts).

Gracie's attending has nothing to do with anyone else's invitations. She earned her GP spots. If she (or any athlete here other than one at SA) has to pull out then the spot is lost and the host country for those events gets to select ANY athlete from the ten international athletes on the replacement list. USFSA does not control that.

Marina went to Camp. She has the Shibs so she would not be working with Gracie if Gracie stayed home.

 

[andromache]

I wonder if the Gracie situation is something of a Michelle Kwan Torino story- keep the hype alive for one last season even if physically reaching the Olympics is not a strong possibility. Of course the difference is unlike Michelle, Gracie could still achieve top physical form if she trained rigorously (I imagine).

All speculation on my part.

Ugh, no. The situations aren't even comparable.

Gracie has GP spots she has earned, thus she is at Champs Camp. Like, even if at worst she can only do singles and will place last in whatever she does, she has earned those GP spots and belongs at Champs Camp.

 

[katmari]

From the USFSA website:

http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=84156&menu=TeamUSA

Members of the International Selection Pool have the opportunity to participate in one of two types of summertime camps: Team USA Camps or Champs Camp. The Summer Team USA Camps are strongly recommended for all ISP athletes not assigned to a Grand Prix Series event as well as coaches of an ISP athlete assigned to or being considered for a Junior Grand Prix or Senior B event. All athletes assigned to a Grand Prix Series event and their coaches are required to attend Champs Camp.

More info about the different camps

 

[el henry]

I will say all of this conversation *has* explained something that I did not know: why they had rooms with "Feedback" (or words that were very close to that) posted on them at the Philly International Comp. I had no clue what that meant.

Well, duh

 

[qwerty]

Ugh, no. The situations aren't even comparable.

Gracie has GP spots she has earned, thus she is at Champs Camp. Like, even if at worst she can only do singles and will place last in whatever she does, she has earned those GP spots and belongs at Champs Camp.

Oh, I'm not saying she doesn't deserve to be at Champs Camp. The point was more, this would definitely be the year to keep up appearances even if you are lacking motivation or are nursing injury, as it's a potentially lucrative time to be a figure skater, among other reasons. I'm drifting from the topic though, so I'll butt out...

 

[mrrice]

Oh, I'm not saying she doesn't deserve to be at Champs Camp. The point was more, this would definitely be the year to keep up appearances even if you are lacking motivation or are nursing injury, as it's a potentially lucrative time to be a figure skater, among other reasons. I'm drifting from the topic though, so I'll butt out...

You might be drifting but you're correct. If Gracie is nursing an injury, there's a chance she could lose sponsorship or endorsement money. 2 Season ago, Gracie seemed like our best chance to get a lady on the Olympic Podium. 2 short seasons ago Gracie was 4th in the World. I am truly hoping that last year was a glitch in her long career. I think she struggled with motivation and missed having Carly in the rink with her. If Gracie is still getting over an injury, I would rather hear that than see her continue to struggle.

 

[andromache]

The latest Icetalk episode has Lynn Rutherford back from Champs Camp. She gives her impressions on various skaters and it sounds like she thinks motivation is still a major issue with Gracie.
http://web.icenetwork.com/fans/icetalk

Yikes - what a shame. (I started listening to the episode, haven't reached that part yet.) If she has another season like the last and ends her career like that, it will truly be one of the biggest wastes of talent in figure skating. She might not be mentally built for so much pressure - and it's easier not to care at all than to face heart-wrenching disappointment over and over again. I'll keep my fingers crossed for her though.

On a lighter note, Karen and Ashley both seem very positive! It should be noted also that Karen picked both of her programs this season - sure, they're major warhorses, but they're what she chose, and she's clearly able to deliver them well. It's great to see a young skater taking so much ownership of her skating.

ETA: It also sounds like the rise of Karen has really motivated Ashley to work on those spins. Awesome!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Now I'm even more excited about Mirai, Karen, and Ashley. Shame they didn't talk about Mariah Bell or Bradie. As for the ice dance teams, I seriously want to see all of their programs now.

 

[Moxiejan]

It also sounds like the rise of Karen has really motivated Ashley to work on those spins. Awesome!

Yes, I was very happy to hear this! Back in her "Black Swan" days, Ashley had quite good spins, with much better speed. It has occurred to me that the reason she has grown averse to practicing them is due to her concussion issues.

Yet, she is a strategic & logical lady; I'm sure it has occurred to her that the faster she can get those required revolutions done for Level 4 spins, the less program time will be spent on them. So perhaps she is concentrating on spins for one last competitive season, with the knowledge that she can back off again for any future shows/exhibitions.

 

[all that]

Ok, so @nakediceblog, whom I follow religiously (LOL) tweeted an AMAZING idea that I think US figure skating should consider: coverage of champs camp! This would be awesome for new fans and would definitely generate interest in the sport leading up to the olympics. Think of it: interviews with those elite who even got invited to champs camp in the first place. Inside scoop on how skaters choose their programs. Those programs that "didn't make the cut " and on the advice of US officials, got put on the cutting room floor. Practice sessions of skaters trying to outdo each other. Drama and intrigue that just goes along with the sport. Etc etc etc......
Good idea?? Great idea!!! Put it on YouTube! Putting it on ice network would do nothing and wouldn't distribute it to a wide audience.

Can anyone get this idea to one of the "higher-ups" please??

You mean like the way Canada does their High Performance Camp (which is basically the same thing as Champs Camp)? I think its awful for the skaters.

 

[skylark]

The latest Icetalk episode has Lynn Rutherford back from Champs Camp. She gives her impressions on various skaters and it sounds like she thinks motivation is still a major issue with Gracie.
http://web.icenetwork.com/fans/icetalk

I don't disagree, but the way I heard it is that it's a process and Gracie is taking good steps in that direction; but it's short time, and the next few months will go fast. I'm happy that Gracie seems happy, to be there, to be with friends, and to have earned this chance. thank you for alerting us that this interview was up. I really enjoyed it.

This is what I think as well. I love Gracie and if she's done with skating, I'd rather see her retire and go out with dignity. I'd hate to see her skate at her GP's and not even make the broadcast because she finishes out of the top 10. Marina needs to sit her down and have a deep conversation with her. If she's done, I'm fine with that. I will still be her fan no matter what.

To play devil's advocate ... every situation is individual, but Brian Boitano skated poorly at the '94 Olympics. He'd lobbied for years for athletes to be able to return to competition. It must have been embarrassing to skate the way he did, but in Skate Talk, he said that what he got from it was how well he was received afterward. Something like, people loved him anyway and respected him for trying. (paraphrase). I feel like that's going to be true with Gracie, whatever struggles people see her go through. I hope that made sense.

 

[ssffww]

But the problem with US skaters is that they can never stand up to the pressure! Hardly ever! So saying that there would be pressure on them, well, there's even bigger pressure at competition. And there just needs to be a new system for the US. Japan and Russia are producing stars and they're almost always able to perform when the cameras are ready.

I think your statement that U.S. skates "can never stand up to pressure" is a bit exaggerated.