Gracie Gold's prospects for 2018 season?

[sheetz]

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

 

[mrrice]

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

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.

 

[frida80]

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

It's what I suspected. It's going to take some real soul searching for her to really find that fire again. I hope she does. I feel like she's been doing this for everyone but herself. If she rediscovers her passion for skating, she'll be unstoppable.

 

[noskates]

Doesn't anyone find it sad that Gracie is being so maligned? Nobody really knows for sure what's going on with her unless she's told them. It's all speculation and it's almost a new "fad" to crack on Gracie. At least it takes the pressure off Mirai!

 

[andromache]

Doesn't anyone find it sad that Gracie is being so maligned? Nobody really knows for sure what's going on with her unless she's told them. It's all speculation and it's almost a new "fad" to crack on Gracie. At least it takes the pressure off Mirai!

I think it's 100% natural to speculate about an athlete whose career has faced a noticeable downturn. I think the vast majority of posters aren't speculating maliciously - we're just concerned fans who want to see Gracie do well again.

 

[skylark]

However, ONCE AGAIN: THE ONLY "EVIDENCE"

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

Everyone doesn't. Hundreds of people read this thread. A couple of people had questions probably born of hopes, concern and speculation.

But hey, anything that lets you repeat your usual maligning tirade against Dave Lease twice on the same page.

 

[mrrice]

Doesn't anyone find it sad that Gracie is being so maligned? Nobody really knows for sure what's going on with her unless she's told them. It's all speculation and it's almost a new "fad" to crack on Gracie. At least it takes the pressure off Mirai!

I don't believe "Maligned" is the correct word you're looking for. From what I've read, I get the feeling we're concerned that one of our brightest stars is struggling and we're worried that something is seriously wrong with her. Personally, I'm worried that she's skating for everyone but herself. I think we'd all still love her if she retired tomorrow. If she tells her fans that she just can't find the motivation to go through another season of constant travel, pressure, and being away from her friends and family, I think we'd all understand. I remember falling in love and it was VERY difficult to go back on tour after finally finding "The One." If she still loves to skate, then she'll be fine. The GP season has yet to begin and as a veteran skater, I'm sure she'll be able to learn her programs rather quickly.

 

[Jammers]

If Gracie can't find motivation for continuing to skate almost 18 months after Worlds then i think she needs to retire because i don't see her skating because she wants to but because people expect her to. I hated seeing her last season lose to skaters she was beating by 30 points the year before. The last thing i want to see is her end her career as a also ran who can't even medal at Senior B events skaters losing to vastly inferior skaters. Seeing her not even be able to land a single triple jump is to say the least. This from someone who was the best natural US Ladies jumper since Tonya. Even Ashley despite not being the athlete or jumper Gracie was and being older is doing 3-3 combo's even if they are sometimes underrotated. Gracie was never considered a slacker when it came to her training compared to some other US Ladies in the past and was almost always in top shape to compete but now it seems like she can't even get into the proper shape to land jumps she used to be able to do in her sleep. I just don't want to see someone who was a clean skate away from being World champion 18 months ago and who is still probably the most talented of the US Ladies go out like this.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Gracie (as well as Hawayek and Baker) are officially in Sun Valley for the Saturday night show.

 

[qwerty]

Gracie (as well as Hawayek and Baker) are officially in Sun Valley for the Saturday night show.

Is this the most scrutinized Sun Valley appearance ever? I have my fingers crossed that a triple jump of any flavor will be shown.

 

[R.D.]

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

Well, if Wagner wishes to stay relevant...she has little choice, now.

As for Gold - well, kinda silly to expect miracles in such a short amount of time. It's only August. That said, if the speculation is true and she does not TRULY love to skate...she has much bigger issues to deal with that are beyond the scope of this topic.

 

[mrrice]

Well, if Wagner wishes to stay relevant...she has little choice, now.

As for Gold - well, kinda silly to expect miracles in such a short amount of time. It's only August. That said, if the speculation is true and she does not TRULY love to skate...she has much bigger issues to deal with that are beyond the scope of this topic.

Whether or not Gracie loves to skate during an Olympic year, I think she will be left behind if she is not training the way she used to. We're about to see her this weekend and I think many of our questions will be answered. I'm still baffled that she didn't present either of her programs at champs camp and as talented she may be. I'll be shocked if she skates well this weekend. There are so many talented and hungry skaters going into this season and Gracie has to bring it each and every time she's in front of the judges. We all saw what happened with Ashley and Mirai in 2014. Gracie can't afford to wait until Nationals to get herself together. At this point, she is ranked below all 3 medalist from last season and I don't see Karen, Ashley, Mirai, or Mariah relaxing going into this new season.

 

[R.D.]

Whether or not Gracie loves to skate during an Olympic year, I think she will be left behind if she is not training the way she used to. We're about to see her this weekend and I think many of our questions will be answered.

That is more or less the underlying message - but also remember that even during her "normal" days she was an up-and-down skater at best. Frankly, none of her US competitors can claim to be much better in the consistency department, so ultimately it will come down to who can bring it on game day.

I would not write her off should she have a mediocre showing at whatever pre-season event she may be signed up for this weekend. However, if the struggles continue into the fall, going by the new US Olympic team selection rules, it may be increasingly tough to build a case for her even if she pulls it together enough at Nationals to slip in for 3rd (although it may depend on who is 4th behind her in that case).

 

[Gullygirl84]

Whether or not Gracie loves to skate during an Olympic year, I think she will be left behind if she is not training the way she used to. We're about to see her this weekend and I think many of our questions will be answered. I'm still baffled that she didn't present either of her programs at champs camp and as talented she may be. I'll be shocked if she skates well this weekend. There are so many talented and hungry skaters going into this season and Gracie has to bring it each and every time she's in front of the judges. We all saw what happened with Ashley and Mirai in 2014. Gracie can't afford to wait until Nationals to get herself together. At this point, she is ranked below all 3 medalist from last season and I don't see Karen, Ashley, Mirai, or Mariah relaxing going into this new season.

Well, to be fair, TSL's tweet specified that Gracie did not present her short program, not that Gracie did not present either program (leading some like me to speculate that she might be getting a new short? Though if she is doing the Senior B in September, it seems to be cutting it pretty close, but we should know soon enough what's going on).

 

[mrrice]

I feel terrible speculating about that I love so much and have loved ever since she was a Junior. Gracie has certainly had more success than Angela Wang but, I remember falling in love with both of them when they were Juniors. I know Gracie has it in her to get back to where she was and if she truly wants, I think she can get there. I speculate because I care........

 

[el henry]

You know, people, there are actually Gracie sightings in Jason's vlog, although not skating

(Skating gods, hear me, I am trying to re-route the conversation..... But God bless Gracie, and I'm not being snarky here, that people feel passionately enough about her to continue the discussion....)

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

As promised earlier in the thread: Here's my first part of the report on Gracie at Sun Valley.

Pro practice and show practice has been over for about a half hour now. From what I could see when I wasn't busy, she mostly ran choreography (which looked like she was having a hard time remembering), and practiced spins. She mostly did single jumps, waltz jumps and one or two badly UR doubles.

She wore all black with a oversized sweatshirt for 99% of the practice.


Will try to report later after the show.

 

[jFarrisFAN]

As promised earlier in the thread: Here's my first part of the report on Gracie at Sun Valley.

Pro practice and show practice has been over for about a half hour now. From what I could see when I wasn't busy, she mostly ran choreography (which looked like she was having a hard time remembering), and practiced spins. She mostly did single jumps, waltz jumps and one or two badly UR doubles.

She wore all black with a oversized sweatshirt for 99% of the practice.


Will try to report later after the show.

Cheated doubles?? Are you kidding me? She was doing that when she was 9.... maybe it was an exercise? If not I'm seriously concerned.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Cheated doubles?? Are you kidding me? She was doing that when she was 9.... maybe it was an exercise? If not I'm seriously concerned.

I'm reporting what I saw. Believe what you want.

 

[mrrice]

As promised earlier in the thread: Here's my first part of the report on Gracie at Sun Valley.

Pro practice and show practice has been over for about a half hour now. From what I could see when I wasn't busy, she mostly ran choreography (which looked like she was having a hard time remembering), and practiced spins. She mostly did single jumps, waltz jumps and one or two badly UR doubles.

She wore all black with a oversized sweatshirt for 99% of the practice.


Will try to report later after the show.

See what I mean....Marina is NOT the right coach for Gracie. My Ballet teacher would NEVER let us practice on an oversized sweatshirt. Seriously, we were practicing at the Sapporo the Ice Festival in Japan and we were in Unitards, Leg Warmers, and Beanies, that was it. How is Marina supposed to see Gracie's body lines while she's wearing an oversized sweatshirt? Here's a picture of the festival. https://ilikevents.com/images/share/event/sapporo-snow-feastival/pic2.jpg. When you're striving to be an Olympic Champion, you go all out when you get to an event. She'll never perform in anything as heavy as a sweatshirt and she shouldn't practice that way once she gets to an event.