- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
Please, mirai, don't get injured this season! I'm rooting for you!!
Any news on Mariah??
2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating
- Thread starter R.D.
- Start date
Please, mirai, don't get injured this season! I'm rooting for you!!
Any news on Mariah??
Starr didn't have the senior world ranking to be on the senior GP when countries made their picks this year. She could have gotten a host pick for Skate America, but can't do both the JGP and senior GP in the same season.
Starr is a very small sixteen without any experience on the JGP. If you didn't know her age, she would fit right in with the other athletes on the JGP. About the same size and experience level. And for all we know, she may already be done with her JGP season, though she has a shot at a second one. It would be nice to see her get a chance at a senior score this season as well, and I think it is quite plausible. All the junior men who planned to compete in senior nationals were given a senior challenger last year. Starr may receive the same.
Regardless, the JGP is a very good opportunity for her. Remember that she did not win junior nationals last season, nor was she initially selected for the junior world team. There are a lot of senior ladies that are likely ranked ahead of her in the pecking order for opportunities on the Challenger Series: Mariah, Mirai, Karen, Amber, Bradie, Angela, Courtney, and Caroline at least. Not ranked ahead of her because of their age but because of actual results. So it is good that Starr can compete against top level international athletes on the junior level. Gain the experience so that when the opportunities arise (and they will if her results are good) she is ready.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
I was just about to ask the same question. How is Mariah looking?
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
This is true and there's absolutely no rush for Starr to move up this season. There will be such a battle for Olympic spots and I think she should focus on improving her status on the Junior level. The last thing she needs to do is over train and push herself into an injury trying to land a triple axel. Hopefully she will focus on her jump quality and back loading. That strategy has lead Med to 2 World Titles and IMO, that's the path Starr should follow.
Wow, in a show. Hopefully she doesn't injure herself. If I recall, Meissner obtained what would end up being her career-ending injury on that jump.
That said, I don't know the likelihood that Nagasu would be given full credit for it, assuming she is successful in hitting it in a competition. Still, hats off to her for trying.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
Starr already has the Senior TES minimums for Four Continents, the Olympics, and Senior Worlds, if that is what you mean by a senior score?
Earned at the Philadelphia Summer International, where she competed as a Senior.
LOL, Starr's first Junior international was less than a year ago, and she just competed at her first JGP.
So IMO, she doesn't seem like a good example of staying junior "way too long." YMMV.
Starr already backloads. Not as much as Alina, but the same amount as Zhenia. Five jumping passes in the back half of her FS including a 3S+3T combo. Her SP could be tweaked so she does her 3T+3T in the back half and the Lutz in the beginning to maximize points. What Starr needs to work on is fixing her lutz edge, tweaking her FS so she can land everything consistently, improving her 3F+3T, and yes continue to work on her 3A. It's better to learn it while's she's young. Zhenia's strategy only works because she is consistent. Starr will never beat any Russia is she choses to copy them.
I'm tired of everyone saying skaters should backload, like there won't be fifteen Russians backloading already. The advanced jumps are coming. It's like saying five years ago that if you landed a triple triple you'd beat Yuna Kim. It takes more than just having what the winners have. You must have some advantage.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2016
Fair enough. What about Bradie Tennell? She was 19 at Junior Worlds this year.
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2012
Starr's jumps do not look secure at all, and she underrotates. Both Kaitlyn and her look quite junior-ish, much more so with Kaitlyn. But Kaitlyn seems to be more consistent, and she is only 13. The other two ladies on the JGP circle so far, Ting Cui and Angelina Huang, look more mature, but they are way too inconsistent, or simply don't have all the jumps yet. 
To my surprise, both have only competed on the Novice level in the previous national.
U.S. skaters generally peak later than Russian, Japanese or Korean ladies. I guess it has something to do with hours training per day. If Russian wondergirls spend 8 hours training every day, 6 days a week without worrying much about funding, rink, or school, and U.S. young ladies spend 5 hours per week, and go to a regular school, compete for rink time, and so on, I don't see a sea change in the future of U.S. women's skating.
Can anyone tell which young lady will be on a par with Karen in the next few years? Just imagine Ashley and Gracie retire after 2018
To my surprise, both have only competed on the Novice level in the previous national. U.S. skaters generally peak later than Russian, Japanese or Korean ladies. I guess it has something to do with hours training per day. If Russian wondergirls spend 8 hours training every day, 6 days a week without worrying much about funding, rink, or school, and U.S. young ladies spend 5 hours per week, and go to a regular school, compete for rink time, and so on, I don't see a sea change in the future of U.S. women's skating.
Can anyone tell which young lady will be on a par with Karen in the next few years? Just imagine Ashley and Gracie retire after 2018
She won Jr nationals in 2015, two years ago. She only had one JGP that season and competed at JW twice. With her the issue was qualifying for international placements at 17 rather than 13. Now Nathan was on the JGP from 13 to 16. That was his choice. I think learning how to compete against fierce competitors and will help you compete better at senior competitions.
There is no rush here Starr should stay at junior until she can medal at the JGP. That may take a while, but it will make her a better competitor for the future.
Starr's jumps do not look secure at all, and she underrotates. Both Kaitlyn and her look quite junior-ish, much more so with Kaitlyn. But Kaitlyn seems to be more consistent, and she is only 13. The other two ladies on the JGP circle so far, Ting Cui and Angelina Huang, look more mature, but they are way too inconsistent, or simply don't have all the jumps yet.
U.S. skaters generally peak later than Russian, Japanese or Korean ladies. I guess it has something to do with hours training per day. If Russian wondergirls spend 8 hours training every day, 6 days a week without worrying much about funding, rink, or school, and U.S. young ladies spend 5 hours per week, and go to a regular school, compete for rink time, and so on, I don't see a sea change in the future of U.S. women's skating.
Can anyone tell which young lady will be on a par with Karen in the next few years? Just imagine Ashley and Gracie retire after 2018
Sorry, but this is a pet peeve of mine. Last year everyone despaired over the future of ladies figure skating because the ladies on the JGP weren't medalling. There was so much lamenting over Gracie, Mirai, and Ashley retiring with no one to replace them. Then both Mariah and Karen rose the ranks last year and everyone completely forgot.
You cannot look at a junior who has skated only a few international competitions and decide that we're doomed. These girls will need years to develop into future elite skaters. Just because their juniorish today doesn't mean in two years they won't have improved. Mariah had never won a senior national competition before 2016.
I don't like the Russian way of developing skaters. I just saw another one of my favorites Russians fall apart this week. They may win, but many of them don't last that intense type of training. And it's heartbreaking every time! Many skaters managed to become very successful without training 8 hours a day. I'd rather than skaters that last.
I can't tell you who will be on par with Karen after 2018, but these girls deserve time to fail and learn so they can become skaters that can do it. Kaitlyn, Angelina, Ting, and Audrey are only 13. Let's give them some time. They don't need to be JW champs right outside the gate.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
I hope those of you constantly asking for news made a point of watching Golden West today.
In any case, results can be found here:
Caroline Zhang won Senior Ladies. Vivian Le placed second.
The archived livestream from today is blocked in the U.S. I have not attempted to determine whether other videos exist from today.
As Bluediamonds said, Mariah is among the big names competing at the U.S. Classic next week -- so we will have news of her soon.
In any case, results can be found here:
Caroline Zhang won Senior Ladies. Vivian Le placed second.
The archived livestream from today is blocked in the U.S. I have not attempted to determine whether other videos exist from today.
As Bluediamonds said, Mariah is among the big names competing at the U.S. Classic next week -- so we will have news of her soon.
I'm glad to see Caroline is still doing well. Hopefully that 3lo+3Lo hold up internationally. Devastated for Vivian. I thought GF was a turning point, but the recovery continues. Bradie gives me faith that Vivian will regain her form in the future.
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Nice work, Caroline.
+2 overall on the 3 loop-3 loop in both the short and the long
Short program 3-3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opN8YF5-HQM&t=1m52s
Long program 3-3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asBfijWQjuQ&t=2m51s
Also, check this out: +1 on all three of her double axels. Who would've expected that from ol' double axel from a standstill Caroline? I won't jinx her, but I'm having high hopes for her during Nationals.
Short program, a spiral with a smile, into a double axel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opN8YF5-HQM&t=2m36s
Same thing in long program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asBfijWQjuQ&t=3m58s
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I like that she is making an effort to try the jump in public, as often as possible. It makes me think that it is a lot more successful in practice than it was around the time of Nationals.
No only scoring 99 points in the LP as a Junior would not be competitive going up against Senior girls. She needs the experience right now on the JGP. Despite having about the same amount of experience and being the same age Starr is less further along then Gracie was when she debuted on the JGP. Starr may be a better performer but Gracie had crazy technical ability that was already world class and was a match for most top Senior Ladies.. She was doing jump layouts as hard as anyone in the world and had two 3-3 combo's and didn't have problems with underroted jumps like Starr does at times. Gold was green in terms of experience but she could outjump most competitors Junior or Senior even without any prior events.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
Starr is 100% NOT ready for Senior GP. I tend to want to see 13-15 year olds at the JGP too, but at 16, Starr still belongs there. And technical content aside, her skating skills do still really suit the junior circuit instead of seniors. Some time and seasoning could make her into a late bloomer. It's hardly the same as sending 19 year old Bradie to Junior Worlds. Considering how stacked the event was, 5th place was a fine start for Starr. I don't think the 3A is a good strategy, however. But she had a clean 3-3-2 in the second half!
Angelina skates and performs with the quality of a senior lady, and she's been my favorite US lady on the JGP so far - her inconsistency kills me, but she's still young. She received higher TES than both Starr and Moa in the LP, but lower PCS due to start order because of her bad SP. Still, really lovely to watch.
I'm excited to see how Emmy Ma does at the next event.
Last year, US junior ladies only had one entry at each event, so it seems like we have more spots for more girls this season, so that seems promising.
Angelina skates and performs with the quality of a senior lady, and she's been my favorite US lady on the JGP so far - her inconsistency kills me, but she's still young. She received higher TES than both Starr and Moa in the LP, but lower PCS due to start order because of her bad SP. Still, really lovely to watch.
I'm excited to see how Emmy Ma does at the next event.
Last year, US junior ladies only had one entry at each event, so it seems like we have more spots for more girls this season, so that seems promising.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
16 is a fine age to still be a junior. I think 18+ is rlly when turning senior is a must. As you said, Bradie has no place in juniors. I think Emmy is 16. She is a LOVELY spinner but has underrotation issues plus no 3-3?? At least she did not do one at nationals last year. Maybe she has one now.
Emmy is still working on her 3T and 3S. So no 3-3 yet. She says she'll work on a +3Lo combos when she's learned the other two jumps.
