2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[princessalica]

Which means that Gracie misses a bye by one placement from Nationals last year, by one placement from the Olympics since she was 4th and not 3rd, if it was a year ago would have missed having a world medal by one placement - again 4th instead of 3rd, Maybe ashley needs to hand over the almost girl title to Gracie. Is there a bye into Sectionals if she needed it? If I'm not mistaken, Regionals is upon us!

 

[Moxiejan]

Is there a bye into Sectionals if she needed it? If I'm not mistaken, Regionals is upon us!

The only reason Gracie would "need" a bye to Sectionals is if she decided to not do her France GP. But that would make zero sense, because both events are the same weekend. If she's not ready for the GP, she would be even less ready for Sectionals, where she'd have to place top 4 to make it to Nationals.

 

[chuckm]

Gracie would be in big trouble with the ISU if she withdrew from a GP event and then competed in a B event at the same time as the GP event from which she withdrew.

Let's face it: if Gracie isn't ready for her GP events, then she isn't ready for the Olympics. This year, skaters have been training almost from the end of last season to prepare for the big O. A skater who isn't anywhere near in competitive shape at this stage of the game has far too much to make up in too little time.

I love Gracie and think she is one of the most talented US skaters ever, but she just took too long to address her personal issues. I just hope if and when it happens that she doesn't make the US team, she doesn't quit skating altogether.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Any news on our so-called second tier skaters? I want some news on Tyler Pierce , Emily Chan and Haley Beavers, if they’re still competing this year.

 

[frida80]

Any news on our so-called second tier skaters? I want some news on Tyler Pierce , Emily Chan and Haley Beavers, if they’re still competing this year.

Tyler hasn't competed this season. Emily withdrew from a competition during the summer. Haley has her programs. It withdrew from the comps she was in. Regionals are aoon, so we should hear something from at least Emily and Haley.

 

[skylark]

I wonder if Gracie has considered going back to Firebird. Lord knows that if Ashley can do version #3 of Moulin Rouge, Gracie could certainly go back to one of her successful LP's. Maybe even go back to "Life Is Beautiful" I loved that program and when she finally got it right at Nationals and Worlds, it was great.

Gracie could skate any program she likes, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with Ashley.

I'm tired of hearing Ashley disparaged for doing everything in her power to skate her very best and perform her very best.

 

[R.D.]

I must say, I honestly see nothing disparaging about Wagner in that remark - this IS her third rendition of MR, that’s a fact - and concerning Gold, I happen to think it’s a valid point. Less effort to remake a program than to construct a new one, which can enable shifting of training priorities...

Speaking of Gold - anyone know if she plans on taking the entire season off?

 

[qwerty]

I must say, I honestly see nothing disparaging about Wagner in that remark - this IS her third rendition of MR, that’s a fact - and concerning Gold, I happen to think it’s a valid point. Less effort to remake a program than to construct a new one, which can enable shifting of training priorities...

Speaking of Gold - anyone know if she plans on taking the entire season off?

There's been no official word about the rest of the season, but I don't think we should be surprised to see her withdraw from the rest of her events, in time. There's some ambiguity in her 9/1/17 press release, perhaps due to sponsorship reasons.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Here ya go.

Ashley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-CqZTvyyqU
Karen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipJ4Lxa1U-k

Ashley needs to work on her charlotte spiral. It gets worse with each passing year and is hardly even charlotte now.

Karen's program continues to be such a big disappointment. I can understand if she wants to show sexiness and a fiery quality with Carmen, but this program is so totally bland, there isn't an ounce of creativity to it. This is really just the same program she skated last year, with very minor differences. Carmen is merely background music here.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

There's been no official word about the rest of the season, but I don't think we should be surprised to see her withdraw from the rest of her events, in time. There's some ambiguity in her 9/1/17 press release, perhaps due to sponsorship reasons.

Is there any indication, unofficially, that's she's training?

 

[Tolstoj]

Ashley needs to work on her charlotte spiral. It gets worse with each passing year and is hardly even charlotte now.

Karen's program continues to big such a big disappointment. I can understand if she wants to show sexiness and a fiery quality with Carmen, but this program so totally bland, there isn't an ounce of creativity to it. This is really just the same program she skated last year, with very minor differences. Carmen is merely background music here.

I remember it was very bad even at GPF 2014.

She should replace it with a more conventional spiral.

 

[R.D.]

There's been no official word about the rest of the season, but I don't think we should be surprised to see her withdraw from the rest of her events, in time. There's some ambiguity in her 9/1/17 press release, perhaps due to sponsorship reasons.

I've also wondered if sponsorships are behind the vague wording of announcements on her part. But *would* a sponsorship prevent her from backing out of the season? I figure that would be a personal decision on part of the athlete, right? Even if it meant giving the sponsorship up (considering those typically are only to help with training costs, etc.).

Just seems odd to me, that's all.

 

[mrrice]

Gracie could skate any program she likes, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with Ashley.

I'm tired of hearing Ashley disparaged for doing everything in her power to skate her very best and perform her very best.

I certainly wouldn't Disparage Ashley for being smart.....My Favorite skater Maria Butryskaya used her Otonol LP for 2 seasons even though she had won Europeans, a Bronze at Worlds, and placed 4th at the Olympics in 1998 with it. She said she went back to Otonol because she felt comfortable with it and that she never skated perfectly in 1998. I think Gracie should go back to an old program because it will ease what seems to be a load of pressure from her shoulders and she's done some great LP's throughout her career.

 

[sheetz]

I've also wondered if sponsorships are behind the vague wording of announcements on her part. But *would* a sponsorship prevent her from backing out of the season? I figure that would be a personal decision on part of the athlete, right? Even if it meant giving the sponsorship up (considering those typically are only to help with training costs, etc.).

Just seems odd to me, that's all.

I don't know how it works in figure skating but I know that in tennis the top players are encouraged to not withdraw from tournaments too early so that it won't adversely affect ticket sales and advertising revenue. Not sure if Gracie is a big enough draw to make a difference to these events.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

But *would* a sponsorship prevent her from backing out of the season?

Sponsors can't make her compete; they can only not give her money. I know that, in tennis, players often remain in the ranking system after they retire because having a ranking is tied to some sponsorship deals. It may be that Gracie's sponsors expect her to be an "active" skater.

 

[mrrice]

Sponsors can't make her compete; they can only not give her money. I know that, in tennis, players often remain in the ranking system after they retire because having a ranking is tied to some sponsorship deals. It may be that Gracie's sponsors expect her to be an "active" skater.

This is true. There are also Stipulation Agreements attached to most contracts. When I was working for Coca Cola we had contracts with tennis players. US Open Champion Sloane Stephens was injured for most of the season and her sponsors actually made little clips of her progress that were played at the tournaments that she had to miss. I must say that the WTA was very smart in the way they handled her injury and for her to come back and win her first Grand Slam was quite an achievement. Here's a clip of Sloane.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKkjntmGc1M

Personally, I would find it interesting to see how Gracie is dealing with her situation. I don't expect athlete's to be perfect and her struggle, if she is indeed struggling, could be very motivational. Lord knows that everyone has struggled at some point during their career's and her fans will be there for no matter what. I know I will be.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Personally, I would find it interesting to see how Gracie is dealing with her situation.

Me too. I doubt we'd see her return if she doesn't compete this season, however. If she can't get fired up before the Olympics with a wide open spot available on the team, I don't know what would motivate her return in the future.

 

[ice coverage]

Doing my best to change the subject away from Gracie Gold (who has my best wishes and about whom speculation seems pointless, IMO):

- Ashley Wagner will be part of a panel discussion tomorrow at the espnW: Women + Sports Summit :

ETA (on Oct 4), correction:

Sorry, I had my days mixed up :hopelessness:. Ashley's panel already took place on Oct 3.​

7:45pm
Panel Discussion: World-Class Athletes In Pursuit of Excellence
Alana Nichols/Paralympic gold medalist
Chiney Ogwumike/WNBA player & Co-Host of SportsCenter across sub-Saharan Africa
Jessica Springsteen/International show jumping champion rider
Ashley Wagner/Olympic bronze medalist & three-time U.S. Figure Skating Champion
Natasha Watley/professional softball player & Olympic gold medalist
with Jemele Hill​

- Per a series of Mirai's Instagram stories:

She received a package of handmade bead jewelry -- including a necklace that the jeweler had named ... Mirai's Triple Axel [ !]. (Garnet, pink sapphire, moonstone, ruby, etc.) Red-white-and-blue Team USA bracelets were among the other goodies.
What a great way to show support for Mirai :yay:. After admiring/modeling the jewelry and thanking the jeweler, an inspired Mirai concluded by saying something like, "Now I'm going to go practice, and be a beast" :yes:.​

-

Oh, in the contrary, many of the Olympic athletes eat at McDs...

Returning to this off-topic topic, because USFS was tweeting today about Charlie White's favorite cheat meal.

Which reminded me of this anecdote that I posted in Nathan Chen's fan thread during this year's SOI tour:

... Charlie White has a funny/cute Instagram story with video of Nathan, Evan, and himself laughing at themselves as they consume a conspiratorial late-night snack of burgers and shakes. "We're just supporting the Olympic movement here ...," quips Charlie, "... with our McDonald's" [as Nathan holds up the McD's bag]. "Everyone else is probably sleeping." ...

That said, per this video from Charlie, his favorite cheat meal is something other than burgers and fries.

https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/915345351334383622 (Oct 3)​

 

[stella luna]

I think Polina's a long shot, but I wouldn't count her out. She's already improved noticeably from the Vacaville footage of her this summer to the more recent St. Moritz footage. She's a tough cookie--she can perform under pressure, so if her jumps are back, she'll be able to deliver them. I'm rooting for her on the behalf of tall girls everywhere.

I am short, but am still rooting for her.

 

[Tolstoj]

what happened to Polina Edmunds??? she looked horrible at a local event recently - jumps were not ther, costume was awful, and she looks like she doubled in size.. looks like another promising talent that never materialized.

She is coming back from a bad injury, and she's doing fine, not sure what she'll do next month in France but i think she'll restore all her jumps for Nationals. Don't count her out, she's very consistent and always skated great at Nationals.

The musics are good for both programs actually, no more Tinker bell / Gone of the Wind /... thank god.

Costume not sure if it is the final one.

I certainly wouldn't Disparage Ashley for being smart.....My Favorite skater Maria Butryskaya used her Otonol LP for 2 seasons even though she had won Europeans, a Bronze at Worlds, and placed 4th at the Olympics in 1998 with it. She said she went back to Otonol because she felt comfortable with it and that she never skated perfectly in 1998. I think Gracie should go back to an old program because it will ease what seems to be a load of pressure from her shoulders and she's done some great LP's throughout her career.

Gracie's main problem is the technique, that's why i've been always very skeptical about her move to Marina Zueva: she doesn't need to improve her artistry (i mean she should work on the expression but her components are always very high) she needs an Eteri Tutberidze, someone who teaches her to work on the jumps from day one and see out of 100-200 attempts what's success rate of all the elements.