A rather disastrous event here...
1. Kaetlyn Osmond: I think she’s in Medvedeva levels of inflation now. I really like Kaetlyn but she did not deserve anywhere near 136 for that skate. I think Maria and maybe even Marin should’ve beaten her by a little in the FS. Anyways, congrats for the win, and now she’s pretty much guaranteed a GPF spot (can’t imagine her finishing any lower than 4th at IDF).
2. Maria Sotskova: Great performance and should’ve won the FS in my opinion. To address all the people who say she’s boring - yes she is boring, but if you actually pay attention to her choreo and what she’s doing on the ice (AKA manage to stay awake for some), it’s pretty nice to watch. She has beautiful arms and a light presence. That being said, having a more dynamic program would still be helpful.
3. Ashley Wagner: She definitely was kinda lucky to be on the podium, but only because her skate was one of the better ones in this disappointing competition. I no longer feel excited by this program though. This and her SP have had their days of glory already, and it’s time to move on. As for how she skated today, kudos for standing up on everything, and I hope she can put together solid performances in both programs next time.
4. Courtney Hicks: I think Courtney had a case for the bronze. Her presentation has improved, and the jumps were wild but still landed. We’ve seen her do well on the GP series, but her usual disappointments at Nationals are what prevented her from ever being on the World team. Now that she has gained some momentum from here, I hope Courtney can skate to her full potential at her next competition to reach an Olympic spot.
5. Marin Honda: Beautiful redemption! If it wasn’t for such a disastrous SP then she would’ve been on the podium (even making just one of her two major mistakes would’ve been enough). This program is starting to grow on me. Her exquisite skating skills are showcased nicely, and when the jumps are there the program has a good impact. Her next GP is less than a week away (they seriously should prevent back-to-back GPs), so I hope that she can prepare well for it.
6. Rika Hongo: Like Courtney, I thought she had a case for being a placement higher. Anyways, it’s inspiring to see Rika keep on fighting and being in the mix (despite being underscored EVERYWHERE). Her FS is unique and she’s a good performer. I’m always cheering for her!
7. Karen Chen: This new program has good potential. It’s not a warhorse (thank you) or repeat (thank you), and Karen choreographed this program very well. Just a bit of polish can make it shine. Karen has no chance for the GPF now, so I hope that she can focus on her consistency in her next few competitions.
Haven’t wached the others yet other than Anna, and there’s no need to review what happened to her...
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