2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[kalee]

The third one is Karen. I did read somewhere last night that Bradie's team is considering a WD from Golden Spin. Really, with her strong showing at SA, it would make sense to have that be her momentum going into Nationals. Maybe U.S. could give Courtney one more shot there, but it's probably too late for a substitution.

I hope not, because Golden Spin is a great opportunity for slayage on Bradie's part that can further build her reputation internationally. Given her current momentum and consistency, she should have the edge against Liza and Karen, and staying ahead of both would build a great case for her for Olympics.

 

[MarinHondas]

I hope not, because Golden Spin is a great opportunity for slayage on Bradie's part that can further build her reputation internationally. Given her current momentum and consistency, she should have the edge against Liza and Karen, and staying ahead of both would build a great case for her for Olympics.

I agree. Bradie should go. She needs the World Standing points as well and if she pulls out a medal it will further help her case for the Olympics.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

The third one is Karen. I did read somewhere last night that Bradie's team is considering a WD from Golden Spin. Really, with her strong showing at SA, it would make sense to have that be her momentum going into Nationals. Maybe U.S. could give Courtney one more shot there, but it's probably too late for a substitution.

Unless she feels like she needs the competitive experience, this is probably a good idea. She has the 2 highest total scores of the season amongst the Americans, and only 2 women passed her season low. She is in good shape to guarantee herself an Olympic spot with a medal at Nationals.

 

[flipsydoodle]

She wasn't injured weeks ago.



She never said SA wasn't worth her time. In fact, she said (before injury) that it was important for her to do well there & make the Final. Even though injured, she completed the SP and attempted the LP. Her situation was similar to that of Hanyu, who attempted to compete in a home-country GP so he could make the Final, but who eventually had to WD because Nationals & Olympics were more important.

I think maybe you didn't hear her statement rink side or realize she was injured over 2 weeks ago. IIRC she was injured enough to spend 1 1/2 weeks off the ice.

 

[mrrice]

I agree with this. We just saw Ashely re-injure herself and that could put her chances of getting on the team in jeopardy. Med, is also injured. Now that Bradie and her team know that she will be a factor at Nationals, it's all about fine tuning and mental preparation. She's in great shape as we could see from the backloaded combo's she executed at Skate America. We need to remember that Nationals is still over a month away and Golden Spin will do nothing to improve her standing at Nationals as she just beat reigning champ Karen Chen.

 

[sinnerspinner]

Should Russian fed export some of their ladies to US.

lol, all options are on the table!

Real question: why does there seem to be a pretty decent level of depth among American men (look at the juniors!), but the women are struggling? Is it because men are much later bloomers than the ladies, in general, and there's just a major dearth of people willing to put their 10 year old daughters on an elite-level training regimen?

Aside from cost, this is a big issue.
After all, what does one get for being a competitive figure skater? In most other sports, people reach a certain level and make good money and gain status.
Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but it seems like men have less competition, their skating careers last longer, and they have more time to develop themselves. Women will naturally have to rack up points faster. Figure skating seems much more cruel to women, having shorter careers, a lot of injuries,needing hip replacements at 33, and being replaced by a 15 year old rather easily. Oh yes, and being broke.

People do send their little girls to training camps for things like ballet. If a girl can become a pro ballerina, her career can last 20,25 years. A female figure skater may be popular for a few years then fade away. Only Tonya Harding hasn't faded like most other skaters.

I could see why a parent wouldnt want their daughter to be a competitive figure skater. It's rough.

 

[flipsydoodle]

What was the black thing she had on her ankle?

A dramatic way to proclaim she had an injury at her ankle. Black on Caucasian skin, ta dah! No skin-toned athletic tape, such as every other injured athlete at the competition was wearing. I'll bet the audience could see this from the back row.

 

[andromache]

After all, what does one get for being a competitive figure skater? In most other sports, people reach a certain level and make good money and gain status.
Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but it seems like men have less competition, their skating careers last longer, and they have more time to develop themselves. Women will naturally have to rack up points faster. Figure skating seems much more cruel to women, having shorter careers, a lot of injuries,needing hip replacements at 33, and being replaced by a 15 year old rather easily. Oh yes, and being broke.

Considering the quad-craziness we've seen the past few years, this will probably start to be the case for men as well....

 

[mrrice]

A dramatic way to proclaim she had an injury at her ankle. Black on Caucasian skin, ta dah! No skin-toned athletic tape, such as every other injured athlete at the competition was wearing. I'll bet the audience could see this from the back row.

True...They make flesh/beige color tape, wraps, and even those copper fit things come in flesh colors.

 

[megenta]

Yeah, in FS you have to be about top 3 in the world, for many years, to make a living out of that. You don't have to be top 3 or even top 50 football player or ice hockey player or ballerina in the world to have a long career with good income...

 

[Moxiejan]

A dramatic way to proclaim she had an injury at her ankle. Black on Caucasian skin, ta dah! No skin-toned athletic tape, such as every other injured athlete at the competition was wearing. I'll bet the audience could see this from the back row.

It was announced during the broadcast that she was wearing a compression wrap, which is used in cases of vein/circulation issues & is not all all the same as the athletic tape used for muscle/ligament issues. And compression wraps are most often black.

 

[pearly]

It was announced during the broadcast that she was wearing a compression wrap, which is used in cases of vein/circulation issues & is not all all the same as the athletic tape used for muscle/ligament issues. And compression wraps are most often black.

Wait for the "but she could have put a beige bandage over it" comment.

You guys are ridiculous. Wagner is one of the most accomplished US ladies of the past decade. The amount of hate and hypocrisy displayed towards her is stunning.

 

[mrrice]

You guys are ridiculous. Wagner is one of the most accomplished US ladies of the past decade. The amount of hate and hypocrisy displayed towards her is stunning.[/QUOTE]

I don't think there's a person on this site who "Hates" Ashley Wagner. I certainly don't. However, there are very thin flesh colored bandages that work very well. Ashley knows that a black bandage spoils her leg lines and is distracting to the point that we're talking about it. Who knows, maybe she had a flesh colored bandage that didn't feel right. Stuff like that happens. I'm more concerned about her overall health. I hope she didn't hear Johnny and Tara's comments as I think they were far worse than the color of her bandage.

 

[andromache]

I don't think there's a person on this site who "Hates" Ashley Wagner. I certainly don't. However, there are very thin flesh colored bandages that work very well. Ashley knows that a black bandage spoils her leg lines and is distracting to the point that we're talking about it. Who knows, maybe she had a flesh colored bandage that didn't feel right. Stuff like that happens. I'm more concerned about her overall health. I hope she didn't hear Johnny and Tara's comments as I think they were far worse than the color of her bandage.

Eh, there are definitely people who "hate" (like, whiny internet hate type of hate) Ashley. Plenty of people "hate" plenty of top skaters.

And I honestly didn't notice the wrap during her SP. Had to go back and rewatch just to confirm .

 

[Maribelle]

I can't believe the amount of criticism toward Ashley from Tara, Johnny and fans. An athlete already has enough to deal with and this on top of it doesn't help. Watching her brief interview yesterday, Ashley seems to me on the verge of a breakdown. It is real tough to be a women's figure skater. Ashley has done so well over the years with her mental toughness, and I hope she can stay strong and tune out the critics. She has performed so well under pressure. I wonder if her commercial for Ford was a distraction, but something seems to be going on.

 

[Icey]

And now another period of time off the ice for Ashley. Just how prepared for Nationals will she be or do you think she will ask for a medical by?

 

[Sjs5572]

I am so over Johnny. With his late arrivals to the rink and broken shoelaces, he was the drama queen and the last person to judge Ashley. His hypocrisy was also evident when he only started supporting gay marriage when he wanted to get married. Also, his defense of the anti-LGBT laws in Russia is strange and befuddling. Johnny cares only about Johnny and still has a lot of growing up to do.

 

[jFarrisFAN]

The thing I find weird about ashley not continuing the program is that she only had left foot jumps left (2 3Lo and 3F 3Lz) and the injury is on the right foot. I honestly think she could have continued even if she marked the jumps.

 

[R.D.]

And now another period of time off the ice for Ashley. Just how prepared for Nationals will she be or do you think she will ask for a medical by?

I’ve thought about this too. I think that’s what Wagner fears most - not being prepared for Nationals, having to request a medical bye and be in danger of missing the games. I have to say all things considered, I kinda feel bad for her right now TBH. Not only is she out indefinitely, but she must contend with the gossip/drama queens within the community accusing her of “faking it” or being “overdramatic”. Hopefully within tighter circles she’s getting support. Can’t be easy as an athlete to have something out of your control like an injury shake things up.

If Wagner ends up needing to request an injury bye, I’m not sure the case for USFS to give her one is a slam dunk...which must also add to her anxiety.

 

[concorde]

The third one is Karen. I did read somewhere last night that Bradie's team is considering a WD from Golden Spin. Really, with her strong showing at SA, it would make sense to have that be her momentum going into Nationals. Maybe U.S. could give Courtney one more shot there, but it's probably too late for a substitution.

I expect Bradie team to withdraw from Golden Spin.