2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[mrrice]

I don't think the hype machine can go too crazy for someone who has really zero chance at an Olympic medal. Jason Brown went viral in 2014 but I don't recall the hype machine going whack for him. Gracie was hyped in 2014 before she really deserved it (like, I basically think a trip to GPF = Olympic hype and anything less is not worth it), but c'mon, her name is Gracie Gold. Journalists couldn't help themselves .

Comparatively, Nathan's hype is well-earned and kind of a long time coming. USFS has their eye on him since he was a kid. If he was a lady, he'd be getting ten times the hype.

Well, since we're talking about ladies here, I don't think any of them deserve to be overhyped. Bradie is great but in most years, she'd be lucky to medal. The fact that we're looking at her as a possible Champion is kind of sad for our Ladies. I remember Alissa Czisny's win in 2009. It was not a great year for the ladies and I think she won with only 4 clean triples in her LP. I just hope Courtney Hicks can bring it at Nationals, she's gotten herself into the best shape of her career and I'd love to see her make the podium.

 

[R.D.]

Gracie was hyped in 2014 before she really deserved it (like, I basically think a trip to GPF = Olympic hype and anything less is not worth it), but c'mon, her name is Gracie Gold. Journalists couldn't help themselves

The hype for Miss Gold started well before then, unfortunately. It dates back to when the US still had only two ladies spots...some folks wanted her to help get that 3rd spot back...before she was ready (or even senior). It was the perfect storm, really.

 

[mrrice]

The hype for Miss Gold started well before then, unfortunately. It dates back to then the US still had only two ladies spots...some folks wanted her to help get that 3rd spot back...before she was ready (or even senior). It was the perfect storm, really.

Well, the hype for Gracie began when she became Junior Champion and then Medaled at Junior Worlds. I think we all became believers when she vaulted from 9th to the silver medal at Senior Nationals in 2013 with her Life Is Beautiful LP. She was easily the best jumper we had for a good 3 seasons. Maybe not the best competitor but definitely the best jumper.:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVFz8W9cWo

 

[andromache]

The hype for Miss Gold started well before then, unfortunately. It dates back to when the US still had only two ladies spots...some folks wanted her to help get that 3rd spot back...before she was ready (or even senior). It was the perfect storm, really.

I'm talking mainstream media hype...like that we see about it on TV. I don't think that kind of hype surrounded Gracie until 2013, heading into an Olympic season.

 

[brightphoton]

Well, the hype for Gracie began when she became Junior Champion and then Medaled at Junior Worlds. I think we all became believers when she vaulted from 9th to the silver medal at Senior Nationals in 2013 with her Life Is Beautiful LP. She was easily the best jumper we had for a good 3 seasons. Maybe not the best competitor but definitely the best jumper.:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVFz8W9cWo

That 3 Lutz-3 Toe is my most favorite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVFz8W9cWo&t=1m05s

Hmmm, I blame Scott Hamilton. Say what you want about Tara and Johnny, at least we don't have to listen to them screeching and screaming during the commentary.

We have to listen to them ramble on and on and on and on during performances, but you can't get everything in life.

 

[sheetz]

Sponsors, at least, seem to be more wary of leaping onto the latest bandwagon. This year Ashley has received more endorsements than Karen has even though the latter is National champ and placed higher at Worlds. Nathan is less of a risk due to his exceptional track record, and even then I don't think he'd be receiving as much publicity if the US had a competitive lady.

 

[mrrice]

I just saw that Karen Chen is also scheduled to be at Golden Spin. It's all the way across the world in Croatia! Do you think it's worth it to travel that at a time like this? I guess it can't hurt after her poor showing at Skate America but, I bet she's tired and could use a break before Nationals. She can't make the final so, what's the point?

 

[lavoix]

This Tennell girl from Skate America should really go to the Olympics. Best showing by any American girl the last 2 seasons.

 

[ask]

Top 3 at Nationals go to Olympics. This year, none of these girls showed they are irreplaceable and indispensable. If Bradie does what she did at SA, I don't see anyone beating her with their current problems. So if Bradie is consistent this year, she will punch her ticket.

If Karen and Ashley can medal, they also punch their ticket.

Mariah, Mirai, Courtney, Starr need to medal. They probably don't have to worry about some girl stealing their spot because letls face it, no other girl is Med, Zag, Caro, Kaetlyn.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I don't think the hype machine can go too crazy for someone who has really zero chance at an Olympic medal. Jason Brown went viral in 2014 but I don't recall the hype machine going whack for him. Gracie was hyped in 2014 before she really deserved it (like, I basically think a trip to GPF = Olympic hype and anything less is not worth it), but c'mon, her name is Gracie Gold. Journalists couldn't help themselves .

Comparatively, Nathan's hype is well-earned and kind of a long time coming. USFS has their eye on him since he was a kid. If he was a lady, he'd be getting ten times the hype.

The hype machine definitely started for Gold as a Jr. and I saw it coming with Tennell recently because the USFS desperately needs their next ladies shining star to hype.
As far as Jason, he had a little bit of hype when he was the replacement for injured Lysacek at Skate America 2013 and then it caught on from there at Nationals 2014.

I agree that Nathan's "hype" is definitely a long time coming.

 

[LiamForeman]

Well, since we're talking about ladies here, I don't think any of them deserve to be overhyped. Bradie is great but in most years, she'd be lucky to medal. The fact that we're looking at her as a possible Champion is kind of sad for our Ladies. I remember Alissa Czisny's win in 2009. It was not a great year for the ladies and I think she won with only 4 clean triples in her LP. I just hope Courtney Hicks can bring it at Nationals, she's gotten herself into the best shape of her career and I'd love to see her make the podium.

Yes, I don't really hear any hype that Bradie is The Next One. She's just put together a respectable season for herself so far, better than any other American. I can't get into Hicks because she's never shown any qualities (competitive nerve, consistency, PCS, interesting to watch programs, etc) that should ever put her on an Olympic team. This Olympics is pretty much a wash, no chance of a medal, so just send Bradie and whoever are the two highest performers at Nats. I'd rather see Wang or Andrews get a spot than Hicks if it came down to it and was close.

 

[mrrice]

Yes, I don't really hear any hype that Bradie is The Next One. She's just put together a respectable season for herself so far, better than any other American. I can't get into Hicks because she's never shown any qualities (competitive nerve, consistency, PCS, interesting to watch programs, etc) that should ever put her on an Olympic team. This Olympics is pretty much a wash, no chance of a medal, so just send Bradie and whoever are the two highest performers at Nats. I'd rather see Wang or Andrews get a spot than Hicks if it came down to it and was close.

So would I but, my heart can't take anymore of her inconsistency. I would LOVE to see Angela make the team because when she holds it together, she's a stunning skater to see live. Didn't she just come from an event where she was in 3rd and dropped off the podium with a bad LP?

 

[chuckm]

I just saw that Karen Chen is also scheduled to be at Golden Spin. It's all the way across the world in Croatia! Do you think it's worth it to travel that at a time like this? I guess it can't hurt after her poor showing at Skate America but, I bet she's tired and could use a break before Nationals. She can't make the final so, what's the point?

Do you know where Croatia is? It's right across the Adriatic Sea from Italy---hardly "all the way across the world".

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

So would I but, my heart can't take anymore of her inconsistency. I would LOVE to see Angela make the team because when she holds it together, she's a stunning skater to see live. Didn't she just come from an event where she was in 3rd and dropped off the podium with a bad LP?

She's been consistent since her injury. Other than her bad LP at Tallinn Trophy last week (which is allowed once in awhile), I mean come on, compared to most of the US ladies right now, she's doing well. Especially since she has many of the qualities the other ladies are lacking right now in the US, speed, smoothness, etc.

I'm Team Angela.

 

[mrrice]

She's been consistent since her injury. Other than her bad LP at Tallinn Trophy last week (which is allowed once in awhile), I mean come on, compared to most of the US ladies right now, she's doing well. Especially since she has many of the qualities the other ladies are lacking right now in the US, speed, smoothness, etc.

I'm Team Angela.

So am I.....I'd love nothing more than to see her make the podium this year........

 

[mrrice]

Do you know where Croatia is? It's right across the Adriatic Sea from Italy---hardly "all the way across the world".

The distance between LAX/ Los Angeles, California, USA (Karen's Airport) and Zagreb, Croatia is 10027 km = 6230 miles......That's pretty dang far if you ask me.......

 

[Moxiejan]

I just saw that Karen Chen is also scheduled to be at Golden Spin. It's all the way across the world in Croatia! Do you think it's worth it to travel that at a time like this? I guess it can't hurt after her poor showing at Skate America but, I bet she's tired and could use a break before Nationals. She can't make the final so, what's the point?

I would think she'd want to go into Nationals with a stronger skate than she's had in her fall season. She did look better at SA with her new/old programs & could continue that momentum at Golden Spin. Of course, she does risk losing again to Bradie. And also to Starr, which would be an even bigger blow to her Olympic team prospects.

 

[mrrice]

I would think she'd want to go into Nationals with a stronger skate than she's had in her fall season. She did look better at SA with her new/old programs & could continue that momentum at Golden Spin. Of course, she does risk losing again to Bradie. And also to Starr, which would be an even bigger blow to her Olympic team prospects.

It's a tough decision to make. If it were me......I'd go. Especially after the way she skated at Skate America. She needs some momentum and this could really help her if she could win GS. If not, she goes into Nationals on a downward trajectory and that could really hurt her confidence.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

It's a tough decision to make. If it were me......I'd go. Especially after the way she skated at Skate America. She needs some momentum and this could really help her if she could win GS. If not, she goes into Nationals on a downward trajectory and that could really hurt her confidence.

Yeah, I think she should go too. Karen skated several times but does not have any good results this season. She is 36th on the SB scores list, behind 5 Americans and less than a point ahead of Courtney. I don't think she can do anything at the next event to further damage her prospects, as she won't make the team without a medal at Nationals anyway. Skating in Croatia will at least give her another chance to get some more mileage on her programs.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

The hype machine definitely started for Gold as a Jr. and I saw it coming with Tennell recently because the USFS desperately needs their next ladies shining star to hype.

With the Olympics coming up, NBC really has to hype someone. Ladies figure skating is the marquee event at the Games and the US audience needs someone to cheer for, even if it means hyping someone as a medal contender when she is not. I don't think commercials about the Evgenia vs Alina match-up will motivate the average viewer in America to tune in. Bradie is in much better form than anyone else right now, but I hope the USFSA doesn't push her too much until after Nationals so that she won't feel the extra pressure to perform.