2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[drivingmissdaisy]

The thing with Ashley is that, as long as she stays on her feet, she will be on the podium. The US judges won't give her the edge call on the lutz, won't call her loops < like the international judges do, and will probably give her full credit for the 3-3. She won't lose the BV points or the GOE that bury her in the international events and long as her performance is strong.

 

[concorde]

If the 2014 Olympics/Worlds selection scenario occurs again (Denney/Coughlin, Max Aaron for world, no Olympics), such as Ashley didn't medal at nationals so is not chosen for Pyeongchang but USFSA still trusts her to get 3 spots next year, did y'all think Ashley will go to Worlds?

I am not convinced they would even choose her in that scenario. She has been inconsistency year and if she were to bomb at Nationals, that would even more demonstrate her inconsistency.

 

[chuckm]

4CC starts on Jan 22, just two weeks aftert the end of Nationals on Jan 7, and ends on Jan 27 just two weeks before the start of the Olympics on Feb 9. It would be foolhardy to send Olympic athletes on an exhausting trip to Taipei where they will get such limited practice time while risking injury, so close to the start of the Games.

So those left off the Olympic team will no doubt be invited to represent the US at 4CC (whether they choose to accept the invitation or not). But it will be a great opportunity for those who don't get selected for the O's or Worlds to get ISU Championship points.

 

[mrrice]

I am not convinced they would even choose her in that scenario. She has been inconsistency year and if she were to bomb at Nationals, that would even more demonstrate her inconsistency.

I agree. If Ashley were to finish any lower than 4th, I'd send Emmy Ma, or Starr Andrews in her place. If they meet the age requirement and have the tech scores. Why not get them some international exposure since we know that they'll continue on after this season ends.

 

[chuckm]

Starr Andrews and Emmy Ma have the required TES for both SP and FS for the Olympics and 4CC. But Emmy doesn't have the SP TES required for Worlds. I cannot picture USFS choosing either of these ladies over Ashley, however, as Emmy struggled in the SP at Golden Spin, and Starr struggled in the FS. One senior event doesn't give them adequate experience for the Olympics, although it would for 4CC....

 

[Ares]

Tom Z. was the one who started Tessa on the backloaded LP train. Is Frank really still having her do it? That doesn't seem like him...he's very traditional.

Also: http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2017/24265/results.html

Per this Sectionals protocol, it looks like Tessa wasn't backloading.

Good that she stopped therefore.

 

[mrrice]

What's going on with Tessa? She did so well at Nationals last year and I thought she was on her way up the rankings.

 

[frida80]

Good that she stopped therefore.

That’s last year’s sectionals. Tessa is still backloading.

http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2018/25075/results.html

 

[frida80]

What's with Tessa? She did so well at Nationals last year and I thought she was on her way up the rankings.

Tessa had a good short and bombed the FS. the truth was she had already competed at the JGP twice and scored poorly because of her underrotations and down grades. That happened once again this year. She was good at sectionals, but I’m not convinced she has her jumping situation fixed yet.

 

[frida80]

Starr Andrews and Emmy Ma have the required TES for both SP and FS for the Olympics and 4CC. But Emmy doesn't have the SP TES required for Worlds. I cannot picture USFS choosing either of these ladies over Ashley, however, as Emmy struggled in the SP at Golden Spin, and Starr struggled in the FS. One senior event doesn't give them adequate experience for the Olympics, although it would for 4CC....

I’m for sending Starr and Emmy to JW and maybe 4CC for experience. I think there’s too much chatter about these kids too early. I want them both to have a chance to develop in their own time.

 

[artsciboy]

How motivated would Ashley be to do well at Worlds if she is out of the Os, seeing as she is planning to retire at the end of the year? The same could be said for Mirai if she doesn't make the Olympic team but is named for Worlds.

It's going to be hard to keep the 3 spots with 3 very strong Russian ladies, two resurgent Japanese ladies, and at least one Canadian lady pushing for the top spots. And with Worlds in Italy, never count Kostner out.

For the record, Ashley has never said that she was retiring at the end of this year. If anything, I recall her stating very clearly that she wasn't going to put that added pressure on top of an already stressful Olympic season.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Tessa had a good short and bombed the FS. the truth was she had already competed at the JGP twice and scored poorly because of her underrotations and down grades. That happened once again this year. She was good at sectionals, but I’m not convinced she has her jumping situation fixed yet.

Backloading isn't a good strategy unless you can do all your jumps well. Her 3Lz-3T<< earned fewer points than her 3Lo in the PC Sectionals LP.

 

[princessalica]

Just saw both Bradie and Polina posting jumping videos. Polina is working hard to earn a spot. That girl is scrappy. I say never count her out.

 

[ribbit]

She can't do that because you can only have 1 three-jump combo.
So she can do 3Lo-2T or 3Lo-2Lo alongside 3F-2Lo and 2A-1Lo-3S but those are really low value combos besides the three jump one...

Oh ok what about doing 3S-2A instead like in 2013?

I believe that the change of foot from the landing of the 3S to the take-off of the 2A makes this a jump sequence, which is worth only 80% of the BV of the two individual jumps combined. So not mathematically beneficial, unfortunately.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I believe that the change of foot from the landing of the 3S to the take-off of the 2A makes this a jump sequence, which is worth only 80% of the BV of the two individual jumps combined. So not mathematically beneficial, unfortunately.

I think this is the old rule. Such combinations are now 3 jump combos: a jump, a single loop, and another jump. Each jump gets full BV if completed.

 

[mrrice]

Just saw both Bradie and Polina posting jumping videos. Polina is working hard to earn a spot. That girl is scrappy. I say never count her out.

I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that news......I know how popular Polina is in San Jose and even if she doesn't make the team, I want her to go down fighting. I can only imagine how much she wants to skate well in front of her family and her MANY friends in San Jose and throughout the Central Valley....

 

[mrrice]

Backloading isn't a good strategy unless you can do all your jumps well. Her 3Lz-3T<< earned fewer points than her 3Lo in the PC Sectionals LP.

I have been saying this ever since backloading became popular. Unless these skater's have the stamina not just to land these jumps but, do them with positive GOE, I am not fan of backloading. I'd rather see a Morozov style footwork section followed by some fast spins that make the audience scream. These programs that begin with 2 minutes of empty boredom are on my last nerve.....

 

[frida80]

I think this is the old rule. Such combinations are now 3 jump combos: a jump, a single loop, and another jump. Each jump gets full BV if completed.

It’s still a rule. If it’s not on the landing foot, it’s officially sequence and only 80%.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I have been saying this ever since backloading became popular. Unless these skater's have the stamina not just to land these jumps but, do them with positive GOE. I am not fan of backloading. I'd rather see a Morozov style footwork section followed by some fast spins that make the audience scream. These programs that begin with 2 minutes of empty boredom are on my last nerve.....

If the judging actually penalized unbalanced programs, this issue would be quickly resolved. If Alina moved her 3Lz, 2A-3T, and 3S to the first half, it would cost her only around 2 points of bonus.

 

[mrrice]

If the judging actually penalized unbalanced programs, this issue would be quickly resolved. If Alina moved her 3Lz, 2A-3T, and 3S to the first half, it would cost her only around 2 points of bonus.

This is why my issue is with the system and not the Coaches, Choreographer, or Skaters. The rules are in place and if Eteri and others can maximize their points by using the current system to the hilt....More power to em'.