2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[Sam-Skwantch]

This isn't the off-season. This is the OLYMPIC season. Aren't there better things to talk about than conspiracy theories?

Lol..I in fact expect the exact opposite from people as you in an Olympic season

I think it's to be expected and maybe even alright. The wheels on the bus go round and round .... just sing along :hap93:

 

[fallingsk8er]

Some people appear to be down on the US ladies this year, but I think they are going to surprise everyone at Nationals. They know how they stack up internationally, so they will know that either they "bring it", or they will watch the Olympics from home. I'm hoping the ladies put on a show at nationals .....while the men will likely be a splat-fest from trying too hard on content they haven't mastered yet.

 

[skylark]

It's very accurate that Mirai defeated Ashley in 2014, but NOT accurate that Ashley was given Mirai's spot. As Skylark said, Mirai never had a spot.

Semantics......Mirai deserved the spot by outscoring Ashley under the pressure of Nationals. I get it, the committee "Gave" the spot to Ashley .

Nope, Ashley earned it. Under the rules.

Semantics are what we have to work with, in a written forum.

Semantics: the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning.​

2014: RIP.

 

[skylark]

She's clearly got some injury, or at least she claimed one, and those take time to heal.

I think we can all agree that figure skaters, being high-level athletes who put high demands, stress and strain on their bodies, and who get where they are partly by skating through pains and aches, deserve our respect.

What they don't deserve is insinuations like the above.

In her 10-year career as a senior lady, last month was the first time Ashley Wagner ever withdrew from a competition.

 

[Eeyora]

This isn't the off-season. This is the OLYMPIC season. Aren't there better things to talk about than conspiracy theories?

Taking a few days off from this site and returning to this thread to see discussions of Ashley WDing from Nationals almost gave me a heart attack. It takes a couple minutes of backreading to realize....it's based on literally nothing.

Same here! I thought I was missing something and just speculation.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I’m still hoping Polina and/or Mariah bring it at Nationals and make everyone scramble to make sense of it!

 

[Mrs. P]

I'm hoping for an exciting FS at U.S. Nationals, since I'll be there in person. Dazzle me, U.S. ladies. :yes:

 

[skylark]

I'm hoping for an exciting FS at U.S. Nationals, since I'll be there in person. Dazzle me, U.S. ladies. :yes:

They've never failed us yet. I'm fully expecting to be dazzled. Athleticism and artistry, with heart and making it all look easy!

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I wonder if the hometown vibes will inspire Karen and Polina to find their inner Bo$$

 

[skylark]

I wonder if the hometown vibes will inspire Karen and Polina to find their inner Bo$$

I hope so. (Except for the dollar signs in the word boss; I guess I don't understand the reference.) I don't know how to predict this for Karen or Polina, though.

I think it can work either way, depending on the skater. The great shining example that comes to mind is Rudy Galindo in San Jose in 1996. Just fabulous.

Other skaters feel more pressure. Marissa Castelli said she did, when skating in Boston ... but she and Simon still won.

A historical example that I love: Ekaterina Gordeeva wrote that competing in Russia was harder for her and Sergei. She also said she was glad her parents weren't at her competitions, because she'd have felt more pressure. And she had a very good relationship with her parents, so it wasn't that. Just an individual response.

 

[TontoK]

I think we can all agree that figure skaters, being high-level athletes who put high demands, stress and strain on their bodies, and who get where they are partly by skating through pains and aches, deserve our respect.

What they don't deserve is insinuations like the above.

In her 10-year career as a senior lady, last month was the first time Ashley Wagner ever withdrew from a competition.

I'm not a medical professional nor have I personally examined her. I've not heard of any official medical report, but in fairness I don't follow skaters' twitter accounts specifically. I do not know if the injury is serious, or if it is a typical "pains and aches" as you describe them, or if this is season threatening.

So, my statement, insofar as my personal knowledge of the situation is honest. She's claimed an injury. Read the rest of the sentence "and those take time to heal" which is an acknowledgement that I am taking her at her word.

Injury of any sort would be worrisome at this stage of the season, I imagine.

 

[skylark]

I'm not a medical professional nor have I personally examined her. I've not heard of any official medical report, but in fairness I don't follow skaters' twitter accounts specifically. I do not know if the injury is serious, or if it is a typical "pains and aches" as you describe them, or if this is season threatening.

I don't usually check for official medical reports when skaters announce that they have to take time for an injury to heal. In fact, I never have. But I do believe them when they say they have an injury.

Just to clarify, I didn't describe Ashley's injury from last month as typical pains and aches. That was a statement about all skaters, and in fact, all high level athletes.

So, my statement, insofar as my personal knowledge of the situation is honest. She's claimed an injury. Read the rest of the sentence "and those take time to heal" which is an acknowledgement that I am taking her at her word.

I did read your entire sentence. (I quoted it too) . I can't speak for everyone, but I always read the entire thing when I'm responding to a post.

She's clearly got some injury, or at least she claimed one, and those take time to heal.

"at least she claimed one" was the phrase that suggested to me that you were questioning whether Ashley actually had an injury or not. If you didn't mean it that way, I'll take you at your words.

 

[Moxiejan]

I'm not a medical professional nor have I personally examined her. I've not heard of any official medical report, but in fairness I don't follow skaters' twitter accounts specifically. I do not know if the injury is serious, or if it is a typical "pains and aches" as you describe them, or if this is season threatening.

So, my statement, insofar as my personal knowledge of the situation is honest. She's claimed an injury. Read the rest of the sentence "and those take time to heal" which is an acknowledgement that I am taking her at her word.

Maybe when commenting on the status of a specific skater, it would be helpful to follow the skater's Twitter. As well as the skater's public statements.

At Skate America, Ashley did not "claim" an unspecified injury. She said outright that it was an ankle infection that she'd had for about 10 days. Not vague "aches & pains" or anything secret. This was not a long-term fracture or ligament injury with a high chance of re-injury; there's every reason to believe that she's already 100% recovered, and back in normal training.

 

[TontoK]

Maybe when commenting on the status of a specific skater, it would be helpful to follow the skater's Twitter. As well as the skater's public statements.

At Skate America, Ashley did not "claim" an unspecified injury. She said outright that it was an ankle infection that she'd had for about 10 days. Not vague "aches & pains" or anything secret. This was not a long-term fracture or ligament injury which a high chance of re-injury; there's every reason to believe that she's already 100% recovered, and back in normal training.

Nothing about our sport interests me less than the personal lives of the athletes. So, I don't follow any of their social media accounts.

I will click on some social media links in threads, based on how GS contributors describe them. For example, I discovered the first clips of Nathan Chen's SP through an Instagram link that someone shared.

Honestly, it's one of the reasons I started following some FanFest threads. People who do follow their social accounts sometimes post links that interest me.

What is the basis for your statement that "there's every reason to believe she's already 100% recovered, and back in normal training"?

Caveat: Ashley's FanFest is not one I follow, so perhaps there's been some update there, or possibly on another thread, and I've just missed it.

 

[Moxiejan]

Nothing about our sport interests me less than the personal lives of the athletes. So, I don't follow any of their social media accounts.

If you took the time to follow skaters on social media, you would find that MOST of the info relates not to their private lives but is directly about "our sport": news of new programs, injuries/illnesses, upcoming competitions & shows, etc. Yes, you might have to endure an occasional post about a new puppy or kitten.

What is the basis for your statement that "there's every reason to believe she's already 100% recovered, and back in normal training"?

Because nothing has been said about her missing training and/or having a relapse of the infection.

 

[TontoK]

If you took the time to follow skaters on social media, you would find that MOST of the info relates not to their private lives but is directly about "our sport": news of new programs, injuries/illnesses, upcoming competitions & shows, etc. Yes, you might have to endure an occasional post about a new puppy or kitten.



Because nothing has been said about her missing training and/or having a relapse of the infection.

Point 1: I'm unwilling to take that risk. Besides, as I said, more socially engaged contributors post links to interesting information about skaters I most enjoy. Admittedly, I undeservedly enjoy the fruits of their labors, but I am grateful they share it anyway.

Point 2: Fair enough. Has anything been said about her returning to training or on the status of the infection? Absence of evidence is not proof of anything, although I acknowledge that works on both sides of the coin.

 

[sheetz]

Point 2: Fair enough. Has anything been said about her returning to training or on the status of the infection? Absence of evidence is not proof of anything, although I acknowledge that works on both sides of the coin.

Ashely is back on the ice according to her instagram stories.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Ashely is back on the ice according to her instagram stories.

And she's completely cleared by the doctor from the ankle infection.

 

[skylark]

RE: Being dazzled by the Ladies at Nationals

Angela Wang and Courtney Hicks ... I'm really looking forward to seeing if they're inspired by confidence gained this year, plus a definite step up in artistry for both .. Angela's Over the Rainbow and Courtney's Amazing Grace are favorites for me this year ... will have them bringing it at Nationals, giving great performances.

Mariah Bell. Radio silence. Maybe she's been building up her technique with Raf, building up her programs and choreo with Rohene, quietly working to dazzle again.

Mirai Nagasu. She may have made great strides in consistency in her 3Axels, and she may be working hard on the URs too. Again, quietly. She'll have had a couple of months to focus; by nationals it will be fun to watch.

Bradie Tennell, Karen Chen, and Ashley Wagner.. What will they have been able to do since SA? Five weeks of great training ... isn't that what Brian Orser/Tracy Wilson call for, as their ideal training effectiveness program just before a competition?

I'd love to see Bradie solidifying her technical brilliance, and what I noticed from Practice Day One at SA ... her desire and preparedness. If she can bring me on board by stepping up her presentation, Wow.

Karen has such beauty, calm and pure artistry that when she's got her jumps/feet underneath her, she dazzles. I'm not counting her out. She'll be wanting to defend her title. If she's on, she'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Will Ashley create that gorgeous Ashley Wagner Moment, as only she can? Even with a silly mistake, she did so last year. She brings a performance level, raw emotion and expression as no one else. I'm counting on it. Plus, I can't wait to see La La Land!

So I'm now thinking of these as My (not necessarily everyone's) Top 7. What fun!

ETA: Honorable Mention: Polina Edmonds. I love her more womanly, statuesque presence on the ice this year.

 

[Icey]

This article seems to assume Mirai is already selected for the team. Do they know something we don't?

https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Who-Mirai-Nagasu-44370842