2018 US Championships Sr. Ladies SP

[NoStefaniaNo]

She didn't say she is a genius. I would interpret a brilliant mind as being clear headed and having confidence in the mind to tackle the performance. She is saying she needs to give herself a pep talk to be brilliant. Not she is brilliant already.

Although I can see how it could easily be misconstrued from the way the sentence is written.

I'll give Mirai the benefit of doubt.

And I'm glad to hear her speak with some confidence. It would be so exciting to see her at the top of the podium this competition.

 

[da96103]

Mirai is a brilliant mind when it comes to figure skating though.

I'm sure she's not developing a big ego. Mirai once told her mother that her legs are worth gold. Her mother replied, "it's too bad your brain isn't."

Good old mom always knows how to put her children planted firmly on the ground.

Mirai always had the tendency to let words come out of her mouth before going through her brain.

I rate her twitter comment: harmless

 

[OS]

Mirai is a brilliant mind when it comes to figure skating though.

I'm sure she's not developing a big ego. Mirai once told her mother that her legs are worth gold. Her mother replied, "it's too bad your brain isn't."

Mum knows best...
Every crazy mind can think themselves as a little brilliant however, but i love you anyway Mirai... Crazy seems works for you, do it!!!!

 

[da96103]

I really think Wang should be ahead of Tennell. Angela is the whole package and all Bradie does is give me an overwhelming need to count sheep. But of course USFS couldn't be more transparent and judged accordingly. Sigh.

Are you saying Bradie is the Sostkova of US ladies? I better tell my friends who have insomnia to watch her.

 

[NoNameFace]

Nah, she just meant that she needed to throw herself into that triple Axel like she was "crazy." Sort of a "no guts, no glory" thing.

I also think that somewhat Mirai's sassiness might be overlooked there, getting her words as narcissistic instead of taking them with more dry humour

 

[ask]

I mentioned in my original post that the USF did support her in 2014 but only because her results were so strong for the previous two seasons that it would have been ridiculous for them to leave her off the team. She had medaled at every Grand Prix event she entered, medaled at the Grand Prix Final and placed higher at Worlds than any other US lady the previous two years.

In fact, Ashley has not been US champion since 2015 but her PCS marks internationally have remained very high. So there is no catch 22 as you inaccurately phrase it. You obviously don't like her. But, the international judges do. Her transitions aren't great but her other marks should be high and are internationally for a reason. Ashley achieved international success before she became US champion. She made it to the Grand Prix final in 2009-2010 and was not sent to Olympics that year. She has the only US lady to make the final. Before she became the national champion in 2012, she had already won 6 medals on the Grand Prix. (5 more than Bradie has) So, claiming that the USAFA is the only reason for her success is not supported by facts.

If you suddenly get lower PCS at nationals than you have been getting for years internationally it is a bit shocking. Nationals are known for inflation, not deflation. But, as I mentioned before, I don't think it is a grand conspiracy. Just bad judging.

But, don't let facts get in the way of your opinion. They obviously haven't previously

Nope. If you are so good with inflated PCS, why can't you place top 3 at Nationals in 2014? If you are the only american made it in the gpf in 2010, why can't you make top 2 to go to the Olympics?
Answer honestly, do you think she did enough to get 33-34 ever in her career? No one believes she is capable of that. The only reason she got such high PCS is due to being usa #1. That is a fact. Is her skating skills 8.5 or 9?

 

[readernick]

Are you saying Bradie is the Sostkova of US ladies? I better tell my friends who have insomnia to watch her.

That is kind of how I would describe her. I like Sotskova. I like Bradie too but they don't exactly light the room on fire. Also, Sotskova has better programs (sad but true)

 

[jenaj]

I wish they presented the women as athletes who kick butt, but for some reason they seem to want a coltish blonde Disney princess story each Olympics. It isn't Bradie's fault that NBC is pushing this narrative and, although it is to her benefit right now, I think it can be harmful to her in the long run.

It used to be the same in gymnastics, but consecutive African-American Olympic champions disabused them of that notion, at least for the time being.

I think this is perception, not reality. I didn't see NBC or anyone else pushing a "blonde Disney princess." The USA's most popular and beloved skater of all time, by the way, was of Asian heritage.

 

[jenaj]

After re watching, I would have had Wang in 1st, Karen in 4th. Bradie was way overscored PCS, and Hanna way UNDERSCOrED PCS. Vivian is a sad thing, watching her she should be much better. Vivian has huge natural ability, not sure what happened to her along the way. (injuries? boots?) As far as Ashley, I'm just not a fan of recycling programs, especially programs that are cheesy. At least Mariah's program has difficult transitions, step seq. etc.

Anyway, praying for Nagasu and Chen, it is going to break my heart if one of them doesn't make the Olympic team.

Mirai and Karen both had "recycled" programs so I really don't think that was an issue with Ashley.

 

[readernick]

Nope. If you are so good with inflated PCS, why can't you place top 3 at Nationals in 2014? If you are the only american made it in the gpf in 2010, why can't you make top 2 to go to the Olympics?
Answer honestly, do you think she did enough to get 33-34 ever in her career? No one believes she is capable of that. The only reason she got such high PCS is due to being usa #1. That is a fact. Is her skating skills 8.5 or 9?

"Nope"to what exactly? You did not actually make any argument or dispute any of the facts in my post. I assume it is because you don't have any facts that prove your point?
In terms of PCS, yes she deserves those marks.( as much as anyone given the inflation we see internationally) She is better than most skaters in these categories who are getting high PCS marks with the exception of the true talents like Carolina Kostner and Satoko Miyahara. (they are on a different level). Her transition mark (as I have mentioned multiple times) should be lower but she skates with a lot of speed and has a great posture. 8.5 is not over the top given the current overscoring internationally. Anyway, it is not the SS or transitions mark people were disputing it was the PE, Composition, and interpretation marks. Ashley can light up a room.Bradie has not reached that place yet. There is a reason Evgenia Medvedeva said that Ashley was the best skater internationally at interpreting a program. Additionally, it was not so much the overall mark people took issue with it was PE, Comp and interpretation in comparison to Bradie and the other skaters.

However, I did not even begin talking with you to discuss the above issue. I commented because you said that Ashley never achieved any success on her own it was because of the USFA. That was blatantly false, as the facts in my previous post prove. You choose not to allow facts to make a dent in your bias so I choose not to continue this conversation. It is obviously not productive. Bless!

 

[slider11]

I am thrilled that Mirai pulled together a strong SP. I am disappointed that the US judges are not rewarding her components a little more. I think she should be solid 8/9s. A few judges are holding her back. Hopefully a strong Miss Saigon will sway their opionions. Bradie is fine. She has that etheral approach with solid jumps. IMO, her components are over-rewarded because of her strong jumps. But I'm fine with her at the top with Mirai. I am pulling for Ashley for the third spot. She has the goods and although struggling has the capacity to bring a big performance. Unveiling LaLa Land is pretty risky - how do you stay strong with the technical end and sell a new program at the same time? She may be regretting not sticking with LaLa Land from the start of the season. But I think it's the right decision because Moulin Rouge is stale and, unless perfectly skated, will not get her the marks she needs. If she can make the team, Ashley would have a month to perfect LaLa and maybe have a viable podium performance.

What will be really interesting is usfsa's decision if Karen places third and Ashley fourth. Which one will go to the Olympics?

 

[Zhenya is DIVINE]

Are you saying Bradie is the Sostkova of US ladies? I better tell my friends who have insomnia to watch her.

Not at all. I love Sotskova. And she is a stunningly gorgeous young woman. Sadly, the same can not be said for Bradie.

 

[lost3iron]

Just watched the top Ladies and I believe people are overreacting about Bradie Tennel. She skated in a way that I never felt she was preoccupied with just delivering the tech. She may not have Karen Chen's hands but I felt that she was comfortable with the program and really delivered. Ashley's Hip Hip Chin Chin was my favorite program in the 2015-2016 season and she has skated it so much better before (Skate Canada 2015 for me) but she looks improved compared to this season's performances.
Angela Wang was gorgeous and my favorite of the competition . I would have had her at least second but what do I know?

 

[TontoK]

Frida80 and I called this in like August. The advantages of not being invested.

I've really not cared that much about the ladies event this season, and I think that actually helped me to enjoy the event more.

I wish people would quit calling Bradie bland. She reminds me of my lovely sister when she was young, and for whatever reason, I take it personally.

 

[binky]

Ashley is still the only one of the girls who has both the program and is competitive with the best skaters in the world. angela seemed undermarked. tennell, lacks strong positions. chen got a break. mirai can only go so far even with a triple axel she lacks presense. none of these but ashley can actually command the ice with tennell the closest but doesnt have world class positions (ie the grimace at the end)

 

[andromache]

Not at all. I love Sotskova. And she is a stunningly gorgeous young woman. Sadly, the same can not be said for Bradie.

What do you mean?

Not all of her body positions are amazing or the most aesthetically-pleasing, but I think she's about as "artistic" as Gracie was this time in 2014 (albeit Gracie had better skating skills - but her arms were far worse than Bradie's are now).

I love Maria, but her style of skating is very different from Bradie's - much more "quiet" and classical. I don't think Bradie has found her style just yet, but it's not that.

ETA: I'm amazed to see so many people complaining about Angela not being higher. She's great when she's on, but that isn't too often, and she's pretty irrelevant internationally. She was lowballed here like she would be at a GP event, or at the Olympics.

 

[Baron Vladimir]

ETA: I'm amazed to see so many people complaining about Angela not being higher. She's great when she's on, but that isn't too often, and she's pretty irrelevant internationally. She was lowballed here like she would be at a GP event, or at the Olympics.

The problem is when we go for comparation between skaters here, in the fact that Angelas (and probably Ashley) scores would be similiar with that kind of skating internationally while Bradie, Mirai and Karen would be lower and closer to them. If they wanted to overscore Angela and Ashley a little bit - the way they did with all the others in top 6 here, their scores would be higher and deservedly closer to Bradie and Mirai than they really are.

 

[Zhenya is DIVINE]

I think I was most pleasantly surprised by Amber Glenn. Despite the mistake she made, I found her skating to be very pleasant and she looks to have a lot of potential. She also seems quite endearing and her personality in K&C was very cute! She is also very striking and pretty and actually reminds me a bit of Maria Sotskova, looks-wise . I remember reading she was having issues at the tail end of last season and had to drop out of some event? I'm glad it looks like she is doing better and I hope she has a great long program!

 

[silverfoxes]

Ashley is still the only one of the girls who has both the program and is competitive with the best skaters in the world. angela seemed undermarked. tennell, lacks strong positions. chen got a break. mirai can only go so far even with a triple axel she lacks presense. none of these but ashley can actually command the ice with tennell the closest but doesnt have world class positions (ie the grimace at the end)

Ashley did one full competition this season and scored 183. She is #33 on the Season's Best list, well behind Bradie (only US lady to crack 200 points, how sad!) & Mirai, and about on par with Karen and Angela. What year are you posting from?

 

[andromache]

The problem is in the fact that Angelas (and probably Ashley) scores would be similiar with that skate internationally while Bradie, Mirai and Karen wouldnt. If they overscore Angela and Ashley a little bit - the way they did with others in top 6, their scores would be higher here.

Ashley's would be higher internationally. She received higher scores this season for that SP internationally, and that was with worse performances of it. Her PCS here are strange - I think everyone assumed USFS wanted Ashley on the team more than any other skater, myself included, so the lowballing of PCS is beyond weird.

Hard to say with Angela. Again, she's been pretty irrelevant internationally for so long, the international judges would probably not know what to do with her (if she backed it up with a great LP, they'd probably be far more generous in the LP, and skate order would really aid her there).

Mirai and Karen received typical slight Nationals inflation for two favorites to make the team. Their scores make sense, though not in comparison to Ashley's.

Bradie's PCS are oddly high. I think USFS is excited about having someone who can rotate and land jumps consistently, and I don't blame them, considering the state of the US ladies. I'm also not sure if I agree with your assertion that Bradie wouldn't score that high (taking off a point or two for Nationals inflation) internationally. International judges seem to reward consistency, and maybe USFS is trying to get better at that? She also hit all of her levels, and has more transitions than any other US lady. These are the qualities that international judges are responding to in other skaters.