2018 US Championships Sr. Ladies SP

[Sam-Skwantch]

^lol...Wagner doesn’t do 4CC

 

[TontoK]

I do not have any issue with Bradie's PCS, at least relatively speaking. I think because she seems so secure in her jumps, she can pay attention to presentation throughout her program. Felt Karen Chen's overall PCS should be higher than Bradie's, and it was. I will say I would've called an e for Bradie's lutz, but it looks like no lutzes were e'd in the entire event (really?!), so maybe they are just being lenient.

I haven't examined Bradie's lutz entry, so I'll set that aside.

But, in general, I have long believed that the judges have been too lenient on the calls at US Nationals. As much as I'm rooting for her, Marai was pretty lucky to get by without a UR call on the back end of her combination.

And, tbh, I think Ashley was pretty lucky not to get a downgrade on the back end of hers. They only showed it once on the telecast in closeup, but it looked like she was entirely 180 off when the toepick hit the ice.

 

[AshWagsFan]

Tbh not just because I’m her fan, but Ashley Wagner was robbed last night. I understand the scores for Mirai and Bradie (although she received generous PCs) but Karen?! She made the exact same mistake as Ashley, ur and step out of the triple triple, how is she 2 points ahead technically?! Also Ashley getting a range of 6.5 to 9 on PCs is completely ridiculous. Mb this is what she needs to go after it in the free, idk, just a little confused by her and Angela Wang’s underscoring here

 

[AshWagsFan]

Easy. The head of USFS will say:

Ms Tennell and Ms Nagasu will represent our country at the Olympics. Please give them an applause.
Now, will the following girls step forward please.
Ms Wang, step forward.
Ms Chen, step forward.
Ms Wagner, step forward.
You three girls will go to 4CC and skate your skates off. The girl with the best result will take the third spot.
I saw that tongue-sticking, Ms Wagner. You best behave and don't give me none of that "4CC is not my thing" stuff.
You want to go the Olympics? You go to the 4CC first. If Ms Miyahara and Ms Sakamoto are willing to go, you can go too.

Kaori and Satoko has their nationals TWO WEEKS AGO, so they will not be as fatigued. They also can still wd, 4cc is VERYYYYY close to the olympics

 

[mrrice]

Kaori and Satoko has their nationals TWO WEEKS AGO, so they will not be as fatigued. They also can still wd, 4cc is VERYYYYY close to the olympics

In Ashley's case....Getting another run of her new LP might work out for her. We will all be seeing it for the time and if it doesn't go as well as she'd like, she may want to get it out there one more time before Korea.

 

[AshWagsFan]

In Ashley's case....Getting another run of her new LP might work out for her. We will all be seeing it for the time and if it doesn't go as well as she'd like, she may want to get it out there one more time before Korea.

Yes, but if their all fatigued and don’t perform to their best, it’ll give the media all the more reason to ding whoever got the third spot

 

[LiamForeman]

After reading many previous posts, this has just occurred to me... Assuming Bradie and Mirai finish gold and silver (in whatever order)...what do we think the committee will do if Angela wins the bronze at Nationals? (And let's say Ashley places 4th and Karen places 5th.) Do we think they would send Ashley? What if it is Ashley who finishes 5th, and Karen 4th, do we think they would send Karen instead?

So many questions will be answered in the next few days. Best of luck to all skaters, they all work so hard.

Moderators, if this type of thoughtful speculation is not allowed on this forum, then just delete it and send me a warning message to which I can't reply, lol.

I have a feeling that Angela will be displaced by a 4th place Chen or Wagner. Other than her, I can't see either of them displacing Bradie or Mirai if those two place third ahead of either of them.

And LOL about getting a warning that you can't reply to. I was told if I had a question to post in the Feedback section, and when I did I got ANOTHER infraction for posting an unnecessary post! Quite hilarious.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

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)

Well to be fair, Sotskova knew that focus would be on her and that she needed good programs. Bradie probably couldn't imagine getting a GP medal and leading after the SP, so she probably didn't think she needed showstopper programs...

 

[Skatingcat]

Based on the way Weir/Lipinski were commentating, I wonder if the figure skating politics/people are against Ashley going to the olympics. This is not meant to take away from the other skaters at all. Looking forward to the long program.

Go Mirai!!!

 

[mrrice]

I have a feeling that Angela will be displaced by a 4th place Chen or Wagner. Other than her, I can't see either of them displacing Bradie or Mirai if those two place third ahead of either of them.

And LOL about getting a warning that you can't reply to. I was told if I had a question to post in the Feedback section, and when I did I got ANOTHER infraction for posting an unnecessary post! Quite hilarious.

So do I and I think it's unfortunate. However, Karen and Ashley have senior international experience and Angela has never been to Worlds as a Senior. If the scores are close, I can't see Angela going.

 

[TontoK]

So do I and I think it's unfortunate. However, Karen and Ashley have senior international experience and Angela has never been to Worlds as a Senior. If the scores are close, I can't see Angela going.

Karen in 4th to a bronze Angela... maybe. Although I hope not, provided the result is fair.

But elevating Ashley for the 2nd Olympics... unlikely. That caused a firestorm last time, and while I didn't (and still don't) agree with that decision, there was SOME justification on BOW. Very little this time around.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Based on the way Weir/Lipinski were commentating, I wonder if the figure skating politics/people are against Ashley going to the olympics. This is not meant to take away from the other skaters at all. Looking forward to the long program.

Go Mirai!!!

Weir/Lipinski looove to prey on formerly great skaters that are struggling, particularly Johnny.

If Wagner nailed it, they would be praising her for being a fighter and being hungry. But if she makes mistakes, they'll rake her over the coals.

It was pretty sad to hear their comments about Gold last year, Tara was a bit more sympathetic but Johnny was just savage... I mean "Grow up and skate"... come on.

I haven't seen the NBC broadcast, but what choice words did they have for Ashley (and the other skaters at that)? :sarcasm: I'm assuming they weren't as harsh on Chen either, even though she and Ashley had the same error essentially.

 

[AshWagsFan]

Karen in 4th to a bronze Angela... maybe. Although I hope not, provided the result is fair.

But elevating Ashley for the 2nd Olympics... unlikely. That caused a firestorm last time, and while I didn't (and still don't) agree with that decision, there was SOME justification on BOW. Very little this time around.

Compared to Angela, who got no gps for the past 2 Year’s (she wd skate America) and no 4cc? Maybe. If Ashley is 4th to anyone else, it’ll be a disaster. If Karen is 4th to anyone else, it’ll be a disaster

 

[mrrice]

Yes, but if their all fatigued and don’t perform to their best, it’ll give the media all the more reason to ding whoever got the third spot

How much time is there between 4CC and the Olympics? Are the top skaters from Canada going or will they send 4-6 skaters?

 

[BravesSkateFan]

I love Ashley, but I'm tired of that SP and I'm sure the American judges are, too.

Its only her 2nd year using HHCC. Its also Karen's second year (in a row) using her short. Why would they be sick of Ashley's and not Karen's?

 

[pearly]

Kaori and Satoko has their nationals TWO WEEKS AGO, so they will not be as fatigued. They also can still wd, 4cc is VERYYYYY close to the olympics

Exactly. Whoever gets chosen for the Olympics, the other three from the top 6 are going to 4CC. Although what original poster suggests sounds great for build up and drama.

However.

Not only were Japanese nationals two weeks ago, but there is also much less travel time from Japan/S. Korea/Australia to Taipei and back than there is from the US. Not to mention time zones. I really can't imagine USFS sending same skaters to 4CC and the Olympics, especially not to skate in the team event.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Easy. The head of USFS will say:

Ms Tennell and Ms Nagasu will represent our country at the Olympics. Please give them an applause.
Now, will the following girls step forward please.
Ms Wang, step forward.
Ms Chen, step forward.
Ms Wagner, step forward.
You three girls will go to 4CC and skate your skates off. The girl with the best result will take the third spot.
I saw that tongue-sticking, Ms Wagner. You best behave and don't give me none of that "4CC is not my thing" stuff.
You want to go the Olympics? You go to the 4CC first. If Ms Miyahara and Ms Sakamoto are willing to go, you can go too.

This is totally what they should do. Being the rational thing to do, however, they won't do it.

Even if 4CC is super close to the Olympics, I think it's not a bad thing to send these skaters - especially those who have had ho-hum seasons and could use an international judging boost (i.e. all of them).

I also think Wagner - or any of them - would obviously go to 4CC if their Olympics was contingent on it.

 

[TontoK]

Weir/Lipinski looove to prey on formerly great skaters that are struggling, particularly Johnny.

If Wagner nailed it, they would be praising her for being a fighter and being hungry. But if she makes mistakes, they'll rake her over the coals.

It was pretty sad to hear their comments about Gold last year, Tara was a bit more sympathetic but Johnny was just savage... I mean "Grow up and skate"... come on.

I haven't seen the NBC broadcast, but what choice words did they have for Ashley (and the other skaters at that)? :sarcasm: I'm assuming they weren't as harsh on Chen either, even though she and Ashley had the same error essentially.

Actually, at the end of the telecast, they had a little chart analyzing tech and PCS among the Top 6. They made a case that Ashley might have been scored too low on PCS.

I don't particularly enjoy Johnny's snark, but I really wish Tara could learn when NOT to talk. It is CONSTANT during the performances. You never get a chance to even hear the music.

 

[flipsydoodle]

Bradie is super impressive in her ability to remain calm, cool, collected and focused and just tune out the Oly pressure. I thought she gave a great performance, being the only skater not to make a mistake, and fully deserved her scores.

Starr seems to have done very well with pressure, too. This bodes well for the future.

 

[Miss Ice]

Its only her 2nd year using HHCC. Its also Karen's second year (in a row) using her short. Why would they be sick of Ashley's and not Karen's?

Because Karen's SP is actually improved on the artistic side. It's mature, poised, elegant and basically a piece of art when clean. Ashley has a lot of gimmicky moves (fist-pumping and bunny hops, really?) and had a small hiccup on one of her twizzles. The program itself is just not comparable to the piece of art of both composition and class that is Karen's SP. Also, Karen does have a presence on the ice that is not just "hey look at me I am a confident diva", but more like MK, really flowing with the music.

Also, Bradie is one of the most boring skaters I have ever seen. She may be consistent and land her jumps, but her edges are shallow and her interpretation of music is non-existent. That combined with poor posture and use of arms makes for nothing more than a jumping bean. Her spins are just average. Satoko is another skater that is consistent but her SS and interpretation is like heaven and earth compared to Bradie, and her spins/transitions are gorgeous. So consistency is not an excuse for totally lacking in everything else.

Also, how is Karen's StSq3 and Mirai/Bradie is StSq4?

EDIT: Just watched Angela's SP. Maybe it was the music or maybe the beautiful lines and flow with the music, but for several moments it felt like watching Michelle Kwan. Even the ending pose is a flashback. I really hope it's Mirai, Karen + Angela on the podium...