2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[labgoat]

The only thing I want to add is that LIVING at college, which Polina seems to be doing, is a major, major lifestyle change, and regardless of your academic workload, can result in way less time and energy to devote to off-campus activities. Plus, it's my understanding that Polina was/is involved in a sorority? Which is a big time investment.
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Living on campus and pledging a sorority seemed to work just fine for Meryl Davis, just saying.

 

[andromache]

Living on campus and pledging a sorority seemed to work just fine for Meryl Davis, just saying.

Not during Olympic years.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

The judges were very weird...that is about the best i can say. I mean could they have not at least been generous to Ashley in the performance category? I mean really how can anyone say she should not at least lead that one?

I was surprised by that, too, but generally I was happy with the judging. Bradie was probably scored a little high but, honestly, she is the only skater coming in with any buzz or momentum. Ashley looked tight to me, and even her reaction at the end seemed more like someone trying to get the job done, rather than give a performance. It was interesting comparing Karen and Mirai before their performances; Karen looked eager to attack while Mirai looked very anxious, even during the warm-up. I thought those moods reflected in their programs, and in their PCS marks. The big surprise, obviously, was Angela. I was happy that her scores weren't held back for skating early or being less accomplished than the favorites. It will be interesting to see what happens if she ends up 3rd and one of Mirai/Ashley/Karen end up 4th, although I do think Angela would be sent in those scenarios because the judges clearly aren't trying to lowball her marks to get her out of contention.

 

[Miss Ice]

You put Karamoto there and not Osmond... yikes.

I think Mirai has a vague chance of being in the final group if she skates later in the SP and goes clean. I've worked out the points and she has the potential to score 75-77 with the 3A, even if her components are only 30-32 range.

Does anyone know how the SP is seeded? Is it by world ranking? If so, Mirai has a great chance of being in the last SP group.

I think the USFSA is beginnign to recognize this, too. There is no way Bradie will be in the last SP group, and if she is chosen for the Olympics, I am almost 100% certain it will be like Polina Edmunds #2. She's probably top 10 but nowhere near being a threat.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Also, I think more people should get behind Bradie. What she's done this season, and in the SP, is show tremendous grit and mental strength, which is a bit of a contrast to her light and airy (boring, for some) programs. She goes out there, does all her elements without errors, and dares the judges to find any flaws, probably thinking "I don't need your stupid 1/4 rotation leeway on my fully-rotated jumps." I hope she wins and helps USA secure a team medal.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

There is no way Bradie will be in the last SP group, and if she is chosen for the Olympics, I am almost 100% certain it will be like Polina Edmunds #2. She's probably top 10 but nowhere near being a threat.

In the GP, Senior B, or Nationals, I don't believe Ashley, Karen, or Mirai have skated a single clean SP or LP executing all their planned elements. They may be in the final SP group, but there is no indication that they are medal threats, either. It's just a disappointing time for our ladies.

 

[macy]

Given the current situation: can Ashley be chosen for the Olympics if she is 5th 6th? Is she nearly 100% in with a 4th place?
Anyone knows the USFSA "rules"?

i'm wondering if karen drops, angela pulls to 3rd (doubtful but hey you never know) and ashley goes to 4th if they would send her. i personally doubt they would send angela since she really isn't consistent and from what i remember hasn't had a good track record of putting 2 solid programs together, plus her international track record is nowhere near ashley or karen...i think the favor would go to one of the two even if angela hangs on.

 

[geige]

All this assuming that Mirai will stay put in the rankings is making me uncomfortable.. delivering under pressure has never been her thing and I think this is still an uphill battle for her. I really wanted a team of Mirai, Ashley, and Karen because I like them so much individually but it looks like at least one of them will be left off

 

[andromache]

I just never get the sense that Karen takes any ownership of her skating. This quote from Christine's article: "This season so far has been crazy. It’s literally a stock market. It’s ups and downs and really unpredictable.”

It's not the season, Karen!!! It's YOU!

(And I really like Karen. Not trying to hate.)

 

[icellist]

If 1/2 are Bradie/Mirai, and Angela pulls up to third. Angela's spot on the team is dependent on who is in pewter. If Ashley pewters, I can see Ashley going, but not if Ashley is fifth. Karen is no better than Angela, consistency-wise. I have no idea what happens if Mariah pewter.

 

[TontoK]

I just never get the sense that Karen takes any ownership of her skating. This quote from Christine's article: "This season so far has been crazy. It’s literally a stock market. It’s ups and downs and really unpredictable.”

It's not the season, Karen!!! It's YOU!

(And I really like Karen. Not trying to hate.)

There seem to be a lot of athletes who aren't letting their skates speak for themselves.

I'm quickly becoming a Bradie Uber, and one of the reasons is her responses in the televised short interview last night.

Asked if her new Nationals SP record score was something "beyond her expectations" she responded "No. My only expectation was to skate a clean program."

I thought, someone must be giving her some media training, or else she's just smarter and more grounded.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

i'm wondering if karen drops, angela pulls to 3rd (doubtful but hey you never know) and ashley goes to 4th if they would send her. i personally doubt they would send angela since she really isn't consistent and from what i remember hasn't had a good track record of putting 2 solid programs together, plus her international track record is nowhere near ashley or karen.

I just don't see the point of sending Ashley if she's 4th. Her body of work doesn't make her the clear #1 American like it did in 2014. She won't be used for the team event because she doesn't have the scoring potential without a reliable 3-3. She won't win an individual medal. I guess we could send skaters to the Olympics as a "thank you" for overall excellence during the last 4 years, but that isn't the selection criteria.

 

[andromache]

There seem to be a lot of athletes who aren't letting their skates speak for themselves.

Even if they aren't "letting their skates speak for themselves" (because, duh, when you make mistakes, people in interviews ask you about them, and you have to respond with SOMETHING), they are taking ownership of their preparation and how they delivered or didn't deliver.

Letting the skate speak for itself is something you only get to do when you skate clean - it's not fair to the ones who make mistakes for that to be the ultimate interviewing standard. But you can still take ownership of what is working and what isn't working in your own skating.

Ashley: "I’m the kind of skater where my main focus going into the short program is to not get too far behind,” she said. “I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses. It’s a familiar position for me for sure. For me I’m a long program skater and that’s where I make my money."

Mirai: "I was so nervous but I fought against my nerves,” she said. “This is what I’ve been trying for. This has been my dream. I’ve worked so long for this.”

For example, I'd love to hear Karen say something like "I am working really hard on correcting my underrotation on my 3-3." But to my knowledge she's never acknowledged that in any interviews I've read or seen.

 

[macy]

I just don't see the point of sending Ashley if she's 4th. Her body of work doesn't make her the clear #1 American like it did in 2014. She won't be used for the team event because she doesn't have the scoring potential without a reliable 3-3. She won't win an individual medal. I guess we could send skaters to the Olympics as a "thank you" for overall excellence during the last 4 years, but that isn't the selection criteria.

i think the only way she would be sent being out of the top three is if she's 4th and angela is 3rd. any lower and there's no way. i wouldn't necessarily refer to it as being "body of work" because that's slim pickins this season, but she knows how to compete under pressure and has a better international reputation. i just don't think angela has the necessary experience to be put on an olympic stage...she's never even competed at a world championship before and has only competed at 2 GP events her entire career, which were very low finishes and wouldn't count in a recent body of work. i don't think she'd even break top 10 or 12 at the olympics, where ashley can absolutely do that or better. i just don't think it would be a wise move by USFSA.

now if the argument ends up being something like wang vs bell for the 3rd spot (if ashley and karen bomb and finish lower than 4th and 5th), that may be a bit different.

 

[tars]

I was going through the USNats scores on icenetwork and...

American 12yo with 184 points and 7 triples in second half? :shocked::shocked::shocked:

Tell me it was recorded, because I've searched YT and couldnt' find anything.
I need the link ASAP! :hpull:


Also, congrats to Karen for nice SP and the judges for recognizing the talent (unlike some US fans )

 

[NAOTMAA]

Even if they aren't "letting their skates speak for themselves" (because, duh, when you make mistakes, people in interviews ask you about them, and you have to respond with SOMETHING), they are taking ownership of their preparation and how they delivered or didn't deliver.

Letting the skate speak for itself is something you only get to do when you skate clean - it's not fair to the ones who make mistakes for that to be the ultimate interviewing standard. But you can still take ownership of what is working and what isn't working in your own skating.

Ashley: "I’m the kind of skater where my main focus going into the short program is to not get too far behind,” she said. “I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses. It’s a familiar position for me for sure. For me I’m a long program skater and that’s where I make my money."

Mirai: "I was so nervous but I fought against my nerves,” she said. “This is what I’ve been trying for. This has been my dream. I’ve worked so long for this.”

For example, I'd love to hear Karen say something like "I am working really hard on correcting my underrotation on my 3-3." But to my knowledge she's never acknowledged that in any interviews I've read or seen.

Karen spent too much time this season hopping from one program to the next while never giving any of them a chance. And in the end went back to old glories thinking that would magically set things right again. I don't know how any skater can correct an underrotation problem when their too busy switching programs like they were trying on dresses for prom

Has she done any clean 3-3 all week long? All the practice reports I've seen here and elsewhere say they were all obviously underrotated. Not even close to borderline but clear even to the most inexperienced of viewers

 

[frida80]

I was going through the USNats scores on icenetwork and...

American 12yo with 184 points and 7 triples in second half? :shocked::shocked::shocked:

Tell me it was recorded, because I've searched YT and couldnt' find anything.
I need the link ASAP! :hpull:


Also, congrats to Karen for nice SP and the judges for recognizing the talent (unlike some US fans )

Her Dad is guaranteed to post it online once he gets a copy. He’s super proud of his little girl.

 

[tars]

Her Dad is guaranteed to post it online once he gets a copy. He’s super proud of his little girl.

OMG, he should be! This is top Russian girls level score and content at this age!

 

[R.D.]

Even if Wagner manages to make the Olympic team, I wonder if she will be put on the team event - especially if Tennell and Nagasu are her teammates.

 

[Nathan13]

I think even if Wagner manages to make the Olympic team, I wonder if she will be put on the team event - especially if Tennell and Nagasu are her teammates.

Personally, I would give both segments to Bradie.