2018 US Championships Sr. Ladies FS

[Sam-Skwantch]

OMG.. I just heard Ashley’s interview.

This is very unfortunate.

 

[ks777]

Starr should audition for the Voice next season. I really enjoy her singing and skating.

 

[sabinfire]

Sorry to keep coming back here, but when will they be officially announcing the teams?

I think it's 8AM EST tomorrow, last I heard.

 

[Mathman]

Sorry to keep coming back here, but when will they be officially announcing the teams?

5 o'clock in the morning pacific time. 8 o'clock U.S. Eastern time.

 

[liberrhythm]

No, but their ancestors could have been neighbours in a Chinese village in mainland China.

*distant* ancestors. Karen is Taiwanese-American and Nathan is Chinese-American!

 

[WeakAnkles]

"junior girls"

Bradie should be pleased with that! After all junior girls is a step up from sonograms

Bwahahahahahahaha.

One of the best comments of the thread. I really needed the laugh. Bless you.

 

[TCAngel18]

Ashley's international PCS were always inflated Karen skates much faster than Ashley. Ashley's PCS are based on reputation and "selling" the program.

Speed is not the only determining factor in judging PCS.

 

[Exposed]

Starr should audition for the Voice next season. I really enjoy her singing and skating.

Such a multi-talented young lady.

 

[kevinVchicago]

Ashley's international PCS were always inflated Karen skates much faster than Ashley. Ashley's PCS are based on reputation and "selling" the program.

Agreed.

 

[NAOTMAA]

OMG.. I just heard Ashley’s interview.

This is very unfortunate.

Ashley has on multiple occasions (including tonight) made quite a bitch face when she sees her marks and disagrees with them. This time she put that expression in actual words instead of toning it down as she normally does when the microphone is put in front of her. Of course its not pretty

 

[readernick]

Karen didn't beat Ashley technically...Ashley won on TES, Karen beat her on PCS. Can you believe that? Even at Worlds last year, where Ashley did not skate well at all, PCS wise Ashley beat Karen by 6 points across two programs. This year at skate canada, both bombed but Ashley had 8 points higher PCS across both programs. how did Karen all of a second have more than a 2 points advantage over Ashley with messier programs??? And by the way, I actually do think the tech panel was to harsh with Karen, but even with 1-2 less UR calls, Ashley should have still pulled through with PCS (with 8 more points than Karen instead of 3 less).

Now the argument some may have is: international scores don't matter, only what they performed here does. But I trust the international judges certified to judge major events more than the nationals judges with their agenda on who to send...AND even if the performances being evaluated are different, we can compare the relative merits. PCS doesn't really vary across competition that much, and the trend just doesn't make any sense. Take skate canada. Let's be honest, if Ashley's PCS stayed the same here versus Skate Canada (it actually went down), Karen didn't deserve a WHOPPING 11 more points in PCS than canada. Skating skills, performance, interpretation, choreo, even transitions I would mark Ashley higher, and it wouldn't even be close--Ashley by at least one point per component in most categories. Based on recognized ISU PCS standards Ashley should have gotten around 69 PCS for her skate while Karen around 62. (Bradie probably 65 and Mirai 64)

Bradie (and to a lesser extend Mirai's) PCS were also inflated, but they didn't really affect the result, so I digress. But Ashley should have been a clear third here.

So, I partially agree with you. I am not sure that I would have Ashley higher inTR than Karen but I can definitely see the argument for her getting higher marks in other categories. However, I think this difference is related to the type of skater that the USAFS likes versus the type of skater that is liked internationally. Karen has powerful skating but she is rather messy. The USAFS has always liked powerful skaters with big jumps who might be a bit unrefined. On an international level, the judges seem to prefer Ashley's good posture and sassy less messy less powerful skating. The USAFS liked Naomi Nari Nam who reminds me a little bit of Karen. However, she was not appreciated internationally. I think she only won one medal on the GP circuit?? Karen has not yet won a medal on the Senior Grand Prix. Obviously, the USAFS is trying to convince the international community to respond to the type of skater they like but it has not happened yet

 

[klutzonice]

My live experience was surreal! The skating rink was so BRIGHT and WHITE unlike what you see on TV (the contrast is too dark). The skaters were absolutely beautiful gliding through the ice. It was such a treat. I was an HOUR late due to traffic. When i got there they were on the second group and Tessa Hong was getting ready to take the ice. My god, she is literally an ice princess. I was awed by her beautiful lines and dress. She was the most beautiful of the night for sure. Starr won the crowd over with her perfectly clean program and got a standing ovation. I got teary eyes for her at the end when she started crying. I know it was overwhelming in the best way for her. Last group took the ice and my heart was racing so fast and i start trembling so bad. My eyes were mostly on Mirai and she looked rock solid in the warm up except 1 fall on 3A which was after a perfect 3A. She nailed everything else in that warm up but a part of me was still scared knowing the kind of meltdown i might be in for. I was with Mirai with ever jumping element and was like "Yeeesssssss" for every landing. That final 3Lo I was praying really hard that she'd hit it and she did! Standing ovation and the crowd was pleased with her score. <3 I thought Ashley was held down a lot considering i saw only one pop. I was also surprised how low Karen was but then i didn't really pay attention to under-rotations. I knew Elsa won as soon as she landed her last element. I feel bad for this Ashley fan who was sitting next to me.

I am so happy for you! Glad you had a blast at your first live skating event

 

[R.D.]

(from my post in US ladies thread)

Oh boy...it was every bit as dramatic as I thought it would be! Tennell ends up winning - definitely not something that was expected to happen at season's beginning, but ultimately not an "out of the blue" result either given how the season has played out. Nagasu silver - I had questions and concerns about her ability to hold it together in the FS but there's something about the Olympic year that flips that switch inside her to just fight for everything - we saw this in 2010 and 2014 as well. Chen bronze - amazing that even when sick, she was able to put out her best FS of the season by a mile. Wagner 4th - Man, if only she had hit that salchow she'd be 3rd instead...that's what she should be upset at, not the overall scoring as she DID have control of her destiny...Anyway, given what has transpired I'm inclined to just go with the top 3 finishers for the Olympic team

 

[frida80]

Why are so many people here insulting Gracie? Y'all know she wasn't here, right?

Bashing Gracie was a big fad when she was competiting.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

Starr should audition for the Voice next season. I really enjoy her singing and skating.

My mom could not believe it was her singing. She said are you sure it isn't Whitney Houston!!

 

[Imagine]

OMG.. I just heard Ashley’s interview.

This is very unfortunate.

See, this is my problem with her. I felt for her this whole competition and I want to get behind her. But then she always goes out of her way to seem so unlikeable.

 

[topaz emerald]

Mirai finally showed raw emotion, wow, I guess she had some fire buried deep in there somewhere, haha, esp in her step sequence. I think her PCs should be higher than karen's, but Karen really threw it down tonight except for that botched sal....Karen finally woke up.

I think the placements are right, Bradie, Karen, Mirai....all threee to the olympics....and I think these three will get picked by USFSA.

Sad for Ashley, but girl is 26? you can't fight age. I also think her music change to LALA land was a weak choice, the lyrics are good, but the music arrangement sucks. I would have loved to see her skate to Mirai's Miss Saigon music, change it up a little, skate to the role of Ellen.

 

[GrandmaCC]

Is anyone else worried that only Bradie & Mirai really seemed to bring it?
Karen, Ashley & Mariah all looked as though they’d either failed to taper, were skating through Mono or were coming back from injury...that’s...not exactly good.

Going by the selection criteria, I’d be wanting a verification comp for the last three to choose the 3rd spot. None of these ladies stand out IMO, except (and I’m sorry to pull a ‘14 again) Ashley; more consistency, experience, plus she’s got an actual excuse of having needed time off of the ice. In saying that, if it’s revealed that Karen is actually legit sick (like, flu, etc) then I reckon the edge should go to her for peaking at the right moments.

And then, turn attention maybe to an importation of Russian juniors for future generations...

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Speed is not the only determining factor in judging PCS.

I think there are several ways to achieve high PCS. I’ve always liked Ashley and get what she’s about but sometimes it’s a love hate relationship. My criticism of her vs Karen on PCS is that Karen achieves most of presentation points thru actual blade to ice skating using speed and transitions far better IMO. Ashley kind of flirts, shakes her shoulders, and makes faces to get the points. Some people love that stuff. I think it’s starting to wear a bit thin with some judges because it’s a tough sell when your technical aspects including PCSwise aren’t up to par. Par being Top 3 at this event....her goal.

I think Ashley is capable of scoring similar with Karen and Vice Versa but for me Karen is the quintessential artist of this event and her PCS should be the highest of any of the ladies. Noticably higher actually. That’s just my opinion though but I do think some judges may agree and those scores are getting factored into the equation.

Hated Ashley’s Music to death but I actually enjoyed the program and can see potential.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Ashley has on multiple occasions (including tonight) made quite a b face when she sees her marks and disagrees with them. This time she put that expression in actual words instead of toning it down as she normally does when the microphone is put in front of her. Of course its not pretty

It's not pretty - it's honest. She isn't going to smile and bow when she gets hosed on marks.

While unsportsmanlike, there's something to be admired about not sitting there and automatically accepting when you've been screwed over and smiling and being all "thank you!" because that's how you've been coached by your federation to act. It's important to be gracious but not get walked over.