2018 US Championships Sr. Ladies FS

[*~RussianBleux~*]

Where are you all seeing Ashley's interview?

 

[frida80]

just back from my first figure skating competition

O
M
G

You have to be suuuuuuupeeeeer Happy! Almost as much as me!

 

[Violet Bliss]

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

Well, the Olympics is an international event where selling to the once every 4 year fans is important.

 

[andromache]

With all of the arguing and disagreements...we can all agree my mom's texts are hilarious, right?

"Jumping ability has gone down in the past 20 years which is weird." (NO MOM OMG everything they are doing is wayyyyy harder.)

"Your brother is wondering if you had been a natural figure skater and went to the Olympics how our lives would be different." (Well mom, we'd probably be poorer and I'd be thinner - also this is funny because my 20 year old brother is watching skating with my mom on a Friday night.)

"Can't Brady win the Olympics?" (Yes, she spelled the name like that.)

"Where's that pervert Frank Carroll at?" (MOM NO WHY)

She liked Starr and Bradie the best. Up until Starr, she was NOT enjoying Nationals. Then in the last group when the competition heated up, she actually got invested. Now I need to make her get invested in the international ladies so we can root for Evgenia together during the Olympics....

 

[cell]

Speed is not the only determining factor in judging PCS.

I didn't say anything of the sort in my post about it being the only factor

 

[kwanatic]

I've got a full review to write so I won't go into much detail but I will say I'm torn on these results.

Bradie: 100% impressed with her jumps, her focus and consistency. The rest of her skating is rather vanilla and lackluster to me. I definitely think she benefited from a PCS boost here.

Mirai: So thrilled for her! 4 years later and she delivers her absolute best when she needed it. I totally wanted her to win. Based off of some of the slanted PCS and GOE for Bradie, she probably had a case for gold. Regardless, I'm so proud of her. I have no doubt she's on the team.

Karen: It was a solid performance but a pretty bad skate. 3 URs, edge call and downgrade. We can say she was sick but this tends to be how she always skates so IDK about that. I'm a fan of Karen's but I don't trust her in the least as a competitor...

Ashley: Definitely think she was held down. I totally get scoring her lower in SS and TR, but she should have been tops in PE, IN and CH. She is first and foremost a performer...and the judges didn't even give her that. That was a clear message they are done with her. Shame too b/c the program was pretty good.


Starr: WOOO! Stole the show! So impressed with her performances here. I hope this gives her confidence at junior worlds (they better send her).

I'll save the rest for later. I think the team will be the top 3 but, based on the discrepancies in the scoring, I think Ashley had a case for bronze here.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Well, the Olympics is an international event where selling to the once every 4 year fans is important.

This could be a factor.

Unfortunately, it's not just about what you do on the ice.

Karen's personality off the ice (and Bradie and Mirai at that) are relatively bland compared to someone fiery and real talk like Ashley. No shade to Karen, but I don't really picture sponsors and interviewers being particularly interested in Chen compared to Wagner.

 

[sandi]

Chen and Chan are the same name? very confusing.

Yes, Chen is how they romanize it Mainland China/Taiwan in Mandarin and Chan in Hong Kong (Cantonese). Tran is Vietnamese. Korean it would be Jin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_(surname)

Different countries and languages romanize it differently. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_surname

It's a pretty common surname...

 

[TCAngel18]

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.

That’s where skating skills come in. I would be ok with a .5 difference in skating skills, and a .25 difference in transitions, but Ashley has Karen in the other three categories from anywhere from .75 to 1 point.

People bring up the shimmy because of Hip Hip Chin Chin, where it is completely appropriate, and encompasses the character. Her choices are character driven, and she embodies said character better than any other skater currently.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

I find the name discussion fascinating. I have been wondering whether a Russian individual chooses the way their name is romanized. For example Anastasiia Gubanova uses two "ii" while Gulyakova and Tarakanova use one(Anastasia). Is there something about the way their names are spelled in the Cyrillic script that indicates the correct romanization or did they choose between the acceptable versions?

It is morning now in Moscow. Maybe someone is awake.

 

[evangeline]

Okay seriously can we please have Tara, Johny and Terry talk less. Do they really need to point out under rotations so often during the skate and with so much detail only do do it again during the replays. Also what's with talking about other skaters when one person is skating. I am so glad I don't have to watch them for the Olympics

Actually, I think it's really important to have the commentators to discuss underrotations on air. Underrotations can HUGELY impact a skater's score, but are difficult to spot for viewers who are unfamiliar with the sport, especially in real time and with the naked eye. Having Tara, Johnny and Terry discussing underrotations in their commentary manages audience expectations re: scoring and could help minimize a lot of audience confusion when skaters receive lower-than-expected scores after what appears to be a 'clean' skate. After all, what's the alternative? Casual viewers will just think the sport is rigged and will probably quit watching in disgust.

I personally really appreciated having Tara, Johnny and Terry discuss underrotations in detail, including zooming in on the skaters' feet, pausing the replay when the blade hits the ice, etc. It really helped my friends (casual viewers of figure skating) watching with me tonight understand the skaters' technical elements scores.

 

[topaz emerald]

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.

you know, Mirai was never my cup of tea, but tonight she showed raw emotion, imo and impressed me, so i give her props....
I thought Karen finally showed up tonight, she struggled so much technically and to finally throw it down with fire in her eyes and confidence in her jumps deserves high praise. for me, 2nd place is a toss between karen and mirai.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

God help the poor USFSA souls who will have to be politicking and slaving like mad over the next month to get Tennell's marks up higher internationally.

 

[Ross74]

Where are you all seeing Ashley's interview?

http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/01/05/ashley-wagner-figure-skating-nationals-comments-video/

 

[louisa05]

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

After the bridge, it was Whitney.

 

[da96103]

I was kidding. I used to think Nathan and Karen were sisters.

I think you mean siblings.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Karen's personality off the ice (and Bradie and Mirai at that) are relatively bland compared to someone fiery and real talk like Ashley. No shade to Karen, but I don't really picture sponsors and interviewers being particularly interested in Chen compared to Wagner.

 

[readernick]

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.

I think she is just expressing her feelings. She is not afraid to speak her mind. The judges obviously did want to "deflate" her PCS. (whether that deflation is fair or not is open to discussion but Bradie Tennell with higher PCS is laughable/ Mirai Nagasu is also hardly a PCS Queen (although I love her) and her PCS marks were very close to Ashley's). She is just telling it how she sees it. Also, it is probably a bit of reminder of 2010 Nationals when the judges gave her lower PCS than Rachel Flatt (haha) and she did not make the team. I don't like skaters who put on a smiley face and say nothing of substance. Be truthful without being disrespectful. She was not disrespectful to the other skaters.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/01/05/ashley-wagner-figure-skating-nationals-comments-video/

Thanks so much for the link!!

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

you know, Mirai was never my cup of tea, but tonight she showed raw emotion, imo and impressed me, so i give her props....
I thought Karen finally showed up tonight, she struggled so much technically and to finally throw it down with fire in her eyes and confidence in her jumps deserves high praise. for me, 2nd place is a toss between karen and mirai.

She came to slay and I'm thrilled she is on the team. But she was all business and only exhibited emotion when she was through the jumps. As per usual she doesn't sell the program she gets the job done - which of course makes sense when you're trying to make the Olympics.