2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[Shayuki]

There's only an year's difference between the two. :shocked:

It's not that Karen's that young herself, but the difference is actually over 1 and a half years, or two seasons in figure skating(July 1-June 30 seasons). That's quite significant because three seasons is what they have at the top, or thereabouts.

 

[Blades of Passion]

I know everyone feels bad for Angela for not getting 4CC, but.....the girl has had 5+ years to make a splash and she STILL has not. 5+ YEARS. Even at “easier” senior B’s she has failed to make a name for herself.

She should have won the SP at Nationals and placed 4th overall, IMO. I'd call that a splash. The judges just didn't credit her, exactly because of lacking reputation. And if she had deservedly placed 4th, then there's no question she would have been given the 4CC assignment over JUNIOR skater Starr.

 

[Warwick360]

It's not that Karen's that young herself, but the difference is actually over 1 and a half years, or two seasons in figure skating(July 1-June 30 seasons). That's quite significant because three seasons is what they have at the top, or thereabouts.

I would kind of agree with you if Karen's technique was as stable as the top ladies in the World that manage to make the podium. But the fact is, Karen struggles and has been struggling for the past 2 or 3 seasons to make a good case for herself by actually hitting past the 200 point barrier and actually pushing those at top. For someone at her "peak", she still hasn't managed that in any of the top competitions, with not being able to medal at GP level. I think the 1 year 8 months gap is negligible at best. It's like saying Park Soyoung would be able to out skate Yuna because there's a 4 years difference, if Yuna ever had intended to come back. The level of difference in quality and consistency (although for Tenell, it's only this season) is just astonishing in both cases.

 

[Shayuki]

I would kind of agree with you if Karen's technique was as stable as the top ladies in the World that manage to make the podium. But the fact is, Karen struggles and has been struggling for the past 2 or 3 seasons to make a good case for herself by actually hitting past the 200 point barrier and actually pushing those at top. For someone at her "peak", she still hasn't managed that in any of the top competitions, with not being able to medal at GP level. I think the 1 year 8 months gap is negligible at best. It's like saying Park Soyoung would be able to out skate Yuna because there's a 4 years difference, if Yuna ever had intended to come back. The level of difference in quality and consistency (although for Tenell, it's only this season) is just astonishing in both cases.

You say a 1 year 8 month gap is negligible yet just a year ago Bradie's PB was not even 170.


That Yuna-Bradie comparison is hysterical.

 

[eriecold]

WOW she doesn't even get to go to worlds?! Come on us fed... They couldn't have given her that after everything she's given us skating the past four years. I'm heartbroken

Let her prove them wrong with a sweeping win at 4CC, though the Japanese camp won't allow for that

 

[Koralai]

I'm really happy for Bradie, and I think she'll be a fantastic representative of the US at the Olympics. I especially love that she designed her short program with a Korean audience in mind; now that she's made it to the Olympics, that program will be a lovely gesture of respect for the host country. Though I love many of the other top US ladies, I have to admit that none of them did anything like that. Bradie seems like a grounded, sweet person who has so far resisted the pull of getting absorbed in herself/her own journey above all else. I really hope she keeps that sense of perspective as her star continues to rise.

I'm so sad for Polina. She's been my sentimental favorite of the American ladies ever since I watched her free skate at the last Olympics. How awful that, for the second time now, her injury has reappeared after so many months of healing and training around it. It took her down just when she looked like she was going to have a breakout period in her career, too. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to keep running up against her body's limits...

 

[college pat]

i will say this.
i don't understand the criteria 1st of all.

because if that case ashley should been named despite 4th. however

congrats to all. problem was who would been left off in favor of ashley.
mirai up her tech content leading in world standings for u.s. , bradie is hot skater consistent this season, leading season rank for u.s. and highest score this year so far.

 

[eriecold]

The general public doesn't give a crap about worlds...does NBC even air it? Maybe like an hour highlites. But they should remove Karen and let Ashley go, when all is said and done she still managed to get a bronze gp medal in the same field where Karen flopped.

defending champion and world's 4th place? good luck with that

 

[quadrupleaxel15]

I think they should at least do what the Japanese did and name Ashley for the Worlds. I guess they really don't want her anymore. It is understandable to plan for the future and send the promising skaters out there but at least let her retire peacefully. I feel like nobody likes Ashley in the U.S. and I am sorry for it because I really appreciate her skating and personality. If I were her I would have announced my retirement the moment I have seen this.

 

[zebobes]

I think they should at least do what the Japanese did and name Ashley for the Worlds. I guess they really don't want her anymore. It is understandable to plan for the future and send the promising skaters out there but at least let her retire peacefully. I feel like nobody likes Ashley in the U.S. and I am sorry for it because I really appreciate her skating and personality. If I were her I would have announced my retirement the moment I have seen this.

Four years ago, they also didn’t bother sending Mirai to World’s, and Mirai used it as motivation to get better. In a way, it seem rather symmetrical, that one time Ashley got to go to the Olympics and this time got left back at home.

 

[Trewyn]

So depressed by this week. If Ashley would’ve had bad performances, I’d have been sad but accepted it. This situation... I do really feel she was robbed of her oly spot in the SP with the scoring. But that salchow... why, oh, why. I’m very afraid that she’ll retire, which makes me utterly sad as a fan, not a high note at all.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

. I feel like nobody likes Ashley in the U.S. and I am sorry for it because I really appreciate her skating and personality. If I were her I would have announced my retirement the moment I have seen this.

I don’t think that’s true. Around the rinks I go to the love for Ashley is very strong and tons of girls cite her as their inspirational role model. She should finish the season and avoid any more impulsive decisions/remarks :yes:

 

[chuckm]

Ashley took a risk by deciding to do an underprepared new program for the first time at Nationals. She assumed the US judges would hold her up with high PCS scores even if there were technical glitches. They did give her high PCS scores, but in her eyes, those scores weren't high enough to make up for the technical mistakes, and she blamed the judges for not scoring her PCS high enough, thus her 4th placement.

Perhaps she allowed her sense of entitlement to another Olympic experience to cloud her judgement, or having been moved ahead of another skater four years ago made her feel USFS 'needed' her on the team and would do whatever it took to put her there. But the reality is Ashley took a huge risk, and this time it didn't pay off.

 

[kalee]

Well, that's one way to look at it. Personally, I do expect Bradie to fizzle out relatively soon, but perhaps she proves me wrong. She's quite a bit older than Karen and calling her "the future" is quite off in my eyes - She's at an age where a decline would be imminent.

Regardless, this conversation made me realize that the near future isn't looking very fantastic. I guess the hope is Gracie Gold's return to form.

US skaters seem to be peaking at a later age -- IIRC Ashley had been working on her tech and 3-3's into her 20's to get her GPF and Worlds results, and Mirai has fought her way back into the Olympic team at age 24, so Bradie does have some time on her side to peak. She isn't in Russia and there isn't a line of 13-year-old phenoms nipping at her heels.

 

[Warwick360]

You say a 1 year 8 month gap is negligible yet just a year ago Bradie's PB was not even 170.


That Yuna-Bradie comparison is hysterical.

Well, I didn't intend to draw parallel. But what you said left me to only that conclusion. As for personal best, you could say the same about Elisabet. Before this year, her PB wasn't as high as it is this year (with a PB of 200+). But the fact is that she had a solid technique and it was only a matter of time. Bradie also has a solid technique and it is there to see. Karen Chen doesn't have a solid technique (even after the number of seasons in seniors) in all her jumps. In fact, as we saw yesterday, it's far from it.

 

[macy]

Angela not getting a 4CC assignment is a crime, but then her 7th place at Nationals was also a crime. It seems unlikely for Ashley to go though, so hopefully Angela will get the chance.

i mean without an olympic or worlds assignment (assuming no one WDs from worlds) it would be her last international assignment this season. i guess i don't see why she wouldn't go this year, but i know she hasn't since 2012 (in prep for worlds)

i really wonder where missing this team will take her in her career...will she be done? if she she keeps going will this loss affect her in a similar way to gracie losing worlds in 2016? or will she do a rachael flatt and just keep competing because she loves it, even if her technical side declines? i know she had mentioned after the SP going back to the drawing board...does this still apply now that she didn't make the team? will she bring out a new SP for 4CC? so many questions.

Edit: this will also be the first year since 2011 she will not be sent to worlds, unless someone pulls out.

 

[Warwick360]

US skaters seem to be peaking at a later age -- IIRC Ashley had been working on her tech and 3-3's into her 20's to get her GPF and Worlds results, and Mirai has fought her way back into the Olympic team at age 24, so Bradie does have some time on her side to peak. She isn't in Russia and there isn't a line of 13-year-old phenoms nipping at her heels.

And also, let's not forget Carolina Kostner. To say someone will fizzle out by Bradie's age just seems misleading on Shayuki's part when so many ladies in both singles and pairs are truly grafting it through with much success in their 20s right now.

 

[evasorange]

I want Ashley to come back for one more season with la la land lp and a new sp set to "and I am telling you I'm not going" from dreamgirls...to see our most successful us lady of the past 8 years getting taken down by federation pcs games..she can't go out like this

 

[Warwick360]

I want Ashley to come back for one more season with la la land lp and a new sp set to "and I am telling you I'm not going" from dreamgirls...to see our most successful us lady of the past 8 years getting taken down by federation pcs games..she can't go out like this

Please, no. Repeated use of that song in Singing/ talent shows have made it very corny. I pray that she never chooses that route.

Other than that, I agree. But then again, I can see Ashley being successful in shows, rather than her continuing to compete when her jumps aren't becoming more reliable. Too bad she has an awful case of Olympics curse.

 

[Anyasnake]

Some people thought it might have turned like the choice for Japanese Ladies - no possible happy outcome possible. I don't have a favourite in all these ladies, all made their case.

However, when they announced the team, I felt genuienely happy, that does feel right. I'm thrilled for the 3 Olympians.

I feel bad for Ashley but it's not a 2014 case : she DID deserve her spot in 2014 no questions because the comaparaison wasn't there, this is not the case this time.
And sometimes, it's hard to keep up with an explosive young talent (like Bradie, like her or not but her technical is strong). Timing sucks sometimes, but it is fair.

By the way, if it was like 2014, you really think that USFS would have let Ashley at home because "it happenned already in 2014" ? Are you serious ? You think that any federations actually cares about that ? All they care about is who have the best chances at the Games. Some of you live in some sort of wprlds woth puppies and rainbows thinking that USFS has nothing to do with politics A shark is a shark - some hide it, some don't.