2018 US Championships Sr. Ladies FS

[MsLiinaLii]

Finally watched Bradie and I feel very underwhelmed... apart from jumps(which were mediocre as well tbh) that skate was uninspiring, lines are not there (and people are complaining about Russians having bad lines, really?), program is a snooze fest...

 

[Vicky458]

Happy for Karen, Mirai, and Bradie! It will make a fun team.

I don't feel sorry for Ashley after her comments last night. Not even one little bit. Really left a bad taste in my mouth considering she is one of two skaters who, in my opinion, benefit the most from the part of the scoring system that is most broken and unfair. (There are plenty of people who should be furious. If the words had come out of Zijun Li's mouth for example, it would be a totally different story. However, Wagner is pretty much the second to last person who should ever complain about PCS.) Wagner expected her reputation to get her to Pyeongchang. But in the end, she didn't deliver. So, adieu.

Could someone post what Ashley said last night?

 

[kevinVchicago]

Finally watched Bradie and I feel very underwhelmed... apart from jumps(which were mediocre as well tbh) that skate was uninspiring, lines are not there (and people are complaining about Russians having bad lines, really?), program is a snooze fest...

She's the only one who can land and rotate her jumps. [emoji847] Hopefully the rest will keep improving.

 

[Eclair]

Happy for Karen, Mirai, and Bradie! It will make a fun team.

I don't feel sorry for Ashley after her comments last night. Not even one little bit. Really left a bad taste in my mouth considering she is one of two skaters who, in my opinion, benefit the most from the part of the scoring system that is most broken and unfair. (There are plenty of people who should be furious. If the words had come out of Zijun Li's mouth for example, it would be a totally different story. However, Wagner is pretty much the second to last person who should ever complain about PCS.) Wagner expected her reputation to get her to Pyeongchang. But in the end, she didn't deliver. So, adieu.

while I agree that Ashley is one who usually benefits from PCS even though her SS are not that great, it's still pretty cruel to drop her PCS suddenly and without warning when she has got them for years. Especially since her performance quality is really outstanding in today's ladies field. Even Evgenia said, that (ask which skater she likes the most or something along the line) it's Ashley, because of the way she performs and that she can skate to a great variety of music.

Also, I kind of wish Zijun had spoken out more about her being treated by judges nationally and internationally. In no world I believe that story of the fed first suspecting her to have doped, then it turned out she didn't so they put her back onto the world's team. I mean, hello? If I suspect a skater to dope, I'd shed as little attention to it as possible, instead of prematurely pulling her out and then putting her in again, especially only days after Zijun gave a not so complimentary interview of the obtruse training methods of her former coach. But that's OT ...

 

[Anni234]

Could someone post what Ashley said last night?

Take a look here https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?68452-Wagner-quot-furious-quot-on-scores

 

[college pat]

Congratulations all to Bradie, Mirai & Karen for worlds.
Especially to Starr Andrews for 4cc and Junior world ,
ting Cui for Junior worlds.

Ashley, Mariah for 4cc.

 

[Shayuki]

Finally watched Bradie and I feel very underwhelmed... apart from jumps(which were mediocre as well tbh) that skate was uninspiring, lines are not there (and people are complaining about Russians having bad lines, really?), program is a snooze fest...

Yep, this is true. And honestly her jumps aren't very good either and the technique is poor. She just rotates and lands them... And that is all.

It's a shame that that's all that seemingly matters at this point in time.

 

[TerpsichoreFS]

Oh Mariah... she didn't have a chance, but the program was nice!

Congratulations to all 3 going!

I didn't particularly like Ashley's lala land (pretty much two foot skating from start to finish) so I don't mind not seeing it again. I also stopped rooting for Angela after 1 min of that bland program.

Honestly, Karen and Bradie are the ones who have the most scoring potential internationally, and the fed knowing how small the chance of a medal is, they understandably pushed these two in pcs.

4cc will be one interesting competition!

 

[matcha]

Sure... any program could be improved and refined, but a great debut with rawness and authenticity can also be powerful and infectious, much like experiencing Nathen's programs earlier in the season and being so wowed by it.

The narrative of Lala land brings a nice 'life imitates art' nostalgia quality that fit PERFECTLY at this stage of her career. It would have made a great curtain call finale program (think of the show circuits after). Stuff dreams are made out of. Have dreams, work hard, make sacrifices, take risks, crushing dream, great comeback, ends up on being bittersweetness but acceptance of the costs. (I almost wish Mirai could have got this gig, I love her but not her programs this year. Last year was better.) Lala land also brings out a more vulnerable, modest and (IMHO) endearing side to her skating which we havn't really seen before, and wish we could have got more of. Ironically I think can really help with her public 'persona/perception' that apparently seems to affect judges scoring (terrible silly reason, it shouldn't be about a personality contest!). The fact the movie had an almost 'it' moment @ the Oscar ironically also seem to fit her 'almost' PCS winning moments at this competition, followed by many WTH happened reaction...

If you are going to inflate, inflate everyone equally, if you are going to be strict with tech, then apply equally. Targeted judging is just embarrasing for the sport.

I agree, but Ashley's program didn't have any of that rawness or authenticity of a fresh new program in my opinion. What I mainly meant by my comment is that she would've had more time to maybe change how the music is arranged or something, it's very one note. Even she implied that she needed more mileage to get it where it needs to me, which is why I hope she goes to 4CC.

 

[kevinVchicago]

Could someone post what Ashley said last night?

"I'm furious. I am absolutely furious. I know when I go and I lay it down--and I absolutely left one jump on the table--but for me to put out two programs that I did at this competition, as solid as I skated, and to get those scores--I am FURIOUS. And I think deservedly so.

"I am a performer. And that second mark, it's just not there. And, um, you know, I am absolutely okay with them being strict on my rotations. That's what I think US Figure Skating should demand of their judges. But, you know, it needs to be across the board. And, um, I don't necessarily feel it's been that way at this event. So, we'll see how things pan out.

"Even though I'm mad about my score, that program was such an experience for me. And, I skated with heart. I took a program that's A MONTH old, and I delivered something that was solid. And something that I'm proud of. And it definitely can use a little bit more legwork, but that's because it's a month old. And I made the right call. And I have no doubts in my mind that La La Land was the program that was going to get me where I want to be."

Source: https://twitter.com/KHOLMESlive/status/949493418522165248?s=09

 

[crazydreamer]

Some of the judge's performance scores are pretty shocking.

Judge #3:
Bradie 9.75 (!!!)
Ashley 8.75
Karen 8.50

Judge #7:
Bradie 9.25 (!!!)
Karen 8.75
Ashley 7.75 (!!!)

Those just don't make sense to me.

But I'm not sure performance scores alone would have made a difference, and none of the other scores jump out as totally crazy. I think Ashley should have had more 9s in composition and interpretation, but she wasn't head and shoulders above Karen in those departments.

 

[Yatagarasu]

Some of the judge's performance scores are pretty shocking.

Judge #3:
Bradie 9.75 (!!!)
Ashley 8.75
Karen 8.50

9.75?!? Ahahaha. Oi vey.

 

[kevinVchicago]

while I agree that Ashley is one who usually benefits from PCS even though her SS are not that great, it's still pretty cruel to drop her PCS suddenly and without warning when she has got them for years.

It just sounds to me like:
"I'm so mad that I'm always getting inflated marks and today I didn't and other people did and that's so unfair!"

I agree she's a great performer. I saw her live at Skate America in 2016, and she can captivate the audience like no other. This year I disagree that she's at the same level, though. She has been looking white hot terrified out there.

 

[risingtrot]

It's unfortunate about Ashley making those comments in her interview. Should she retire, it will be one of those interviews that will linger quite a bit. She made a technical mistake and I think for the most part that costs her her slot.

That said, even as Alternate 2 I am actually happy that Mariah Bell is being given some exposure and opportunities even if it's 4CC. I do hope she shines next season cause I do see a star in her.

I am most happy for Mirai of course. She really showed that determination can go a long way. I remember early videos of her trying the triple axel a few years back. I hope she will skate her best and have 1 or more clean triple axels in the Olympics.

 

[xeyra]

Congratulations to the chosen team. Good luck ladies. And land that 3A in the Olympic rink, Mirai!!

 

[college pat]

did they use the criteria when naming because if they did only ashley should have been named she met it .

but i don't understand the criteria anyways. they place all skaters in gp events, all skaters went to worlds. etc

did they use nationals to see which one would skate beat out the criteria meeting skaters? i don't know

as stated congrats to karen, bradie mirai, they will need it and skate better than they did at nationals .
i watched russian, some of the south korea-post on video, japanese- while our was good, they was better,

they skated with confidence , technique, speed, quality that i didn't see in the u.s. bradie came close, mirai did in spots but not overall.

karen in spins. they need to improve fast.

i saw improvement in starr from her junior to golden spin now to nationals-she improved each performance & skate, competition and got better.

i didn't see that in karen, mirai, did in bradie--mirai actually landed her 3a better in japan open & nhk.
karen did improve from skate america.

 

[OS]

I agree, but Ashley's program didn't have any of that rawness or authenticity of a fresh new program in my opinion. What I mainly meant by my comment is that she would've had more time to maybe change how the music is arranged or something, it's very one note. Even she implied that she needed more mileage to get it where it needs to me, which is why I hope she goes to 4CC.

I wouldn't describe the program one note at all. There are some quieter, capricious and waltzy moment which I rather enjoy and found them to be charming which is not typical of Wagner's 'range'. There's hardly any time wasting dead spot either for halfway mark, decent ice coverage, little poseography moments, pretty full on choreographic program by her standard (Although I suspect some choreography been simplified/streamlined for consistency, but I actually love the fact there's no overly busy movement for transition's score sake when it doesn't even fit the music. This one, musically, it is pretty apt, it just needs some intricate choreographic details to highlight some of the piano trilling sections in the 2nd half.)

Put it this way, she had worse programs in the past with higher PCS internationally and I find this to be a more welcoming effort/direction than all her previous programs. It has potential to be a signature piece next to Black Swan. I like the soft, subtle and vulnerable lyrical build up from the beginning, change of the pacing with a big band, then back to lyricism, not overly edited, tasteful finish. It contrasts and balances nicely with her more rhythmic SP as well, and differs from today's typical warhorse cliche, hardly anything in the first half, all in the 2nd half with expected 'miming expressions', time wasting conserving energy for half way bonus and a big 'happy' finish.

If Alina's 'one note' can gather her such high PCS in PE, IN, CH, this deserves much higher than Alina.

 

[OS]

9.75?!? Ahahaha. Oi vey.

WTH!! Who's this person!?

 

[Icey]

Ashely is impulsive, especially when the outcome is not what she wants. She certainly doesn't seem to have thought this one through, before she opened her mouth.

 

[da96103]

anybody else think that Bradie or Mirai could sneak in for a world medal in a depleted field?

Sure, if US scientist can release a virus that cause all ladies skaters (except the Americans) to jump no higher than 2 inches off the ice. But even then, Satoko would still win Gold.