2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

[MarinHondas]

Amber is and always has been incredibly inconsistent. I’m a huge fan of her skating! But the inconsistency is wild.

That said, I see no reason to send Megan Wessenberg either. I would sooner send Pooja Kalyan, if she’s age-eligible, though that would probably be too much too soon for her.

I think Megan is just as inconsistent as Amber except w/out a solid(ish) 3-3. Pooja competed at JGP and a skater can’t do SR GP and JGP in the same season. Pooja is competing at Finlandia Trophy this weekend though, (Fifth after short) which is a SR B.

 

[andromache]

I think Megan is just as inconsistent as Amber except w/out a solid(ish) 3-3. Pooja competed at JGP and a skater can’t do SR GP and JGP in the same season. Pooja is competing at Finlandia Trophy this weekend though, (Fifth after short) which is a SR B.

Yeah honestly the pickings are pretty darn slim for SkAm picks. No one has stood out or had a good summer.

I wasn’t aware of the rule about JGP and senior GP, though that makes total sense. I’m excited to see Pooja’s LP at Finlandia though!

 

[Joubabe]

Amber is and always has been incredibly inconsistent. I’m a huge fan of her skating! But the inconsistency is wild.

I think wild is an exaggeration. She seems to me to be steadily improving. How can she become more consistent without more competition experience?

 

[frida80]

I think wild is an exaggeration. She seems to me to be steadily improving. How can she become more consistent without more competition experience?

Not really. She’s had some good times and some bad ones. While she did have some great moments like CS Zagreb in 2016, Last year she was was terrible. This year she started off strong but crumbles during Glacier Falls and fell apart during Philly International. She was told that the highest score from one of the monitored competitions, Broadmoor, Skate Detroit, Glacier Falls, or Philly International would get the Skate America spot. Those were the rules and she crumbled under pressure. If she wants more opportunities she needs learn to stand up to the pressure when it counts.

 

[Seren]

I just finished volunteering at NWP regionals and I was really impressed with the increased number of novice ladies skating triples. I feel like the rule changes giving a bonus and reducing the fall penalty is starting to pay off. For example- there were 18 triple attempts in the top 10. 9 were clean, 5 UR and 4 downgraded (the downgrades usually involved falls). The second place lady had a clean triple lutz. The top 8 all had clean double axels and there were a lot more attempts. I think these are all positive signs that show skaters are starting to push themselves more. The top four all landed clean triples- playing it safe with just doubles wouldn't get you through to sectionals. Remember too that compared to other parts of the country NWP is a weaker regional.

 

[schizoanalyst]

I just finished volunteering at NWP regionals and I was really impressed with the increased number of novice ladies skating triples. I feel like the rule changes giving a bonus and reducing the fall penalty is starting to pay off. For example- there were 18 triple attempts in the top 10. 9 were clean, 5 UR and 4 downgraded (the downgrades usually involved falls). The second place lady had a clean triple lutz.

Do you think these calls were accurate? Only because 9 clean is fairly impressive at NWP novice and US regional callers tend to be, shall be say, rather generous.

 

[concorde]

SA Novice ladies final long was pretty ugly. Most fell at least once and several had the worst skates of their life. I think how the events were scheduled had alot to do with the poor performances. Final round short was the last event Friday night and then an early warm up ice on Saturday morning for the long.

First and third place ladies had lots a good triples. Not sure on 5he age if the first place finisher but my guess is she is about 15. 3rd place finisher is 15.

2nd place lady had a really rough long skate - her triples were fully rotated but fell 3x. Her score from the short kept her in the top 4.3rd place finisher is 13.

4th place skated clean (program is lovely), had 1 triple and it was under-rotated. Everything else was doubled. She is 15.

5th place also skated well and sold the program but again, but only 2 triples (1 under rotated and 1 downgraded). She is 16.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

I just finished volunteering at NWP regionals and I was really impressed with the increased number of novice ladies skating triples. I feel like the rule changes giving a bonus and reducing the fall penalty is starting to pay off. For example- there were 18 triple attempts in the top 10. 9 were clean, 5 UR and 4 downgraded (the downgrades usually involved falls). The second place lady had a clean triple lutz. The top 8 all had clean double axels and there were a lot more attempts. I think these are all positive signs that show skaters are starting to push themselves more. The top four all landed clean triples- playing it safe with just doubles wouldn't get you through to sectionals. Remember too that compared to other parts of the country NWP is a weaker regional.

Can I ask how old most of these ladies are? To me, it's a different dynamic for an 18 year old to have a clean triple lutz than an 11 year old, and the latter is much more impressive, in my opinion.

 

[andromache]

I think wild is an exaggeration. She seems to me to be steadily improving. How can she become more consistent without more competition experience?

Amber has been given plenty of opportunities, including several competitions this summer. She also received a GP invite last year. (I think she came in last place at Cup of China? Too lazy to look it up on mobile lol.)

Megan Wessenberg is not necessarily a better choice than Amber for the SA spot. But I don’t think Amber is being unfairly held back or penalized.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Amber has been given plenty of opportunities, including several competitions this summer. She also received a GP invite last year. (I think she came in last place at Cup of China? Too lazy to look it up on mobile lol.)

Megan Wessenberg is not necessarily a better choice than Amber for the SA spot. But I don’t think Amber is being unfairly held back or penalized.

I agree.
Amber was 10th out of 11 skaters at CoC last year.

 

[concorde]

Do you think these calls were accurate? Only because 9 clean is fairly impressive at NWP novice and US regional callers tend to be, shall be say, rather generous.

Just looked at the NW

3rd place girls had one clean triple. She had two more with falls - one under and one downgraded.
4th place girl had 1 triple and it was clean and landed.

I believe the 2nd place finisher is 12.

 

[Miller]

Yeah honestly the pickings are pretty darn slim for SkAm picks. No one has stood out or had a good summer.

I wasn’t aware of the rule about JGP and senior GP, though that makes total sense. I’m excited to see Pooja’s LP at Finlandia though!

What about Ashley Lin? 181 at Nebelhorn, lovely big clean jumps (check out the 2A-3T late on). Could easily be this year's Bradie or Mariah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otDBI9ciBm8.

Don't think she's skated on JGPs this season.

 

[concorde]

Can I ask how old most of these ladies are? To me, it's a different dynamic for an 18 year old to have a clean triple lutz than an 11 year old, and the latter is much more impressive, in my opinion.

The majority of novice ladies are going into their sophomore year of high school (15 years old). Most ladies stay in novice 2 years. 2nd year novice ladies tend to be beautiful skaters!

The young skaters may have the jumps but do not have the skating skills relative to the "older" ladies. A couple of errors by any skater trying the more difficults trick will push down that lady's score.

Our current system still rewards a cleam skater with lovely skating skills but less difficult jumps.

 

[MarinHondas]

The girl who just won Intermediate UGL regionals did two triple lutzes in her long program. Coupled with two triple sals and lastly two 2a’s. Her name is Elsa Cheng.


Also seems she’s inspired by Zagitova. Similar cut long program and some similar movements and final spin.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

The girl who just won Intermediate UGL regionals did two triple lutzes in her long program. Coupled with two triple sals and lastly two 2a’s. Her name is Elsa Cheng.


Also seems she’s inspired by Zagitova. Similar cut long program and some similar movements and final spin.

How old is she?

 

[concorde]

Just checked the protocols for the top 4 Intermediates at SA.

#1 did 4 triples, 3 received full credit, the 4th was underrotated with fall. She is 12
#2 did 3 triples, all received full credit. Age ?? But my guess is 13 or older.
#3 did 3 triples. 1 received full credit, 2 were underrotated. Both double axels were also underrotated, combination had a fall. Beautiful skater so very high PCS. She is 13.
#4 did 4 triples. 2 clean and 2 were underrotated with falls. She is 13.

 

[MarinHondas]

How old is she?

I believe she’s 12.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

I believe she’s 12.

Oh, that's pretty good then! To see 2 triple lutzes in a free

 

[frida80]

The majority of novice ladies are going into their sophomore year of high school (15 years old). Most ladies stay in novice 2 years. 2nd year novice ladies tend to be beautiful skaters!

The young skaters may have the jumps but do not have the skating skills relative to the "older" ladies. A couple of errors by any skater trying the more difficults trick will push down that lady's score.

Our current system still rewards a cleam skater with lovely skating skills but less difficult jumps.

Something that I hoped the bonus system would fix. I am so tired of seeing girls with basic programs that get way overscored because the look mature and elegant. All it does is stagnant the skaters they reward who need to take it up a notch and mislead the skaters they penalize into focusing more on presentation when they need to focus on jumps.

This and crummy tech controllers are really holding us back.

 

[LiamForeman]

What about Ashley Lin? 181 at Nebelhorn, lovely big clean jumps (check out the 2A-3T late on). Could easily be this year's Bradie or Mariah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otDBI9ciBm8.

Don't think she's skated on JGPs this season.

Wow! I like her! She looks very promising. I guess USFS had to make their decision for Skate America before Nebelhorn? She's a very strong skater, could tighten her leg position in her jumps, but at least in this video she jumps big and just flies across the ice (I could be so impressed about her speed because I had just watched Tuk's LP from today...)