2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

[KatGrace1925]

I think she still has some sponsors like Red Bull etc that she managed to keep from last year. This can work out well for her brandwise especially if she does her long program at Nationals. I would fully expect a spot on Stars on Ice to be hers if she wanted it. It's not a dire situation but I'm just having an ugh moment today about it.

Anyone remember Elizabeth Swanney from the Olympics this year. It feels a little like that.

That spot in Stars on Ice is something she probably wants. I am a huge fan, I want her to be happy and I want her to be able to go forward without setbacks. I also would have liked her to keep training and comeback later when she was more ready, but I think there are a lot of reasons she wanted to get to nationals this upcoming year. Sponsorships are important.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Yes I would say there enough talented girls at sectionals a couple more at Inge Solar would have been wise.

 

[DenissVFan]

Anyone remember Elizabeth Swanney from the Olympics this year. It feels a little like that.

Did you just compare a two time US champion and Olympic medallist to somebody who obviously isn't an elite athlete? Gracie had the right to that comeback GP, so did Polina Edmunds last year and, presumably, so will Anna Pogorilaya next year. This rule can help former top skaters rebuild their careers.

 

[tothepointe]

There are important lessons to be learned from struggling- things that will help Gracie, Starr, etc. become better skaters.

Gracie had a TES of 13. That's just slightly over half of the minimum required technical score for the Grand Prix. Yes I know that she "earned" it but I think given her struggles in the past this might backfire.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018–19_ISU_Grand_Prix_of_Figure_Skating#Requirements

However reading into the comeback clause more closely it suggests that if she didn't use it this year then that opportunity would have been gone forever since her previous results would have expired. This was probably Polina's rationale as well.

"A Skater or Couple, not included among those defined in paragraphs a) and b) above, who was previously
in the top 7 to 12 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2016 or 2017 but since was injured
and/or did not compete at all during the entire 2017/18 season, may be chosen, if applicable, as an
Organizing ISU Member Skater, and in addition, may be considered as an Organizing ISU Member’s
Choice and will be ranked in the list of Season’s Best scores by taking the Season’s Best points of their
most recent season, if proof is given in writing by their ISU Member that they intend to continue their
competitive career and their return is announced and confirmed by the date of the annual Selection
Meeting. Such Skater or Couple is defined as a “Return Skater/Couple” and such a Return Skater/Couple
does not need to fulfill the requirement of a minimum Grand Prix score.

https://isu.org/docman-documents-li...98-gp-general-announcement-2018-19-final/file

 

[tothepointe]

Did you just compare a two time US champion and Olympic medallist to somebody who obviously isn't an elite athlete? Gracie had the right to that comeback GP, so did Polina Edmunds last year and, presumably, so will Anna Pogorilaya next year. This rule can help former top skaters rebuild their careers.

I compared their performances yes I did. I might be the only person on this forum that feels the way I do but I'm not the only person out there with this opinion. Take it as you will. Be offended if you want but I'm not coming around to your way of thinking any time soon.

 

[SXTN]

I have so much respect for Carolina Kostner now who came back at 30 after a two years break with all of her triples and in good physical shape.

 

[tothepointe]

That spot in Stars on Ice is something she probably wants. I am a huge fan, I want her to be happy and I want her to be able to go forward without setbacks. I also would have liked her to keep training and comeback later when she was more ready, but I think there are a lot of reasons she wanted to get to nationals this upcoming year. Sponsorships are important.

So true for so many professions. You can't stay out of work forever because money is not unlimited for most people. It would be nice if we had the kind of system where USFS could say Gracie here is a dorm to live in and a rink to train in. Take your time and we will put you back in the game when your ready.

 

[bobbob]

She probably does a bit better in practice than what she put out. I do believe paying your dues is important. On the note of sponsorships in and expense that is likely why she did this event, she automatically gets to go to nationals and probably hopes to pick up some sort of sponsorship. Going through sectionals and regionals wasn't possible and if she couldn't get to nationals she likely had a lower chance of getting sponsors.

Why is going through regionals and sectionals like everyone else not possible? Gracie has had a fair share of sponsorship money from the past, money that most others in sections/regionals do not have. So the comeback skater thing also applies to nationals (in addition to GP)?

 

[princessalica]

So true for so many professions. You can't stay out of work forever because money is not unlimited for most people. It would be nice if we had the kind of system where USFS could say Gracie here is a dorm to live in and a rink to train in. Take your time and we will put you back in the game when your ready.

I'm sure there are some money concerns after the situation with her father.

 

[hippomoomin]

Kostner is a unique case since her techniques are good and her body changed very little over the years. I believe if Yuna wants to have a comeback, she will have a similar case as Kostner.
I believe Gracie tried very hard to bring what we saw in the sp. Her speed was pretty good and her spins were decent,actually better than what she showed in one of last year's summer show ex. However, it remains to be seen how much she can get her jumps back. It appears her jumps do not have enough hight to have enough rotation.

I have so much respect for Carolina Kostner now who came back at 30 after a two years break with all of her triples and in good physical shape.

 

[andromache]

Kostner also wasn’t making a comeback from depression and an eating disorder.

Again, Gracie was allowed this comeback within the ISU rules. If she didn’t use it, it would’ve disappeared.

I just hope she’s happy long-term no matter what. I hope her coaching team is giving her the support she needs. I’m looking forward to her long program tomorrow. I’m afraid that this bad outing will hurt her motivation and I really hope it doesn’t.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Why is going through regionals and sectionals like everyone else not possible? Gracie has had a fair share of sponsorship money from the past, money that most others in sections/regionals do not have. So the comeback skater thing also applies to nationals (in addition to GP)?

No one is bending the rules because they feel sympathetic towards Gracie. Admittedly, she would not have made it through regionals and sectionals in her condition. This is something that is within the rules and, as others have said, can happen once in her career. It's not the end of the world if she needs help one time to make it to Nationals, and she isn't taking a spot that would go to someone else. If any of our other skaters can contribute to an Olympic bronze medal and finish high enough at Worlds to secure 3 spot for the women for several seasons, I'd welcome them to one bye to Nationals, too.

 

[Tavi...]

Because I pay my USFS membership dues just like everyone else. USFS has limited funds to spend on it's athletes and honestly, it shouldn't be spending it on that when you have athletes like Starr Andrews who can only afford to skate 2 freestyle sessions a day. Just because you've earnt something in the past doesn't mean you get to keep on spending it. Resources are finite.

I'm happy for her but honestly this was resources squandered. You could have easily achieved the same goals with a senior B or a club competition.

Did you know Gracie is on the USFS reserve team and gets no funding? The competition organizers pay for her transportation, lodging, meals. She has to pay for her coach’s expenses herself.

http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=84105&menu=TeamUSA

 

[oatmella]

Just wondering - if Gracie doesn’t finish high enough at Nationals for a bye for 2020 Nationals, she would have to go through regionals/sectionals to qualify?

Doesn’t seem likely she will get assigned more GP spots next year if she doesn’t have the TES minimum

 

[brightphoton]

Just wondering - if Gracie doesn’t finish high enough at Nationals for a bye for 2020 Nationals, she would have to go through regionals/sectionals to qualify?

Doesn’t seem likely she will get assigned more GP spots next year if she doesn’t have the TES minimum

It's not the end of the world if Gracie has to go through regionals/sectionals next year. Other comeback skaters did that, there's no shame in it

Alisa Czisny went through regionals/sectionals after being US champ, although injury took her before she could go to nationals
Caroline Zhang went through regional/sectionals after being Junior world champ and hyped darling. She once even got 5th place at nationals after that

 

[Icey]

Kostner also wasn’t making a comeback from depression and an eating disorder.

Again, Gracie was allowed this comeback within the ISU rules. If she didn’t use it, it would’ve disappeared.

I just hope she’s happy long-term no matter what. I hope her coaching team is giving her the support she needs. I’m looking forward to her long program tomorrow. I’m afraid that this bad outing will hurt her motivation and I really hope it doesn’t.

Kostner made a comeback from a 21 month suspension for lying about the whereabouts of her boyfriend. I imagine she suffered some level of depression and discouragement during that time.

Skaters (Kostner in 2012 is an example) are removed from the entry lists of Grand Prix events due to insufficient time to reach competitive fitness.


Maybe skipping Nationals this year would have been a better plan, unless her latest skate is just a fluke. And, yes, it must have taken incredible courage and nerves of steel to put herself through what just happened.

 

[doublequad]

Yesterday, I watched the twitter feed of her practice and she did land some triples, not during her program (she makred those jumps), but I swear she landed a triple lutz combo. So this skate was rough, but its also below where she is capable of skating in her current training condition.

do you have a link?

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Did you know Gracie is on the USFS reserve team and gets no funding? The competition organizers pay for her transportation, lodging, meals. She has to pay for her coach’s expenses herself.

http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=84105&menu=TeamUSA

You said it before I could.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Just wondering - if Gracie doesn’t finish high enough at Nationals for a bye for 2020 Nationals, she would have to go through regionals/sectionals to qualify?

Doesn’t seem likely she will get assigned more GP spots next year if she doesn’t have the TES minimum

Hopefully she can do some senior b's to get more programs skated as her condition improves. There is also an opportunity for a Skate America host pick, which she wouldn't get unless she earns it in summer events. Every assignment she gets from this point onwards (except Nationals) will be solely on merit, and she knows that. It's incredibly tough to go through everything she has, open up about her struggles, and get back out there in a revealing costume when everyone is ready to judge not only how you skate but also how you look. The important thing for her, I think, is to be embraced by the skating community and get a fire lit within her to further commit to improving all aspects of her skating.

 

[Icey]

drivingmissdaisy, her costume would not have been flattering on anyone imo.