- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
There are some good skaters on those ships. I took a cruise earlier this year and all the women were doing 2A and the men triples... while the ship was moving.
2019-20 U.S. Ladies Figure Skating
- Thread starter MarinHondas
- Start date
There are some good skaters on those ships. I took a cruise earlier this year and all the women were doing 2A and the men triples... while the ship was moving.
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2014
USFS has always assigned JGPs based on a combination of the prior Nationals' results and summer performance. Calista, Isabelle, and Emilia were all medalists at the novice/junior level, and that counts for something (as I believe it should).
I do agree, though, that the selection process should be more transparent and analytical. I think publishing ISP qualification criteria and some sort of ranking/scoring of the candidates would be a good start. For example, Jessica Lin received an assignment after very good performances at Skate Detroit and Broadmoor, but she did not qualify for Nationals last year. Kate Wang finished 10th on Novice at Nationals and also performed very well at Skate Detroit, even beating Lin. How these factors were weighted and the selections ultimately made is unclear.
There is certainly something to be said for outcompeting the competition in the deepest and most challenging national event of the year. Scores in different events can vary widely and so can the level of pressure. If you can get the job done at Nationals, that says a lot for one's ability to handle pressure. Some of the ladies with high scores being touted have also had poor competitions this summer with pops, splats, and disappointing results. And I'm not saying all the ladies currently named are better. Just sometimes better. Most of these ladies are @ unproven-but-likely-to-benefit-from-experience status. We're lucky to have the 14 berths. None of the ladies currently unnamed are too likely to guarantee that for next season. There's no need to gripe about every selection. Let's enjoy the fact that we will get to see more athletes have the opportunity to experience the JGP.
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
I think that Megan Wessenberg and Starr Andrews need to compete one more time before champs camp. Then the usfsa should decide who gets the host spot. Right now it looks like it’s between Amber and Starr. I don’t think Gracie will get it if she doesn’t compete beforehand.
It’s very sad that the US doesn’t have many choices for the host spot.
It’s very sad that the US doesn’t have many choices for the host spot.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
I think that Megan Wessenberg and Starr Andrews need to compete one more time before champs camp. Then the usfsa should decide who gets the host spot. Right now it looks like it’s between Amber and Starr. I don’t think Gracie will get it if she doesn’t compete beforehand.
It’s very sad that the US doesn’t have many choices for the host spot.
I do not think the spot should go to Starr. She hasn't shown much improvement since her big splash at Nationals, and her only 3-3 is a 3T-3T. Which would be fine if she was consistent on it and the rest of her jumps, but she tends to skate messy. Amber Glenn tends to be an inconsistent hot mess, but when she is on, she's fantastic.
Unfortunately, no one has really proved themselves in a major way this summer.
I think that Megan Wessenberg and Starr Andrews need to compete one more time before champs camp. Then the usfsa should decide who gets the host spot. Right now it looks like it’s between Amber and Starr. I don’t think Gracie will get it if she doesn’t compete beforehand.
It’s very sad that the US doesn’t have many choices for the host spot.
It's done. Starr was never going to get the SA spot because she already had NHK. All these ladies knew they needed to perform well st either Broadmoor, Glacier Falls, Skate Detroit or Philly Internationals. Amber knew that last year and blew it at Philly, so Megan got the spot. This year she put it together. She's earned it.
I have absolutely no sympathy for people that choice not to be ready at the assigned time. If you're late you get an F on your paper. Why should this be any different.
I know people have their favorites, but this is a good lesson. Starr's programs tend to click after she's competed in several club comps. Her team decided on only one before going to her first international. Not a good move. Megan hasn't clicked all summer. All of her comps have been poor. Something else is going one that we don't know about.
Megan is on the alternates. She will likely get a spot there. Starr could too. Instead both of then should focus on fixing their programs and compete more at club comps so they can be better prepared before the season begins.
I would have loved to see Hanna Harrell on the senior GP. 4th at nationals, and has the technical content, plus I love her new programs - so why not? Her short program from last year to this year is night and day - good for her for pushing herself choreographically. Plus, it sounds like such a pain to go back and forth from junior to senior programs during the season.
This would have freed up a couple spots on the JGP too, as everyone has pointed out there are a lot of juniors who are ready for this experience.
This would have freed up a couple spots on the JGP too, as everyone has pointed out there are a lot of juniors who are ready for this experience.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2014
There's no need to rush, especially when she has a lot to work on to polish the jumps and further develop the skating skills and performance. The senior GP is stacked this year and sending her out to finish in the bottom half of an event isn't setting her up for success. She has a lot more momentum to build.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
Exactly. At this stage in her career, top 3 at a JGP event is better than 6th-12th at a Senior GP event.
Would you say the same for Starr? 6th in her senior nationals debut, she was given two senior GP's where she finished 7th and 10th. Would another season on the JGP have been better for her? Who knows...
I agree the world level competition is brutal, but I think Hanna could hold her own. True on one hand there's no rush, she's young and her rise has been rapid. But on the other hand, senior careers can be short-lived these days for some... Hard to say what is best for the young up and comers.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2014
I would 100% say the same for Starr. There's clearly some issue going on with her training because Starr's technical content hasn't advanced, but doing those senior GPs and showing the judges and USFSA that she wasn't ready to compete at that level didn't help. One great result at a big event doesn't necessarily mean you're ready to take on the highest level of competition. She didn't have a consistent lutz and at one point was saying in interviews that they were working on a 3A. It wasn't adding up and putting senior GPs in the mix just seems to change priorities for some teams in a negative way.
Hanna's only starting to really get out there on the international circuit. Senior careers from U.S. ladies have been short-lived in part because the junior system hasn't been doing its job of growing and sustaining young talent. With skaters like Ting, Hanna, and (I truly hope) Alysa, USFSA may be starting to get it right if they make disciplined choices.
IIRC one reason Starr may have turned Senior was because the solo jump for Juniors that season was the lutz, which would have been difficult for her.
The factors were different for Starr. Last year their were only 7 JGP spots with several promising girls that deserved a spot. If they gave her a spot on the JGP, then Pooja, Hanna, Ting, or Gabriella May have missed out. Plus Starr was 17, and USFS tends to push older skaters off the JGP so that younger skaters can have a spot. If there were only 7 spots again, that would’ve happened to Gabriella.
I’ve seen a lot of girls that could’ve used a few more years on the JGP be bumped up to senior full time. Amber, Bradie, Mariah, etc. it’s just US figure skatings way of freeing up spot for younger skaters and allowing the older skaters to be on the CS instead. It’s up to make the most of it. All of them have had slumps until they get motivated enough to make a change.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2018
Starr needs a coaching change. I don’t know if that’s economically feasible considering what she’s said in the past, but if she wants to be in that final flight, Starr needs to take ownership of her skating and begin to make considerable improvements. The 3Lz is still wonky, her 3T+3T has regressed, and her jumps are all landed in a very forward position and she’s still dealing with NUMEROUS under-rotation calls. Since the federation is pushing her, I don’t understand why they have not invested in a better coaching team for Starr. She has the potential and star quality to be a top tier US lady, but the improvements and consistency just are not there.
Furthermore, it’ll be even harder for Starr to make it to the final flight at Nationals this year with Gabriella, Sarah, and Emilia in the mix alongside potential upsetters like Amber, Audrey, and Megan. Additionally, Karen, Ting, Hanna, Alysa, Bradie, and Mariah will be out for blood... that’s already six ladies with the potential to be in the final flight and go 1-6. If Amber, Megan, Gabriella, Sarah, and Audrey show up and show out, they could place anywhere between 7-11. If Starr somehow pieces it together, she could contend for that 7-12 position, but she will need to either be clean or have the other girls underperform. It’ll be even harder for Starr to break into the final flight next year as the current junior ladies crop with consistent and clean 3-3s and 3A’s will be moving up. I have faith in Starr, but I need her to make considerable improvements because she has the ability to be a top tier lady.
Furthermore, it’ll be even harder for Starr to make it to the final flight at Nationals this year with Gabriella, Sarah, and Emilia in the mix alongside potential upsetters like Amber, Audrey, and Megan. Additionally, Karen, Ting, Hanna, Alysa, Bradie, and Mariah will be out for blood... that’s already six ladies with the potential to be in the final flight and go 1-6. If Amber, Megan, Gabriella, Sarah, and Audrey show up and show out, they could place anywhere between 7-11. If Starr somehow pieces it together, she could contend for that 7-12 position, but she will need to either be clean or have the other girls underperform. It’ll be even harder for Starr to break into the final flight next year as the current junior ladies crop with consistent and clean 3-3s and 3A’s will be moving up. I have faith in Starr, but I need her to make considerable improvements because she has the ability to be a top tier lady.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
If that is true (never heard that before), then what a shame. Would have given her a reason to seriously knuckle-down and get that 3Lz.
They may have also been hopeful for a vacuum at the top of the US ladies post-Olympics, where she could get into the top 3-4 and get to Worlds?
That said, considering how little she has improved since going senior, I do not think she would've been any better served as a junior. Stagnant development is stagnant regardless of if you're junior or senior. She would've been best served by a coaching change after her big nationals moment. It's a shame. I just don't think she will get it together with her current team if she hasn't already. Bradie was a late bloomer, so it's possible Starr could be as well, but Bradie was also plagued by injuries and had relatively solid technique, which Starr does not.
I agree with you, it isn't as if we are stacked with great seniors. I expect Alysa will make the JGP final, but I don't think Hannah will. Yes, she would finish in the bottom half in the seniors, but not sure that matters. I expect the Americans to finish behind the Russians and Japanese for the most part, even though there are always surprises. So that means 6th or 7th, and Hannah would probably fall below this. On the other hand, as a junior she gets at least two great trips on the Fed's dime-so there is that.
You given USFS far too much credit. The truth is the fed isn't pushing her. She's just gotten results when others haven't at a time when the senior ranks are depleted. In 2018, she has her clean FS at nationals and a pretty good performance at 4CC. That got her her two spots on the JGP. In 2019 in February she earned the 4th highest score of any senior lady and beat out Wakaba and Amber for a senior medal at the challenger series. People act like it's only placement at nationals that matter, but you have to take in everything into account when USFS makes these decisions.
Right now Starr isn't being pushed. She's being given one last shot. She's at NHK so she can skip over sectionals. Just like Angela and Courtney from before. If she fails to make a impact this year, they'll snub her just like they have so many skaters.
Something has happened to Starr in the last two seasons. Her jumps, even the best ones, have gotten terrible. She lacks that confidence that she had. I think it's this new coaching situation. It seems last year her coach and several others decided to form a new coaching team. All these extra people probably have lead to the decline in her progress. Not to mention she was getting training with Tammy before she left for Colorado. By this time last year she was landing 3F+3T consistently. Now her flip is very forward, with a slight mule kick, with weird landings. It really is a shame.
If she has a poor season this year, she'll finally start looking at her coaching situation. She's probably reluctant to change because from her perspective, she's has quite of bit of success in the last few years. Silver at juniors nationals, went to JW, 6th at her first senior nationals, 7th at 4CC with a good PB, two GP, 4th after the SP in SC, alternates on the Worlds and JW team, two senior silver medals. While we consider this nothing, she may consider it a small triumph. However if she stops getting lucky and finally fails, really fails, then she'll get serious and find a new coach.
If she's serious about getting a 3A and a quad, I hope she'll consider Tom Z. I don't trust Raf to teach ladies anymore. Mariah still doesn't have a clean and consistent triple triple of any type after three years.
She's growing up. And she was a very tiny athlete with very quick rotation so it isn't surprising that this is a big adjustment. (One that usually takes a couple years). Her previous technique may not hold up. I remember thinking that neither Nguyen or Starr had jumps that looked like they would adapt easily when they won gold & silver at Junior Nationals. On the plus side for Starr, look how well she has done by comparison. She is out there for her fourth international season. She went to Junior Worlds. She competed well at 4CCs. She's gotten experience on the GP, and she came through a tough year last season with strong finishes at Egna and Challenge Cup. There's something fun & unique about Starr that I really appreciate. I'm all for giving her time & seeing what happens.
What happened to Kailtlyn? I was looking forward to seeing her.
Sigh...
I think Starr is experienced some changes to her body. A slight change here or there. Nothing dramatic. She still has the physique that an 80's gymnastics coach would kill for, short and slender. I'm just glad her coaches haven't insisted on weight loss to improve her jump. Nothing could make me sicker.
I heard that Tammy was helping Starr with her jumps, including her Rippon +3T. It makes sense that her jumps would decline after Tammy left. I still think Tom would be a good fit. He would help with her speed and stamina as well as the technique on her jumps. She already has good musicality, so no worries about him making her skating stale.
Two words: Test Skate.
It's objective, decisive, and fair. Plus the ladies would be able to compete against each other and face real competition and also be super prepared for JGP.
Just have a minimum score of 150 to qualify to compete at the test skate and have it at Skate Detroit or Glacier Falls. It cannot get easier than than.
