- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
It's a bit silly that anyone would think Alysa, as the senior national champion, would skate in any other division.
2019-20 U.S. Ladies Figure Skating
- Thread starter MarinHondas
- Start date
It's a bit silly that anyone would think Alysa, as the senior national champion, would skate in any other division.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2018
It’s good that the judges are being harsh on Alysa now. For so long, nobody truly contested Alysa. At the junior level, Ting was the only one hot on Alysa’s trails but she was/is inconsistent. At the senior level, none of the ladies delivered when the gold was offered on a silver platter. Now, Alysa knows and understands just how amazingly talented and consistent the rest of the international competition is. Thus, Alysa now has even more incentives and drive to increase her speed, flow, skating skills, and performance qualities. Once she improves in these areas and continues to maintain and even increase her technical prowess, Alysa will not only be a TES threat but a PCS threat as well.
I always use the school analogy because it works so well in describing what’s happened to US figure skating. Imagine a class where there is very little competition and people who receive A’s and B’s can get into the Top 10. People will be less consistent and won’t have to try as hard to be in the Top 10 because they know that a B “is enough”. Now take that same class and have it be super competitive where A’s are mandatory if one wants to get into the Top 10. People will be more consistent, competitive, and willing to take harder classes such as AP and IB to ensure that they get into the Top 10. Same class, but different scenario.
In the US, because of the lack of depth, ladies do not have to go for the 3-3s or 3As to win. In essence, they’re the "A and B" class. They simply have to put out 5 to 7 triple programs or even less to win. Thus, there is this huge lull between the Alysa, Ting, Hanna, Bradie caliber skaters and the lower leveled ones. As a result, the more talented skaters don’t have to worry about being pushed ahead because they are so ahead domestically. They truly only have international competitions to push them. As a consequence, what “worked” domestically is suddenly “lower tier” internationally and the top girls now have to play catch up with the “all A” squad that is Russia and Japan. The US needs to create an environment of competitiveness that rewards difficulty, consistency, AND not put all of their eggs into one basket. Depth is the only way to create longevity and a constant flow of talent running.
I always use the school analogy because it works so well in describing what’s happened to US figure skating. Imagine a class where there is very little competition and people who receive A’s and B’s can get into the Top 10. People will be less consistent and won’t have to try as hard to be in the Top 10 because they know that a B “is enough”. Now take that same class and have it be super competitive where A’s are mandatory if one wants to get into the Top 10. People will be more consistent, competitive, and willing to take harder classes such as AP and IB to ensure that they get into the Top 10. Same class, but different scenario.
In the US, because of the lack of depth, ladies do not have to go for the 3-3s or 3As to win. In essence, they’re the "A and B" class. They simply have to put out 5 to 7 triple programs or even less to win. Thus, there is this huge lull between the Alysa, Ting, Hanna, Bradie caliber skaters and the lower leveled ones. As a result, the more talented skaters don’t have to worry about being pushed ahead because they are so ahead domestically. They truly only have international competitions to push them. As a consequence, what “worked” domestically is suddenly “lower tier” internationally and the top girls now have to play catch up with the “all A” squad that is Russia and Japan. The US needs to create an environment of competitiveness that rewards difficulty, consistency, AND not put all of their eggs into one basket. Depth is the only way to create longevity and a constant flow of talent running.
Yes to all of this!!!!
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2015
When Ashley and Gracie were at their peek, they pushed each other. And I know that there were other issues at play, but ashley pushed Gracie and Gracie pushed Ashley and Mirai and Polina pushedboth. I know that we now know that Ashley was injured, but I also think her performance declined because Gracie and polina weren’t on the scene. You always need someone to help motivate you.
Totally agree!
I always think of Gracie’s phenomenal FS in Nationals in 2016 was pushed because Polina did so well and she wanted to prove To herself that she could do it as well. I still watch it. She really was on fire.
Thanks for answering question. Don't know that much about skating just enjoy watching.. I assumed this was the case, but was just checking as i sometimes wonder why such young skaters who cannot skate at senior competitions decide to skate in senior division. i guess with alyssa's jump difficulty can't blame her for competing senior and yes, why would see go back after winning seniors last year.
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2006
And winning Juniors the year before....
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
It makes me wonder if the top ladies are watching Gracie training for her comeback. Now that she has her 3-3 back, she could shake things up. I don't think anyone will catch Alysa but, she could bump Mariah off the podium if she skates a blinder.
One day at a time. It make takes a while before Gracie is truly able to compete again. It takes some time to get used to doing a program in a competition. She may fumble here and there, but if she’s committed, she’ll come back stronger.
I hope this time we can be patient with her. A lot of people had some very unrealistic ideas about rostelecom last year. Look at this as the beginning of s long comeback story.
I think alot of posters are putting the cart before the horse regarding Gracie. Let's wait and see how she does this go 'round before making any predictions.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2015
I'm not expecting lights out, right out of the gate, but I do think that she has put an awful lot of effort into coming back. She chose this, and I think that anyone who feels that they should/will likely be on the podium at Nationals might want to be watching what she is doing. Because this is for her. And she has the skills and something special about her skating - especially when she is on fire - like she was during the long program in 2016. Bradie is good, but Gracie can knock her out of her place. And Gracie can't outjump Alysa, but Gracie when in form has a higher GOE, and then she is working on harder jumps. And Gracie and Polina coming back is VERY good for US figure skating, as well as Alysa skating senior. It pushes all of them. Russia is so dominant because they push each other. They don't have to worry about what everyone else is doing, there is so much internal competition that they push themselves.
Not your qualifier "when in form."
That is not a given.
Remember she also chose to come back less than a year ago and that was not the best outing for her.
Comebacks are hard and when successful, take a long time.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2015
I'm totally acknowledging that there are a lot of ifs when it comes to Gracie, but we can tell she is definitely in better form than she was then. Just saying that depending on how strong her comeback starts off, it is great for motivating the other US ladies to work harder too.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2011
exactly. the entire process of competing again after not for so long can be really scary and take a long time to fall back into comfortably. i hope gracie knows how many people are cheering for her no matter the outcome. i just hope everyone stays realistic about it, especially the first few outings.
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2019
The FS music is a bit sleepy, but I hope she can pull it off.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2018
Any livestream links ?
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
I like this comment very much. I do believe that knowing she has so many fans cheering for her will have a positive effect on her. She needs to know that no matter what, we love her skating and couldn't be more proud of her hard work.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I think this helps her a lot. Also, she is skating now without making choices to compromise her physical health and mental well being. It's not clear the extent to which that affected her competitive nerves, but now not being afraid to fail, feeling more proud of her body, and no longer being the sole American with world-class technical ability are all things that could relieve pressure and help her compete freer.
Set smaller goals. My goal is that Gracie can complete two programs with landing on most of her jumps and hopefully no pops. After that I hope she can make it to nationals. I also hope she doesn’t let bad results crush her resolve early on.
She is not the same Gracie and has f shown any sign that she’s ready to compete at the same level as 2016. It’s going to take way more than one season for her to get to that level. This time, I hole there isn’t an enormous backlash that she’s not the old Gracie.
She is not the same Gracie and has f shown any sign that she’s ready to compete at the same level as 2016. It’s going to take way more than one season for her to get to that level. This time, I hole there isn’t an enormous backlash that she’s not the old Gracie.
New article about Mariah from Lynn Rutherford
Nebelhorn marks fresh start for Mariah Bell
https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019...or-mariah-bell/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Nebelhorn marks fresh start for Mariah Bell
https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019...or-mariah-bell/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
