Will the 2010 U.S. ladies Olympic team be...

[Mathman]

But I also have a feeling that Caroline is a naturally lyrical skater, and so her skating looks good when superimposed on any lylrical music...

Hmm. That's a very interesting observation.

But it might be a double-edged "complement", because it is kind of saying that Caroline doesn't interpret her music at all -- she just skates along in a generic fashion that you can put any music to after the fact.

Sort of like the criticisms of Michelle's Aranjuez/Tosca program.

 

[bekalc]

Hmm. That's a very interesting observation.

But it might be a double-edged "complement", because it is kind of saying that Caroline doesn't interpret her music at all -- she just skates along in a generic fashion that you can put any music to after the fact.

Sort of like the criticisms of Michelle's Aranjuez/Tosca program.

I think that Mathman has a point here. I think that Caroline's skating looks just about the same whatever program she skates. She's beautiful, but it would be nice to see her skate to other types of music.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Caroline, imo, has the gift of flow on ice, and with it the natural balletic/like arms and that incredible suppleness about her body. Much of that is innate. Mao, on the other hand, and at the same age of Caroline, had to work hard for that lyricism to bring it into comparison today. Good girl, Mao! She does not have the 'gift' but she is doing fine with whomever is doing her choreography.

My interest between them this season in the GP is that Caroline gets her 3x3s down well, and Mao makes me feel like she and not her choreographer is feeling the music.

It would be nice to see them in the GPF but I do not think Caroline has reached the technical point yet.

Joe

 

[feraina]

It sure would be exciting to see Caroline skate to dramatic music, like Yu-na's Moulin Rouge last year. For her to achieve that broadening of interpretational skills is perhaps akin to Mao's aiming for lyrical. Though Mao's not known for dramatic interpretations herself, is she? It is rather Yu-na who can do both dramatic and lyrical (though she can improve on her lines, which both Mao & Caroline excel in).

On the other hand, we had Johnny aiming for dramatic last year, and Kimmie going for lyrical, all in the name of broadening their artistic/presentational skills. Only history will tell whether these were successful/wise attempts. It might be that everyone's better off choreographing according to their "natural" style and working on their technical content instead... I think in Caroline's case, anyway, it is more critical for her to master the 3/3 this year instead of broadening musical selection. She can always work on artistic maturity later, but with hard jumps we all know that the later you learn them the harder it gets.

 

[bekalc]

Well, maybe Yu-na could improve on her line, but I love watching her... I think that Yu-na's arms especially are beautiful.

The thing about Yu-na is that she really pays attention to the music, and in many ways she becomes one with the music.. And I think her skating touch your heart too, kind of like Michelle's use to, even though they are different skaters.

Here's a clip of a new Yu-na exhibition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zr1PGnDouY&mode=related&search=

 

[Sllippery]

As to the PCS, many viewers enjoy the 'little girl' effect on ice, and so do many of the judges, imo.

I have never heard of 'little girl' effect on ice.
If such an effect exists, a lot of junior/novice skaters shall enjoy the higher PCS.
Excuse me for asking, but do you mean the PCS is judged by the personal appearance or something?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I have never heard of 'little girl' effect on ice.
If such an effect exists, a lot of junior/novice skaters shall enjoy the higher PCS.
Excuse me for asking, but do you mean the PCS is judged by the personal appearance or something?

Of course not. I'm speaking of human subjectivity.

 

[Sllippery]

Of course not. I'm speaking of human subjectivity.

Thank you. "human subjectivity"…it seems to me very hard to access fairly, doesn’t it?

Anyway, jump-wise, I will vote for in the following order:
1. Kimmie (20)
2. Flat (17)
3. Caroline (16)
4. Mirai (16)
5. Special “Surprise” -- Sasha (25)

But I know it is very premature to predict at such an early stage, almost 3 seasons ahead of the Vancouver Olympic. Only God knows, an unknown nameless skater may dominate the world.

 

[Cal Girl]

Before Mirai won Juniors most of us here had not even heard of her. So who is to say someone like Kristine M. wont be a front runner in a few years at Worlds.
I don't think Kimmie, Caroline, Mirai, and Rachael will all be front runners for the position because someone will succomb to an injury or some other weird thing like Puberty or Money or Something.
Life is short and deals us all different cards. Michelle Kwan had the sweetest cards on earth. A little luck and a lot of great skates and a judging system that could hold her up when she didnt skate her best. I dont think any one will have that many titles again.
As for the future - I put my cards on Rachael Flatt. She seems to always bring the goods to the table and up the ante technincally. I predict Caroline to succomb to injury from forcing her leg into the ice to vault up. I predict a growth spurt for Mirai that will slow her down and Kimmie, well, she will continue with her robotic skating that just does nothing for me. My wild card right now goes to Kristine M but I will have to wait until nationals and her 2nd JGP before I put any money on her.

 

[hockeyfan228]

.
Life is short and deals us all different cards. Michelle Kwan had the sweetest cards on earth. A little luck and a lot of great skates and a judging system that could hold her up when she didnt skate her best. I dont think any one will have that many titles again.

Except for those pesky Olympic cards...

 

[bekalc]

Who knows. I like Mirai and would like to see her do well. Given that her parents are short, she won't be growing that much.

 

[oleada]

Also, skating skills wise, she is ahead of Caroline and Rachael. I put my money on those with good basics.

 

[bekalc]

Also, skating skills wise, she is ahead of Caroline and Rachael. I put my money on those with good basics.

That as well. There is nothing Wow! about Rachael's skating. It's not very fast, and it's kind of sloppy compared to a Caroline and Mirai.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The topic is about American skaters only. No need to mention the 5th in standings of other countries. Just name the single factor which bothers the fan and use that to mark her downfall.

We will soon be seeing a new game of figure skating. I'm willing to wait and see before issuing rash statements.

Will Emily and Alyssa continue their downfall? We don't know yet.

Joe

 

[Tinymavy15]

funny how the thread about the 2010 olympics already has almost 100 posts.

 

[chuckm]

That as well. There is nothing Wow! about Rachael's skating. It's not very fast, and it's kind of sloppy compared to a Caroline and Mirai.

Sorry, but I see lots of WoW in Rachael's skating. She is far more musical than either Caroline or Mirai, and she uses her whole body (arms, back and FACE) to express the music. There is a uniqueness to her approach to the music that appeals to me and her skating is way more adult than the younger girls.

 

[bekalc]

Sorry, but I see lots of WoW in Rachael's skating. She is far more musical than either Caroline or Mirai, and she uses her whole body (arms, back and FACE) to express the music. There is a uniqueness to her approach to the music that appeals to me and her skating is way more adult than the younger girls.

Watching her nationals short program, I agree I was a bit harsh, she does express the music very well. But, she's also extremely slow, and I'm sorry that bothers me a lot, especially when you compare her to someone like Mirai.

Honestly, Mirai makes me think of a young Shizuka Arakawa, although one that will probably not be that tall.

 

[feraina]

funny how the thread about the 2010 olympics already has almost 100 posts.

Let me toss in my 2 cents to help the thread to reach that lofty goal then.

Apologies in advance to you Flatt fans, but I find her musical expression affected -- it feels over-the-top with all her dramatic arm movements and facial expressions, especially as it is not backed up by powerful, fast skating. This contrast with Caroline, who's naturally graceful, and Mirai, who's naturally perky -- and they also pick music appropriate for their respective temperaments. Might be just a matter of my personal taste, of course. Besides, Flatt hasn't been consistent enough to put together two clean skates in most competitions over the past year.

Caroline might or might not succumb to injury (as with all the other skaters). But she does not jam especially hard into the ice for the toe jump, she kicks UP before picking her toe. I think because she's ultra flexible, so even when she reaches up a little bit, her leg swings up into what for others would be a spiral position.

 

[antmanb]

Caroline might or might not succumb to injury (as with all the other skaters). But she does not jam especially hard into the ice for the toe jump, she kicks UP before picking her toe. I think because she's ultra flexible, so even when she reaches up a little bit, her leg swings up into what for others would be a spiral position.

I'm not so sure it's just a case of Caroline kicking up a little and that a little for her is a lot for others due to her flexibility. She has a hughes-esque kick up to her picking for her lutz and flip - which, i think, chuckm once both humourously and accurately described (of hughes) as a donkey kick (maybe it was horse?) which seems to knock her over onto the inside edge. In any event it does look like the hip takes a beating as it does seem like the toe jams in hard into the ice rather than the lighter touch other skaters seem to have.

Ant

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The GPs and the youtubes, and maybe the Japanese Invitational will serve as a guide until the US Nats. I don't believe any of us can accurately predict the US Nats Ladies Podium at this point in time.

Think: Kimmie...Emily...Alyssa...Bebe...Rachael...Katy...Caroline...Megan... and (who else did I leave out?). Not easy to pick the three and still harder to put them in order regardless of their pecadillas.

Joe