Senior Ladies SP

[Mathman]

It just struck me how strong a position Bebe Liang is in, for making the world team. Even if she can't catch Kimmie or Ashley, she is only two points behind Katrina Hacker and a full five points ahead of Czisny and the rest of the eligible ladies.

If Bebe lands the majority of her jumps she will make the team, even if Mirai, Caroline, and Rachael skate lights out.

 

[bekalc]

I think Ashley has a great shot at winning this thing. Honestly, I prefer Mirai but I'm wondering about the kind of pressure Mirai will find herself under, if she becomes the youngest champion since Tara Lipinski. Trust me if Mirai wins this thing, the USFSA will be saying Zhang who?

 

[passion]

Thank goodness the judges finally got it right. I have always felt the Mirai is overall a much stronger skater than Caroline. It always seemed like after Caroline's breakout season on the JGP that everyone was touting her as the next American champion skater, no one stopped to see that Mirai was probably better.

You have a very good point here. I think Mirai is an underdog while Caroline has so much attention on being the next Michelle Kwan. Caroline is a wonderful skater with loads of talent, but I agree that Mirai is probably the better of the two due to jump technique and skating skills. I think Caroline's flexibility can distract from her pure basic skating skills.

 

[Mathman]

Trust me if Mirai wins this thing, the USFSA will be saying Zhang who?

I don't think so. What if Caroline pulls out the stopper in the free skate and takes second? I think USFS will be beaming from ear to ear: "We've got TWO."

 

[bekalc]

I don't think so. What if Caroline pulls out the stopper in the free skate and takes second? I think USFS will be beaming from ear to ear: "We've got TWO."

Perhaps, but I think Wagner is going to finish either first or second. And yeah, I do think that the USFSA would be happy to promote both. But if Nagasu wins, she'll be their number one hope, and that's not the case right now.

 

[krenseby]

I think Ashley has a great shot at winning this thing. Honestly, I prefer Mirai but I'm wondering about the kind of pressure Mirai will find herself under, if she becomes the youngest champion since Tara Lipinski. Trust me if Mirai wins this thing, the USFSA will be saying Zhang who?

I think the USFSA disregards any result outside of nationals........ Even good results in the GP series mean nothing to them, if the same skater crashes at Nationals....

 

[carolinefan177]

I don't think so. What if Caroline pulls out the stopper in the free skate and takes second? I think USFS will be beaming from ear to ear: "We've got TWO."

Sad thing is nationals is so important reputation wise, and regardless of a person's skating internationally, I always feel like the national champs get much more attention. They are the one's pictured on the USFSA web, the one's that get to perform in shows, etc. Michelle has almost always been the nationals favorite, even when Sasha was doing better internationally, and in turn, Michelle was the one that maintained higher popularity. I just hope Caroline wins the fs...

 

[passion]

Why was Mirai not given a grand prix assignment this year? I think that it was a splendid idea!

 

[passion]

Where was Emily Hughes? Why didn't she compete?

 

[Pikachuusb]

Why was Mirai not given a grand prix assignment this year? I think that it was a splendid idea!

Mirai did the Jr Grand Prix instead. Which I think was good for her(winning both of her events & the jr grand prix final) as well as Rachel(gold & silver @ events & silver @ jgp final), so they get some experience under their belts

Emily didnt compete because of an injury and withdrew on Janurary 14th. I hope she heals soon.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

I hate to say it but it may be time for KM to step aside if she doesn't rebound in the Free. I mean how the HECK did some of these younger ones place so far ahead of her??

C'mon RD... I expect more from you than this... leave this fatalistic nonsense to the ubers, casuals and crazies... you should know by know that the ice is slippery and one competition usually isn't more than one bad competition... Plus, I would be SHOCKED & AWED if Kimmie didn't throw a true champion's hissy fit and will herself onto the podium...

Show the girl some love...:yes:

 

[Chrystia Mee]

Hmm,

My gut feeling says Ashley or Kimmie will be the gold medalist. I don't think the US will want to say our gold medalist is not able to attend worlds. So my predicted podium:

1) Ashley Wagner
2) Mirai Nagasu
3) Kimmie Meissner
4) Rachael Flatt
5) Caroline Zhang
6) Bebe Liang
7) Katrina Hacker

The world team will be then, Ashley Wagner, Kimmie Meissner, and Bebe Liang( ) I don't know if Bebe will be able to make up ground to make the podium, but I would love to see her make the team after all her years of work.

 

[SusanBeth]

Sad thing is nationals is so important reputation wise, and regardless of a person's skating internationally, I always feel like the national champs get much more attention. They are the one's pictured on the USFSA web, the one's that get to perform in shows, etc. Michelle has almost always been the nationals favorite, even when Sasha was doing better internationally, and in turn, Michelle was the one that maintained higher popularity. I just hope Caroline wins the fs...

I have always felt The USFSA looks for a $tar. Someone who draws endorsements and audiences benefits them. Michelle was that even when Sasha was outplacing her at Worlds. One of these young ones could definitely have star potential. Part of star appeal is at least being a contender at Worlds and at the Olympics. Kimmie just hasn't been showing that. I think this Worlds is going to be very important for her.

 

[R.D.]

I do think Meissner has fight in her and will at least go all out in the Free, even if she doesn't land all her jumps. She's in the position that Sarah hughes was in during the '02 olympics, so maybe that's the approach she will take. Then again, Meissner already kinda had the SOHL at Worlds' 06, and I don't know of any skater in recent besides Kwan and Slutskaya who have been able to "peak" more than once. But it's almost like Nagasu will have to tank or at least make some big mistake as well to allow Meissner the overall win. Does Marai REALLY deserve to be up by so much?? :think:

 

[R.D.]

I have always felt The USFSA looks for a $tar. Someone who draws endorsements and audiences benefits them. Michelle was that even when Sasha was outplacing her at Worlds. One of these young ones could definitely have star potential. Part of star appeal is at least being a contender at Worlds and at the Olympics. Kimmie just hasn't been showing that. I think this Worlds is going to be very important for her.

Does one think that possibly, that Worlds win back in '06 maybe wasn't the best thing to happen to her, looking long-term? It did put pressures on her that maybe she wasn't prepared to handle. Like her coach said, had she not won that worlds, last season would have been considered a success.

I hate to write someone off though, but I think Saturday's free skate is all or nothing for her. She can either prove that she's "still here" or show us that it's time for someone else to carry the US flag for skating.

 

[MissIzzy]

Amusing quote from a certain Network's blog:

Ken Congemi stopped by our table with the ladies short program protocols....amazed that [Bebe] had switched from fifth place to sixth and back to fifth over the course of the evening.

"This is the latest version," he said, waving the pink sheaf of papers. "There may be another one by now!" He was at the end of a long day.

 

[SusanBeth]

Does one think that possibly, that Worlds win back in '06 maybe wasn't the best thing to happen to her, looking long-term? It did put pressures on her that maybe she wasn't prepared to handle. Like her coach said, had she not won that worlds, last season would have been considered a success.

I hate to write someone off though, but I think Saturday's free skate is all or nothing for her. She can either prove that she's "still here" or show us that it's time for someone else to carry the US flag for skating.

I think that it's important for her to rally and show some spirit, but I am inclined to think that it's at Worlds that it counts the most. Make the podium there and the Federation might back her through the next Olympics. Just because there might not be time to bring up the young ones. Plus, the kids have time. If Kimmie doesn't do well at Worlds, they might feel that they have nothing to lose promoting someone else in the year before the Olympics. It would make for a bunch of endearing publicity that would help in the next cycle.

 

[museksk8r]

I would love for the world team to consist of Ashley Wagner, Kimmie Meissner, and Bebe Liang.

 

[oleada]

I do think Meissner has fight in her and will at least go all out in the Free, even if she doesn't land all her jumps. She's in the position that Sarah hughes was in during the '02 olympics, so maybe that's the approach she will take. Then again, Meissner already kinda had the SOHL at Worlds' 06, and I don't know of any skater in recent besides Kwan and Slutskaya who have been able to "peak" more than once. But it's almost like Nagasu will have to tank or at least make some big mistake as well to allow Meissner the overall win. Does Marai REALLY deserve to be up by so much?? :think:

This link might explain some things:
http://www.iceskatingintnl.com/current/content/senlad08.htm

Looks like Mirai had the highest base value of all the ladies. All of her non-jump elements were called as level four, with the exception of her steps, which got a level 3. And she got + GOE for all of them.

Wagner's combination was the highest scoring element of the night.

Flatt's triple-triple got lower GOE than Nagasu's and had lower scoring elements - only one was a level 4 and her spiral was only level 1. She's also noticeably slower than Nagasu and Wagner, and her basics aren't as good

Kimmie's flip received an edge deduction and was downgraded.

Caroline's lutz and toe were downgraded as well. Her axel had all negative GOE. She was also slower than usual last night.

I find it rather ridiculous that neither Wagner nor Zhang (and Flatt, to a lesser extent) got slammed for their flutzes. They've gotten edge deductions for every single one of their lutzes this season.

 

[waxel]

I find it rather ridiculous that neither Wagner nor Zhang (and Flatt, to a lesser extent) got slammed for their flutzes.

Great- hoping for bad scores- terrific sportsmanship!