Senior Ladies LP

[Andalusia]

I don't like that Alissa won with a 3-triple LP, but hey, I have to be happy because it's Alissa Czisny! The sheer WTH feeling of it all thrills me to no end. Alissa is exquisite when on, and just seems so sweet and gracious - someone whom "you want wonderful things to happen to". I have to say the first few minutes of her LP, right up until the fall, were lovely. And besides, her favourite celebrity is Audrey Hepburn, so you just have to root for her.

Rachael - ugh, like watching paint dry. The jumps are clean and secure but she's boring as heck. It's personal preference, but I'm not happy she made the world team. Aside from the jumps, I totally get the Sarah Hughes vibe from her.

Caroline - unabashedly my favourite, but she'll hover near the bottom of the podium until she fixes her technique and speed. This perf was a little flat, but there were a few improvements: better entry into the 2A; not much slower than the top 2; and the rotations, especially on her individual jumps, are really quick and tight. Her loops are nice to watch now. Love that oomph she gave after landing the second flip. Still, I'm so sad she didn't make the world team what with it being held in L.A. That means no Worlds for Caroline before the Olympics. Overall, less and less seem to be enamoured of her and I worry about her future.

Which brings me to another thing I'm unhappy about - that there are only 2 spots for the U.S. ladies this year. I wasn't pleased with the selections they made for last year's team, and with good reason. Really makes one appreciate MK, who earned spots for the U.S. year after year. The Olympics don't look much better - crowning Alissa might end up biting the USFS in the ****.

 

[museksk8r]

Which brings me to another thing I'm unhappy about - that there are only 2 spots for the U.S. ladies this year. I wasn't pleased with the selections they made for last year's team, and with good reason.

Who else was the USFSA to choose under the age rules? Winner Nagasu, silver medalist Flatt, and pewter medalist Zhang did not meet the age requirement. Bronze medalist Wagner, 5th place finisher Liang, and 6th place finisher Hacker were all offered World spots. Hacker turned down her invitation, not feeling she was ready for the experience, so 7th place finisher Meissner received Hacker's declined invitation. Where's the controversy in the selection under the constraints of the ISU Rules?

 

[Tinymavy15]

I thought that Caroline's speed was better, especilly in the SP. But I found myslef rather let down. all these glowing practice reports and then she obviously cheats the 3/3 in the Long and makes these stupid mistakes on the axles. The LP did not have the same magic as last year, she just seemed to be going through the motions.
Ashley...I admire he spunk, but I can't see how that LP won the freeskate when Rachel was perfectly clean and so was Mirai.
Bebe was another huge disipointment, it looked like she wasn't even trying.
Mirai's freeskate was the best moment of the night for me. She was actually in tears but somehow skated clean. I was so happy for her at the end. That is on example of when results don't really matter.
Alissa's LP is beautiful, but the mistakes but a damper on it. Very interesting that the Gold medalists in Ladies, Pairs and Mens all won without skating a clean LP, or even the best LP of the event.

 

[Andalusia]

Who else was the USFSA to choose under the age rules? Winner Nagasu, silver medalist Flatt, and pewter medalist Zhang did not meet the age requirement. Bronze medalist Wagner, 5th place finisher Liang, and 6th place finisher Hacker were all offered World spots. Hacker turned down her invitation, not feeling she was ready for the experience, so 7th place finisher Meissner received Hacker's declined invitation. Where's the controversy in the selection under the constraints of the ISU Rules?

I never said there was a controversy with the selection. Just because they had no other options doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. There was no way the U.S. would earn back the 3 spots what with skaters like Bebe and Kimmie on the team. Ashley placed disappointingly, too. I guess I'm also unhappy with the stupid age rule, and how skaters are forced to miss what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because other skaters don't do well. I wish there was a way to circumvent that.

 

[ks777]

So the question is.. is that it for Bebe?

 

[Tonichelle]

So the question is.. is that it for Bebe?

it's up to her to decide.

 

[dorispulaski]

Very true, but I expect shall will take a stab at qualifying for the Olympic team, or even the post Olympics world team, since there are often retirements immediately following Olympics.

 

[ManyCairns]

I thought that Caroline's speed was better, especilly in the SP. But I found myslef rather let down. all these glowing practice reports and then she obviously cheats the 3/3 in the Long and makes these stupid mistakes on the axles. The LP did not have the same magic as last year, she just seemed to be going through the motions.
Ashley...I admire he spunk, but I can't see how that LP won the freeskate when Rachel was perfectly clean and so was Mirai.
Bebe was another huge disipointment, it looked like she wasn't even trying.

Well said on all points. Caroline was disappointing; I love her but this LP definitely looked "mailed in" and virtually expressionless. I'm glad many still responded positively to it, however, and I'm hoping she continues to improve. What you said about Ashley's LP -- totally agree. How was that the LP of the night?

What was up with Bebe? You said it so well, it was like she wasn't even trying. And didn't care to try.

So the question is.. is that it for Bebe?

I'm anxious to hear something from her. Isn't she also a very competent pianist? Does she have too many competing interests? I'd love for her to commit to competitive skating, or say, "enough's enough," but I hope we do get news of her plans. She's so darn likeable and always had that potential, but she really didn't seem to be "there" at all in this comp.

 

[fairly4]

i thought i read on icenetwork ,that Both Caroline and Rachel got downgraded on their triples & triples.

 

[ChrisH]

I thought that Caroline's speed was better, especilly in the SP. But I found myslef rather let down. all these glowing practice reports and then she obviously cheats the 3/3 in the Long and makes these stupid mistakes on the axles.

I didn't expect much given Caroline's GP performances. It seems that whatever speed and power improvements she'll make will take years to develop. In the meantime, I'd like to see consistency and quick improvement in her presentation.

The LP did not have the same magic as last year, she just seemed to be going through the motions.

Yes, Caroline's LP was much better last year and it was the best one of the night.

I thought that Caroline should've been scored higher in the SP but I can't complain about her LP score this year. She could've been placed higher, but overall she was not better than Alissa and only marginally better than Flatt.

Caroline now has the 3S and her jumps are perhaps a little higher. Overall though, she seems to be struggling a bit more to rotate her jumps. While she has had less downgrades, she has less flow into and out of her jumps.

Ashley...I admire he spunk, but I can't see how that LP won the when Rachel was perfectly clean and so was Mirai.
Mirai's freeskate was the best moment of the night for me. She was actually in tears but somehow skated clean. I was so happy for her at the end. That is on example of when results don't really matter.
... Alissa's LP is beautiful, but the mistakes but a damper on it. Very interesting that the Gold medalists in Ladies, Pairs and Mens all won without skating a clean LP, or even the best LP of the event.

Last year, Mirai had a fall in the LP and she still won the overall so Alissa's gold is not surprising.

Interesting that Ashley was placed 1st in the LP while skating in the penultimate group. She was solid but not special. Not that I disagree with her placing, but again, why didn't Caroline get the same benefit last year? I guess one could say that the judging improved or that last year was just abnormally bad.

 

[R.D.]

I never said there was a controversy with the selection. Just because they had no other options doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. There was no way the U.S. would earn back the 3 spots what with skaters like Bebe and Kimmie on the team. Ashley placed disappointingly, too. I guess I'm also unhappy with the stupid age rule, and how skaters are forced to miss what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because other skaters don't do well. I wish there was a way to circumvent that.

last year USFS had no choice though. The top finishers were too young.

This year, things are quite different. I agree with the choice of Rachel, but of course, by giving Alyssa the Championship the USFS basically told her, we're counting on you for our Olympic spots, and here, Rachel will help ya out.

Now, it's up to the fans to debate this until they're all blue in the face.

 

[Mathman]

Let me just throw out another possibility here that others seem to have missed.

I believe that if Alissa goes to 4CC and does much worse than her teammates, the USFSA will exert pressure on her to give up her spot at Worlds. They will wrap themselves in the American flag, baseball, motherhood, apple pie ......... and convince Alissa that she must withdraw for the good of her country...

I think the USFSA will make it clear that her attendance at 4CC is not just a friendly request. These guys really, REALLY want to see how the international judges treat Alissa.

Total flight of fancy. Alissa will not decline the invitation to worlds, not even for a large slice of apple pie.

She may or may not compete at Four Continents -- her choice.

Alissa does not need to present herself for inspection to the international judges. She has been around for quite a few years, has done the Grand Prix circuit (medalling twice in 2007 and making the finals), she has been to worlds, finishing a disappointing 15th (Ashley Wagner finished 16th in her first try, Coralina Kostner 12th, Joannie Rochette, 17th.)

This season judges have seen her at Skate Canada and Cup of Russia. At both events she was judged fairly on the tech side for what she did. At both events she got respectable program component scores and GOEs.

Plus, the ISU judges might even watch television and know how the U.S. Nationals came out.

Alissa is far from an unknown X-factor that will throw the judges at Worlds into a tizzy.

 

[R.D.]

Alissa does not need to present herself for inspection to the international judges. She has been around for quite a few years, has done the Grand Prix circuit (medalling twice in 2007 and making the finals), she has been to worlds, finishing a disappointing 15th

does that make you feel very good about our chances for 3 Oly spots next year??

Plus, the ISU judges might even watch television and know how the U.S. Nationals came out.

Ugh, not this "reputation" thing again. The job of the judges is to judge what the skater JUST did out there in the past 2.5 or 4 minutes. You'd figure Cop would have fixed this.

 

[Mathman]

Ugh, not this "reputation" thing again. The job of the judges is to judge what the skater JUST did out there in the past 2.5 or 4 minutes. You'd figure Cop would have fixed this.

Actually, as I understand it, there used to be a "gentlemen's agreement" in the ISU that they would "respect the wishes of fellow member federations" and never place the #2 skater from a country over that country's #1.

All the more radical, then, when they placed Tara ahead of Michelle at the 1998 Olympics, leading some of the old school observers to speculate whether racism trumped tradition.

 

[R.D.]

Seriously, in reflection, if anyone told me after last year's Nationals after Czisny finished 9th that she'd be the Champion this year, I'd probably have cracked up. I think this is probably the most surprising result I've ever seen in a big championship other than Hughes/Meissner. I'd figure she might medal but I'd never have predicted she'd win the whole thing. Even after Thursday's SP, I figured the free skate would play out the way it did for her and Flatt, but reversing the outcome.

Nagasu winning in 2008 is an honorable mention but she did come into it as the reigning Junior National Champ, basically up against the same field save Meissner, who came off a disastrous GPF, and other seniors who don't quite have the levels that she does. But up to this point the most Czisny had was a lucky bronze in 2007. Imagine if she won a world medal in LA...of course, given the competition I may as well shoot the moon, but hey, nice thought eh?

 

[Andalusia]

last year USFS had no choice though. The top finishers were too young.

This year, things are quite different. I agree with the choice of Rachel, but of course, by giving Alyssa the Championship the USFS basically told her, we're counting on you for our Olympic spots, and here, Rachel will help ya out.

Now, it's up to the fans to debate this until they're all blue in the face.

Which is why I think the U.S. judges are a little idiotic. If they crowned Alissa because they think she can easily help to earn 3 Olympic spots, they are being a bit too hopeful. I think Alissa is enchanting, but the fact is, she has never skated both a clean SP and LP. Even here, she has given us no reason to believe she can do it in the future. The judges certainly didn't do her any favours by giving her inflated scores for a 3-triple LP, scores that certainly wouldn't mirror the marks of international judges for the same performance. I have a feeling the USFS is desperate for a lady champion, someone to root for and be a new face for the sport (Alissa certainly fits the bill!), and perhaps by giving her the title, the powers that be believe Alissa will gain the boost she needs. It remains to be seen whether their hopes and expectations will prove unfounded, but based on Alissa's competitive history, things don't look too promising.

 

[Mathman]

^ I really don't know what I think. But this is what I feel.

(1) I agree with Adalusia's earlier post -- I don't know if I agree with the judging, but I'm glad Alissa won anyway just because I like her.

But...it always throws a bucket of cold water on the celebration when the winner backs into the championship with a less that stellar performance. If Alissa had skated cleanly, everyone would be in her cheering section at Worlds, win or lose. The way it is now, if she messes up, a whole lot of folks will be saying "I told you so, why did USFS ever send this loser?" Even more pressure, which is the last thing she needs.

(2) I definitely feel bad for Rachael. She's got to be thinking, "what do I have to do to win this sucker? I won last year, they gave it to Mirai, I won this year, they gave it to Alissa!"

I hope Rachael kicks butt at Worlds!

(3) I feel bad for Ashley. She could well be the best ladies figure skater in the country, but a little slip in the SP and she's toast. What did she do to tick off the skating gods that they should do that to her?

(4) By the time the Olympics rolls around, somebody has got to step up and grab the gold ring. Forget this fooling around. I think it could be Caroline Z. All of her weaknesses are fixable and she has the "it" factor in spades.

(5) I am thrilled with Mirai's performance. She went from the Slough of Despond to the peak of Mount Jubilation in 4 minutes, like only a fifteen-year-old can. NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

 

[R.D.]

She could well be the best ladies figure skater in the country, but a little slip in the SP and she's toast.

A little? That was the worst SP I've ever seen from her. But I felt bad for her because when NBC panned to close-ups of her face, you could clearly see that she was welling up. Even in the TB she sounded like she tried very hard not to lose it. I'm glad she came back with such a strong FS though. Unfortunately, that's not the competition and she put herself out of WC contention with that SP.

 

[Trewyn]

I would have loved to see Ashley at Worlds.. I think she had a good chance of doing well there and help secure the US those three spots that are the talk of the town. Her SP was so strong earlier this season, it's sad that it faltered at Nats. Maybe she focussed too much on her LP?
I said it before, but I just can't get over it, I think it's horrible that she has to go back to the Jr scene. She worked so hard to be a 'Senior' and now she's a 'Junior' again? That's a blow. I think I might just travel over to Sofia and give her a big hug as she becomes 'Jr' World champion. I still secretely hope she'll get 4CC. Maybe she'll medal there. Or get her 4th 4th place of the season . I just really want her to finish this season on a high note. She's 'the' skater for me. Ever since the first time I saw her on youtube. She's the reason I'm into figure skating in the first place.

 

[ks777]

I would have loved to see Ashley at Worlds.. Her SP was so strong earlier this season, it's sad that it faltered at Nats. Maybe she focussed too much on her LP? I said it before, but I just can't get over it, I think it's horrible that she has to go back to the Jr scene. She worked so hard to be a 'Senior' and now she's a 'Junior' again? That's a blow. I think I might just travel over to Sofia and give her a big hug as she becomes 'Jr' World champion. I still secretely hope she'll get 4CC. Maybe she'll medal there. Or get her 4th 4th place of the season . I just really want her to finish this season on a high note. She's 'the' skater for me. Ever since the first time I saw her on youtube. She's the reason I'm into figure skating in the first place.

I would decline if I were Ashely. She already did Jr worlds, no point of going back again. That same goes to Mirai and Caroline. Mirai needs to take a break from skating to heal her ankle. As for Caroline, she already won it a few years ago.. If I were her, I would want someone else' to win.