Ladies LP - actual competition

[enlight78]

I have to agree that Alyssa was wrongfully held up at nationals. She scored about about 7 points higher in the PCs than she would internationally while flatt and zhang was scored about the same. If you take away that seven point cushion she would have been third.

 

[ANW]

I don't think it proved anything, as many alreay pointed out before, you can't really compare two events with each other, not to mention one is even national, the other is judged by international panel. there is no such guarantee allissa will get that same 5 points advantage when she faces a much larger talent pool.

With five more points in her SP, Alissa would have ended up with 164.81 pointsand in 7th place behind Fumie Suguri and ahead of Rachael Flatt.

So, this event does indeed show that Alissa can beat Rachael if her SP reaches its full potential.

But what puzzles me is how come Zhang's programs did a lot better at 4CC than at Nationals. There is a disparity here that needs to be investigated: Either 4CC judges propped Zhang up or Nationals judges held her down.

 

[shallwedansu]

I am very happy that caroline skated well, and even better that she was happy with her skate and her scores. It is a crime that she cant go to worlds.
Nice job Alissa, and the scoring was appropriate this time.

I predicted that Yu-na would win with a sub-par freeskate, and I was right, but what bothers me is that she is trying the 3 loop again. I wish her coach woudl realize that she does NOT need it. With a clean skate she could easily win any event with a 2 axel in the place of the loop. Her 2 axels would get +GOE. I just fear for her hip everytime I see her do a triple loop.

I am also worried about Mao. She must be injured or sick. I healthy Mao would not have held back like that from the 3/3s. If she skated like she had eariler in the season with 2 triple axels and a 3/3 combo she might have even won. this girl continuous to be a mystery. One day she is unbeatable and solid as a rock, the next she looks beaten down and carrying the weight of the world. Whatever her probelms, I hope she can fix them before worlds.

The 3 loop is her personal demon and I think she really wants to conquer it. Better to try it now when she can afford to take the risk.

It's true, Mao wasn't her usual self but I don't know if she was physically ill. I feel like she wasn't there mentally at all and I think several factors like her coach not being there (even though she's performed well without a coach before) and the size of the rink and other little things all added up and clouded her mind. I think this poor performance for her standards will really wake her up and give her the drive to come back at Worlds stronger than she's been all season. I wouldn't be surprised at all if she claims her title again.

 

[MrHand]

Judges seem to give out beauty points. If a skater has a well proportional physique, pretty face, and elegant costumes, will get some emotional points?

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss103/gonews/4ccshort.jpg

The olympics Gold and Silver is already spoken for, it is only matter who takes it. Ms Zhang of the USA will be out of the medal. As the Host Canada wins Bronze.
( I don't think the 4CC finish previews olympics ).

I hope someone uploads Yu Na's video onto Youtube soon. Icenet videos don't always work.

 

[skatingbc]

I hope someone uploads Yu Na's video onto Youtube soon. Icenet videos don't always work.

Check the 4CC video clips thread. Links to Yu-Na's FS on youtube have been up for hours!

 

[Tonichelle]

the host country didn't get their lady on the podium last time... or their dance team... Joannie doesn't just get a medal for showing up.

 

[DarkestMoon]

I don't think many posters or fans of Caroline think she can compete right now against , YuNa, Mao or Joannie, we are not blind or "smoking something" Why single Caroline out. Realistically what other lady has a chance to beat Joannie, YuNa or Mao.

Caroline is in the same group as the other ladies who are trying to place in the top ten and as much as I love Michelle and Sasha if they decide (big if) to come back they will be in the same group.

I was trying to answer to the fact that many skating fans who wholeheartedly believed that Caroline was robbed many times, despite skating lights out (TEB, nationals, and 4CC). Definitely a big kudos to her for being able to do so during her growth spurt year (and with that technique) but I'm tired of hearing that Caroline wuzrobbed of gold or whatnot just for skating lights out.This code is not going to allow for higher placements if you really don't have the technique or the basics and I feel like some skating fans are not seeing that. BTW, this isn't an attack on you or anything.

What's happening to the US is now a big wake-up call. I'd love to see Michelle and Sasha back with Kimmie doing well again and Alexe Gilles making a big splash. That said, I'd like to see the US be a medal contender but there is work to be done, a lot of it, and it's time that US start doing real camps like Canada.

 

[flying camel]

Wow, there are so many great post and great ideas on here. If only someone from USFSA was reading. Totally agree about the camps. Some people mentioned starting those after nationals. They were saying to invite Brian & Linda & Zayek. That would be a great idea. I have to agree with what some people on here have said in the past, we seem to be a season or to behind the front runners. I don't know how that happen. I don't know if we can make up the difference by next year. It's almost like we need to be training while the others are resting.

I aslo feel like Rachael & Alissa skated a little conservatively. In order to get the magical 13 its come to skate or stay home. You can't afford to hold anything back. Just like people have said don't try to hang on to 2 spots, fight for 3. At this point I am ready to get out there and skate for 13.

 

[Daniel5555]

After watching again Caroline and Mao I think that judges were right about placing Mao 3rd and Caroline 4th. They have nearly the same level, but Mao is still slightly better. That's OK.
Caroline will have it all in the future, I'm sure.

 

[PolymerBob]

The ladies' free skate has been over for about 12 hours now, and still no comment on the USFSA web page. Do these people work on Saturdays?

 

[krenseby]

The ladies' free skate has been over for about 12 hours now, and still no comment on the USFSA web page. Do these people work on Saturdays?

Heck, they haven't even update the banner post-Nationals to reflect the new winners ;-) It's as if Mirai and Evan were still national champions!

 

[Medusa]

The ladies' free skate has been over for about 12 hours now, and still no comment on the USFSA web page. Do these people work on Saturdays?

They mention Caroline!

Meryl Davis and Charlie White, on the strength of their first-place free dance, won the gold medal Friday at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates earned the bronze in ice dancing, while Caroline Zhang finished fourth in ladies.

 

[figuristka]

I was trying to answer to the fact that many skating fans who wholeheartedly believed that Caroline was robbed many times, despite skating lights out (TEB, nationals, and 4CC). Definitely a big kudos to her for being able to do so during her growth spurt year (and with that technique) but I'm tired of hearing that Caroline wuzrobbed of gold or whatnot just for skating lights out.This code is not going to allow for higher placements if you really don't have the technique or the basics and I feel like some skating fans are not seeing that. BTW, this isn't an attack on you or anything.

What's happening to the US is now a big wake-up call. I'd love to see Michelle and Sasha back with Kimmie doing well again and Alexe Gilles making a big splash. That said, I'd like to see the US be a medal contender but there is work to be done, a lot of it, and it's time that US start doing real camps like Canada.

Never thought i would ever see Americans looking to Canada for how they train their skaters, including the ladies. Joannie,Patrick, Dube and Davison, and Virtue and moir are great leaders for other Canadian skaters behind them. Iam so thrilled Cynthia Phaneuf is coming back strong. She is beautiful to watch when she is almost clean, something about her skating or body type reminds me a little of Oksana Baiul when she grew. Her sp and long made me really happy. I enjoyed joannie, Cynthia and Mao's free the most. Iam not sure why but Yu na kim's free and Zhangs didn't do much for me although i respect them as skaters. Zhang's spins are amazing though.

 

[amateur]

As a Canadian, I find all this "panic" about the state of US ladies' skating rather amusing (or annoying, depending on my mood)... Your ladies still at the *very* worst make up the 3rd strongest team internationally (Canada, amazingly, having outperformed yours at this competition )

So you're down to 2 spots for a couple of years, maybe. Soooo many strong young skaters at a similar level... will only serve to push each other, all the more for having one fewer opening... and one or two will break through. They are all so young! The timing for American Olympic Glory this time around seems a little off... OH WELL... you've had your share!!!!

And there were other things to analyze and/or appreciate about this competition, by the way...

 

[tae04]

Zhang should be on the World team. Plain and simple.

 

[Tonichelle]

USFSA has to market a strong win... Meryl and Charlie not only made the podium, they were on top. I say kudos to USFSA for recognizing a dance team not Tanith and Ben.

And the banner won't be changed until the end of the season as is the norm with the USFSA website.

 

[krenseby]

As a Canadian, I find all this "panic" about the state of US ladies' skating rather amusing (or annoying, depending on my mood)... Your ladies still at the *very* worst make up the 3rd strongest team internationally (Canada, amazingly, having outperformed yours at this competition )

So you're down to 2 spots for a couple of years, maybe. Soooo many strong young skaters at a similar level... will only serve to push each other, all the more for having one fewer opening... and one or two will break through. They are all so young! The timing for American Olympic Glory this time around seems a little off... OH WELL... you've had your share!!!!

And there were other things to analyze and/or appreciate about this competition, by the way...

Well I bet you feel good about the fact that there's some depth in Canadian skating ;-) I mean not only have you got Joannie, you've also got Cynthia.

BTW: The U.S is very used to having 3 ladies spots for Olympics and Worlds.

 

[krenseby]

Zhang should be on the World team. Plain and simple.

Thing is, the USFSA isn't really into looking at multiple competitions to decide who gets to be on the Worlds team. They find it a lot simpler to just use the Nationals podium ;-)

 

[Tonichelle]

that's because normally the US ladies that succeed in international competition are the ones that dominate the national championships...

 

[amateur]

Well I bet you feel good about the fact that there's some depth in Canadian skating ;-) I mean not only have you got Joannie, you've also got Cynthia.

BTW: The U.S is very used to having 3 ladies spots for Olympics and Worlds.

I know you're used to it,. but that's the point... sometimes things don't work out.
So many well-trained skaters from various countries... sometimes a short break from being in the top 5-6 is just normal... the other countries are not filled with hacks...

But it will come back. Canada had a few years in the 90's with one lady barely cracking the top 20, and NOBODY qualifying for the '98 Olypmics... and now look, a mere 11 years later, here we are beating the US in a major competition (...i say this mostly tongue in cheek...)

It's great for Canada to have 2 strong and beautiful Ladies' skaters... but make no mistake, the US still has plenty more depth... behind Joannie & Cynthia, we have maybe 3-4 skaters close to Lacoste's level (a significant tier down), and then it drops off.. you in the US seem to have innumerable skaters at a very close level... you just have to wait a bit for the next star to emerge *shrugs*