Caroline Zhang's 2009-10 season | Page 48 | Golden Skate

Caroline Zhang's 2009-10 season

you know, it will be very funny to me if, after all the doom and gloom expressed in this thread, that these three girls kick butt in later GPs, and get in full form by Nationals.

It's waaaayyyy too early to know anything for sure :laugh: Better to work out any issues now (probably what all the skaters are doing anyway)
 
I really don't know. I would like nothing better than Caroline to kick some butt on the GP series. But it's not looking good -- the quality of her skating is still such that her PCS will not go up, and with all her jumping problems her TES is likely to go down.

But things look good for Mirai and Rachael. Mirai seems to be improving on her jumping issues, which has been her nemesis so far. I am not sure about her choreography or expression, her cutesy moves don't look so cute or appropriate anymore on a 16-yr-old's body that's starting to look womanly. But she skates fast and powerfully enough that I think her PCS will hold up okay.

And Rachael seems to be making strides on her biggest problem, presentation and choreography. Her basics are solid, she can go really far with better presentation & choreography.

With Alissa also looking very strong in the summer competitions, I think National's will be a very tough fight for the two spots.

I will always have a special affection for Caroline, but I am really not optimistic right now based on what I've seen. I really hope that I'm wrong. And I also really hope that she changes coaches after this season, and please to someone with a stronger technical resume, like Richard Callaghan or Don Laws or Frank Carroll or Brian Orser (if Yu-na retires).
 
feraina said:
I really don't know. I would like nothing better than Caroline to kick some butt on the GP series. But it's not looking good -- the quality of her skating is still such that her PCS will not go up, and with all her jumping problems her TES is likely to go down.
Click to expand...

I am going to be a little more optimistic here. Caroline had been jumping 2 ½ to 3 weeks before Golden West. Just showing up was a victory. Last season, she had her growth spurt over the summer, and did poorly in her first GP event. Then she slowly improved as the season went on, and finished as the top American lady in her next 4 ISU events.

This situation is similar. Only this summer, she had a knee injury rather than a growth spurt. Most years, I wouldn’t worry because she would have until Nationals to get in form. But this year is different. The Grand Prix is a factor in picking our Olympic team, so Caroline does NOT have until Nationals to get in shape.
 
PolymerBob said:
This situation is similar. Only this summer, she had a knee injury rather than a growth spurt. Most years, I wouldn’t worry because she would have until Nationals to get in form. But this year is different. The Grand Prix is a factor in picking our Olympic team, so Caroline does NOT have until Nationals to get in shape.
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I doubt that the grand prix will have much baring on who the USFSA picks to go to the Olympics. I would die of shock if the USFSA does anything but pick the top finishers at nationals (unless someone needs a medical bye for some reason). At any rate it is only the GPF (i know that the results of the GPs feed into who goes to the final) that ranks for imporatnce on the list and that is not as important as placing at nationals.

Ant
 
feraina said:
I will always have a special affection for Caroline, but I am really not optimistic right now based on what I've seen. I really hope that I'm wrong. And I also really hope that she changes coaches after this season, and please to someone with a stronger technical resume, like Richard Callaghan or Don Laws or Frank Carroll or Brian Orser (if Yu-na retires).
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I'm not getting my hopes up for her this season. I will always love Caroline, but it's frustrating that she and her team haven't figured out how to tackle her issues. And after multiple seasons of the same old, same old from her, I really don't know when they will figure it out.

And I don't know if maybe part of that has to do with her family or culture, because I certainly can identify with obsessive, controling Asian parents, but I really hope we see a change after the Olympics (regardless of whether or not she makes it). Bottom line is, I'll be happy for her achievements but I won't be disappointed or upset anymore if she falls short.
 
LeCygne said:
And I don't know if maybe part of that has to do with her family or culture, because I certainly can identify with obsessive, controling Asian parents, but I really hope we see a change after the Olympics (regardless of whether or not she makes it). Bottom line is, I'll be happy for her achievements but I won't be disappointed or upset anymore if she falls short.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean about the parents and I've seen them too often, but obsessive controling parents don't discriminate, they are in every culture and every sports.
 
antmanb said:
I doubt that the grand prix will have much baring on who the USFSA picks to go to the Olympics. I would die of shock if the USFSA does anything but pick the top finishers at nationals (unless someone needs a medical bye for some reason). At any rate it is only the GPF (i know that the results of the GPs feed into who goes to the final) that ranks for imporatnce on the list and that is not as important as placing at nationals.

Ant
Click to expand...

I agree with this statement.
 
Just being drawn out of the woodwork here to say that I love Caroline's skating, but unfortunately I don't think this season will be that great. I just hope it doesn't hurt her spirits, since she seems like such a nice kid.

Actually, given that she's only as old as my "little brother", I always imagined that the next round of Olympics would be her time to shine. Heck, I'm 20 now and I don't consider myself "old"! I'm sure the next 4 years could make a HUGE difference.
 
gocaroline said:
I know what you mean about the parents and I've seen them too often, but obsessive controling parents don't discriminate, they are in every culture and every sports.
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I know that these types of parents and families exist everywhere, but there are still distinctions in the way different cultures handle certain matters. Just saying..

Caroline's new pictures from the USOC Media Summit are gorgeous: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&assetType=image&p=2010%20us%20olympic%20media%20summit&src=standard#3
 
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All the photos are great. The ones of Mirai are adorable, and Alissa looks wonderful also. Caroline's pictures are splendid indeed. I especially like the ones where she's smiling broadly. Thanks for providing this link!
 
Thanks! They look great and like they are having fun!

Where's Sasha? I thought she was supposed to be here as well, and having an interview today?
 
LeCygne said:
My favorite picture is this one: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/90595915/Getty-Images-Sport She looks so cute and playful! :p And that smile is so genuine and natural.
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Thats my favorite one of Caroline too! Its amazing what a difference a photographer makes-- Harry How's blue ice photos are so much more flattering than Jamie Squires. I'm also glad we can actually see Caroline's face this time unlike the snowflake photos.

Mirai also looks cute, and Ashley looks so, so pretty. She reminds me of Rachel Hurd-Wood who played Wendy in Peter Pan (2003). Is it just me or do the Jeremy + icicles photos all look a bit menacing?

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/90604494/Getty-Images-Sport

HAHAHAHAHA Johnny cracks me up. Everyone else is in USA gear and Johnnys dressed like Tarasova.
 
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I just saw a new ESPN piece. Caroline is interviewed about her coaching changes, her injury, her working relationship with Wong and Li.

So that meniscus tear was an ACL tear. :no: And she was off the ice for a month instead of a week as she first thought. :no: But it sounds like she has a good relationship with both Wong and Li. I'm glad that she's working with Wong on footwork and speed and endurance. And it sounds like maybe Li and Caroline are making some changes in their coaching relationship as well. I hope she has enough time to get everything together at TEB! Good luck, Caroline!

"When I left, I wanted to see if I could make a big change this year," Zhang said. "There wasn't enough time to switch over and be completely comfortable."

An injury didn't help. What Zhang thought was a meniscus injury in her right knee turned out to be a slight ACL tear, and she was off the ice for about a month to let it heal. She returned in August, but because she'd drawn Trophee Eric Bompard, the first Grand Prix of the season, that left her only about two months to prepare.

Zhang said she's still working with Wong on footwork -- to increase her endurance and speed -- and choreography, but Li is her primary coach.

"She's pushing me a lot harder than she used to, and I'm listening a lot better," the 16-year-old said. "I listened, but we didn't plan as much. Now we've set up things for the entire season. ... I'm determined to do my best from the beginning of the season instead of peaking too late."
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