Just HOW will the U.S. teams be picked?

[silverlake22]

All that being said, confidence is extremely important when it comes to competitive figure skating. Mirai is not confident, and it showed in her skating at SC. Yes, she was able to avoid the URs, but she had to concentrate so hard on her jumps that her presentation suffered and she got low PCS scores.

When the chips are down, a confident skater is much more able to relax and get the job done. A skater who lacks confidence is more apt to buckle under pressure than a confident one.

I heard that Mirai was stone-faced in her LP at Skate Canada because she was trying to look older and more mature for her Carmen character. It may be partially due to confidence that she was not so expressive but I think it was also an attempt to get into character that just didn't work out so well. Usually she has good expression.

 

[chuckm]

I agree that the "old" Mirai had lots of expression. But she doesn't have it now, or at least can't manage it because she has to pay such strict attention to technical details.

You could see in her behavior in the KnC even at SC that she is still looking to Frank Carroll for approval after she comes off the ice. She needed to get feedback from him that she had skated well---she was unsure herself if that was the case. That shows her insecurity and lack of confidence in herself.

That's why I say she's not ready for prime time this year. This is a rebuilding year for her. Next year, she may truly be a major contender, not just nationally, but internationally.

 

[R.D.]

I personally think that the overhaul can wait until next season. Now, prime or not, she has a GOOD chance to go to the Olys now. I think she should make the most of it. Weren't people touting Meissner and Hughes as the two to look out for in 2010?

 

[silverlake22]

I personally think that the overhaul can wait until next season. Now, prime or not, she has a GOOD chance to go to the Olys now. I think she should make the most of it. Weren't people touting Meissner and Hughes as the two to look out for in 2010?

Yeah, and Emily and Kimmie were the same age as Mirai and Caroline when they went to the Olympics. I remember during the LP when she had a few mistakes the commentator was talking about how Kimmie was still growing into her body and transitioning into her true style. I think the same could be said for Mirai. This year she at least looks grown up even if emotionally she is still in the thick of her teenage angst stage.

 

[PolymerBob]

So it seems that it will come down to who executes the best at Natls.
I have a feeling that a strong performance from Mirai can top the other girls regardless of how they skate. That doesn't mean it will happen - and it is easy enough to say the same thing for Rachael, Ashley or Alissa. And let's not forget that pesty Sasha who forgot to stay retired

And while we're "not forget"-ting, let's not forget Caroline, who has been pronounced dead more times than Dracula.

 

[silverlake22]

And while we're "not forget"-ting, let's not forget Caroline, who has been pronounced dead more times than Dracula.

I don't think most people are counting Caroline out at this point, I'm certainly not. I think it's just more that when Caroline is at her best (which she is pretty close to most of the time) her scores are not as high as some of the other ladies can be. Her FS was ranked 4th at last years nationals which I thought was unfair because she landed 7 triples (6 were ratified) and has great spins. Caroline has to accomplish more to get on the team, but I think she has one of the best track records for staying on her feet among the current contenders.

 

[R.D.]

I don't think most people are counting Caroline out at this point, I'm certainly not. I think it's just more that when Caroline is at her best (which she is pretty close to most of the time) her scores are not as high as some of the other ladies can be. Her FS was ranked 4th at last years nationals which I thought was unfair because she landed 7 triples (6 were ratified) and has great spins. Caroline has to accomplish more to get on the team, but I think she has one of the best track records for staying on her feet among the current contenders.

Precisely...I think her chances are dimmer than the other Contenders as far as Oly chances are concerned.

 

[silverlake22]

I had a dream last night that Sasha hypnotized the judges before the ladies event, marched onto the ice, twirled around and did a pretty spiral, didn't even attempt one jump, got a score of 215 (beating Yuna's world record) and won the event and the Olympic spot. Caroline finished 2nd but was passed over for Ashley who finished 3rd, but did a backflip in the middle of her LP :agree:.


Clearly I have been thinking too much about this.

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

I had a dream last night that Sasha hypnotized the judges before the ladies event, marched onto the ice, twirled around and did a pretty spiral, didn't even attempt one jump, got a score of 215 (beating Yuna's world record) and won the event and the Olympic spot. Caroline finished 2nd but was passed over for Ashley who finished 3rd, but did a backflip in the middle of her LP :agree:.


Clearly I have been thinking too much about this.

HA! Oh, that made me laugh and laugh hard.

 

[silverlake22]

HA! Oh, that made me laugh and laugh hard.

I know right? I woke up around 4 am and it took me awhile to fall back to sleep after that. I wouldn't put it past Sasha though....

 

[R.D.]

I had a dream last night that Sasha hypnotized the judges before the ladies event, marched onto the ice, twirled around and did a pretty spiral, didn't even attempt one jump, got a score of 215 (beating Yuna's world record) and won the event and the Olympic spot. Caroline finished 2nd but was passed over for Ashley who finished 3rd, but did a backflip in the middle of her LP :agree:.


Clearly I have been thinking too much about this.

Yes you have.

 

[gfskater]

In the middle of this page the is a table that shows who placed in the events that the olympic committee says they are using for the selection process. It shows their placement and their scores.

http://gofigureskating.com/compete/Olympics2010.html

Of course Nationals are yet to come and they do not say what the weight of each competition is.

Currently the pecking order looks like:

(You Pick Two) Rachael, Caroline, Ashley, Alissa
-----
(Pick Three) Evan, Jerremy, Jonny
-----
Caydee Denney / Jeremy Barrett,
Keauna McLaughlin / Rockne Brubaker
-----
And of course
Meryl Davis / Charlie White
Tanith Belbin / Benjamin Agosto

Everything can change at Nationals!

 

[gfskater]

Even though some placed lower their scores were higher. Probably skating against a tougher group.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

In the middle of this page the is a table that shows who placed in the events that the olympic committee says they are using for the selection process. It shows their placement and their scores.

http://gofigureskating.com/compete/Olympics2010.html

Of course Nationals are yet to come and they do not say what the weight of each competition is.

Currently the pecking order looks like:

(You Pick Two) Rachael, Caroline, Ashley, Alissa
-----
(Pick Three) Evan, Jerremy, Jonny
-----
Caydee Denney / Jeremy Barrett,
Keauna McLaughlin / Rockne Brubaker
-----
And of course
Meryl Davis / Charlie White
Tanith Belbin / Benjamin Agosto

Everything can change at Nationals!

What about Emily? Are we leaving her out of the mix?

 

[bigsisjiejie]

I agree that the "old" Mirai had lots of expression. But she doesn't have it now, or at least can't manage it because she has to pay such strict attention to technical details.

You could see in her behavior in the KnC even at SC that she is still looking to Frank Carroll for approval after she comes off the ice. She needed to get feedback from him that she had skated well---she was unsure herself if that was the case. That shows her insecurity and lack of confidence in herself.

That's why I say she's not ready for prime time this year. This is a rebuilding year for her. Next year, she may truly be a major contender, not just nationally, but internationally.

Agree. I like Mirai's potential, but she's still baking in the oven, not quite done yet. I do see a possibility of her making the Nationals podium. But I don't think she'd be a good Olympics competitor this year.

I don't think most people are counting Caroline out at this point, I'm certainly not.
<snip>

I'm one of the people who IS counting Caroline out. I don't think she'll make the Nationals podium. But if she does, I will come back here and eat crow.

 

[silverlake22]

Agree. I like Mirai's potential, but she's still baking in the oven, not quite done yet. I do see a possibility of her making the Nationals podium. But I don't think she'd be a good Olympics competitor this year.



I'm one of the people who IS counting Caroline out. I don't think she'll make the Nationals podium. But if she does, I will come back here and eat crow.

1.) Even if Mirai is "still baking" laugh: nice metaphor ), if Ashley and Alissa are having an off-night, Sasha can't really jump, and Rachael misses her 3-3 and another jump in the long, I think Mirai could potentially beat all of them and win. Definitely she has a shot at 2nd, at this point it's not looking as good for her as some of the other ladies, but she is capable of it.

2.) When was the last time Caroline fell before SC? I can't even remember. What I said for Mirai above goes for Caroline too. SC is still fresh in everyone's mind and Mirai and Caroline were probably the 2 skaters that got the worst slap in the face from that strange judging.

Counting these two girls out is assuming that:

1.)Alissa won't cave under the pressure
2.)Ashley won't make mistakes in one or both of her programs
3.)Rachael will hit all her elements, or at least 6 triples in the long
4.)Sasha will show and will be good enough to medal

I really only see 3.) happening meaning Caroline and Mirai have a good shot at 2nd. But who knows, maybe all 4 things will happen and they will be 5th and 6th or lower.

 

[museksk8r]

In the middle of this page the is a table that shows who placed in the events that the olympic committee says they are using for the selection process. It shows their placement and their scores.

http://gofigureskating.com/compete/Olympics2010.html

Of course Nationals are yet to come and they do not say what the weight of each competition is.

Currently the pecking order looks like:

(You Pick Two) Rachael, Caroline, Ashley, Alissa
-----
(Pick Three) Evan, Jerremy, Jonny
-----
Caydee Denney / Jeremy Barrett,
Keauna McLaughlin / Rockne Brubaker
-----
And of course
Meryl Davis / Charlie White
Tanith Belbin / Benjamin Agosto

Everything can change at Nationals!

That website is misinformed. Why are they implying that the USA can only send 2 ice dance teams for the Olympic and World team? B/A finished 2nd and D/W finished 4th at 2009 Worlds.

 

[gfskater]

What about Emily? Are we leaving her out of the mix?

Emily has not been competing in any of the events that the comitee says they are basing their selection on.

2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
2009/10 ISU Senior Grand Prix Final
2009 World Figure Skating Championships
2009 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
2009 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
2009/10 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final

She did get called in for Skate America when Sasha bailed. She came in 7th with a score of 135.31. Getting called in for this meant she did not have to compete at sectionals and can compete at nationals.

Maybe she'll get called in for the olympics if someone bails.

 

[gfskater]

I'm one of the people who IS counting Caroline out. I don't think she'll make the Nationals podium. But if she does, I will come back here and eat crow.

Is it just about Nationals or are they going to use what they outlined in this document section C on page 4:

http://www.usfigureskating.org/cont... WOG FSK Athlete Selection Procedures web.pdf

Natioanls has the highest weighting but will they consider skaters acheivements at the other 5 events? I think basing it on one event would be a mistake.

 

[Mathman]

Is it just about Nationals or are they going tu use what they outlined in the document section C on page 4.

Well, that's what the 240 posts on this thread are arguing about.

The consensus seems to be (but its not unanimous) that the USFSA will base the Olympic selection on the results of Nationals alone as they always have, and they are just kidding about those other four events, to fool the USOC.