What will 2010-11 bring for Caroline Zhang? | Page 27 | Golden Skate

What will 2010-11 bring for Caroline Zhang?

I am not Rachael's biggest fan, but I was surprised when she did not win Sunday. She has a fair chance of making the Final, though she can still be busted out in these last 2 events.
 
:rofl: overreaction much? I just expressed a little skepticism over her "comeback" - and I definitely wasn't alone. In fact, many of her supposed biggest fans over on SF were getting frustrated with her! THAT part surprised me.

Your criticism of Sasha was mainly due to the fact that you didn't get your special instructions from the "Sasha Hype Brigade." Either that or you forgot to follow them for some reason. You know, it's getting harder and harder these days to run hype campaigns for skaters ;-(
 
Your criticism of Sasha was mainly due to the fact that you didn't get your special instructions from the "Sasha Hype Brigade." Either that or you forgot to follow them for some reason. You know, it's getting harder and harder these days to run hype campaigns for skaters ;-(

I'm not sure I follow you here. The reason I was a big critic of her was because she had a history of frequent injury and withdrawal from events throughout her career, and I found it laughable that she thought she'd be able to jump right back into medal contention after four years away. Anyway I don't want to sidetrack this thread so let's get back to Zhang.

You're right about hyping skaters though...it gets old.
 
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It's good to see so many posts supportive of Caroline. I haven't seen that in quite some time. I will be honest and say I was disappointed in Caroline's low placements in the Grand Prix, but I was happy to see her increased speed and lessened mule-kick. I guess she did as well as we could have expected. It seems that both Caroline and Tammi know what needs to be done, and they are working VERY hard to do it. We will have to just let the situation develop.

Remember, a flower blooms when it's ready. GO CAROLINE !!!!!!!!!! :yay:

Yeah, I mean, with all the positive talk, we can't gloss over the fact that a very low placement at two GP events in a row is a major disappointment, not to mention the fact that so many jumps needed for the LP are just aren't ready for her, and you can't put a timetable on when they are going to be.

But, then again, you have to watch and see how things unfold. Better technique on jumps, better speed, increasing consistency - once those things are achieved, whenever it might be, than of course, it'll be a different and a much better story. I personally would love to see Caroline land her lutz. It would be a major accomplishment when she gets there.


I'm not sure I follow you here. The reason I was a big critic of her was because she had a history of frequent injury and withdrawal from events throughout her career, and I found it laughable that she thought she'd be able to jump right back into medal contention after four years away. Anyway I don't want to sidetrack this thread so let's get back to Zhang.

You're right about hyping skaters though...it gets old.

Well I just meant that a lot of people were very excited about Sasha's return and the enthusiasm was contagious and maybe some people's expectations were high as a result. I am glad people aren't making the same mistake with Mirai. People aren't burdening her with any expectations of medaling everywhere and have more of a wait and see attitude. If you feel this thread has gotten off topic, there is no need to reply to this. I was just clarifying what I was saying earlier.
 
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This is a transition season for Zhang. I don't expect any kind of high placement for her at Nationals (maybe lower top 10?) but if she works hard and doesn't quit, things MAY turn around for her. Note that I said MAY, not WILL. Nothing is guaranteed. But hey, it worked for Rochette

ETA: Krensby, you're right.
 
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The best thing about Skate America was Caroline's smiles. I honestly don't remember seeing her smile this much since her junior days at 13! It's so nice to see that, both during and outside her programs. She just seems so much more relaxed and happy, so much more at ease with herself and the world.
Despite all her trouble, the body change, the unsettled state of all her jumps, the neglect of spins and performance... I give her kudos for being able to do those triples at all with her new body, never mind improving her technique already on the 3F and 3R, and also the 2A.
 
There seems to be a Caroline interview on the video page of IceNetwork. Is anyone able to watch it?
 
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The best thing about Skate America was Caroline's smiles. I honestly don't remember seeing her smile this much since her junior days at 13! It's so nice to see that, both during and outside her programs. She just seems so much more relaxed and happy, so much more at ease with herself and the world.
Despite all her trouble, the body change, the unsettled state of all her jumps, the neglect of spins and performance... I give her kudos for being able to do those triples at all with her new body, never mind improving her technique already on the 3F and 3R, and also the 2A.

Unfortunately, I don't think her 3Lo has really improved, it seemed even more twisted now.
I think Caroline should do 3Ts in her FS! Someone posted a layout for her on FSU and I think it really works.
 
Unfortunately, I don't think her 3Lo has really improved, it seemed even more twisted now.
I think Caroline should do 3Ts in her FS! Someone posted a layout for her on FSU and I think it really works.

You know, I have to say that I just realized that Michelle Kwan has psychic powers. She could tell Caroline Zhang's future many years ago and sum it up in a sentence too. I found this delightful snippet from an article that dates a few years back.

Kwan, 27, who occasionally works with Zhang, thinks the problems with the lutz and the underrotation relate to strength.

"But I tell her that when you do jumps, you have to make sure you really jump," Kwan said. "When you're 16 or 18 and you're not 70 pounds, you can't get yourself to spin that fast [in the air], so you need to jump higher. That takes strength, and it builds over time."
 
Actually, any coach who knows their stuff should have said the same thing...It makes logical sense, actually. Simple physics.
 
I just hope Miss Tammy is telling Caroline the right things. I certainly don't think Caroline is going to take training or diet advice from a message board ......... whether it's correct or not.
 
As long as Caroline listens to and learns from Coach Tammy Gambill, her skating can and will benefit.
 
I just hope Miss Tammy is telling Caroline the right things. I certainly don't think Caroline is going to take training or diet advice from a message board ......... whether it's correct or not.

I hope that the skaters themselves do not go out and read the message boards. I do think it would be good if their coach or perhaps a friend read the comments on the boards and passed some of the helpful opinions on to the skater.
 
Actually, any coach who knows their stuff should have said the same thing...It makes logical sense, actually. Simple physics.

That is true and I was going to say something similar, but here people tend to worship MK beyond common sense and I was thinking I will get people on my back for no reason.
To get power in her legs should have been one of the priorities for a long time and certainly she didn't do it. Who's fault is it? Coach or hers. Doesn't matter anymore, she took a major setback the last two seasons and if she doesn't get her act together fast, she may drop out of the top 10 in US and that would end her career imo.
 
^ Actually, that ALREADY happened...she was a delightful 11th at US Nats last year after two dismal skates. Czisny BARELY cracked the top 10 with two eggs of her own.

ETA: pun not intended
 
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^ Actually, that ALREADY happened...she was a delightful 11th at US Nats last year after two dismal skates. Czisny BARELY cracked the top 10 with two eggs of her own.

ETA: pun not intended

The more I think about Czisny's competitive history, the more I don't want to think about it.
 
Doesn't matter anymore, she took a major setback the last two seasons and if she doesn't get her act together fast, she may drop out of the top 10 in US and that would end her career imo.

No it wouldn't. As R.D. mentioned, she was already 11th. She wasn't 11th because all the others were better than her and passed her by... She was 11th because she messed up badly. Good for Caroline for having the maturity to realize that ups and downs are part of athletic competition and that one bad competition does not have to send you into retirement. She's tough, she's a fighter, and she's motivated to do better than she's done before. Good for her.
 
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I just watched Caroline's Skate America AT&T Athlete Lounge interview, now up on IN. She sounds a whole lot more mature than she has in the past!
My two ladies skaters, Caroline & Mao, are both having one heck of a season. All this focusing on technical elements should be good for their long-term prospects, but I hope they are not feeling demoralized/discouraged by the competitive results. They may not go to any ISU championships this year, but hopefully they at least did well enough on the GP's to be invited to at least one GP next year (Caroline's on shakier ground than Mao).
 
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