2014-2015 GPF Ladies Free Skate 12/13

[beki]

Gracie has higher potential, but uses less of it due to mental errors. I choose the more confident performer. I like Ashley's grit and style. But I don't mind being proven wrong, I'd like to see all the Americans step up closer to the Russian level.

 

[tulosai]

Is Radionova age elegible for worlds and Euros?

She sure is!

 

[sabinfire]

Well, anything can happen, for sure. It's difficult to predict from competition to competition, let alone season to season...

However, I think Ashley has basically reached the peak of her abilities, while Gracie can only improve over time. Some folks think Polina could be the future of U.S. skating, but after her performance in the Grand Prix series this year, she has a LOT of work to do first...

 

[whatif]

Honestly, why not if Pogo and Lip can't pull themselves together and Sot is not fit to compete? I admit this is a lot of 'if's' but it's not like Leonova is terrible. On a good day she could definitely place top 10 at Worlds. It is definitely imaginable that if she'd been in the GPF she'd have beaten (or at least certainly COULD HAVE beaten) both Lip and Pogo today.

She almost bloody won NHK. In fact, I think she should have.
People are just so quick to write somebody off.

 

[mustafakent]

In any case Ashley showed she's not ready to roll over yet.

Even though she lost 3 points from spins and with that presentation score...And don't forget the horrible short program.It would be so great to see Ashley get 130+ points but anyway, with that bronze medal, I am totally happy.

 

[yyyskate]

Agreed!

So happy for Tuktamysheva for another clean competition!

So happy for Radionova for bouncing back from the SP.

SOOOO happy for Wagner for nailing her 3-3 and sticking it to all the haters who said she wouldn't make the GPF let alone medal ever again.

The top 3 had very strong performances.

I strongly agree

 

[samson]

You know considering where Ashley was at the Japan Open it's been an uphill climb so far all season but this really was a WIN for her and a big boost going into nationals. Her free skate here I think demonstrated she can hang with the Russian girls. She was oh so very close to cracking 130, but for the levels of her spins and that was probably the best triple/triple I've ever seen her do.

 

[sabinfire]

I'd love to see more of Leonova this season. She has one of the few programs that are a stand-out for me this year.

 

[Icey]

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SHE FULLY GETS WITH THE RAF PROGRAM!

But in all seriousness this is about as good a podium as I could have dreamed. You know my gut kept telling me I didn't think Julia was fully back yet I thought what happened today might happen, but for some reason I just didn't predict Ashley getting on the podium. The only jump she had issues with was the Sal in a brand new combination. If she keeps training like she did for this, she might be the one to beat at Nationals.

Congrats to all three medalists!

What exactly is Raphael's program, because somehow and out of nowhere Ashley certainly went to a new level? Hope she can maintain and build on this.

 

[tulosai]

I'd love to see more of Leonova this season. She has one of the few programs that are a stand-out for me this year.

Yes, I LOVE her short!!!

 

[LisaM]

I'd love to see more of Leonova this season. She has one of the few programs that are a stand-out for me this year.

Me too! Her SP might actually be my favorite this season.

 

[yyyskate]

I'd love to see more of Leonova this season. She has one of the few programs that are a stand-out for me this year.

+3, I wish she can go to worlds, she have 2 worthy programs this year.

 

[jkun]

I'm not sure I could say the same. Ashley is nearing the end of her career, while Gracie is still the future of U.S. skating (to most people, anyway). Hard to knock Gracie for being out on injury, but many "what if's" for sure, and a surprise come back for Ashley.

Like Ashley says, and I will believe her--she thinks she is like Caro and has quite a few more years to go to mature.

 

[Krunchii]

I'd love to see more of Leonova this season. She has one of the few programs that are a stand-out for me this year.

I'd love to see her SP on a bigger stage, it's so much fun and so different in the best way

 

[mustafakent]

You know considering where Ashley was at the Japan Open it's been an uphill climb so far all season but this really was a WIN for her and a big boost going into nationals. Her free skate here I think demonstrated she can hang with the Russian girls. She was oh so very close to cracking 130, but for the levels of her spins and that was probably the best triple/triple I've ever seen her do.

IKR ? Her combo got +1 GOE and she did a lutz with outside edge for the very first time.With level 4 spins and, she could get 132+ easily.She has changed her FS repertoire this season a lot.In every competition we've seen different jumps, different spins.I love how she is trying to do her best.

 

[adelia]

She almost bloody won NHK. In fact, I think she should have.
People are just so quick to write somebody off.

I did not say that she's not good enough to be sent to Worlds. She is more than good enough to make any country's Worlds team. But there is a pecking order within the Rus Fed and among the ladies with GP assignments, she is near the bottom of that order. Liza was too, at the beginning of the season. Which is why she had to skate in so many competitions to slowly rack up wins in order to build up her reputation among the judges and within her own Fed.

 

[yyyskate]

IKR ? Her combo got +1 GOE and she did a lutz with outside edge for the very first time.With level 4 spins and, she could get 132+ easily.She has changed her FS repertoire this season a lot.In every competition we've seen different jumps, different spins.I love how she is trying to do her best.

Indeed, so much variation to see from that signature LP amazing and unbelievable!!

 

[Elaine]

OMG OMG OMG ASHLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She was just breathtaking!!!!! I am super happy for her!!

 

[Plisskin]

God i am like watching Ashley's 5 times so far! I love what she did today!

Artistically, she had the best free of the comp imo. I went back and watched it over too.

 

[whatif]

It all boils down to rotating fully those jumps for Ashley. Also a little bit of lack with the judging and technical panel, which every skater needs. I doubt she can dramatically improve the spins at this stage. It's too late. But Rafael can certainly help with jumps.