2016-2017 Grand Prix selections

[LRK]

Also, since one cannot have more than three skaters from the same country per discipline in an event, if that quota is full, skaters from that country cannot be chosen from the substitute list.

For example, Skate Canada has three Russian ladies - should some other spot fall vacant, they could not fill it with a Russian skater.

 

[Arriba627]

Maybe JIN will be killed in PCS at SA (in the FS, his PCS was 72.58 at CoC and 76.52 at NHK to Javier's 91.52 and Yuzuru's 97.20).

But UNO skated last year at SA and in the FS, his PCS was 84.30 to Aaron's 81.30 and Brown's 85.36. In fact, Shoma WON the FS and Aaron eked out the win by just 1.52 points. Uno may have his technical flaws, but he stays in character and plays full out to the audience. Last year, the SA audience loved him, and this year's audience will for sure. I went to SA two years ago when SA was at the Hoffmann Estates arena, and there was a large group of Japanese fans in the audience. They will go crazy for Shoma and Mao.

Also note: At Worlds this year, Uno outscored Rippon in PCS in both the SP (43.57 to 41.76) and the FS (86.58 to 85.64). Jin's scores were 37.78 and 76.14.

My guess is that many of the Japanese community from the Chicago area will come out to see Mao and Shoma at Skate America. I was there last time it was held in Hoffman Estates, and I agree with you that there were many Japanese. The people sitting all around me were Japanese and were cheering madly for Tatsuki (as was I!). And I thought in Milwaukee the crowd loved Shoma. I remember Tara Lipinski saying that at the men's Milwaukee practices, all the buzz was about Shoma. Still am shocked that I'm going to get to see Mao again! I'm so happy! Of course will also be cheering madly for Jason, Gracie, Ashley, and Adam. But I am a big Shoma fan and have high hopes for him.

 

[Greta]

Thank you for all the answers to my dumb question! Of course, I hope no one has to withdraw, but it's nice to know how it works if they do.

 

[KweenAsada]

I want to talk about Mirai! Does anyone think she has a shot to medal at her events? At Skate Canada her biggest competitors are Liza, Evgenia and Satoko with Rika on the outside of that trio. I think she can beat Rika to crack the top 4, but it will be an uphill battle to medal if Liza is back in fighting shape. If Liza IS back do you guys think Mirai could beat she or Satoko if all of Mirai's jumps are ratified? Mirai came a long way last season. I feel like the judges will reward her accordingly if she earns it.

I need help when discussing NHK. Pogo and Karen Chen are the only two besides Mirai that I am familiar with and Mirai beats Karen hands down if you ask me. Anna is another story. She showed up at Worlds and I would be sad to see her digress. I feel like she would beat Mirai even if both lay it all on the line. I recognize the names of the Russian ladies and the Japanese, but I can't really comment on them.

Anyone want to have a discussion???

 

[Mango]

I want to talk about Mirai! Does anyone think she has a shot to medal at her events? At Skate Canada her biggest competitors are Liza, Evgenia and Satoko with Rika on the outside of that trio. I think she can beat Rika to crack the top 4, but it will be an uphill battle to medal if Liza is back in fighting shape. If Liza IS back do you guys think Mirai could beat she or Satoko if all of Mirai's jumps are ratified? Mirai came a long way last season. I feel like the judges will reward her accordingly if she earns it.

I need help when discussing NHK. Pogo and Karen Chen are the only two besides Mirai that I am familiar with and Mirai beats Karen hands down if you ask me. Anna is another story. She showed up at Worlds and I would be sad to see her digress. I feel like she would beat Mirai even if both lay it all on the line. I recognize the names of the Russian ladies and the Japanese, but I can't really comment on them.

Anyone want to have a discussion???

I like Mirai, but I think it will be tough to overcome the strong fields she's up against. In Canada she'll have three Japanese ladies and three Russians to overcome. Satoko is consistent if nothing, so Mirai can't overcome her easily. Evgenia and Liza should not be taken lightly as the past two World Champions. Yuka will be hungry to medal again at Skate Canada. There's also no knowing which Alaine Chartrand shows up. If it's the Canadian National's 2016 Alaine then there is a chance of a top 5 finish. If it's Worlds 2016 Alaine then it's easier for Mirai.

In Japan Mirai will be up against a lot of young blood. Maria Sotskova (silver at WJC) and Wakaba Higuchi (bronze at WJC, silver at Japanese Nationals) along with Satoko and Anna P. Elizabet T has been steadily improving as well. Polina may be in the medal mix, like Courtney Hicks last year. Mirai's got some tough competition, alas.

 

[LRK]

I want to talk about Mirai! Does anyone think she has a shot to medal at her events? At Skate Canada her biggest competitors are Liza, Evgenia and Satoko with Rika on the outside of that trio. I think she can beat Rika to crack the top 4, but it will be an uphill battle to medal if Liza is back in fighting shape. If Liza IS back do you guys think Mirai could beat she or Satoko if all of Mirai's jumps are ratified? Mirai came a long way last season. I feel like the judges will reward her accordingly if she earns it.

I need help when discussing NHK. Pogo and Karen Chen are the only two besides Mirai that I am familiar with and Mirai beats Karen hands down if you ask me. Anna is another story. She showed up at Worlds and I would be sad to see her digress. I feel like she would beat Mirai even if both lay it all on the line. I recognize the names of the Russian ladies and the Japanese, but I can't really comment on them.

Anyone want to have a discussion???

Do you mean back with or without a 3A? If she's clean with clean 3As...

 

[SarahSynchro]

Do you mean back with or without a 3A? If she's clean with clean 3As...

Hey, who knows, Emanuel Sandhu may have given Liza some choreographic substance so she doesn't have to rely too much on the 3A?

I hope he's with her in the Kiss & Cry at Skate Canada!

 

[LRK]

Hey, who knows, Emanuel Sandhu may have given Liza some choreographic substance so she doesn't have to rely too much on the 3A?

I hope he's with her in the Kiss & Cry at Skate Canada!

Oh, yes! I'd love that too! I've loved all the videos & pictures of them together that I've seen. They come across as almost... goofy. At any rate, they seem to have had a great time together.

Oh, and what about choreographic substance AND 3A? (Hey, when dreaming, why not go for the stars?)

 

[SarahSynchro]

Oh, yes! I'd love that too! I've loved all the videos & pictures of them together that I've seen. They come across as almost... goofy. At any rate, they seem to have had a great time together.

Oh, and what about choreographic substance AND 3A? (Hey, when dreaming, why not go for the stars?)

Well that would be a dream come true for Liza.

I'm curious, how good is Liza's English? She and Emanuel seemed to be communicating well to each other. Or does Emanuel know any Russian?

 

[chuckm]

I want to talk about Mirai! Does anyone think she has a shot to medal at her events? At Skate Canada her biggest competitors are Liza, Evgenia and Satoko with Rika on the outside of that trio. I think she can beat Rika to crack the top 4, but it will be an uphill battle to medal if Liza is back in fighting shape. If Liza IS back do you guys think Mirai could beat she or Satoko if all of Mirai's jumps are ratified? Mirai came a long way last season. I feel like the judges will reward her accordingly if she earns it.

I need help when discussing NHK. Pogo and Karen Chen are the only two besides Mirai that I am familiar with and Mirai beats Karen hands down if you ask me. Anna is another story. She showed up at Worlds and I would be sad to see her digress. I feel like she would beat Mirai even if both lay it all on the line. I recognize the names of the Russian ladies and the Japanese, but I can't really comment on them.

Anyone want to have a discussion???

Skate Canada:

A clean Mirai with no 3a attempts should have no problem beating Helgesson, Artemieva, TBD, Nagai and Choi. Miyahara and Medvedeva are the obvious standouts and the presumed major medal contenders. If Tuktamysheva has returned to her 2014-2015 form, she could threaten the top two. Hongo can not be dismissed, either: Mirai beat her at 4CC, but she beat Mirai by 13 points at Worlds. A clean Mirai could beat these four ladies only if they made mistakes.

Then there are the Canadian ladies, who will surely get the benefit of home ice inflation and huge audience support. If Chartrand goes for the 3a she is eminently beatable; if not and she skates clean, she could be a medal contender. Osmond has charisma and is a big crowd favorite, and if she has learned to control her power since last season, she could sneak in for a medal. Clean performances from these ladies would probably trump a clean Mirai.


NHK:

A clean Mirai without a 3a attempt can beat Rajicova, Leonova, Tursynbaeva, Matsuda and she can beat Chartrand if Chartrand goes for the 3a and/or has a messy freeskate.

Karen Chen last year was having boot problems and some subpar results, while Polina Edmunds had a spectacular Nationals, nearly upsetting Gold for the championship, but suffered a season-ending foot injury afterwards. If both of them have overcome their problems, they could be a threat to Mirai.

All the above have to get past a tough group of medal contenders, which include 2015 World silver medalist Satoko Miyahara, 2016 World bronze medalist Anna Pogorilaya, 2016 JW silver medalist Maria Sotskova and 2016 JW bronze medalist Wakaba Higuchi.

I would say that Mirai has a better chance of placing higher at Skate Canada than at NHK.

 

[slider11]

However she places, I yearn for Mirai to skate to her music like she did at 4CC and Worlds in her SP. I listened to the music she has planned this year for her LP ("Winner") and I am optimistic that this may be music that she can relate to. I predict Mirai will break 70 in her SP in one or more competition this year and top 130 in her LP. I know....that means expression and hitting her jumps. Go Mirai!

 

[chuckm]

The main reason why Mirai, even when she skates clean, would be hard-pressed to beat skaters like Medvedeva, Pogorilaya, Miyahara, Hongo and Osmond if they skate fairly clean is that they get high PCS scores (in the 8s). At best, Mirai's PCS never get higher than the mid 7s, and that is because she still skates with a blank expression on her face and doesn't connect much with the audience until the end of her performance.

 

[Jammers]

The main reason why Mirai, even when she skates clean, would be hard-pressed to beat skaters like Medvedeva, Pogorilaya, Miyahara, Hongo and Osmond if they skate fairly clean is that they get high PCS scores (in the 8s). At best, Mirai's PCS never get higher than the mid 7s, and that is because she still skates with a blank expression on her face and doesn't connect much with the audience until the end of her performance.

Skating with a blank expression and not connecting with the audience hasn't seemed to hurt Gracie much in her PCS scores.

 

[chuckm]

Funny, but the judges don't see it that way---they give Gracie high PCS scores because they are seeing expression in her performance.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Initial bored July podium prediction for the Ladies events:

America likes Fries
1. Mao Asada - the empress
2. Gracie Gold - will have something to prove
3. Ashley Wagner - underrotation calls

Canada is Freezing
1. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva - comeback season
2. Evgenia Medvedeva - growing pains but will score huge anyway
3. Satako Miyahara - consistency

Cup of Russia
1. Elena Radionova - not a strong field, this shouldn't be too hard for her
2. Anna Pogorilaya - will probably have a crazy fall but skate very well otherwise
3. Polina Edmunds - a consistent skater who randomly gets held down, but should be enough here

French Bread
1. Evgenia Medvedeva - after losing her first event she will be mad
2. Mao Asada - after winning her first event she will put too much pressure of perfection on herself
3. Wakaba Higuchi - Gracie will make too many mistakes

China switches Pairs
1. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva - Triple Axel is strong
2. Elena Radionova - and she doesn't have one
3. Rika Hongo - because Ashley will have jetlag

NHK = Japan
1. Satoko Miyahara - she tends to skate her best in Japan
2. Anna Pogorilaya - makes up for bombing here last year
3. Mirai Nagasu - historically does well at her second event

 

[maya1985]

France without Bombs

you could do without this remark today

 

[uhh]

you could do without this remark today

Or on any day. Blades of Passion, that is a disgusting thing to have written.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Praying for less violence is not disgusting. The anecdote was meant as a statement of beautiful skating warding off the very problems in the world that also happened to cancel the event last year. Perhaps that was unclear. Or I suppose people don't want to think about such things at all, even though it's a reality we must face. I find some levity to be helpful.

 

[Crossover]

Praying for less violence is not disgusting. The anecdote was meant as a statement of beautiful skating warding off the very problems in the world that also happened to cancel the event last year. Perhaps that was unclear. Or I suppose people don't want to think about such things at all, even though it's a reality we must face. I find some levity to be helpful.

No, your comment didn't sound like praying for less violence in the country or in the world. It rather looks like a stigmatization to remind of the cancellation by the Paris attack and recent bombing incident. Perhaps you need to check on how others perceive your sense of humor; failed.

 

[ioanna]

In a context where the other GP events are presented as "America likes fries" and "Canada is freezing" (poor humor based on stereotypes), "France without bombs" sounds like anything but praying for less violence. You should reconsider your sense of "humor".