2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[AshWagsFan]

I believe Karen's problems may be more with technique than with pressure. I watched her a lot at practices in Kansas City, and she had a lot of problems with the back half of her 3-3 in practice. Yet later in the week in competition with the pressure really on, she was nailing her combinations. In the lower pressure 4 continents, she was not good, yet at worlds with 3 spots on the line and a lot of pressure, she was terrific.

Her lutz is so BIG that she loses speed for the toe, having big jumps is good, but she needs to learn how to keep the flow (kinda like Osmond)

 

[amc987]

Twelve media calls before 2018 Nats have been held (AFAIK):

- Mirai, Ashley, Karen
- Nathan, Vincent, Jason, Adam
- H/D; Shibs; C/B
- Haven/Brandon; Knierims​

Mariah's would be #13, if it happens.

Does anyone have links for these teleconferences? I always enjoy listening to them/ comparing skaters' impressions of their skating with the competition results at Nationals.

 

[ice coverage]

Does anyone have links for these teleconferences? I always enjoy listening to them/ comparing skaters' impressions of their skating with the competition results at Nationals.

AFAIK: IN (so far??) has not published audio of any 2018 pre-Nats media calls -- and IN never did publish any of the 2017 Skate America media calls.

I don't know for sure, but I fear that publishing audio has been discontinued. :sad4:

---

... But there's not anything to get excited about these days, regarding any of the US ladies.

The U.S. ladies are giving me things to get excited about.

For me, World/Olympic medals are not the only things to get excited about.

 

[skylark]

Here's a great skating doodle featuring some of the US Team as Fab Five Superheroes. Hint: There is a Wonder Woman.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdVWpjGArX5/?hl=en&taken-by=ashwagner2010

Note: GS guidelines wouldn't let me use the acronym in the skating doodle link. I did try to credit it.​

 

[concorde]

I agree....let's hope she skates great and we don't have another 2014 on our hands.

Given all the press Ashley has generated and how much NBC has invested in her, my guess is USFS has basically no choice but to include Ashley on the Olympic team.

My guess is the Olympic team will be Bradie (most consistent lady, will finish #1), Karen (the girl skates her best under pressure, will finish #2), and Ashley (due to all the publicity, will finish #3).

Having said that, I can see the World team will being Bradie, Karen, and Mirai.

Let me clarify my earlier comment. It really does not matter how Ashley skates. She WILL be on the podium - the only question is which spot. USFS does not want 2004 repeat so this is how they can ensure it does not happen.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

:shocked:

I don't drink coffee anymore, just read how US fans in this thread treat their greatest fs talent and the reigning national champion and my blood pressure rises right away. If you don't send this amazing girl to the Olympics, you'll regret it.

Like what's with this consistency, scores and placement obsession? It's important, but when you watch clean, best skates of Ashley, Mirai, Bradie, Mariah and Karen one after another - can't you see Karen Chen is the most talented of them by far? She's natural, beautiful skater in her prime(!) with phenomenal artistry, grace, elegance and good height on her jumps. Plus yeah, she's reigning national champion and person who won 3 Olympic spots for America, no big deal...

Now you intend to leave her at home with nationals silver medal? Why're you doing this to yourselves?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NixhPhyYW4w

Please calm down tars, it's okay, I promise. We're not going to kill her or anything...
The thing is, talent only gets you so far if you can't go anywhere with it because you keep changing your programs during your training time, or you're inconsistent (nerves? technique? who knows?) No one gives a medal for "best talent". They give medals for "best talent who kept it together and skated the performance of a lifetime"
You of course are entitled to your own opinion. But I won't regret it if Karen doesn't go to the Olympics because SHE couldn't keep it together. If there was a 2014 repeat and she was the Mirai in that situation, I'd regret it. But right now, doesn't look like I'll have much to regret.
And I wasn't trying to say that I'd leave her at home with the silver medal; I was trying to say that she needs to win the gold in order to guarantee that USFS will give her a spot. If she gets the silver and two of Ashley, Bradie, and Mirai are behind her, I don't think her spot is going to happen. She just hasn't had the season for that.
Then again, the US ladies need to get their act together and turn things around, NOW...

 

[chuckm]

If Karen gets silver, she will go to the Olympics, period. The only one who has had a consistently great season is Bradie, so you can't just point to this season alone while ignoring the results of Nationals which, BTW, are a major part of this season.

 

[AshWagsFan]

I honestly think the podium will go to Korea, I don’t think USFS wants to repeat 2014. I think if they really want Ashley and she makes mistakes, they’ll just inflate her PCS, say they love LaLa Land, and she’ll get bronze. If they want Mirai they’ll give her the benefit of the doubt on 3A and give her high GOES. If they want Mariah they do the same. If they want Karen, they give her good PCS and benefit of the doubt. I couldn’t see why they wouldn’t want Bradie with her consistency, so I think she’ll be ok.

 

[R.D.]

If USFS even dares to inflate Wagner's score if she is so-so just to get her in the top 3 - I'm sorry but they'll deserve what's coming...

 

[AshWagsFan]

If USFS even dares to inflate Wagner's score if she is so-so just to get her in the top 3 - I'm sorry but they'll deserve what's coming...

I never said their inflation of her was right, or that they would necessarily do it. If Ashley really underperforms, High PCS will also do nothing if everyone else is flawless on the night. So don’t expect 80 PCS because Ashley is low technically either

 

[tars]

You of course are entitled to your own opinion. But I won't regret it if Karen doesn't go to the Olympics because SHE couldn't keep it together. If there was a 2014 repeat and she was the Mirai in that situation, I'd regret it. But right now, doesn't look like I'll have much to regret.

It was Karen who'd captured three spots for Olympics, even Ashley congratulated her for that. Is it meaningless for you?

 

[Amei]

Please calm down tars, it's okay, I promise. We're not going to kill her or anything...
The thing is, talent only gets you so far if you can't go anywhere with it because you keep changing your programs during your training time, or you're inconsistent (nerves? technique? who knows?) No one gives a medal for "best talent". They give medals for "best talent who kept it together and skated the performance of a lifetime"
You of course are entitled to your own opinion. But I won't regret it if Karen doesn't go to the Olympics because SHE couldn't keep it together. If there was a 2014 repeat and she was the Mirai in that situation, I'd regret it. But right now, doesn't look like I'll have much to regret.
And I wasn't trying to say that I'd leave her at home with the silver medal; I was trying to say that she needs to win the gold in order to guarantee that USFS will give her a spot. If she gets the silver and two of Ashley, Bradie, and Mirai are behind her, I don't think her spot is going to happen. She just hasn't had the season for that.
Then again, the US ladies need to get their act together and turn things around, NOW...

This is why countries need to go with the Top 1-3 finishers at Nationals (depending on the number of spots they have), especially in a year when none of them have had a great season, Bradie has done well but let's not flaunt out a 3rd place finish at Skate America as a reason for an automatic spot on the Olympic team.

 

[Amei]

It was Karen who'd captured three spots for Olympics, even Ashley congratulated her for that. Is it meaningless for you?

So a skater's past performances should dictate that they get to go to the Olympics if they don't perform well currently? If Karen finishes top 3 at nationals this year she should go to the Olympics, but if she performs as she has this whole season, then winning Nationals last year shouldn't get her 1 of the spots on the team. You act like she's performed/placed great internationally - in her 3 years as a senior she's had 3 bronze place finishes at Challenger series events and those are her only podium finishes.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

It was Karen who'd captured three spots for Olympics, even Ashley congratulated her for that. Is it meaningless for you?

That's not meaningless, but at the same time, it's a little odd to look at one accomplishment and not others.
Karen was 4th at worlds (saved three spots, BUT was not on the podium) which is a tier 1 comp. Her other tier 1 comps: 2017 GPF which she did not qualify for but neither did anyone else. And 2018 Nationals. The big if.
Karen was 12th at 4CC last year (a tier 2 comp) Her other tier 2 comps: 2017 Skate Canada, where she finished 7th, and 2017 Skate America, where she finished 8th. Not impressive right there.
Karen got the bronze at US International Classic this year, a tier 3 comp. Her other tier 3 comp was 2017 Nationals, where she won.
She's looking strongest on the third tier right now, and can improve her chances with a medal at nationals this year. That's looking more and more elusive for her. But right now, the only tier she's medaled on is the third one. Interpret that how you will...

 

[Feline Feeder]

They're all mediocre, not a single one has a snowflake's chance of getting a medal, so why not just send the top 3? I like Ashley, but she's not what she was a few years ago. I like Karen, but she's wildly inconsistent. I like Mirai, but they will never give her high scores, nor is she particularly consistent. Bradie and Mariah may be hope for 2022, but not now. I liked Gracie and Polina, too, but they couldn't last the four years without succumbing to various physical or psychological issues. That's the real shame in all this.

 

[skylark]

It was Karen who'd captured three spots for Olympics, even Ashley congratulated her for that. Is it meaningless for you?

No; sorry, that isn't correct. If Ashley had placed 10th at Worlds 2017, then Karen's 4th place would not have gotten USA three ladies' spots for the Olympics. 4 + 10 = 14 = 2 spots.

Yes, Ashley praised Karen for what she did; rightly so. But it was Ashley coming in 7th, plus Karen coming in 4th, who together captured three spots for the Olympics.

I let your statement go a couple pages ago, but it is inaccurate.

 

[R.D.]

But here's another POV to consider.

Yes, the US ladies absolutely underwhelmed this year so far (with the exception of Tennell at SA)...but, that was just the first half of the season. And although things may look bleak, historically the GP isn't always the best indicator of how skaters will do in the second half of the season. So with that in mind...it *IS* plausible that Chen and/or Wagner could pull themselves together and make a statement in a few days. Likewise, Nagasu or Tennell could have a hard time of it...then the real drama becomes who will get put on the Team...

Bracing for a possible wild ride because we may very well be in for one...

 

[AshWagsFan]

In case anyone wanted to know, practice for the ladies is currently going on. Karen looked solid only doubling a Sal and falling on the last double axel in free skate runthru (only other issue was ur 3lz3t). Bradie hasn’t missed a jump! Perfect sp runthru and once again, the consistency shows!

 

[LiamForeman]

In case anyone wanted to know, practice for the ladies is currently going on. Karen looked solid only doubling a Sal and falling on the last double axel in free skate runthru (only other issue was ur 3lz3t). Bradie hasn’t missed a jump! Perfect sp runthru and once again, the consistency shows!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this too early for the seniors start official practices? I was under the impression that once you start official practices you cannot practice anywhere else, so you are stuck with the minimal practice amount? I say this because at a Nationals I attended in Dallas in 2001 I think, once the skaters started official practices they couldn't just go rent ice for a few hours somewhere in town to keep the mojo. So most started their official practices around Tuesday or Wednesday? I could be totally misremembering. Maybe it was once the SP began you couldn't be at another rink, and I think someone got into trouble for that. Can anyone clarify? TIA

 

[Spirals for Miles]

In case anyone wanted to know, practice for the ladies is currently going on. Karen looked solid only doubling a Sal and falling on the last double axel in free skate runthru (only other issue was ur 3lz3t). Bradie hasn’t missed a jump! Perfect sp runthru and once again, the consistency shows!

How have Mirai, Mariah, and Ashley been looking? Have they been at practice?