2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[synteis]

I think she's jumping pretty well but neither music is to my taste and I do feel like both negatively impact the programs (and my impressions of them ). I imagine given how much of a performer she is though that they'll both have more sparkle with a proper audience.

 

[Nathan13]

Jackie Wong's Notes Abbrv. (http://www.rockerskating.com/news/2018/1/1/2018-us-championships-practice-notes)

Chen: 3T, 3Lz3T(ur,fall), 3Lz3T(ur?), runthru (3Lz3T(ur,2ft?), 3Lo, 2A), 3Lz(step), 3Lz2T, 3Lz3T, 3Lo, 3Lo(ur,fall), 3Lo, 3F(e), 1Lz, 3Lz, 3Lo, 3S2T, 3Lo, 3S2T, 2A, 3F(e?ur?), 3F(e,step), 3F

Tennell: 2A, 3T, 3Lo, 3Lz, 3Lz2T2Lo, 3Lz3T, 2A3T, runthru (3Lz3T, 2A, 3F, 2A3T, 3Lz2T2Lo, 3Lo, 3S)), 3S, 3Lz2T2Lo

Wagner: 2A, 3Lo, runthru (3F3T, 2A, 3Lo), 3Lo1/2Lo3S, 3F, 3Lo, 3F, 3Lo(ur), 3Lo, 3Lo, 3Lz(e?)

Nagasu: 3T, 3Lo, 3F3T(ur?), 3Lz3T(ur), 3S, 3A(ur,fall), 3A, 3A, 3F3T, 3Lo, runthru (3A(ur?), 3F3T(ur), 3Lo), 3T, 3F3T, 2A3T(ur?)2T

Karen continues to struggle in practice though looks better than yesterday, Nagasu is not as perfect as yesterday but still looks pretty good in practice, Wagner's looking fairly solid on jumps and Bradie continues to be very consistent. As far as I can tell, she hasn't fallen yet in official practice.

Sounds like Mariah is doing rather decent--I can't help but think she is going to medal.

 

[synteis]

That's Starr singing. Eat your heart out Adam Rippon!

Is it really? Wow. How multi-talented.

I have to admit that she stole a bit of my heart with this practice. She's got a new fan in me. I'm excited to follow her career.

 

[synteis]

Watching Mirai's runthru - that 3A for sure is rotated not sure why Jackie was questioning it

I was surprised too but I know that there are things that are more obvious in person (including the sound of an improperly rotated jump).

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Sounds like Mariah is doing rather decent--I can't help but think she is going to medal.

Do you mean Mirai?
Considering that Mariah Bell wasn't in this group...

 

[ice coverage]

Sice ice coverage is apparently offline, some basic informations. Drew Meekins is 2006 World Junior Pairs Champion (with Julia Vlassov), Coach, Choreographer and Icenetwork Journalist. He works in Colorado Springs as Zakrajsek's assistant coach with Mirai.

His Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/Drew_Meekins

My source:

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017...-targets-clean-triple-axel-for-olympic-season
The words assistant coach come from Lynn Rutherford, the author of the article, so I don't know if it is official.

EDIT
Oops: associate coach

Thx, luckyguy. For me, Lynn Rutherford's reporting is virtually "official," so your answer to my question is completely on target in satisfying my curiosity.

Sorry that I either forgot or had never noticed :hopelessness: the "associate coach" reference to Drew [in terms of Mirai, specifically] back in March.

BTW, regarding Mirai's SP runthrough at today's practice, I once again observed an increase in her expression.

Go, Mirai :yay:.

 

[Nathan13]

Do you mean Mirai?
Considering that Mariah Bell wasn't in this group...

Sorry I was looking at the rest of Jackie's comments in the link. I do mean Mariah Bell.

 

[mrrice]

I remember the morning of the Boston Worlds long program, Gracie Gold was looking SOLID in practice. Was she going to pull it off after all?

But I knew well before then that practices mean very little and are not necessarily strong predictors of how the performance will go, so...

Practice sessions are weird.. I watched Plushy and Maria Butyrskaya practice in 1999. Maria NEVER did a full run-through and neither did Plushy. I think that's just the way they approached their practice sessions as they were the same way when I watched them in 2001. Michelle Kwan, especially in 2001 was spectacular in her practices and I think everyone knew that she was going to win. She had not had a great season and she was the talk of the event....Along with Jamie and David....

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Jackie Wong's Notes Abbrv. (http://www.rockerskating.com/news/2018/1/1/2018-us-championships-practice-notes)

Chen: 3T, 3Lz3T(ur,fall), 3Lz3T(ur?), runthru (3Lz3T(ur,2ft?), 3Lo, 2A), 3Lz(step), 3Lz2T, 3Lz3T, 3Lo, 3Lo(ur,fall), 3Lo, 3F(e), 1Lz, 3Lz, 3Lo, 3S2T, 3Lo, 3S2T, 2A, 3F(e?ur?), 3F(e,step), 3F

Tennell: 2A, 3T, 3Lo, 3Lz, 3Lz2T2Lo, 3Lz3T, 2A3T, runthru (3Lz3T, 2A, 3F, 2A3T, 3Lz2T2Lo, 3Lo, 3S)), 3S, 3Lz2T2Lo

Wagner: 2A, 3Lo, runthru (3F3T, 2A, 3Lo), 3Lo1/2Lo3S, 3F, 3Lo, 3F, 3Lo(ur), 3Lo, 3Lo, 3Lz(e?)

Nagasu: 3T, 3Lo, 3F3T(ur?), 3Lz3T(ur), 3S, 3A(ur,fall), 3A, 3A, 3F3T, 3Lo, runthru (3A(ur?), 3F3T(ur), 3Lo), 3T, 3F3T, 2A3T(ur?)2T

Karen continues to struggle in practice though looks better than yesterday, Nagasu is not as perfect as yesterday but still looks pretty good in practice, Wagner's looking fairly solid on jumps and Bradie continues to be very consistent. As far as I can tell, she hasn't fallen yet in official practice.

I noticed that Wagner was doing an awful lot of loops in the Skate America practices. I wonder if she's having some technical issues with the jump, as she hasn't rotated most of them in the three programs we saw this season.

 

[frida80]

Thx, luckyguy. For me, Lynn Rutherford's reporting is virtually "official," so your answer to my question is completely on target in satisfying my curiosity.

Sorry that I either forgot or had never noticed :hopelessness: the "associate coach" reference to Drew [in terms of Mirai, specifically] back in March.

BTW, regarding Mirai's SP runthrough at today's practice, I once again observed an increase in her expression.

Go, Mirai :yay:.

You noticed that too? I just watch the video and it’s like her choreography has added that slight oomph to give it more emotion. I really loved it.

 

[MarinHondas]

my thoughts from practice:
Mirai: was incredible yesterday. Not quite as good today as far as rotations go but I’m not too worried. She fell on a 3a today and laughed and then skated around and landed another.
Bradie: solid as a rock. I have only seen her fall once all week. Since the first practice session. Dozens and dozens of jumps, one fall and zero underrotations
Karen: I love this girl’s skating. BIG jumps. Fluid skating. Great spins. It’s so nice to have her as national champ, she’s such a well rounded skater. Too bad she’s so incredibly inconsistent and doesn’t have that 3-3 clean.
Emmy Ma: A PERFORMER!!! Hope she gets that 3-3 bc her spins and performance skills are so lovely!!

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Ashley's LP left me underwhelmed.

I actually really like the music, and I think it would be hard to skate to because it requires the performer to be good at interpreting upbeat, jazzy music and slower melodies. I could see her creating a special moment with the program; we just haven't seen enough of the choreography to know whether it has the content needed to surpass some of her successful programs from past seasons.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Polina didn't practice lutz or flip in practice sessions. I'm sure she'll receive some decent PCS, but she isn't going to have the TES for top 6 this year, I would imagine. At least having her go first means people have a reason to show up on time to the event.

I just don't think Polina is committed to skating anymore. Would Evgenia Medvedeva have gone this long without regaining her lutz and flip after suffering injury and time off? I don't think so. Caroline Zhang underwent incredibly intensive hip surgery a few years ago and is back and better than ever. Nathan has tons of quads after suffering injuries and having surgery. Skaters who really want it are able to make shockingly quick comebacks after injuries and other problems.

It's just disappointing. I hope she becomes more motivated next season or just decides to retire.

This might be one of the most depressing post i have seen yet on GS. Not everyone's body works the same or functions the same or recovers the same. I hate the idea of thinking it is just a matter or not of "really wanting it" Sometimes your body just is a bloody troll and sometimes the body has limits. Kaetlyn Osmond is looking great now, but her post injury season was not encouraging and she was not off the ice as long as Polina. She just took longer than Caroline, Nathan and your hypothetical Evgenia to heal and get back to peak. Thank god she did not blame it on lack of motivation and retire after one Nationals where she did not make worlds.

Polina has made remarkable progress this season with her jumps. I don't care if they are not back to peak, progress is progress and I respect it. Maybe she won't have the lutz/flip at this events... i don't really care, maybe they just take longer for her to get back. I have enjoyed her programs and her as a skate this season actually more than in the past, even without the jumps. She has a passion and a presence on the ice that I truly hope to see more of. I respect her for coming back at all this season and never think someone coming back, especially from injury, should be disparaged.

And honestly why should she retire? If she can get international assignments, and keep her school life in order... why retire? Why not enjoy it and keep competing? An event without a medal does not have to be a waste! I see no reason to wish for her to go away.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Polina has made remarkable progress this season with her jumps. I don't care if they are not back to peak, progress is progress and I respect it. Maybe she won't have the lutz/flip at this events... i don't really care, maybe they just take longer for her to get back. I have enjoyed her programs and her as a skate this season actually more than in the past, even without the jumps. She has a passion and a presence on the ice that I truly hope to see more of. I respect her for coming back at all this season and never think someone coming back, especially from injury, should be disparaged.

I like what you wrote. I think skating is probably more of a hobby for Polina now, and that's perfectly fine. If there is any disappointment, it probably comes from the fact that her best form from a few years back would most certainly land her on the team, possibly as the national champion. I find her artistry far better now, so it would be interesting to see how she would match up if she also had all her triples back.

 

[travelbug]

Thanks for the report! I'm not familiar with Drew Meekins. Could you please provide a little more info on him?

Some details on what he's doing here...

"I know on her media call Mirai said she was landing axels clean 80 percent of the time," Zakrajsek said. "But I asked her, 'How many are you really missing?' She said, 'Not many.' So, I think it's been more like 90 percent."

According to Zakrajsek, the training focus has shifted away from the jump a bit. Nagasu collaborated with choreographer Jeff Buttle four times this season, including twice in Colorado Springs. Zakrajsek's associate coach, Drew Meekins, shadowed Buttle during those Springs sessions and has been working with Nagasu on the nuances of her programs. The skater has also used various techniques, including visualization, to help her consistency with her other triples and combinations.

Zakrajsek said, "You know the motto, 'Leave no stone unturned'? I'm fairly confident we've covered everything. Mirai is determined to be on another Olympic team."

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/01/02/264172368/wagners-route-to-korea-runs-through-la-la-land

 

[andromache]

Polina just seems unmotivated, in my opinion, and I don't mean to offend other posters by saying so. Deciding to attend college in-person full time is a major commitment, and I don't think it's one that can be undertaken while also being ready for the Olympics.

I also think it's completely normal to need to take a lot of time off the ice, discover new and exciting things that you ignored while having to train all the time, and return and not be as motivated.

As drivingmissdaisy pointed out, it's 100% fine if skating is more of a hobby for Polina than it used to be. It's a darn shame because has plenty of potential and talent, but it's totally acceptable.

Maybe she is still as motivated as she used to be and we will see her on the Nationals podium in the future. I hope so. Artistically she is better than ever.

 

[lavoix]

Polina looks amazing this season, but her programs are boring and lame.

I do hope she stays on for another quad, she could still be an important skater for America come Beijing.

 

[tosca]

Polina looks amazing this season, but her programs are boring and lame.

I do hope she stays on for another quad, she could still be an important skater for America come Beijing.

??? She has very poor outings in her international events. I think that the programs show growth and are better packaging than her previous ones. That being said... she didn't practice jumps today soooo I can't imagine that being good.

 

[tosca]

Also - a VERY well done video on Mirai... like not a lot of content (just really about her 3A) but it was shot beautifully!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_fUmjfzh1Y

 

[Mathman]

If Mirai fail to make the team ....then THAT'S IT for the whole season for the ladies. Not watching anymore.

No worries. She's got this. :yes: