2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[Mathman]

For those of us who WEREN'T following FS closely at the time, though, *raises hand* it was a huge shocker and she (Hughes) seemed to come out of nowhere.

I kind of felt sorry for Sarah, though. In the U.S. Michelle cast such a gargantuan shadow that it was hard to imagine anyone else ever winning anything -- although the U.S. media pretended to be trying to build up Slutskaya as a fitting rival (but, nah!). Sarah actually outskated Michelle at 2000 Skate America and should have won, leaving Sarah saying, what does a skater have to do to catch a break around here?

The only thing I've seen since within the same league was Meissner's Worlds win in 2006, and in many ways, that was an even bigger stunner as there was no real precedent, even as a close follower of skating at the time!

Well, Arakawa and Slutskaya did not attend, Sasha Cohen (it was hers for the taking) was burned out from the Olympics, and Suguri and Sokolova were past their primes. Kimmie had finished a strong 6th at the 2006 Olympics, she had landed (sort of) a triple Axel the year before, and the trio of Kimmie Meissner, Mao Asada and Yuna Kim were being ballyhooed as skating's next thing. So it wasn't all that much out of the blue.

 

[klutzonice]

This just popped into my mind as I was watching Mirai's SP last night...

I know...it's bad. I'll show myself out now. But hey, if she wins tomorrow, who knows? Maybe this could be a marketing opportunity that's too good to ignore...lol. They are an official sponsor right?

I thought you photoshopped it at first

 

[klutzy]

Are you just being optimistic or are you actually serious? Because that's a pretty naive point of view - it is just as likely that Kaori/Satoko and one/two of the Russians skate 100% clean, leaving Bradie with a 5th place at best (don't forget Carolina's PCS!). Even that is a stretch.

Yes, of course it's a stretch--thus my use of the term "surprise"--as in it's unlikely, but not completely impossible. Besides the Russians, Japanese and Carolina, I'd also throw in Katelyn Osmond as all being more likely to medal than Bradie. But weird things happen at the Olympics, so I'm leaving a little room for that. I can't, however, conceive a situation where Bradie would medal higher than that.

 

[sross43]

If Gracie decides not to return to skating, she needs to do broadcasting because her tweets during the men's short were medal-worthy. I'm hoping she's still considering a come-back, though, since she didn't tweet about the women (I imagine she wouldn't comment on the skating of her possible future competitors). Either way, I am 10/10 here for unfiltered Gracie.

 

[eriecold]

And how many predicted the past OGM? or Gracie's 4th place?
Last year there was only one Russian in the podium, the other 2 bombed out. Japanese ladies were so out of it that they lost one spot for the Olympics.
Certainly this season has not been good for the American girls, but the scenario that Zhenya, Adelina, Kaetlin, Gabrielle, Kaori and Carolina will all skate clean and beat their SB is a highly unlikely one.

 

[Imagine]

Certainly this season has not been good for the American girls, but the scenario that Z̶h̶e̶n̶y̶a̶, Adelina, Kaetlin, Gabrielle, Kaori and Carolina will all skate clean and beat their SB is a highly unlikely one.

There, now that statement is more correct. Also, good for my girl Adelina! Putting herself back onto the Olympic team to defend her title out of nowhere, what a legend.

 

[mirai4life]

What? Why is Adelina mentioned?

 

[Manuel Pablo Arnao]

If Gracie decides not to return to skating, she needs to do broadcasting because her tweets during the men's short were medal-worthy. I'm hoping she's still considering a come-back, though, since she didn't tweet about the women (I imagine she wouldn't comment on the skating of her possible future competitors). Either way, I am 10/10 here for unfiltered Gracie.

There's a chance her Twitter might have been hacked tonight.

 

[frida80]

What? Why is Adelina mentioned?

The OP meant Alina.

 

[klutzy]

There, now that statement is more correct. Also, good for my girl Adelina! Putting herself back onto the Olympic team to defend her title out of nowhere, what a legend.

Zhenya's injured. We all assume she'll come back and be her same old nerves-of-steel self, but there's still a variable. Alina could win with multiple errors, but she does make errors. The Canadians and the Japanese have their issues.

Carolina has been getting special treatment, but her tech content is an issue.

I think it very unlikely Bradie will medal, just not impossible. She has the skate of her life and the others run into issues--well, she has the technical content to get in there. Particularly if she gets the PCS boost of being the U.S. champion.

 

[TCAngel18]

For those of us who WEREN'T following FS closely at the time, though, *raises hand* it was a huge shocker and she (Hughes) seemed to come out of nowhere.

The only thing I've seen since within the same league was Meissner's Worlds win in 2006, and in many ways, that was an even bigger stunner as there was no real precedent, even as a close follower of skating at the time!

Yeah, for non followers, all you heard about was Kwan, but Sarah did win world bronze in 2001, so it wasn’t a total shock factor to FS followers.

 

[matcha]

There's a chance her Twitter might have been hacked tonight.

Why do people keep saying this? It's Gracie being herself.

 

[Lightstar]

Zhenya's injured. We all assume she'll come back and be her same old nerves-of-steel self, but there's still a variable. Alina could win with multiple errors, but she does make errors. The Canadians and the Japanese have their issues.

Carolina has been getting special treatment, but her tech content is an issue.

I think it very unlikely Bradie will medal, just not impossible. She has the skate of her life and the others run into issues--well, she has the technical content to get in there. Particularly if she gets the PCS boost of being the U.S. champion.

But we can't forget Maria Sotskova! This season is her 2nd as a Senior and so far she has proven that she has nerves out of steel. So very likely she will also be above Brodie. And to be honest the only one of the Americans who could be in this mix are Mirai or Ashley for me.

 

[klutzy]

Ashley and Mirai have under-rotation problems. Bradie's been fully rotating seven triples in FS with difficult transitions--in her one grand prix event she scored over 200. Think what she might do with a good skate as U.S. champion. Bradie's Skate America score is well above Sotskova's Skate Canada score and only four points behind her score at the Internationaux. Sotskova did get a bump at the Grand Prix, but she's in striking distance for Bradie--unlike Zhenya and Zagitova.

Again, it's a very long shot for Bradie to medal individually, but I don't think it's impossible for her the way it is for some of the others.

 

[skatenewbie]

If Bradie win nationals, her PCS will be higher in Olympic. Maybe 31/32 in SP and 67 in FP? Other PCS already skyhigh so they need to adjust the other as well

 

[Ares]

Regarding USA ladies and Olympics: I'm surprised no one mentioned Elizabet Tursynbayeva. I think she has a higher potential than USA ladies.

Imagine that ... Tursynbaeva can go for broke & pull off 4S ... I've seen her landing fully rotated ones in practice. She really is a dark horse.

 

[Jammers]

If Bradie wins why not be happy for a nice girl who came out of nowhere and grabbed the brass ring while others failed? No one expects her to be near the podium and that's fine but i don't see any other US lady getting near it either.

 

[FSLover17]

I don't think this has been posted yet. Ladies Rinkside Reactions after the Short Program. As usual Mirai is the best

 

[synteis]

I don't think this has been posted yet. Ladies Rinkside Reactions after the Short Program. As usual Mirai is the best

Aww, Mirai was very cute, she seemed totally blown away and like shot nerves but I really liked what she was saying.

 

[pearly]

I don't think this has been posted yet. Ladies Rinkside Reactions after the Short Program. As usual Mirai is the best

Her first (incomplete) sentence has five "likes". I honestly wish we, as a society, would stop appreciating that. For the sake of our future.

Disclaimer: this has nothing to do with Mirai's skating, ever. It's just her video interviews I have absolutely zero tolerance for. Or anyone who talks like that. I refuse to believe she cannot produce a coherent sentence because that would make me just sad.