2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[frida80]

Bradie scored very, very close to Miyahara--a hundredth of a point--and Miyahara had a decent skate. Think what she could with a good dance coach. Seems like she might have a shot at the final flight in the individual.

Not really. The SP should have Zhenia, Alina, Kaetlyn, Carolina, Kaori, and Gabby beating her SP score. But 2nd to last isn’t bad.

 

[klutzy]

Not really. The SP should have Zhenia, Alina, Kaetlyn, Carolina, Kaori, and Gabby beating her SP score. But 2nd to last isn’t bad.

If they all skate clean--well, Alina will be there no matter what and Evgenia's nerves are made of steel, so the rest of them--I don't think it's a sure thing by any means, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

 

[SnowWhite]

If they all skate clean--well, Alina will be there no matter what and Evgenia's nerves are made of steel, so the rest of them--I don't think it's a sure thing by any means, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

Well, Kaetlyn and Carolina are scoring higher even with mistakes, so that leaves two spots after Evgenia and Alina. Then there's Kaori and Gabby, and Satoko and Maria. She'd have to beat 3 of them. So possible, but not super likely.

 

[R.D.]

Really, we should just forget about the US ever medaling here, honestly. The Skate Gods have spoken, as we have seen.

And silver in Team is all but out of reach at this moment. If Chen had a better skate, perhaps there’d have been an outside chance, but what’s done is done.

 

[desertskates]

What I want to see more than anything tonight is a clean triple axel for Mirai! She has a chance to give herself the moment of a lifetime after so many years of very hard work. Bring it, Mirai!!!

 

[mrrice]

Really, we should just forget about the US ever medaling here, honestly. The Skate Gods have spoken, as we have seen.

And silver in Team is all but out of reach at this moment. If Chen had a better skate, perhaps there’d have been an outside chance, but what’s done is done.

Were people thinking we were going to win the Silver? I mean, I think most had Canada winning and the fight for Silver was between Russia and the US. Once Nathan ( Our best hope ) had a shaky SP, that was pretty it for out team. Bradie is great and I thought she did well but, I didn't expect her to beat any of the skaters she lost to. The Shibs score was the one that most surprised me. I was hoping they'd be in the 3 and once you add that to Nathan's score.....That's pretty much it.

 

[ks777]

I wonder where Mirai would place if she skated clean with a 3axel.

 

[tosca]

I wonder where Mirai would place if she skated clean with a 3axel.

As a Mirai superfan, I have learned not to wonder such things.

 

[frida80]

Were people thinking we were going to win the Silver? I mean, I think most had Canada winning and the fight for Silver was between Russia and the US. Once Nathan ( Our best hope ) had a shaky SP, that was pretty it for out team. Bradie is great and I thought she did well but, I didn't expect her to beat any of the skaters she lost to. The Shibs score was the one that most surprised me. I was hoping they'd be in the 3 and once you add that to Nathan's score.....That's pretty much it.

I think only very lofty idealist believed we could win silver. I always had us at bronze. The russians and Canadians has too many advantages. Maybe next time we will have a more balanced team. But it wasn't going to happen now.
I'm also surprised people thought we would challenge for a medal. Bradie wasn't going to get her the scores the projected medalist would. She doesn't have the reputation yet. May be next season she will challenge more. But for now, I think her scores are fine. They will rise in good time.

 

[frida80]

I wonder where Mirai would place if she skated clean with a 3axel.

Hmm....

I'm thinking 140 even. Her PCS scores would mute the gains. But the crowd could push the score to a 142.

 

[Moxiejan]

I shouldn’t be surprised that NBC/us fed would throw all of their media hype into Bradie(young white blonde princess-y is their favorite genre of women’s skating) but I am surprised at all of the commercials/hype pieces focusing all on her and basically ignoring Mirai and her huge accomplishment of learning the triple axel. No American women has landed one in the Olympics and now we finally have someone who is going to try! It’s a huge deal! And yet I haven’t seen one commercial or mention of it in the puff pieces anywhere. Hopefully they ramp it up as the individual event comes closer but I’m just super puzzled why I’ve barely seen her promoted or hyped anywhere during coverage

It is so unfair to Bradie to use "white/blonde/young" as the reason she is getting more attention than Mirai. IF Mirai ever does her jumps without edge/rotation calls (and ever beats Bradie in competition), she will get the same attention. And that includes the triple axel, which has yet to be landed cleanly internationally (yes, she has gotten credit for rotation). NBC's coverage of the team event has focused on those U.S. skaters actually competing that night, so naturally Bradie got the early attention. Mirai will get it tonight.

 

[tosca]

It is so unfair to Bradie to use "white/blonde/young" as the reason she is getting more attention than Mirai. IF Mirai ever does her jumps without edge/rotation calls (and ever beats Bradie in competition), she will get the same attention. And that includes the triple axel, which has yet to be landed cleanly internationally (yes, she has gotten credit for rotation). NBC's coverage of the team event has focused on those U.S. skaters actually competing that night, so naturally Bradie got the early attention. Mirai will get it tonight.

I would have to agree. Marketing money goes behind skaters that win (cough, cough, Nathan). They will market/highlight the only representative in an event: ie Bradie in the SP and I am sure Mirai will get some love in the FS.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Yeah I don't think she will medal in the individual event, but I think she could contribute to a better placement in the team event and force the USFSA to make some tough decisions with the FS.

Mirai's officially in the FS. I think all the skaters knew well before hand if they were in the Team event or not and I don't think USFSA was going to mess with the line up once it was set, otherwise they might have subbed in Nathan for Adam in the FS to better their chances in the Men's FS. Nathan did say at some point that he was willing to do both phases. Whether Bradie or Mirai it's almost certain a U.S. lady would/will place no better than 5th in the SP or the FS barring bad skates from the top skaters.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Well if they judge CORRECTLY for once and Kostner struggles in the free like she always does, Mirai could beat
Gabby's only just regaining her consistency. A 3A could throw her in front of her. But third is as high as it gets and I think 4th would be something to be proud of.

 

[evasorange]

It is so unfair to Bradie to use "white/blonde/young" as the reason she is getting more attention than Mirai. IF Mirai ever does her jumps without edge/rotation calls (and ever beats Bradie in competition), she will get the same attention. And that includes the triple axel, which has yet to be landed cleanly internationally (yes, she has gotten credit for rotation). NBC's coverage of the team event has focused on those U.S. skaters actually competing that night, so naturally Bradie got the early attention. Mirai will get it tonight.

Last night the focus made sense, I was more referring to commercials that played before the games started, and the piece they showed before the opening ceremonies of random USA athletes. Bradie got the only screen time of any of the us ladies. We can agree to disagree but I will always believe white and blonde is the most marketable in the eyes of nbc/advertisers. Look at the sheer amount of coverage Lindsey Vonn gets. Mirai came back from a heartbreak four years to make her second Olympic team eight years after the first, armed with the hardest jump she taught her self at age 23. That to me is way more interesting then girl comes out of nowhere to win US nationals. *

 

[Moxiejan]

Last night the focus made sense, I was more referring to commercials that played before the games started, and the piece they showed before the opening ceremonies of random USA athletes. Bradie got the only screen time of any of the us ladies. We can agree to disagree but I will always believe white and blonde is the most marketable in the eyes of nbc/advertisers. Look at the sheer amount of coverage Lindsey Vonn gets. Mirai came back from a heartbreak four years to make her second Olympic team eight years after the first, armed with the hardest jump she taught her self at age 23. That to me is way more interesting then girl comes out of nowhere to win US nationals. *

Besides being "white/blonde/young," Bradie is the current U.S. champion and Lindsey is one of the most successful Olympic skiers in U.S. history. Many athletes at the opening ceremonies have stories of heartbreak & comeback (including Bradie, who overcame years of severe back injuries). I applaud Mirai's effort & am pulling for her to skate lights out. But her "story" does not make her more worthy of attention; that will depend on what she does on Olympic ice.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Can't wait till tonight's Team Free Programs!!

 

[ice coverage]

I shouldn’t be surprised that NBC/us fed would throw all of their media hype into Bradie(young white blonde princess-y is their favorite genre of women’s skating) but I am surprised at all of the commercials/hype pieces focusing all on her and basically ignoring Mirai and her huge accomplishment of learning the triple axel. No American women has landed one in the Olympics and now we finally have someone who is going to try! It’s a huge deal! And yet I haven’t seen one commercial or mention of it in the puff pieces anywhere. Hopefully they ramp it up as the individual event comes closer but I’m just super puzzled why I’ve barely seen her promoted or hyped anywhere during coverage

It is so unfair to Bradie to use "white/blonde/young" as the reason she is getting more attention than Mirai. IF Mirai ever does her jumps without edge/rotation calls (and ever beats Bradie in competition), she will get the same attention. And that includes the triple axel, which has yet to be landed cleanly internationally (yes, she has gotten credit for rotation). NBC's coverage of the team event has focused on those U.S. skaters actually competing that night, so naturally Bradie got the early attention. Mirai will get it tonight.

Last night the focus made sense, I was more referring to commercials that played before the games started, and the piece they showed before the opening ceremonies of random USA athletes. Bradie got the only screen time of any of the us ladies. ....

I am a huge fan of Mirai and I happen to be an Asian-American with Japanese blood.

Anyone who has not noticed Mirai in NBC coverage has not been paying close attention.
For example, Mirai *was* shown at least twice at the beginning of the NBC prime time telecast of the (taped) Opening Ceremony.

As the unexpected (to many) national champion who also skated in the first 2018 OWG segment for ladies, Bradie understandably has gotten her share of attention. Fine by me.

Good luck to Mirai tonight in the team FS :yay:.
And applause to Bradie for her solid team SP .
If Team USA succeeds in getting on the podium, I will be very happy for both ladies (and for their team-mates from all disciplines).

 

[tosca]

Mirai Nagasu pulled through and exceeded everyone’s expectations. I am over the moooooon!!!!!

 

[Alifyre]

Mirai did THAT!! What a sparkling beautiful 3A!!