2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[hippomoomin]

The problem is trying to make the music for frontloaded programs work for backloaded programs. Backloading works if the music is sort of slow but gets fast toward the end. For a novice level skater, I wouldn't think too much about her "copying" Yuna or skating a program being "pretty." She is not a stick figure at 12, so she may outgrow her jumps at 14 or 15, unless she adopt Japanese ladies' jumping techniques.

Her toeloop is obviously cheated, she spins all the way around to where she started the combo before leaving the ice. hwell:

The program is a startling example of why the backloading rule needs to be changed. She copies Yu-Na Kim's Les Mis and then tries to move most of the jumps to later in the program, and look at how cluttered and ineffective the choreography becomes as a result. The build up and character and emotion are lost. Not what skating should be. She's very talented though, hopefully she will be guided well and blossom into a mature and interesting skater with solid jumps.

 

[MarinHondas]

Ting Cui doing a 3t-3t-3t and 3ltz-3t-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal. She will be at Jr. Worlds next month!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfv3go7HBhj/?taken-by=itscoachvincent …

 

[hippomoomin]

She caught me eyes in her JGP debut early this season, but she had a meltdown in her LP.
I think what she really needs is more competition experience and perhaps more time for training? She is 15 but only competed at the novice level last year and junior level this year. I am glad she got chosen for JW.

Ting Cui doing a 3t-3t-3t and 3ltz-3t-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal. She will be at Jr. Worlds next month!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfv3go7HBhj/?taken-by=itscoachvincent …

 

[ks777]

Ting Cui doing a 3t-3t-3t and 3ltz-3t-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal. She will be at Jr. Worlds next month!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfv3go7HBhj/?taken-by=itscoachvincent …

She looks very strong!!! I can see her making it big next season.

 

[Cindy1983]

11 and 12 year olds are still -- 11 & 12. They have as much atristry as girls that age can.

Before I say what I'm gonna say, I want to say that I'm not criticizing the skater's body, but I'm wary of oversexualizing young girls. That costume is very mature. I don't know if a girl should wear that costume until she's old enough to fill it out. I know Irena Slutskaya wore similar costumes, but she was a WOMAN. I could see Ashley pulling off that costume, but again she's a WOMAN.

On a side not, I like NBC's putting the full competition on NBCSN and still showing the later parts on NBC. The average viewer wants to see the top competitors, esp the Americans. I like seeing countries we don't normally see in a parent channel broadcast. Also, they know that ppl want to see it, so they WILL make them wait till 10 & 11PM. What they didn't do was advertise it.

 

[Globetrotter]

Find a US lady who has the sort of philosophy and frightening competitiveness and hunger for success like Aljona Savchenko. You will get a champion. Used to think Zhenya and Zagi were the toughest but after watching Pyeongchang 2018, I think the real badass tough ladies have got to be Aljona and....Eteri Tutberidze herself. So far, I hadn't quite seen quite a tough competitor among US ladies that could rival the smiley but steely competitiveness of Michelle and Tara from the 90s - not yet anyway.

 

[Erin9]

Find a US lady who has the sort of philosophy and frightening competitiveness and hunger for success like Aljona Savchenko. You will get a champion. Used to think Zhenya and Zagi were the toughest but after watching Pyeongchang 2018, I think the real badass tough ladies have got to be Aljona and....Eteri Tutberidze herself. So far, I hadn't quite seen quite a tough competitor among US ladies that could rival the smiley but steely competitiveness of Michelle and Tara from the 90s - not yet anyway.

Speaking of Tara, I read an interesting article about her during the Olys. Terry Gannon was talking about how they’d recently watched her OGM skates. Watching the SP, what stood out to him was that 20 years later what she focused in on was that she’d decided going into the program that she was NOT going to miss the jump she’d missed at nationals again. 20 years later- that was her memory. And he said- that’s Tara. If she’s tells you something- you should expect it to happen. And that is the mental attitude these skaters need imo.

And Aliona is nothing short of extraordinary. 34 and Oly champion. Incredible. I put Carolina Kostner right up there with her, even if she’s not as successful. She’s still remained remarkably competitive.

 

[topaz emerald]

Ting Cui doing a 3t-3t-3t and 3ltz-3t-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal. She will be at Jr. Worlds next month!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfv3go7HBhj/?taken-by=itscoachvincent …

Why doesn't she try doing a 3lutz-3 loop, or a triple lutz-half loop-triple flip? I am not impressed with 3t-3t-3t....and I am skeptical adding a tano or rippon makes the jump harder, so many younger girls can do it and Maria sotskova added hers in such a short time.....it's harder to take off on the right edge, and girls who can't jump properly should get penalized heavily......why isn't this happening? The scoring system is so stupid.

 

[jFarrisFAN]

Why doesn't she try doing a 3lutz-3 loop, or a triple lutz-half loop-triple flip? I am not impressed with 3t-3t-3t....and I am skeptical adding a tano or rippon makes the jump harder, so many younger girls can do it and Maria sotskova added hers in such a short time.....it's harder to take off on the right edge, and girls who can't jump properly should get penalized heavily......why isn't this happening? The scoring system is so stupid.

Why are you not impressed.... these are the hardest and best combos we have seen in practice from a US girl in a while... maybe ever.

 

[frida80]

Why doesn't she try doing a 3lutz-3 loop, or a triple lutz-half loop-triple flip? I am not impressed with 3t-3t-3t....and I am skeptical adding a tano or rippon makes the jump harder, so many younger girls can do it and Maria sotskova added hers in such a short time.....it's harder to take off on the right edge, and girls who can't jump properly should get penalized heavily......why isn't this happening? The scoring system is so stupid.

You have just defined the problem with US figure skating fans in a nut shell. A young Junior level skater who’s done just one JGP does something impressive and you dismiss her because she’s not at the level of a Olympic Gold Medalist.

How about you let her learn these combos? There is no rush! How about we allow US girls be kids and develop into future champs and stop demanding they be absolutely everything out the gate. The world won’t end if we just allow one 14 year old kid to develop her skills over time.

 

[russianfan]

sorry for offtopic, just thought it's funny:

Meanwhile somewhere in Russia, watching Trusova: "Why doesn't she try doing a 4A or 5T? i am not impressed with 4S..."

 

[Mawwerg]

Ting Cui doing a 3t-3t-3t and 3ltz-3t-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal. She will be at Jr. Worlds next month!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfv3go7HBhj/?taken-by=itscoachvincent …

Great! I'm so exciting about upcoming Junior Worlds!

 

[RobinA]

I agree. It's unsettling to me, as a parent of a young figure skater, to see how people are so quick to dismiss a skater just because of a bad skate or that they didn't live up to their vision of who they thought they should become. This morning as I sat at the ice arena watching my daughter skate I couldn't help but silently wish she'd walk away from this sport. Of course I would never verbalize that out loud

Sadly, over the years of sitting in the stands during practices and non-elite level competitions I have heard many mothers of figure skaters express similar feelings. Out loud and sometimes in some fairly purple language. There's obviously some fairly serious hatred of the sport out there from some of its participants. I guess it's inevitable.

 

[moonvine]

Great! I'm so exciting about upcoming Junior Worlds!

Does Icenetwork cover Junior Worlds?

 

[cruzceleste]

Does Icenetwork cover Junior Worlds?

Yes, they do....

 

[Moxiejan]

Does Icenetwork cover Junior Worlds?

Yes; with the subscription. Here are the streaming times, Eastern zone:
3/7/2018 5:00am Short Dance
3/7/2018 11:15am Pairs Short Program
3/8/2018 4:15am Men's Short Program
3/8/2018 12:30pm Pairs Free Skate
3/9/2018 4:15am Ladies Short Program
3/9/2018 12:00pm Free Dance
3/10/2018 4:00am Men's Free Skate
3/10/2018 9:00am Ladies Free Skate

 

[andromache]

Ting is SUPER talented, very mature and expressive for her age, with decent skating skills. She's kind of an inconsistent mess, but when she hits, she's BRILLIANT. Just look at her Nationals LP. No matter how she skates at Junior Worlds, this should be good experience for her.

 

[MalAssada]

I was so impressed with Ting! Her jumps looked easy, which is always good to see. I would very much like to see her jumps stable. Hopefully the US fed will realise her potential and send her to JGPs and other junior comps so she can gain experience :yes:

 

[yelyoh]

sorry for offtopic, just thought it's funny:

Meanwhile somewhere in Russia, watching Trusova: "Why doesn't she try doing a 4A or 5T? i am not impressed with 4S..."

Funny or maybe just true!!!

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Ting Cui doing a 3t-3t-3t and 3ltz-3t-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal-1/2lo-3sal. She will be at Jr. Worlds next month!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfv3go7HBhj/?taken-by=itscoachvincent …

This is great and all, but it means nothing because the US ladies are so inconsistent. If she shows up at junior worlds with these difficult combinations, she’ll get hit with URs. Or she’ll pop. Or fall.
Talent isn’t the problem for the Americans. Inconsistency is what’s killing them.
Ting and Emmy may not even be top 10.