2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[Bluediamonds09]

The last season or two she did singles and doubles mostly even at Glacier Falls. I don't even think she did the FS at GF the year she won 4CC. She's probably just nailing the choreography like in the past. I guess time will tell but I also don't think there is any need for alarm.

You're right, most skaters are purposely singling/ doubling jumps this early in the season. But what I'm curious about is whether she's fixed her telegraphing and underrotation issues.
How many more summer competitions is she scheduled for? Maybe she'll get the SA TBD spot, maybe.

 

[concorde]

You're right, most skaters are purposely singling/ doubling jumps this early in the season.

Depends on you situation as to whether this is true.

If you are a skater trying to get recognized, then the only way to do that is by doing well which means hitting all your big jumps during the summer competitions. Those summer competition determine many of the JGP and Senior B selections. I would think that Polina probably fits into that category this year since she was off last year due to an injury and USFS is trying to determine whether she back to her pre-injury level.

If you an established skater coming off strong prior season and have you GP selection locked, then only doing doubles this early in the season makes sense.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Depends on you situation as to whether this is true.

If you are a skater trying to get recognized, then the only way to do that is by doing well which means hitting all your big jumps during the summer competitions. Those summer competition determine many of the JGP and Senior B selections. I would think that Polina probably fits into that category this year since she was off last year due to an injury and USFS is trying to determine whether she back to her pre-injury level.

If you an established skater coming off strong prior season and have you GP selection locked, then only doing doubles this early in the season makes sense.

Oh yeah, you're right .

 

[R.D.]

It's a bit of a catch-22 though: she goes all out now and risks either further injury or early peaking, neither of which will help her cause either. So what do you do? Ultimately I think playing it safe is the right strategy, even if it may cost her a spot or two. That being said, she does need to be ready within the next 3 months if she hopes to be a serious challenger for the Olympic team; USFS seems (finally) ready to consider more than just trials in the decision-making process as the Nagasu-Wagner controversy showed.

Although, if i'm honest I can't think of anyone who could seriously get the nod over Edmunds in a close call, perhaps (ironically??) except for Wagner. Gold may as well have taken last season off too, and Nagasu hasn't exactly lit the world on fire.

ETA: I suppose you could make a case for Karen Chen too, being 4th at the last worlds but unless she makes GPF this year I'd say it wouldn't be a very strong one.

 

[Jammers]

Has Polina improved her power and speed on the ice that is the big question. One of the things that cost Polina the US title in 2016 besides the fact that Gracie had a vastly superior LP that was more complex and skated with more maturity was her lack of speed and power compared to Gracie. I'm always amazed when Polina hits her 3-3 combos because she stalks them so much with little power and speed going into her jumps. It's something she needs to improve on and even Medvedeva while still not speedy has improved her speed and she was slow as molasses 3 years ago.

 

[concorde]

It's a bit of a catch-22 though: she goes all out now and risks either further injury or early peaking, neither of which will help her cause either. So what do you do? Ultimately I think playing it safe is the right strategy, even if it may cost her a spot or two. That being said, she does need to be ready within the next 3 months if she hopes to be a serious challenger for the Olympic team; USFS seems (finally) ready to consider more than just trials in the decision-making process as the Nagasu-Wagner controversy showed.

Although, if i'm honest I can't think of anyone who could seriously get the nod over Edmunds in a close call, perhaps (ironically??) except for Wagner. Gold may as well have taken last season off too, and Nagasu hasn't exactly lit the world on fire.

ETA: I suppose you could make a case for Karen Chen too, being 4th at the last worlds but unless she makes GPF this year I'd say it wouldn't be a very strong one.

You are referring to Polina? She has only 1 GP assignment. I think she needs to prove herself early on so she can be in the running for the TBD SA slot.

 

[R.D.]

You are referring to Polina? She has only 1 GP assignment. I think she needs to prove herself early on so she can be in the running for the TBD SA slot.

If she is truly shooting for the TBD slot at SA, then yes, the time frame shortens a bit. But - my main point still stands. Pushing too hard now carries risks of its own which could be just as, or more, devastating than not pushing hard enough. It is up to Team Edmunds to determine if she is physically up to the challenge, weigh the pros and cons and make the best long-term decision that will give her the best shot. I'm not going to say it will be an easy decision.

 

[mrrice]

If she is truly shooting for the TBD slot at SA, then yes, the time frame shortens a bit. But - my main point still stands. Pushing too hard now carries risks of its own which could be just as, or more, devastating than not pushing hard enough. It is up to Team Edmunds to determine if she is physically up to the challenge, weigh the pros and cons and make the best long-term decision that will give her the best shot. I'm not going to say it will be an easy decision.

Has Courtney Hicks been written off by the USFSA? I love Polina but, she has been out for a year. Why not at least send Courtney to Canada or over to France with Ashley. The fact that Courtney had no assignments is still quite a surprise to me. I hope she gets a TBD for at least one more GP event. She's ready to compete and could easily fill in for any injured or unprepared skater on the roster.

 

[Moxiejan]

Has Courtney Hicks been written off by the USFSA? I love Polina but, she has been out for a year. Why not at least send Courtney to Canada or over to France with Ashley. The fact that Courtney had no assignments is still quite a surprise to me. I hope she gets a TBD for at least one more GP event. She's ready to compete and could easily fill in for any injured or unprepared skater on the roster.

Yes to all of the above! Courtney got a GP medal last season, looked good recently at Detroit & is high on the GP replacement list. Since Polina already has 1 GP assignment & Courtney has none, I think Courtney should be given the Skate America TBD. Unless, of course, other GP events already have added her as a replacement.

Mr. Rice: I noticed in the Detroit videos that Courtney's legs look much different than in recent seasons; almost how she looked as a junior. I don't think weight loss alone would account for it; she would have lost more proportionately. Do you think she is doing different off-ice training, perhaps intensive stretching and ballet?

 

[mrrice]

Yes to all of the above! Courtney got a GP medal last season, looked good recently at Detroit & is high on the GP replacement list. Since Polina already has 1 GP assignment & Courtney has none, I think Courtney should be given the Skate America TBD. Unless, of course, other GP events already have added her as a replacement.

Mr. Rice: I noticed in the Detroit videos that Courtney's legs look much different than in recent seasons; almost how she looked as a junior. I don't think weight loss alone would account for it; she would have lost more proportionately. Do you is doing different off-ice training, perhaps intensivethink she stretching and ballet?

I definitely agree with this. Do you remember when Courtney used to post pictures of her doing squats in the gym? She was also dead-lifting some heavy weights. I think she may have decided to go for a longer, leaner look this season. I think she may be doing Yoga and Ballet. Yoga for flexibility and Ballet for strength. What ever she's doing, it's the right thing. She looks great....

 

[Moxiejan]

[/B]What ever she's doing, it's the right thing. She looks great....

Also has some seriously gorgeous dresses this year!

 

[concorde]

Remember the host country picks the skaters so SA is the only GP where USFS gets to decide who is going. Why? The host country pays the skater's expenses to the GP.

Assignments are different with the JGP. There each country gets XX slots total over the 6 events and the Federation then gets to chose who goes into each of their preassigned slots.

 

[ssffww]

Has Courtney Hicks been written off by the USFSA? I love Polina but, she has been out for a year. Why not at least send Courtney to Canada or over to France with Ashley. The fact that Courtney had no assignments is still quite a surprise to me. I hope she gets a TBD for at least one more GP event. She's ready to compete and could easily fill in for any injured or unprepared skater on the roster.

Ashley's not going to France this year. She's competing at SA and SC. I too am surprised Courtney got no assignments after medaling at COR last year. However, sending her to SA would only give her one assignment, so she'd have no chance of making the final. Depending upon what shape Polina is in and how she does in France, she could make the final with SA being her second assignment.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Ashley's not going to France this year. She's competing at SA and SC. I too am surprised Courtney got no assignments after medaling at COR last year. However, sending her to SA would only give her one assignment, so she'd have no chance of making the final. Depending upon what shape Polina is in and how she does in France, she could make the final with SA being her second assignment.

But does Polina even have a chance at making the final? So does it matter if she receives a second assignment ?
Realistically, Ashley does if she contacts john nicks to work on the kind of spins she had in 2012/13. (Watch her 2013 worlds sp)

 

[qwerty]

Ashley's not going to France this year. She's competing at SA and SC. I too am surprised Courtney got no assignments after medaling at COR last year. However, sending her to SA would only give her one assignment, so she'd have no chance of making the final. Depending upon what shape Polina is in and how she does in France, she could make the final with SA being her second assignment.

I don't think Polina is in danger of making the GPF. At her GP zenith she was 4th at COR. Unless something drastic happens over the summer, I'd be inclined to disregard Polina's existing GP assignment in deciding the SA TBD slot.

 

[Mathman]

The USFSA can wait until the last minute to assign the SA spot. Conceivably Polina could do so well at the event in France that they will decide to give her a shot at making the final. Long shot either way, though, considering the strength of the international competition.

 

[mrrice]

The USFSA can wait until the last minute to assign the SA spot. Conceivably Polina could do so well at the event in France that they will decide to give her a shot at making the final. Long shot either way, though, considering the strength of the international competition.[/QUOTE

With Skate America being at the end of the season this year, I imagine that if Polina is in contention to make the final, they will give it her. If not, I hope they give it to Courtney. She was so impressive in Detroit and she has proven that she is in fighting shape for the new season.

 

[R.D.]

The USFSA can wait until the last minute to assign the SA spot. Conceivably Polina could do so well at the event in France that they will decide to give her a shot at making the final. Long shot either way, though, considering the strength of the international competition.

Wait, SA is AFTER GP France this year??

 

[Mathman]

Wait, SA is AFTER GP France this year??

Yes, Skate America is the last Grand Prix event this year. It was like that in 2014, too. They are making an accommodation for NBC TV, which wants to market Skate America, U.S. Nationals, and the Olympics together.

 

[sabinfire]

Yes, Skate America is the last Grand Prix event this year. It was like that in 2014, too.

That's not true. 2014 Skate America was the first GP of the season in October. Same with 2013. You must be thinking of something else?