2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[pearly]

Who are the members of the 4CC Team??? I agree with you on Angela.....Starr has the future written all over her but, Angela is the present and she should have been on the team..

Wagner, Bell, Andrews.

 

[klutzy]

Well, that's one way to look at it. Personally, I do expect Bradie to fizzle out relatively soon, but perhaps she proves me wrong. She's quite a bit older than Karen and calling her "the future" is quite off in my eyes - She's at an age where a decline would be imminent.

Regardless, this conversation made me realize that the near future isn't looking very fantastic. I guess the hope is Gracie Gold's return to form.

Bradie is 19. Karen is 18--where is this huge age gap and imminent decline of which you speak?

 

[Maribelle]

I think they should at least do what the Japanese did and name Ashley for the Worlds. I guess they really don't want her anymore. It is understandable to plan for the future and send the promising skaters out there but at least let her retire peacefully. I feel like nobody likes Ashley in the U.S. and I am sorry for it because I really appreciate her skating and personality. If I were her I would have announced my retirement the moment I have seen this.

Maybe Ashley could skate for Germany, she was born there and they could use a good singles skater.

 

[frida80]

The biggest shocker and most questionable decision by USFSA for me is that Angela Wang was not selected for Four Continents. Not only was she underscored in PCS but her content was far, far more difficult than Starr Andrews, who skated cleanly but with no lutz (and only one flip). That is not senior-level content, and it is mind-boggling to select Starr for both 4CCs and Junior Worlds when there is a far more competitive senior who earned the shot for 4CCs.

I was quite happy for Starr and her performance but she hasn't even skated at a senior Grand Prix, and we're sending her to a senior ISU championships? Angela Wang absolutely deserved it.

Ashley never goes to 4CC. Angela will go in her place.

 

[pearly]

Maybe Ashley could skate for Germany, she was born there and they could use a good singles skater.

Lol or quickly quickly sort out a release and Canadian citizenship because that third spot really needs filling. Sorry

 

[pearly]

Ashley never goes to 4CC. Angela will go in her place.

Ashley never goes to 4CC when she has Worlds to train for. Right now that is under a question mark and will happen only if one of the top three withdraws.

 

[mrrice]

Ashley never goes to 4CC. Angela will go in her place.

I hope so...If Ashley isn't motivated to go to this event, I would love to see Angela go in her place.

 

[Ophelia]

Let's be real. None of the US ladies have a chance of medalling at Pyeongchang. Bradie is as bland as white toast.

 

[mrrice]

Let's be real. None of the US ladies have a chance of medalling at Pyeongchang. Bradie is as bland as white toast.

RUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They also said that Maria Butyrskaya would never be a champion because she couldn't handle pressure.....She proved all of her doubters wrong. Bradie has nerves of steel and that will take her very far....I don't see her on the podium in 2018 but, watch for her in 2022......I also think she'll be on the World podium since the Olympic medalists often choose to skip worlds during an Olympic season.

 

[VenusHalley]

I was very impressed with Starr Andrews. And the fact she done vocals to her music. :O Is that a first person to do so?

 

[elbkup]

I'm really happy for Bradie, and I think she'll be a fantastic representative of the US at the Olympics. I especially love that she designed her short program with a Korean audience in mind; now that she's made it to the Olympics, that program will be a lovely gesture of respect for the host country. Though I love many of the other top US ladies, I have to admit that none of them did anything like that. Bradie seems like a grounded, sweet person who has so far resisted the pull of getting absorbed in herself/her own journey above all else. I really hope she keeps that sense of perspective as her star continues to rise.

I'm so sad for Polina. She's been my sentimental favorite of the American ladies ever since I watched her free skate at the last Olympics. How awful that, for the second time now, her injury has reappeared after so many months of healing and training around it. It took her down just when she looked like she was going to have a breakout period in her career, too. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to keep running up against her body's limits...

:agree: :agree2: whole post..... reflects my own views exactly especially regarding Polina.

 

[mrrice]

Bradie is 19. Karen is 18--where is this huge age gap and imminent decline of which you speak?

I LOVE this comment!!!!! It's completely true......

 

[Ophelia]

RUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They also said that Maria Butyrskaya would never be a champion because she couldn't handle pressure.....She proved all of her doubters wrong. Bradie has nerves of steel and that will take her very far....I don't see her on the podium in 2018 but, watch for her in 2022......I also think she'll be on the World podium since the Olympic medalists often choose to skip worlds during an Olympic season.

Where's the lie? She is as bland as white toast, and I'm not the only one saying it.

I won't hold my breath for her to be on any podium in 2022.

 

[klutzy]

It's not that Karen's that young herself, but the difference is actually over 1 and a half years, or two seasons in figure skating(July 1-June 30 seasons). That's quite significant because three seasons is what they have at the top, or thereabouts.

Gee, did anyone think to tell Michelle Kwan about that three-year limit?

 

[pearly]

Gee, did anyone think to tell Michelle Kwan about that three-year limit?

Lol I don't think Mirai got the memo either.

 

[mrrice]

Where's the lie? She is as bland as white toast, and I'm not the only one saying it.

I won't hold my breath for her to be on any podium in 2022.

Listen....people on this site have seen me stick with my favorites for almost 20 years. I was SO unpopular when I supported Maria Butyrskaya and it doesn't bother me to stick with the skaters that I love, no matter what.....

 

[klutzy]

I'm so sad for Polina. She's been my sentimental favorite of the American ladies ever since I watched her free skate at the last Olympics. How awful that, for the second time now, her injury has reappeared after so many months of healing and training around it. It took her down just when she looked like she was going to have a breakout period in her career, too. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to keep running up against her body's limits...

Yeah, this was just heartbreaking--not because she didn't skate the FS--she'd struggled with it all season, but because the foot's still acting up. It was so clear from the SP that Polina still loves skating and performing--she hadn't lost interest in skating; she'd been unable to skate. I hope the injury doesn't force into retirement, but it sounds from her interview in the Merc that that's part of what's being discussed. Hope nothing's too serious and that she'll be on her way to safely flipping and lutzing by next season. She's only 19 and has really moved forward in terms of artistry.

Don't give up, Polina!

 

[klutzy]

And also, let's not forget Carolina Kostner. To say someone will fizzle out by Bradie's age just seems misleading on Shayuki's part when so many ladies in both singles and pairs are truly grafting it through with much success in their 20s right now.

And, like Kostner, Bradie's tall for a skater. Tall skaters grew more and changed more in adolescence--Bradie had some serious back injuries. This is really the first time that Bradie's been able to skate fully grown and uninjured. And she has a lot to show for it--fully rotated jumps, total poise and the ability to handle complex choreography.

There are lots of cries of dismay and sneers over Bradie's choreography, but having watched her LP all season, I've really grown to admire the choreography--it plays off the music well; it tells the story; it builds in tension through the clock/castle running sequence and it resolves--particularly with that lovely combination jump that coincides with the resolution of the music. There's a lot going on, but it's not a jumble.

The subject and the music aren't sophisticated, but the choreography actually is.

 

[kalee]

The flak that Bradie is getting is completely out of proportion to the situation. Even though she hasn't had senior GP exposure beyond the SA host pick, she has indisputably been the top US lady in all aspects of the season to date:
- GP standings: Bradie and Ashley are tied on points, with Bradie ahead of Ashley on the total score tie-breaker. She has gotten more points out of 1 GP competition than Karen, Mirai or Mariah got out of 2 GP's.
- International SB: Bradie is the only US lady to break 200 points internationally this season. There is a 10-point gap between Bradie and Mirai on international SB.
- Also, in 2 international competitions (Lombardia Trophy and SA), everyone that Bradie lost to is an Olympian except Wakaba, and even then Wakaba was close enough to Olympic qualification for JFed to give her the Worlds spot instead of Kaori.

Granted that Bradie doesn't have the long track record or name recognition at this point, but nobody had to anoint her as a champion. Her results have spoken for themselves.

 

[jenaj]

Starr was actually the only skater who stayed on her feet the whole time that also did not receive a single UR or edge call. Even Bradie had a called UR. Kinda sad that there was only one truly clean program at such a big event.

Starr had easier content than the top ladies.