2017 U.S. Nationals Championship Ladies FS

[Mathman]

And that means we will have two Ladies berths for the Olympics.

So be it. If we can win only two spots, then we will have only two spots. If we want three, we need to skate better, whine and scheme less.

 

[frida80]

I think I've though of a solution for the world and 4CC problem.

I still think that the top three should go. But my problem is unlike the other two ladies, Mariah does t has the experience to handle the intense pressure at worlds. Even Karen has a lot mor international competitions under her belt. I think that Ashley should sit out 4CC again to prepare for worlds. She does this every year, and last year she gained a medal out of it. The have Karen, Mariah and Mirai go to 4CC. This will give Mariah some international experience and allow her get a handle on her nerves. If she bombs, at least she got that out of her system before worlds. And it hopefully lead to a more consistent Karen. That's the only clean long she's done this season.

I'm tempted to say send Gracie, Mirai, and Mariah to 4CC and take the highest scorer. But I've give. Gracie so many chances this season that I think she should just go back and get her fire back for next season.

 

[frida80]

It is rather interesting that the reigning world silver medalist and the one (of the main contenders) with the best international results was the one the judges most scrutinized while the others (who have been less then spectacular internationally) where handled with more ease. What's the motivation behind that? :think:

To make her work harder so she can peak at worlds. We need her on the podium again!

 

[Mrs. P]

I don't think Karen performed her absolute best at her GPs, so I think there's a bit of oranges and apples comparison, IMO

 

[NAOTMAA]

The last time the US had only 2 spots for the Olympics we had skaters place 4th and 7th. And the time before that we won a silver medal and placed 8th. Those are pretty solid results!

So while 3 spots would be great (and says wonderful things about American ladies abilities overall) having the third spot doesn't make much a difference when it comes to results. All three ladies can easily be off the podium. I suppose its more about national pride

 

[cptnhastings]

Just popping in to say how much I enjoyed Karen Chen's sprial and her layback (which I could hear Dick Button raving about in my head).

I miss spiral sequences and normal non-Bielmann laybacks.

 

[chuckm]

The biggest disappointment is Gracie. I didn't see her turning things around here but her LP is a disaster. I tend to think she has physical issues plus mental issues. Not sure if she can ever be on the top again. She is 21, not super young anymore. Many skaters just decline technically after 19.

Of COURSE she has physical issues----she is not toned, not in shape. That was visible during her FS. Both coaches said
she was way out of shape and it would take more time than she had before Nationals to get her into competition shape. They said she was better, but not there yet. Obviously, she is better than she was during the GP, because she was able to do the 3/3 in both programs with no problem. But because the muscle tone isn't fully back, the stamina isn't there, causing the doubled jumps.

I just hope that not being selected for Worlds doesn't plunge Gracie back into another deep depression. After her FS, she looked just the way she did after her FS at Worlds. I'd hate to see her give up altogether.


And I really object to the poster who said Gracie couldn't "half-a** her preparation and expect to do well at Nationals"
Gracie has been seriously depressed since Worlds and skipping training was a symptom of her depression. The lack of physical exercise just added to her depressed state. Turning in bad performances in the GP just added to her misery but didn't motivate her to train harder. Apparently Frank couldn't do anything to motivate her. It seems as if she may have panicked just before Nationals realizing that she wasn't ready and went back to her former coach for help. Both coaches helped her to accept what happened at Worlds and deal with her current problem: lack of fitness due to bad training habits.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

It is rather interesting that the reigning world silver medalist and the one (of the main contenders) with the best international results was the one the judges most scrutinized while the others (who have been less then spectacular internationally) where handled with more ease.

Even Caroline was short on her 3/3 and got a pass. It was very... interesting to see how things were scored.

 

[NAOTMAA]

Even Caroline was short on her 3/3 and got a pass. It was very... interesting to see how things were scored.

The moment Ashley finished I thought she had it won but then it took them forever (at least it felt like it ) to review things and give the marks and I got confused. It almost felt like the other girls, who we got to see, got their marks faster regardless of some questionable moments of theirs. Its like did Ashley piss someone off behind the scenes this week?

 

[Art&Sport]

I agree, but after the performances tonight, there aren't any other options. Gracie and Mirai gave the USFSA no reason to include them on the team. Both skated scared and tentative. Realistically, no three skaters are going to place high enough for us to keep three spots for the games, mainly because the Canadians have stepped up and Caro is back.

Well, but anything can happen. Karen and Mariah can be competitive with Caro and the Canadians, and even with a few of the Russian and Japanese skaters. If politics is taken out of the picture with the judging.

... it's way out of line of what the international judges have given Karen this year.

But Karen performed better at Nationals than she has done anywhere else this year. If the ISU judges are going to look down their noses at Karen, she will have to continue performing in a way that will demand attention, respect and high level scores.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

The moment Ashley finished I thought she had it won but then it took them forever (at least it felt like it ) to review things and give the marks and I got confused. It almost felt like the other girls, who we got to see, got their marks faster regardless of some questionable moments of theirs. Its like did Ashley piss someone off behind the scenes this week?

Just based on how the < have been overlooked, I figured she'd get credit for all 7 triples.

 

[museksk8r]

Ashley and Gracie, skating at their best, can place on the podium even when the field is that packed. They have the international track record/ components necessary.

I would be very surprised to see Gracie getting held up on PCS anymore now that any reputation she had has been shattered by a countless string of flawed skates. She is now the #6 American and she is going to have to rebuild her reputation by delivering strong performances and earn those PCS in time now and needs other skaters ahead of her to falter to be seen as a contender. The judges don't trust her now that they have seen her give up her fight so many times. How can the judges believe in her if she doesn't believe in herself?

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

But Karen performed better at Nationals than she has done anywhere else this year. If the ISU judges are going to look down their noses at Karen, she will have to continue performing in a way that will demand attention, respect and high level scores.

Karen would not get ~141 for a six triple LP. Ashley could get ~140 for a 7-downgraded-to-6 LP.

 

[Alchamei]

And that means we will have two Ladies berths for the Olympics.

Karen is a star at US Nationals, but she doesn't do well internationally unless the event is held in the US.

Her only good ISU finish this year was at the US Intl Classic where she was 3rd.
This year she was 6th and 7th in the GP and 7th at Golden Spin, where even Gracie beat her.
Last year, with her boot problems, she had two 5th place finishes in the GP.
She was 12th last year at 4CC. She went to JW twice and finished 8th and 9th.

Mariah lacks international experience and like Karen, seems to do better at competitions in the US (she was 2nd at both Skate America and the US Intl Classic). She was 4th behind Bradie Tennell at Tallinn Trophy.

These two are likely to receive "newbie" treatment at Worlds and that doesn't bode well for their PCS scores, especially if they don't skate as clean as they did at Nationals.

And who else do you want to send? Gracie? Who hasn't had a single good competition this season and probably doesn't want to be on the ice? Mirai? Who has UR issues and is just as inconsistent as the Top 3? Caroline? Who was great here but int judges might hammer her tech? Hicks then, Maybe? Or injured Polina?

It sounds very harsh, but they don't have any other choice.

 

[ice coverage]

Oh my, it's just a joke. We all know they are American, they wouldn't be competing here if they weren't, it's just a funny way to poke at the situation and celebrate the skaters.

First of all, I already said that I appreciated labgoat's apology.

I am all for celebrating skaters. I do not see any reason to "poke" fun at Asian-American skaters in the first place.

The so-called "joke" was just not funny.
If you had Asian-American family members who lost their freedom, their homes and other property, their livelihoods, and their life savings because the U.S. government did not consider them to be "real" Americans, then perhaps you would not be so insensitive.

 

[Art&Sport]

Karen would not get ~141 for a six triple LP. Ashley could get ~140 for a 7-downgraded-to-6 LP.

I'm just hoping for Karen to stay within herself and continue to deliver. I would expect Ash to continue defying the odds and some people's low expectations of her. Just as last year when Ash participated at Worlds after a second place finish at Nationals, Ash has a chance to place ahead of her U.S. National champion teammate.

 

[moonvine]

I just hope that not being selected for Worlds doesn't plunge Gracie back into another deep depression. After her FS, she looked just the way she did after her FS at Worlds. I'd hate to see her give up altogether.

This is my fear as well.

 

[hippomoomin]

It may have something to do with her not making to the GPF this year. And shows her that without Polina and Gracie's challenge, US national title is still not easy.

It is rather interesting that the reigning world silver medalist and the one (of the main contenders) with the best international results was the one the judges most scrutinized while the others (who have been less then spectacular internationally) where handled with more ease. What's the motivation behind that? :think:

 

[NanaPat]

YES, also Mervin Tran! That's not even counting all junior and novice medalists.

Mervin Tran is Canadian, born in Canada. Even if you insist on hyphenating him forever, no part of him is Chinese.

According to Wikipedia "Tran was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He moved to Montreal, Quebec in 2007 to train with Richard Gauthier. His parents were refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia.". I knew his parents were from Vietnam, but didn't know about Cambodia.

 

[whatif]

Mervin Tran is Canadian, born in Canada. Even if you insist on hyphenating him forever, no part of him is Chinese.

According to Wikipedia "Tran was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He moved to Montreal, Quebec in 2007 to train with Richard Gauthier. His parents were refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia.". I knew his parents were from Vietnam, but didn't know about Cambodia.

so what is your point?