2017 U.S. Nationals Championship Ladies SP

[drivingmissdaisy]

I don't see Gracie winning, because Ashley has a nice lead. But I'd be very surprised if both Mirai and Karen skate strong enough LPs to keep Gracie off the team. Ashley and Gracie are both in positions that they have successfully battled out of in the past.

 

[jenaj]

Polina scored a 70.19 for her short last year, so just over 70. Agree it will take a miraculous skate from Gracie to win this one though.

Thanks, I had forgotten that. So maybe Gracie can do it again. But it would definitely take a near-miracle.

 

[Zhenya is DIVINE]

I think Mirai will go clean, no triple Axel, and win. Karen second. :yes:

From your lips to God's ears!

How amazing would it be for Mirai to win her second National title NINE years after her first?!?

 

[invisiblespiral]

Does anyone have videos with no commentary?

(I tried to watch Chen and got annoyed at the commentators. )

 

[jenaj]

From your lips to God's ears!

How amazing would it be for Mirai to win her second National title NINE years after her first?!?

It would be the best thing I can think of right now!

 

[Zhenya is DIVINE]

Mirai is in absolutely amazing shape! She hasn't looked this good since Vancouver. It's a testament to what a hard worker she is, because she is not genetically small. She has noticeably lost weight and looks fabulous!

I'm very pleased with the score she got for her short program. It looks like the judges are eager to reward her. I think if she is clean she will win. Even over Ashley and Gracie.

 

[Mathman]

Does anyone have videos with no commentary?

(I tried to watch Chen and got annoyed at the commentators. )

If you watched NBCSN, I thought Johnny Weir did well. He was not overly intrusive, to me, and had a nice mix of technical and performance-related comments.

Tara's problem, IMHO, is that her pacing is off. She talks in all the wrong places.

 

[Mathman]

A two-foot and < on the loop would result in -3 GOE across the board. That alone would drop her under 70, unless you think she was lowballed on PCS.

Anyway, all that is irrelevant now. It is what it is. Gracie is close enough that with a top-notch skate she will make the world team, if not win the championship outright, even if the others skate pretty well, too.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Tara's problem, IMHO, is that her pacing is off. She talks in all the wrong places.

I almost feel like she's disappointed with the quality of the US women's field now, and it comes across in her commentary. She was a good competitor in her (short) career, and I imagine that she is frustrated that our women can't keep it together like the Russians.

 

[jenaj]

Anyway, all that is irrelevant now. It is what it is. Gracie is close enough that with a top-notch skate she will make the world team, if not win the championship outright, even if the others skate pretty well, too.

Mirai is almost always lowballed on PCS at international events. One judge at NHK gave her all scores in the 6's at NHK.

 

[Biellmann]

I bet the FS is going to be a mess

 

[Mathman]

I almost feel like she's disappointed with the quality of the US women's field now, and it comes across in her commentary. She was a good competitor in her (short) career, and I imagine that she is frustrated that our women can't keep it together like the Russians.

I think you are right about that. She was pretty harsh with Gracie, saying basically that there was no excuse for all these problems.

It also seemed like when a new skater is 19 years old and just up form juniors, there is an undercurrent of, "Good grief, I was Olympic champion at 15!"

 

[Li'Kitsu]

These results are still making me so :eekn:
Thing is, the american lady I really like the most right now is Karen. Going into this, I didn't think it was realistic to expect her to make the worlds team - and therefor, for me to get a chance to see her live. But now this happened, and she skated that gorgeous SP and got that great score... and now I. want. it. Please Karen, keep it together in the LP and give us a lovely performance and make it to Helsinki! I want to see that beautiful spiral live! #KarenforHelsinki

I'm also pretty happy for Mirai. The program itself isn't my cup of tea, but she's really in shape and you can't help but feel happy for her and how she clawed her way back up. All the best for the LP!


Regarding the discussion about the technical panel: they were definitely on the lenient side IMO. Karens 3T was <, Mirais 3T & 3Lo were <, and Ashley... that 3T was close to a <<. And the 2A was really badly URed too... Shin Amano would have eaten that score the same way he did at CoC. I really don't see how she is such a more secure bet for the USFSA at this point than some of the other girls. All of them are 'coin flips' to a certain extent.
Karens and Mirais 3-3's are good examples though of URed jumps that should still be able to get +GOE, as both still were well executed overall and had great qualities to them.

 

[Mathman]

I really don't see how [Ashley] is such a more secure bet for the USFSA at this point than some of the other girls. All of them are 'coin flips' to a certain extent.

I agree. Although Ashley has that silver medal from Boston and Gracie hits every now and then, it's all a coin flip as to who might get lucky at worlds. Maybe someone like Karen will be the one.

 

[Heleng]

If you watched NBCSN, I thought Johnny Weir did well. He was not overly intrusive, to me, and had a nice mix of technical and performance-related comments.

Tara's problem, IMHO, is that her pacing is off. She talks in all the wrong places.

If that weren't bad enough, what she says is annoying too, imo.

 

[stella luna]

Speaking of Polina, does anyone know if she is at Nationals as a spectator?

Gracie will need help to win. Last year, Polina didn't score over 70 in her short program. There was room for Grace to move up on her own. It's going to be harder this year unless other make mistakes (which could happen).

ETA: Correction, Polina did score a little over 70 last year.

 

[jenaj]

If that weren't bad enough, what she says is annoying too, imo.

I came here yesterday to post, Shut up, Tara! but many people had already beat me to it.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Regarding the discussion about the technical panel: they were definitely on the lenient side IMO. Karens 3T was <, Mirais 3T & 3Lo were <, and Ashley... that 3T was close to a <<. And the 2A was really badly URed too... Shin Amano would have eaten that score the same way he did at CoC. I really don't see how she is such a more secure bet for the USFSA at this point than some of the other girls. All of them are 'coin flips' to a certain extent.
Karens and Mirais 3-3's are good examples though of URed jumps that should still be able to get +GOE, as both still were well executed overall and had great qualities to them.

Gracie's 3T as well was UR, which I guess people wouldn't expect given it's her, but on replay it was definitely missed (same at Worlds last year in the FS). They really need to call out these skaters... or at least the tech specialist should go up them after and be like "Hey, I know I need to be lenient so that the skaters get higher scores and seem more competitive when they hit the 2nd half internationals, but clean up your URs!"

 

[pkmnfan]

If you guys think Mirai or Karen was overscored, you should see Canadian Nationals. I didn't actually watch, but Kaetlyn got 81 which shouldn't be possible without a 3A.

 

[stella luna]

No, don't say that. I want to believe!

I bet the FS is going to be a mess