2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

[ice coverage]

Indi won Intermediate Nationals last year.

The first of 3 NA Series stops was last weekend at Skate Milwaukee. Six of last year's Intermediate ladies from Nationals were invited to participate. Based on the posted results, Indi came in 4th of the US ladies. Anyone know what happened there?
I was actually surprised that Indi got this assignment - I would have thought that one of the others who finished higher last weekend would have gotten the spot.

… When I saw all of the US ladies scores, they all looked low (20+ points lower than their other summer competition scores). ...

FWIW:

Perhaps Indi Cha's wins at 2018 Colonial Open in mid-May helped her get the Asian Open assignment?
Her Colonial scores were SP 47.70 and FS 85.42. Adding up to 133.12.

In an effort to compare apples to apples: If lowered by 20 points, her Colonial Open total would be equivalent to 113.12 -- which would have meant the second-best U.S. placement at Skate Milwaukee. Far better than her actual Skate Milwaukee score of 99.08.​

---

I think it is nice that they are sending three advanced novice ladies to the Asian Open. Last year, they sent only Alysa. USFS must have decided it was beneficial. (I would agree). … And nice to see these young athletes getting international feedback early in the season when they still have time to work on their programs.

Last year, USFS sent two advanced novice ladies to Asian Open Trophy. Stephanie Ciarochi placed second in the SP and sixth overall.

But yes, great that three are going this year. :agree:

 

[Ice Dance]

Last year, USFS sent two advanced novice ladies to Asian Open Trophy.

Ahh! You are correct again. Clearly I need some chocolate to jump start my memory.

 

[Elana]

YAY INDI!! She is seriously so polished and so promising. I hope she performs well here!! Ofc also great to see Alysa and Starr.

Does anyone know why they chose Ellen Slavicek to attend this competition? I didn't recognize the name and I like to follow the lower levels. I had to look up results and found that she didn't even make it to nationals last season in intermediate. Do you know why they wouldn't choose someone who competed at nationals in novice or intermediate at least? Just wondering if there is something special about her, because the girls who skated at nationals had a lot of talent.

 

[concorde]

Does anyone know why they chose Ellen Slavicek to attend this competition? I didn't recognize the name and I like to follow the lower levels. I had to look up results and found that she didn't even make it to nationals last season in intermediate. Do you know why they wouldn't choose someone who competed at nationals in novice or intermediate at least? Just wondering if there is something special about her, because the girls who skated at nationals had a lot of talent.

Can't figure it out either. To me, either Alena or Ava would have made more sense than Ellen. I just did some research and this is what I found out.

Ellen did not skate either Intermediate Nationals last year - she was 4th at her Regionals and then got 6th at Sectionals. She competed in the Broadmoor Open and got 3rd overall. She did not skate at Skate Milwaukee last weekend.
Alena Brudko got either 3rd or 4th at Intermediate Nationals last year (she and Ellen went to the same Sectionals). She completed at the Broadmoor Open and got 1st overall. She came in 2nd of the US ladies at Skate Milwaukee.
Ava Raiter was towards the bottom at Intermediate Nationals last year. She also completed at the Broadmoor Open and got 7th overall. She came in 1st of the US ladies at Skate Milwaukee.

 

[Elana]

Can't figure it out either. To me, either Alena or Ava would have made more sense than Ellen. I just did some research and this is what I found out.

Ellen competed in the Broadmoor Open and got 3rd overall. She did not skate either Intermediate Nationals last year or Skate Milwaukee last weekend.
Alena Brudko also completed at the Broadmoor Open and got 1st overall. She got either 3rd or 4th at Intermediate Nationals last year. She came in 2nd of the US ladies at Skate Milwaukee.
Ava Raiter also completed at the Broadmoor Open and got 7th overall. She was towards the bottom at Intermediate Nationals last year. She came in 1st of the US ladies at Skate Milwaukee last weekend.

Yeah, makes no sense? I don't really remember Ava, might have to go back and watch. But Alena was impressive, she seems so tiny and young, and I saw she did good at Skate Milwaukee., I would like to see her get an international opportunity. Arianna Concepcion came in 3rd at nationals, and I think she would've given Indi a run for her money if she didn't pop in her freeskate, she has big jumps and clean looking skating. She's competing at the next competion in the North American Series thing, so we will have to see how she does, but I would like to see her grow her reputation as well.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Well at the intermediate level some parents may not be ready to go there yet. Pretty sure this means subject to USADA and some parents may not want to disruption hassle at such a young age. Some may not feel comfortable letting the skating travel alone with a coach and may not be able afford to travel with them, or can't justify it yet. I could see some parents having a "you can do X an Y age" rule system. So it is possible that part of who is selected is who is willing and has parental blessing.

 

[concorde]

What happened to Violeta? She was either 2nd or 3rd at Novice Nationals last year. I have not heard anything about her this year.

 

[concorde]

Well at the intermediate level some parents may not be ready to go there yet. Pretty sure this means subject to USADA and some parents may not want to disruption hassle at such a young age. Some may not feel comfortable letting the skating travel alone with a coach and may not be able afford to travel with them, or can't justify it yet. I could see some parents having a "you can do X an Y age" rule system. So it is possible that part of who is selected is who is willing and has parental blessing.

fyi. These skaters are now Novices.
StitchMonkey - may be that explains it in some cases but it does not apply to all. I know that a handful of them now live with either "host families" and/or their coaches. In other cases, their parents are also their coaches.

 

[Elana]

Well at the intermediate level some parents may not be ready to go there yet. Pretty sure this means subject to USADA and some parents may not want to disruption hassle at such a young age. Some may not feel comfortable letting the skating travel alone with a coach and may not be able afford to travel with them, or can't justify it yet. I could see some parents having a "you can do X an Y age" rule system. So it is possible that part of who is selected is who is willing and has parental blessing.

Maybe with some parents, but I don't see this with the top girls. The girls I know at the top are homeschooled and skating in rigorous programs with tough coaches. They have big goals and are training in environments to bring them the furthest. The sacrifices and costs the parents give to get their kids to where they're at are significant, and I couldn't imagine them turning down an offer to compete internationally and get a step further to achieving their dreams and all they have worked so hard for.

 

[el henry]

Maybe with some parents, but I don't see this with the top girls. The girls I know at the top are homeschooled and skating in rigorous programs with tough coaches. They have big goals and are training in environments to bring them the furthest. The sacrifices and costs the parents give to get their kids to where they're at are significant, and I couldn't imagine them turning down an offer to compete internationally and get a step further to achieving their dreams and all they have worked so hard for.

I have no idea why the particular competitors being talked about have not been assigned (truth be told, I don't even know who they are).

But I did want to chime in that not all "top" skaters are homeschooled. Jason Brown is one example of a skater who went to public school and whose parents refused to allow him to go to Colorado to train before he graduated high school. In fact, I just read a blurb where he and his mother gave a talk at Grassroots to Champions and said, for us, it was family, education and skating, in that order.

Now of course Jason traveled plenty as a young competitor, so that was not one of the issues. And I realize he may be the exception that proves the rule. But, to state the obvious, not all skating parents have the same priorities or the same ideas of how to get there.

 

[Elana]

I have no idea why the particular competitors being talked about have not been assigned (truth be told, I don't even know who they are).

But I did want to chime in that not all "top" skaters are homeschooled. Jason Brown is one example of a skater who went to public school and whose parents refused to allow him to go to Colorado to train before he graduated high school. In fact, I just read a blurb where he and his mother gave a talk at Grassroots to Champions and said, for us, it was family, education and skating, in that order.

Now of course Jason traveled plenty as a young competitor, so that was not one of the issues. And I realize he may be the exception that proves the rule. But, to state the obvious, not all skating parents have the same priorities or the same ideas of how to get there.

Yes of course, I agree many skaters do have school as a priority. I know that the girl Arianna I mentioned goes to regular school and is still a fantastic skater. But in turn she's spending everyday after school at the rink and still putting in long hours training with the best coaches. But for all of these girls, regardless of how they are educated, skating is their life and they would never pass up the opportunity to compete internationally, I guess that was my main point.

Side note, I know this is the ladies thread, but I'm curious how Nathan will balance his Ivy League school with his competition and training schedule?

 

[emily_sk8xx]

What happened to Violeta? She was either 2nd or 3rd at Novice Nationals last year. I have not heard anything about her this year.

Back injury. She only recently started jumping again.

 

[el henry]

Yes of course, I agree many skaters do have school as a priority. I know that the girl Arianna I mentioned goes to regular school and is still a fantastic skater. But in turn she's spending everyday after school at the rink and still putting in long hours training with the best coaches. But for all of these girls, regardless of how they are educated, skating is their life and they would never pass up the opportunity to compete internationally, I guess that was my main point.

Side note, I know this is the ladies thread, but I'm curious how Nathan will balance his Ivy League school with his competition and training schedule?

Absolutely agreed about all the time and the effort and that it seems counterintuitive, without knowing more, to pass up a chance to compete.

Nathan's potential schedule was the subject of much discussion at the time he announced he was going, and we could always talk again in the men's thread. I admire his priorities. How will he do it???? Beats me

 

[concorde]

This upcoming competition is the beginning of August when most traditional schools are still on summer break. As a parent of a traditionally schooled skater (not homeschooled), I would think getting assigned to that competition would be a bonanza!

 

[topaz emerald]

YAY INDI!! She is seriously so polished and so promising. I hope she performs well here!! Ofc also great to see Alysa and Starr.

I don't know why, her jumps remind me of Chen Lu. This is my first time seeing her.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Waiting for videos of Skate Detroit......
This year not a lot of big names showed up. But people say Amber looks promising.

 

[MarinHondas]

Waiting for videos of Skate Detroit......
This year not a lot of big names showed up. But people say Amber looks promising.

Hanna Harrell did really well in the long. Did two +triple combos. Only mistake was a popped loop.

 

[Arriba627]

Skate Milwaukee Ladies' Results -- I was especially rooting for Pooja and Maxine (who train locally) and was very excited to see they came in 1st and 3rd.

https://wifsc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Senior-Ladies-Results.pdf

 

[concorde]

Happy to see that Livvy did well. Sweet girl.

 

[KyngRafael]

Skate Milwaukee Ladies' Results -- I was especially rooting for Pooja and Maxine (who train locally) and was very excited to see they came in 1st and 3rd.

https://wifsc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Senior-Ladies-Results.pdf

Thanks for sharing. So happy for Pooja! I was spellbound by her performances at US nationals earlier this year. I think she’s really one to watch. Can’t wait to see her on the JGP.