2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

[KatGrace1925]

The attitude people have had towards Gracie her whole career has been disgusting, it's worse now. Are you all kidding? We knew she wasn't anywhere near ready, everyone on here has been saying how happy they would be if she just skated in a circle just to be out there. She was not at this competition to get ranked high, and she's managed those expectations well. Everyone around her has said not to expect her to be anywhere near where she was, this was about getting the national bye not about anything else. She's made huge strides from losing her jumps to be out there trying, she's got time and the goal is much bigger than a first outing.

 

[bubblecherry]

This is just a first step. Clearly there's a lot to work on but she basically had to compete at this GP to have a chance to compete in the future. Hopefully she wasn't expecting too much.

Anyway; I really wish we were seeing Karen compete. She posted a 3Lz+2T on instagram a couple of days ago, it looked fine, so hopefully she's almost ready. Maybe she's working on the harder combos and consistency right now.

 

[andromache]

They still have to pay for all her travel costs and champs camp and other associated expenses as well as giving a stipend.

And USFS didn't have to give any of those things to her if they didn't want to. (Not to mention that she earned it with her previous successes - that's just how it works.

 

[labgoat]

This is about where I felt Gracie would be right now. It is not too different from where Polina Edmunds was last year. I remember a program from her with a lot of singles. By Nationals, she worked hard and managed a respectable finish in the short. It is a process...much like recovering from an injury. I felt The program suited her, the costume was in character for the music and that she Did what she could right now. No doubt she was quite nervous before the skate. I remember Evgenia's first skate this season - forgetting choreo and making errors. Let's give Gracie some more time. It does seem she underestimated the time it would take to get ready. I hope she will take heart and hang tough through the free skate. Be strong and brave and use this experience to get feedback on the programs.

 

[Tavi...]

They still have to pay for all her travel costs and champs camp and other associated expenses as well as giving a stipend.

Why do you care? If USFS thinks she’s worth the investment, what’s it to you?

 

[princessalica]

Skating competitively for the first time in nearly two years after a break to treat depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder, Gold struggled with nerves as she finished 10th and last in the short program at the Moscow round of the Grand Prix.

Building from "rock bottom," she had to prove to herself she could skate again.

"The expectation wasn't to come here and set the world on fire. I just needed to compete," the U.S. skater said. "On-brand for my personality is to go to one of the hardest Grands Prix in Moscow to do it, not at some tiny competition. The goal was just to show up and try to be brave."

Gold's skate included a fall and some jumps far below other skaters' difficulty level. "We just had to start with something, even if it was trash," she said. "This is six months out of rock bottom so we'll just go from there."

Gold's closest brush with a major title was also a factor in the mental health struggles which eventually led her to spend time in a treatment facility. Gold led the 2016 world championship after the short program, but a poor free skate dropped her down to fourth.

She was also fourth at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and 2015 worlds. She won a bronze in the Olympic team event.

At times, Gold wasn't sure she would skate competitively again, but a foray into coaching got her thinking "like maybe my career ended too early."

Watching the Winter Olympics from home in February, she entertained fans with funny and sometimes biting Twitter comments. Gold resumed training in April, but she's had to relearn the basics.

"I was trying to think why I was so nervous. You say it's been a while," she said, "but I've never gone into a big Grand Prix event where I was so, frankly, not trained."

https://www.tampabay.com/ap/sports/...-go-ap_sports08265a8470204456bcd56d42d4d92abe

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I fear psychologicaly the shame will kick in and this could be a defining moment in a negative way for her career. hope she withdraws from the lp and accepts the truth and comes back when she is really ready.

Her first event back was always going to be bumpy, no matter how prepared she was. Obviously she still has work to do, but I believe she's only going to get better from here. Her confidence will continue to grow as she competes and gets her timing on the jumps back.

 

[tothepointe]

Why do you care? If USFS thinks she’s worth the investment, what’s it to you?

Because I pay my USFS membership dues just like everyone else. USFS has limited funds to spend on it's athletes and honestly, it shouldn't be spending it on that when you have athletes like Starr Andrews who can only afford to skate 2 freestyle sessions a day. Just because you've earnt something in the past doesn't mean you get to keep on spending it. Resources are finite.

I'm happy for her but honestly this was resources squandered. You could have easily achieved the same goals with a senior B or a club competition.

 

[brightphoton]

Sasha Cohen and Kimmie Meissner. They both medaled at 2006 Worlds, Kimmie earning the gold and Sasha the bronze.

Of course, how could I forget Kimmie! She won with a triple axel too.

 

[princessalica]

They still have to pay for all her travel costs and champs camp and other associated expenses as well as giving a stipend.

But honest question, as she's only in the reserve envelope, how much of a stipend does she actually get? I know it decreases with each envelope down. And I think Gracie is worth the investment. She admitted that at least some of it was nerves. I think 40s or 50s would have been possible. She did do some of the harder jumps in her practice yesterday. She landed a 3L. But there is of course a difference between landing a jump in practice and landing one in competition. But I think we need to sit back and watch her work. She said she was only 30-40 percent of where she competitively wants to be. She's not pretending everything is back as it was. But she is fighting to get there. And that is commendable.,

 

[tothepointe]

I would like to point out it's neither the fans nor the critics' job to boost someone's self-esteem by being positive or refraining from criticism. It's the athlete's responsibility to have an internal locus of control. I'm tired of hearing that we shouldn't comment on an athletes performance because of xyz.

 

[tothepointe]

But honest question, as she's only in the reserve envelope, how much of a stipend does she actually get? I know it decreases with each envelope down. And I think Gracie is worth the investment. She admitted that at least some of it was nerves. I think 40s or 50s would have been possible. She did do some of the harder jumps in her practice yesterday. She landed a 3L. But there is of course a difference between landing a jump in practice and landing one in competition. But I think we need to sit back and watch her work. She said she was only 30-40 percent of where she competitively wants to be. She's not pretending everything is back as it was. But she is fighting to get there. And that is commendable.,

I'm not sure the dollar amounts. I'm sure she also has sponsorships that help.

I've suffered from depression in the past and one of the pitfalls of recovery is that people are often overly optimistic around you. You start to feel that your depression was your only barrier and if you can overcome that you can overcome anything. But the reality is if your only at 30-40% then being at a grand prix is not the appropriate place to get it out there.

 

[andromache]

Because I pay my USFS membership dues just like everyone else. USFS has limited funds to spend on it's athletes and honestly, it shouldn't be spending it on that when you have athletes like Starr Andrews who can only afford to skate 2 freestyle sessions a day. Just because you've earnt something in the past doesn't mean you get to keep on spending it. Resources are finite.

I'm happy for her but honestly this was resources squandered. You could have easily achieved the same goals with a senior B or a club competition.

The definition of "earning" something means having done something in the past to merit something.

Fact is, ISU/Grand Prix rules allow skaters a single "comeback" opportunity. Gracie earned that opportunity, and thus USFS is obligated to provide her whatever resources they provide to other skaters with GP assignments (such as Champs Camp).

Has Gracie "squandered" her only GP comeback opportunity? Maybe. Time will tell. Hopefully this will prove to be a learning experience for her and one step on her comeback. We will see her on the GP again if and when she earns it with future results at smaller competitions.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

But honest question, as she's only in the reserve envelope, how much of a stipend does she actually get? I know it decreases with each envelope down. And I think Gracie is worth the investment. She admitted that at least some of it was nerves. I think 40s or 50s would have been possible. She did do some of the harder jumps in her practice yesterday. She landed a 3L. But there is of course a difference between landing a jump in practice and landing one in competition. But I think we need to sit back and watch her work. She said she was only 30-40 percent of where she competitively wants to be. She's not pretending everything is back as it was. But she is fighting to get there. And that is commendable.,

The only thing that left me surprised was the planned layout she submitted. That had me thinking she was a bit farther along than she actually is. It's hard to see the lutz-toe being competition-ready, even though it is planned for both programs.

 

[macy]

Because I pay my USFS membership dues just like everyone else. USFS has limited funds to spend on it's athletes and honestly, it shouldn't be spending it on that when you have athletes like Starr Andrews who can only afford to skate 2 freestyle sessions a day. Just because you've earnt something in the past doesn't mean you get to keep on spending it. Resources are finite.

I'm happy for her but honestly this was resources squandered. You could have easily achieved the same goals with a senior B or a club competition.

thanks for your opinion, but this is actually a rule in place by USFS so if you would like to complain, maybe you should contact them.

 

[tothepointe]

The definition of "earning" something means having done something in the past to merit something.

Fact is, ISU/Grand Prix rules allow skaters a single "comeback" opportunity. Gracie earned that opportunity, and thus USFS is obligated to provide her whatever resources they provide to other skaters with GP assignments (such as Champs Camp).

Has Gracie "squandered" her only GP comeback opportunity? Maybe. Time will tell. Hopefully this will prove to be a learning experience for her and one step on her comeback. We will see her on the GP again if and when she earns it with future results at smaller competitions.

I think if she hadn't had a terrible 2016/2017 season where she had been advised to withdraw from the GP at that point but choose to compete anyways then I would say no. But I think the opportunity to turn the train of her career around might have passed.

But if this was really a test to see if she still loves it or not then it's probably worth it to her personally. Just not sure it's worth it to the federation.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I would like to point out it's neither the fans nor the critics' job to boost someone's self-esteem by being positive or refraining from criticism. It's the athlete's responsibility to have an internal locus of control. I'm tired of hearing that we shouldn't comment on an athletes performance because of xyz.

Her participation was planned long before she knew where'd she be in her comeback. No one is saying it was a strong performance, but I respect her for not withdrawing at the last minute and delaying her return. She's back and the first program is out of the way, so a lot of questions are already answered. Now we get to see where she goes from here.

 

[tothepointe]

The only thing that left me surprised was the planned layout she submitted. That had me thinking she was a bit farther along than she actually is. It's hard to see the lutz-toe being competition-ready, even though it is planned for both programs.

I can imagine you don't want people talking badly about your performance before it's even begun.

 

[KatGrace1925]

Because I pay my USFS membership dues just like everyone else. USFS has limited funds to spend on it's athletes and honestly, it shouldn't be spending it on that when you have athletes like Starr Andrews who can only afford to skate 2 freestyle sessions a day. Just because you've earnt something in the past doesn't mean you get to keep on spending it. Resources are finite.

I'm happy for her but honestly this was resources squandered. You could have easily achieved the same goals with a senior B or a club competition.

Gracie at her prime was a potential winner of every competition she entered, she has earned the chance to take this comeback in any way she wants to. She had to pay her dues as a younger skater as well before being given this chance. Just because your a member doesn't mean you get the right to demean someone being given a chance who has earned it, besides Ashley she was the most competitive ladies skater the US has had in the last 3 quads. None of the other girls have even come close to her achievements.

 

[Charlotte 71]

Her participation was planned long before she knew where'd she be in her comeback. No one is saying it was a strong performance, but I respect her for not withdrawing at the last minute and delaying her return. She's back and the first program is out of the way, so a lot of questions are already answered. Now we get to see where she goes from here.

It took a lot of strength for her to go out there today, so bravo to her for mustering that strength. There is nothing to lose in the free program, so I hope she will skate her heart out and forget about the scores and placement. Next stop after tomorrow is Nationals, and it will be lovely to have her there.