2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

[NanaPat]

My favorite guy this year is Matteo Rizzo. Why? I don't know, I just like his performances. Is he going to medal at Worlds? Hey! ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! Maybe one day he can help Italy make it to the final round of the Olympic Team competition!

Italy did make it to the final round (long programs, best 5 teams) of the Olympic Team competition in both 2014 and 2018. In 2018, Matteo helped make it so.

Maybe you mean the podium? That's more of a long shot. They came fourth each year with the US in third. . In 2014 it was 60 to 52, and in 2018 it was 62 to 56. I think 2018 was a good year overall for Italy.

 

[Mathman]

Italy did make it to the final round (long programs, best 5 teams) of the Olympic Team competition in both 2014 and 2018. In 2018, Matteo helped make it so.

Maybe you mean the podium? That's more of a long shot. They came fourth each year with the US in third. . In 2014 it was 60 to 52, and in 2018 it was 62 to 56. I think 2018 was a good year overall for Italy.

Thanks for reminding me of the details. :agree:

Since this is the U.S. ladies' thread, I'll say this about 2018. Mirai N. got some flack for saying immodestly that she was responsible for the U.S. making the team podium. But by hitting that triple Axel in a seven triple program she finished 2nd in that strong field when it could easily have been last. This would have been a four-point swing from the U.S. to Italy and would have made the bronze a nail-biter.

 

[ice coverage]

… Mirai N. got some flack for saying immodestly that she was responsible for the U.S. making the team podium. But by hitting that triple Axel in a seven triple program she finished 2nd in that strong field when it could easily have been last. This would have been a four-point swing from the U.S. to Italy and would have made the bronze a nail-biter.

For the record: You're not quoting Mirai verbatim, and it was a matter of debate as to whether her actual wording was appropriate or immodest.

 

[skylark]

Personally, I vote for emotion, drama, charisma, musical thrills, too. It's just that if you have all that, hit all your jumps but don't do a quad, and finsh fifth -- well, I am OK with that.

My favorite guy this year is Matteo Rizzo. Why? I don't know, I just like his performances. Is he going to medal at Worlds? Hey! ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! Maybe one day he can help Italy make it to the final round of the Olympic Team competition!

Yeah ... you and I love many of the same things about figure skating. I'm not surprised. And one of the things I enjoy about watching an entire competitions all the way through - on our Competition Threads :yay: ... is that I love finding some less-well-known skater, or simply one everyone else knew about but I didn't, that I love and relate to. And yes, if one of my favorites finishes fifth, I'm okay with that too. It's the experience of watching figure skating that I love, not the result as much, although that provides suspense and thrills too.

I guess I was thinking about someone who posted that (in a show, granted), they felt that Bradie's performance level wasn't that far from Ashley's. And that remark makes me think, well, that person is looking for something quite different in a performance than I am. Or to put it another way, a good performance means something different to different people. Heck, even I can (somewhat) value different kinds of performing in a skater, it doesn't always have to be charisma, musicality, drama or emotion. So it's just an interesting thought to me that someone might value more a skater like Bradie, or Rachel Flatt, for great, or solid, or pristine technical performances. (Actually, I was thinking of Alina Z. with the word pristine, there's something so beautiful about her crisp elements, but she doesn't engage my feelings with her skating ... although as a person, she does.)

I'm continually fascinated by the fact that there's room in figure skating for so many views. Something for everybody.

 

[Mathman]

... Rachael Flatt ...

Something for everybody.

Rachael was my girl ever since she served (at age 15) as spokesperson for the American Association of Orthodontists, patriotically sporting special red, white and blue braces ahead of the the 2008 Summer Olympics. She could easily have been U.S. champion in both 2008 and 2009. -- in both years she beat the eventual champion in the LP.

Here she is now, as a graduate student at the University of North Carolina.

https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...achael-flatt-embarks-on-doctoral-program.aspx

 

[concorde]

Last I heard (and is mentioned in mathman's link), Racheal was working with USFS on addressing eating disorders. Anyone have any more information on the project? If so, please tell.

 

[RoyThree]

Yeah ... you and I love many of the same things about figure skating. I'm not surprised. And one of the things I enjoy about watching an entire competitions all the way through - on our Competition Threads :yay: ... is that I love finding some less-well-known skater, or simply one everyone else knew about but I didn't, that I love and relate to. And yes, if one of my favorites finishes fifth, I'm okay with that too. It's the experience of watching figure skating that I love, not the result as much, although that provides suspense and thrills too.

I guess I was thinking about someone who posted that (in a show, granted), they felt that Bradie's performance level wasn't that far from Ashley's. And that remark makes me think, well, that person is looking for something quite different in a performance than I am. Or to put it another way, a good performance means something different to different people. Heck, even I can (somewhat) value different kinds of performing in a skater, it doesn't always have to be charisma, musicality, drama or emotion. So it's just an interesting thought to me that someone might value more a skater like Bradie, or Rachel Flatt, for great, or solid, or pristine technical performances. (Actually, I was thinking of Alina Z. with the word pristine, there's something so beautiful about her crisp elements, but she doesn't engage my feelings with her skating ... although as a person, she does.)

I'm continually fascinated by the fact that there's room in figure skating for so many views. Something for everybody.

I'm with you and Mathman. We saw both Bradie and Ashley at Stars on Ice last year, and while Bradie was very good, Ashley stole the show with her personality and charisma.

 

[Mathman]

Yeah ... you and I love many of the same things about figure skating. I'm not surprised.

Just to be clear, though, I have to say that I like a good athletic tour de force type of program, too. Nathan Chen: I can do this, I can do this, I can do THIS --- and i can do THAT!.

As for show programs, Bradie is not the experienced show skater that Ashley became. But to me she has her own spark and charm.

 

[ice coverage]

… Of all the qualities I've mentioned, emotional resonance is the essential one. For me. ...

It is worth underlining that two different fans who both place high value on emotional resonance can disagree as to which skaters are greater or lesser sources of emotional resonance.

I remember a GS conversation about ice dancers Couple A and Couple B (both couples very popular and well respected).
Someone basically said that Couple A skates beautifully, but does not make any emotional impact, whereas Couple B very successfully accomplishes both.
My opinion was the exact opposite: for me, it is only Couple A who very successfully accomplishes both, and it is Couple B who does not make any emotional impact. (It is not that I value emotional resonance any less than the other GS member.)

… I'm continually fascinated by the fact that there's room in figure skating for so many views. Something for everybody.

:agree:

 

[skylark]

Just to be clear, though, I have to say that I like a good athletic tour de force type of program, too. Nathan Chen: I can do this, I can do this, I can do THIS --- and i can do THAT!.
.

Oh, me too, good point. I'll never forget being present for Nathan's planned 4-quad program when he added a 5th, the quad sal, late in the program. He'd already made history with the 4, now another ... "because I can." And I see plenty of artistry, personality and charisma in his programs apart from the amazing athleticism ... even in that one, when I wasn't crazy about the music and hated the costume.

As ice coverage said, another important point is that those impressions and feelings may be the opposite for other viewers.

To bring this back to US Ladies, I found Alysa's 2 programs at nationals charming, musical, and fairly mature skating, as well as proficient technically, so it was surprising and interesting that other posters didn't.

 

[el henry]

I'm with you and Mathman. We saw both Bradie and Ashley at Stars on Ice last year, and while Bradie was very good, Ashley stole the show with her personality and charisma.

Isn’t it funny how folks can watch this he same show (although probably in different cities) and come away with different impressions?

I saw SOI last year. I came away equally impressed with Ashley and Bradie. Bradie’s performance chops are woefully underrated, IMO.

And I didn’t think that any of the ladies “stole the show”. But that’s just one person’s opinion

 

[skylark]

I'm with you and Mathman. We saw both Bradie and Ashley at Stars on Ice last year, and while Bradie was very good, Ashley stole the show with her personality and charisma.

Yes; I think it's Ashley's innate, intuitive connection with her music, and with audiences. A number of skaters have said that it's a two-way street; that the response from the audience fuels their performance more. I wonder if that's innate, or whether it can be taught. Some skaters don't seem to reach out to the audience, or draw them in. It's just a different sort of artistry, more inner and perhaps reserved.

 

[SkateSkates]

Yes; I think it's Ashley's innate, intuitive connection with her music, and with audiences. A number of skaters have said that it's a two-way street; that the response from the audience fuels their performance more. I wonder if that's innate, or whether it can be taught. Some skaters don't seem to reach out to the audience, or draw them in. It's just a different sort of artistry, more inner and perhaps reserved.

But Ashley didn’t always have that connection to the music/audience - look back at her 2007 and 2008 programs. She worked on it over the years and really started owning her skating in 2011-2012 when she moved across the country to John Nicks.

 

[Mathman]

Yes; I think it's Ashley's innate, intuitive connection with her music, and with audiences. A number of skaters have said that it's a two-way street; that the response from the audience fuels their performance more.

But Ashley didn’t always have that connection to the music/audience - look back at her 2007 and 2008 programs. She worked on it over the years and really started owning her skating in 2011-2012 ...

I think that what happens is that when you start out, you are fearful about whether the audience will like you or not. As you gain experience and climb up the ladder, you begin to realize that you are in command of the audience's emotions, not the other way around.

 

[Globetrotter]

Yes; I think it's Ashley's innate, intuitive connection with her music, and with audiences. A number of skaters have said that it's a two-way street; that the response from the audience fuels their performance more. I wonder if that's innate, or whether it can be taught. Some skaters don't seem to reach out to the audience, or draw them in. It's just a different sort of artistry, more inner and perhaps reserved.

I think it’s true. Which is why spectators tend to find it easier to cheer for skaters like Ashley or Lena Radio who both love performing and drawing their energy from the crowd. Other skaters may be more introspective and dun enjoy that as much. Satoko Miyahara to me is a consummate artist on ice but it’s much harder for the general audience to connect goad she is not a naturally extroverted person.

 

[macy]

i saw disney's frozen on ice yesterday for my niece's birthday. Mariah Bell's sister Morgan played the lead role of Anna; she did such a great job interpreting her character. I had never seen a Disney on ice performance before and i didn't realize the solid acting skills you need on top of skating in these roles. It must take a lot of practice to know every single line on top of your choreography!

I always enjoyed watching her at nationals even though she was never a top skater, so it was great to see her still skating and enjoying it in a different way now.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

I honestly don’t think that the US ladies will get 3 spots for next year. The field is too tough for them.
But, what score do u guys think bradie will get for a clean sp? A high 69 ? Maybe 71+ ? At 4CC her score was based on home scoring so I can’t go by the 73+ she received there....unlesss the federation will be politicking hard enough for her.
??????

 

[oatmella]

I think Bradie would get 70+ for a clean SP at Worlds. She will be skating in the final group, which should help a bit.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

I think Bradie would get 70+ for a clean SP at Worlds. She will be skating in the final group, which should help a bit.

Why does she get to skate in the final group for the short program?

 

[oatmella]

Why does she get to skate in the final group for the short program?

It goes by ISU world standings - Alina, Evgenia, Kaori, Satoko, Rika, and Bradie will be skating in the final SP group.
http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsladies.htm