I’m guessing from your posting history, you don’t know that I’ve talked about the all the issues in USFS for several years. I’ve never said test skates were a miracle cure. Just the best objective way to select JGP spots. There are a ton of problems with the club competition system and judging that lead to massive problems at higher levels.
It’s very unfair to say that the field isn’t as deep because of lack of popularity. From what I can see there are lots of talented young girls skating at all times. While lack of popularity has impacted the number of super talented ladies that spring up naturally, it has not stopped talented girls from potential emerging at all levels that suffer under a ineffective system. USFS can no longer rely on a laissez faire attitude and expect things to work themselves out.
As for the triples, it’s far better to have a skater with triples than no triples. It’s why the bonus system was implemented and has had a strong effect on the number of talented girls popping up.
In 2014, Tessa won intermediate with only two double axels and a 3S<. She had a massive score difference between the silver medalist Alexia, who had a 3T and 3S fully rotated. She was a more artistic skater who Frank coached, so naturally shed get these scores. The same year, a girl with no 2A in Juvenile won nationals at against two of skaters with two 2As. Emily Chan won novice in 2015, with very mature programs and only two triples. In intermediate, a girl with no triples or double axels beat out several ladies with 2As and triples to win a bronze medal. She as also very artistic, and judges inflating her scores above them. In all these cases, the winner struggled with consistency in the future. However, the long term effect, was for coaches to stop focusing on training higher level jumps and fixate on delivering artistic programs. The year after the girl with no 2A won juvenile, only one girl at nationals attempted a 2A. All the rest, including the entire podium competed with strictly doubles.
After USFS instituted the bonus system, more ladies are developing jumps sooner. Girls compete with way more triples earlier than before. It’s why this argument about JGP spots happened in the first place, the 1st year juniors are more competitive because they worked on their triples sooner. In 2015, before the system was implemented a new junior could expected to average around 140. In 2016, the year after the bonus system was implemented, there was one junior that scored a 155. This year, several girls are scoring around the 165 mark already. You can also see that the US managed to get back on the podium at JW last year. The field is getting deeper and more competitive as a result of just giving bonuses for attempting more triples and triple triple combos.
Over the last four years, USFS has made great strides in improving developmental skaters. They created camps, this new North American competition system, the bonus system, better choices with the JGP selection, etc. But they can always do much. In Korea, post Yuna the field was quite shallow as well. However, their qualification system, while flawed, has lead to more talented and competitive ladies spring up that are trouncing US consistently. Eunsoo is the first to medal at a GP event since Yuna. Yelim is the first to make the JGP final. Clearly Young having a 3A in itself is a huge acheivement. However, she was strong and consistent enough to beat Karen at Philly International They did this by bringing these ladies together and having them compete for a chance to be on the JPG. Even though those three have moved on to seniors, there are still very competitive ladies that are still emerging in the junior ranks all because they have a consistent system that challenges them to be better competitors.
I don’t mean that girls don’t take their skating seriously. I mean that because they don’t have strong competition in these small club comps, they and their coaches are less concerned with a popped jump here or an occasional fall. However once they head to regionals, sectionals, and nationals it’s a different story. Their confidence plummets when they see competitive skaters. Skaters that looked so good just weeks before crumble in a fit of nerves. The JGP is the worst. Most skaters have never competed abroad and have never competed against Russian, Japanese or Korean skaters. It’s a completely shock to see how far behind they are in comparison. Having a test skate would help immensely. It would force them to be ready and have their jumps more consistent earlier. It would root out the nervy skaters and force them to deal with their nerves. Imagine if there are three ladies competing for a JGP spot and there are only one left. before had they all scored a 165, so who knows who would be better. They get put in a competition together. Skater A had good results before but is inconsistent. She competes and scores 10 points lower than she had before. Skater B is consistent but score lower because she lacks speed and high level jump combos. Skater C is super talented but is a very nervous competitor, she bombs here short but rallies in the FS to get 2nd place. The most consistent skater wins, leaving the other two to stay home much to their frustration. Both skater A and C decide to improve their skills so they won’t lose again. Skater A improves her consistency. Skater C works hard and conquers her nerves. Skater B has a weak season the next year, but vows to improve her skills for the next season.
If this sounds familiar. That’s pretty much what happened with Pooja, Hanna, and Ting. Pooja got a silver medal at Jr. Nationals for her consistency. However, next year, Hanna became the US Pewter medalist and Ting is a world bronze medalist. That’s what I mean by taking the sport more seriously. If you have something to lose, something as coveted as JGP, skaters will work harder to get it.
I’ve seen this happen time and time again. Like in 2012 when Ally Raisman lost out on an all around medal on a technicality. She committed herself to getting on the team again and coming back stronger. Now she has a silver medal from Rio. Teams that just lost out in winning a championship, committing themselves and winning in the next season. Losing can be a strong motivator to improve for the future. It’s not a silver bullet, but it is something that can help many girls.
Are they many other things USFS needs to do? Absolutely. Improving judging and tech controllers, for a start. However, I am completely firm that we need test skating prior to the season for JGP and non-GP skaters who are vying for their federation to chose them for an international spot.
He was so exhausted by Worlds.
