How much should U.S. Nationals count for World team selection?

[R.D.]

If Alissa is not in the race, how can she be the underdog? The gold is between Rachael and Mirai and people are saying Rachael is the underdog for the title, again.

Flatt is NOT the underdog. She faces the pressure of defending that Nats title, a pressure that has undone the past three National champs. It's been 25 YEARS since a skater last defended her first US title.

Flatt is the clear favorite and everyone will be aiming to beat her. Let's see how she handles this pressure...

 

[R.D.]

R.D., I can't tell from your posts what you really think about the question of this thread. Which of these positions (if any) do you support?

(a) The USFSA should send the top finishers at nationals to Worlds.

(b) The USFSA should come up with a new set of criteria which gives points also for placement at other events like the GP Finals or last year's Worlds.

(c) The committee should decide who to put on the worlds team.

Out of the three choices- I'd go with b. Sometimes there are upsets at Nats where a less experienced competitor will beat a more experienced and consistent one. At the same time, putting the ENTIRE selection process in the hands of a committee without any clear rules may lead to controversy if decisions aren't justified clearly.

 

[PolymerBob]

Thank you for backing up the whole point of my post - which is that it's Alissa and not Rachael who is the underdog here.

If Alissa is not in the race, how can she be the underdog? The gold is between Rachael and Mirai and people are saying Rachael is the underdog for the title, again.

Of course between the two of them Czisny would be the underdog. Rachel is the defending national champ after all.

Flatt is NOT the underdog.

Actually, Caroline is the REAL underdog.

 

[Mathman]

There's a difference, Alissa did well in the LP and placed 11th. Rachael bombed, had several random downgrades, and still placed 9th.

I never quite understand observatoions of this sort. Rachael bombed and had several downgrades. That is bad, not good.

I suppose the idea is that if she had skated better she would have placed higher. Well...yes...but she didn't. (?)

 

[Layfan]

Actually, Caroline is the REAL underdog.

 

[janetfan]

I never quite understand observatoions of this sort. Rachael bombed and had several downgrades. That is bad, not good.

I suppose the idea is that if she had skated better she would have placed higher. Well...yes...but she didn't. (?)

The day they taught math at my school we learned 9th place is only a little better than 11th place.

 

[FlattFan]

I never quite understand observatoions of this sort. Rachael bombed and had several downgrades. That is bad, not good.

I suppose the idea is that if she had skated better she would have placed higher. Well...yes...but she didn't. (?)

We need an equivalent Richter magnitude scale for the kind of bombs the girls put out.
Alissa bombed, and it was Hiroshima. Nothing Rachael does is going to be as catastrophic as Alissa's done. Maybe Pearl Harbor, but compare to Hiroshima, it was an oopsie.

 

[FlattFan]

The day they taught math at my school we learned 9th place is only a little better than 11th place.

Your other teammate only needs to finish 4th instead of on the podium. Oh no, not just on the podium, must be silver at least. A little goes a long way. A great philosopher, Posh Spice, once wrote, "the extra half an inch made my life so much better than yours"

 

[Layfan]

Alissa messed up at worlds
Ashley messed up at worlds
Rachael messed up at worlds
Mirai messed up at worlds

It's in the past.

Now it's another season. Give them all a chance to show us what they can do.

 

[janetfan]

Your other teammate only needs to finish 4th instead of on the podium. Oh no, not just on the podium, must be silver at least. A little goes a long way. A great philosopher, Posh Spice, once wrote, "the extra half an inch made my life so much better than yours"

Look, Alissa and Rachael BOTH gave disappointing performances for a US Champion at Worlds.
Our Silver medalist beat Flatt at the Olympics and Worlds. I can't remember if that ever happened to a US Lady champion before.

Those are the facts and old news already. This is a new season.
Hope they all skate good at Natls and the two who go to Worlds do better. I especially expect the US Champion to finish higher than 9th place.

And good luck and best wishes to Alissa and Rachael at the GPF.

 

[FlattFan]

Look, Alissa and Rachael BOTH gave disappointing performances for a US Champion at Worlds.
Our Silver medalist beat Flatt at the Olympics and Worlds. I can't remember if that ever happened to a US Lady champion before.

Those are the facts and old news already. This is a new season.
Hope they all skate good at Natls and the two who go to Worlds do better. I especially expect the uS Champion to finish higher than 9th place.

Then why rehashed the old news all the time?
Weren't you spewing the same facts? that most people thought Mirai was robbed last year. In that scenario, the US Champion would have a disappointing finish as well. Even more disappointing had the judges nailed the champion with flutzes.
If you want others to look forward, maybe you should do the same?

 

[Tonichelle]

We need an equivalent Richter magnitude scale for the kind of bombs the girls put out.
Alissa bombed, and it was Hiroshima. Nothing Rachael does is going to be as catastrophic as Alissa's done. Maybe Pearl Harbor, but compare to Hiroshima, it was an oopsie.

I think the analogy is poor taste considering both were huge tragedies. skating doesn't even come close.

 

[FlattFan]

I think the analogy is poor taste considering both were huge tragedies. skating doesn't even come close.

I agree. It's a terrible analogy. I apologize. .

 

[gkelly]

Our Silver medalist beat Flatt at the Olympics and Worlds. I can't remember if that ever happened to a US Lady champion before.

Hmm. I can think of plenty of times when the silver medalist beat the national champion at Worlds -- after all, Worlds happens every year.

I can think a couple of occasions when the silver or bronze medalist beat the national champion at Olympics, which only happens one-fourth as often.

And on those couple of occasions, the silver or bronze medalist won the Olympics and didn't go to Worlds. So no, I don't think there was a time when the national champion lost to a teammate at both Olympics and Worlds in the same year.

 

[PolymerBob]

So no, I don't think there was a time when the national champion lost to a teammate at both Olympics and Worlds in the same year.

At the 2006 Nationals, Johnny won gold and Evan won silver. Evan went on to finish above Johnny at both the Olympics and Worlds.

 

[Blades of Passion]

A great philosopher, Posh Spice, once wrote, "the extra half an inch made my life so much better than yours"

This might be the one valuable thing you've ever said on the forums! :agree:

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Flatt is NOT the underdog. She faces the pressure of defending that Nats title, a pressure that has undone the past three National champs. It's been 25 YEARS since a skater last defended her first US title.

Flatt is the clear favorite and everyone will be aiming to beat her. Let's see how she handles this pressure...

I just assumed she was an underdog the way the bibes were being thrown at her. Anyway, she already has a Nats title. I think she is aiming for a Worlds medal now and Oly's gold in future. Why not? It's part of the dream.

I'm not a Rachael fan but I understand her motivation. It's better than those who only seek glamor. I'm not sure what Alissa's motivation is. I do like her skating style. I do not like her constant flubs. I will watch GPFinals for both of them to see which of the two would be suited more for Worlds. Also it will be intereresting to see who wins the Finals. I doubt either Rahael or Allissa will.

 

[Layfan]

I just assumed she was an underdog the way the bibes were being thrown at her. Anyway, she already has a Nats title. I think she is aiming for a Worlds medal now and Oly's gold in future. Why not? It's part of the dream.

I'm not a Rachael fan but I understand her motivation. It's better than those who only seek glamor. I'm not sure what Alissa's motivation is. I do like her skating style. I do not like her constant flubs. I will watch GPFinals for both of them to see which of the two would be suited more for Worlds. Also it will be intereresting to see who wins the Finals. I doubt either Rahael or Allissa will.

After her disastrous season last year, Brian Boitano said he encouraged Alissa to keep going - and not leave the sports with any regrets. At the beginning of this season, Alissa said her goal was making the world team - and doing her best there whether that means medaling or helping to get the third spot back. Good enough for me.

No, it doesn't seem likely that Alissa will be around for Sochi but I admire her for not throwing in the towel after last year and for trying to prove to herself that she can do better. After a lifetime of training, I'm sure she feels she owes herself that.

In all probability, Alissa will never be an Olympic medalist. However, Rudy Galindo fought and stuck around long enough to win his national champion and follow it up with a world bronze - and that was his own "Olympic" year and it made him a star. Then he retired from competitive skating - because he "won" for himself.

Sorry if I can't give up on Alissa but as long as she's unwilling to give up on herself, I'll root for her. arty:

 

[Nadine]

I can see why some think Rachael is an underdog, especially the jabs/barbs/constant put downs by one poster in particular. Yet if a person stops to really look at the situation it's really only coming from one person, and a couple of strays thrown in, but overall only a mere handful. So, no, she's not an underdog.

Everybody has their detractor(s). Case in point, Sarah Hughes had Eric Felton on her you-know-what all the time. So be it. That's life, and that's sport, deal with it.

And, lol, it also means you've arrived, Rachael! Nobody cares about the person(s) on the bottom, only those ones on top, especially the one on the very top. Case in point, Michelle Kwan, she had plenty of detractors throughout her competitive career saying she should retire, go out on top, go to school, let the young ones have a chance, she's overscored, et al. But did she? No, she did what she wanted to do and skated the ice. And all those other ones had a chance throughout the years to knock her off, but did they? No, they did not, which po'ed their supporters big time, whom wanted to see their faves overtake her. And that's a similar situation I see Rachael now in. It comes with the territory, which I'm sure she already knows, just think of the good side though, you've arrived! arty:

Nationals can't come soon enough, all this talk just whets my appetite! Another Nationals with all its drama, excitement, hearbreak, and surprises!

GOOOOOOOOOOO USA NATIONALS!!!!!!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

There is a BIG International Championship coming up tomorrow. All the internationals have had their day and there are 2 Americans remaining in this Final among several other notable internationals. Other than winning medals, it will also show how well an individual skater stands out among the crowd.

It is a Window to the Worlds. No?