Junior Ladies Short Program

[icemusings]

The Junior Ladies Short Program begins at 11:45pm EST. I'll be doing live play by play at http://icemusings.blogspot.com/2012/01/us-nationals-junior-ladies-short.html

Should be an exciting event with the Midwestern ladies looking to sweep the podium and lead by Gracie Gold who had a stellar Junior Grand Prix debut.

 

[icemusings]

We're doing an ice resurfacing now so we're probably looking at a 12:10am EST start time.

 

[BackStage Barbie]

I'm doing some LIVE commentary on the Jr. Ladies event here http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-us-figure-skating-championships_4409.html

 

[tulosai]

There isn't by any wild chance a live stream is there?

 

[icemusings]

There is if you are an icenetwork subscriber. I haven't heard of any other streams yet.

 

[macy]

i am so excited for this event! it's going to be GOOD!

 

[icemusings]

First warmup group is on the ice. We'll be starting soon!

 

[sky_fly20]

Gold for Gracie Gold, looking good on her SP getting 1st place
thanks for the live feed.

 

[Jammers]

Hope Gracie develops a bit more personality on the ice. The jumps are certainly there but she needs work on everything else. Still nice to see an American girl who can land the jumps. I bet the Senior ladies are glad that Gracie isn't skating as a Senior this year.

 

[Mrs. P]

Love Gracie's big jumps, Hannah's and Ashley's fierceness, Mariah's and Polina's spark and Barbie's grace. What a great competition. The final six are going to be fun to watch! I think it's still anyone's game. Gracie has a nice lead, but not as huge as I thought. I think it will be quite the fight for silver and bronze.

 

[sky_fly20]

Hope Gracie develops a bit more personality on the ice. The jumps are certainly there but she needs work on everything else. Still nice to see an American girl who can land the jumps. I bet the Senior ladies are glad that Gracie isn't skating as a Senior this year.

she still lacks the personality on ice side, that has been pointed out before
but her PCS will even get bigger in time and she already has a great technique on her jumps,
no doubt she would have eaten Mirai and Ashely had she competed Seniors and would have won by a huge margin of score.
she is the real deal .

 

[Jammers]

Yeah she definitely looks more like a Senior skater just with her jumps and her power.

 

[Jammers]

I'm a bit surprised that Polina isn't skating as a Novice this year considering she's 2-3 years younger then the rest of the girls.

 

[Mrs. P]

Hope Gracie develops a bit more personality on the ice. The jumps are certainly there but she needs work on everything else. Still nice to see an American girl who can land the jumps. I bet the Senior ladies are glad that Gracie isn't skating as a Senior this year.

I do see small improvements in her on-ice presence and her non-jump elements. But at this point, it's a lot to ask to improve all those things now. I think her team is smart to focus on putting forth solid programs for Nationals and, likely, Junior Worlds. She can work on the rest in the off-season.

 

[macy]

wow what a wonderful group! the top six were awesome! gracie's power, speed, and GORGEOUS jumps, hannah's choreography/interpretation and the way she sells her program (GO LANSING SKATING CLUB!), ashley's fierceness as said above, polina's fun program, mariah's spunkiness and joy, and barbie's smooth movements. i can't wait for the long! this is such a great group of girls. the seniors better watch out next year!

 

[Mrs. P]

I'm a bit surprised that Polina isn't skating as a Novice this year considering she's 2-3 years younger then the rest of the girls.

She skated in Novice in 2010 and finished sixth: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/sports/olympics/20longman.html
She did juniors last year and finished in 7th.
She had a major upgrade in her tech (she did 3T-2T, 3L and 2A last year vs 3F-3T, 3Z, 2A) — so it's great to see her move up.

 

[Jammers]

I can't see Gracie staying as a Junior next year. She wouldn't gain anything. The way she skated tonight she would place top 4 easily against the Senior ladies.

 

[Mrs. P]

I can't see Gracie staying as a Junior next year. She wouldn't gain anything. The way she skated tonight she would place top 4 easily against the Senior ladies.

Who said that she should stay junior? I just said that she should focus on skating solid programs now and work on the details when the season's over.

 

[macy]

pretttyyy sure she's moving up next year. this is her second year as a junior.

 

[sky_fly20]

definitely some promising young juniors with Gracie, Hannah and glad Polina is improving, I didnt know she is just 13 yrs. old !

I see Gracie Gold finishing a podium at junior worlds
so will Gracie compete in another JGP this season ?