Katy Taylor USA - music: Theme & Variations by Tchaikovski / fushia with silver diag trim /
Some chor to start - quite ok / 3f / 1a / 3t hung on / camel starts a good combo spin - well centered and nice pos / music smooths out - layback with great pos and then foot to head / spiral start with coe in beillman - could use better extension on the rest / bailed on lutz / 3l landed sideways & fell / flysit with some nice variations in pos / bailed on flip / combo spin is good / strt ftwrk is chor’d to music but not quite dynamic enough for the music / last jump triple that she fell on - didn’t see take-off / another tough skate for Katy - I feel so bad for her / T 26.73 C 41.68 ded 1.00 tot 67.41 gr tot 110.57 curently 3rd overall
I'm not sure what to think of Katy. Someone posted that one of the reasons they dislike her is that she reminds them of a Barbie doll and I have to agree. She also reminds me of Tara Lipinski...Maybe it’s her petite frame but she's like a jackrabbit on crack and I don't mean that in a positive way....I just don't understand what it is about her that people are fascinated with. To each his own.....
I watched her at 4C's and she skated very well and deserved to win. But it seems that so many, including USFSA, are eager to immediately give GP assignments to skaters who have a just a taste of success (e.g. did well at Nationals and then 4C's) but maybe are not as consistent as they need to be. Granted, according to the rules, she earned her GP assignments, but could USFSA have held her back a bit (maybe only one assignment) to see how she does and make certain she is the "real deal" and not a one-shot wonder? Perhaps they could have but are over-eager to get the “new kids” out on the GP stage and get them seasoned.
My question is, how much of her poor showing, and I don't mean having an "off" skate, but literally crumbling (she finished 10th in the SP and 12th in the LP at SC and at SA, she was 11th in the SP and 10th in the LP - last at both events) is really to do with this issue with her boots. I don't mean to say that there is not a problem. If there is, there is. But at this level of skating, she should have worked these kinds of issue out before the beginning of the season. (It’s like Johnny missing the bus at Worlds. You just don’t make ‘amateur’ mistakes like that at this level) Yes, these kinds of things happen and maybe its just bad timing, but I sense that it’s her immaturity and lack of experience at this level that is making her equipment issue a bigger issue. Granted, it's a self-sustaining cycle - boots not working = poor skating = lack of confidence = poor skating = frustration with equipment etc. I just wonder if it’s all too much, too soon and if this combo of experiences will create another Sasha – a skater who has talent and is so close, but so far away.
Just thinking...no offense intended to anyone.
