Ladies OGM Contenders 2018

[4everchan]

I agree with you about this. To me, it's rather like Carolina Kostner not having the pressure of having to perform well at her Nationals.... it seems like a great boon not to bear that pressure.

On another note, 4everchan, I knew that your capitalization practices can be rather erratic; and I knew that you always hold up the Canadians in your posts. But this is just .... well .... You capitalized "Canadians," but demoted all the other nationalities to lower case? Oh dear ....

well, don't read into this... i rarely capitalize nationalities or anything as a matter of fact... almost never.. especially the i ... i rarely bother don't forget that english even if i know takes a capital e and i am not giving it, is not my first language. If any thing, i shouldn't have capitalized "Canadians" that was the mistake here... not a demotion to other nations...

funny how people stick to some details which are truly meaningless to the poster when posting, yet could create misunderstanding, because really, there's nothing to be implied in my erratic capitalisations here

i mean... look at my username poor chiddy... he lost his capital c

 

[xeyra]

I think it prevents artistic growth, because most skaters in these deep competitive fields are youngsters that never get the opportunity to focus on the artistry, because the tech score is where it's at. I think for example, that Anna has the ability to become a very mature artist with great skating skills - a skater like Carolina Kostner. But she's not there yet - and she might never get there, because unlike Carolina, who was easily forgiven, it is hard to have meltdowns and be trusted by the fed, because there are so many rivals at home. And then they have to be on top of the game during senior B's (they count), GP's (they count), GPF (that counts) and then Nationals. If you deliver at Nationals but fail at the European Championships...even then they can tell you, you'll stay home at the Olympics. So I'm not exactly a fan of "If Nationals doesn't kill you, you'll be Queen."

You have a point there: one might be too busy fending off usurpers to really go outside a comfort zone and take risks. (Edit: Or end up concentrating on upping tech a bit too much in detriment of other things). Though at the same time, I wouldn't say the Japanese ladies lack artistic growth despite them also having a very deep field and now having to go fight for two spots for the Olympics. So maybe it depends on the schools of thought in each country.

Edit 2: I realize I actually completely missed your point about artistic growth. I apologise (reading comprehension, I lack it) and I do agree that one's opportunities might be hindered by not being given the benefit of the doubt within a cutthroat field and them needing to be ON 24/7 in every competition not to fall behind the others in a very deep field, as is Anna's current case. And also that one is being asked to be competitive in tech, which might hinder one's artistic expression during their development, but I'm not sure that's tied alone to a very competitive national field. And there have been quite a lot of junior skaters or incoming seniors that have quite a lot of artistic potential even with good tech, both in ladies and men.

 

[Osmond4gold]

Gracie Gold releases news of her 2 programs, for the 2017-18 season.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/gracie-gold-unveils-olympic-season-programs

 

[leafygreens]

As much as I personally don't like this, I think there's a realistic chance of a Russian sweep.

 

[4everchan]

As much as I personally don't like this, I think there's a realistic chance of a Russian sweep.

there will be a Russian sweep at Russian Nationals

 

[Hyena]

There's a realistic chance of an Olympic Russian sweep, but that's also been true of every ladies competition at Worlds since 2015.

 

[mrfarmer]

There's a realistic chance of an Olympic Russian sweep, but that's also been true of every ladies competition at Worlds since 2015.

If we would be realistic with PCS though, I think there will never be a Russian sweep, ever. No shade.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

I could definitely see a Russian sweep. Even sotskova could be on the podium if she rotates her jumps. It's extremely hard to picture satoko on the podium because she could get low balled in PCS, or get underrotations. It's hard to picture Ashley up there too, with not enough +GOE on her spins and jumps. All Dabin Choi needs is to give more face, and better choreography, definitely.

 

[bevybean]

I could definitely see a Russian sweep. Even sotskova could be on the podium if she rotates her jumps. It's extremely hard to picture satoko on the podium because she could get low balled in PCS, or get underrotations. It's hard to picture Ashley up there too, with not enough +GOE on her spins and jumps. All Dabin Choi needs is to give more face, and better choreography, definitely.

I feel like I've heard that phrase a lot in discussions on these forums. I had no idea so many ladies weren't fully rotating their jumps.

 

[Osmond4gold]

There's a realistic chance of an Olympic Russian sweep, but that's also been true of every ladies competition at Worlds since 2015.

Or a Canadian or North American sweep for that matter. Sorry, but ice is slippery and anything can happen (insert Anna P. here). Given the results of Worlds 2017, and the fact that of the top elite women, North Americans won 3 of top 4 positions, I do not see a Russian sweep in the cards.

Just sayin'.

 

[Shayuki]

If we would be realistic with PCS though, I think there will never be a Russian sweep, ever. No shade.

Ever? Hm... Probably not in these olympics. The next one, though? I wouldn't be so sure.

 

[koatcue]

If we would be realistic with PCS though, I think there will never be a Russian sweep, ever. No shade.

How so? I could give you more than 3 names on the Russian team who could have easily been on the podium skate they clean.

 

[koatcue]

Or a Canadian or North American sweep for that matter. Sorry, but ice is slippery and anything can happen (insert Anna P. here). Given the results of Worlds 2017, and the fact that of the top elite women, North Americans won 3 of top 4 positions, I do not see a Russian sweep in the cards.

Just sayin'.

Exaggerating and dreaming much. Never in this universe taking in consideration not just Russians but Japanese..

 

[mrrice]

How so? I could give you more than 3 names on the Russian team who could have easily been on the podium skate they clean.

I didn't see a Russian Ladies Sweep. However, I did witness the Russian Team sweeping the gold medals in 1999....When Maria Butyrskaya, Alexei Yagudin, Alena and Anton, and Anjelika and Oleg all won their captions. Too bad they didn't have the team event back then.

 

[mrrice]

Exaggerating and dreaming much. Never in this universe taking in consideration not just Russians but Japanese..

Unless Med were to have a huge dip in form, something I don't see happening, I don't see a Russia Lady off the podium. However, a Russian sweep in the ladies event would mean that some skaters would have to skate badly. At their best, Kaetlyn, Gabby, and Karen are capable of beating all the ladies if the chips fall the right way. Who knows what will happen with Starr. I never remember her name but, the new Junior World Champion from Russia could, and likely will, knock a talented Russian Lady off the team. The real pressure for all these ladies will come at the respective nationals. I'm going to hold my opinion until I see them on an international stage.

 

[4everchan]

RESULTS from 2017
1 Evgenia MEDVEDEVA
RUS
233.41 1 1
2 Kaetlyn OSMOND
CAN
218.13 2 2
3 Gabrielle DALEMAN
CAN
213.52 3 3
4 Karen CHEN
USA
199.29 5 6
5 Mai MIHARA
JPN
197.88 15 4
6 Carolina KOSTNER
ITA
196.83 8 5
7 Ashley WAGNER
USA
193.54 7 10
8 Maria SOTSKOVA
RUS
192.20 6 11
9 Elizabet TURSYNBAEVA
KAZ
191.99 10 8
10 Dabin CHOI
KOR
191.11 11 7
11 Wakaba HIGUCHI
JPN
188.05 9 12
12 Mariah BELL
USA
187.23 13 9
13 Anna POGORILAYA
RUS
183.37 4 15


Yes... Medvedeva is clearly on top... but without wishing her any harm... 2-3-4 for North America is closer to a podium sweep than a podium sweep for Russia who placed 1-8-13 for Russia...

I don't think either will happen but I can see what Osmond4Gold was saying here.... to sweep, you need all members to be clean and flawless. I am even predicting that Maria and maybe even Anna won't be at the games. I wouldn't be surprised with a Medvedeva, Radio and Zagi team for Russia... and I don't see more than one of these 3 ladies beating everyone else.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I can see Zagitova beating everyone not named Medvedeva based on her BV, GOE, and her rate of consistency and coming into the senior season with a bit of a reputation of being another unstoppable Eteri product. Just because I can see it doesn't mean I think it's the most likely outcome.

 

[mrrice]

I can see Zagitova beating everyone not named Medvedeva based on her BV, GOE, and her rate of consistency and coming into the senior season with a bit of a reputation of being another unstoppable Eteri product. Just because I can see it doesn't mean I think it's the most likely outcome.

Zagitova is the skater I was thinking of. This is why I'm waiting to see how things go at Nationals. Assuming Med retains her Title and Zagitova makes the team. There is still a ton of talent left for Russian ladies to deal with. I can think of 5 Russian ladies that are capable of making the team from Tuk, Rad, Pogo, Yulia, and my sentimental favorite, Alena Leonova. I'm sure there are others....

 

[4everchan]

I can see Zagitova beating everyone not named Medvedeva based on her BV, GOE, and her rate of consistency and coming into the senior season with a bit of a reputation of being another unstoppable Eteri product. Just because I can see it doesn't mean I think it's the most likely outcome.

i cannot see it yet because the little i saw from her was very juniorish in choreo and presentation... but if BV and backloading is the way to go, then she should even beat Medvedeva because she lutzes.

 

[mrrice]

I totally forgot something......Canada has 3 spots for the Ladies!! Do you think Alaine Chartrand is going to be lady #3, or is there someone else in contention?