Mid-Season Report: U.S. Ladies, R.D. Style

[janetfan]

Toni is right. There is a joy to her skating that's infectious...you can tell she genuinely loves to skate...that's a major part of her appeal to me...it enables her to really connect with the audience and it's great entertainment. It also does not translate very well onto a TV screen...you really have to be there live to get the full experience. Wow, never thought I'd ever say that about kimmie of all folks

Cohen was the opposite (that year); her showy moves are showcased on TV, but live, it was clear she was just fulfilling an obligation to skate and didn't really want to do it.

I enjoy performers that enjoy what they're doing (or look like it, at least). Emily Hughes' joy comes across even on TV; I wonder what it's like to see her live and if I'll ever get the chance...

It is really stupid that Sasha gets TOP billing since nobody likes her skating or comes to see her.

Emily is "like a bull in a China shop" whether you see her Live or on TV
Kwanfordwife

 

[R.D.]

Ashley answered a facebook message of mine within 10 minutes, so that was cool ^^)
It's true that Ashley enjoys the 'glamorous' side of figure skating; but she doesn't come across as snotty or conceited.

oh are you "friends" with her on FB?

She DOES come across as ambitious, driven, and somewhat bold though, at least in comparison to other skaters. I like that she's open about her goals, reminds me of young Cohen. Other skaters (except maybe Nagasu) put out typical sound bytes of "I want to skate my best" and hide their ambitions. It's refreshing to see otherwise, and even more so from a skater who seems to fit the mold of typical "girly" ice skater. Hopefully she does not take too much flack for it.

 

[R.D.]

It is really stupid that Sasha gets TOP billing since nobody likes her skating or comes to see her.

Emily is "like a bull in a China shop" whether you see her Live or on TV
Kwanfordwife

People are wowed by Cohen's flexy moves. But that night in Baltimore, I KNOW I wasn't the only one underwhelmed by her.

If it makes you Cohen defenders feel any better, she was better this year, at least in terms of getting into her performance and not just looking like she'd rather be, I dunno, at the movies

as for Hughes, well, different strokes, although it's hard to say without actually watching her perform live (thought Meissner was the most boring skater 'till I saw HER live, what a surprise that was)

 

[Trewyn]

Yeah, I like Kimmie too, even though I've never seen her skate live. I adore her 'Un Ange Passe' SP. With her appearing on SOI, you mean she won't return to competition, or is it the segment of SOI that is during the off-season?
I think my main reason for disliking Caroline Zhang is that she comes across as though she's bored and doesn't want to be there; it's strange because she does so many lovely things on ice!

oh are you "friends" with her on FB?

She DOES come across as ambitious, driven, and somewhat bold though, at least in comparison to other skaters. I like that she's open about her goals, reminds me of young Cohen. Other skaters (except maybe Nagasu) put out typical sound bytes of "I want to skate my best" and hide their ambitions. It's refreshing to see otherwise, and even more so from a skater who seems to fit the mold of typical "girly" ice skater. Hopefully she does not take too much flack for it.

Haha she's definitely very open about her ambitions! If you look to the skater profiles on Icenetwork; Rachael, Mirai, Caroline, Alexe all have 'making the Olympic team' as their goal for this season. With Ashley it's something like 'Medal at the Olympics' which may come across as arrogance, since it seems to assume that she's on the Olympic team, which we know is not at all a sure thing. But she comes across quite modest in interviews, vlogs and facebook updates; but that could be a facade.

 

[Mathman]

Emily Hughes' joy comes across even on TV; I wonder what it's like to see her live and if I'll ever get the chance...

Emily is great live! I was in the front row at the end at Skate America in Atlantic City a couple of years ago, and Emily did her triple Lutz coming straight at me and almost landed in my lap!

 

[silverlake22]

Yeah, I like Kimmie too, even though I've never seen her skate live. I adore her 'Un Ange Passe' SP. With her appearing on SOI, you mean she won't return to competition, or is it the segment of SOI that is during the off-season?
I think my main reason for disliking Caroline Zhang is that she comes across as though she's bored and doesn't want to be there; it's strange because she does so many lovely things on ice!



Haha she's definitely very open about her ambitions! If you look to the skater profiles on Icenetwork; Rachael, Mirai, Caroline, Alexe all have 'making the Olympic team' as their goal for this season. With Ashley it's something like 'Medal at the Olympics' which may come across as arrogance, since it seems to assume that she's on the Olympic team, which we know is not at all a sure thing. But she comes across quite modest in interviews, vlogs and facebook updates; but that could be a facade.

Alissa said in that article they published about her after she won nats (with all those pretty pictures ) that she her goal was to medal at the olympics and then go on tour. She also said she was interested in acting and modeling. So that kind of comes off as arrogance like Ashley I suppose but she certainly seems far from arrogant.

I think the whole medal business is maybe like their dream more than their goals. Caroline, Mirai, and Alexe, Rachael are probably more realistic that if they are lucky enough to make the Olympic team they probably won't medal (maybe Rach could) , they all seem like pretty practical girls. For Ashley or Alissa it's probably more like a, if I have the skate of my life and Mao, Miki, and Joannie bomb and the European girls don't land enough jumps I could be on the podium which would be amazing. Just my take on it

 

[R.D.]

I think we might be forgetting that most of these girls are still young. If not in 2010, perhaps in 2014...or even 2018 for the 16 yr olds. If they want it bad enough, they'll stick around. (thing is, will they improve along the way, and stay healthy?)

If not Olys, there's always Worlds (just ask Kimmie )

ETA: ok, here's what I don't get. How is saying you want to medal at Olys "arrogant"? I just don't get it. No wonder skating isn't taken seriously as a sport by some. Apparently it's a bad thing to want to achieve anything- just go out there and skate like it's a circus show...uh huh

 

[Nadia01]

Haha she's definitely very open about her ambitions! If you look to the skater profiles on Icenetwork; Rachael, Mirai, Caroline, Alexe all have 'making the Olympic team' as their goal for this season. With Ashley it's something like 'Medal at the Olympics' which may come across as arrogance, since it seems to assume that she's on the Olympic team, which we know is not at all a sure thing. But she comes across quite modest in interviews, vlogs and facebook updates; but that could be a facade.

Why shouldnt' she set her goal at medaling at the Oly? (a rhetorical question, not a question at you) I think it's fabulous that she's ambitious and clear about what she wants out of her competitive career.

I mean it's not like she said, "To beat Yuna's world record score by 50 points in Vancouver." Now tha'ts unreasonable.

 

[silverlake22]

I think we might be forgetting that most of these girls are still young. If not in 2010, perhaps in 2014...or even 2018 for the 16 yr olds. If they want it bad enough, they'll stick around. (thing is, will they improve along the way, and stay healthy?)

If not Olys, there's always Worlds (just ask Kimmie )

Yeah true, but I tend to think if Czisny, who's 22, doesn't make it this year she won't stick around until 2014. I know in Europe and Asia you see a lot of 28 year old skaters but Alissa doesn't really seem to be improving that much so unless she just wants to keep skating competitively b/c she loves it I don't think she will. As for the others, we said the same thing about Kimmie and Emily and they both got worse after going to the Olympics as 16 year olds (I think Emily was 17). Caroline might not be able to fix her technique and Mirai could grow another 3 inches and then they might stop. I could see Rachael improving in future years, but it sounds like she wants to go to college and not just do college online so who knows what that means for her. Idk much about Alexe but it seems like her height causes her to be inconsistent (I think somewhere said she's 5'8") about her jumps and her artistry isn't really anything special. She could be potentially someone who could improve over time though

 

[R.D.]

You're right in that this could be their one shot (I think I even mentioned it earlier), but for Zhang, etc...if they don't make it, it's not like it's the end of the road as far as their Oly dreams are concerned. At least, in theory.

 

[Trewyn]

I think Ashley may consider to stick it out 'til 2014, I wasn't at all so sure until recent interviews she seems to be saying things like 'I'm not yet as good as I want to be'. She sounds more and more that she's willing to improve until she's at the level she needs to be at to be really succesful at the international scene. I would love for that to happen; but I'll still wait and see what she choses.. College or skating... (or both? Czisny seemed to be able to pull it off?)

 

[R.D.]

Yeah true, but I tend to think if Czisny, who's 22, doesn't make it this year she won't stick around until 2014. I know in Europe and Asia you see a lot of 28 year old skaters but Alissa doesn't really seem to be improving that much so unless she just wants to keep skating competitively b/c she loves it I don't think she will. As for the others, we said the same thing about Kimmie and Emily and they both got worse after going to the Olympics as 16 year olds (I think Emily was 17). Caroline might not be able to fix her technique and Mirai could grow another 3 inches and then they might stop. I could see Rachael improving in future years, but it sounds like she wants to go to college and not just do college online so who knows what that means for her. Idk much about Alexe but it seems like her height causes her to be inconsistent (I think somewhere said she's 5'8") about her jumps and her artistry isn't really anything special. She could be potentially someone who could improve over time though

Yet, this is probably her best chance at making an Oly team...hmm, something happened there...

Meissner claims she is not retiring, so if/when she does make a comeback who knows how successful she will be. Hughes, seems like she will retire and go to college after this season. The others, who knows. I'd say maybe only for Czisny is this likely her last chance.

 

[PolymerBob]

Winning a medal, even gold, might not be that arrogant. Remember, the Olympics are not won by the best skater, they are won by whoever has the best skates on that particular occassion. Mao won the Grand Prix Final in 2005, Shizuka won Olympics next year. What was the difference? Shizuka won with 2,000,000,000 people watching. Never mind how inconsistent she was, never mind she sometimes finished in double digits, she won with the whole world watching.

Will Queen Yu-Na win Olympic gold?

Absolutely yes, ............... unless somebody skates better.

 

[Trewyn]

^^Exactly; it's just another competition; only there's a big hype and lots of nervous wrecks. I'm really afraid the Olympics are going to be splatfest!

 

[Tonichelle]

Emily is great live! I was in the front row at the end at Skate America in Atlantic City a couple of years ago, and Emily did her triple Lutz coming straight at me and almost landed in my lap!

I was going to say much the same thing. I wasn't overly impressed with Emily one way or the other until she took the ice in her SP the first time... holy cow she commands your attention

 

[R.D.]

Rachel Flatt articles (the usual, how smart she is, yada yada)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olym...09-11-11-flatt-balances-training-school_N.htm

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_13986751

While the second article acknowledges that the US ladies are not medal contenders, it does point out what happened with Hughes in '02 and Arakawa in '06 (although the former was a MUCH bigger shocker, to me anyway)

 

[Mathman]

You're right in that this could be their one shot (I think I even mentioned it earlier), but for Zhang, etc...if they don't make it, it's not like it's the end of the road as far as their Oly dreams are concerned. At least, in theory.

I urge, beg and beseech each and every one of these young athletes, go for the gold NOW.

In four years, you might be dead.

(Well, OK, in four years you might be out of skating, overtaken by someone in the next generation, moved on to other interests. etc. )

 

[silverlake22]

Rachel Flatt articles (the usual, how smart she is, yada yada)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olym...09-11-11-flatt-balances-training-school_N.htm

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_13986751

While the second article acknowledges that the US ladies are not medal contenders, it does point out what happened with Hughes in '02 and Arakawa in '06 (although the former was a MUCH bigger shocker, to me anyway)

Funny how they don't mention Caroline as one of the girls competing for an Olympic slot. Rachael sounds like she's very good at managing her time and her life

 

[R.D.]

Well, as they say, being counted out is the best position you can be in...

 

[silverlake22]

Well, as they say, being counted out is the best position you can be in...

Very true, Caroline did quite well at 4CC last year, placing ahead of Rachael and Alissa. Maybe she's planning a comeback and will wow us at nats. I really hope to see Caroline with huge jumps, Alissa land a 6 triple LP, Mirai rotate all of her jumps and really get into the Carmen program, Ashley not get any weird technical calls, and Rachael land all her hard combos. If everyone's at their best at nationals the results will be really exciting! Really hope this is the year that everyone does well rather than crush under the pressure