Regardless of the scores, there was quite a bit of excellent skating in ALL the US Divisions.
As for the Ladies, it showed that it's not just about two skaters, but several skaters determined to rise to the occasion.
Rachael certainly accomplished that. She showed the 3x3 which is most important In Ladies world wide. Spirals maybe wow but they are not that point getting. Rachael should now work on flow-out after landing her jumps.
Mirai showed her 3x3,too, albeit, the siimplest one. What impressed me most was her newly found mature approach to her performance. She is no longer with the teenybopper style of skating.
Ashley if nothing else showed that she is definitely a member of the elite US Ladies. She had the most complicated routine, but it did not deter her from skating a clean program. A 3x3 in both the SP and LP will serve her well in the future.
Sasha - Has any skater, male or female, displayed so many stunning Short Programs in their years of skating? I doublt it, but her nemesis is the LP and what to do about it, I just don't know.
Caroline has to start showing some mature skating on the ice. The careful approach to the elements has to be speeded up, and the mule kick has to go. She's much too talented to keep unresolved problems.
Amanda, and welcome to the elite with better than average Singles and Pairs.
Euros had Plushenko's smashing return and Carolina's uplifting comeback, plus the tension of whether she would make her Olympic team. The U.S. had Sasha's comeback to add some drama, the pressure of only having 2 spots for the women, and a deep and awesome group of men who are always great to watch. I dunno I thought both were great.
