Senior Ladies' Free Skate

[SusanBeth]

Well, of course, if you don't believe that medal winners at any country's national championships, regardless of age, have earned the right to skate at Worlds without any artificial impediment, then that's your perogative.

But, by the way, the fact that "Everyone knew the rules going into this" carries no particular merit as an argument in favor of the rule.

If you have enough ability to win a medal at your country's nationals, you go to Worlds. Period. If you don't, you don't. Period. What could be simpler and fairer than that? Janet Lynn was in Senior Nationals at 12 because she was good enough. She went to the '68 Olympics at 14 because she was good enough.

Actually the only one who has a "right" to go Worlds is an eligible National Champion and we don't have one of those. This is a sport. In sport. there are rules that every has to abide by. Nobody was cheated out of anything. That is important.

When Janet Lynn skated, she wasn't doing programs with multiple triples. She wasn't doing Competitions all season and traveling hither and yon. It was an entirely different world. I don't think the age rule does enough to protect these children, but it's a start. We don't have to rush these kids. There's time. Letting them develop more slowly has to be better for them.

 

[R.D.]

An extra note on the coverage...I may be in the minority but I actually preferred NBC's coverage to ABC's- more analysis, more backstage footage (except for ESPN last year, that was the best IMHO), and High-Definition picture. Felt more like I was watching a sporting event and not a high-school music recital. (ETA: That said, ABC/ESPN did cover the Nats very well, better than the other skating events they had, which truly WERE presented like music recitals, lol.) Love the intro, too. The one major thing I think they should have done was to show it live everywhere (like SNF), instead of delaying it for the west coast folks. I think ABC did this with their primetime skating coverage as well. I know it's probably a ratings thing though. Football will be watched any time of the day (and more importantly WON'T be watched delayed), so that's not an issue for them.

I also think they should have done more analysis of the scoring. I don't think the casual fan would have understood the scoring any better after that broadcast- in fact, might be the other way around. Also, they had time to show the Medal Ceremony at the end...I know they would probably have to go a little over time but something should be worked out so they can be worked in. Even if it means continuing live coverage on NBCSports.com...I would do it. Maybe for 2010, anyway.

 

[Nadine]

I haven't felt this way since watching Sarah Hughes winning FS in the 2002 Olympics. Times that by two when Rachel Flatt & Ashley Wagner were doing their routines. Unbelieveable. I'm still shaking.

From total sadness & heartbreak when Kimmie skated, to the above, what a night of great figure skating (& unbelieveable heartache for Kimmie).

Congratulations to ALL the competitors!

Now it's on to Worlds with a rejuvenated fighting Kimmie Meissner, and powerhouse Ashley Wagner (whom looks exactly like Tatiana Lysenko of the 1992 Olympic Unified Gymnastic Team), to another powerhouse ~ Bebe Liang!:agree:

GO TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***note: I'm so glad that Rachel Flatt lived up to the promise she showed last year at Nationals; I knew she was special from the moment I first saw her, and, yes, she still reminds me of a favorite skater of mine ~ Oksana Baiul***

 

[THE ICE QUEEN]

I heard the result just now!
Congratulations to Mirai!!!
It is an AMERICAN DREAM!!!

 

[1795]

it's awkward seeing kiddies skate first off....
then see then take over the podium (except ashley)

just is...maybe im not just used to it since i never watch juniors

meh

go mirai! southern california pride! haha

anyone know where she trains?

 

[iluvtodd]

What an amazing night for many of our US ladies! I'm heartbroken for Kimmie, though , but glad to hear that she'll be on the US team at Worlds.

I hope Katrina will have a chance to get more international exposure at 4CC.

 

[PolymerBob]

How's this for simple and fair? If you're a junior, you skate in junior events. If you're a senior, you skate in senior events. If you can't skate at senior Worlds, you don't skate at senior Nationals.

That way, we don't get into these arguments. :sheesh:

 

[ManyCairns]

If we lose a spot, it's not the end of the World. With this kind of talent, we stand a great chance of getting 3 spots back before the Olympics. Rejoice, US figure skating is actually in much better shape than I had thought. I doubt anyone is doing cartwheels at the thought of all of our beautiful skaters except some of us!

Thanks for saying this, SusanBeth. While I certainly want and hope that we retain 3 ladies spots for 2009 Worlds, I agree that it is not the end of the world if we don't.

And my, I'm actually a little worried about the vituperative comments made about the skater(s) if they (but the vitriol seems mostly directed at Kimmie) do not secure the 3 spots. I truly believe that those skaters don't owe anybody except themselves out there. Most of them do take their fans' interests and their federations' interests greatly to heart, and I think that's great.

But I don't take it so far as feeling they actually OWE anything performance-wise to anyone but themselves. They should be skating their hearts out for them, because they love it, they love their sport, etc. And I hope they all train and try their best. But they don't owe me as a fan or the USFSA a certain result, such that I'll be "furious" at them if we don't have 3 spots, or throw nasty messages on the ice -- or even write them a strongly worded email!

I do realize that fewer spots mean fewer ladies get an international comp experience. And that is a shame. Nevertheless, I believe all the athletes try their absolute best out there, and no athlete is thinking, "hey, I want to make the USFSA lose those spots to worlds, so I'll be sure to bomb." How can we get so mad at young athletes who are just trying their best? Or really, get upset in advance, since it hasn't even happened yet?

Sorry, that was a bit preachy, and I know not everyone's reaction is all that strong. But I really don't understand the logic of even thinking for a moment that the team we send is in some way accountable for a certain outcome. We can certainly hope for the best, but no one is entitled to it ...

 

[rtureck]

I would NEVER EVER have guessed Marai winning. Caroline was a possibility, maybe Wagner, and of course Meissner, but wow, that was a shocker. She came in flying under the radar and shadow of Zhang/Meissner. Rachel Flatt also surprised me a little with how well she did, especially in the FS.

Nagasu winning is not a shocker to me. She won US jr national last year. Even then the media was hyping Zhang. Remember they both had a TV spot at the US national exhibition, and Kurt was praising Zhang non stop, the camera was on Zhang while Nagasu was skating?

I did feel bad for her, especially after she seemed so upbeat in the "truth booth" even after a lackluster short. when was the last time a defending ladies national champ didn't even make the podium the following year? ouch.

Michelle Kwan in nats 2005? If you go outside of US nats,, I believe Mao.
But I have to give kudos to Kimmie for even trying (if indeed she has ankle injury). Prior to Kimmie, when was the last time a US national champion didn't even show up to defend a title?

 

[enlight78]

Thanks for saying this, SusanBeth. While I certainly want and hope that we retain 3 ladies spots for 2009 Worlds, I agree that it is not the end of the world if we don't.

And my, I'm actually a little worried about the vituperative comments made about the skater(s) if they (but the vitriol seems mostly directed at Kimmie) do not secure the 3 spots. I truly believe that those skaters don't owe anybody except themselves out there. Most of them do take their fans' interests and their federations' interests greatly to heart, and I think that's great.

But I don't take it so far as feeling they actually OWE anything performance-wise to anyone but themselves. They should be skating their hearts out for them, because they love it, they love their sport, etc. And I hope they all train and try their best. But they don't owe me as a fan or the USFSA a certain result, such that I'll be "furious" at them if we don't have 3 spots, or throw nasty messages on the ice -- or even write them a strongly worded email!

I do realize that fewer spots mean fewer ladies get an international comp experience. And that is a shame. Nevertheless, I believe all the athletes try their absolute best out there, and no athlete is thinking, "hey, I want to make the USFSA lose those spots to worlds, so I'll be sure to bomb." How can we get so mad at young athletes who are just trying their best? Or really, get upset in advance, since it hasn't even happened yet?

Sorry, that was a bit preachy, and I know not everyone's reaction is all that strong. But I really don't understand the logic of even thinking for a moment that the team we send is in some way accountable for a certain outcome. We can certainly hope for the best, but no one is entitled to it ...

I think the pressure of assuring spots for a federation is to much on a skater. I agree a skater needs to skate for him or herself. They need to change the qualifications for Worlds. Maybe have International judges at all the nationals and just send the 24 eligible skaters with the highest total to worlds. All federations who had no skaters in the top 24 can each send one represenative.

 

[Tinymavy15]

my thoughts:


i predicted marai woudl win... glad she did, amazing girl. I love that Coppelia program.

I was so proud of Caroline. She pulled out a juts beautiful program. The first time she skated it perfectly clean. I so wanted her to get to the podium, and technically she did (the pewter).

yay Bebe. i was so upset that she poppped the loop, that is such a god jump for her, but no falls, great program... and she made the world team!


I actually thought Kimmie looked beautiful... i loved her hair, the new dress made a world or diffrence. the program changes made a world of diffrence. bust same mistakes as in Torino.

 

[Chrystia Mee]

What a night!

I am so excited for ladies figure skating in the US these next two years. Our field just keeps getting bigger and more talented. Between Mirai, Caroline, Rachael, Ashley, and Kimmie we have some amazing skaters. And I also was impressed by Alexe and Angela in the junior division.

I am heartbroken for Kimmie. I've never seen her so sad. I am grateful that NBC decided not to air the kiss and cry moments though. Watching her live was painful enough, let alone having to relive it when i went home and rewatched everything. That being said, I wish Michelle Kwan would give Kimmie a call, and send her a tape of the 1997 nationals where another reigning champion struggled to defend her title. This is going to be a hard season including Worlds. But hopefully after Worlds she will go home and just enjoy skating while she trains.

 

[NorthernLite]

I'm actually a little worried about the vituperative comments made about the skater(s) if they (but the vitriol seems mostly directed at Kimmie) do not secure the 3 spots.

Amen, sister or brother. With Kimmie's current fragile state of mind I'm concerned about the pressures she's feeling.

And I think fans seem kind of bizarre when they only reason they care how certain skaters perform is because "we" want three spots *next* year.

A) How about rooting for someone for the sake of rooting for THEM.

B) There is no "we." It's them. YOU'RE not ever going to be on the team.
(As Seinfeld said about sports-team fans who scream, "'We won. We won.' -- No. THEY won. You watched.")

 

[Phobiamaster856]

A lot of pressure was set on Kimmie with Mirai rachel ashley caroline and mao and yuna. My heart broke for her some of the changes in the program were nice maybe she should just scrap the program who knows. Anyway I think this is kind of good for kimmie to get the pressure off and just refocus for next season and maybe just go out there and fight for worlds and not expect anything LUV U KIMMIE

 

[isk82]

I just want to add that this was a truly enjoyable Nationals to watch. It was great to see our ladies skating clean programs and looking like they were enoying themslves. It also seemed to be a lot of just classical, pure skating without a lot of "schmaltzy" stuff. They looked like teenage athletes - no one was too overdone with makeup or crazy costumes. It was just really nice to see.

I also enjoyed the NBC coverage a lot, and was so glad Dick was part of it. Scott was more contained than in the past and there was less talking during the skating. The only weak spot to me is David Pelletier (sp). He seems like he's trying to make some great point or set up something great irony or sarcasm and it never really comes off right. Like the comment about not being worthy of skating pairs with one of the girls (I don't remember if it was Caroline or Nagasu), it wasn't bad, but it just didn't come off very well. Jamie did pretty well and I LOVE Andrea Joyce for the interviews. She looks at the skaters like she really cares about what they are saying and has such a kind, interested face. One more thing I was impressed with was that even our young skaters could give articulate, well-spoken interviews, instead of the usual stumbling around for words. What a nice group of young skaters the US has right now!

 

[chuckm]

I could do without both David Pelletier and Jamie Sale. I thought they added little or nothing to the conversation. Same with Sandra Bezic, who has a droning voice and nothing much to contribute.

I don't understand why the broadcast team is more than 50% Canadian (Pelletier, Sale, Bezic, Wilson). The Canadian networks don't hire US commentators for their Nationals. I do like Tracy Wilson and think she is an excellent commentator, but I would much prefer Peggy Fleming or Suzy Wynn over Bezic, and don't see the need for Pelletier and Sale at all.

 

[merrywidow]

I could do without both David Pelletier and Jamie Sale. I thought they added little or nothing to the conversation. Same with Sandra Bezic, who has a droning voice and nothing much to contribute.

I don't understand why the broadcast team is more than 50% Canadian (Pelletier, Sale, Bezic, Wilson). The Canadian networks don't hire US commentators for their Nationals. I do like Tracy Wilson and think she is an excellent commentator, but I would much prefer Peggy Fleming or Suzy Wynn over Bezic, and don't see the need for Pelletier and Sale at all.

ITA, chuckm. I, also, don't understand why there are British judges judging American talent shows (Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan, etc.) You'd think in a country with a population as large as ours there would be a few people as qualified to do the same jobs.

 

[dlkksk8fan]

No. I would have had her first as there was plenty of room to give it to her over Flatt, even with one wonky jump, and as Nagasu had a fall that wouldn't have been hard to justify. Though I disagree on Zhang--I found her painfully, painfully slow, and while she is graceful *for her age*, it's like watching student ballet dancers--you see why they aren't good enough to be even professional corps yet, let alone soloists or principles. The movement is there, the expression is lacking. Plus were I a judge I'd find some way to dock her hard for the hideously ugly pick leg, especially on the lutz. Honestly, I find her donkey kick much more offensive than a leg wrap. I actually see more artistic potential in Nagasu--she just moves with a confidence and maturity that's more polished than Zhang. Her artistry is also not quite there, but it's farther along. I would still have given it to Wagner tonight based on power and height, but Nagasu to me looked more likely to be the whole package when she gets a little more mature. Maybe a Kwan-as-Salome-like transformation next season?
__________________

I agree.

 

[netnuts]

Caroline Zhang is in league of her own. Love that program.

Mirai/Rachael is blah...

Wagner should be the champion. I like her skating better.

 

[Mathman]

My favorite LP performances (subjective):

Caroline Zhang
Rachael Flatt
Ashley Wagner
Mirai Nagasu (but her SP was the best overall in the whole competition)
Bebe Liang

Who I though was best objectively:

Wagner
Flatt
Zhang
Nagasu
Hacker