State of U.S. Ladies' skating 2016-17 | Page 54 | Golden Skate

State of U.S. Ladies' skating 2016-17

I think the spots for Worlds/4CCs are still up for grabs at this point. A lot can happen between now and January.

I hope that Mirai improves from this and I think Tom Z is the best coach that can help her right now.
 
I been thinking a lot about Mirai and I think I get it now.

Mirai has been working really hard over the last two years to fix her skating. She went to Tom, working on her under rotations, improved her programs to include better footwork and transitions. It looked like she turned a corner. but it's one thing to score high at a Senior B, and a bigger thing for a Grand Prix.

I imagine she was over thinking all her jumps and didn't trust herself not to make a mistake. Not only that, but she's probably insecure about her boots because they've broken in two major competitions. The bottom line is, she psyched herself out. While she's fixed everything with her technique, she needs to learn how to trust her body to do what she needs in competition.

The only way she's ever going to win again is to change her find set. It's not about training anymore. She has to go out there mad and determined. She's done that in the past when she really wants something. I hope she finds that inner beast inside herself again.
 
All those under rotation calls coupled with relatively mediocre PCS most likely did serious harm to Mirai's reputation this weekend. I feel for her but I'm not at all optimistic she can turn things around. :(
 
Mirai needs to go back to last year's fun long program. Immediately. The angst-filled ABBA song just emphasizes her performance issues (lack of speed and expression) in a way that is never going to bring up her PCS.
 
frida80 said:
The only way she's ever going to win again is to change her find set. It's not about training anymore. She has to go out there mad and determined. She's done that in the past when she really wants something. I hope she finds that inner beast inside herself again.
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Sounds like you could be talking about a certain other US lady besides Mirai...:palmf:
 
musicfan80 said:
I think the spots for Worlds/4CCs are still up for grabs at this point. A lot can happen between now and January.
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Agree, and to be perfectly honest, it's sort of a nice change from the past two years, when everyone pretty much knew it was going to be Polina, Gracie, and Ashley. It will make US Nationals so much more interesting, and I think there will be so much more at stake. Gracie is not guaranteed a spot, nor is Polina. Ashley is probably fine, but she still has to be on top at Nationals to officially cement herself as the #1 US lady.
 
Between Polina's foot injury and full-time college freshman schedule, I wonder how much of a factor she will be this year. There is room for a break-out star or two.


Nathan13 said:
Agree, and to be perfectly honest, it's sort of a nice change from the past two years, when everyone pretty much knew it was going to be Polina, Gracie, and Ashley. It will make US Nationals so much more interesting, and I think there will be so much more at stake. Gracie is not guaranteed a spot, nor is Polina. Ashley is probably fine, but she still has to be on top at Nationals to officially cement herself as the #1 US lady.
Click to expand...
 
Gracie has been and will continue to be held up, I think.



Nathan13 said:
Agree, and to be perfectly honest, it's sort of a nice change from the past two years, when everyone pretty much knew it was going to be Polina, Gracie, and Ashley. It will make US Nationals so much more interesting, and I think there will be so much more at stake. Gracie is not guaranteed a spot, nor is Polina. Ashley is probably fine, but she still has to be on top at Nationals to officially cement herself as the #1 US lady.
Click to expand...
 
stella luna said:
Gracie has been and will continue to be held up, I think.
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If I had to guess at this moment who it would be I would say Gracie, Ashley, and Mariah. But I think each of those ladies deserves it based on their records, even with Gracie's current slump (she hasn't been training full out--I think she will be in shape by nationals). We could go back in forth all day about Gracie being "held up" or, as many people like to say, "overrated," but I'll just agree to disagree there. She was certainly not held up last year at Nationals, as the judges were fully prepared to give it to Polina, but she won fair and square.
 
Nathan13 said:
Agree, and to be perfectly honest, it's sort of a nice change from the past two years, when everyone pretty much knew it was going to be Polina, Gracie, and Ashley. It will make US Nationals so much more interesting, and I think there will be so much more at stake. Gracie is not guaranteed a spot, nor is Polina. Ashley is probably fine, but she still has to be on top at Nationals to officially cement herself as the #1 US lady.
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I think you're right about Ashley and if I were on the selection committee, she's the ONLY skater I'd place on the World Team if she were to finish 4th at Nationals. I haven't seen Polina so, I can't comment on her situation. However, after seeing Gracie and Mirai, I'd definitely like to see Mariah Bell make the team over Mirai. We'll see Courtney next week and that will give us a better idea of how things are shaping up. The Jury is still out on Caroline, and Angela Wang but, we do have some strong new Seniors in Tyler, Hannah, Vivian, and Karen Chen. Exciting for the new comers but, scary for Gracie and Mirai.
 
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mrrice said:
I think you're right about Ashley and if I were on the selection committee, she's the only skater I'd place on World Team if she were to finish 4th at Nationals. I haven't seen Polina so, I can't comment on her situation. However, after seeing Gracie and Mirai, I'd definitely like to see Mariah Bell make the team over Mirai. We'll see Courtney next week and that will give us a better idea of how things are shaping up. The Jury is still out on Caroline, and Angela Wang but, we do have some strong new Seniors in Tyler, Hannah, Vivian, and Karen Chen.
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After International Classic, when everyone thought Mirai had entered contender status, I would have definitely bet on her over Gracie. Clearly, we can't bank on that anymore. I'm a huge Mirai fan, but unfortunately, I think Skate Canada was a bigger disaster for her than just the low placement. USFS will be hesitant to trust her with world team assignments--even if she has a great nationals, she could meltdown at 4CC or Worlds like she did at SC.
 
Nathan13 said:
Hmmm John Wilson Blades... Can they be trusted?
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Well they are the "best," since almost all the top ladies wear them. Anyway, Mirai took over their social media this weekend. It's an eerie moment. I doubt she's made the connection.
 
frida80 said:
Wow... And Gracie liked this post.

https://twitter.com/teamgraciegold/status/792546768357437440
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Are you saying that the real Gracie Gold liked the post from Team Gracie Gold (an account with no official connection to the real GG)?

In any case, I don't think Mirai's photo "means" anything other than that she is giving a nod to Gracie's A-list status as a primary "face" of John Wilson (and of figure skating in the U.S.). Mirai has popularity in her own right, but she is not in the same league as Ashley and Gracie.

And if the real GG did like the post from Team Gracie Gold, I don't think it would mean anything other than GG appreciated Mirai's nod to her as an ambassador for skating.

All good. I really don't think they're making oblique references to each other's GP results. So nothing eerie for me.
 
ice coverage said:
Are you saying that the real Gracie Gold liked the post from Team Gracie Gold (an account with no official connection to the real GG)?

In any case, I don't think Mirai's photo "means" anything other than that she is giving a nod to Gracie's A-list status as a primary "face" of John Wilson (and of figure skating in the U.S.). Mirai has popularity in her own right, but she is not in the same league as Ashley and Gracie.

And if the real GG did like the post from Team Gracie Gold, I don't think it would mean anything other than GG appreciated Mirai's nod to her as an ambassador for skating.

All good. I really don't think they're making oblique references to each other's GP results. So nothing eerie for me.
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Yes The real Gracie liked this tweet. I follow her on Twitter so that shows up above the tweet.

It's not eerie because of what Mirai is saying explicitly. It's obviously she admiring Gracie. It's eerie that a day after her meltdown she post this picture joking about being like another skater who just had a melt down last week. Mirai doesn't mean anything. But it's ironic at the very least.
 
frida80 said:
Yes The real Gracie liked this tweet. ...
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Thx for your reply.

frida80 said:
... It's not eerie because of what Mirai is saying explicitly. It's obviously she admiring Gracie. It's eerie that a day after her meltdown she post this picture joking about being like another skater who just had a melt down last week. Mirai doesn't mean anything. But it's ironic at the very least.
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I understood the first time what your opinion is re perceived eeriness.

I in turn will re-state my opinion that I disagree.

Agree to disagree.
 
frida80 said:
Well they are the "best," since almost all the top ladies wear them. Anyway, Mirai took over their social media this weekend. It's an eerie moment. I doubt she's made the connection.
Click to expand...

Lol I was being completely sarcastic...but yes ironic. Not the best turn of events for marketing purposes...
 
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