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

[KatGrace1925]

So true, just like the baseball player who can't hit a watermelon when in a slump or like a hockey player who can't hit the side of a barn with a slap shot when in a funk, Gracie may very well need some time to get her head straight and the best way to have this happen is just keep plugging away, keep her head in the game and after 1 or 2 good performances, start believing in herself again and she will be back (hopefully, fingers crossed).

Every skater who has commented on the issue so far says Gracie will be back, even her rival Ashley. She will come out swinging in a competition before the season ends. I think taking a break was a great thing for her to do with the olympic season beginning next year and in the long run this time she takes to get her confidence back will make the difference to how well that season goes.

 

[apgold]

What are the chances that Polina will be ready for Nationals? Has anyone heard about what programs she would be skating to?

Going by her social media presence, she posted only a handful of rink pictures or vids - her other posts are her posing with sorority sisters and friends, etc. Now she may be not recording her practices or keeping her training under wraps, but I will be surprised if she actually competes this year.

 

[Mrs. P]

What are the chances that Polina will be ready for Nationals? Has anyone heard about what programs she would be skating to?

Going by her social media presence, she posted only a handful of rink pictures or vids - her other posts are her posing with sorority sisters and friends, etc. Now she may be not recording her practices or keeping her training under wraps, but I will be surprised if she actually competes this year.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/08/18/196305198/edmunds-focused-on-musicality-of-new-programs

Edmunds' new short, set to Welsh composer Karl Jenkins' "Palladio," has a sharp edge -- far different from last year's ethereal "Moonlight Sonata."
"We wanted something in the modern dance direction, and I think Polina is fierce and really awesome in this," Galindo said. "I watched a lot of modern ballet for ideas, and we brought in a modern dance teacher to help enhance the arm movements."
Edmunds kicks the program off with her triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, set to the music's allegretto first movement, well known from DeBeers diamond commercials.
"She's opening with her big jumps, and I'm picturing flames coming through her fingertips -- pow, pow, pow," Galindo said with a laugh.
They went in the opposite direction for Edmunds' new free skate, set to Sarah Brightman's renditions of "Bilitis - Générique" and "Time to Say Goodbye." Galindo, Nina and Polina chose the pieces together, and music engineer Bill Hare edited the selections.
"It's romantic and gentle; [Brightman's] voice is so beautiful," Polina said. "I don't even know how to describe it. I think it's a big step up in maturity for me."
"I think I'd use the word 'angelic' -- that's what we're going for," Galindo said. "It's a very mature line, designed around all of Polina's dance training: her long arms and legs, her toe point. She's like a ballerina with skates on. Show her one movement, and she does it easily, the first time."

Of course that article was from August.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

What are the chances that Polina will be ready for Nationals? Has anyone heard about what programs she would be skating to?

Going by her social media presence, she posted only a handful of rink pictures or vids - her other posts are her posing with sorority sisters and friends, etc. Now she may be not recording her practices or keeping her training under wraps, but I will be surprised if she actually competes this year.

It wouldn't surprise me to see her take the year off, then come back next year to try for an Olympic spot. I think it's likely that there will be (at least) one wide open spot, assuming the US maintains three.

 

[frida80]

Well Mirai's 3A is looking good.

https://instagram.com/p/BNqPxwjApLj/

Tom Z says she'll do it at nationals. But I doubt in competition. I hope he wouldn't allow her to blow a good change at world over one jump.

 

[shiroKJ]

Well Mirai's 3A is looking good.

https://instagram.com/p/BNqPxwjApLj/

Tom Z says she'll do it at nationals. But I doubt in competition. I hope he wouldn't allow her to blow a good change at world over one jump.

Wow, that was clean on rotations with great height and good flow But I agree that doing it in nationals is not a good idea. With the landscape of the ladies this season, she should focus on getting her current elements as clean as possible and land on the podium so she has a chance at Worlds. If she really wants to land one in competition, do it at a senior B next season.

 

[frida80]

Wow, that was clean on rotations with great height and good flow But I agree that doing it in nationals is not a good idea. With the landscape of the ladies this season, she should focus on getting her current elements as clean as possible and land on the podium so she has a chance at Worlds. If she really wants to land one in competition, do it at a senior B next season.

My recommendation is start early. First at Broodmore and maybe Skate Detroit/Glacier Falls. Then at Collegiates. And finally try at a Senior B. 3A are so tricky! Getting it wrong at a critical comp would be a disaster.

 

[mrrice]

Well Mirai's 3A is looking good.

https://instagram.com/p/BNqPxwjApLj/

Tom Z says she'll do it at nationals. But I doubt in competition. I hope he wouldn't allow her to blow a good change at world over one jump.

.
:shocked: Is the only word I can come up with. That jump was high and completely rotated. Hopefully, it's scheduled for the LP as she could take herself out of contention if she were to miss in the SP. However, they do say "No Risk, No Reward!" I think at this point in her career she should go for it. There's a real chance that she'll miss the World Team if she plays it safe. I fully expect Ashley and Gracie to be held up by the US panel, and Mariah has deservedly moved into the "likely" Bronze Medal position so, Mirai has nothing to lose and everything to gain be added this big Jump to her program

 

[icellist]

i watched Mirai's LP again and I wouldn't be surprised if she subbed the last jump, a 2A, with the triple if she was gaining momentum in a clean skate. She builds up a lot of speed into it, but it also depends on her stamina.

 

[frida80]

i watched Mirai's LP again and I wouldn't be surprised if she subbed the last jump, a 2A, with the triple if she was gaining momentum in a clean skate. She builds up a lot of speed into it, but it also depends on her stamina.

3A are always at the beginning of a program with fresh legs. It's also the jump that takes tons of concentration and a skater would be nervous about. So it would be the very first jump she did. But I still think it's for practice only.

 

[Nathan13]

.
Hopefully, it's scheduled for the LP as she could take herself out of contention if she were to miss in the SP. \

Hopefully its in both programs :yes: Axels are definitely her strongest jump. She could win nationals if she hit this (and rotated almost everything else)

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Well Mirai's 3A is looking good.

https://instagram.com/p/BNqPxwjApLj/

Tom Z says she'll do it at nationals. But I doubt in competition. I hope he wouldn't allow her to blow a good change at world over one jump.

I'd like to see her complete programs with more rotated triples before trying the 3A. The point difference between a 2A and a 3A would be more than made up by completing rotation on two triples that would otherwise be <.

 

[frida80]

I'd like to see her complete programs with more rotated triples before trying the 3A. The point difference between a 2A and a 3A would be more than made up by completing rotation on two triples that would otherwise be <.

I would too. She was looking great at the end of last season. I hoped that she would use that in this season. But I think she let the pressure get to her. But even though her last competition had carrots, I still feel more optimistic about her national chances. I want to see her attack the programs. Use that same fire she had at 4CC to nail those jumps. She has it in her, she just needs to believe in herself.

 

[Chemistry66]

So apparently Ashley Wagner won't be at Golden Spin anymore. Karen Chen instead.

No @AshWagner at #GoldenSpin, per U.S. Figure Skating release. Karen Chen going in her place.

https://twitter.com/icenetwork/status/806190532196241408

ETA: Said press release is here - http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=90194&type=media

Relevant section:

Ladies
Two-time U.S. champion Gracie Gold will compete for the third time this season, having finished fifth and eighth, respectively, at Skate America and Trophée de France. Karen Chen, 2015 U.S. bronze medalist, has competed three time this season, winning bronze at the U.S. International Classic and finishing sixth and seventh, respectively, at NHK Trophy and Cup of China. Amber Glenn competes in Zagreb after most recently finishing third at the 2017 Midwestern Sectional Championships. She also competed at Nebelhorn Trophy, finishing fifth, earlier this fall.

 

[OS]

OMG 3A may be the secret ingredient to boost her PCS, let's face it, she really need one! I am actually hoping she will go for it. With Ashly out of GPF, Gracie in a slump. This is probably Mirai's best chance in a few years. Winner takes it all!!

So apparently Ashley Wagner won't be at Golden Spin anymore. Karen Chen instead.

https://twitter.com/icenetwork/status/806190532196241408

Interesting... go Karen.. go and show off your pair of programs more and build up your PCS momentum. Medal possbility? Go and enjoy Zagreb. Who's participating?

 

[Chemistry66]

Interesting... go Karen.. go and show off your pair of programs more and build up your PCS momentum. Medal possbility? Go and enjoy Zagreb. Who's participating?

US Ladies-wise, it's Gracie, Karen, and Amber Glenn. The Golden Spin section of Challenger Series subforum has links for the entries for all disciplines of all countries.

 

[OS]

US Ladies-wise, it's Gracie, Karen, and Amber Glenn. The Golden Spin section of Challenger Series subforum has links for the entries for all disciplines of all countries.

Carolina Kostner, Liza Tuk and Gracie. That's pretty tough.

 

[skatelikewind1966]

Renewing the old-school battle between Karen and Amber, very exciting. Looks like Karen will be traveling with Vincent too, having a training partner to travel with always makes things more fun and relaxing. Should be entertaining.

 

[skatelikewind1966]

Well Mirai's 3A is looking good.

https://instagram.com/p/BNqPxwjApLj/

Tom Z says she'll do it at nationals. But I doubt in competition. I hope he wouldn't allow her to blow a good change at world over one jump.

If he says she'll do it at Nationals I would think he means in the competition, why tell us that she will do it in warm-ups? I hope she goes for it, Mirai is a seasoned competitor and should be able to control her nerves/emotions, take the jump that she is clearly capable of executing and move on. If she falls but it is fully rotated, that will be a huge confidence builder for her and she will demand respect for taking such a calculated risk on such a big stage. I'm sure they're working on getting all of her other jumps clean as well, so adding the 3A to the mix is simply the sign of a skater and Team fully committed to taking it to the next level. Whatever she decides, I wish her well because she is a wonderful competitor, great skater and even a better person!

 

[shiroKJ]

I think Mirai should take the SP results into consideration and decide whether it's worth the risk after seeing how they place in the SP. If she's in good contention (1-3) then she should not risk it. Anything lower, I say go for broke and put the 3A in.