- Joined
- Mar 3, 2012
With Polina out, hopefully people will see there's a spot on the podium to be had, and rise to the challenge.
State of U.S. Ladies' skating 2016-17
- Thread starter R.D.
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
And if they think that they should quit the sport! There was and is always a spot on the podium for anyone to rise to the challenge and it should not take an injury from another competitor for this to sink into an athletes mind. But I know what you're saying and I think this is the sad reality for many.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2012
Well, an injury from a top competitor whom the judges trust to send to international competitions.
And I do hope Polina comes back strong and determined as ever. So sad she can't be there this year!
And I do hope Polina comes back strong and determined as ever. So sad she can't be there this year!
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2014
I have to admit it makes me apathetic. The only skater I feel strongly attached to is Ashley, even though Mariah and Karen are occasionally brilliant, and Mirai and Caroline are sentimental favorites.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2014
yeah i kinda understand this. it's hard to ever follow and truly root for any of the other US girls just cuz they're always so inconsistent and they havent really broken out or done anything internationally.
except perhaps mirai and courtney for me, but they're just so inconsistent internationally too. you see them put out some amazing things on snapchat but they just never live up to expectations sadly.
the excitement for me is always between ashley and gracie because i just dont expect anyone else to put out a performance, and with gracie the way she is right now it sort of even killed the excitement behind the "rivalry" too.
i fear the only excitement to be had is if ashley messes up on the short and has to "fight back!!" in the long, but that simply isn't exciting, it's really tiresome after so many competitions of "i love being the underdog, but never the champion!" messing up on one of your programs isn't going to put you ahead of the russians. it might get you motivated and fired up for your free or something but what is all that extra drama for if you already shot down your chances to win or be competitive against the best?
I just realized that this will be her 10th (!) senior nationals, with just one placement (6th) out of the medals.
That is truly impressive.
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
Well, consdering 4th place is still a medal position in US, it's a little easier
I wonder how Gracie will do. So far, at Senior Nationals she was either 1st or 2nd, which is something, but I wonder if she will be able to keep up with that this year...
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Well, consdering 4th place is still a medal position in US, it's a little easier
A skater (besides Ashley) would have to do something very special to beat Gracie if she skates even moderately well. One woman may manage to put together the two skates of her life to do so, but it's hard to imagine multiple athletes doing that given how inconsistent the US women are. If she can manage three or fewer falls in the event (or losing the equivalent amount of points with pops), Gracie should end up on the podium.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2016
Zagreb was due to back pain. TEB was bad but there were people saying the ice was difficult to move on and melting in places. SA is her best one and oddly enough when she was most out of shape. I think with how much she has been working and how many things she has done leading up to it, it is safe to assume she won't have a Zagreb level meltdown. If she comes to competition with any fight in her the other girls will not reach her.
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
Well, due to Polina's WD, Gracie has one less contender. I know other Ladies have everything to challenge her, but there not that many established as a top senior lady.
How do you estimate Caroline Zhang chances?
Btw. I think this year it will be good for US Lady to win 4CC since it's around the Olympics, which all skater would wan to peak next year and would be good prognostic.
How do you estimate Caroline Zhang chances?
Btw. I think this year it will be good for US Lady to win 4CC since it's around the Olympics, which all skater would wan to peak next year and would be good prognostic.
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- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
Gracie has a very professional team working with her. I'd be surprised if she doesn't show up in top condition next week. I don't necessarily think that guarantees she performs well because she is lacking confidence at the moment. I'm hoping it isn't a situation like Mao's, in which she showed up to her nationals healthy but simply hadn't skated at a high enough level this season to compete confidently.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
I think placing in the top 8 would be a victory for Caroline. No chance in heck at a podium spot. Her skating still has all the flaws it has in the past. But we don't all compete to make podiums or a Worlds team, and I hope she accomplishes whatever realistic goal she has set for herself and gives us a gorgeous performance in the process.
Re: 4CCs. Peaking at that time this year is wayyyy different than peaking at that time next year. Because most people peak for the Olympics and then are more lackluster at Worlds. No one wants to peak at 4CCs and be lackluster at Worlds.
FWIW, I think that the shorter time span between Nationals/Olympics versus Nationals/Worlds might make it easier to peak at that time, as there is less downtime, more momentum and excitement.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2016
I really do believe Gracie will lay it down at nationals. She's got a lot going for her and there has been a lot of talk of all the steps she has been taking to get to this moment. I am very much in support of her and I have high hopes she'll fight back her demons here.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2014
Ashley has spoken up, expressing confidence in Gracie, twice: after Worlds and at SA. She's the only one of Gracie's main competitors to do so. I feel sure that Ashley's view on the respectful rivalry between herself and Gracie hasn't changed. I know what you mean, though. Fans' perceptions of a big fight do build up excitement.
If you watched her TSL short interview from about a year ago, Ashley addressed this. It's as though she unconsciously has had to put herself in jeopardy so she can come roaring back in the LP, or at the next competition, to be the rescuer once again. For all of 2015-16, she was thinking about ways not to do that to herself again.
That's why her silver medal skate at Worlds was such a big deal; it was a transformational moment for her before she even got her scores. It was a huge personal victory to skate two brilliant programs at the biggest competition of the year. Like any other transformation, it's two steps forward and one back; human growth doesn't usually go straight forward. I think this year she's steadily working to incorporate that change. She may also be focusing more on Worlds, but I'm hoping, with great anticipation and excitement, for a great performance from her at nationals.
Go Ashley!
I believe in you!
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2005
I love Gracie!
I do hope she medals here and 4CC and peaks at the Worlds
I do hope she skates a phenomenal SP at Worlds and places 2nd or 3rd and goes
For the kill.
I really believe she has it in her
I do hope she medals here and 4CC and peaks at the Worlds
I do hope she skates a phenomenal SP at Worlds and places 2nd or 3rd and goes
For the kill.
I really believe she has it in her
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2016
Gracie and Mirai's call's are up on iceNetwork!
