US Team: 4CCs and Worlds (updated)

[mrrice]

Because of course Mirai is super reliable.

Exactly...If they were going to do that, they might as well have let Gracie go. IMO, both of these former champions need some time off. I mean away from the rink and away from all things involving skating. I think they both need time to reflect and either recharge, or retire. The looks on their faces at Nationals suggest they are either burnt out, or not training properly. In Gracie's case, it looked like both. I don't know what to make of Mirai. She has certainly had every chance a skater can have. After her SP and skating in a dream position going into the Free Program at Nationals, she once again faltered and missed the podium. Is Caroline Zhang going to skate at 4CC? I was just wondering if she had ever been to Senior Worlds?

 

[RemyRose]

Exactly...If they were going to do that, they might as well have let Gracie go. IMO, both of these former champions need some time off. I mean away from the rink and away from all things involving skating. I think they both need time to reflect and either recharge, or retire. The looks of their faces at Nationals suggest they are either burnt out, or not training properly. In Gracie's case, it looked like both. I don't know what to make of Mirai. She has certainly had every chance a skater can have. After her SP and skating in a dream position going into the Free Program at Nationals, she once again faltered and missed the podium. Is Caroline Zhang going to skate at 4CC? I was just wondering if she had ever been to Senior Worlds?

Zhang will not be at 4CC and neither will Mao (nor Worlds).

 

[mrrice]

Zhang will not be at 4CC and neither will Mao (nor Worlds).

That's what I thought. If they don't go.....Mirai should definitely not be on the team.

While we're at.. How is Jason Brown's health? From what I understand he was still effected by his injury at Nationals, is that true?

 

[sarama]

Because of course Mirai is super reliable.

That's not what I meant... But Mirai has higher scoring potential (mainly due to reputation probably) than Karen and Mariah.
I love Karen a lot (probably my favorite US lady right now), I see a lot of potential in Mariah and I'm happy to see some new (and younger) US ladies at worlds, but this year might not be the best one to debut at worlds with a ton of extra pressure. Then maybe they'll do great in Helsinki and prove me absolutely wrong, but right now this is looking like a suicidal strategy for me, just like the Chinese fed sending Wang/Wang and Peng/Zhang instead of Yu/Jin last year (and that didn't end well at all).

 

[karne]

While we're at.. How is Jason Brown's health? From what I understand he was still effected by his injury at Nationals, is that true?

Yes, he was still affected by the leg injury at Nationals. He was expecting to be 100% again soon after. We will see where he's at at 4CC.

That's not what I meant... But Mirai has higher scoring potential (mainly due to reputation probably) than Karen and Mariah.
I love Karen a lot (probably my favorite US lady right now), I see a lot of potential in Mariah and I'm happy to see some new (and younger) US ladies at worlds, but this year might not be the best one to debut at worlds with a ton of extra pressure. Then maybe they'll do great in Helsinki and prove me absolutely wrong, but right now this is looking like a suicidal strategy for me, just like the Chinese fed sending Wang/Wang and Peng/Zhang instead of Yu/Jin last year (and that didn't end well at all).

Suicidal is sending someone with chronic UR problems who is out of form. Mirai has done nothing this season to justify throwing either Karen or Mariah off the team. Both have been better than her.

 

[Ares]

Yes, he was still affected by the leg injury at Nationals. He was expecting to be 100% again soon after. We will see where he's at at 4CC.



Suicidal is sending someone with chronic UR problems who is out of form. Mirai has done nothing this season to justify throwing either Karen or Mariah off the team. Both have been better than her.

Well Mirai had good showing in Skate Canada International Challenger SP (beat her PB but it was small event so there is asterisk to it, look at scores that Ilinykh / Zhiganshin received in Tallin as of late) and managed to place on podium after underwhelming LP overall, but that's it. I would not trust her more either than Karen or Mariah as they had better season and beat Nagasu at Nationals. Gracie is out of consideration.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Suicidal is sending someone with chronic UR problems who is out of form. Mirai has done nothing this season to justify throwing either Karen or Mariah off the team. Both have been better than her.

I agree that it is more fair and a better choice to send Chen and Bell, but Mirai had a great start to the season medalling at both CS events, including a win. Not to mention she had a lacklustre season last year before winning silver at 4CC.

Mariah has the highest total of the three thanks to Skate America but Chen is really lagging behind with 179 points as a personal best from CoC. Now she has more clout being US champ but if she bombs or technically hammered at 4CC, she will make the US team very nervous going into Worlds.

 

[frida80]

I agree that it is more fair and a better choice to send Chen and Bell, but Mirai had a great start to the season medalling at both CS events, including a win. Not to mention she had a lacklustre season last year before winning silver at 4CC.

Mariah has the highest total of the three thanks to Skate America but Chen is really lagging behind with 179 points as a personal best from CoC. Now she has more clout being US champ but if she bombs or technically hammered at 4CC, she will make the US team very nervous going into Worlds.

Karen has the flu this week, so that means she's off the ice for week before 4CC. She's still going to go. But if she doesn't perform well, that's probably the reason.

 

[mrrice]

Karen has the flu this week, so that means she's off the ice for week before 4CC. She's still going to go. But if she doesn't perform well, that's probably the reason.

Anyone who has ever skated or danced knows that a head cold is the worst thing that could possibly happen the week before an event. Your balance is completely thrown off and you can't turn on the ground, let alone on the ice without snot wrapping around your face. It's disgusting... :disapp:. When you add a freezing rink to the occasion, it is sheer misery. Poor thing. Can't she withdraw and send the alternate? The last thing she needs is lose momentum or get herself injured by training when while she's sick. It sounds so trite but, a spin combination at the end of her LP could literally make her pass out on the ice.

 

[Moxiejan]

Maybe Karen should withdraw. A poor performance at 4CCs, though understandable under the circumstances, would do far more to hurt her reputation/confidence heading into Worlds than staying home and getting fully healthy.

 

[frida80]

Anyone who has skated or danced knows that a head cold is the worst thing that could possibly happen the week before an event. Your balance is completely thrown off and you can't turn on the ground, let alone on the ice without snot wrapping around your face :disapp:. When you add a freezing rink to the occasion, it is sheer misery. Poor thing. Can't she withdraw and send the alternate? The last thing she needs is lose momentum or get herself injured by training when while she's sick. It sounds so trite but, a spin combination at the end of her LP could literally make her pass out on the ice.

Karen doesn't back down. She went to 4CC last year with an injury and four days notice. She's going. She said she's feeling better. But who knows how she'll be by the time she's gets to Korea.

 

[SarahSynchro]

If Karen withdraws from 4CC then Gracie will get her spot, and I'm honestly not sure if that would be a good thing. Gracie's season ending at nationals could very well be a blessing in disguise; I feel like if she went to 4CC and performed poorly it would set her back even more.

 

[mrrice]

Karen doesn't back down. She went to 4CC last year with an injury and four days notice. She's going. She said she's feeling better. But who knows how she'll be by the time she's gets to Korea.

Well, if she's healthy, she should definitely go. If she has a poor skate, it's not like they'll cut her from Worlds. I was thinking more about her and how she might be feeling extra pressure as the new champion. She has to know that all eyes will be on her and I'm sure she wants to give the best performance that she possibly can.

 

[frida80]

If Karen withdraws from 4CC then Gracie will get her spot, and I'm honestly not sure if that would be a good thing. Gracie's season ending at nationals could very well be a blessing in disguise; I feel like if she went to 4CC and performed poorly it would set her back even more.

Gracie doesn't even have a coach and probably hasn't been practicing her programs since national. She wouldn't be close to being prepared. She's in Canton trying things out with Marina. Karen still has a week before the competition, hopefully she'll be better by then.

 

[snowflake]

Karen doesn't back down. She went to 4CC last year with an injury and four days notice. She's going. She said she's feeling better. But who knows how she'll be by the time she's gets to Korea.

I think elite athletes have a good basic condition. They can have a flu and soon come back strong. Glad that Karen is going and wish her all luck. She’s a lovely skater.

 

[frida80]

Well, if she's healthy, she should definitely go. If she has a poor skate, it's not like they'll cut her from Worlds. I was thinking more about her and how she might be feeling extra pressure and the new champion. She has to know that all eyes will be on her and I'm sure she wants to give the best performance that she possibly can.

A weak skate may help her in Worlds. I don't think she'll get a PCS boost, but it will take pressure off for worlds. She'll come in just like nationals, under the radar so she can focus on her program rather than fulfilling expectations.

 

[Moxiejan]

Karen doesn't back down. She went to 4CC last year with an injury and four days notice.

And she finished 12th, with poor scores. My point exactly.
Perhaps this is the moment in her career in which she learns the value of saying "no" (or listening to coaches/advisers saying "no") when not at proper competitive condition.

 

[Moxiejan]

If Karen withdraws from 4CC then Gracie will get her spot, and I'm honestly not sure if that would be a good thing. Gracie's season ending at nationals could very well be a blessing in disguise; I feel like if she went to 4CC and performed poorly it would set her back even more.[/QUrTE]

Or, Gracie could withdraw and let the next alternate (Courtney Hicks) go. Since Gracie is a Worlds alternate and Courtney is not, I'd rather have Gracie renewed/ready for Worlds alternate than 4CCs.

 

[frida80]

And she finished 12th, with poor scores. My point exactly.
Perhaps this is the moment in her career in which she learns the value of saying "no" (or listening to coaches/advisers saying "no") when not at proper competitive condition.

She's 17. At this age, it's hard to hold them back. She went to Golden Spin in December with three days notice. I'd prefer a healthy Karen. But I doubt anyone could convince her to not compete at 4CC unless she was seriously injured like when she broke her foot in 2013.

 

[princessalica]

Gracie has been training. She's been spotted in Michigan.