What does Yu-Na Kim think of Caroline Zhang?

[flying camel]

Can't Rachel Flatt can go in 2008 if she makes the team? I know she is older then Caroline.

 

[satorare]

I don't think what Kim said is so important.
The point is a patriotic Korean wants to present a detailed "translation" to defend his/her national idol. They are very anxious about international (especially the American's) reputation on Kim.

 

[Zuranthium]

Actually, she can go to 2009 Worlds, she'll be fifteen in May 2008.

Kypma

Ah, okay. I thought the rule was you have to be 16 by the previous July 1st, which is why I was confused as to the 2009 season that people were talking about for several of these up-and-coming skaters becoming elligible.

~Z

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Can't Rachel Flatt can go in 2008 if she makes the team? I know she is older then Caroline.

Posters seem to be worried about the international competitions. Rachael, Caroline and Ashley will be up against the 'best' in the USA at Nats. If one of them makes it through, it will be another sad day for one USA Lady in waiting. But that's the way it is in Skateland.

Joe

 

[Zuranthium]

Only Ashley is elligible to go to Worlds. I predict Nationals this year will be:

1. Kimmie Meissner
2. Caroline Zhang
3. Ashley Wagner
4. Emily Hughes

Emily will still get to go to Worlds, since Caroline is not elligible.

I'm hoping that Bebe Liang has a strong season and makes the World team, though.

~Z

 

[R.D.]

^ That's giving Zhang wayyy too much credit for something she hasn't done yet- skate in seniors.

I do agree with Hughes placing 3rd or lower, though, and somehow getting to go to Worlds again next year. And this Ashley Wagner...another unproven talent??

 

[Zuranthium]

Then of course 2009 and 2010 will be QUITE competitive with the entrance of Mirai Nagasu (who is JUST as talented as Caroline Zhang...I think these two are going to have quite the rivalry all the way through 2014) and possibly Sasha Cohen. It will again be quite sad to see one nation restricted to sending 3 skaters to Worlds/Olympics because the U.S. team is going to be INCREDIBLY deep.

~Z

 

[Zuranthium]

And this Ashley Wagner...another unproven talent??

She did a 7-Triple program at Jr. Worlds the past season. That girl has the goods.

~Z

 

[Sylvia]

Mirai Nagasu plans to skate senior nationally and junior internationally.

The ISU minimum age rule is 15 by July 1, 2007 in order to be old enough for ISU Senior Championships (4 Continents, Euros, Worlds) in 2007-08. Flatt turns 15 after July 1st of this year, so she, Zhang and Nagasu (these two have already turned 14 this year) are all technically the "same age" according to ISU rules.

Zhang, Nagasu and Flatt will all be old enough for ISU Senior Championships in 2008-09.

 

[Zuranthium]

I hadn't read that Mirai planned to do Senior this year as well. It's certainly a good idea, to keep herself on equal pacing with Caroline.

Emily could finish as low as 6th and still go to Worlds, if Rachael Flatt does better than her...but I don't believe in Rachael. I think she is going to have consistency problems and continually be an also-ran.

~Z

 

[london_calling]

Emily could finish as low as 6th and still go to Worlds, if Rachael Flatt does better than her...but I don't believe in Rachael. I think she is going to have consistency problems and continually be an also-ran.

Looking at her scores from the past season though, she seems to be pretty consistent. I guess the pressure might affect her though.

I'm really excited for the next few seasons, it looks like the female skaters are going to be something great to watch.

 

[R.D.]

Oh, wow. I wasn't aware Nagasu was going to go senior nationally. This could make the national championships fairly interesting.

 

[Wrlmy]

I'm really hoping Alissa will somehow win national. am I hoping too much?

 

[Mathman]

Emily could finish as low as 6th and still go to Worlds, if Rachael Flatt does better than her...but I don't believe in Rachael. I think she is going to have consistency problems and continually be an also-ran.

I have great hopes and expectations for Rachael Flatt. She could win it all next year. She actually has a secure triple Lutz/triple toe combination, which she did in both the short and long programs last year (the downgrade was a very questionable call).

Caroline, Mirai and Ashley? Only time will tell.

I'm really hoping Alissa will somehow win national. am I hoping too much?

Go Alissa! She won the free program at Nationals last year and could have won the whole thing with a better SP and/or if Kimmie and Emily had messed up even worse they did.

My podium prediction: Alissa, Rachael, Bebe.

Unfortunately, IMHO Alissa doesn't quite have the technical consistency to hold her fortune in her own hands. Other skaters (especially Meissner) would have to screw up big time for Alissa to win. Plus, Alissa would have to limit her falls on jumps to one (or two at the most).

 

[R.D.]

I'm really hoping Alissa will somehow win national. am I hoping too much?

umm...yes.

I'm afraid so.

 

[Mathman]

Well, if you go by their all-time best performances (in terms of CoP points), the top American ladies are

Cohen (ret.)
Meissner
Kirk (ret.)
Kwan (ret.)
Zhang
Czisny
Hughes

And if you go by the current ISU ranking:

Meissner
Hughes
Czisny
Zhang
Wagner
Taylor

So there you go!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Remember the old Figure Skating Maxim: It's a slippery Sport

The predictions I've been reading are based on either last year's results or favorites. In the former, there is never any improvement in the latter,it's right from the heart. :yes: duh. For me, there is more to a skater's progress than last year's results and I have no favorites. I'm just a wait and see kinda guy.

The Cheesefests will give us an inkling of some skaters - but not all! The GPs will give us quite a bit more. The Nationals will tell how the top three skated on those afternoons for the SP and LP.

Joe

 

[fsf9012]

I don't think what Kim said is so important.
The point is a patriotic Korean wants to present a detailed "translation" to defend his/her national idol. They are very anxious about international (especially the American's) reputation on Kim.

It's true that some Korean reporters know little about figure skating and are hysterical. In this case, it's not like some patriotic Korean make up a story that doesn't exit to protect Yu-Na. I don't think it's fair if the wrong translations or the media hype make skaters look bad.

 

[feraina]

Are we really making predictions for next year's National's already in June? We must all be terribly impatient to SEE some skating instead of just TALKING about it.

 

[Zuranthium]

I have great hopes and expectations for Rachael Flatt. She could win it all next year. She actually has a secure triple Lutz/triple toe combination, which she did in both the short and long programs last year (the downgrade was a very questionable call).

She has a secure Triple Flutz/Almost-a-Triple Toeloop combination.

Kimmie's 3/3 not being downgraded was a FAR more questionable call. Actually it was just plain wrong, not even questionable. Rachael Flatt has the same problem as Kimmie on her Toeloop...she stays on her toepick a quarter rotation too long before getting up into the air. If you're going to have that kind of technique on your Toeloops then you need to get ALL the way around for it to fully count. Flatt is VERY close, getting just a little bit more rotation than Kimmie (who underrotates a full quarter turn in addition to the pre-rotation...and did even worse than that in the LP at Worlds), but in the end both of these girls should have had their jumps downgraded.

~Z