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- Jul 11, 2003
Blake Rosenthal because she's pretty in pink. She will win the Worlds.
Who is your favorite USA lady and who do you think will come out on top this season?!
- Thread starter Taan
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If there was an award for the World's top pwetty pink pwincess, Blake would be in the running for it. As far as Blake winning the World Figure Skating championship goes, her chances are somewhere between nil and none. She is a lovely skater, but she just doesn't have the jumping chops. I doubt she will even make it to Nationals at the Senior level, let alone get one of the two spots on the World team.
Hope with all my heart that Mirai is able to hold up under the pressure of being the "defending champion" Her skating has such an appealing flow and freedom, and with her natural style and intelligence, will hopefully see the kind of progress in terms of maturity that will be expected from her... the window of opportunity for being adorable/cutesy IMO has passed.
Rachael is the best competitor of the bunch. The level of progress she has made in terms of developing into a true "ladies'" champion, coupled with the confidence that being World Junior Champion has hopefully brought, make her someone I would want to have on that 2-"man" US team in LA, where the mission is "13 or better" or go home.
Rachael is the best competitor of the bunch. The level of progress she has made in terms of developing into a true "ladies'" champion, coupled with the confidence that being World Junior Champion has hopefully brought, make her someone I would want to have on that 2-"man" US team in LA, where the mission is "13 or better" or go home.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2008
Kimmie is by far my favorite. After her, probably Ashley and Bebe and Emily. I refuse to make any predictions until after I've seen all of the ladies compete on the GP circuit, see how they (especially Mirai, the reigning US Champ, and Rachael, current JW Champ) can handle the pressure of playing with the big girls on an international stage. Mirai, too me, seems most likely to have some sort of meltdown, she really unravelled at JWs last season. Rachael, I fear, is soon going to fall prey to puberty, she already looks sort of soft and not at all muscular, she could struggle when the extra inches and pounds arrive. Caroline just flat out bores me, and the uber-flexible thing doesn't really impress me. And Caroline is another one that could struggle when she hits that growth spurt, and no one can predict when that will happen but it could be anytime now. Alissa is too much of a headcase. She can be very beautiful, but she has never been consistent, and I don't expect that to suddenly change. Emily and Ashley and Kimmie have, it would appear, have done most of their growing already, so that shouldn't be a factor. However, Emily is very inconsistent, and Ashley really got dinged at Worlds last year, and of course we all know the troubles that Kimmie went through. Add all of that together, and it is impossible at this point in the season to pick out who will come out on top. But I hope it will be Kimmie.
I seriously think it might be Wagner or Zhang's year. Both seem to have improved dramatically over the summer. I for one love Ashley's SP and can't wait to see her LP. I know she got dinged at worlds this year, but so did Tara Lipinski at her first worlds, and then on her second try she became world champ. I'm also excited to see Caroline's programs this season since I've heard she's improved her speed and edging. So for now I think these two are my favorite followed by Kimmie, Mirai, and Racheal.
Tara skated under 6.0, when jumps weren't downgraded and gigged for flutzing (and Tara DID flutz rather badly). The ISU judges haven't been that impressed with Wagner so far. I'd like to see how she does in the GP this season before getting on her bandwagon. Same with Zhang, who has growth issues to deal with along with the same flutzing/underrotating issues Wagner has to face.
Interesting that Kimmie hasn't participated in any summer comps. She must have been privately monitored by USFS over the summer. She won't have to do Regionals because they are right before Skate America, or Sectionals because they are right after Cup of Russia, her second event.
All the U.S. Team A envelope skaters are individually monitored by USFS officials at their home rinks (usually in Sept.) and are not required to do a summer competition.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2004
Where did Kimmie place at US nationals last year? I thought the top 5 or 6 got a bye to Nationals and didn't have to participate in regionals/sectionals? Did she place worse than that?
Ant
Top 5 senior finishers receive automatic byes to the next year's Nationals. Meissner was 7th at '08 Nationals. Usually, if a skater's international is one week before or after a skater's regional or sectional, then they qualify for a bye (in Meissner's case, she will not have to skate at South Atlantic Regionals or Eastern Sectionals due to the timing of her 2 Grand Prix events).
I listed the projected U.S. senior ladies byes in another thread as follows...
Byes to 2009 U.S. Nationals (for placing top 5 at '08 Nats): Nagasu, Flatt, Wagner, Zhang, Liang.
Byes through Sectionals in November due to their Senior Grand Prix event(s): Hacker S6, Meissner S7, E. Hughes (as long as she places top 4 at North Atlantic Regionals)
Byes through Regionals in October due to international assignment(s) and/or for being Sectional sr. champion last year: Hacker S6, Meissner S7, Bulanhagui S8, Czisny S9, Bereswill S10, Victorsen S11, Kahle S12, Oberstar S15, A. Gilles J1, Rizo J3, Musademba J4 (and anyone else who receives a 2nd JGP assignment).
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- Joined
- Feb 5, 2004
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2007
Caroline Zhang. She's so lovely, and she really does have the complete package. Lovely spins, spirals and jumps!
Mine are Alissa Czisny and Caroline Zhang. Alissa has the maturity and grace right now that set her apart from the younger set if only she can and does get her jumps under control. She's lovely on the ice.
I think Caroline has a bit of her look plus the jumps so she'll be a force to be reckoned with. All she lacks at this point, IMO, is the maturity. That will come. I thought the first time I saw her she has the potential to be the next Michelle.
The depth of the US ladies is amazing. I'm hoping Kimmie has her issues solved so she can come back strong. I wouldn't count her out just yet.
I think Caroline has a bit of her look plus the jumps so she'll be a force to be reckoned with. All she lacks at this point, IMO, is the maturity. That will come. I thought the first time I saw her she has the potential to be the next Michelle.
The depth of the US ladies is amazing. I'm hoping Kimmie has her issues solved so she can come back strong. I wouldn't count her out just yet.
I really like Caroline Zhang. She is so adorable,beautiful and elegant skater. My husband also likes to watch her skating though he is not a figure skating fan. Both of us think that Caroline will become one of the great figure skaters in coming year.
I also like Sasha Cohen ( hopefully, she would come back for the competition),Miki, Yu Na Kim, Michelle Kwan and Mao.
I also like Sasha Cohen ( hopefully,
she would come back for the competition),Miki, Yu Na Kim, Michelle Kwan and Mao.
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2006
If I could skate I would be the best...but since I am old, can't skate for anything I guess I will have to pick someone.
Caroline is my favorite. She is the youngster that has the Senior Grand Prix experience. I really enjoy watching her skating. I haven't seen much of Rachel and Mirai other then at the Nationals....so......my opinion might change this season.
Caroline is my favorite. She is the youngster that has the Senior Grand Prix experience. I really enjoy watching her skating. I haven't seen much of Rachel and Mirai other then at the Nationals....so......my opinion might change this season.
Kimmie competed in the Florida Everblades Figure Skating Club's Labor Day Figure Skating Invitational. I don't know if she actually competed or just performed and I have no idea how she did.
http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2008/aug/30/figure-skating-competiton/
Towards the bottom, there is a cute picture with Kimmie and Richard Callaghan
Thanks for the article link, too!
I'm looking forward to how Alissa Czisny skates this season...she competed at Liberty (was it?) and did pretty good. Lets see if her jumps get better and be somewhat consistent. She's great to watch.
Also want to see Caroline Zhang and how she does now as a 2nd year in seniors.
Ashley Wanger and how she's improved since the coaching change
BeBe Liang and her new programs
Marai...haven't seen much of her skating either, other than at Nationals, so I can't really comment on her yet.
Also want to see Caroline Zhang and how she does now as a 2nd year in seniors.
Ashley Wanger and how she's improved since the coaching change
BeBe Liang and her new programs
Marai...haven't seen much of her skating either, other than at Nationals, so I can't really comment on her yet.
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2008
Well, anyone can gain weight at any point and run into trouble, but she's already grown several inches since last season and it doesn't seem to have any negative effect. Three weeks ago she skated two perfectly clean programs including clean 3F+3T. Her combined score of 181 points would have put her in 3rd place at last year's Grand Prix Final.
I prefer Mirai's skating, but Caroline's consistency just blows me away.
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2008
I thought Caroline already had gone through a growth spurt? She was reported as being taller at Golden West Championships and that her speed is much improved. Maybe I read wrong? I'll have to take another look.
And even though she does not have the strongest jumps at the moment, I really like Caroline. I hope she does work on improving her jumps as much as possible because I just love to watch.
Kimmie has become a bit of a sentimental favorite. I was devastated for her at Nationals, it was just so hard to watch. I think I even cried a little. And I really think she's starting to come into her own artistically-she's becoming a much better performer and I can't wait to see her programs.
I loveeeeed Ashley's SP at Liberty. There was already a remarkable improvement, and I hope that continues.
Try as I may, I can't make myself a fan of Rachel Flatt. I'm just not excited by her. She's a good skater, but I don't see it. I haven't seen enough of Mirai to say, so I'll wait to see her on the GP circuit.
Oh and I WISH Katrina had the jumps because then she really would be my favorite. I absolutely love watching her skate.
And even though she does not have the strongest jumps at the moment, I really like Caroline. I hope she does work on improving her jumps as much as possible because I just love to watch.
Kimmie has become a bit of a sentimental favorite. I was devastated for her at Nationals, it was just so hard to watch. I think I even cried a little. And I really think she's starting to come into her own artistically-she's becoming a much better performer and I can't wait to see her programs.
I loveeeeed Ashley's SP at Liberty. There was already a remarkable improvement, and I hope that continues.
Try as I may, I can't make myself a fan of Rachel Flatt. I'm just not excited by her. She's a good skater, but I don't see it. I haven't seen enough of Mirai to say, so I'll wait to see her on the GP circuit.
Oh and I WISH Katrina had the jumps because then she really would be my favorite. I absolutely love watching her skate.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
My favorite is Caroline because i can't get enough of min boggling belimans and spilt spirlas. I think that Marai will come out on top because I plan on see 3/3 in both programs from her and she seems solid as a rock. but then again this will be her first senior season versus caroline who has been there done that. Lets not forget how harsh the judges are on first years.
