Zhang has some of the same traits, but her skating has charisma. She must skate with more power and speed. (If she must "walk" into a double axle, let her do it from a near-standstill at the beginning of her program, a la Surya Bonaly.) Her "pluses" are those fantastic spins and sprials--and --her connection with the audience is like no other elegible U. S.
Actually, I don't understand why everyone's so down on Caroline this season. To me, she looks like she has improved a lot on her speed and power this season.
Her TEB SP:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/biT_zLH4WcE/
Her TEB FS:
http://www.dailymotion.com/muffin14/video/x7f7pb_caroline-zhang-2008-teb-lp_sport
(I wouldn't worry too much about her SC results, since she had tendonitis beforehand, couldn't practice her triples for weeks before SC, and outgrew her FS dress in the meantime. Even for TEB, two weeks later, she said she only had the chance to do a few full LP run-throughs beforehand.)
She's much faster and more fluid this season than previously, especially in the SP -- she skated that slss with more spirit than I have ever seen her done, even though this was called only a level 2. Missing that 2A was really unfortunate. She also lost valuable points by having the 3-3 downgraded and the spiral sequence called level 1. But she only had downgrades on the 3-3 for both SP and FS at TEB, which is something only few senior ladies are attempting these days. This is also a big improvement from last year, when she was getting downgraded a lot more often. She also has a reliable 3S now, another improvement.
Even though she didn't score so high in the SP, I feel like she's skating with noticeably more fluidity and comfort than previously. I think the choreography for both programs suit her well -- they are beautiful and exciting at the same time. They are both wonderfully choreographed programs with great potential.
Now, the issue with the flip and lutz take-offs are a real problem, which are leading to downgrades, 'e' calls, and falls (at SC). And her hesitation going into the 2A is a problem, too -- see how she missed her 2A altogether at TEB. Remember her shock loss to Mirai Nagasu at National's two seasons ago? She had a fall on the 2A in the SP, and on the 3F in the FS. At the time, it seemed like a fluke (as she had perfect programs all season long on the JGP circuit and JW), but now it seems like the 2A, 3F, and the 3Z are her recurring weaknesses. But if she should be able to land all her jumps all cleanly at National's, despite the flawed take-off techniques, I think she has a good chance at medaling, and non-trivial chance of winning. Only Rachael Flatt could reliably deliver a 7-triple FS (which she hasn't done yet this season), and I think Caroline has slightly better programs and presentation. So it may all come done to whether Caroline can deliver on all the technical elements despite the flawed techniques.
What's interesting is that Caroline seems to have grown a whole bunch more since TEB:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexlc13/3136966177/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21237220@N07/3154121801/
most noticeably on her thighs. It's definitely a big year in terms of physical changes for her. I'm surprised that she has thighs as thick as (if not more than) Tanith and Rachael.
It could play in her favor, as allowing her to skate with more speed and jump with more power, or her new body could throw her off. At least it looks like she's mainly gaining muscles, and her body shape is still very compact.
(On the other hand, what happened to Shawn Johnson?!! It's only been a few months since the summer olympics!)
Anyway, this thread is about hopes. I hope that Caroline can secure one of the two spots to World's, which is in her hometown this year. I hope that she skates beautifully, cleanly, and *freely* with joy and confidence. And I hope everyone else skates well, too, and make it a very exciting competition.
)
. I think they're very good but not all will be on the podium this year.
