Kimmie Meissner

[bardtoob]

I was pretty harsh in 2006 with Kimmie, but just before she disappeared she was skating quite lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=i5dkrkGQ7hk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=ZLGwTm-tpfU

[Coco]

I still don't see the underrotation on that loop!

[bardtoob]

:wideeyes: Neither do I.

[kwanatic]

I do consider Kimmie lucky in the sense that she came up big at right time and capitalized on the situation. I would never say she was gifted that world championship...because she earned it. True, the competition was thinner, but she was still squaring off against heavy favorites and previous world medalists. She stepped up, skated her @$$ off and won the title fair and square.

I was never a fan of her skating per se (her skating style was far too rigid for my taste) but I was definitely a fan of her personality. I think Kimmie was a victim of the puberty monster; just so happens she was able to grab a national and world title before her changing body diminished her skating. Her presentation and artistry began to improve right around the time her jumps started failing her. In addition, she began skating around the time Mao, Yu-Na and Miki were emerging and at the time the new crop of US babies arrived (Caroline, Mirai, Ashley and Rachael). Kimmie got lost in the shuffle of new skaters...

Judging by her Disson performances, I can see that she's smoothed out her movements and looks very elegant...a word I never would have used to describe her before.

I find Kimmie more likable than Rachael. To me, it feels like the USFSA and the national judges pushed Rachael onto the public--they tried to force people to like her. Kimmie, OTOH, had a certain quality about her that made you like her, regardless of what you thought about her skating.

[RD]

I do consider Kimmie lucky in the sense that she came up big at right time and capitalized on the situation. I would never say she was gifted that world championship...because she earned it.

No, she was the rightful winner- but she was lucky in the way SHughes was lucky in Salt Lake. If at least one of the favorites had skated to her potential or even close to it- obviously there would have been a different winner regardless of how she skated.




To me, it feels like the USFSA and the national judges pushed Rachael onto the public--they tried to force people to like her. Kimmie, OTOH, had a certain quality about her that made you like her, regardless of what you thought about her skating.

I definitely agree about Rachel- they clearly chose her as a big part of their promotional campaign, likely because of her combining high-level education with championship-level skating. But somehow I can't blame them for making that choice. It's not like there's any other US lady that is significantly more worthy of attention at this point...(and that speaks volumes about the state we're in right now, no?) I mean, as sick as I am of hearing about Flatt...but perhaps with her standings dropping like a rock, they'll reconsider. I always thought Flatt was what you'd call an "overachiever" (I mean that in the best way, not intended as an insult) and not who most everyday people can relate to. That, I think is the problem- she is fine as a spokeperson, but perhaps not as the face of the US ladies' program when there are better and more talented skaters in the mix. Then again, I don't think there IS a face for the program right now...

As for the point re. KM I always thought that was a personal thing. I agree about her being more likeable (than Flatt) when she was younger (e.g. 2006). But now, not so much. I find many other skaters more likeable (persona-wise) than her. That's just my view though.

[Louise]

Yeah, too bad Meissner got dinged on that loop, I couldn't see any UR. However, Flatt's spins (incredibly) were much better than Meissner's. KM was never much of a spinner (that layback, ouch).

The 2006-2010 quad was tough for US skating. What surprises me is that I feel USFS decidedly was NOT pushing Flatt. For years she delivered clean programs only to lose to a 'future star' who made mistakes. Finally when those 'future stars' consistently bombed, and Flatt was known for reliably delivering 7 triple performances, USFS had no choice BUT to push for Flatt. But the push was a double edged sword, since it was OBVIOUS she was not the skater/star of the moment. Then Flatt starts bombing but now was being given 'reputation' marks. Hopefully that is over with now after her disastrous skating the last 12 months.

I'm sure USFS is chomping at the bit to find SOMEONE consistent that is pleasant to look at. Czisny and Wagner are just not going to cut it. Nagasu is such a headcase. No wonder there is a push for a junior skater who only skated in one JGP now.

[orbitz]

No, she was the rightful winner- but she was lucky in the way SHughes was lucky in Salt Lake. If at least one of the favorites had skated to her potential or even close to it- obviously there would have been a different winner regardless of how she skated.


And the judges and technical callers back then didn't care at all about toe-axels. Kimmi's were so blatant that it was embarrasing her 3-3s were were counted.

Kimmi seems like a nice girl, but her skating bored me back then, and it bores me now.

[smarts1]

Yeah, too bad Meissner got dinged on that loop, I couldn't see any UR. However, Flatt's spins (incredibly) were much better than Meissner's. KM was never much of a spinner (that layback, ouch).

The 2006-2010 quad was tough for US skating. What surprises me is that I feel USFS decidedly was NOT pushing Flatt. For years she delivered clean programs only to lose to a 'future star' who made mistakes. Finally when those 'future stars' consistently bombed, and Flatt was known for reliably delivering 7 triple performances, USFS had no choice BUT to push for Flatt. But the push was a double edged sword, since it was OBVIOUS she was not the skater/star of the moment. Then Flatt starts bombing but now was being given 'reputation' marks. Hopefully that is over with now after her disastrous skating the last 12 months.

I'm sure USFS is chomping at the bit to find SOMEONE consistent that is pleasant to look at. Czisny and Wagner are just not going to cut it. Nagasu is such a headcase. No wonder there is a push for a junior skater who only skated in one JGP now.

Czisny IS that person for now. She just barely missed getting the bronze medal last year at Worlds. And now that she bombed at the GPF, the first time that badly since she moved to Yuka and Jason, everyone is crying that she's still inconsistent and isn't the clear frontrunner at this point. :rolleyes: We all know why she skated the way she did at the GPF and you guys are being very unforgiving and are getting to caught up about her past. It really does look like she's put her past behind her.

Other than that, I knew Kimmie wasn't going to last. Her jump technique was just so blah. :shuffle:

[smarts1]

And the judges and technical callers back then didn't care at all about toe-axels. Kimmi's were so blatant that it was embarrasing her 3-3s were were counted.

Kimmi seems like a nice girl, but her skating bored me back then, and it bores me now.

They still don't care about toe axels...

[Sylvia]

Meissner's next show is in Billings, Montana tomorrow: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81677

[RD]

Czisny IS that person for now. She just barely missed getting the bronze medal last year at Worlds. And now that she bombed at the GPF, the first time that badly since she moved to Yuka and Jason, everyone is crying that she's still inconsistent and isn't the clear frontrunner at this point. :rolleyes: We all know why she skated the way she did at the GPF and you guys are being very unforgiving and are getting to caught up about her past. It really does look like she's put her past behind her.

But she IS still inconsistent. Even at SA and TEB she was off her game somewhat, but GPF was a total meltdown. High moments followed by awful ones have defined Czisny's career for the past 7-8 years. We will have to see how she handles the pressure of DEFENDING CHAMPION at Nationals next month.

One new thing that Czisny has, however, since her coaching change: fight.

[Iceman]

Kimmie seems to have a somewhat "natural" grace in her skating now. Before it was awkward and forced looking. Was pleasantly surprised at seeing her on tv recently.

[kwanatic]

But she IS still inconsistent. Even at SA and TEB she was off her game somewhat, but GPF was a total meltdown. High moments followed by awful ones have defined Czisny's career for the past 7-8 years. We will have to see how she handles the pressure of DEFENDING CHAMPION at Nationals next month.

One new thing that Czisny has, however, since her coaching change: fight.

ITA. Her "win" at SA was a gift b/c Kostner totally outskated her there; she managed to hang on for bronze at her 2nd event and then tanked at the GPF. Every time she goes up for a jump, I still expect her to fall. She doesn't exude confidence when she jumps. All of them look like a "here goes nothing" attempt. She's not a strong jumper so I don't think I'll ever be able to relax and watch her skate...last year, she came pretty close though...

But, for the most part, she's back to the same ol' Alissa...the only difference is the judges are giving her a leg up now. And, like RD said, there's a bit more fight in her now when things start going south which is always good to see...

[mgobluegirl]

But, for the most part, she's back to the same ol' Alissa...the only difference is the judges are giving her a leg up now. And, like RD said, there's a bit more fight in her now when things start going south which is always good to see...

All of her jumps in her GPF free skate looked off. But I'd say there's a BIG difference between the way she skated there and Alissa from 2 seasons ago: she did NOT give up. Can you imagine how many times she'd have fallen before? She's a fighter now. I think she'll show up at nationals looking ready.

[kwanatic]

^^I really hope so. I'm not confident that she'll end up with back-to-back titles this year, but I would like to see her earn that second spot...if she skates well. Because of her reputation with the judges this year, she's a good bet to put on the world team. Hopefully she'll rediscover her confidence and reach the consistency level she reached last year around nationals.

I'm not holding my breath though. This will definitely be her biggest test in terms of her mental strength and focus. They say winning is very hard, but defending is even harder...