U.S. Ladies 2010-11, part deux

[Jenna]

Well falling on a rotated or under-rotated one would still be better than getting a downgrade...then she's only down to a 3.3 base value with - GOE.

[RD]

Ah, I see. Boy is that messed up or what...JMHO

[chipso1]

Baga's latest tweet:

KiriBaga I'm not allowed to be jumping yet, but I love being able to skate... even if it's just a little. =)

[smarts1]

Guess Gao won't be on the World team this year...

[mrinalini]

Guess Gao won't be on the World team this year...

Guess pinky will have to suck it then.

[pinky166]

Guess Gao won't be on the World team this year...

Oh hush, it's ONE program at ONE event, she has been skating well at every other competition so far this season. You don't know what will happen at nationals.

[smarts1]

^ I'm pretty certain her lack of experience will hurt her at Nationals. Moving up from a junior to a senior program will also hurt her stamina.

[Sylvia]

Well, Gao finished 5th in her senior debut at Nationals last year after competing on the JGP and at the Final. All skaters have rough skates from time to time -- they're only human. Let's see what happens in the FS tomorrow for Christina, Kristiene Gong (who had a decent SP performance today) and Yasmin Siraj.

[Jenna]

Kristiene performed quite well today. I underestimated her talent. She has a a gorgeous lutz. With a decent flip and a touched up axel, she could be a top 6 spoiler at Nats.

I also think it's too early to write Gao or Siraj off. They both obviously performed way under their ability today. Let's see how they do tomorrow.

[pinky166]

I also think it's too early to write Gao or Siraj off. They both obviously performed way under their ability today. Let's see how they do tomorrow.

I agree! It's just one program at one competition and they could still be fighting jetlag, etc. Also it's Yasmin's first big international event so it would make sense that she was maybe more nervous than usual, and as for Christina, she has clearly grown up a lot in the past few months so it's pretty impressive she can do a 3-3 at all after that kind of growthspurt. Wishing them all good luck tomorrow!

[victoriaheidi]

Guess Gao won't be on the World team this year...

I never expected her to go to Worlds this year...but I do hope to see her go to Jr. Worlds a second time.

[smarts1]

I never expected her to go to Worlds this year...but I do hope to see her go to Jr. Worlds a second time.

I never expected it either. Tell Pinky that.

Christina has shown that she is unable to consistently deliver, especially when the pressure is on. And for some odd reason, she likes to peak at completely the wrong time in the season. But maybe she'll blow us away at Nationals.

[RD]

That's why I say being "unproven" is not a huge step up from being "inconsistent"...

[victoriaheidi]

That's why I say being "unproven" is not a huge step up from being "inconsistent"...

You're right. It's not, and in the mind of a spectator, one is essentially inconsistent until proven otherwise. I don't think Rachael Flatt would be called Reliable Rachael if she didn't have a laundry list of National and International scores to her name. It takes some time and a good number of scores to determine one's consistency.

Also, does anyone have any clue what the heck happened to Rachael today?

[Debbie S]

Also, does anyone have any clue what the heck happened to Rachael today?

She's been dealing with tendonitis in her ankle/foot and missed a week of training.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...&vkey=ice_news

[pinky166]

I never expected it either. Tell Pinky that.

Christina has shown that she is unable to consistently deliver, especially when the pressure is on. And for some odd reason, she likes to peak at completely the wrong time in the season. But maybe she'll blow us away at Nationals.

Last season she peaked at the JGPF, that wasn't exactly bad timing. And well, Rachael isn't skating so well because of her injury, Alissa and Ashley are always question marks, as for Mirai I think she'll be on the team, but as for the 2nd spot I think it's wide open right now - with Gao and Zawadzki having as good a shot as everyone else. It's a wide open affair the way I see it.

[MikiAndoFan#1]

Alissa is the new GPF champion!

[Jammers]

Rachael needs other skaters to make mistakes to ever have a chance to win. Plus when the other ladies skate to their potential it makes Rachael's plodding style look even worse. It might be good for Rachael to go to college and quit skating after this season.

[Marlowe]

Rachael needs other skaters to make mistakes to ever have a chance to win. Plus when the other ladies skate to their potential it makes Rachael's plodding style look even worse. It might be good for Rachael to go to college and quit skating after this season.

Good for whom? She's in the Grand Prix Finals. How does that translate into *quit skating*?

[chipso1]

Updated List -- Through the GPF
Just for fun!

Top scoring U.S. Senior Ladies

1. Alissa CZISNY (180.75) Grand Prix Final
2. Mirai NAGASU (167.79) Trophee Eric Bompard
3. Christina GAO (167.14) JGP Austria
4. Ashley WAGNER (167.02) Cup of Russia
5. Rachael FLATT (162.86) Skate America
6. Yasmin SIRAJ (161.75) JGP Sheffield

7. Vanessa LAM (156.41) JGP Ostrava
8. Agnes ZAWADZKI (154.35) Skate Canada
9. Kiri BAGA (138.70) JGP Japan
10. Kristiene GONG (134.32) JGP Sheffield
11. Caroline ZHANG (133.86) NHK Trophy
12. Melissa BULANHAGUI (133.72) Nebelhorn Trophy

13. Amanda DOBBS (132.45) Cup of China
14. Alexe GILLES (125.64) Skate Canada
15. Karen ZHOU (123.63) Coupe de Nice DNQ to Nationals
16. Felicia ZHANG (123.16) JGP Dresden
17. Samantha CESARIO (122.39) JGP Romania
18. Kristine MUSADEMBA (119.45) Cup of China

Czisny improves upon her Skate Canada score by about 8 points to remain in 1st. At the JGPF/GPF, Flatt, Gao, Siraj and Gong ALL performed well below their best (Flatt 30+ points below, Gao 20+ points below, Siraj 30~ points below).

Upcoming events:
Nationals.