U.S. Ladies [#5]: All That Glitters Is Not Gold

[jlai]

Mirai medalled in her second gp the last three seasons, so her winning a bronze isn't really a surprise

[emma1227]

Speaking of juniors, didn't Vanessa Lam have a huge score at Sectionals? Is she skating as a junior or senior at Nationals?

[Sylvia]

This will be Vanessa Lam's 3rd Nationals at the senior level (7th in 2011, 9th in 2012).

SENIOR QUALIFIERS via Sectionals:
Easterns 1-4: Samantha Cesario 163.53, Yasmin Siraj 151.35, Haley Dunne 139.69, Joelle Forte 136.47;
Midwesterns 1-4: Ashley Cain 161.49, Becky Bereswill 149.44, Kiri Baga 141.42, Morgan Bell 133.06;
Pacifics 1-4: Vanessa Lam 177.73, Courtney Hicks 161.72, Sophia Adams 131.49, Amanda Hofmann 122.29.

ETA: Of those listed above, Cain, Hicks, and Hofmann are making their senior national debuts (as well as Hannah Miller, one of the 3 U.S. JGP Finalists).

[AliasJohnDoe]

Angela Wang skated Senior last Nationals and is in the Junior Grand Prix Final in a few weeks. She also has verified triple-triples.

Angela Wang was also 6th in the Free Program at 2012 Nationals. Ahead of Nagasu and Zawadzki in the FP.

I thought she was a little hosed on PCS in the FP since she was only 16th in the SP and skated in the earlier groups.

[victoriaheidi]

I seriously love Angela Wang and think she has so much potential. My only concern with her is that she's prone to really weak SPs.

[worldsnice12]

Agreed. Thrilled for Mirai-she medalled in her final GP of the season and wasn't even expected to be there! I'm very proud of all of the U.S. ladies. I'm very excited for the GPF, Nationals-and WORLDS!

Mirai was doing great but looking at her scores makes me wonder if she does not need to work on that 3S for next season..
I think with her current layout and if she manages to get those UR's under control she will score 120+..but Ashley is already scoring 125+ with a 6 triple LP and will surely try to upgrade her 2A/2T to a 2A/3T and potentially score 130+??

Mirai looks very motivated and building up her confidence out there.I know it is not going to be easy for her to get those UR's and edge calls under control but I have always liked how she is going for it all and rarely pop any jumps..She has the talent to aim high and seems to be "hungry" to do better.I loved the fact that she was happy about her 3rd place at NHK (and rightly so) but not 100% satisfied with the scoring and seemed eager to get back into training.
It is rather interesting how many "late bloomers" we have seen these last years and there are really no reason to count out these young women too early!

[emma1227]

Thanks, I knew it was something insane!

[icellist]

I seriously love Angela Wang and think she has so much potential. My only concern with her is that she's prone to really weak SPs.

Reminds me of a young Wagner.

And for the 3rd year in a row, Mirai is an alternate for the GPF. IMHO, I like Mirai's programs better than Wagner's this year. I will compliment in saying that Wagner never breaks character and performs better.

[demetriosj]

Angela Wang was also 6th in the Free Program at 2012 Nationals. Ahead of Nagasu and Zawadzki in the FP.

I thought she was a little hosed on PCS in the FP since she was only 16th in the SP and skated in the earlier groups.

Yes, PCS is used just like the artistic score in 6.0. No difference, just a different name.

[Sylvia]

That's why it's so important for the skaters to skate well in the SP... and why Angela Wang needs to keep churning out clean short programs like she did in her 2nd JGP in Croatia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx2qm--ZMWA

[Marco]

Mirai was doing great but looking at her scores makes me wonder if she does not need to work on that 3S for next season..
I think with her current layout and if she manages to get those UR's under control she will score 120+..but Ashley is already scoring 125+ with a 6 triple LP and will surely try to upgrade her 2A/2T to a 2A/3T and potentially score 130+??

Mirai looks very motivated and building up her confidence out there.I know it is not going to be easy for her to get those UR's and edge calls under control but I have always liked how she is going for it all and rarely pop any jumps..She has the talent to aim high and seems to be "hungry" to do better.I loved the fact that she was happy about her 3rd place at NHK (and rightly so) but not 100% satisfied with the scoring and seemed eager to get back into training.

A clean and inspiring Nagasu with a 3/3 in the short and 6 triples and 2 2axels in the free will definitely be a strong contender for the second spot.

Here's the catch. Last year she almost didn't miss the loop at all but had problems with the flip and axel/toe. This year she has the flip and axel/toe down but her loop is having UR issues again. Her opening jumps look so big this season. I wonder if she is using so much power to get the big jumps done that by the time the second half rolls around and she had to do the loops, she had little energy left. I guess she is just going to have to keep her stamina up.

[Vagabond]

I wonder if she is using so much power to get the big jumps done that by the time the second half rolls around and she had to do the loops, she had little energy left.

Cross-posting from an another thread that hasn't received much attention:

She skates the Free and scrapes her knee
Her dress has got a tear
She waltzes on her way to class
And whistles on the stair
Tell her to keep it short and simple
And she’ll go on from there
I even heard her singing in the alley

She's always late for practice
But her perseverance is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Mirai's just a girl from the Valley

I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Mirai makes me laugh

How do you solve a problem like Mirai?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Mirai?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Mirai?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb!

She'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She's a riddle! She's a child!
She's a headache! She's an angel!
She's a girl!

How do you solve a problem like Mirai?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Mirai?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Mirai?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

[smarts1]

A clean and inspiring Nagasu with a 3/3 in the short and 6 triples and 2 2axels in the free will definitely be a strong contender for the second spot.

Here's the catch. Last year she almost didn't miss the loop at all but had problems with the flip and axel/toe. This year she has the flip and axel/toe down but her loop is having UR issues again. Her opening jumps look so big this season. I wonder if she is using so much power to get the big jumps done that by the time the second half rolls around and she had to do the loops, she had little energy left. I guess she is just going to have to keep her stamina up.

I think it has mostly to do with her speed in the second half. After the second flip, she seems to be skating very slowly compared to the first half of the program.

[Coco]

She only got an L2 for her steps at NHK, but L3 in China.

I'm impressed with her for doing steps so early in the program, but perhaps she should intentionally go for L2 and save her legs for the triples in the 2nd half of the program.

Really, she should do L1 steps and add the 7th triple, but apparently L1 steps are kiss of death or something.

But it seems a no brainer. She's losing how much by getting "<" for 3 jumping passes? A lot more than she gains by going for the L3 steps.

[Marco]

I think it has mostly to do with her speed in the second half. After the second flip, she seems to be skating very slowly compared to the first half of the program.

Exactly. She gets tired and it affects the height of her jumps. Either she steps up on her stamina training or dials down on the other elements.

[olympic]

I think Mirai's body is probably still adjusting to her new coaching situation and adjusted training techniques. Wasn't there an IN article a few months ago that stated Wendy Olsen was really ramping up the off-ice physical training?

Thus, she's still a little wobbly with UR's and levels. Still, the big picture is that she's motivated and is losing that 'deer in the headlights' look

[judgejudy27]

And who says Nationals in 2012 won't be poorly skated again?

I was unaware Nationals a second Nationals in 2012 is being held. When will it be, between Christmas and New Years.

I supposed though if that happened and Zhang did an even more unlikely resurgence to some of her best ever skating at Nationals like last year (last season she was skating well in the early season smallish events she was in unlike this year) it would net her the same result as last year, something like 4th place. Even in that scenario I dont see the judges and USFSA ever sending Zhang as the 2nd women behind Wagner to Worlds with Olympic spots on the line, no way. Maybe had she built on her last season momentum so far this season it would have been possible had she killed it at Nationals and other made mistakes, but not anymore. I think there is only a select few they will even consider for that spot, regardless of the performances at Nationals. We will see though.

[olympic]

I was unaware Nationals a second Nationals in 2012 is being held. When will it be, between Christmas and New Years.

I supposed though if that happened and Zhang did an even more unlikely resurgence to some of her best ever skating at Nationals like last year (last season she was skating well in the early season smallish events she was in unlike this year) it would net her the same result as last year, something like 4th place. Even in that scenario I dont see the judges and USFSA ever sending Zhang as the 2nd women behind Wagner to Worlds with Olympic spots on the line, no way. Maybe had she built on her last season momentum so far this season it would have been possible had she killed it at Nationals and other made mistakes, but not anymore. I think there is only a select few they will even consider for that spot, regardless of the performances at Nationals. We will see though.

What is terribly ironic is that back in '08 - '09, she had been the top US lady scorer finishing 4th at '09 4CC's behind Yu Na, Joannie and Mao in quite a stacked field, all at a time when her technique was worse. There were some saying that she (instead of Czisny) and Flatt should've been the US team at '09 Worlds.

Since then, she suffers, falls, and comes back w/ mostly improved technique, only to be at the bottom of the rankings for our top ladies these days. I'm not a huge fan, but I sincerely hope she's not giving up and there is a logical reason for her bad performances so far this season! She's tried too hard to fail now.