Two Time Olympian! Karen Chen Cheer Thread

olympic said:
Looking at her 2A: High, fast, powerful. lots of torque. Does Karen look like a candidate for a 3A??
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She was working on it summer last season. So she'll probably start working on it again since she has the right fitting boots.
 
Post-Worlds, Nick McCarvel hosted Ice Talk Ep. 28: Karen Chen (first 25 minutes) http://web.icenetwork.com/fans/icetalk
U.S. champion Karen Chen talked to icenetwork about dealing with the pressure of competing at the pre-Olympic year world championships and the impact mentor Kristi Yamaguchi has had on her skating.

ETA: Karen will end her season next week with her first trip to World Team Trophy in Tokyo!
 
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AYS said:
Late to the game but I finally got sold on Karen by her performances at worlds this year. I hope to see maybe a little bit more innovative choreography next season. She really has the whole package.
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I thought she SP choreo that she did herself was GORGG and very innovative!
 
AYS said:
Late to the game but I finally got sold on Karen by her performances at worlds this year. I hope to see maybe a little bit more innovative choreography next season. She really has the whole package.
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Yeah I agree she needs better choreography. Hopefully she goes to someone more experienced for next season.
 
Well, if anyone has been following the U.S. Stars on Ice thread, it sounds like Karen is getting pretty great reviews for her SOI performances! And according to some of the Anaheim show reviews, her jumps are looking good too. This makes me feel hopeful for next season. Obviously WTT was a pretty big setback, but perhaps it was a fluke and she will be steadier next season. (I hope.)
 
Karen was quoted in this article from Hershey SOI: http://figureskatersonline.com/news/2017/05/12/karen-chen-and-nathan-chen-make-stars-on-ice-debut/
Looking into next season, Karen, who choreographed her programs for the 2016-17 season, says she doesn’t think she will be choreographing her programs for the Olympic season.
“I would love to do my own choreography, but since it is an Olympic year, I kind of need special choreography,” Karen said, noting she is still open to choreographing her own programs in the future.
She says she is still thinking about music and has some ideas, but nothing has been finalized yet.
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She will co-headline the Tuesday, July 4th Sun Valley on Ice show in Idaho with Chock & Bates - GSD thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/index.php?threads/2017-sun-valley-on-ice-shows.101267/
 
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clairecloutier said:
Well, if anyone has been following the U.S. Stars on Ice thread, it sounds like Karen is getting pretty great reviews for her SOI performances! And according to some of the Anaheim show reviews, her jumps are looking good too. This makes me feel hopeful for next season. Obviously WTT was a pretty big setback, but perhaps it was a fluke and she will be steadier next season. (I hope.)
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I want to share your optimism, I swear I do! I just don't trust Karen as a competitor. She's 50/50, a complete toss up. When she's on she's amazing: speed, big jumps, great spins and the judges really like her. But when she's off she can be a bit of a train wreck. The problem is you never know which Karen is going to show up.

One thing I can give her credit for this past season is showing up at the big events. She was great at nationals and strong at worlds so that's a plus. However, if we're talking about her moving up in the international ranks she's going to have to skate well consistently. Karen was all over the place last season in terms of her finishes (from 1st to 12th).

As always I'm crossing my fingers for her. I've been a fan of hers since 2012...she's just hella frustrating to watch.:wall: :lol: I hope she can put it all together. At her best she's probably the best skater the US has. You could argue for Gracie but I think Karen's spins, skating skills, presentation and artistry are better than Gracie's.
 
I know what you mean @kwanatic. Karen has all the fundamentals to succeed--great spins, speed, skating skills, high jumps, and she is really growing artistically. I agree with you, and have said before, that Karen and Gracie are the best 2 all-around skaters among the U.S. women (i.e., when both are in shape). But yeah, Karen's consistency. :scream: While watching her at WTT, I couldn't help but think, How can you be U.S. national champion and skate this badly??? But now she's redeeming herself with SOI.

Karen is still very young--it's possible she could be a bit of a late bloomer in terms of consistency. I hope so!! Considering how things look with Gracie right now, we're really going to need Karen next season.
 
I find it hard to be as rational about Karen as you two pros. She is SO talented and has done SO well in at least some crucial events that I can only feel hope and excitement about her future. Provided she's dealt with the boot issues! Plus I think the Chen-Chen show is going to be really fun.

I do realize the pressure on her this season will be unlike anything she has ever experienced, which is why I won't make any grand predictions for her. But man, what a talent.
 
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Karen's 2 Grand Prix events this fall will be Skate Canada in Regina (#2) and Skate America in Lake Placid (#6).

This latest Bay Area hometown article on Karen by Elliott Almond includes a 2-minute interview with clips of her and Kristi Yamaguchi (May 30): http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/30/karen-chen-hopes-to-join-kristi-yamaguchi-on-olympic-stage/
Excerpt:
The nationals [in San Jose] already are in Chen’s thoughts although she hasn’t settled on short and free programs for next season.
The calculus is easy to understand: The Grand Prix performances won’t count for much if the 4-foot-11 Chen doesn’t do well at the national championships, which serves as the Olympic trials.
“It’s simple like that,” she said. <snip>
“It will be stressful but I realize this is my hometown,” she said. “I’d rather skate here than anywhere else. I know it’s that make-or-break moment in my career.”
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Another local article (different author, same video) in which says she’s still a ‘shy girl’ from Fremont (May 26): http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/05...chen-says-shes-still-a-shy-girl-from-fremont/

With May being Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, here's another joint article on Karen & Nathan: http://www.teamusa.org/News/2017/Ma...n-Asian-American-Resurgence-In-Figure-Skating
 
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^^^^ I know I hope Gurl Can KEEP IT TOGETHER and serve it..

Now that I think of it.. Ladies for the 3 spots will be competitive....

Those with Bay roots are Karen and Polina (hometown Favs). Then serve up a side of Ashley, Gracie, Mirai and Mariah and we got ourselves a competition honey.

Reminds me of 01-06!!!!
 
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