U.S. Ladies [#18]: These Boots Are Made for Skating

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Sasha'sSpins said:
Peggy Fleming is listed as 5'4" on a few sites that I checked.
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Thanks re citing Peggy's height. She seems to be rather tall with her long limbs, but some figure skaters seem taller than they actually are. There's no doubt of course re Lisa Marie Allen, et al, being taller than the average ladies figure skater. Getting back to the point precipitated by @analia's post: there are and have been plenty of tall female figure skaters.

I appreciate the info you cited re British skater, Jeanette Altwegg. She was also formerly a tennis player who made it to Wimbledon in 1947. :) https://www.olympic.org/jeannette-altwegg


mag said:
Most skaters who look "tall" are really only about 5'6".
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Their skates give them added height on the ice. And skaters with long arms and legs also have the illusion of being rather tall, especially if they are of average to mid-range height.
 
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aftershocks said:
Thanks re citing Peggy's height. She seems to be rather tall with her long limbs, but some figure skaters seem taller than they actually are. There's no doubt of course re Lisa Marie Allen, et al, being taller than the average ladies figure skater. Getting back to the point: there are and have been plenty of tall female figure skaters.

Appreciate the info you cited re British skater, Jeanette Altwegg. She was also formerly a tennis player who made it to Wimbledon in 1947. :) https://www.olympic.org/jeannette-altwegg

Their skates give them added height on the ice. And skaters with long arms and legs also have the illusion of being rather tall, especially if they are of average to mid-range height.
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Thanks for the info on Altwegg! Wow, that is amazing! Talk about serving two separate masters so to speak! She was an incredible all around athlete indeed! And to make it to the Wimbledon, the Crown Jewel of tennis! Looking at the picture on the site, she wore the prettiest dresses for her era! And she had a big heart too! I am utterly enchanted!
 
:COP:I do believe this is Caroline's best-ever short program in July. :glamor: when nobody expected it, sometimes you just have to trust in good judgement.

She seriously got an 8, there wasn't a 3.5 or a 4.75 for transitions in sight! :kickass: when was the last time that she got an 8 for a final score?? This is a miracle, that's what this is.
 
^^ Yes, especially coming back in such a fighting way two seasons in a row, after her serious back surgery. She and Grant surely inspire each other. :cheer2:

Weve3 said:
I'm telling ya, no one has a firm grasp on even one of those three spots available for the ladies. They are UP. FOR. GRABS! No shoo-ins. I'm lovin' it!! :biggrinbo
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jenny12 said:
Wow! So happy for Caroline Zhang! Hope there's video soon.
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@Jeschke and all #TeamZhang-ers must be over-the-moon re Caroline's results at Glacier Falls. :D

Sasha'sSpins said:
I found this pic from the 1952 Olympics where she won silver: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/474144666991967610/
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That's a fun Pinterest page, with all of the old figure skating photos mixed with more recent and current ones. :D

I had to laugh a bit at what the Olympic podium looked like in 1952. :lol:
 
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Karpenko said:
Thank you @UMBS Go Blue

Karen Chen's new SP:

https://youtu.be/nS8FlD4yQ18

I love it!! :encore: a great music edit, well placed elements, lots of fire and improvement, shows off her flexibility, it's a good one! :cheer2:Very effective and nice potential.
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I enjoyed that from Karen. Obviously it's a new program and there are places where she can improve and get more speed, but this is a promising start and she's just a very enjoyable skater to watch. She's my late '90s/early 00's US ladies throwback skater with those spirals and I love her for it. :respec:
 
UMBS has posted videos for Caroline, Polina, Mae Berenice Meite and Kaitlyn Nguyen.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZOyAaTYAEbzgdPd8LxHN3Q

Karen is looking good early which is a good sign. I'm not so sure on the rotation of either of her jumps though. Her combos always look borderline and the take off for the flip was a bit rushed, but I'm proud of her for upping the content and putting out such a strong program. Looks like she's going for it this year. Love the spiral at the end too!

It's good to see Caroline out there putting out solid programs. I'm not sure on the rotation of her combo but I'm just so happy to see her out there. I seriously doubt she'd get the kind of PCS love she got here internationally; her SS & TR aren't great. Still, very good for so early...

Polina is still a bit rusty. She's got time though so with any luck she'll be ready to go by the time the season starts.

Can't wait to see what happens in the FS!
 
Karpenko said:
Caroline's SP:
https://youtu.be/6REWVwyt_EY

:COP:I would just like to point out that Caroline Zhang is forcing Tara Lipinski, 20 years later, to commentate on a program with a 3loop/3loop while Michelle Kwan's music is playing. THAT is freaking awesome. :kickass:

She really knows the way to my heart. :cheer: Tons of improvement here!
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And there's a Kwan homage change of edge spiral in it! I actually preferred this program to Karen's, though of course Karen is a better overall skater at this point. Caroline is still slow, but now she just looks stately and unhurried. She managed to maintain a steady pace through her footwork sequence, and if anything it looked less tortured than the average COP steps. I foresee a fourth place finish for her at Nationals and no Olympic team, but I would love to be wrong; my sentimental picks are Mirai, Caroline, and Polina because of what they have overcome.
 
All 4 of the American ladies' videos that @UMBS Go Blue took at Glacier Falls. (Thanks @UMBS Go Blue.)

Karen Chen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS8FlD4yQ18

Kaitlyn Nguyen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3AJMKuWo3Q

Polina Edmunds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXqrOg4XZkg

Caroline Zhang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6REWVwyt_EY


Karen's SP is WOW. Seriously, I could see her placing top 3 in any SP if she hits her jumps in this program. A little bit :rolleyes: at criticisms of her speed--seriously? It's July. Skaters are really far from their peak conditioning at this point. That step sequence is just going to get better & better, and to be frank, it's already pretty great. I thought her speed was very good for this point of the year, and her ice coverage and power in the step sequence was outstanding (especially compared to the other girls' videos). A winner of a program, I've already watched it twice. :D

I really like Polina's program too. The powerful, spare music really works and shows off her height to advantage IMO. Obviously she's still got a way to go with her conditioning and jumps, but I'm glad to see her back and i think it has potential.

Caroline is lovely, but I watched her program right after Karen's, and the difference in speed/power was like night & day.

Wish I could get more excited about Kaitlin. But there just isn't that much there yet, aside from her jumps. She is so tiny & underpowered compared to the senior girls. And I'm really not sure how competitive she's going to be on the JGP circuit, either, against the Japanese girls, who as a group tend to have much stronger skating skills, or against the Russian girls, who tend to have much more presence & also stronger spins. I guess we will find out very soon, though.
 
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Caroline Zhang finished 6 points behind the US Champion, who was clean, and Caroline was not.

Seriously just let that sink in for a little while, what in the world is going on? :confused: does anyone realize that she could actually win this competition? Because I just did. :wideeyes:

I hope she keeps it up today! :cheer2: She's so much faster than last year IMO, Grushina & Goncharov would be so impressed with her and very jealous. :grushgon1
 
Vagabond said:
I don't think Maé-Bérénice Méité stands any chance of making the U.S. Olympic Team this year. :(
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She can be in any thread she damn well pleases. :glamor: you aren't @Sylvia dear.

I do like her SP, I think it's a beautiful song choice and also :inavoid: I'd be fine with her making the Olympic team :saint: unless Laurine starts doing a costume change for every single program.

Also Polina Edmunds has improved her SP a lot since that last video posted, her interpretation was actually pretty good here IMO. I think she looks stunning, she just needs to get her jumps back. They've temporarily jumped ship, but I see a lot more potential in her as an artist than I did before.
 
clairecloutier said:
All 4 of the American ladies' videos that @UMBS Go Blue took at Glacier Falls. (Thanks @UMBS Go Blue.)

Karen Chen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS8FlD4yQ18

Kaitlyn Nguyen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3AJMKuWo3Q

Polina Edmunds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXqrOg4XZkg

Caroline Zhang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6REWVwyt_EY


Karen's SP is WOW. Seriously, I could see her placing top 3 in any SP if she hits her jumps in this program. A little bit :rolleyes: at criticisms of her speed--seriously? It's July. Skaters are really far from their peak conditioning at this point. That step sequence is just going to get better & better, and to be frank, it's already pretty great. I thought her speed was very good for this point of the year, and her ice coverage and power in the step sequence was outstanding (especially compared to the other girls' videos). A winner of a program, I've already watched it twice. :D

I really like Polina's program too. The powerful, spare music really works and shows off her height to advantage IMO. Obviously she's still got a way to go with her conditioning and jumps, but I'm glad to see her back and i think it has potential.

Caroline is lovely, but I watched her program right after Karen's, and the difference in speed/power was like night & day.

Wish I could get more excited about Kaitlin. But there just isn't that much there yet, aside from her jumps. She is so tiny & underpowered compared to the senior girls. And I'm really not sure how competitive she's going to be on the JGP circuit, either, against the Japanese girls, who as a group tend to have much stronger skating skills, or against the Russian girls, who tend to have much more presence & also stronger spins. I guess we will find out very soon, though.
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I second every word you said!! Hugs
 
One big common theme I am noticing from US Ladies at Skate Detroit and Glacier Falls (so far) is the aggressiveness and attack, upping their game: Mirai and the 3A, Courtney and her 3F-3L, Karen going for a solo 3F and Caroline backloading a 3L-3L. It's as if they are stating to Russia, Japan, Canada and maybe Ashley and Gracie 'We will not be irrelevant. Sleep w/ one eye open.
 
Polina looks a lot slower than the other ladies - she does not fill out a rink well. Hopefully that will improve by nationals. With how hard the other ladies (Karen, Courtney, Mirai, Caroline, and presumably Ashley/Gracie/Mariah) are going at it even this early in the season I think she'll have a very hard time making the team. Then again, it's still very early, so maybe she'll really step it up later.

(Also, Polina's music is the same music at least 3-4 different coaches in the area use as their "I'm a big girl now" music for female skaters moving up to Pre-juv/Juvenile so all I can think of is that Polina is using this as an "I'm a big girl now" routine)

On the other hand, I hated Karen's SP music choice, but after hearing the arrangement and how different it is from all other skaters who have used the piece, I'm loving it. Not to mention, she killed that program. I hope she can keep it up!
 
Willin said:
On the other hand, I hated Karen's SP music choice, but after hearing the arrangement and how different it is from all other skaters who have used the piece, I'm loving it. Not to mention, she killed that program. I hope she can keep it up!
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This program is great IMO but how is this arrangement any different than other skaters have used? (edit) I guess I have heard Michelle Kwan's planned 04 short program music too much because this is the exact cut she was going to use. It is very different from Yuna's. The arms during the spiral are great!!! Go Karen!
 
@Jarrett Well, because of the ban on words, this is the first non-exhibition I've seen that uses words. So, necessarily, it sounds a lot different than the purely instrumental arrangements of the program. Heck, I'd never even heard the version with words until two years ago because even in synchro no one used the version with vocals!
 
Karen was fab!!! I see that placing really well anywhere if clean, as @Karpenko said, the program is very polished and works well already. That Ina Bauer with the arms was DRAMA! Caroline otoh I'm very happy to see back, getting the jump done, but I find the program a bit lacking, and I love EoE. She should match her moves and the highlights of the music better. But go Caroline, lots of time to make adjustments. For Karen, I became a definitive fan at worlds last year, she was just lovely and showed all the critics where to...yes, and so on. Hoping for an olympic spot for her!

Polina's jumps are nothing to write home about at the moment, but I guess she has a plan about how to progress to doing triples in time. She has a killer body, she looks great, and tall, but does she have a very tiny head? (no offense). Her music is kind of retro early 2000ish voidy, but I don't find the program that sophisticated. Well, still early.
 
Polina is obviously rusty, but for being off the ice for so long, I really didn't think it was that bad. The speed issue is a stamina issue, and I believe she will eventually, and hopefully, promptly get that back. If there is a concern (too early for this, yet - IMHO), it would be staying on her feet and landing those jumps! Always a good thing! ;) Another observation - Polina is channeling her inner Carolina Kostner, right down to the unitard. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

You GO, girl! Embrace that great height and use up every square inch of that ice! So glad to see Polina back. :40beers:
 
I think Polina's got a lot going for her and she will get better with her programs. The determination can be seen in her face. She's got that look.

As for Gracie, I still pray with all my heart that she finds the concentration she needs, stop worrying on the ice and just lets it go for once. I've said if before, and I still believe if she would do Breathing Methods it would help with her concentration and any anxiety she has before she gets out on the ice to compete.

It's done a world of good for me even, especially when I become aggravated thinking there's something I can't do in my home. The breathing exercises help me calm down and then I find another way of doing something that I thought was impossible to do. Where there's a will, there's a way.

This is what I wish the most for Gracie ... Just breathe and get out on the ice and forget about everyone else that she's competing with.
 
Fantastic LP by Karen at the Glacier Falls competition and THAT score :eek:
It feels as she is embracing being the National Champion and if she can skate like this consistently throughout the season, she will definitely be a force leading up to the Olympics.
I believe both her programs needs some polishing and added transitions (especially the SP) but great potential and she can really lift them up with her powerful skating and airy jumps.
I am impressed how well Karen and Mirai have started the season (Courtney too)
Zhang was doing well and if she could keep improving her speed, I hope she get international assignments this season.
 
I hope Karen's inconsistency issues are a thing of the past because girl deserves to keep hitting it out of the park. She wasn't perfect, but she was close to it. No more total bombs please. We need you to get the results your level of skating deserves.
 
worldsnice12 said:
Fantastic LP by Karen at the Glacier Falls competition and THAT score :eek:
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@UMBS Go Blue tweeted a photo of the Senior Ladies FS result details sheet: https://twitter.com/umbsgoblue/status/891527705673351169

Top 5 overall: Karen Chen 218.09 (144.67 in FS), Caroline Zhang 182.67, Emmy Ma 171.34, Kaitlyn Nguyen 169.82, Vivian Le 168.11 (happy she's continuing to make progress this summer :)).

I've compiled the Senior Ladies final results (Junior Ladies too) - just scroll past the Senior Men's section at the top: https://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/2017-glacier-falls-summer-classic-senior-junior/

@UMBS Go Blue's 6 videos from Glacier Falls Senior Ladies' FS (in skate order):

Polina Edmunds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUlr-vKsDw4

Karen Chen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXPRC7-QIX4

Caroline Zhang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQr7-rw_ZTQ

Emmy Ma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lteipN2qhMM

Kaitlyn Nguyen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I6IZt1dkdU

Vivian Le: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfhBi3buws

The club has published detailed protocols in the past - we'll have to wait and see if they appear.
 
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