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

[Marco]

Mariah is so pretty, good luck this season, wishing her the best.

She is one of the few whom I wish would repeat a program. I love her short to Chicago.

 

[Willin]

@Marco As of last Nationals, she said she was repeating that program? Has that changed? (I hope not)

 

[el henry]

@Marco As of last Nationals, she said she was repeating that program? Has that changed? (I hope not)

She announced somewhere (and I do not have a link) that she has two new programs. And not only that, although she has not officially announced her choreographers, she does not appear to be wokrking with Rohene this season.

Which makes me ; I think Rohene's work for her fit like a glove.

 

[Marco]

Here are Mariah's music for 2017-8 according to icenetwork:

2017-18 SEASON NOTES

SP Music: Across the Universe
FS Music: Music from the West Side Story soundtrack by the Original Broadway Cast

http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/profile/mariah_bell

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Champs Camp Chatter: Chen authors first book
Wagner, Bell keep training simple; Nagasu continues building programs

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/08/28/250558720

Re: Karens book

Ash: "Raf (coach Rafael Arutunian) and I just drilled the technical," she said. "We've been working on the triple-triple combination, on making the jumps bigger, on intricate exits and entrances. So, it's really taking what I have and tuning it up more. It's the same thing every year, and there's nothing wrong with that, because that's what's going to get me there."

Wagner does not plan to enter a Challenger Series event (yikes -ANL) I have mixed feelings on it. Medev, Radio, Osmond, Daleman, Zagitova, Honda, Kostner... all the contenders are doing so. I would also like to see Wags up her ISU points

Bell: Like Chen, Bell competes in Salt Lake City next month, where she's anxious to show off her West Side Story free skate, choreographed by Cindy Stuart.

"I used the music as a junior, and I really loved it," she said. "I was trying to decide for two months what I was going to skate to, but then I turned back to what I loved before. I'm using some different pieces and vocals, which is really cool. I love the program.

Nagasu: "Mirai's triple axel really looks like a man's triple axel; it doesn't look like the typical women's triple axel -- Mirai jumps it more," Zakrajsek said. "The more height you have, the more time there is for something to go wrong. Jumps that are a little lower, that spin a little more on the toe pick and hips on the take-off, tend to be more stable."

"This year, both programs have been made by Jeff [Buttle] so she could include the jump right from the get-go, and I think that's going to help her a lot."

 

[olympic]

Re Ashley- It doesn't sound like she is doing anything radically different this season which is fine. I wonder if she might attempt to backload a bit more. She switched last year from a 2a-2t in the first half of the season to attempting a 3z-2t in the second half which never bore fruit. Also she did go for a 3f-3t once at the 2016 team challenge in the second half but it was UR and 2-footed. I hope she can scrounge extra points somewhere to keep up with skaters like Kaetlyn, Anna, Satoko, Carolina etc

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Ash doesn't want to do Challengers, she doesn't want to do 4CC, heck she said she isn't even looking to be a Nats Champion...

She is my fav USA gal (Nagasu is right there) but I wish I could see more I don't know... something, from her.

Maybe its the Monday morning blahs....lol

 

[Wyliefan]

"I turned back to what I loved before."

The theme of the season.

 

[teacakes]

Is the first tweet mere speculation or ???

TSL:

Hearing that USFS won't send Gold to Senior B events. Unclear if they can pull from Grand Prix.Sun Valley reports make competing impossible 1h

Gold's 'Sun Valley' performance included a double salchow and a few Level 1 spins. Slightly better than Stars...where pulled from group #s 1h

Sadly, Gold appears to have lost the heart to skate. Immensely talented, but won't be returning to the Olympics this year. 1h

Japan Open is an IMG, invitation event. It is unclear whether USFS could prevent Gold from going to collect team appearance fee. 1h

 

[leafygreens]

Ash doesn't want to do Challengers, she doesn't want to do 4CC, heck she said she isn't even looking to be a Nats Champion...

Something about this does not bode well to me. Kind of reminds me of the end of Kwan's career where she stopped competing in anything but the big ones and then fizzled out. But Ashley is nowhere near that level of dominance so her choice surprises me. This is not the type of era anymore where you can just show up and win. I think Ashley is clinging to the hope, based on endorsements, that she will be selected to the team by committee, plugged into the SP team event again, and win another bronze. With this "easy" route to a medal only available to Americans, Canadians and Russians, it's kind of a no brainer to guess what her motivation is now.

 

[Teamgracie]

Does anyone know if the reports from twitter are true about Gracie? They are pretty much saying she has been pulled from senior b and according to them "is done". Is it just Gracie bashing going on? Don't know what to believe....oh I was just writing this when someone posted above

 

[Sylvia]

Is the first tweet mere speculation or ???

Speculation.

Whether or not what TSL is spreading is true, partially true, or false, only Gracie and those close to her really know her current situation and, IMO, she deserves her privacy until/unless she chooses to share something with the public.

 

[Wyliefan]

Something about this does not bode well to me. Kind of reminds me of the end of Kwan's career where she stopped competing in anything but the big ones and then fizzled out. But Ashley is nowhere near that level of dominance so her choice surprises me. This is not the type of era anymore where you can just show up and win. I think Ashley is clinging to the hope, based on endorsements, that she will be selected to the team by committee, plugged into the SP team event again, and win another bronze. With this "easy" route to a medal only available to Americans, Canadians and Russians, it's kind of a no brainer to guess what her motivation is now.

As an Ashley fan, I'm biased, but to me it sounds more like she just wants to concentrate on training so she can make the team on merit. Maybe I'm wrong, but we'll see.

As for Gracie, yikes, this doesn't sound good at all. I could understand dropping out altogether, or I could understand fighting for triples and falling a lot -- but showing up and doing a lot of double jumps just doesn't make sense.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Speculation.

Whether or not what TSL is spreading is true, partially true, or false, only Gracie and those close to her really know her current situation and, IMO, she deserves her privacy until/unless she chooses to share with the public.

If true I would much rather see her out than watch the painful and public demise of a lady with all the talent in the world.

As to Ashley I am trying not to freak out here.. I generally think there should be a penalty for reusing a program. I just hope she can dig deep and still has the motivation to shine.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Is the first tweet mere speculation or ???

TSL:

Is this for reals???? Oh my Monday is getting no better.....

 

[ilovepaydays]

Ugh - I hope that TSL's tweets about Gracie aren't true. Is TSL just about tweeting "news" that it knows about now?

If this is true, it's really unfortunate especially considering the incredible sponsorship deals she's received. Most skaters (and other athletes) on Team USA would do love to have a small amount of the support that she (and others who've gotten deals like Nike, Red Bull, etc.) has received.

 

[Bellanca]

Dave has reliable sources, but certainly a dose of speculation peppered throughout, for sure. The U.S. Olympic team is far from being determined. Who will be on it, who will (still) be around competing to be on it, etc.

I agree w/ @Sylvia re privacy, etc. It is in a holding (stay tuned) pattern.

 

[nimi]

Yeah, let's be patient and just wait and see.

Especially after the Yulia Lip news today, all I want is that Gracie makes whatever decisions she feels are right for her (not for her fans, not for her sponsors; for herself as a person). She's already gone through the Olympic pressure cooker once, she knows what to expect... and whether she can or even wants to handle all that at this point of her life/career.

 

[Firedancer]

With Ashley, four years ago Nationals did not really go well for her. I think (hope) she is just focusing on the Olympics as the ultimate goal for the season. I think she would like to do well enough at nationals to make the team (on her own) but does not need to put extra pressure on herself to win.

I wish Gracie happiness in whatever she chooses to do.

 

[Willin]

Ash doesn't want to do Challengers, she doesn't want to do 4CC, heck she said she isn't even looking to be a Nats Champion...

She is my fav USA gal (Nagasu is right there) but I wish I could see more I don't know... something, from her.

Maybe its the Monday morning blahs....lol

Something about this does not bode well to me. Kind of reminds me of the end of Kwan's career where she stopped competing in anything but the big ones and then fizzled out. But Ashley is nowhere near that level of dominance so her choice surprises me. This is not the type of era anymore where you can just show up and win. I think Ashley is clinging to the hope, based on endorsements, that she will be selected to the team by committee, plugged into the SP team event again, and win another bronze. With this "easy" route to a medal only available to Americans, Canadians and Russians, it's kind of a no brainer to guess what her motivation is now.

I'm not worried one bit about this. If it was new for this season it'd be worrying, but this is what Ashley does - no Senior B's, no 4CC, and says she's not looking for a National Championship (although we know she is). There have been exceptions to all three, but they're just that - exceptions, not the rule. It's worked for her in the past, so I have no idea why it would be anything to be worried about now. Ashley changing or second guessing her program isn't anything new either.

Of course, like always, it also means we have a lot less information about how she looks this season than we do for other skaters, so there's more room to speculate, but if nothing's changed I see no reason to think her chances have changed. The thing I'm most worried about is her psyching herself out about Nationals considering what happened for the Sochi selection.

 

[her grace]

If Gold isn't ready, then she shouldn't go to Nepala. The U.S. can send one of the listed subs to the event: Le, Rydberg, or Wang.

 

[Patinita]

I don't necessarily think this anything new or different for Ashley to NOT compete before the Grand Prix, (not counting previous Japan Open's). I can't remember the last time she did a Sr B. Wasn't she listed for one last year, but ended up not going? I can only go to local competitions in So. CA and the only one that I remember her competing in was waaaay in 2012, when she first came to John Nicks. If she does compete, THAT would be the departure for her, not the other way around. She's found a pattern that usually works for her. We'll see what happens.

 

[Jammers]

Gracie just needs to give it up and call it a career. No reason a 22 year old who was once one of the best jumpers in the world won't even try triple jumps anymore unless she totally lacks any kind of motivation and training. It's like all her energy she's had over the last 5 years was stored for winning Worlds in 2016 and now she has nothing left.

 

[nimi]

I can't remember the last time she did a Sr B.

Neither can I. Ashley's wikipedia page doesn't list any Sr Bs, either.

ETA: Neither does her isuresults page, unless my eyes are deceiving me.

 

[Vagabond]

For those needing hard news about Gracie Gold, please visit the #TeamTrainwreck thread. It will tell you all you need to know.

 

[MissIzzy]

If Ashley's settled on redoing Moulin Rouge, why didn't she say so in the article? And if she's not competing before the Grand Prix, is it perhaps more likely she's undecided right now on just what she's going to do?

 

[NAOTMAA]

Ash doesn't want to do Challengers, she doesn't want to do 4CC, heck she said she isn't even looking to be a Nats Champion...

She is my fav USA gal (Nagasu is right there) but I wish I could see more I don't know... something, from her.

Maybe its the Monday morning blahs....lol

Ashley appears to have entered post-2002/2010 Kwan/Plushenko/Kim territory, or at least is acting like it. Stepping off the gas peddle and "saving" herself for the big events. Problem with that is she, unlike them, wasn't the dominate force of the field for a long period of time, have a record of consistency or stability, and didn't medal in every event entered as they did.

Unless she's injured or ready to break her strategy just looks all wrong for someone who had the season she had last year and wants to win an Olympic medal. She frankly isn't naturally talented enough to go the Kwan/Plushekno/Kim route She's no spring chicken skating wise but still one would think she would put herself out there as much as possible to prove herself medal worthy. She doesn't have Gracie's mental problems so I don't see the reason

 

[olympic]

I'm not sure there is any reason to worry about Ashley. She is doing this year what she has always done the past few seasons: 1) No Senior B; 2) No 4CC; 3) Taking the pressure off of herself at Nationals. Her goals w/ RA sound realistic. No problems that I can see.

I am interested in seeing Mariah. She committed this season to concentrating on RA's technique and I personally think she is a notch better in jumping talent than Ashley and is not quite the actress that Ashley is but has a lot of charisma and sparkle. She is capable of repeating Flip and Lutz. It will be interesting to see what she puts out there this year.

 

[Melissa]

Now that Gracie and Ashley get along so well, I really wish Gracie would relocate back to Los Angeles but to work with Raf. I don't know if he would take on another top level skater but I think the environment with that training team and training staff would be really good and healthy for her. Even if she realizes that realistically she won't make the Olympic team (only if she hypothetically thinks this! I still have faith she can make the team), it might be a healthy move for her. Raf seems like he might be the right kind of intense for her. Plus, she could still live in Long Beach near Ashley and Adam which gives her the independence that she wanted but she would still be close to her sister (and mom? Did mom move back to Chicago?).

 

[Coco]

Biased here, but I think it's good for Midwesterners to be back in the Midwest when trying to get back on their feet, emotionally speaking. Girl needed a change of scenery, too.