U.S. Ladies [#19]: Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

[GullyGirl84]

Glad you're taking advantage of this to promote your little favorite.........Not too obvious..............

??? I don't get what this means. I assumed the poster was referring to Bradie's higher seasons best score (albeit at a challenger event) vs Courtney placing well on the grand prix/but with a score in the low 180s? This was also Courtney's only grand prix event of the season, though she has some challengers/there will be more pressure on Bradie at her grand prix. The Olympic season really seems to put some on edge...

 

[Sylvia]

Is there a mod that could chime in on this non-topic thread hijack?

I'm not a mod. but here's my two cents: Thread drifts often happen here on FSU and, yes, it can be irritating to those of us when the drift is something we're not interested in, but then it's on us to post on-topic stuff to try and get the thread back to what we want to read. That's why I posted ISU SB scores earlier and Ashley Wagner's new GS interview just now.

Ted Flett interviewed Ashley after she competed at Skate Canada in Regina (23 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxI7dZ7m1sk

 

[Frida80]

Glad you're taking advantage of this to promote your little favorite.........Not too obvious..............

Actually Bradie isn't my favorite at all. I was being honest. I always look at all competitions and competitors analytically. It's fun to predict performances based on the skaters themselves and the variables that surround them. I don't prefer Bradie as a skater yet because her programs don't appeal to me. But she's earned my respect this season. Her consistency is quite impressive.


If you'd like me to discuss any US lady junior or senior, heck even novice and some intermediates I'm more than happy to give you an opinion.

Courtney has had an iffy start to the season. She's not really consistent so far. She's made great strides in nailing her really difficult combo. But she lost a chance at a medal at Philly International and again at Autumn Classic. Last week was an improvement, but I've seen this before when skaters over perform because they're excited to go to a competition they really wanted to go to and got placed last minute, but they have no pressure when competing. I call it the Cinderella effect. See Mariah Bell last year at SA. There's a lot of pressure to make the GPF so several skaters under perform at their first or second GP. Also, who ever gets the coveted SA slot is under some pressure as well. So I'm curious to see if Bradie can continue her consistency or will start to wilt under pressure. It would be nice, but it's a long gap between September and November. Plus she will be going against much stronger competition.

Courtney now has he opportunity to prove herself more at Poland. If she medals, which won't be easy with three strong Russians competing, it will raise her stock.

 

[Frida80]

I'm not a mod. but here's my two cents: Thread drifts often happen here on FSU and, yes, it can be irritating to those of us when the drift is something we're not interested in, but then it's on us to post on-topic stuff to try and get the thread back to what we want to read. That's why I posted ISU SB scores earlier and Ashley Wagner's new GS interview just now.

Thanks for compiling all the regional scores in one area as always. I think sectionals will be very interesting. I’m glad I can relax now the senior Pacific sectional bottleneck has been eased somewhat with the CS assignments.

 

[RoseRed]

I think what impressed me about Bradie is that not only was she good at Lombardia, she was very solid at her two summer comps. It's nice to see someone deliver consistently a few times in a row.

 

[Coco]

Let's have a second look, shall we?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4KR_iineTk

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

(regardless of her "politics") I don't find Courtney very graceful or even slightly artistic. For someone who feels so strongly about "god's grace", she could have shown more passion and expression through body movements....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_UExq2FH-Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mvF2e6NE4c

To me, it's her basic cross-overs technique that hinders me. Short, choppy, too many to get speed. I think she tries real hard to be graceful and develop a new range of expression/emotion to her skating, but she is not there yet. At least I give her credit for trying and she does have improve some.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Let's have a second look, shall we?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4KR_iineTk

ohh how many bad Cinderella puns will we be subjected to thanks to this.

 

[her grace]

Thanks for compiling all the regional scores in one area as always. I think sectionals will be very interesting. I’m glad I can relax now the senior Pacific sectional bottleneck has been eased somewhat with the CS assignments.

USFS made some strategic choices with its international assignments. Sectionals are still going to be competitive, but none of the bigger names will be there. Pacs looks like the most difficult section with Andrews, Nguyen, Hong, Le, Shilling, Giang, and Ouellette. Mids also has a good group of middling skaters: Lin, Rydberg, McIsaac, Bautista, Chan, and Miller. Easterns has a solid group as well: Wessenberg, Ma, Chiera, Munger, and McBeath.

 

[FSfan107]

Let's have a second look, shall we?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4KR_iineTk

I know Bradie will get a lot of flack for that princess program, but those jumps look as good as anyone from the U.S. right now in terms of rotating. I hope she can be consistent.

I found the GS interview with Wagner interesting. Didn't know her boyfriend broke up with her before Worlds and she admits she struggled with motivation last year. Raf must not have liked her La-La Land FS if after a few seconds of watching her skate to Moulin Rouge he said go back to it. It's nice to hear that Ashley is keeping in touch with Gracie.

 

[Marco]

Could someone please direct me to a strong outing by Amber Glenn?

 

[StitchMonkey]

Could someone please direct me to a strong outing by Amber Glenn?

Her best showing was Golden Spin last year... the quality is atrocious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFDNDBFWvQg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2tTLdBqkTU

 

[Frida80]

Her best showing was Golden Spin last year... the quality is atrocious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFDNDBFWvQg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2tTLdBqkTU

The things we figure skating fans put up with to see our favorites. Eiya...


Amber was really good here. This year, not so much. It’s been a month, hopefully she’s a lot better this weekend.

 

[Willin]

I thought Amber took some time off this off season and was thinking about quitting? If that's true, maybe it's why she is having a little bit of trouble this season? She really impressed me last season, and I think she's past puberty problems.

 

[StitchMonkey]

The things we figure skating fans put up with to see our favorites. Eiya...


Amber was really good here. This year, not so much. It’s been a month, hopefully she’s a lot better this weekend.

Yeah, I would like to see her really nail it. I like her style of skating... just wish she could find her mojo as it were.

 

[Frida80]

I thought Amber took some time off this off season and was thinking about quitting? If that's true, maybe it's why she is having a little bit of trouble this season? She really impressed me last season, and I think she's past puberty problems.

That’s what she said in summer 2016. I haven’t heard anything about her wanting to quit this season.

 

[vesperholly]

To me, it's her basic cross-overs technique that hinders me. Short, choppy, too many to get speed. I think she tries real hard to be graceful and develop a new range of expression/emotion to her skating, but she is not there yet. At least I give her credit for trying and she does have improve some.

Agreed. She also has poor posture in the crossovers - hunches forward and pumps her back. It looks ungainly, especially when she's skating to tinkly girly music.

 

[Cleo1782]

That’s what she said in summer 2016. I haven’t heard anything about her wanting to quit this season.

She withdrew from junior worlds due to personal reasons last year. Maybe that's what the poster was referring to. I am not sure if she took time off or what the reasons were because they were never specified.

 

[Sylvia]

This Amber Glenn article was published back in May: http://figureskatersonline.com/news...tacles-amber-glenn-is-ready-for-a-new-season/

Amber is going back to her 2016-17 "Send in the Clowns" SP for Cup of China, according to her official website: http://figureskatersonline.com/amberglenn/events/
Maybe she's hoping to channel her excellent 2016 Golden Spin SP performance?

I think what impressed me about Bradie is that not only was she good at Lombardia, she was very solid at her two summer comps. It's nice to see someone deliver consistently a few times in a row.

Bradie Tennell has competed 5 times, starting in June, that I know of:

She won 3 club competitions:
Southport Summer Classic (mid-June) 188.74
Broadmoor Open (late June) 190.76
Skate Milwaukee (mid-July) 179.16

Philadelphia international (early Aug.) 184.98 (1st)
Lombardia Trophy (mid-Sept.) 196.70 (4th)

I found the GS interview with Wagner interesting. <snip> Raf must not have liked her La-La Land FS if after a few seconds of watching her skate to Moulin Rouge he said go back to it.

@FSfan107, there was more in this Sept. article: http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2017/09/20/ashley-wagner-moulin-rouge-la-la-land-free-skate/

The return to “Moulin Rouge” came abruptly as Wagner described it. One day at practice in early August, she consulted her steely coach, Armenian Rafael Arutyunyan.
“Is this program good?” Wagner asked.
“Yeah, it’s a really good program,” Arutyunyan responded.
“Is it good enough? Is this going to get me through the Olympics?” she pressed.
Arutyunyan told Wagner to put “Moulin Rouge” music on and skate.
“I made it to the first double Axel in the program,” Wagner said. “He turns off the program, and he goes, this is the program I want you to do.”

 

[FSfan107]

Amber started off strongly in her long at the Philly International, but everything came undone after she tripped during her crossover. What a bad fall, that type really hurts. I can see how that took everything out of her. But on the plus side, her jumps and speed looked good up until that point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waMGc5aUSg0

 

[aftershocks]

Maybe these USFS features were posted already on Mirai and Ashley. I've seen the Meet Mariah and Mariah's 23 Questions before, but not the cute 'Advice to My Younger Self' video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz3BGOtVA-4 Mirai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuCz2_UhgT0 Ashley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CysrD96yvIA 23 Questions with Karen Chen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ggF-xsyJ8g Karen Chen: Quiet Assassin on a Mission...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYaWOMzKzmE Mariah (Whatever It Takes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtFjkv6Wtmk Mariah (23 Questions)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BycHbOmiY1E Mariah (Advice to My Younger Self)

 

[Sylvia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ggF-xsyJ8g Karen Chen: Quiet Assassin on a Mission...

Thanks for posting the YT version that was uploaded today - this video feature originated from NBC News (Asian America) yesterday: https://www.nbcnews.com/video/karen-chen-is-on-a-mission-to-reach-the-winter-olympics-1085516867929

 

[Firedancer]

Ted Flett interviewed Ashley after she competed at Skate Canada in Regina (23 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxI7dZ7m1sk

Great interview! She sounds realistic about where she is and what she needs to work on. I look forward to seeing where she is at Skate America. It was great hear her say such positive things about Mirai and even more so about Gracie, including that she is happier and has made some progress.

 

[Maximillian]

I have to say as a US ladies fan that I'm a bit humbled after watching COC ladies this week (not talking about Glenn), the level was astonishing.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I have to say as a US ladies fan that I'm a bit humbled after watching COC ladies this week (not talking about Glenn), the level was astonishing.

Agreed. The British Eurosport commentators said the standard was like watching the final group at an Olympic Games.

 

[jiejie]

I have to say as a US ladies fan that I'm a bit humbled after watching COC ladies this week (not talking about Glenn), the level was astonishing.

Most top Russian and Japanese ladies usually skate their competitions like their very lives depended on it. For whatever reason, US ladies don't.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Agreed. The British Eurosport commentators said the standard was like watching the final group at an Olympic Games.

I don't see that. Some jumping bean junior-types. Rad lumbering her way through the program. (She's like Adam the witch; you can't kill her!). Do you think anyone here has a chance against Med or Osmond? If Pogo gets back on track she could beat any of this. Same for Kostner. The last skaters at CoC did stand up but there was much not to admire.

 

[poths]

I don't see that. Some jumping bean junior-types. Rad lumbering her way through the program. .

With all due repsect, if that's what you saw, you didn't really look now, did you?
Higuchi is bringing something new and fresh to the sport, her FP is exceptional?!?
Zagitova is changing the game with composition, so much so they'll have to bring in a new rule to counter act the back end loading. She's literally changing the sport.
Mihara is fresh out of juniors but skating programs in line with Tara Lipinski's Olympic and World routines.
The world champion went clean and came 7th.
But - you didn't see high standard ?


At this point, Medvedeva will most likely win but Zagitova, Higuchi, Mihara could easily be 2,3,4 at the Olympics with Osmond, Daleman, Kostner, USA1 and RUS3 5/6/7/8/9

 

[oleada]

I don't see that. Some jumping bean junior-types. Rad lumbering her way through the program. (She's like Adam the witch; you can't kill her!). Do you think anyone here has a chance against Med or Osmond? If Pogo gets back on track she could beat any of this. Same for Kostner. The last skaters at CoC did stand up but there was much not to admire.

Wow. I don't know what it takes to impress you or if you even like skating if you don't see anything impressive about the competition at Cup of China! Zagitova, Higuchi, Radionova, Mihara, Tukt, Honda with all basically clean skates! I mean, how many competitions does a woman land a rotates 3A and end up 7th?! It's been easily the best ladies event of the season and I'm sorry for you if you can't sea that. Maybe it wouldn't beat Medvedeva but I'm not sure Osmond would've won here if she's skated like she did last week.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

^^It again boils down to what you want to see in skating. I see what others see but give different values. And, I've been 30 year fan, so I do love the sport.