U.S. Ladies [#20]: In a Week, Maybe Two, They'll Make You a Star

[VGThuy]

To be fair, Carol Heiss is the most decorated U.S. lady ever...

I think in terms of international major titles, Heiss has Kwan beat due to her OGM in 1960 and her two North American Championship titles, but decorated means more than just gold but total medals as well. Heiss didn't have eight years of GP and GPF medals which puts her at a disadvantage and Kwan has more World medals. Of course Heiss does have four North American Championship medals so maybe that evens it out in terms of World medals count.. Maybe when another ladies skater has a comparable career to Heiss and Kwan, she will have the advantage of having 4CC titles/medals since 4CC is now an event most top U.S. ladies do not skip except for Olympic years.

 

[Jarrett]

I hate it when Ashley does not mention jumps and spins in her teleconference.

Why would she? They never really change or improve anyway? It is like if Mirai talked about how she is working with a choreographer to smooth out the programs.....

 

[toddlj]

I think we need a thread called "US Ladies Suck" and all of the posters relentlessly repeating how the US ladies have zero percent chance of a medal this year can fill that thread over and over ad infinitum and cheer each other on their wisdom. Then there would be room for other thoughts on this thread.

 

[Sylvia]

In this Starr Andrews article, it is revealed (she also tweeted about it yesterday) that she has recorded her own version of Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" for her Nationals free skate: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/rising-starr-andrews-shooting-place-among-figure-skatings-best

 

[berthesghost]

well, we do like to quibble over details here at FSU

I like that varying opinions from the overly praising to the overly critical inhabit the same thread. It exposes me to different ideas. Social media self edits too much imo so that we can live in a vacuum of like minded folk that just isn’t reality.

“Most decorated” unlike “hall of fame inductee” etc doesn’t seem to be an actual award or official title, but Kwan sure does seem to own it judging just by how often she is referred that way in the press. Sort of a “people’s princess” type of honorary title.

After first reading of phil’s Article I’d pegged it as a decent run down of someone who the general public had probably never heard of but since she’s having a good season while more famous skaters seem to struggle, keep the name in mind should she do well next week.

On second read I not only agree that he doesn’t fall over himself to proclaim her the second coming of us ladies savior, but one could argue the article has an almost “this is your last chance to impress the judges and save yourself from elimination. Don’t eff it up” lsfyl quality to it.

 

[livetoskate]

In this Starr Andrews article, it is revealed (she also tweeted about it yesterday) that she has recorded her own version of Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" for her Nationals free skate: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/rising-starr-andrews-shooting-place-among-figure-skatings-best

Starr is so talented, definitely one to watch.

 

[VGThuy]

With American ladies, GP success doesn't always translate to later season success and conversely, early season failures don't translate to later season failures. I can't help but think about Alissa Czisny leading up to 2006 Nationals. Remember, Czisny was the only American woman that season to win a GP event and make it to the GPF while Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes both placed 5th at both of their GP events. Then Nationals happened and then we know who ended up at the Olympics with respectable senior debut showings. Then at Worlds, Kimmie pulled an upset of all upsets and is the last American woman to have won the World title. I guess my point with all of that is that U.S. ladies in the past ten years haven't really fallen into a predictable trajectory and have either underperformed or overperformed with respect with what fans expect out of their performances.

If Tennell is able to translate her SA and Lombardia showings to a successful second half of the season, then that would truly be a nice change of pace.

 

[jlai]

Kimmie skated well in the gp despite the ranking, she was in a v tough gp where 4-5 skaters did really well.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Starr is so talented, definitely one to watch.

I just watched both her SP and FS - she is really, really talented. Her packaging is fabulous....costumes, hair and make up. I think she need a better/different choreographer.
And, I am a bit leery about her singing her own FS music. Maybe she is a great singer, but she is definitely not going to be Whitney Houston.............can't wait to see it.

 

[Maximillian]

“Most decorated” unlike “hall of fame inductee” etc doesn’t seem to be an actual award or official title, but Kwan sure does seem to own it judging just by how often she is referred that way in the press. Sort of a “people’s princess” type of honorary title.

Most decorated isn't an honoray title it's an descriptive term based in fact, most decorated means most decorated, there is nothing to quibble about. Heiss has won an Olympic Gold and silver and five world titles. Kwan has won five world titles. However members of the press may refer to her because the facts may interefere with narrative they put forth, doesn't make it anymore true. Sorry but I get really tired of people ignoring things that might have happened more than twenty years ago, it does a disservice to the sport.

 

[Jammers]

Deleted

 

[berthesghost]

Irrelevant rants about people ignoring history aside, most does mean most.
Heiss: 2 oly, 6 world, 8 nats = 16 total
Kwan: 2 oly, 9 world, 12 nats = 23 total
But since this isn’t anything close to an official title, no one has bothered to write down rules, so there is no added points for gold vs silver, or ways to compare different eras with different events, etc so bogus accusations of press conspiracies aside, quibbling over when more that anyone else doesn’t equal “most” is indeed a quibble

 

[Vagabond]

Rants about people ignoring history are never irrelevant!

 

[meggonzo]

The US media is grasping at straws, IMO. A 4th place at a CS and a bronze at one GP is a meteoric rise? Bradie had two very good competitions back to back. That's great! But it hardly makes her the next Kween.

I think the point is that she has the highest SB out of the American women this year and has been consistent, which gives her a good shot at one of the 3 spots on the Olympic team. It would look worse if she made the team, and there was no media coverage of her at all.

 

[Sylvia]

Cross-posting this link here and in the thread I started for such U.S. Nationals skater articles in the Kiss & Cry section -- local article on the youngest Junior lady in the field at this year's Natiionals: https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12...hmond-girl-be-figure-skatings-next-big-thing/

“I like how I am different” than other kids, Alysa [Liu, 12] said.
Arthur Liu recalled how his daughter started asking questions about her familial background at an early age.
“Daddy, why do I look different?” she would ask. “I don’t look Chinese.”
The questions were more detailed two years ago, so Liu finally explained it to her.
“You have a biological mother, you have a surrogate mother,” he said.
Alysa also has a strong female figure in [Laura] Lipetsky, a former national-level skater who graduated from Cal. The two have been skating together since Alysa was 5½.
“I care about her so much I give everything that I can to her because she only gets one shot,” Lipetsky said. “She reminds me of someone that I was growing up.”

 

[RoseAugust]

Well, I'm still rooting for Polina. I can't help myself. I like her.

 

[Spun Silver]

I just watched both her SP and FS - she is really, really talented. Her packaging is fabulous....costumes, hair and make up. I think she need a better/different choreographer.
And, I am a bit leery about her singing her own FS music. Maybe she is a great singer, but she is definitely not going to be Whitney Houston.............can't wait to see it.

I've heard a lot worse! I cant wait to see and hear her. Is this singing skating Starr going to become an FSU meme now?
I just love this kid's chutzpah! The red bodysuit is to die for.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I've heard a lot worse! I cant wait to see and hear her. Is this singing skating Starr going to become an FSU meme now?
I just love this kid's chutzpah! The red bodysuit is to die for.

Of course the body has a lot to do with it, but that is the most stunning body suit I remember seeing. I love the designs of the crystals.

 

[Spun Silver]

Of course the body has a lot to do with it, but that is the most stunning body suit I remember seeing. I love the designs of the crystals.

I love the over-the-boot detail. Can we have a game predicting how many FSUers will complain about that? I predict 11.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I love the over-the-boot detail. Can we have a game predicting how many FSUers will complain about that? I predict 11.

Well, since I usually complain about that, (and I am not) I would say 7

 

[her grace]

I just love this kid's chutzpah!

Indeed! When you look at where they were coming into this season, it's impressive that little-name skaters like Andrews and Tennell planned their programs as if they're going to the Olympics. Way to dream big, ladies!

From the NBC article on Andrews:

Of course, Houston’s “One Moment in Time” was the official Olympic theme song the last time the Games were hosted in South Korea – the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.

From the icenetwork article on Tennell:

When her chances to compete in the upcoming Olympics still seemed as remote as PyeongChang itself, she and her coaching team picked music from a Korean film, Taegukgi, for this season's short program. Chutzpah? Inspiration? Coincidence?

"A conscious choice," Myers said. "It's a well-known, emotional piece of music in South Korea."

 

[livetoskate]

Cross-posting this link here and in the thread I started for such U.S. Nationals skater articles in the Kiss & Cry section -- local article on the youngest Junior lady in the field at this year's Natiionals: https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12...hmond-girl-be-figure-skatings-next-big-thing/

What a great, in depth article about Alysa Liu. I remember seeing her coach at Oakland ice practicing all the time years ago. Her father was at Hastings the same time I was, but we didn't know each other. Thanks for sharing this article, Sylvia! I'll definitely watch the junior events to see Alysa skate.

 

[Seerek]

Amazing that the NBCOlympics contributor's name is Rachel Lutz - nice!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

In this Starr Andrews article, it is revealed (she also tweeted about it yesterday) that she has recorded her own version of Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" for her Nationals free skate: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/rising-starr-andrews-shooting-place-among-figure-skatings-best

Urgh. I was wondering how long it would be before the media picked up on Andrews' first name as a title grabber, in the same, cloying way they have with Gracie Gold.

Good on her, for skating to her own singing, even if the thought of doing that makes me a little bit nauseous.

The reason being, Dick Button's quote about Galit Chait & Sergei Sakhnovski using an iconic piece of music, Bolero. for their free dance in 2006 springs to mind.

He said, "If you're going to sing the national anthem, you better be Whitney Houston. Not Rosanne Barr."

 

[AxelAnnie]

What a great, in depth article about Alysa Liu. I remember seeing her coach at Oakland ice practicing all the time years ago. Her father was at Hastings the same time I was, but we didn't know each other. Thanks for sharing this article, Sylvia! I'll definitely watch the junior events to see Alysa skate.

Thank you. I have never heard of her. I shall have to go to Oakland and watch a practice. She is quite something else.....and she spins like another Alyssa we know.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Sorry my computer has been down.... not updated on FSU atm.

Do you all think 2 skaters will go for3 axels at Nats? Starr and Mirai?

 

[StitchMonkey]

Sorry my computer has been down.... not updated on FSU atm.

Do you all think 2 skaters will go for3 axels at Nats? Starr and Mirai?

I think they have both gone on record as saying they will... so yeah I think we will see them both.

 

[Dr.Siouxs]

Why would she? They never really change or improve anyway? It is like if Mirai talked about how she is working with a choreographer to smooth out the programs.....

The shade is strong here!

Look, I'm thrilled we still have Mirai but the qualities that once made her world class (fabulous posture, effortless speed, line, flexibility) have diminished badly since she joined Tom Z. They might as well put her in flannel and have her skate to "Orange Blossom Special" by Johnny Cash. At least the lumberjack skating would make sense in context.

 

[Maximillian]

Because that's why I come into a U.S. ladies cheer thread, to read a bunch of posts sh#@ting all over the U.S. ladies, stay classy, US Ladies Cheer Thread!

 

[Jarrett]

The shade is strong here!

Look, I'm thrilled we still have Mirai but the qualities that once made her world class (fabulous posture, effortless speed, line, flexibility) have diminished badly since she joined Tom Z. They might as well put her in flannel and have her skate to "Orange Blossom Special" by Johnny Cash. At least the lumberjack skating would make sense in context.

I think she still has good line but her choreography/pacing seems to change literally from run-through to run-through even at the same competition. Makes me wonder how the programs looked if Jeff was skating them because I am sure he was just not adlibbing different numbers of crossovers and steps. It was reported Mirai said in the teleconference that the program will look better at Nationals than it did in Japan but no word of working with a choreographer. She also mentioned there are always improvements in the program that can be made which is just perplexing to hear because both programs are shadows of the ones that were originally debuted. I still love Mirai and will cheer my head off for her because I like her but we are not blind.