J
Jeschke
Guest
Caroline!
All I gotta say!
#teamgrantoline
#zhangcomeback
#untilthebitterend
All I gotta say!
#teamgrantoline
#zhangcomeback
#untilthebitterend
Let it go, let it gooooooooo.....!I'm not giving up until the Russian test skates, then I'll let it go.
I'm not giving up until the Russian test skates, then I'll let it go.
I believe if Sotnitkova had wanted to skate at the GPs, she and Plushenko would at least voice out her wish, so that she could lock in an event or two and only pull out later when she really isn't ready.
Unless someone goes completely viral over the summer, I think it is going to be a toss-up between Polina (giving her a shot at making GPF) and Tessa.
How exactly would she had locked up an event or 2? She has no SB and WR of 80. In other words no guarantee of getting 1 GP event let alone 2. The only thing she could have realistically hoped for is a host pick but many ladies are fighting for that 1 spot.
Honestly curious why you think Tessa is one of the top contenders for SA. Let's face it, last season she had no international accomplishments and bombed badly in the FS at Nationals. Are you saying she should get it based on potential and one good SP at Natls?
Pure politics of course. Didn't Caroline Zhang also get a couple of SA invites during her slower years?
As a returning skater? I honestly don't know how it works anymore though. Rules keep changing and are being applied quite inconsistently.
@kwanatic, would you like to cross-post/share your GP ladies thoughts here?
Zagitova is probably going to make the biggest splash. She's Russian, she's an Eteri protege, and she can land all of her jumps in the bonus. For me she was lacking depth as a skater last year (nothing but jumps really) but if her team can upgrade her programs and coax a bit more of a performance out of her she'd be really good. I expect to see her on every podium whether she improves her presentation or not. Just the trend of things...
Honda is the one I'm most looking forward to seeing. She's a dream. Very soft lyrical style, great knees, lovely edges, great connection to her music and choreo, and she's very polished. She's definitely ready to be a senior. In addition to the aesthetics of her skating Marin is strong technically too (nice jumps, good spins, etc.). She can be a temperamental skater from time to time but overall she's a strong competitor. I expect to see her on the podium as well.
Tsurskaya is the most effortless jumper Russia has. Her jumps are big, airy and light with good technique, lots of speed, coverage and ride out. She grew a lot last season in terms of her presentation which should help her fit into that senior role easily. Tsurskaya is a bit injury prone though so I don't know how durable she'll be for the season. However, if she skates well she'll medal at her events too.
I'll be interested to see how these three especially stack up at their first GPs.
At Skate Canada, Marin faces plenty of strong ladies: Kaetlyn Osmond, Ashley Wagner, Karen Chen, and Anna Pogorilaya. Kaetlyn is the most solid of those 4 imo, and Karen and Anna are more wild cards.
I know, I paused when I wrote that for the same reason. She really moved up the ranks last season.You know the landscape of ladies skating has changed dramatically when Kaetlyn Osmond is being considered the most "solid" skater an event.
Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled, it's just this time last year no one would've made a statement like that.
If she can finally do a squeaky clean competition she'll be the only non-Russian that could challenge Janny next year IMO.
Daleman, Mihara (Higuchi)?Quiz time: Medvedeva was beaten on base value by a non-Russian during both the free skate at Worlds and the free skate at World Team Trophy this year.
Know who? (Also defeated Osmond on TES in the FS by 4.2 points at Worlds).
The same athlete was defeated on base value & TES by a junior-now-moving-up-to-seniors during the free skate at their nationals.
Know who?
Quiz time: Medvedeva was beaten on base value by a non-Russian during both the free skate at Worlds and the free skate at World Team Trophy this year.
Know who? (Also defeated Osmond on TES in the FS by 4.2 points at Worlds).
The same athlete was defeated on base value & TES by a junior-now-moving-up-to-seniors during the free skate at their nationals.
Know who?
You and @mag are probably right. I am not very keen on Med and to me consistency + boring still equals boring, but I still expect she will win the OGM. i am not pinning my hopes on Honda either. But I think in time Zagitova can surpass Med because she has the technique, the consistency and she's not boring! Can she do it her very first year in seniors, and the Olympic season? Um, not likely... but let me dream for a few months.And to continue, you can think that Marin Honda is the best thing since sliced bread (I'm not quite there, more like bread that hadn't been sliced yet. A very worthy future champion who I enjoy more than Medvedeva) and she's going to be brand new. She can have triple axels and clean programs next year. She's brand new and will not be getting the PCS to compete with Medvedeva (whether or not you think she deserves to is irrelevant.), and Med's GOE is always there for her no matter what. Mao didn't have someone with Med's PCS to contend with when she turned senior in 2006, so that argument isn't working IMO.
Same for Zagitova. I also don't understand why some seem to think the newbies won't fold in an Olympic season, while Evgenia possibly could? In what universe?! I'd bet on Medvedeva hitting over anything and everything in figure skating.
All of y'all dreamers need to prepare yourselves for what is very likely going to happen with the OGM. She's given no dents in that armor to speak of and deserves some damn respect for it by now (from some people who still refuse to show it, nobody in particular but you all know who you are).
Forgive my rant and PSA, it's been building up since the GPF and maybe a bit OTT in this thread - but just get with it already. She's going places and not budging.
And to continue, you can think that Marin Honda is the best thing since sliced bread (I'm not quite there, more like bread that hadn't been sliced yet.)
Marin is not the junior who defeated Mai's TES in the free skate at Japanese Nationals.
I tend to fall in love with underdogs that are more underdog material than Marin. LOL. I like her, but tug-on-my heartstrings underdog material she is not. Marin is lovely though. I am looking forward to seeing her live at Skate Canada.
Mai Mihara went from being @the 4th best Japanese junior lady last season to 5th in the World. I'd say climbing five spots is nothing compared to that; but I expect Medvedeva will win. Not because I think she is the greatest female skater of the current generation but because I think she is the greatest competitor. (She wouldn't be the first greatest competitor of her generation to lose if she did, but I wouldn't bet against her. Though Zagitova was certainly rock material this season as well).
While we're at it, Kaetlyn went from the 24th season's best last season (right behind . . . Mai Mihara) to the 4th best SB this season (still right behind . . . Mai Mihara). Both feats are pretty impressive.