Skate America Ladies Top 3 TBA Poll- July 2017 Edition

[haribobo]

I may do one monthly up until the date of the decision- many skaters have yet to compete this season...who would be your top 3 choices for the TBA spot at SA?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Isn't Starr Junior?

Id say Polina, Amber and Tyler if she is competing.

 

[Karpenko]

Caroline Zhang!

 

[Sylvia]

Isn't Starr Junior?

I expect Starr Andrews will be making her JGP debut. She is skating senior domestically.

 

[Bellanca]

My votes went to Polina, Amber and Tessa. However, Courtney might be the likely choice.

Season’s ago, I would have said that Caroline was a shoo-in if she still enjoyed her coaching team’s political clout and influence for what became a predictable and automatic bid to Skate America. Personally, I would like to see someone new, just coming onto the scene, get the spot. I think it would be helpful to move the program forward by introducing upcoming talent. However, it would be great to have Polina there, too!

I can honestly see any of these ladies receiving the Skate America invitation.

 

[pinky166]

Polina, Caroline or Paige Rydberg aka Gracie Gold 2.0

 

[icellist]

With Courtney at Skate Detroit and Caroline at Glacier Falls both doing well. Who do you think is getting SkAm? I don't really see Polina a contender until more triples appear. Angela Wang will debut at Philly International? Maybe she'll do well there and contend.

 

[DreamSkates]

They might give the spot to Polina based on past accomplishments?

 

[Wyliefan]

I doubt it. If it comes down to Courtney or Caroline, I bet Courtney will get it.

 

[DimaToe]

Courtney Hicks makes the most sense. She's been the most impressive woman without 2 GPs so far in the summer. Plus she has medalled on the GP the last 2 seasons.

 

[Vagabond]

I am astonished that Edmunds is leading. Unlike everyone else on this list, she already has an assignment (Internationaux de France).

As it is, her performances thus far this summer have not been as good as those of Zhang or Hicks. I would send one of them.

 

[Bellanca]

I am astonished that Edmunds is leading. Unlike everyone else on this list, she already has an assignment (Internationaux de France).

As it is, her performances thus far this summer have not been as good as those of Zhang or Hicks. I would send one of them.

Polina is a sentimental pick. It would be great to see her get the spot. However, based on recent competitions, Courtney, in all fairness, should be considered the (likely) front-runner. However, it is quite possible that a political hand could intervene. Also, consider that USFS might like to promote a newcomer.

 

[haribobo]

I would like to do another poll after Liberty/Philly because this poll was started before a lot of people competed...

 

[Marco]

Polina is a sentimental pick. It would be great to see her get the spot. However, based on recent competitions, Courtney, in all fairness, should be considered the (likely) front-runner. However, it is quite possible that a political hand could intervene. Also, consider that USFS might like to promote a newcomer.

I absolutely agree that Courtney should be the front-runner on merit. However, Polina has been to Worlds and Olympics and is a 4CC champion. I have a feeling they still consider Polina as team A and Courtney as team B.

 

[Bellanca]

I absolutely agree that Courtney should be the front-runner on merit. However, Polina has been to Worlds and Olympics and is a 4CC champion. I have a feeling they still consider Polina as team A and Courtney as team B.

Yes, I agree. This is also true. Politics.

 

[Karpenko]

I absolutely agree that Courtney should be the front-runner on merit. However, Polina has been to Worlds and Olympics and is a 4CC champion. I have a feeling they still consider Polina as team A and Courtney as team B.

"Time to Say Bye, Felicia" @AngieNikodinovLove if you don't have a lutz or a flip, no soup for you. The TBA should be between Courtney and Caroline. 8th place at Glacier Falls won't cut it, not even for Polina Edmunds herself.

if we're going by past achievements, not caring about their current state, then give it to Michelle Kwan.

 

[her grace]

IMO, it's between Hicks and Tennell at this point. People seem to have forgotten that it's Tennell who has posted the highest summer monitoring score of the non-GP assigned skaters.

Bradie Tennell 190.76 Broadmoor Open
Courtney Hicks 187.42 Skate Detroit
Caroline Zhang 182.67 Glacier Falls

Can't wait for Philly for the head-to-head between Hicks and Tennell. If either knocks it out of the park, that would be a great show of consistency and readiness this summer. Zhang's never going to get chosen; she's not a USFS favorite and she's behind other younger skaters this summer.

 

[Karpenko]

Grant Hochstein recently reported that Zhang broke her skate at Glacier Falls but still put out a 115 score anyways. Can Tennell do that? I bet Courtney could.

Zhang has done everything she can do but take somebody out. Caroline would never pull a Tonya, she'll skate even if her skate is busted, without a re-do or a time out, and she should be respected for that with a TBA spot.

 

[clairecloutier]

IMO, it's between Hicks and Tennell at this point. People seem to have forgotten that it's Tennell who has posted the highest summer monitoring score of the non-GP assigned skaters.

Bradie Tennell 190.76 Broadmoor Open
Courtney Hicks 187.42 Skate Detroit
Caroline Zhang 182.67 Glacier Falls

Good point that Bradie Tennell deserves consideration. Will be interesting to see them head-to-head, as you said.

I know Caroline is a sentimental favorite, and rightly so, but I fear her PCS would drop significantly in international competition, due to her lack of speed. I agree with @Karpenko that it's hard to see Polina getting it without a triple flip or Lutz currently. (Unless those jumps are looking good in her monitoring.)

If we only had more ladies spots on the Grand Prix this year, it might've been really interesting (and maybe a smart move) to give the SA spot to one of the ladies coming up from juniors. There are three of them on @Sylvia's Top 10 scoring list so far:

Starr Andrews 174.16 L.A. Open
Emmy Ma 171.34 Glacier Falls
Vivian Le 168.11 Glacier Falls

But with so few slots, I suppose the federation will feel they can't afford that.

 

[Jammers]

Good point that Bradie Tennell deserves consideration. Will be interesting to see them head-to-head, as you said.

I know Caroline is a sentimental favorite, and rightly so, but I fear her PCS would drop significantly in international competition, due to her lack of speed. I agree with @Karpenko that it's hard to see Polina getting it without a triple flip or Lutz currently. (Unless those jumps are looking good in her monitoring.)

If we only had more ladies spots on the Grand Prix this year, it might've been really interesting (and maybe a smart move) to give the SA spot to one of the ladies coming up from juniors. There are three of them on @Sylvia's Top 10 scoring list so far:

Starr Andrews 174.16 L.A. Open
Emmy Ma 171.34 Glacier Falls
Vivian Le 168.11 Glacier Falls

But with so few slots, I suppose the federation will feel they can't afford that.

Starr Andrews and Emmy Ma are both Juniors and to be honest aren't ready to compete against the top Senior Ladies in the world. Andrews hasn't even done the JGP yet.

 

[clairecloutier]

It's not impossible that a junior could make the Olympic team. It happened 4 years ago, after all.

But anyhow, I was saying IF we had more spots, it might have been not a bad idea. As things stand, though, we have very few spots, so it likely won't happen.

 

[Marco]

if we're going by past achievements, not caring about their current state, then give it to Michelle Kwan.

Great idea!

 

[Bellanca]

IMO, it's between Hicks and Tennell at this point. People seem to have forgotten that it's Tennell who has posted the highest summer monitoring score of the non-GP assigned skaters.

Bradie Tennell 190.76 Broadmoor Open
Courtney Hicks 187.42 Skate Detroit
Caroline Zhang 182.67 Glacier Falls

Can't wait for Philly for the head-to-head between Hicks and Tennell. If either knocks it out of the park, that would be a great show of consistency and readiness this summer. Zhang's never going to get chosen; she's not a USFS favorite and she's behind other younger skaters this summer.

Zhang used to be a USFS favorite or darling... with considerable political clout, too. However, things change, attitudes change.

I agree re Bradie, she could definitely receive the 'newbie' nod.

Anytime the program introduces new talent, that's a good thing. Also, the suggestion and the (possible) desire by USFS to introduce new talent could be the one stumbling block for both Courtney and Caroline. This could very well jeopardize their chances of securing the third SKAM spot.