The Skating Lesson

[skateboy]

The drama continues...

 

[IceAlisa]

I thought La brought up an interesting point about Gracie not being there to push Ashley. Glad the professional skater was there to set them straight as to how one could get an infection from a skating boot and how bad it could be.

 

[vireo]

I'm one of the biggest Shibs advocates around, where's my bribe? Maybe I should start billing.

Mama Shibutani said the check is in the mail. Try to get cash next time.

 

[jenniferlyon]

I thought La brought up an interesting point about Gracie not being there to push Ashley. Glad the professional skater was there to set them straight as to how one could get an infection from a skating boot and how bad it could be.

Wasn't there another skater a few years ago who had an infected ankle?

 

[IceAlisa]

Wasn't there another skater a few years ago who had an infected ankle?

I am sure it happens every once in a while.

 

[wickedwitch]

Kudos to TSL for advocating sending someone with promise to junior worlds instead of Bradie Tennell last season. The USFSA would be looking brilliant right now if only they had sent someone who would have a chance to succeed in the future.

 

[vesperholly]

Again, Bradie hasn't been burning up the field until extremely recently. After her 9th place showing at 2017 Nationals, she followed up with 7th at Junior Worlds. There's a reason she was the host pick for a senior GP this year and didn't earn any outright. Plus, USFS paid attention to good skating in summer/early fall instead of going with Zhang or Wang, both of whom finished higher than Tennell at Nationals.

I would also say that Tennell is far from soup, she still has a long way to go in PCS, and her consistency is too recent to be convincing just yet. This was one competition where there was little in terms of expectations. She did great at Skate America. Let's see if she can follow it up first.

Finally, NBC needs to cool it with automatically anointing every skater who lands a 3lutz-3toe like they're the second coming of Michelle Kwan. Can't they see the damage they inflict?

 

[IceAlisa]

I don't think NBC cares about the damage. They care about the ratings.

 

[Amantide]

Ugh... watching their Skate America recap and their talk of Ashley is pretty disgusting, except the professional skater they have on there who is the only one who tries to speak some sense

I thought they were in very good terms with Ashley. What are they saying about her now?

 

[IceAlisa]

I thought they were in very good terms with Ashley. What are they saying about her now?

The same unwarranted crap a poster was saying here, that she isn’t injured but WD because she wasn’t doing well in the FS.

Problem with that theory is that whatever Ashley may be, and under-rotator, an average skater, etc., she is not known to be a liar and a quitter.

Interesting that none of the other injuries were questioned, even though anyone can come up with conspiracy theories as to why skater X, Y or Z WD from a competition.

Except of course Samohin who, the wimp that he is, failed to push his dislocated shoulder back into the socket. [/sarcasm]

 

[Amantide]

Problem with that theory is that whatever Ashley may be, and under-rotator, an average skater, etc., she is not known to be a liar and a quitter.

This is true. I've never seen her as a quitter. Besides, I find these theories so lame and to the cheapest gossip level. Whatever the case may be, you just can't prove how bad an injury is or it is not. I find it silly even when I hear comments like "oh she looked in pain" or "but she didn't look like she was in pain". Guess what, you can fake both. So why even go there? Unless you have some solid proof, trust the skater. They are the only ones who know how bad it is and how much in pain they are. Wish them good luck and speedy recovery, and move on.

 

[kittysk8ts]

I am sure it happens every once in a while.

I am 48 years old now and I still have faint scars on the tops of my feet, my ankles and my calves from my boots. This can be an ongoing thing for many skaters actually. I believe Ashley completely, given my own experiences.

 

[giselle23]

TSL--meaning Dave, mainly--lives for conspiracy theories like this. A couple of years ago, Gracie bowed out of the GPF because of injury and that spawned lots of speculation by Dave that she wasn't really injured and just wanted to get ready for Nationals.

 

[bardtoob]

Since David likes to go all gaga over gymnastics, you would think he would reference Nadia's wrist infection from the rubbing of her bar grips and recognize Ashley has an analogous condition where her ankle is infected from the rubbing of her boot . . . But maybe I expect too much from him.

 

[kittysk8ts]

Since David likes to go all gaga over gymnastics, you would think he would reference Nadia's wrist infection from the rubbing of her bar grips and recognize Ashley has an analogous condition where her ankle is infected from the rubbing of her boots . . . But maybe I expect too much from him.

Right. They even remarked on Ashley's use of a dark coloured bandage that would be visible and noticed. We all have a frame of reference here. Everyone has had a blister from new shoes. Now imagine it is infected and you have to start running and jumping in those shoes.

 

[Willin]

Maybe Dave and co. think that Ashley time traveled to put the dark bandage on her ankle as a convenient cover story for herself?

Or, it could just be that they're ignoring the bandage so that they can gossip monger more.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Years after her infamous meltdown at the 1993 World Championships, I learned that Nancy Kerrigan had to get her big toenail removed the night before the free skate.

That it was on her picking foot, must have been absolute agony for the U.S. Champion.

There are so many variables skaters have to deal with when they are performing, carrying any kind of injury must be a huge test to their focus as well.

 

[IceAlisa]

Ashley has written an Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BcAJgVXAGhn/?hl=en&taken-by=ashwagner2010

 

[Amantide]

Years after her infamous meltdown at the 1993 World Championships, I learned that Nancy Kerrigan had to get her big toenail removed the night before the free skate.

I wouldn't have been able to move from my couch. Let alone go and jump.

Right. They even remarked on Ashley's use of a dark coloured bandage that would be visible and noticed. We all have a frame of reference here. Everyone has had a blister from new shoes. Now imagine it is infected and you have to start running and jumping in those shoes.

This spring. I put my new shoes on and I walk back from the metro (back from work) to my appartment, as I do everyday, which is like 15 minutes walk. I swear 5 minutes away and I just couldn't. The pain was killing me and I had this sense of nausea. I couldn't walk and I couldn't even breath properly. I called my boyfriend and ask him to come where I was and bring my ballerina shoes with him. Lol
I couldn't even keep my shoes on, while standing and waiting for him. Lucky for me there is an appartment block on the way with a courtyard and I was hiding there.

Ashley has written an Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BcAJgVXAGhn/?hl=en&taken-by=ashwagner2010

Very good statement. Good luck to her and all the best.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Ashley has written an Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BcAJgVXAGhn/?hl=en&taken-by=ashwagner2010

Ashley is self - aware in the same way as Meagan Duhamel.

She can analyse a situation, and address what she needs to work on in the same breath.

I love how she takes ownership for everything she does.

She would make a terrific commentator, too.

 

[vesperholly]

Years after her infamous meltdown at the 1993 World Championships, I learned that Nancy Kerrigan had to get her big toenail removed the night before the free skate.

I've had the edges of my toenail removed (thanks, skating!) and it hurts like bejeezus. Especially if there's an infection, because then it swells and is super tender to any kind of pressure.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Nice instagram from Ashley. I'm sure she is spooked about Olympic-season nationals. Hasn't been her best. Hope she heals and gets a fair shot at training.

 

[overedge]

Wasn't there another skater a few years ago who had an infected ankle?

Susan Humphreys at the 1994 Olympics.

 

[Habs]

Susan Humphreys at the 1994 Olympics.

I believe it was 1997 Worlds. She withdrew after the short program and because of that (and subsequent failure to quailfy at Nebelhorn), Canada didn't have a ladies singles skater at the 1998 Olympics.

 

[tony]

I believe it was 1997 Worlds. She withdrew after the short program and because of that (and subsequent failure to quailfy at Nebelhorn), Canada didn't have a ladies singles skater at the 1998 Olympics.

What most people fail to remember or discuss is that Humphreys had a chance to re-earn the spot at the 1997 Karl Schafer Memorial (the Olympic qualifying competition that season) but she finished in 18th place.

Unfortunately for Canada, the skater all the way down in 17th place was able to get to the Olympics after other nations decided not to use their spots.

Random trivia- Zoe Jones (now Wilkinson) skated in this competition, now 20 years ago, and earned an initial spot for Great Britain, placing 2nd in the short. But the country decided to not use the spot.

 

[overedge]

I believe it was 1997 Worlds. She withdrew after the short program and because of that (and subsequent failure to quailfy at Nebelhorn), Canada didn't have a ladies singles skater at the 1998 Olympics.

You are right, my bad. At least I remembered which skater it was

 

[overedge]

I thought they were in very good terms with Ashley.

I thought TSL had some meltdown a while ago about her refusing to do another interview with them, and ever since then she's been in their bad books.

I don't follow TSL on Twitter, but I took a look at their feed.....OMG all the retweets of their cult members fans saying how everything they do is so wonderful. Insecure much?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I don't follow TSL on Twitter, but I took a look at their feed.....OMG all the retweets of their cult members fans saying how everything they do is so wonderful. Insecure much?

That's just the name of the game in promotion on social media. I follow a lot of fellow authors and it's very common to retweet good reviews.

 

[overedge]

That's just the name of the game in promotion on social media. I follow a lot of fellow authors and it's very common to retweet good reviews.

I understand that, but TSL's retweeting is really excessive.

 

[bardtoob]

I don't follow TSL on Twitter, but I took a look at their feed.....OMG all the retweets of their cult members fans saying how everything they do is so wonderful.

I have a feeling that the rest of stuff their fans Tweet is rather predictable