U.S. Ladies [#17]: Heading to Helsinki in a Handbasket

[Vagabond]

What about GPF and its historic data of not really predicting world podium results?

I realize things are not clearcut, but you are making my point there.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Christine Brennan reporting Ashley already picked her SP and LP music next year.

SP: Hip Hip Chin Chin
LP: La La Land

"To that end, Wagner said she already has chosen her music for her Olympic year programs. For the short program, she’s returning to what helped her win the world silver medal last year — the upbeat Hip Hip Chin Chin — and for her long program, it’s La La Land."


I really hope this is #fakenews about "La La Land". Don't really like any of the songs from that movie at all. argh. Ashley's my fave, but I fear this could be like 2014 when she has to dump her LP in middle of the season.

Oh man. This cannot be good. I know next to nothing about La La
BUT I can't imagine if had the kind of depth a Ashley needs to showcase her skating.

 

[VGThuy]

It was as much depth as Hip Hip Chin Chin and those Nicole Kidman covers of pop songs from Moulin Rouge.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Not formally, as in, show up or you don't get to go the Olympics, no. But OTOH the ISU or a host committee is not going to stage an event with no "name" skaters to draw attention and $$$$.

Except they do and always have, back when the top US singles always skipped and the money was deeper, when Chan never showed up as World Champion to one in Asia, and in the Olympic season, when USFS and SC don't assign Olympic-bound skaters to it.

They even did before TES minimums, and the host put on a competition for with three US- and Canadian-born singles recruited by various Asian countries, which made for a very long slog.

 

[Seerek]

Most of the other Winter Sports don't even hold their World and/or Continental championships during Olympic Years.
I think the ISU effectively keeps its full schedule for long track and short track speed skating as well.

 

[clairecloutier]

Ashley Wagner Instagram post, she says this season was very difficult:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSevpIZAn4g/

 

[Xela M]

Ashley Wagner Instagram post, she says this season was very difficult:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSevpIZAn4g/

Omg Ashley got dumped by her boyfriend (if I'm reading this correctly)?! That explains a lot. Heartbreak is awful

 

[IceAlisa]

There's more fish in the sea, Ashley, if that's true about the boyfriend.

Is she talking about Adam's injury keeping him from training with her?

 

[clairecloutier]

Is she talking about Adam's injury keeping him from training with her?

Yes I think so.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Frank Carroll was right. Shouldn't try to have a boyfriend while skating.

 

[Dobre]

Not formally, as in, show up or you don't get to go the Olympics, no. But OTOH the ISU or a host committee is not going to stage an event with no "name" skaters to draw attention and $$$$.

It's quite likely there will be name skaters. Last time we had Sui & Han, Kanako, Mura, Kozuka, & Ten. Someone always misses the team or needs an extra competition. This time, we will likely have whichever top Japanese lady winds up off the team. Wang & Liu, a plethora of U.S. pairs teams, & whichever top Canadian pair doesn't get to go to the Olympics. A selection of Nam/Kevin/Nadeau/Firus/Sadovsky/Keegan and/or Eladj. Likely at least one U.S. man with a National championship and quite plausibly another or a Junior World title holder.

And . . .

The next generation of U.S. ice dance. We could see up to three former junior world gold medalists fighting it out on the major international senior stage. If they can make the 4CC team. (I would so love to see this).

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I really hope this is #fakenews about "La La Land". Don't really like any of the songs from that movie at all.

I just kept pushing the fast forward button while watching my screener dvd. I have yet to see what people like about this film. My least favorite movie of the year. I kept thinking to myself what was the point of making this a musical?

Anywhooooooooo Im looking forward to seeing how next season unfolds.

Currently my Olys WISH list is:

Mirai Nagasu
Karen Chen
maybeeee Ashley Wagner

But..I want to see how Gracie is under a whole new coaching environment first!

Even tho Nats are in San Jose I kinda think Polina may be ka-put.

 

[Vagabond]

Frank Carroll was right. Shouldn't try to have a boyfriend while skating.

Good luck with that!

 

[leigh466]

Good luck with that!

Really! In that age range? Um no.

 

[IceAlisa]

I think it's good to have SO's and feel a bit more normal. Sure, it can become a distraction if things go south but otherwise it's a good thing and worth the risk IMO.

 

[Willin]

I think just like any other life thing (a move, going to college, doing shows, getting a part-time job, etc.), dating is good for some skaters and distracting for others. No one was complaining about Ashley dating him the season she (EDIT for brainfart: Got silver at) worlds...

 

[IceAlisa]

She got silver but otherwise true, no one said a thing.

 

[Xela M]

I just kept pushing the fast forward button while watching my screener dvd. I have yet to see what people like about this film. My least favorite movie of the year. I kept thinking to myself what was the point of making this a musical?

Yes yes yes yes yes x100 to this!

 

[honey]

I think Ashley returning to Hip Hip Chin Chin is a good choice. I think that was one of her best programs not only from a performance aspect but from a choreographic standpoint as well.

My problem with the La La Land pick is that I just don't think this type of music will play to her strengths. There is a sweet quality to most of that music that I think is not Ashley's forte. She's always been better with stronger, bolder music. I agree with the person who said she'll probably use "Audition", and I could see her doing a good job with that, but surely that can't be the whole edit for a free program. Reserving judgement until I see it of course, but not totally seeing this as a great pick for her right now.

 

[Jammers]

Gracie probably could have used a boyfriend the last few years to ground her and not make her think winning was life or death and also it might have given her some life experience that could have translated to the ice. Nothing like a good heartbreak to make you reach deep inside yourself on the ice.

 

[Vagabond]

I am cross-quoting from the World Team Trophy thread in GSD because it bears on the whole issue of North American skaters who might skip next year's Four Continents.

Go attend your Senior B's next season, guys. All the 4CC athletes will be heading into the Olympics without world standing points from a major international. And the European teams will all have Euros to pump up their starting order. (Unless I'm misunderstanding something).

When Dobre refers to 4CC athletes he (I think Dobre's a he) means skaters from non-European countries in general, not skaters who compete at the Four Continents Championships. In fact, he's assuming that such Olympians won't be at Four Continents.

Nope, you have that right if the major Feds follow what they did in Sochi: China sent Zijun Li. That's it.

Almost all, if not all, of the Euros skaters will have WS points in the championships column, and the Olympics use the Rule 520 "starting later" and "starting earlier" groups. Just to keep up, 4C's skaters should have been maximizing points this season, since last season's will be factored by 70%.

So, folks, you can talk up how North American Olympians should skip 4CC's next season as much as you want, but don't complain if they get seeded lower than OES.

 

[Coco]

You know...if one of the 4cc federations was on top of things, they would have proposed that the cut off for world standing points for the Olympics be BEFORE Europeans.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Has anyone seen Gracie in Detroit in the past 2 months? I know this wasnt a competition but Im hoping Marina and Alex get those triples back in tip-top shape.

"Video from one of her Findlay performances showed Gold doing just footwork, two spins, a couple very earthbound split jumps and one double flip in 2 1/2 minutes -- almost the length of a short program."

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/04/04/222260052

 

[AxelAnnie]

^^^ what is an earthbound split jump? One that doesn't get very high?

 

[Coco]

Yes, I would assume so.


Of course, Phil just wants to keep his negative narrative going. He doesn't mention the size of the ice, which is one reason she omitted triples. But even if it was regulation, so what. She's working her way back and she's in good hands. So back off, Hershy!

 

[vesperholly]

Frank Carroll was right. Shouldn't try to have a boyfriend while skating.

Ashley skated pretty well the years that they were dating (after Sochi -> this season). It's probably just harder for teenagers than mid-20s women to handle having a relationship with their skating. I also don't read "heartbreak" as him dumping her. Perhaps they mutually broke up because they could never see each other.

 

[Spun Silver]

^^^ what is an earthbound split jump? One that doesn't get very high?

I think he is implying she is overweight and skating heavy. Maybe her split jumps didnt get a full split. ??

 

[Dobre]

When Dobre refers to 4CC athletes he (I think Dobre's a he) means skaters from non-European countries in general, not skaters who compete at the Four Continents Championships. In fact, he's assuming that such Olympians won't be at Four Continents.

So, folks, you can talk up how North American Olympians should skip 4CC's next season as much as you want, but don't complain if they get seeded lower than OES.

I plan to complain, instead, that 4CC athletes are forced to face this dilemma at all. As we all know the current scenario favors all the European athletes. Not on paper, but in practice. Which is what matters.

(On behalf of the European skaters, I would argue that having an Olympic test event which invites the rest of the World, but excludes them, isn't fair either).

Note: Dobre is a she.

 

[Vagabond]

Thanks, @Dobre. Now I wonder if I had you confused with DobrinFan. But perhaps DobrinFan is a she too.

 

[clairecloutier]

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