U.S. Ladies [#19]: Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

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At this rate I just wish Polina could skate a respectable performance at Nationals in her home town. She has such beautiful programs this season.

She did say in her instagram that "it's a start". People tend to forget it's her first real competition in 20 months.
 
Maybe Polina just wanted to go to Finland?

I think my biggest concern is Polina and her team are experienced enough to track and understand her progress, and decide on that basis, whether she would be competitive enough for a Challenger Series event. Given that there were top Russian skaters, Kostner and Daleman also there, this wasn't a backwater local event at all. You really can't wing it at this level.

Is she wasn't ready, and Polina almost looked like she had forgotten how to compete, going also denied any substitute from attending in Edmunds place. I am reminded of when Rachel Flatt skated injured at the 2011 Worlds in Moscow, meaning Nagasu missed out on the second ladies' spot.

Skating well this season and making a good impression will weigh heavily when the USFSA consider a skater's body of work.
 
I don't think Flatt's situation comes close to Edmunds': Edmunds is coming back from injury and a growth spurt, while Flatt hid an injury.

USFS could have made the spot conditional based on monitoring and could have pulled her at any time and sent a substitute up until the deadline. But they didn't send a substitute.
 
I don't think Flatt's situation comes close to Edmunds': Edmunds is coming back from injury and a growth spurt, while Flatt hid an injury.

USFS could have made the spot conditional based on monitoring and could have pulled her at any time and sent a substitute up until the deadline. But they didn't send a substitute.

I'm just sad that Polina is a shadow of the skater I remember from Nationals in 2016. I hope this event gives her the motivation and focus to regroup for her Grand Prix events.
 
I'm just sad that Polina is a shadow of the skater I remember from Nationals in 2016. I hope this event gives her the motivation and focus to regroup for her Grand Prix events.

I highly doubt Polina requires motivation. She is not my favourite skater and I think her basic skating skills have been vastly over rated, however, I have no doubt she knows what she needs to do. She certainly is under no obligation to give up her spot if the USFSA hasn't made it conditional based on monitoring.
 
I highly doubt Polina requires motivation. She is not my favourite skater and I think her basic skating skills have been vastly over rated, however, I have no doubt she knows what she needs to do. She certainly is under no obligation to give up her spot if the USFSA hasn't made it conditional based on monitoring.

I love these programs and think they have great potential. For a competitor as fierce as Edmunds, I just thought she didn't look into it.
 
Well Angela Wang appears to be flourishing under her friend and coach, Ryan Bradley, who has shown enormous belief in her. Ryan is so laid back, he likely makes Angela feel looser and more relaxed. That's nice to see. :) Hoorah Angela Wang! :cheer2:
Their conversations in the kiss and cry looked like two friends about to watch a movie or have dinner. I am glad Angela is skating well! Both of their smiles are the best!
 
^^ Plus Angela's form in the air is so gorgeous. Angela was definitely low-balled in the Finlandia scoring I feel, due to not having had great rep and political backing. Yet she's clearly one of the most talented ladies figure skaters in the world. I hope Angela continues to deliver and to believe in herself which will always eventually garner better scores that are deserved!
 
I agree with @mag: she's used to being able to ask specific things of her body, snd it's not cooperating. It's a double whammy: even if her unjury has healed, she has to learn to do it with a new body, and there haven't been that many singles Ladies that are that height who have been competitive.
 
I think a post made sometime ago on this board, suggesting that Polina has not adjusted her jumps to her new height, is correct.
I am running the two videos side by side. I forgot how much I liked her skating. She does look fuller to me.....especially the arms, back and face.

It may be just that she was more fit there. I hope she gets back in the groove............I enjoyed watching her.
 
Polina has great perspective and competitive fighter spirit. Though time and injuries have not been on her side for the past 2 years, I'd never underestimate her.
 
I think a post made sometime ago on this board, suggesting that Polina has not adjusted her jumps to her new height, is correct.

You think she is fuller now? I don’t see it, but who knows…

In the same dress, in 2015.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INoLEcmPgmM

and now… 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVxWfse7AY8

Its like a Kostner 2005 vs Kostner 2010 comparison. I do not see any innate reason she could not get her jumps back because her technique was the kind that could be adjusted. However, I do not think she has adjusted for her height, as you suggest.
 
She kind of had borderline rotation issues in the past, though.

I do think she could do it, but it's going to take a while.
 
Often dancers in NA look wider, especially in their backs, after coming back from injuries, because the exercise and therapy here tends to focus on back and core strength to avoid reinjury. I'm never surprised when I see this in skaters.
 
In his latest TSL, Dave was unsurprisingly dismissive and snarky toward Polina and Ashley, while more respectful toward Mirai. The way Dave and Jonathan both looked down their noses at Gabby Daleman with smirks, is uncalled for.
 
I really hope we see the Courtney from 2015 NHK and not the Courtney from 2016 Cup of China! Fingers crossed for two clean-ish programs.
 
This invitation to Skate Canada International is good news for Courtney. She can keep pace w/ her teammates. I don’t want her to lose sight of the big picture and become discouraged at the same time. Courtney has always been an underdog, but good things can happen to underdogs, and she is still squarely in the mix. Hang in there, Courtney!
 
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