Well, going into worlds - by skipping 4CC Ashley will be going into Boston as the top ranked US lady internationally (at a home World Championships). Judges will remember GPF more than Nationals, if she goes to 4CC and isn't the top US lady - that would be a big blow heading into Worlds. I think it's strategically smart, I just hope she really throws down the gauntlet in Boston because she has the 2nd marks to become a World Champion.
If she can't physically do it due to exhaustion, then I think it's fine. If's doing it because she's afraid of losing favor or momentum or her image, then I think it's a mistake. This just makes it look like she's afraid to compete. But I guess skipping Worlds last year didn't hurt Stolbova/Klimov too much at this year's GPF.
The fact is she has little to lose even if she went and skated poorly and potentially had a lot to gain if she was able to go and beat the other Americans or Satoko. I believe she'd have beat Edmunds at a minimum since Edmunds has not actually fixed her URs and the international panel isn't going to conveniently close their eyes to that like the US panel did.
If they call Polina's UR's and not Satoko's at 4CC's or Worlds I'm going to reinstate the jumpamatron until I break the Internet with it :furious:
Ashley sometimes complains about being exhausted by the end of the season. It's good she knows what she can take. Now she has 2 months to catch her breath and actually do some work on her programs.
Yea, if Ashley wants to know exhausted, look at Elizaveta. Now THAT girl overdid it. LolTwo months off is an entire off season in some sports