2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

mrrice · Feb 13, 2019

sheetz said:
To me any "savior" to US ladies would require someone with a Kwan-like competitive record. Most people thought Bradie would be the best senior US lady, and she has been when Alysa is excluded. But I don't think anyone ever thought Bradie was going to seriously challenge for gold at Worlds.

I think what Bradie will be good at is securing a 3rd spot. How far away is Alysa from becoming a Senior? With Mariah finishing 5th in a field with No Russians makes me think we won't be getting (or needing) a 3rd spot anytime soon.

oatmella · Feb 13, 2019

mrrice said:
I think what Bradie will be good at is securing a 3rd spot. How far away is Alysa from becoming a Senior? With Mariah finishing 5th in a field with No Russians makes me think we won't be getting (or needing) a 3rd spot anytime soon.

Alysa can’t compete at Worlds until after the Olympics, her first season as a senior would be 2021-22.

mrrice · Feb 13, 2019

Now, is when I'd like to see a report from the skaters training centers. You know, "We caught up with Bradie Tennell and we asked about how things are going heading into Worlds." Do you think the skating lesson could pull this off?

oly2018 · Feb 13, 2019

Anybody else wondering what is happening with Karen Chen? She has kind of been forgotten, but I follow her on social media and she has been away from Colorado for quite some time. I assumed she would be treated there, but it seems like she has been in CA and MI.

DSQ · Feb 14, 2019

tothepointe said:
This is all very true. She is only making mistakes because she is trying new elements and different style choices.

I feel like the team realizes that getting on the podium is what counts so you have to take risks like the 3Lz-3Loop because without it your just going to end up off the podium anyways. Is it better to lose with a fall or to lose by not having the content be difficult enough?

For a true competitor I think it's hard to sell the strategy of just trying to skate clean doing a simpler routine in the hopes that others might falter. That's not taking your destiny into your own hands.

For me however that's EXACTLY what I would do but probably also the reason I'm not an elite anything.

I totally agree. At least this way she has a chance, a small one but an actual chance, of being competitive. We’ve seen her do the LzLo successfully so perhaps it’s only a matter of time until she nails it.

sheetz · Feb 14, 2019

oly2018 said:
Anybody else wondering what is happening with Karen Chen? She has kind of been forgotten, but I follow her on social media and she has been away from Colorado for quite some time. I assumed she would be treated there, but it seems like she has been in CA and MI.

Karen's new Toyota commercial.
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/IpeE/toyota-toyotally-sales-event-triumph-featuring-karen-chen-t2

Bord · Feb 14, 2019

Okay - might not make sense to non-americans but here goes (and i suspect this will get flagged and possibly deleted as it is pure opinion)
I think the US ladies team is a lot like Susan Lucci.
Remember her? famous soap opera star on All My Children. Nominated for an Emmy something like 17 times.. and finally winning it.
Thats what this crop of skaters feels like - pre competition chat we bolster them up, wish them great things, hope, hope hope..
and then splat. Disappointment re-grouping, excuses.. and new hope for the next competition.
Why does this happen? we have great facilities, an abundance of coaches, decent support. Is it lack of discipline? is it too expensive? is it lack of motivation. Russia fixed its ladies problem. why can't we?

Mathman · Feb 14, 2019

sheetz said:
Karen's new Toyota commercial.

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/IpeE/toyota-toyotally-sales-event-triumph-featuring-karen-chen-t2

Thanks for the post!

SkateSkates · Feb 14, 2019

Bord said:
Okay - might not make sense to non-americans but here goes (and i suspect this will get flagged and possibly deleted as it is pure opinion)
I think the US ladies team is a lot like Susan Lucci.
Remember her? famous soap opera star on All My Children. Nominated for an Emmy something like 17 times.. and finally winning it.
Thats what this crop of skaters feels like - pre competition chat we bolster them up, wish them great things, hope, hope hope..
and then splat. Disappointment re-grouping, excuses.. and new hope for the next competition.
Why does this happen? we have great facilities, an abundance of coaches, decent support. Is it lack of discipline? is it too expensive? is it lack of motivation. Russia fixed its ladies problem. why can't we?

Too expensive. Unless you can find a sponsor, shelling out upwards of $30-$50k/year for elite training is cost prohibitive for most. Plus no opportunity for college scholarships.

concorde · Feb 14, 2019

SkateSkates said:
Too expensive. Unless you can find a sponsor, shelling out upwards of $30-$50k/year for elite training is cost prohibitive for most. Plus no opportunity for college scholarships.

At least double your cost estimate. And remember even if you shell that out, there are no guarantees since the ice is slippery.

champs · Feb 14, 2019

Canadianskatingfan said:
Hanna has mentioned training 4F on her instagram before and I believe she tried some 3A at the Aerial Challenge in early summer.

Thanks for the info!

drivingmissdaisy · Feb 14, 2019

Bord said:
Okay - might not make sense to non-americans but here goes (and i suspect this will get flagged and possibly deleted as it is pure opinion)
I think the US ladies team is a lot like Susan Lucci.
Remember her? famous soap opera star on All My Children. Nominated for an Emmy something like 17 times.. and finally winning it.
Thats what this crop of skaters feels like - pre competition chat we bolster them up, wish them great things, hope, hope hope..
and then splat. Disappointment re-grouping, excuses.. and new hope for the next competition.

The last few years, I think the American women have performed pretty much how we expected them to. Ashley (2016 Worlds) and Mirai (2018 Olympics Team LP) probably had some of the better-than-expected performances, but for the most part I don't think anyone has expected the Americans to compete against the top women internationally for several years.

b-man · Feb 14, 2019

sheetz said:
Karen's new Toyota commercial.
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/IpeE/toyota-toyotally-sales-event-triumph-featuring-karen-chen-t2

I love to see skaters getting endorsements. However, an endorsement for Karen would have been more appropriate in 2017-2018.

As an aside, and as a Mirai fan, since Toyota makes a car model called the Mirai, its appears they could have found an appropriate US skater to promote that model.

Mathman · Feb 14, 2019

b-man said:
I love to see skaters getting endorsements. However, an endorsement for Karen would have been more appropriate in 2017-2018.

From Toyota's point of view, I don't think it's the currency of Karen's achievements that are what they care about. I don't think the ad is targeted especially at figure skating fans. Here she is equal parts hard-working athlete, talented superstar, pretty girl next door, and glamorous diva. Buy a Toyota and you can be just like her! (Or attract a girl friend that is just like her.)

As an aside, and as a Mirai fan, since Toyota makes a car model called the Mirai, its appears they could have found an appropriate US skater to promote that model.

I think Ashley Wagner would be a good choice to promote the Mirai. :yes:

sheetz · Feb 14, 2019

Bear in mind that this was a promo for Southern Cal Toyota, not a nationwide campaign. So in a way this might have been a bit too "small" for Mirai, who achieved much greater fame than Karen did after the Olympics and DWTS.

Nathan13 · Feb 14, 2019

drivingmissdaisy said:
The last few years, I think the American women have performed pretty much how we expected them to. Ashley (2016 Worlds) and Mirai (2018 Olympics Team LP) probably had some of the better-than-expected performances, but for the most part I don't think anyone has expected the Americans to compete against the top women internationally for several years.

Throw in Karen's SP at 2017 Worlds and I agree.

NanaPat · Feb 14, 2019

Mathman said:
From Toyota's point of view, I don't think it's the currency of Karen's achievements that are what they care about. I don't think the ad is targeted especially at figure skating fans. Here she is equal parts hard-working athlete, talented superstar, pretty girl next door, and glamorous diva. Buy a Toyota and you can be just like her! (Or attract a girl friend that is just like her.)

Or have a daughter just like her.

narcissa · Feb 14, 2019

Bord said:
Okay - might not make sense to non-americans but here goes (and i suspect this will get flagged and possibly deleted as it is pure opinion)
I think the US ladies team is a lot like Susan Lucci.
Remember her? famous soap opera star on All My Children. Nominated for an Emmy something like 17 times.. and finally winning it.
Thats what this crop of skaters feels like - pre competition chat we bolster them up, wish them great things, hope, hope hope..
and then splat. Disappointment re-grouping, excuses.. and new hope for the next competition.
Why does this happen? we have great facilities, an abundance of coaches, decent support. Is it lack of discipline? is it too expensive? is it lack of motivation. Russia fixed its ladies problem. why can't we?

This might not be PC, but IMO Russia has great ladies because their ladies are hungry for success. From what I heard it's harder to stand out in Russia for children from poor families. Becoming a top athlete is one of the few ways. A lot of these girls are paid for by the state and would have few opportunities otherwise. In the US, our ladies just have too much of a life outside of skating. If they fail in skating they can still go to an Ivy League and be successful. They usually come from families that will support them with money and opportunities regardless. Why persevere through injuries, countless hours of training, loneliness, strict coaching, etc? How many of them moved away from their hometown to live with extended relatives and coaches in their pre-teens like Alina Zagitova? And should we even encourage them to do it?

tothepointe · Feb 14, 2019

Bord said:
Why does this happen? we have great facilities, an abundance of coaches, decent support. Is it lack of discipline? is it too expensive? is it lack of motivation. Russia fixed its ladies problem. why can't we?

Russia "fixed" it's ladies by getting rid of the mismatch between talented skaters and the ability to afford it. However it comes at a cost. You MUST perform or you no longer get to train. It's like the ballet academies there. They only want the best so if you are there you must work hard, do as your told, perform well or you are sent home.

I don't think we would like to have that system to be honest.

LiamForeman · Feb 14, 2019

SkateSkates said:
Too expensive. Unless you can find a sponsor, shelling out upwards of $30-$50k/year for elite training is cost prohibitive for most. Plus no opportunity for college scholarships.

Probably more like 70-100K for elite. Who can afford that? In America, it is just too expensive. I could probably "swing" that if I had an elite skater, but I wouldn't. I'd rather have money saved for college and a nice retirement. I understand that elite skating is not just results based. It does teach a child self discipline, hard work, and being excellent at something is something to be very proud of. But for that cost?? Go into tennis, which is not cheap either, but MUCH cheaper, and you can get a college scholarship. A good friend of mine was a great tennis player, and her parents put ALOT of money into it. She received a full tennis scholarship at a top school, and her parents actually SAVED money by putting all those thousands into her tennis, if she were to go to that same school without scholarship. Plus, she was well known in the city she grew up in, had an aura of success about her, and deserved her healthy ego. Skating just doesn't offer that, unless you are an Alysa Liu.

2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

mrrice

oatmella

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mrrice

oly2018

DSQ

sheetz

Bord

Mathman

SkateSkates

concorde

champs

drivingmissdaisy

b-man

Mathman

sheetz

Nathan13

NanaPat

narcissa

tothepointe

LiamForeman

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