US National Ladies LP - SPOILERS!

[Isk8NYC]

This thread may contain spoilers.

[Alexa]

Though not her best, I was happy with Kimmie's win. Emily did well except for the fall, but I just don't love her skating. Alissa did very well...glad that she finally medaled.

I liked Kimmie's program and footwork.

[Lark]

I hope it does something for Alissa that she actually WON the LP over the reining World Champion! How could she not take that and get better?

I was amazed at how absolutely "adult" Alissa skated compared to a vast majority of the other Ladies. Her spins were to die for, she was gorgeous!

I was soooooooo hoping that Emily would have won though. Less than a point! :??

Though I must admit, I did accidentally keep yelling "Go Sarah" during Emilys LP! LOLOL I loved Sarah so much. Sorry. :bow:

[MQSeries]

With the possible exception of Alissa, the entire women competition was a bore.

I didn't see any improved connection between Kimmie and her music. Her 3lutz did not look secure to me at all. Some of her jump landings looked kind of squeaked out.

Emily has a heaviness to her skating that's not appealing to me, eventhough she does attack her program.

Rachel Flatt was slow as molasses. He barely landing jumps will give her trouble as she gets older.

I didn't see Bebe skate but sounded like she made some mistakes like she usually does.

Katy Talor ... well maybe she should concentrate more on school now.

I think the US ladies will be off the world podium this year.

[jazzpants]

I just LOVE Alissa's skating the LP this afternoon and I LOVE LOVE LOVE her music (from the movie soundtrack "Sabrina") I almost wanted to stay her program, dress, etc. for myself but.... *sigh* I just have a feeling all the other skaters out there would want to do the same thing now... ;) (Yes, the look suits her)

Kimmie: Not her best skate, but still deserves the title.

I soooooo wanted Emily to win. I just like her spirit and spunk!!! And just reminds me so much of Sarah. Then again, I remembered way back in 2002 Nationals that Sarah won the Bronze(?) that year and was in fifth after the SP, only to have "the skate of her life." So lightening may strike twice and it's possible the Hughes family may have another Olympic Gold medalist in the family! (Okay, is there really another younger sister figure skating in that family??? I haven't been keeping track there...)

I also felt bad that Bebe Liang couldn't keep it together in the LP. I've always been frustrated to watch her in medal contention after the SP, only to have it fall short b/c of the LP. :frus:

No offense to any of the other skaters but... I really can't remember the rest of the ladies LP!!! :oops:

[elanboy]

I have to agree about the U.S. ladies not making the podium this year. I guess Kimmie's win last year was just a fluke...she does not look anywhere near World Championship material.
Emily skated great, save her fall on the 3 flip. Too bad she couldn't skate clean, as she would have been national champion.
Alissa skated well too, but her jump technique just doesn't look consistent and reliable.
It seems like U.S. ladies skating is on a bit of a low point, with no clear strong contenders to take the places of Kwan and Cohen...

[Lark]

Has anyone else noticed that Bebe is no longer looking like a 12 year old "working girl"? I guess she stopped having gay men do her makeup and decided to go au natural! :D She is so pretty. Why did her "people" let her continue to wear that much makeup until now???

[jazzpants]

Has anyone else noticed that Bebe is no longer looking like a 12 year old "working girl"? I guess she stopped having gay men do her makeup and decided to go au natural! :D She is so pretty. Why did her "people" let her continue to wear that much makeup until now???HEY! My (very flaming gay male) primary coach did her HAIR last year!!! Hmmmpft!!! LOL!!! (Seriously, no word on whether he did her makeup too! :lol: )

One of the perks of being at US Nationals is the organizers will bring in hairdressers and makeup artists on to help out with all the skaters. Of course, a lot of the elite skaters will probably bring in their own makeup artist/hairdressers or do their own. Those guys don't get paid for their jobs!!! (Well, except they get into the arena for free... and get backstage access to all the skaters!!! KEWL, huh? ;) )

But yes, I'm glad that she's looking less like a 12 year old "working girl" from Thailand and more like a "woman." :lol:

[COSkateFan]

I would have put Emily and Alissa way ahead of Kimmie. I was there and they were so much faster and more exciting, and Kimmie just looked like a younger, less experienced skater.

I think Bebe's makeup looked great and so did Alissa's and Emily's! But someone really needs to tell Kimmie that she ought to start wearing makeup. She really needs a little glamour. I'm tempted to mail her some lipstick.

[Lark]

Last year Bebe and Kimmie were both extreme. Kimmie looking like she had just washed her face before going on the ice, and Bebe looking like a drag queen. Bebe has gotten away from the makeup this year, and she looks gorgeous :bow: , but I agree that Kimmie could at least use a tinted moisturizer!

[FitzLizzie]

I'm really worried that these girls are going to get their butts kicked at World's. Alissa was wonderful in the LP - I loved the program, the dress, the music, etc. but I don't think her jumps are consistently strong. Kimmie can do the jumps but the skating isn't great. I like Emily but I'm not sure if she can place at Worlds either.

[Lark]

If all 3 American Ladies were to skate clean, and that is a bigggg "IF", then I would not be surprised to see Alissa getting a Bronze. Her spins are some of the best in the World, if not the best, and her presentation is right up there.

Emily, who I just adore, does not have the flair that Sarah had, the "razzle dazzle", and I do not see her being able to defeat all 3 of the Japanese Ladies, or even 2 of them, to medal.

Kimmie winning 2006 Worlds was PURE LUCK! She skates with very little personality or artistry, and her 3/3's are hit and miss with getting full scores.

The only way an American Lady will even medal at Worlds is if Asada and Ando have a total meltdown, and then, they still have to face Yu Na Kim.

[tidesong]

I was sad for Bebe because she has yet to show off a long program that she can do! I'm glad though that Alissa still has 'it' to bring together a good long. Hopefully, it will happen again sometime soon for her! I like it when skaters do well. Kimmie and Emily seem rather consistent with a smaller range of error compared to the rest, which is good for my nerves.

[Schmeck]

Kimmie winning 2006 Worlds was PURE LUCK! She skates with very little personality or artistry, and her 3/3's are hit and miss with getting full scores.


Last time I looked through the IJS scoring guide, "Personality" was not something you got scored for... :roll: :lol:

If Meissner lands a 3 axel and a 3/3 she'll be on the podium, with or without personality and artistry.

[Lark]

I am sure personality plays into the scores. How else would you explain Ryan Bradley getting Silver??? Another skater with the same program, same jumps and quality, without his amazing charisma would not have medaled.

So, personality and whatever constitutes artistry DO have something to do with the CoP! 8-)

As for Kimmie, there are a handful of skaters, if they are on, and Kimmie is on as well, Kimmie will not medal.

[NoVa Sk8r]

Actually, personality is one of the 5 aspects of the Perfromance/Execution program component scores (physical, emotional, and intellectual involvement; carriage; style, individuality, and personality; clarity of movement; variety and contrast; and projection).

(Hence, Mr. Bradley scoring well on that metric. 8-))

[jazzpants]

I am sure personality plays into the scores. How else would you explain Ryan Bradley getting Silver??? Another skater with the same program, same jumps and quality, without his amazing charisma would not have medaled.Not to start a fight against Weir (since I like the kid, attitude and all...and felt so bad when he was crying in the K&C... :cry: ) I think skating a very clean program also helped too! ;)

But yes, anyone who skates the program that he did... and then went back out there for a victory lap after he got his score and does a back flip is KEWL in my book!!! 8-)

[Schmeck]

Actually, personality is one of the 5 aspects of the Perfromance/Execution program component scores (physical, emotional, and intellectual involvement; carriage; style, individuality, and personality; clarity of movement; variety and contrast; and projection).

(Hence, Mr. Bradley scoring well on that metric. 8-))

I stand corrected - thanks for looking that up Nova Skater! I'd love to see how they score "intellectual involvement" - does that mean the ditzy skaters (I can think of a few, but not naming any...) get lower scores because they are airheads? :lol:

[Lark]

What about people who just DON'T have a personality? Personality cannot be learned, I don't think. That is sad to think those people are just screwed! LOLOLOLOL :frus:

[NoVa Sk8r]

I stand corrected - thanks for looking that up Nova Skater! I'd love to see how they score "intellectual involvement" - does that mean the ditzy skaters (I can think of a few, but not naming any...) get lower scores because they are airheads? :lol:Well, I think most of those criteria and explanations are bogus. And I think they should have 3, not 5, component marks. Some of them nake no sense or else seem the same as some of the others.

And yes, intellectual involvement ... does that mean i get extra credit if I assume the "thinker position" in my sit spin? :D

[Schmeck]

Well, I think most of those criteria and explanations are bogus. And I think they should have 3, not 5, component marks. Some of them nake no sense or else seem the same as some of the others.

And yes, intellectual involvement ... does that mean i get extra credit if I assume the "thinker position" in my sit spin? :D


I agree - many of the component descriptions seem to overlap to me too. I know someone who is doing trial judging, and I'll ask her what she thinks the differences are, or at least what USFSA has told her the differences are.

[Isk8NYC]

Intellectual involvement COULD mean "thinking on your feet," such as realizing you're going to hit the wall and moving the jump, changing a lower jump to a higher in order to compensate for an earlier mistake, or adjusting your spins for extra points.

I don't know for sure, but it seems sensible.

[Artemis]

Intellectual involvement could also be an "intelligent" interpretation of the choreography & music -- like not seeming happy when you're supposed to be dying at that point in the music (mentioning no names *cough* tanith *cough*).