What Should Angela Do?

[rack]

Angela Nikodinov has announced that she will not be competing in her last scheduled Grand Prix event, and will be concentrating on Nationals.

Realistically speaking, it's going to be very hard for Angela to medal at Nationals this year (and thus to go Worlds). Michelle, Sasha, and Sarah have all achieved great successes since last year's Nationals. In addition, Ann Patrice has medaled in a senior Grand Prix event, making her a top contender as well. While Angela certainly has a chance at medalling, she has to be regarded as a long shot.

I'm not posting this to start a discussion of the quality of Angela's layback, or the nature of her luck. I'm genuinely curious as to what her options in skating are. A few years ago, I think she would have been an ideal candidate for a competitive professional career, the sort Caryn Kadavy created for herself. But do enough of those opportunities currently exist?

Is Angela a big enough name to get into the Stars On Ice tour? She wasn't in Champions on Ice when I saw it in New Jersey, but has she toured with them regularly? Could she be part of their winter tour?

Or should she count on hard work, the superb team of Frank Carroll and Lori Nichol, and some that good luck she's overdue to turn things around?

What are the options these days for a US bronze medalist with a Four Continents Gold, but no Worlds medals? How does such a skater earn money from her craft?

[Alexeiskate]

I don't think Angela is ready to call it quits yet or is ready to concede the top three spots at Nationals to anyone. Two perfect performances from Angela will earn her a trip to Worlds, but it's going to be up to her to be agressive and deliver at Nationals.

[Artemis]

Luck will certainly play a factor ... but that's the way of the game for American women skaters with so much competition and such a deep pool of talent.

No, I don't think she's a big enough name (or with enough hardware) to get a SOI or COI gig. However, there are other options for professional skaters. Perhaps not as glamorous but ... Karen Preston (2-time Canadian champ), for example, made a better-than-decent living touring with Disney on Ice, starring as Snow White.

From the bigger picture perspective, I think it's unrealistic for any skater to expect a long-time big money career as a skating performer. The lucky and talented few who are able to swing it represent a teeny tiny fraction of the skaters who try.

[duane]

Originally posted by rack
Realistically speaking, it's going to be very hard for Angela to medal at Nationals this year (and thus to go Worlds). Michelle, Sasha, and Sarah have all achieved great successes since last year's Nationals. In addition, Ann Patrice has medaled in a senior Grand Prix event, making her a top contender as well. While Angela certainly has a chance at medalling, she has to be regarded as a long shot.

i agree.

i think angela is as talented as any of the top US skaters, but she doesnt have the established international reputation like michelle and sarah. AP seems to be making her mark internationally, while sasha's reputation has taken off greatly. i think when it comes down to it, the National judges are going to want the World team to be skaters who they think have the best chance of medalling, which IMO makes angela a long shot. even if angela delivers at Nationals, and performs better than everyone else, i can see politics playing a role in the judging.

still, in regards to what angela should do, i say go to National and go all out! she'll have to be absolutely perfect to possibly make the podium.

[cocanuts]

It is in many ways sick, but as a huge Angela fan I was hoping that michelle would not go to nationals and sarah would still be injured so angela could go to worlds, medal and then turn pro. I remember a while back, when naomi nari nam was on the seen, i thought that angela should go back to bulgaria and become a citizen there so she could compete for them, and naomi could go back to korea, which AP could do now, and then all of the top names would get to compete:michelle, saha, sarah, angela, and AP. about becoming a pro, tonia kwiatkowski became pro having never been higher then 6th in worlds. i think angela should marry me and skate for fun:D

[jcspkbfan]

If Angela had decided to turn pro after last season, I'd say she would have had a better-than-usual chance at joining this year's SOI tour without an Olympic or World medal. This year's SOI cast was definitely lacking in the female singles skating department until Katarina Witt was persuaded to rejoin the cast a few years ago (I remember reading somewhere Katarina originally didn't plan to return to SOI this year).

And even with Katarina returning, I think SOI would have probably been willing to add one more female singles skater just to balance out the male-female cast ratio a little bit (right now, they have four singles guys compared to only two singles women).

Since it looks like most of the other top female skaters (Michelle, Irina, Sarah, Sasha, etc.) are planning to stay eligible for quite some time and the only recently-eligible female skater with a World title and definite plans to turn pro (Maria Butryskaya) doesn't seem to be interested in touring, I'd say Angela probably would have been SOI's next logical choice for a new single female cast member. She's performed in other IMG-produced shows in the past (Skate The Nation, Holiday Festival On Ice), SOI probably wouldn't have had to pay her that much compared to say, the other "new kids on the tour" this year, and she probably would have been able to fill a "Steven Cousins-type" role (ie. a skater who doesn't have any Olympic or world medals and isn't that well-known to the general public, but who nevertheless is popular, well-liked, and gets good applause whenever she skates) very well. The fact she's a close friend of Tara Lipinski probably wouldn't hurt, either. ;)

If Angela decides to turn pro (or just take some time off from eligible skating for a year or so) in the near future, I'd say she'd have a much better shot with SOI than with COI (where she'd have to fight for spots with Michelle, Sarah, Sasha, Irina, etc., none of whom seem to be interested in joining SOI anytime soon).

[AxelAnnie22]

I don't think things are as cut and dried as they seem.

Sasha is set up to be on the Podium at NATS.
And, that is about all we can see in the crystal ball, so far.

Michelle is taking it one day at a time, and "plans" to be at NATS. We will see.

Sarah is recovering from an injury, and "plans" to be at NATS. Again, we will see.

I certainly mean no disrespect to either of these two skaters, but there is a lot of uncertainty between now and NATS. Although I trust Michelle's ability to prepare for Nationals, she will face some tough technical competition. Sarah will arrive with two programs that have not been skated in "real" competition. This is not her strong suit. Sarah, at the beginning of the year is not nearly as strong as Sarah at the end of the year.

AP is lovely, no doubt about it, but is she strong enough at this point? She hasn't shown enough mettle yet. Sasha can fall and still place first. I don't think AP can do that as yet.

I don't think this will be Jenny's year, she is still re-building technique, and that takes time and time (ask Timmy).

So, I think after Sasha it is anyone's podium, including Angela. I think she will and she should compete. I fully expect to see her finish on the Podium. Of course, I would be happier if we got 6 slots at Worlds .....it is such a large country!

[Mayra]

I don't think Angela's SOI prospects are that bad actually. She is best friends with one of the SOI headliners(Tara), and that might help. I don't know how far along her "entertainment" skills are though.

Still there is no reason she shouldn't go to Nationals and compete. The talent is there, all she lacks is some competitive drive.

As far as the podium goes, if Sarah and Michelle show up at Nationals, IMO they will be on the podium. Sarah actually does pretty well at the start of the season. Just look at her skate america results. Injured or not, I have no doubt she has been training full out for Nationals. Michelle is Michelle and per her comments on the Today show today, she is in the best shape of her life and is training for Nationals.

IMO the podium will include SH, MK and SC. The podium order is up in the air. :)

[cocanuts]

i agree that that will be the podium, however i think sasha wont win. it will either be sarah or michelle IMO

[quarkiki2]

Well, Angela's got roughly the same amount of competition time this year as Sarah and Michelle. And she's easily got the talent of them, too. She was just a hair away from making the Olympic team last year -- and if she could have stayed on her feet for one more jump she would have. Angela has always placed well at Worlds, so I don't necessarily think that the judges don't have any respect for her.

It's simply going to be a matter of which of the ladies skates best come Nationals. Really, when you think about it, there are six women who could walk into any other country's nationals (except maybe Russia or Japan) and skip away with the title. Michelle, Sasha, Sarah, Angela, Jenny and Ann-Patrice are all fabulously talented and have scored well internationally. Michelle and Sarah just have a little more experience with gold, that's all.

As to technical goodies? Well, Sarah is the only one to have landed 2 3/3s in a competition so far. Michelle, Sarah, and Jenny are the only ones to land 3/3s in competition. Michelle, Sarah, and Sasha are the only ones to land 3/3 sequences in competition. None of them landed a 3/3 at worlds last year and Michelle and Sasha didn't seem to suffer from that. I don't know if it will be absolutely necessary for any of them to land one at Nationals -- I think the 3 women with the most complete programs will go to Worlds. And there are 6 women completely capable of giving six wonderful, complete programs. I think it will be exciting and wonderful to see! I envy anyone who has tickets to the ladies LP!!!

I'm not even going to wager on this one! I think it will be THAT close! It may even be closer that Worlds! Woo-Hoo!!!!

[speedy]

Considering how common injuries are these days in skating, sad to say, but Angela may just make it on the podium due to someone else's injuries. There's certainly no reason for her not to compete at Nationals...she's still very much in her prime and even if she doesn't medal she's got many fans that will love to see her compete in Dallas. If she is considering going pro though, what better way to leave eligible skating than with a great showing at Nationals and Worlds? I hope she's healthy for Dallas.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by quarkiki2
Well, Angela's got roughly the same amount of competition time this year as Sarah and Michelle. And she's easily got the talent of them, too. She was just a hair away from making the Olympic team last year -- and if she could have stayed on her feet for one more jump she would have.

That is kind of funny......hadn't thought about it, but you are right. That would mean that the OLY Champ would have missed the OLYS------how quirky is that?

[duane]

IMHO, if angela had remained on her feet and performed well in the LP at Nationals, i think the only change in the final standings would be angela and sasha switching placements. i think sarah still would have been placed 3rd, guaranteeing her a spot on the Olympic team. sasha would have been the odd-woman-out.

i think Michelle and Sarah--with no meltdowns--were locks for the Olympic team, with the 3rd spot to be fought over by sasha and angela--neither of whom was consistent or had yet proven themselves. angela faltered, so the spot went to sasha (and since then, her stock has increased greatly, and i think she is now considered a lock (if no meltdown)).

again, JMHO. :)

[AxelAnnie22]

Hey Duane - why would Angela switched with Sasha? I am not looking at my records, but I think Sasha was second after the SP, and second in the LP. But I could be wrong.....the old memory is NOT what it used to be!

[duane]

yes, sasha placed 2nd in the SP and the LP.

but IMO, if angela had landed all her planned jumps in the LP, i think the judges would have placed her LP 2nd, for an overall 2nd place finish. i also think they would have placed sarah's LP 3rd, making sure that sarah made the olympic team. i dont think they would have gambled with sasha on the olympic team over the more experienced, consistent sarah.

and actually, sasha could have been nailed technically in the LP. not only was her ice coverage limited, but she broke the Zayak rule, landing the 3sal (i believe) twice, neither in combo. it didnt appear that she was penalized for it, but i think she would have been if angela had delivered the goods that night.

[cocanuts]

i agree that michelle and sarah would have made the team, but i am not positive that angela would have made it because she skated before sarah and sasha so u never know.
what 3/3 combos did michelle and sarah and sasha land? i know sasha did triple to 1/2 loop triple salchow, but what about michelle and sarah?

[duane]

i saw Nationals live, but here are my notes (none of the top 4 landed 3/3 combos or sequences):

MK: 3loop, 3toe/2toe, 3lutz/2loop, 2axel, 3flip, 3sal, 3lutz

SC: 2axel, 3lutz/2toe, 3flip/2toe, 3toe (i have a "(t)" next to this, which means either a possible 2foot or touch down), 3sal, 3loop, 3lutz, 3sal

SH: 2axel, 3toe, 3sal/1loop, 3lutz/2toe, 3flip, 3loop, 3lutz, 3sal

AN: 3lutz/2toe, 3toe/2toe, 2axel, 3flip, 3loop (fall), 2sal, 2lutz, 2toe.

[Rachel]

Angela is a lovely skater, but I don't see a lot of pro opportunities for her, at least not in something like SOI. I can't see anyone as introverted as Angela in a show like that. I don't think she would enjoy it.

I also don't think she has much of a shot at the podium at Nationals. She has the talent, but she doesn't have the competitive fire to go out there and beat Sasha, Michelle and Sarah, and maybe Ann-Patrice. She never has. When you look at the skaters who are in serious contention for medals, it's not the one with the most talent or best program who wins; it's the one who wins the mental competition who comes out on top. I wouldn't call her a headcase, but I don't think she's got the head for winning the big ones and in this field, Nationals is a big one. Getting a medal is a big one.

I hope she proves me wrong.

[Maximillian]

Mmmm...duane have to disagree with you about last years Nats. results good chum. Granted I am a huge fan of all things Crafty, Eville SashaSkater, I think that if Angela had landed all of her jumps she still would've finished in 4th in the LP. Why? Because the panel was not a pro-Nik panel. Look at the SP, all 4 ladies skated clean and Nik got the short end of the stick (albeit very close) but it seemed to me that the team they wanted was the team they got. Angela's demise in the LP just made things less complicated IMO. Do I think that result would've been neccessarily correct? No, but I wouldn't have sacrificed Crafty Eville SashaSkater, but rather Hughes. Strange to think about, but I thought that Cohen's LP was the 2nd best of the evening and had Nik skated clean it would've been 3rd best.

Aaaah, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts...(I really don't know what that means).

Max

[Oracle]

When I've attended COI in Spokane, Angela has never been part of the cast. I have seen NNN & this year Ann Patrice McDonough. Sasha was on the western tour but unfortunately she was appearing before the Queen of England so we missed her. Before Sarah won the Olys she used to appear in the Eastern tour of COI. I've always had a feeling that Angela has been invited but chose to decline...maybe she gets car sick/bus sick, doesn't care to tour or hasn't been offered enough money. I don't know the answer. She is a lovely skater & I think SOI could use a lady who is graceful, beautiful & elegant.

[cocanuts]

Well, Sarah is the only one to have landed 2 3/3s in a competition so far. Michelle, Sarah, and Jenny are the only ones to land 3/3s in competition. Michelle, Sarah, and Sasha are the only ones to land 3/3 sequences in competition
what did they land, and when?
i agree with maxamillian that angela ws picked 4th from the start

[Mistyeyed]

I think Angela has too much too offer still to amateur skating. After her coach that brought her out of her shell and showed her how to really become a ballerina on the ice, died, I felt really sorry for Angela. Look how far she had come from the season before and too, if that coach had not died, what might we have expected from Angela next? But everything happens for a reason and Angela for a brief time was shown how to soar on her skates and skate with a freedom she had thus far not done. BUT now that she has broke free, I say she should push, push, push to get consistant through her long programs. If she does that, I don't think their are many that could beat her. I have seen Angela be the brunt of refrigerator break jokes and I would love to see her be able to step up to the plate and deliver the whole package. Working with Frank, we will have to wait and see if he can do for Angela what he did for Michelle. If not this season then maybe next. I say Anglea should just skate her little heart out! Like M. Weiss in France, one of the days in competiton, Angela is going to really be own and then we shall see!

[LAVENDER]

Let me tell ya after this season I would say anything is possible. I think the top 10 skaters in the world have a chance at winning anything. Ice is very slippery this season. Never count anyone out and that includes Angela.

[peachstatesk8er]

Angela is incredibly talented, but I don't think she has the mental toughness for this sport. If she doesn't make the World team this year, I think she should consider trying to tour with a show. She doesn't have the attitude for SOI, she's too bland, but maybe COI would take her or she could always do one of those Grease on Ice things. With Jenny and AP coming up, not to mention a lot of talent in the Junior, I don't think she has great chances of making a huge name for herself. Technically she's excellent but she lacks spark and personality.

[missmarysgarden]

I think I agree with you, peachskater. Angela has always been a lovely skater, but she does lack spark and fire. And she does seem to lose focus in almost every competition. It seems like her head just "goes someplace else" if something distracts her, or if she misses or falls. I think of it as "temperament" - and that she comes up short in that area when she is head to head with the "big girls" at the "big comps". We have a lot of ladies who are tough as nails as competititors - and I just have never seen that level of fire in Anglea. Wish I had.

[Lark]

Originally posted by AxelAnnie22
Of course, I would be happier if we got 6 slots at Worlds .....it is such a large country!
I know you meant this slightly jokingly, but I think America should get more slots for Worlds.
If I understand correctly, before the breakup of the Soviet Union, the whole country got to send up to 3 skaters in each discipline.
Now that the Soviet Union has broken up into 15 (?) "States", each state is eligible to send up to 3 skaters in each discipline, granted that they qualify that many.
So Russia basically went from 3 skaters to potentially 45.
Not really fair.
I think America and Canada should each be broken up into 5 regions (uhm, Canada may be already?), and each region get to send 3 skaters if they qualify.
Seems fair to me. :x

[Biffer1997]

Do Sasha, Michelle, and Sarah all have "ties" to COI instead of SOI? The one post I read said that in a couple of years they will all be competing for spots with COI. Why couldn't one or two go with SOI?

[Oracle]

Biffer, the SOI tour runs simultaneously with the big eligible competitions...US Nat'ls, 4 Cont., Worlds & Olympics. My understanding is there is very little time to practice for eligible comps. during the tour as you travel from city to city. I'm sure that SOI would jump at the chance to sign Michelle (as they did with Eldredge) if she desired it. I don't see signing of Sasha or Sarah in the near future as possibilities unless they turned professional. Sarah, from what I've read, is more interested in attending college at present & COI fits into her plans while SOI might not. I see Sasha (if she continues her rapid improvements) as replacing Michelle as the female headliner for COI when Michelle decides not to renew her contract with COI.