Looking ahead to the Nationals
Jan. 22nd, 2007 06:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icarusNow that it's less than a week before the U.S. National Championships* I've been researching who's slated to compete.
The favorite to win on the American side was Evan Lysacek but he's injured and his blog dated January 2nd says that the doctors took him out of competing for six weeks. He's pushing to go, but even in the unlikely event the docs will let him, his chances are much less. Bummer. I was hoping to see him.
Johnny Weir will be there (yay!). But Johnny, like Lysacek, has trouble landing the quad (okay, okay, I have to take Lysacek off the table as my example for John -- this is the complete opposite problem from Sheppard. But there's something about his skating that is like John, that loose surfer-Joe California manner.). Unlike Lysacek, Weir doesn't build up points in other areas of his program.
Michael Weiss and Tim Goebel have both retired from competition which leaves the American field wide, wide open. Apparently, other than Lysacek, the Americans have been doing shitty at the world events. We're getting our asses kicked.
As it works out the midwestern sectional this year was highly competitive, yielding four, count them, four, top notch new skaters: Jeremy Abbott, Parker Pennington, Ryan Bradley, and Braden Overett. Hooray midwest. Then the far-too-young reigning Junior champ, Stephen Carriere, might have a shot though it would be really unusual for a kid to do that well in his first Nationals. But we'll be hearing from him, I think.
Derrick Delmore, who's been competing at the upper levels for eleven years but in the shadows of everyone else may be able take advantage the clear playing field for a swan-song performance.
Then there's Scott Smith. Fourth at Cup of China, Smith is "considered the favorite" (well, now) "provided he can land his triple axels and make a creditable attempt at the quadruple salchow."
Bottom line: The U.S. has artists but we've lost all our hot-shot jumpers. *g* Where's John Sheppard when you need him?
What does this mean to you? You're probably not going to recognize most of the names at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic games. Other than Lysacek and Weir, it's a whole new ball game.
I think this is going to be pretty exciting. This many young skaters fired up for their first shot at something big? There will be so many falls we'll need a trampoline.
*I no longer care that my seats are miles away. I now know the performance carries that far and that these arenas are tiny -- they'd have to build another arena to get as far away as I thought I'd be.
The favorite to win on the American side was Evan Lysacek but he's injured and his blog dated January 2nd says that the doctors took him out of competing for six weeks. He's pushing to go, but even in the unlikely event the docs will let him, his chances are much less. Bummer. I was hoping to see him.
Johnny Weir will be there (yay!). But Johnny, like Lysacek, has trouble landing the quad (okay, okay, I have to take Lysacek off the table as my example for John -- this is the complete opposite problem from Sheppard. But there's something about his skating that is like John, that loose surfer-Joe California manner.). Unlike Lysacek, Weir doesn't build up points in other areas of his program.
Michael Weiss and Tim Goebel have both retired from competition which leaves the American field wide, wide open. Apparently, other than Lysacek, the Americans have been doing shitty at the world events. We're getting our asses kicked.
As it works out the midwestern sectional this year was highly competitive, yielding four, count them, four, top notch new skaters: Jeremy Abbott, Parker Pennington, Ryan Bradley, and Braden Overett. Hooray midwest. Then the far-too-young reigning Junior champ, Stephen Carriere, might have a shot though it would be really unusual for a kid to do that well in his first Nationals. But we'll be hearing from him, I think.
Derrick Delmore, who's been competing at the upper levels for eleven years but in the shadows of everyone else may be able take advantage the clear playing field for a swan-song performance.
Then there's Scott Smith. Fourth at Cup of China, Smith is "considered the favorite" (well, now) "provided he can land his triple axels and make a creditable attempt at the quadruple salchow."
Bottom line: The U.S. has artists but we've lost all our hot-shot jumpers. *g* Where's John Sheppard when you need him?
What does this mean to you? You're probably not going to recognize most of the names at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic games. Other than Lysacek and Weir, it's a whole new ball game.
I think this is going to be pretty exciting. This many young skaters fired up for their first shot at something big? There will be so many falls we'll need a trampoline.
*I no longer care that my seats are miles away. I now know the performance carries that far and that these arenas are tiny -- they'd have to build another arena to get as far away as I thought I'd be.
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 04:29 am (UTC)http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/534888.html
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 04:42 am (UTC)Icarus
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Date: 2007-01-23 06:11 pm (UTC)Like you, I could only afford a couple of events. Those tix are expensive.
I also have Evan as my fave to win this, even injured. I am hoping he'll be well enough to skate decently, because he really has a chance this year. Johnny Weir, by his own admission, hasn't been very focused on his training this year. He started late, and hasn't been 100% into it. Unless Evan sits on the ice and twiddles his thumbs, or is literally so injured that he can not jump, I really think this could be his year.
Scott Smith is a pleasant enough skater, but he's not even close, in my opinion, to Evan or Johnny. Not yet. Ryan Bradley has been around for a while, as has Parker Pennington. Ryan is a fabulous showman (you'll like him), but his technical content isn't all there. He actually has the jumps, but his choreo doesn't have the difficulty of the top two men.
I love Derrick Delmore's style. He's been on my long-time watch list, but his schooling interfered with his skating (in my opinion, rightly so). We'll see how he does this year, but I think he won't place. I've put him top 6, though.
I'm keeping an eye on Tommy Steenberg, but honestly, I think the bronze metal is completely up for grabs. I can seriously see almost half the male entries as having a realistic chance at it.
Might miss the nationals
Date: 2007-01-24 03:10 am (UTC)I'm sure you can understand the heartbreak right now. Losing her, and not going to the nationals. He's offered to go down without me, but I can't do that. God.
I don't know what to do. He was sobbing in my chest an hour ago.
Re: Might miss the nationals
Date: 2007-01-24 03:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-24 08:20 am (UTC)Is that legal? Once everyone's sitting down to move around in the same price seats? Several of us did at the Stars On Ice show.
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 08:14 pm (UTC)The practices are being held in some rink with bleachers around it, with no seatbacks. The audience is slowly dropping off, one by one, as the pain of their middle-aged backs overcomes even their love of skating.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 08:29 pm (UTC)I'll take their tickets! I'll go! I wanted to go.
Just FYI: Evan and Johnny were both at practice this morning. Both skated strong, although the crowd gasped when Evan fell on that same hip he's been having trouble with.
Really? Oh, I think my eyes just glazed over. He'll be there! (knock wood) I can't wait for this weekend.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-27 05:28 am (UTC)