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eaweek October 19 2012, 16:45:04 UTC
RE: early season problems--I don't worry about them too much, unless they start becoming a consistent pattern. Usually we know by GPF how people are faring. At early events like Finlandia, programs are still very new.

I'm really torn between sending veterans vs. sending young kids. The young ones don't always fare so well at their first Worlds, especially if they're in the position of either being a sudden, unexpected National champ, or under the gun to win back a third spot, or both. So it boils down to: do you send the perpetual cock-up veteran in the hopes they'll have a Paul Wylie-like breakthrough? Or do you send the newbie, hoping they'll handle the pressure at least well enough to stand up? It's such a crapshoot. And if something goes wrong, it's always, "Well, the USFSA should've sent _______." Look at all the shit they got last year for not sending Gracie Gold to senior Worlds. And she was just a kid! It was like, "Save us, Gracie! Save us!" :::headdesk:::

The importance of kids getting experience at the senior level can't be overstated. Look at Michelle Kwan--she went to 1994 Worlds as an alternate, and the next year she was second banana to Nicole Bobek. That gave her two years to grow and develop without the pressure of being national champion. Can you imagine how things might've unfolded if she'd gone to Lilihammer as a 13-year-old brand-new national champion, expected to deliver the goods at an Olympics?

If the USA's veteran men's skaters melt down on the GP circuit this fall, I think we'll be hearing a similar groundswell of claims that the USFSA should send Josh to Worlds--because a teenager who's just transitioning from juniors to seniors can solve all the USA's troubles. Who would've guessed he had SUCH POWER?????? LOL.

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