U.S. Ladies [#23]: Triple Axels? What a Novice Idea!

[el henry]

I think when triples started becoming super common and we saw what happened to Tara shortly after her Olympic win when she was 15, people have been talking about dangers of over-training. I remember people talked about that regarding Alexei Yagudin as well. When Nathan Chen was doing all those quads, shortly after Boyang Jin took the senior scene by storm, there were tons of comments "worrying" about Nathan Chen's body and "hoping" he would be able to walk by the time he was like 18-25.

I worried about Nathan Chen. I still do. And all the persons male or female doing quads too early in my estimation. And I do hope their health holds up.

You may disagree with my opinion, but when it is my honestly held belief, why on earth would you put it in quotes?

 

[Inessence]

Are today's crop of skaters taught a proper method of "falling" so they don't bust up their hips? Sort of like professional wrestlers learn how to fall safely.

 

[vesperholly]

I don't think falling is so much the issue as the repetitive twisting motions of takeoff and the force of landing.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Beautifully expressive SP performance to Sara Bareilles' "Gravity" by Amber Glenn tonight and she's in 1st place (66.75) at Midwestern Sectionals - landed 3F+3T that was called clean (though 2 judges gave her negative GOE), 2A & 3Lo with all level 4 spins and footwork. Great job!

News such as this requires a direct phone call to @ANL

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

News such as this requires a direct phone call to @ANL

Loves me some Amber Glenn realness.

 

[VGThuy]

i remember, they were all rabid Kwan fans, bitter that their darling did not win (and it came with lots of vile against Tara)....

That may be true. The Tara-Kwan wars were vile in general. It went both ways as you yourself know personally. But there were some outside of that mess who were pretty surprised when Tara couldn’t perform up to her standards by like 2002-2003 and couldn’t have a Kristi-like longevity. Plus, Tara herself went into detail about her health issues.

I worried about Nathan Chen. I still do. And all the persons male or female doing quads too early in my estimation. And I do hope their health holds up.

You may disagree with my opinion, but when it is my honestly held belief, why on earth would you put it in quotes?

That may be true for you, but I have my doubts of other people’s sincerity based on the very aggressive reaction they had towards Nathan stemming from 2016 Nationals on until they finally accepted there was nothing to stop him from taking an Olympic spot and making it harder for their faves (like Jason Brown) to get an Olympic berth. A lot of the concern read more like back handed insults towards Nathan.

 

[el henry]

.....

That may be true for you, but I have my doubts of other people’s sincerity based on the very aggressive reaction they had towards Nathan stemming from 2016 Nationals on until they finally accepted there was nothing to stop him from taking an Olympic spot and making it harder for their faves (like Jason Brown) to get an Olympic berth. A lot of the concern read more like back handed insults towards Nathan.

I do not want to derail the women's thread. But I will

Jason Brown is my fave. None of my concern was, is, or will be, because of Jason's relative standing to Nathan. And memory depends on your point of view, I guess, because I remember very aggressive reaction to Adam and Jason in 2015, 2016, and 2017 about how dare they take spots from the up and coming future of the USFS. Very very very aggressive and, IMO, unwarranted.

And my opinion about Nathan has zippity doo dah to do with "acceptance" It has to do with the fact that he has actually *improved* to a skater I want to watch. When he was doing that Saint-Saens program, I wouldn't have crossed the street to watch him, I don't care how many quads he landed. But now... he looks like he enjoys skating, he is reaching out, his performance skills are actually something he appears to be working on (SOI was a complete revelation to me. I had no idea. None. That he could that And it wasn't because I wasn't watching him before, it was because, IMO, he wasn't doing it )

Now, other folks may have wanted to watch Nathan all along, and that's great. We can't all like the same thing But my opinion is my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Now, was this thread about the ladies?

 

[Deleted member 53443]

Psyched to watch a girl who "grew up" at my rink doing sectionals tonight, she is within striking distance to achieve her dream and make it to senior nationals.

 

[Willin]

@Per I'm watching a similar situation anxiously! I'm so nervous for her.

It's always weird to watch the skaters you remember being in group lessons or group performances somehow being in contention for Nationals at the Senior level. This year there's only one (since I haven't been at the rink I grew up in lately), but in the past I would always religiously follow my home rink's skaters.

It's also weird to see someone like Karen Chen, who I probably saw around when she was tiny, and then realize that was some small girl I didn't take a second look at.

 

[rinettoii]

From Midwestern Sectionals, Amber Glenn, Hanna Harrell, Pooja Kalyan, and Hannah Miller have qualified for Nationals.

Unfortunate for Vivian Le and Paige Rydberg who were in contention for qualifying...

 

[haribobo]

SENIOR LADIES OVERALL (INTL + SECTIONALS)
(omitting Karen and Gracie for now)

P1 Alysa Liu 212
Bradie Tennell 206
Mariah Bell 198
M1 Amber Glenn 184
E1 Ting Cui 181
Ashley Lin 181
Courtney Hicks 178
Starr Andrews 174
M2 Hanna Harrell 173
P2 Akari Nakahara 169
E2 Megan Wessenberg 167
P3 Brynne McIsaac 161
P4 Sierra Venetta 160
Angela Wang 160
E3 Julia Biechler 159
M3 Pooja Kalyan 157
E4 Rena Ikenishi 157
M4 Hannah Miller 154

 

[sk9tingfan]

Unreal performance at Pacific Sectionals for Alysa Liu! FS score >138 points with a total score >212 points! 8 triples including 2 3A(one in combination).

 

[sk9tingfan]

Unreal performance at Pacific Sectionals for Alysa Liu! FS score >138 points with a total score >212 points! 8 triples including 2 3A(one in combination).

Protocols and video of Alysa's LP

http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2019/27743/SEGM025.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlepW0V4x6g

 

[Spun Silver]

Protocols and video of Alysa's LP

http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2019/27743/SEGM025.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlepW0V4x6g

You posted an older competition link, I think, with a pop and a fall that aren't in the protocols.

Way to go, Alysa!!!

 

[Vagabond]

video of Alysa's LP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlepW0V4x6g

That's from Regionals, not Sectionals.

 

[Deleted member 53443]

"My" girl didn't make it but she should be very proud of herself! She did well and made no mistakes but skated a little too cautiously imo.

 

[sk9tingfan]

That's from Regionals, not Sectionals.

Sorry.....

 

[StitchMonkey]

Psyched to watch a girl who "grew up" at my rink doing sectionals tonight, she is within striking distance to achieve her dream and make it to senior nationals.

@Per I'm watching a similar situation anxiously! I'm so nervous for her.

I just want to say this is what sectionals SHOULD be about in my opinion and these are the stories i want to see and want to see make nationals. Honestly, once you are on the international scene at all, I think those skaters should get a bye. Sectionals should be about skaters like the above dreaming of nationals. Frankly they should be for the Carly Golds not the Gracie Golds (who i have wanted to have a bye all along).

At a minimum I think the US needs a last chance/second chance comp in December like Canada has. Because some good skaters are missing out!

 

[DimaToe]

I know Rydberg and Le aren’t the best example of consistency but it just doesn’t sit right with me when both miss nationals. IMO the qualifying process should be changed, seems like pacific coast and mid western sectionals are always a bloodbath while eastern is always a weaker event.

 

[ZilphaK]

"My" girl didn't make it but she should be very proud of herself! She did well and made no mistakes but skated a little too cautiously imo.

I know it's hard to come so close and not make the final four, BUT I hope she takes this as encouragement to keep on keeping on. Usually, getting this close is a good indication that next year might be the year. And if not, placing well in sectionals is something to be very proud of and a forever resume line.

 

[Willin]

Yup! My girl was 5th last year, and she made it this year! I'm so proud of her - she's worked really hard and gone through some tough stuff this year. If you get really close you have a good shot the next year.

@DimaToe I think for Rydberg there's an argument she could be competitive at this year's nationals, but Le... I think that old injury is still lingering or really affected her training trajectory long term. She didn't look good at all tonight - it wasn't a confidence thing as much as what appeared to be issues with her jumps (poor height, URs/Downgrade rotation, messy air position). Hopefully she can get her jumps back by next season!

 

[haribobo]

I hope Amber Glenn (sb 56) and Hanna Harrell (sb 68) are given another shot to improve their SB this season. And happy that Ting Cui gets a shot in a couple weeks as she is at 45. All belong at least in the high 30's IMO.

 

[mag]

At a minimum I think the US needs a last chance/second chance comp in December like Canada has. Because some good skaters are missing out!

Canada doesn’t have this. We have SC Challenge which is the next step for those who qualify from Sections (we do not have regionals, anyone can register and compete at Sections.)

 

[Tavi]

Canada doesn’t have this. We have SC Challenge which is the next step for those who qualify from Sections (we do not have regionals, anyone can register and compete at Sections.)

So is this more or less right:

US regionals = CA sectionals
US sectionals = CA challenge
US nationals = Canadians

 

[StitchMonkey]

Canada doesn’t have this. We have SC Challenge which is the next step for those who qualify from Sections (we do not have regionals, anyone can register and compete at Sections.)

I recall Keven Reynolds having and interesting way of qualifying for nationals one year. I thought it was a last chance type thing but maybe i was wrong. To be clear I thought it was a good thing.

Anyway.... I do think a last chance skate off in December would be appropriate for the USA.

 

[mag]

So is this more or less right:

US regionals = CA sectionals
US sectionals = CA challenge
US nationals = Canadians

Yes. That is how it works. The difference with Challenge is that the entire field is competing so there are no tough or easy Sections like in the US. Skaters who place in the top three at Nationals the previous year get a bye through to Nationals. Skaters can earn a bye through their Sectionals by doing well on the Summer Series or by getting an international assignment.

The total places at Nationals are fixed. That mean if there are 5 byes because of previous placement or international assignment then the number who qualify through Challenge is reduced by 5. I think the total is either 24 or 18, can’t remember. It is the opposite for Sectionals. If a section has, say a junior lady with a bye to Challenge, and their allotment to Challenge is 3 Skaters, then the top three skaters plus the byed skater move on to Challenge.

 

[mag]

I recall Keven Reynolds having and interesting way of qualifying for nationals one year. I thought it was a last chance type thing but maybe i was wrong. To be clear I thought it was a good thing.

Anyway.... I do think a last chance skate off in December would be appropriate for the USA.

I think a couple of years ago SC sent a few men to Golden Spin. It was a last minute assignment and conflicted with Challenge. In that year they didn’t deduct the GS entries from the number who qualified through Challenge so there were a few more skaters in the men’s event at Nationals.

 

[Tavi]

Yes. That is how it works. The difference with Challenge is that the entire field is competing so there are no tough or easy Sections like in the US. Skaters who place in the top three at Nationals the previous year get a bye through to Nationals. Skaters can earn a bye through their Sectionals by doing well on the Summer Series or by getting an international assignment.

The total places at Nationals are fixed. That mean if there are 5 byes because of previous placement or international assignment then the number who qualify through Challenge is reduced by 5. I think the total is either 24 or 18, can’t remember. It is the opposite for Sectionals. If a section has, say a junior lady with a bye to Challenge, and their allotment to Challenge is 3 Skaters, then the top three skaters plus the byed skater move on to Challenge.

Thanks for the clarification, I always wondered. So the two systems are similar but not identical.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Yes. That is how it works. The difference with Challenge is that the entire field is competing so there are no tough or easy Sections like in the US. Skaters who place in the top three at Nationals the previous year get a bye through to Nationals. Skaters can earn a bye through their Sectionals by doing well on the Summer Series or by getting an international assignment.

The total places at Nationals are fixed. That mean if there are 5 byes because of previous placement or international assignment then the number who qualify through Challenge is reduced by 5. I think the total is either 24 or 18, can’t remember. It is the opposite for Sectionals. If a section has, say a junior lady with a bye to Challenge, and their allotment to Challenge is 3 Skaters, then the top three skaters plus the byed skater move on to Challenge.

If memory serves me correctly, for a couple of years prior to instituting the Challenge, Canadians used to have three parts, including a qualifying free skate where the top 24 would advance to the short program, and the top 18 to the free skate.

 

[Coco]

I thought USFSA was looking at changing the qualifications process to address skaters who were finishing 5th or lower in one sectional, but outscoring qualifiers from another section.