U.S. Women [#2]: The Unbearable Lightness of Beijing

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It's one thing to keep teasing practice clips and reports about how it has great consistency in competition practices and another thing to not go for it at all when it's primetim

She went for it at cranberry, but then withdrew from the free program due to that leg injury. I can’t remember did she attempt in Finland?

We have seen Amber’s triple axle at a competition this year, has Tuk ever done the quad? At a competition?
 
She was 4th at Worlds and she's had other bad skates in her life, particularly in the Grand Prix. Yes, many of the jumps were tight and underrotated, but the final two falls with << were the score killers. Early-season performances aren't indicative of anything with her, we should all know this by now ;)
Yes. I'm not writing Karen's chances off yet, even though yesterday did earn her a spot on TTW, lol.
 
She went for it at cranberry, but then withdrew from the free program due to that leg injury. I can’t remember did she attempt in Finland?

We have seen Amber’s triple axle at a competition this year, has Tuk ever done the quad? At a competition?
Yes, she went for it there too. But Skate America was low pressure- there was a stacked field and practice reports said she was doing very well with it. It's my own selfishness wanting to see her attempt it at a 'bigger' event, and I think doing so will create a bigger buzz around her leading into Nationals.
 
Yes, she went for it there too. But Skate America was low pressure- there was a stacked field and practice reports said she was doing very well with it. It's my own selfishness wanting to see her attempt it at a 'bigger' event, and I think doing so will create a bigger buzz around her leading into Nationals.

I have a feeling she will do it in Japan. And that field is stacked once again. Basically just about everybody in the top six from skate America again.

Also, why do you think skate America is low pressure?
 
I wish Alysa would go back to that "Don't Rain on My Parade" SP. I loved it and thought it suited her personality really well.
 
Yes, she went for it there too. But Skate America was low pressure- there was a stacked field and practice reports said she was doing very well with it. It's my own selfishness wanting to see her attempt it at a 'bigger' event, but I think doing so will create a bigger buzz around her leading into Nationals.
Well, and the rationale for not going for it in the SP at SkAm was a bit of a head scratcher to me. Granted, I'm not a high-level figure skater, never was and never will be, but getting spooked during the 6-min warm up when you have a good 25 minutes to gather your wits backstage before you compete felt like an excuse not at all unlike all the reasons we have heard over the years for why Jason wasn't attempting the quad he was working on in practices at home. I guess I'm sort of a "show me what ya got and then I'll believe ya" type of fan. 🤷‍♀️
 
As a Karen fan, I was actually shocked she hadn't been placed on TTW long ago, so that was NBD. Her current results aren't particularly worrying for anyone whose followed her career for any length of time. Also, her PCS and GOEs in the SP speak volumes about the esteem she is held in by international judges (as do her previous two 4th place finishes at Worlds). She's not a great Fall skater but historically has frequently (not always) managed to pull herself together and be on or near the podium by Nationals. With that said, I wouldn't be shocked if she didn't make the O team this year because...well, the same reason I was surprised she hadn't been place on TTW ages ago. But I would still count on her being on the team over pretty much anyone other than Liu at this point.
 
Caught up with the latest senior events from the USFS championship series Leesburg today.

I don’t remember Jill Heiner before but her jumps looked quite good, especially in the short. She jumps high. Spins are good. I think Sylvia mentioned upthread that she has markedly improved with her new coaches. I’m thinking (based upon how phenomenal Ilia Malinin‘s jumps are) that Roman Skornikov and Tatiana Malinina are really good jump and spin coaches. I bet once Malinin really comes onto the scene starting this year more skaters will want to be coached by his parents For good reason.

So after watching the ladies in this event, I’d like to send Isabelle Insithone to them. She is a lovely skater that is quite consistent but slow and jumps maybe a bit under. I wonder if she would progress with them? To me she has promise.

Also let’s send Ting Cui to them too. Her lovely skating is still there but what is she doing with Linichuk who was always an Ice dance coach? Ting‘s jumps need help!

Violetta Usachaeva looks like she might benefit too. I like her skating. Engaging performer. I wish USFS could help these women get to a higher level. And maybe Skornikov/Malinina could be the new ticket for some of these skaters?

Finally I loved seeing Gracie in her gold dress. She looks really good. Best so far. Still popping jumps. But the ones she did hit were very good. And she has a free program that is great for her. Hope she makes it to Nationals.
 
Kudos to Alysa. The rotations were not cleanest but she was attempting ambitious content with a 3axel in the short; a 3axel in the free plus a 2axel euler 3flip in the second half [i.e. 8 triples, repeating lutz and flip].

A little bummed for Karen. She isn't attempting anything new but this event seems to be regression since her last event. Please let this be a one time thing to get the mess out of her system.

For me, it is more passable to stand up on everything and get some UR calls at the GPs; than to make visible mistakes on triples, even if the scores turn out similar.

Now that 1/3 of the GPs are over, my ranking so far is:

Alysa
Amber
Karen
Lindsay

Mariah is yet to debut, and Bradie's injury seems more serious than expected.
 
I am sad for Bradie. She is an attribute to Team USA and I believe she still holds the highest international score for US ladies currently competing. We need her along with Alysa for the team event at Beijing. And let's see if Mariah can return to form.
 
Now that 1/3 of the GPs are over, my ranking so far is:

Alysa
Amber
Karen
Lindsay

Mariah is yet to debut, and Bradie's injury seems more serious than expected.
My rankings are really not...

1. Alysa- She has established herself as the US#1. I'm happy with her development. She should only improve from here out.
2.-4. same as you
I can't believe Amber is still in this, considering how awful she skated at Finlandia. Karen is the most polished but gets killed with a tough caller. And Lindsay, well, I just don't see a performance. It's nice athleticism, but she brings very little to her programs. I'd probably like her programs better if she didn't skate to any music, it's that bad for me... I want to root for Lindsay, and reward youth and risk-takers, but her LP at Leesburg was not doing it for me.

I'm resigned to just having the Top3 at USN go. Karen is the most mature and "professional" out there, Amber can skate big but never does consistently, so whoever is top 3 I'll be okay with. No one is in the running for an Olympic medal anyway, assuming Alysa does both Team segments.
 
Regardless of how much the judges tried to undermine our American girls at Skate Canada,I am proud they skate to classical music and exhibit remarkable modesty and decorum. Particularly in comparison to the Russian bellydancer with the obscene hip gyrations and tawdry dress,the contrast is striking indeed.

-BB
 
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Regardless of how much the judges tried to undermine our American girls at Skate Canada,I am proud they skate to classical music and exhibit remarkable modesty and decorum. Particularly in comparison to the Russian bellydancer with the obscene hip gyrations and tawdry dress,the contrast is striking.

-BB
Okay, here's my opinion on Liza. I tried to go back and watch her program and tried to legitimately judge her skating. The best I can do is just say that I will enjoy her performances 'in the moment'. She is all moxie and sass, and she's giving it her all. At this point, she'd at least be interesting to see at the Olympics. But at the sake of Anna? Sasha? Liza has a tough road ahead, but I'm rooting for her!
 
Except that we haven't see what a Bradie has to offer yet. She was working on 3A.

I am sad for Bradie. She is an attribute to Team USA and I believe she still holds the highest international score for US ladies currently competing. We need her along with Alysa for the team event at Beijing. And let's see if Mariah can return to form.
Bradie has been as asset, but we don't "need" her for the team event. WIth the scheduling, Alysa can easily do both segments.
 
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As a Karen fan, I was actually shocked she hadn't been placed on TTW long ago, so that was NBD. Her current results aren't particularly worrying for anyone whose followed her career for any length of time. Also, her PCS and GOEs in the SP speak volumes about the esteem she is held in by international judges (as do her previous two 4th place finishes at Worlds). She's not a great Fall skater but historically has frequently (not always) managed to pull herself together and be on or near the podium by Nationals. With that said, I wouldn't be shocked if she didn't make the O team this year because...well, the same reason I was surprised she hadn't been place on TTW ages ago. But I would still count on her being on the team over pretty much anyone other than Liu at this point.

She looked devastated in Kiss and Cry and sounds quite down in her recent Instagram post. I hope she can rally as she is truly an exquisite skater who reminds me of what figure skating is all about and why I still follow this sport. Her skating appears to be well respected internationally and she has the kind of FP that can shine during the Olympics. She appears to be a mature and level-headed person so I'm hopeful she will dust herself off and not let this experience play with her head.
 
She looked devastated in Kiss and Cry and sounds quite down in her recent Instagram post. I hope she can rally as she is truly an exquisite skater who reminds me of what figure skating is all about and why I still follow this sport. Her skating appears to be well respected internationally and she has the kind of FP that can shine during the Olympics. She appears to be a mature and level-headed person so I'm hopeful she will dust herself off and not let this experience play with her head.
She is the epitome of a 6.0 skater. Had she peaked in 2002 she would have been a legend and no one would have noticed/cared about her URs. It never held Hughes back. So if she skates a nice program like at Finlandia, then good for her if she gets named. Without Bradie, the US ladies seem so weak. Give it to the newbies, or give it to the old guard. It's all about Alysa now anyway, and deservedly.
 
She is all moxie and sass, and she's giving it her all. At this point, she'd at least be interesting to see at the Olympics.
If "general vulgarity" was included in the criterion of the so-called components,then I could be persuaded to agree.

She is the epitome of a 6.0 skater.
I choose to interpret this as a compliment. These alleged "under rotated jumps" are mostly politics.

-BB
 
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If "general vulgarity" was included in the criterion of the so-called components,then I could be persuaded to agree.


I choose to interpret this as a compliment. These alleged "under rotated jumps" are mostly politics.

-BB
Oh BB. Won’t you admit that you got up and danced up a storm when the voiceover yells “Let’s go!” towards the end of Liza’s program? 😂

I’ve rewatched her Arabia three times today. That spot is hilarious, in a joyful way. Not high art but crazy fun. It beats the whining emo ballads.
 
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I actually think Liza's FS is a perfect example of a skater knowing her own limitations and maximizing her content. She's never going to be a super-graceful, super-balletic skater. Many skaters respond to this by trying to force a very artistic program and it rarely works. Liza's program takes her sass and moxie and packages her jump content well.
 
I think Liu was pretty nervous here. She seemed slower than in her previous competitions and not the best jump wise. I hope the jitters are out now and that she will steadily improve from here onwards. I like her attitude a lot and I hope it will pay off in the future.

Karen seemed devastated after that skate.
I wonder if it purely in her head or if there is a problem with conditioning. But then again, she has never really shined on the GP circuit so I will not speculate anything before Nationals.
The program is beautiful though and when she hit a jump, they are airy and big.
 
And Lindsay, well, I just don't see a performance. It's nice athleticism, but she brings very little to her programs. I'd probably like her programs better if she didn't skate to any music, it's that bad for me... I want to root for Lindsay, and reward youth and risk-takers, but her LP at Leesburg was not doing it for me.
Well, if Karen and Amber don't steady themselves in the few comps before Nationals, and Mariah and Bradie don't give out particularly hot performances, yet Lindsay keep churning out consistent 6 or 7 triple performances, all bets are off.
 
I don't like her FS either, but Lindsay doesn't need all that much performance when she's doing a 3lz3lo, a 3A attempt which doesn't seem is happening anytime soon, but I think USFS probably likes to see her trying, and two 3-3 combos in the 2nd half. Especially with how US women who aren't Alysa are performing lately.
 
ANOTHER THING that Lindsay has on her side:

I’m not sure that it’s a “points getter,” but Lindsay is blessed with an extremely streamlined torso and pliant back - the streamlined aesthetic that many judges love...and can play into doling out PCS.

Isabeau Levito also has that aesthetic, plus some ultra-Cs, though Isabeau is too young for Olys and Worlds this season.
 
Isabeau Levito also has that aesthetic, plus some ultra-Cs, though Isabeau is too young for Olys and Worlds this season.

As far as I am aware, Isabeau does not have any quads or a 3a. She didn't attempt any at either of her JGP events and I can't imagine she wouldn't have done so at her 2nd where she faced two Russian women who were attempting those elements.
 
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