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

[olympic]

Yep. Nationals are in less than two weeks. Let's see what our women show in Nashville. From what I've heard, Alysa has been doing clean 3a's in practice, and working hard on rotations and stamina.

THAT is encouraging

 

[sk9tingfan]

The latest on Bradie Tennell:

Bradie Tennell returns for U.S. Figure Skating Championships amid long injury battle

Bradie Tennell, the reigning U.S. figure skating champion, will compete for the first time this season at nationals, hoping for an Olympic spot.

olympics.nbcsports.com

 

[skatfan]

Well, when your coach calls competing “a Hail Mary pass” we know it’s not good.

 

[Sylvia]

I believe Bradie has a media call scheduled for late this afternoon and so we'll likely find out more about her status for Nationals.

ETA that @marysy posted a link to Bradie's recent radio interview in her fan thread and the link, along with a clip, was tweeted by the interviewer on 12/22/21: https://twitter.com/WGNRadio/status/1473741138096009228

 

[clairecloutier]

A depressing paragraph from the Bradie article:

The triple-triple jump combination may be key to the Olympic hopes of Tennell or any American next week. Tennell hit it consistently to make the 2018 Olympic team and win the last national title. Of the U.S. women, only Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn hit a positively graded triple-triple during the fall Grand Prix Series, and each did so once in four programs.

 

[kwanfan1818]

That could be good news for Tennell, though.

 

[Coco]

I had a similar reaction to that stark recital of facts. A ridiculous state of affairs.

 

[mtnskater]

Where are the links to the media calls posted by USFS? I didn’t see them on FanZone.

 

[Sylvia]

Where are the links to the media calls posted by USFS? I didn’t see them on FanZone.

They used to be made available when IceNetwork.com existed but are no longer posted publicly.

 

[Carolla5501]

I’m assuming that if it wasn’t an Olympic season Bradie wouldn’t even be trying this.

 

[ptvvibezz]

According to TSL's new This and That episode, Drew Meekins, one of Alysa's coaches, texted Dave and told him that Alysa has a new SP...

 

[Rukia]

According to TSL's new This and That episode, Drew Meekins, one of Alysa's coaches, texted Dave and told him that Alysa has a new SP...

Huh. Well hopefully it's something good that she enjoys skating.

 

[Wyliefan]

According to TSL's new This and That episode, Drew Meekins, one of Alysa's coaches, texted Dave and told him that Alysa has a new SP...

Aw man, I really liked the original one. At least she still has the Tchaikovsky free. I hope they keep it.

 

[VGThuy]

They really are studying the Shizuka Arakawa playbook.

 

[Coco]

Or the Gracie Gold 2014 playbook.

 

[VGThuy]

Or the Gracie Gold 2014 playbook.

Numbers wise, that'd be better.

 

[Karen-W]

Well, I'm not a fan of this news because I really liked her SP.

 

[Sylvia]

I believe Bradie has a media call scheduled for late this afternoon and so we'll likely find out more about her status for Nationals.

ETA that @marysy posted a link to Bradie's recent radio interview in her fan thread and the link, along with a clip, was tweeted by the interviewer on 12/22/21: https://twitter.com/WGNRadio/status/1473741138096009228

https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/1475588729876226057

On teleconference Bradie Tennell said, "Training has been up and down but things are looking up." She is looking forward to competing in Nashville

"I don't like to give up on things," Tennell said. Added she definitely plans to continue her competitive career next season.

ETA that she also said she intends to compete both next season and beyond. “No end in sight,” she said, with a laugh. https://twitter.com/olyphil/status/1475591525270708229

 

[Maximillian]

According to TSL's new This and That episode, Drew Meekins, one of Alysa's coaches, texted Dave and told him that Alysa has a new SP...

Glad to hear that, it should have suited her but it didn't, and really had the scent of 'Little Miss Lollipop pageant 2021'

 

[Mayra]

Or the Gracie Gold 2014 playbook.

Lets just hope it's not a Kimmie Meissner 2008 defending her title replay.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

If it's true that Alysa's SP was changed then that makes me sad. There was not a thing wrong with it imo and it suited her.

I'm very worried about Bradie. That 'Hail Mary' comment from Tom Z is no bueno.

 

[love skating]

I too loved Alysa's SP. I'm hoping Drew knows what he's doing, but time will tell I guess.

 

[Coco]

Has Drew ever coached someone at this level before?

 

[tony]

Has Drew ever coached someone at this level before?

He was part of Nagasu's coaching team, so yes.

 

[Spun Silver]

Mirai wouldn't be a bad person for Alysa to talk to right now. I have a sinking feeling that Alysa is at a place where she is skating for others more than for herself. I hope I'm wrong. But it might help to talk to a really fun skater who's a two-time Olympian and had to go through similar growing pains until she took control of her own career. (I almost said "another young skater" until I remembered that to Alyssa Mirai is probably old.) I think Mirai would understand. But what do I know? Zilch, nada, zip. I hope Alysa is excited about skating and competing and hopefully going to the Olympics.

 

[Jarrett]

Glad to hear that, it should have suited her but it didn't, and really had the scent of 'Little Miss Lollipop pageant 2021'

It was very junior-ish to me. And not Russian I going to win Senior Russian Nationals as a junior it was more like Tara Lipinski in 1995.

 

[Frau Muller]

According to TSL's new This and That episode, Drew Meekins, one of Alysa's coaches, texted Dave and told him that Alysa has a new SP...

I was coming to discuss this…forgot to post earlier, after hearing on TSL.

WTF??? The Don Q Gypsy dance was one of the greatest W SPs of the season!!!!! Good grief. Why???? Too classical for NBC marketing powers…to have both of Alysa’s programs be classical? Is she now getting an idiotic emo ballad by Eilish or Hart?

I’m heartbroken. Crushed. She looked so beautiful in the Gypsy Dance packaging…the bouncy hair…dress…the loop earrings. Personality plus.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

If it's true that Alysa's SP was changed then that makes me sad. There was not a thing wrong with it imo and it suited her.

I'm very worried about Bradie. That 'Hail Mary' comment from Tom Z is no bueno.

I agree. I actually liked the SP more than the free.

 

[Frau Muller]

Another thought on possible reason for a new Alysa SP:

Maybe some marketing geniuses think that it’s not “right” to have her skate two programs to RUSSIAN classical music?

 

[tony]

Another thought on possible reason for a new Alysa SP:

Maybe some marketing geniuses think that it’s not “right” to have her skate two programs to RUSSIAN classical music?

No.