2021 USFS Championship Series (virtual qualifying competition for 2021 US Nationals)

[ross_hy]

After watching the men, I'll have to admit I've never seen Eric Sjoberg skate, but I enjoyed his performance, especially some of his beautifully held landing positions. I also enjoyed Joonsoo Kim, Dinh Tran, and Mitchell Friess (I'm surprised I haven't seen more competitive programs to Dear Evan Hansen).

FWIW, TSL tweeted that Ilia Malinin was dealing with a foot injury at the time of the recordings.

Is there any kind of alternate system in place in case some skaters can't make it to Vegas? ETA: For juniors only per this link which seems like a missed opportunity.

 

[Sylvia]

After watching the men, I'll have to admit I've never seen Eric Sjoberg skate, but I enjoyed his performance, especially some of his beautifully held landing positions. I also enjoyed Joonsoo Kim, Dinh Tran, and Mitchell Friess (I'm surprised I haven't seen more competitive programs to Dear Evan Hansen).

I'm glad you enjoyed watching those 4 men.

I tweeted about Friess last year (after he placed 5th in Senior at Pacific Coast Sectionals) and again today because I was happy he kept his Dear Evan Hansen FS and FINALLY qualified for "big" Nationals! https://twitter.com/SylviaUnseen/status/1341518282717884418

Is there any kind of alternate system in place in case some skaters can't make it to Vegas?

This season's policy re. Alternates: https://www.uschampionshipseries.com/2021uschampionships

For the 2021 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships, there are no alternates for the championship level (senior events).
Alternates for the junior events are designated as follows:
A. Junior singles skaters placing 13th and 14th in the virtual competition will be designated as first and second alternates
B. Junior pairs teams placing 9th and 10th in the virtual competition will be designated as first and second alternates
C. Junior ice dance teams placing 11th and 12th in the virtual competition will be designated as first and second alternates
Junior alternates as identified above should continue to train and will be invited to replace an official withdraw athlete/team up to 10 days prior (Jan. 8, 2021) to the start of the bubble at the U.S. Championships.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Eric Sjoberg was so musical! I was glad to see him skate.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I guess I am shallow. But really.......couldn't they have an announcer....their names and music on screen...and the points board?

It is deadly dull!

 

[Frau Muller]

I guess I am shallow. But really.......couldn't they have an announcer....their names and music on screen...and the points board?

It is deadly dull!

Hey, at least we got their names and affiliated club before each skate AND points earned after. Big improvement over the ISP Points Experience.

What I found odd/unprofessional:

GROOMING/PRESENTATION (or lack thereof)!!! Not all skaters bothered to put on a nice costume...let alone put on a little lipstick or comb the hair. Sloppy look reads “This is not important...I don’t care.”

STRAY PEOPLE ON THE ICE!!! Isn’t this supposed to be THE performing skater’s time to have the ice for herself? It’s for earning a place at Nationals, duh!

 

[AxelAnnie]

Hey, at least we got their names and affiliated club before each skate AND points earned after. Big improvement over the ISP Points Experience.

What I found odd/unprofessional:

GROOMING/PRESENTATION (or lack thereof)!!! Not all skaters bothered to put on a nice costume...let alone put on a little lipstick or comb the hair. Sloppy look reads “This is not important...I don’t care.”

STRAY PEOPLE ON THE ICE!!! Isn’t this supposed to be THE performing skater’s time to have the ice for herself? It’s for earning a place at Nationals, duh!

Whatever I was watching had no names or points. The lack of costume was really weird. Come on people you only have one chance to make a first impression

 

[Frau Muller]

Whatever I was watching had no names or points. The lack of costume was really weird. Come on people you only have one chance to make a first impression

What? The feed on Peacock Premium showed that info on the screen. I’ve seen only Sr Ladies groups but they had the information before & after each skate.

 

[AxelAnnie]

What? The feed on Peacock Premium showed that info on the screen. I’ve seen only Sr Ladies groups but they had the information before & after each skate.

Were you watching on your computer or tv.

 

[AxelAnnie]

What? The feed on Peacock Premium showed that info on the screen. I’ve seen only Sr Ladies groups but they had the information before & after each skate.

Mystery solved....and what's left of my brain is in tact. I downloaded Peacock Premium on my phone (what else would I be doing at 4 AM) And astonishingly on the streaming app it shows the info on the screen. And on the TV it does not.
That is so weird I shall not even try to unravel it.

 

[Frau Muller]

Were you watching on your computer or tv.

A Samsung Smart TV. Maybe your TV’s picture-size setting needs to be readjusted to 16:9 ratio? If you have a bigger size, the edges are cut off.

 

[Sylvia]

After watching the men, I'll have to admit I've never seen Eric Sjoberg skate, but I enjoyed his performance, especially some of his beautifully held landing positions. I also enjoyed Joonsoo Kim ...

Joonsoo landed his first 3A in competition in his FS! His program music is "Fade Away" by Tom Walker / "Relax My Beloved" by Alex Clare - choreography by Derrick Delmore.

Eric Sjoberg was so musical! I was glad to see him skate.

Eric's FS to Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 5 was choreographed by Tom Dickson. He is the 2020 U.S. Junior silver medalist and his 1st place Junior FS to Piazzolla's "Winter in Buenos Aires" (7 clean triples through Lutz) was one of my personal highlights of the competition in Greensboro (ETA - yay, found a fan cam! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxb4DyU8boM - choreo. by Nadia Kanaeva, IIRC).
Eric surprised me by leading off his Senior FS with his first 3A in competition and it was a really good one!

 

[avivadawn]

I saw that the scores for Junior Dance are already up and I'm sooooo pleased. Can't wait to see the 'stream'. Not sure if I'm allowed to post them?

 

[Sylvia]

I saw that the scores for Junior Dance are already up and I'm sooooo pleased. Can't wait to see the 'stream'. Not sure if I'm allowed to post them?

Here's the direct link to the Junior FD results (14 teams competed): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/29775/CAT020SEG020.html

I posted the names of the 10 qualified junior teams in the U.S. Dance thread if you'd like to share your happiness there : https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eason-news-updates.107355/page-5#post-5917349

All FS results/protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/29775/index.asp

 

[Sylvia]

Junior Men combined standings (33 were judged in 3 groups; top 12 qualify for Nationals): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/29775/combined_results/junior Men.html
This was a VERY deep field of talented skaters - it's too bad only 12 can move on.

Junior Ladies combined standings (71 were judged in 6 groups; top 12 qualify for Nationals): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/29775/combined_results/junior ladies.html

Junior Pairs final standings (12 teams competed; top 8 qualify for Nationals): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/29775/CAT018SEG018.html

 

[Frau Muller]

Just watched the last batch (for me, GP 2) of Sr Ladies and...

WOW - HANNA HARRELL!!!!!

What a spectacular program...the musical inflections to that gorgeous Rhapsody on Paganini music!!!! Lovely dress and overall packaging.

She roars and she soars!!!

Even the one fall on a 3ple (ripping arms) had what I call “Russian Oomph”!!!! Woohoo!

Hanna joins Amber Glenn as my absolute fave US Sr lady to possibly crash the expected Nationals podium.

Also loved Finley Hawk’s speed and attack as Carmen.

I agree - Gracie skated very well, compared to Sk Am. Explosive high jumps on the first half. Earned her spot, for sure.

Ready for next event..I hear the Chelyabinsk choo choo calling!

 

[kwanfan1818]

She wasn't in the top tier, and she had to skate in a lot of traffic, but Caroline Harris had some excellent spins.

 

[annie720]

She wasn't in the top tier, and she had to skate in a lot of traffic, but Caroline Harris had some excellent spins.

I don't think I even noticed her skating because I couldn't stop exclaiming about the crowd on the ice. I need to watch again.

 

[Sylvia]

Caroline Harris is coached by Grant Hochstein & Caroline Zhang (not a bad spinner in her day ).

 

[4rkidz]

Not available in our region

 

[Sylvia]

Senior Ladies Group C starting order (12): https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/sports/ice-skating/sr.-ladies-free-skate-3/POPUP:2009390
Grace Moyer
Heidi Munger (S14 in 2019)
Emilia Murdock (J3 in 2019/S-wd from 2020 Nationals; now training at Cricket club in Toronto)

Munger and Murdock have Tango programs, both choreographed by Jamie Isley AFAIK, and worth watching, IMO.

Munger's FS music is "Preludio para el Año 3001" and "Los Pájaros Perdidos" from the 3001 album by Elena Roger & Escalandrum. Glad to see her make it back to Nationals!

Murdock kept her FS from last season to "Tangosaín" by Luis Bacalov and "Oblivion" & "Yo Soy Maria" by Astor Piazzolla and skated very expressively, despite 2 falls on jumps near the end. She had the second highest PCS (less than one point from Hanna Harrell's) of all the senior ladies. I'm looking forward to her senior national debut next month!

 

[gkelly]

STRAY PEOPLE ON THE ICE!!! Isn’t this supposed to be THE performing skater’s time to have the ice for herself? It’s for earning a place at Nationals, duh!

If they were skating on a freestyle session for which they along with several other skaters had each paid the same amount of money for the ice time, then not everyone else may have felt it worth wasting the money they paid for the ice time to get out of the way of someone who had paid the same amount.

For skaters entering the virtual event to reserve ice time guaranteed to have no one else on the ice would be a lot more expensive for them.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Hopefully those skaters are as gracious and understanding to the skaters who paid when it's their turn.

 

[Sylvia]

Started streaming today (Monday, Dec. 28):

SPOILER for those who want to know the final combined standings NOW:

Junior Ladies combined standings (71 were judged in 6 groups; top 12 qualify for Nationals): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/29775/combined_results/junior ladies.html

Jr. Ladies' Free Skate 1 - replay link: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009396/405ff55f-823d-33fc-915f-5a1330d8f01f
Group A Starting Order:
1 Brooke Barrett, SC of Boston
2 Gwen Bloesch, SC of Wilmington
3 Indi Cha, SC of Boston (N5 in 2019)
4 Jacqueline Conant, Broadmoor SC
5 Nicole Chong, Dallas FSC
6 Mia Cittadine, Northern Ice SC
7 Marina Black, Broadmoor SC
8 Elsa Cheng, Skokie Valley SC (J7/ISP)
9 Amber Barth, Dallas FSC
10 Jamiesen Cyr, Elite Edge SC
11 Ella Chen, SC of Wilmington
12 Alyssa Dunn, Chicago FSC
13 Alexis Adelstein, SC of Northern Virginia

Jr. Ladies' Free Skate 2 (standings of Group A are displayed at the beginning) - replay link: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009386/57adca62-901b-3235-a512-b81db4781990
Group B Starting Order:
1 Ruoxi Hu, Broadmoor SC
4 Mayou Hayashi, Detroit SC
6 Tamnhi Huynh, Dallas FSC (J6/ISP)
7 Molly Fortkamp, Penguin FSC
8 Elizabeth Hong, Pasadena FSC
9 Katie Freter, Vegas Golden Knights Center of Excellence
10 Laylah El-Amin, Washington FSC
11 Sara Feminella, Champions Edge SC
12 Sofia Frank, Pasadena FSC (ISP)
WD Ashlyn Huber, Seattle SC
WD Cate Fleming, SC of Boston (YOG/J4 in pairs with Isbell - they split after 2020 Nationals)
WD Hannah Herrera, Murray Silver Blades FSC (J15/ISP; 2020 Challenge Cup, 4th)
WD Kendall Erne, Indy Central FSC

Jr. Ladies' Free Skate 3 (current standings are displayed at beginning) - replay link: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009399/32182fe4-1485-3b8e-ba1a-fbb7c3a99743
Group C Starting Order:
1 Laura Jacobson, SC of Boston (N4 in 2019)
2 Michelle Lee, All Year FSC (J18)
3 Joelle Lin, All Year FSC
4 Madelyn Jordan, Carolinas FSC
5 Mia Kalin, St. Moritz ISC (J13)
6 Isabeau Levito, SC Of Southern New Jersey (J2/ISP)
7 Zoe Larson, Champions Edge SC
8 Cathryn Limketkai, SC of Boston
9 Jessica Lin, Dallas FSC (JGP/J10/ISP)
10 Hannah Jett, Washington FSC
11 Hannah Lofton, Skokie Valley SC (ISP)
12 Ashley Leahy, SC of New York
13 Clara Kim, Washington FSC

Jr. Ladies' Free Skate 4 - replay link (starts during Audrey Meredith's Seven Years in Tibet FS before her first jump of 3Lz+3T): https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009385/a60e32a9-0e36-3165-b362-e431054da47f
Group D Starting Order:
1 Audrey Meredith, Skokie Valley SC (ISP)
2 Madelyn Lyons, Cache Valley FSC
3 Lauren Paris, Pines FSC
4 Tiffany Lu, Colonial FSC
5 Maryn Pierce, Broadmoor SC (J8/ISP)
6 Anna Olson-Voss, Carousel Sherwood FSC
7 Grace Perrino, Connecticut Skating Academy
8 Ali Neuberger, Utah FSC
9 Emilie Mao, SC of Boston (I enjoyed her Novice FS to The Lion King at Boston Open)
10 Sara Neivert, North Jersey FSC
11 Katherine Ong, Los Angeles FSC
12 Lillie Nye, SC of New York
13 Ashley Merrills, Triangle FSC

Jr. Ladies' Free Skate 5 - replay link (same issue happens with the first skater here): https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009389/08cc43eb-61e3-3bb8-8290-3fa0479de3f5
Group E Starting Order:
1 Amanda Smentkowski, SC of New York
2 Abigail Ross, Wasatch FSC
3 Lily Podgorak, FSC of Bloomington
4 Kanon Smith, All Year FSC (Juv1 in 2019; link to my post about her in the U.S. Ladies thread)
5 Rozina Taguchi, Dallas FSC
7 Yurika Sakai, SC of Fairfield County
8 Elizabeth Swanson, Northern Ice SC
9 Lily Rauh, SC of Boston
10 Ava Pihlstrom, Starlight Ice Dance Club
11 Clare Seo, Broadmoor SC (ISP)
12 Anastasia Russ, Panthers FSC
WD Haley Scott, Champions Edge SC (ISP)

Jr. Ladies' Free Skate 6 - ETA replay link (combined standings of the 5 previous groups is displayed before the starting order): https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009394/33f86602-0b04-371c-9049-19864886e092
Group F Starting Order:
1 Grace Walton, SC of Wilmington
2 Emma Vail, SC of New York
3 Heleyna Walton, IceWorks SC
4 Allison Zheng, Peninsula SC (N6 in 2019)
5 Jordan Talty, North Shore SC
6 Ava Ziegler, SC of New York (Juv4 in 2019)
7 Kate Wang, SC of San Francisco (JGP/YOG/J5/ISP)
8 Zoe Villanueva, Nashville FSC
9 Kailey Wistort, Coyotes SC of Arizona
10 Adele Zheng, DuPage FSC (ISP)
11 Vera Zhong, Washington FSC
14 Grace Yi, Boise FSC
WD Maliah Utley, North Jersey FSC
WD Wren Warne-Jacobsen, FSC of Bloomington (J5 in 2019)

Scheduled to be streamed tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 29):
Junior Men FS (3 groups) scheduled to stream starting ~ 8 am Eastern; Junior Free Dance (1:30 pm); and Junior Pairs FS (3 pm).

 

[meggonzo]

@Sylvia Do you know why Wren Warne-Jacobsen withdrew?

 

[Sylvia]

No, but if I happen to find out I'll let you know @meggonzo.

Kanon Smith skated her "A Million Dreams" FS in a light pink mask that matched her dress. (California currently requires masks to be worn by skaters on the ice.)

 

[Carolla5501]

Out of curiosity, how were start orders determined for the videos? And is this the same order they were judged in?

thanks

 

[annie720]

Thanks for the warning about current standings being displayed at the beginning of the Ladies groups, or else I would have started watching the first group that appeared and I wouldn't have wanted to be spoiled. And skater #5 (Dallas FSC) in the first group again had to deal with ice full of skaters. I should just accept it because I'm sure it will keep happening. It's just hard to understand.

 

[sk8nlizard]

No, but if I happen to find out I'll let you know @meggonzo.

Kanon Smith skated her "A Million Dreams" FS in a light pink mask that matched her dress. (California currently requires masks to be worn by skaters on the ice.)

She was quite good, especially for being a Juv just 2 years ago. I wonder if more of the skaters at Nationals will have masks to match their outfits? Seems like a very skating thing to do.

 

[Sylvia]

Out of curiosity, how were start orders determined for the videos? And is this the same order they were judged in?

This sentence is in the Announcement under Event Judging: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachme...1/2021_U.S._Championship_Series_-_Virtual.pdf

"Athletes will be assigned skate order based on a random skating order generated by the event accountant."

 

[Sylvia]

2020 Nationals placement (Junior), if applicable, is noted below (or best placement in 2019 & 2018 at Novice/Intermediate/Juvenile level), along with past JGP or YOG experience.
ISP = currently listed in International Selection Pool
* = has competed in a Junior B or Adv. Novice developmental international in 2019 or 2020.

SPOILER for those who want to know the final combined standings NOW:

Junior Men combined standings (33 were judged in 3 groups; top 12 qualify for Nationals): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/29775/combined_results/junior Men.html

Jr. Men's Free Skate 1 - replay link: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009594/43040b72-7287-3949-b156-d1dd79f36cdd
Group A Starting Order:
1 Goku Endo, Los Angeles FSC (JGP/J15/ISP)
2 Damian Jarvis, SC of Boston
4 Austin Borjas-Ewell, St. Moritz ISC
5 Trevor Bucek, Great Lakes FSC
6 Will Annis, SC of Boston (N1 in 2019/JGP/ISP*)
7 Jordan Evans, University of Delaware FSC (N7 in 2018)
8 Alec Bai, Hershey FSC
9 Nicholas Hsieh, SC of Wilmington (JGP/J5/ISP)
10 Philip Baker, Colonial FSC (N9 in 2019/ISP)
11 Lucas Broussard, Highland SC (Juv1 in 2019/ISP*)
12 Daniel Argueta, SC of Houston (N10 in 2019)
WD James Dayton, Vaca Valley FSC

Jr. Men's Free Skate 2 - replay link (standings of Group A are displayed at the beginning): https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009595/fd9b99a1-d38e-317b-a683-d9c547496283
Group B Starting Order:
1 Maximilian Lai, Northern Ice SC
2 Liam Kapeikis, Wenatchee FSC (YOG/J3/ISP)
3 Eric Prober, Panthers FSC (N6 in 2019)
4 Nhat-Viet Nguyen, Dallas FSC (Int10 in 2019)
5 Matthew Nielsen, Winterhurst FSC (JGP/J8/ISP)
6 Ian Ramsey, Peninsula SC
7 Joseph Klein, Skokie Valley SC (JGP/J13/ISP)
8 Samuel Mindra, Portland ISC (J10/ISP*)
9 Daniel Martynov, Great Lakes FSC (JGP/J12/ISP)
10 Matthew Kennedy, Deep Freeze SC
12 Kai Kovar, Wasatch FSC (J11/ISP*)
WD Daniil Murzin, Individual Member

Jr. Men's Free Skate 3 - replay link (combined standings of A & B displayed at the beginning): https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...-2009596/67656e2b-e3e5-3605-9dd9-57f129a37da7
Group C Starting Order:
1 Taira Shinohara, Chicago FSC (ISP)
2 Luke Wang, SC of Wilmington
3 Zachary Yaninek, Peaks FSC (Int5 in 2018)
4 Robert Yampolsky, North Jersey FSC (J14/ISP*)
5 Kenneth Thomsen, Ice House Of New Jersey FSC
6 Jacob Sanchez, Hudson Valley FSC (J17/ISP)
7 Maxim Zharkov, Dallas FSC (Int1 in 2018)
8 Payton Winkler, Greater Green Bay FSC
9 Dylan Wajda, Wooster FSC
10 Alain Sandraz, Peninsula SC
11 Michael Xie, All Year FSC (ISP*)