Google Hangouts with the 2016 U.S. World team, March 10 & 14-16

[Sylvia]

http://www.usfigureskatingfanzone.com/whatsupworldteam/

It’s that time of the year again! Starting this week, you can ask Team USA whatever you want on the #WhatsUpWorldTeam Google Hangouts leading up to #Worlds2016!

Tweet your question using #WhatsUpWorldTeam and it might be featured on air! Check back on Thursday for a link to watch!

Thursday, March 10 - 8:30pm ET
Grant Hochstein, Max Aaron, Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue

Monday, March 14 - 8:30pm ET
Adam Rippon, Ashley Wagner, Madison Chock/Evan Bates

Tuesday, March 15 - 8:30pm ET
Polina Edmunds, Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim

Wednesday, March 16 - 8:30pm ET
Gracie Gold, Tarah Kayne/Danny O’Shea, Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani

 

[Sylvia]

Live streaming video at: http://www.usfigureskatingfanzone.com/whatsupworldteam/

Thursday, March 10 - 8:30pm ET
Grant Hochstein, Max Aaron, Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue

ETA link to recorded video (23 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2_9QGosAGU

 

[kwanette]

That was a lot of fun!

 

[Clay]

I hope they get better connections, disregard those weird filters (hats...etc) and stop switching back and forth. Last year's was a headache!

 

[rhapsody]

I get the feeling that the guy in charge would rather be 70 million other places instead of conducting these interviews.

 

[RD]

I hope they get better connections, disregard those weird filters (hats...etc) and stop switching back and forth. Last year's was a headache!

Yes! I don't know why they don't just stick with whoever is talking until he/she is finished instead of jumping around frantically from person to person - that is annoying to say the least. We can still see everything, BTW...no need to switch to them unless they're directly addressing a question.

Having said that, though, in general I like these sessions.

 

[bronwynsings]

The way Google Hangouts works, it automatically switches to the person talking. However, if there's a lot of noise on one end, or if someone makes a noise, it'll switch to them even if they're not talking. The person in charge can manually switch, but it is a pain and it's a lot easier to do the automatic switching.

The connections you can't really help, and as for me, I like the weird filters, I think it makes it more fun.

 

[RD]

Oh, I didn't realize it was all automated. Well I guess that explains a lot then!!

 

[personwhoishere]

Zach and Max but especially Zach

 

[rhapsody]

Zach and Max but especially Zach

Madi needs to break up with Adria and have Zach propose already (I know they already dated and broke up, but whatever).

The Madi & Zach sex chemistry is incredible.

 

[vireo]

I know it's silly to speculate, but I get the feeling Zach still carries a torch for Madison.

 

[aftershocks]

Madi needs to break up with Adria and have Zach propose already (I know they already dated and broke up, but whatever).

The Madi & Zach sex chemistry is incredible.

Madi was humorously fanning herself after Zach's odd yet weirdly apt response to the final question. The camaraderie and humor between all was infectious, particularly between Zach and Max.

Great responses to "What will you do after skating career ends?" I also enjoyed the responses by Grant and Madi to "Best advice you've received?" The moderator gave Zach and Max a different question so we didn't get to hear what they might have answered to the best advice question.

Wonder why only 3 skaters are scheduled for March 15 hangout, with 5 skaters scheduled for March 16 hangout. I suppose its due to timing and scheduling conflicts.

Here are some USFS promotional highlight videos:

Skating mag 2016 photo shoot with championship highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqsmZLDcIq0

US Champs 2016 'Closer Look'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scsPtYHcXWU

 

[Sylvia]

Monday, March 14 - 8:30pm ET
Adam Rippon, Ashley Wagner, Madison Chock/Evan Bates

Here's their vid (21 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHyajw1vPpg

 

[vireo]

Ashley's answer to the cheese question was hilarious.

 

[aftershocks]

Ashley comforts herself with red meat; Adam comforts himself with guilty purchases before competing.

 

[RD]

Ashley's answer to the cheese question was hilarious.

Stunningly accurate though.

 

[aftershocks]

Ashley's answer to the cheese question was hilarious.

Maddie, Ashley and Adam were pretty quick with their cheese responses: bleu cheese for Ash (If you like me you really like me, if you don't, you really don't!); Adam is 'sharp cheddar.' And Maddie loves brie! I also thought of artistic/ expressive to describe Maddie, even before Evan mentioned "artistic/ creative; stylish/ fashionable."

Too funny that Evan said he couldn't think of a cheese for himself. Maddie said, "There's Gouda." But seriously there's also a ton of others, including: camembert, feta/goat cheese, swiss, parmesan, pepper jack, mozzarella, provolone, fontina, Muenster, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, just for starters.

 

[Karpenko]

that was more of a sharp cheddar response, but

She's super fun to listen to. I hope she wins and then gets the burger of her dreams.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Ashley's answer to the cheese question was hilarious.

YES!!!! I was laughing! And I was like, "SLAYYYY!"

 

[personwhoishere]

Alexa, Chris and Polina from last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y6S0rSaXa8

It's clear they don't have the same level of familiarity that the first two groups had with each other but there were definitely still some cute interactions. And I was inspired to look up the western program Polina mentioned, and for her being what, 13 at the time, I thought it was adorable

 

[Sylvia]

Wednesday, March 16 - 8:30pm ET
Gracie Gold, Tarah Kayne/Danny O’Shea, Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ghfWhc-hI

ETA: As Tarah tweeted: "I discuss my affinity for both dogs AND goats."

 

[Marco]

So glad Ashley said she recovered strongly from the hard fall and that the 3/3 is going well.

 

[Karpenko]

Alexa and Chris are hilarious and I love how confident they sound, and House!

These are a lot more fun to watch than I was expecting lol.

Polina Edmunds let her Polina Edmunds hair down but - Polina Edmunds is still in the Polina Edmunds shell. Come let the sass out Polina.

I have a feeling she's a very dry and quick-witted sarcastic girl who would be fun to watch Maury Povich/trash TV with.

 

[shan]

Wednesday, March 16 - 8:30pm ET
Gracie Gold, Tarah Kayne/Danny O’Shea, Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ghfWhc-hI

ETA: As Tarah tweeted: "I discuss my affinity for both dogs AND goats."

Tarah's love of dogs is quite apparent.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Tarah's love of dogs is quite apparent.

And goats!

 

[Skittl1321]

Tarah's love of dogs is quite apparent.

Having her be a strong dog lover really helps the rivalry between the top US pairs. You know, since the other is a cat-lady.

 

[shan]

And goats!

Oh yeah, don't forget the goats! They deserve love too.

 

[el henry]

Alexa still slaaays in interviews; "If you don't skate clean, it's the worst program ever, change your look, change yourself, it's not working, skate it clean and you're brilliant", a
*and* choppng vegetables for the whole week

But man, the jerky camera and dubbed movie sound make me mental .....

 

[pinky166]

So where do people think Polina is going to college? I have heard she's a really good student and so that combined with the skating and Olympic experience makes me think it might be somewhere like UC Berkeley or even Stanford..

 

[rhapsody]

So where do people think Polina is going to college? I have heard she's a really good student and so that combined with the skating and Olympic experience makes me think it might be somewhere like UC Berkeley or even Stanford..

Cal might be too much of a commute for her since she trains in the south bay (~1 hr driving; 2 hrs during traffic). Stanford would be possible since it's about 20 mins without traffic, 40 mins with.

I think she'll end up going to Santa Clara University though, which is only about 10 minutes away. I get the feeling that she really wants to stay in the Bay Area after retiring and going to college and it's an extremely well-respected school here.