Junior Women SP & FS

[Flip Jump]

So proud of Skylar!
And what a wonderful by her mom Julia Lautowa. I was quite shocked at sectionals to see Larissa Selezneva, Oleg Makarov, and Patch David with her. They are also listed as coaches in her bio. I feel this is setting her up for success in the future without all that comes with being primarily coached by your mom. Oleg and Larissa have done an excellent pacing Jacob Sanchez who also was 12 at his first Junior nationals, so I have much hope! Great job Skylar and team!

 

[cailuj365]

Woooo, go Sophie!! I knew she could do it. She won the junior men's FS with that score too! Four bonus points for her 3As, 4S, and 3-3.

Skylar is incredible at her age. Looking forward to her development. Already such poise!

 

[Jarrett]

Cute moment in the after ceremony photos where the skaters put a flag on their back and Skylar couldn’t get it right side up after multiple attempts and then Emilia just went over and spun it around for her. Lol

 

[peibeck]

Haven't gotten to watch, but... oof, that's got to be tough for Annika Chao to finish 4th in both segments but miss the pewter medal by 0.25 because the overall score was only good enough for fifth.

 

[livetoskate]

Coats and Sklyar were the highlights of the event for me. Such great technique and promise. Who remembers when Dick Button was gushing over Julia Lautowa, and there was a competition where she wound up in a sitting position at the end of her free skate and laughed?

 

[sk8nlizard]

I think of the medalists Emilia N has the most long term potential. She reminds me so much of a young Gracie, big effortless jumps, lack of consistency, slow into that second lutz , big skating but not a lot of presentation (at least in her younger years). Her jumps are huge, a growth spurt isn’t going to make those under rotated. I can’t say the same about any of the other girls. Sophie was obviously very good and I applaud her for going for those triple axels and quad sal, but some of those jumps were judged very leniently.
Luckily, this crop of Junior girls look like they have the possibility of doing well in Senior which I can’t say I’ve seen in a while.

 

[Vagabond]

I wonder if she would ever go back to Switzerland like Alexis did. I mean she would get sent out for the entrant for the junior worlds and world team every time no matter…

Alexia Paganini was born and grew up in the United States.

 

[her grace]

I think of the medalists Emilia N has the most long term potential. She reminds me so much of a young Gracie, big effortless jumps, lack of consistency, slow into that second lutz , big skating but not a lot of presentation (at least in her younger years). Her jumps are huge, a growth spurt isn’t going to make those under rotated. I can’t say the same about any of the other girls.

I also like Nemirovsky’s chances. Things didn’t go perfectly for her today, but she kept her cool and adjusted.

 

[mtnskater]

Exciting junior event! Sometimes these are a bit of a snooze, but not this year. And I like the top novices thrown in the mix.

So on my scorecard I would have given it to Skylar, even though I’m a bit glad a 12 year old didn’t win. She can spin circles around Sophie who can’t really do a credible Bielmann. Skylar’s spins are truly amazing. I admire Sophie for the quads and triple axels for sure. But she tends to land her jumps stiff in the knee and without beautiful held out landings in good position. And her “easier” jumps don’t seem so easy for her. Plus she is a bit of a clunky skater. Hope her team continues to address this. That said, I would send her to junior worlds because the upside scoring potential is so high IF she hits.

Probably my favorite is Emilia Nemirovsky. Gracie Gold vibes for sure with the combo of power and grace. She has the jumps very solid in power and technique. Clearly her head and nerves are getting in the way during competition. Hopefully she will learn to calm down more to compete because I really see her as a future Olympic team member. She’s the only woman I’ve seen do the heel spin position and not lose her balance. Winner of the best dressed contest too.

Very impressed with Jessica Jurka. Boy is she cool as a cucumber in competition. Jumps so solid and like buttah. Hopefully she will get JGP assignments next year.

Finally my new discovery is Angela Shao. Lovely overall quality skater with really good performance and expression.

 

[bladesofgorey]

let's hope no massive growth spurt!

I think skaters who have patience with refining their technique as they grow will be fine in the end. I also thing bringing up puberty and growth spurts as something skaters, especially young women, should consider career-ending contributes to a lot of the eating disorders we see in the sport.

 

[zigzig]

Sophie - eked out the big jumps but rotations a bit sketch and just a generally messy, unfocused skate with blah choreo (kind of like her dress - too busy, weird color combos). huge talent but needs better packaging.

Skylar - love her focus and precision on the ice. must be tough to be lose by 0.84 but she had a great attitude in the kiss and cry.

Jurka - neat and tidy. slow and steady wins the bronze.

Emilia - best all around skater here - bummer for the mistakes.

Chao - love her presence on the ice but the jumps are always so sticky.

 

[viennese]

This half black, half white dress is a LOT of look. Especially for a junior.

If a figure skater's outfit does not not have at last 10 things going on with it

It shall be cast aside

Or reworked until her look is approved