Miki Ando was doing quad salchow in the mid 2000's, and Sasha did one even earlier than that, but I don't think she ever did it in competition - only in practice at a competition.
Alysa hasn't done one in competition either. (And, if I'm reading the article correctly, is only doing them in practice with the harness.)
Eh, yes and no. Caro was hyped but when Mirai beat her for the Junior title, then they were both hyped.Wasn’t Caroline Zhang projected to be the next Kwan and win 2 Olympic Gold medals during the time when she was slaughtering everyone on the JPG and won Jr Worlds?
Where to begin, where to begin....
1. It may not exactly be what happened, but Mirai managed to execute an 8 triple program at the age of 23... nothing to scoff at and shows that yes, Mirai did outlast Caroline and came out of puberty much better than Caroline. Also, what kind of skater can truly come out of puberty unscathed... especially women?Alysa hasn't done one in competition either. (And, if I'm reading the article correctly, is only doing them in practice with the harness.)
If we are comparing like to like, there are probably a dozen female skaters working on quads just like Alysa is.
Eh, yes and no. Caro was hyped but when Mirai beat her for the Junior title, then they were both hyped.
But I don't think anyone was projecting either of them to be "the next Kwan."
Where to begin, where to begin....
1) Technique.... People said Mirai would be the one who would get through puberty unscathed because her technique was better than Caro's. That isn't exactly how it happened.
2) Hype: Ashley Wagnor was never hyped from the beginning. She wasn't hyped at all until much later in her career. And she certain wasn't part of the Caro and Mirai are the future hype. Ting and Hanna are still being hyped and Hanna has excellent technique and Ting's isn't bad so the statement "but the difference is in the technique and how the hype just centers around Alysa" is off-base at best.
3) US skaters don't lack drive. Competitive nerves maybe. But they are driven.
4) The US has been a power in ice dance for ages now and the men are nothing to sneeze at. This idea that US skating rises and falls on the Ladies team is out-dated.
@MacMadame, Alysa went for the 4Lz at Central Pacific Regionals in October 2018 (this fact was posted in U.S. Ladies #23 thread when it happened). Here's Jackie Wong's tweet with a screen shot of her FS protocol: https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1051606025533620225
Because the author was purporting to describe US Ladies skating in the last 15 years or so and left out Gold + a couple of other (ETA: than Kwan, Cohen) world medallists to make a questionable point. Gold had great technique and 3/3 ability before quads were introduced this year at Ladies' championships and had great potential to contend for the championship podiums.
Kahler's website: http://kalyn-kahler.squarespace.com/
Wow. The writer says on Twitter this is the first figure skating story ever for Sports Illustrated! Is this really true? They never ran a story on Michelle Kwan or Harding and Kerrigan?!
From what I've seen/heard, there are five/six?
Trusova, Shcherbakova, Tursynbaeva, Valieva, Kanyesheva, Akatieva, Berestovskaya, Samodelkina (i am pretty sure), are all confirmed to have landed quads with Zagitova and Medvedeva confirmed to be training them. Also, there are a few other ET/CSKA/snow leopards girls that many believe are working on them. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few more confirmed by the end of the summer. In addition Kihira has a confirmed quad and I think I read that a few of the other Japanese ladies are working on them/have landed them. Next year on the JGP Alysa will have to face two Russians (at least) with quads.
Thanks for the breakdown. I wonder if Alysa will go for a 3A+2T, 3A, 4Lz, 4T program or two 3A's and one 4Lz. Kamila will probably be the more artistic skater and her spins, step sequences, and jumps will probably garner higher GOE which will put Alysa at a disadvantage after the Short since she can't do a 3A as the axel jump. Alysa will most likely have to make up some ground after the Short in the Free where Kamila will put up a good fight since higher GOEs are a given for her. I'm thinking a range of 66-70 for the Short and around 140-145 for the Free for Alysa whilst Kamila will easily get past 70 in the Short and score in the high 130s to 140s as well. Wow... it'll be a very tight competition between the two. As for under-rotation and edge calls, I'm sure the judges will be scrutinizing on Alysa since her jumps are relatively small and her lutz edge is flat at times. Also, Kamila's flow out of jumps and the extension and reach of her skating overall is simply better than Alysa's at this point, so that's why I'm saying she'll probably garner higher GOEs should she continue to improve at such a pace. However, one never knows... ice is, after all, slippery.
I must say I was extremely impressed with Kamila's 4T. On the list of all the ladies quads which compared the height/prerotation/underrotation/etc it was only behind Trusova's 4T (which everyone will agree is the best quad ever performed by a lady). I noticed she has a different axel technique than most of the ET girls, reminds me a bit of Tuktamysheva. I am sure a 3A is in the works for her as Daniil said it is a goal for all his girls this summer. If she gets it and the 4T consistent she will be difficult to beat. Even last year Kostornaya was on Trusova's heals without a quad. Imo Valieva has a very special presence on the ice in a similar way to Kostornaya. And once you add in Kanyasheva to the mix it will be a free for all.
However, Alysa can do a 3A3T, 3Lp and 2A for her short program. The individual jumps must be a double/triple loop and double axel. The combo can be any 3/3, 3/2 or 2/2 that does not repeat the loop or double axel. 3A is only worth 2.1 more than Lz, and doing 3A combo in first half vs Lz combo in second half would sacrifice an additional .5 points. Is a net.of 1.6 points worth the risk?? Hmm.
I don't think she'll risk doubling the 3T on the end of the 3A or even singling the axel. Furthermore, the risk and payoff of including a 3A-3T when you can include a 3Lz-3T or 3Lz-3Lo instead which will probably gain higher GOE is simply not worth it in my opinion.
Especially when it's an article about one particular skater.
Thanks Sylvia. Can't believe I missed that!
I'm told a 3A combo is not allowed in the Junior Ladies SP. Can anyone else confirm?
The writer has evidently read every Sports Illustrated article published since April 2019, so she knows what she's talking about!
We Americans are very shallow. Easily enamored with a bit of razzle dazzle. Alysa fits that bill.It says a lot about the US fixation on ladies skating to do a big feature article on a skater just entering juniors while there’s a two-time World Champion over on the men’s side.
It says a lot about the US fixation on ladies skating to do a big feature article on a skater just entering juniors while there’s a two-time World Champion over on the men’s side.
It's kind of exasperating. Nathan and Vincent do get a brief mention in this article. But how about a whole piece about a two time world champion instead of one about someone who maybe, possibly, if the stars align, could win something someday.
It's kind of exasperating. Nathan and Vincent do get a brief mention in this article. But how about a whole piece about a two time world champion instead of one about someone who maybe, possibly, if the stars align, could win something someday.
