Tennell announces coaching change to Zakrajsek

[Sylvia]

Press release today:

Bradie Tennell Announces Coaching Change - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Olympic bronze medalist Bradie Tennell announced today that she will begin training with Tom Zakrajsek in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[Lacey]

Well, this is big.

 

[maureenfarone]

I hope this works well for her. Maybe she is looking for help with 3A or more reliable 3z/3l?

 

[Debbie S]

I'm kind of puzzled. Bradie's jumps are already pretty consistent. What she needs is better packaging. True, there are more specialists in CO that could help with different aspects of her skating, but Tom Z skaters never excelled in their presentation.

 

[skatfan]

Wow -surprised by this. Don’t get it.

 

[Angela-Fan]

WOW.

 

[Colonel Green]

Tom Z. has been shedding students for a while, so this is a good get for him.

 

[her grace]

Maybe he’ll help with her rotations or getting a 3A? Not sure what he’ll do on the packaging side, but Bradie’s an adult and will have a voice in those decisions.

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

That is a... choice.

 

[natsulian]

I wonder if this move was propelled by her desire to increase her technical difficulty? There was talk about her 3A and she stated that she REALLY wants to add it to her repertoire this upcoming season. Regardless of how she came to her decision, Bradie is an experienced and mature individual and I wish her the best of luck!

 

[VGThuy]

I think she wants to ramp up her TES to compete technically. She's not satisfied with just 7 triples with 3/3 being her max.

 

[Rukia]

Tom Z.?? I mean...I guess. Best of luck to you Bradie.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Well i didn't see that coming. Seems like a really odd choice for her
.t

 

[wickedwitch]

I'm kind of puzzled. Bradie's jumps are already pretty consistent. What she needs is better packaging. True, there are more specialists in CO that could help with different aspects of her skating, but Tom Z skaters never excelled in their presentation.

Jeremy Abbott, Josh Farris, and Camden Pulkinen want a word.

However, I don't think Tom Z is the reason -- or even part of the reason -- those skaters had good presentation. So I don't get this choice for Bradie.

 

[Maximillian]

Yeah, not getting this at all. Similar to Liu's move, it doesn't seem necessary from a developmental perspective, I thought that Bradie (like Liu) was making progress each season, but then, I don't know what goes on behind the scenes. People are speculating about the 3A, but I wonder if she wants to work on a quad.

 

[Debbie S]

Jeremy Abbott, Josh Farris, and Camden Pulkinen want a word.

True. But I agree with you that I don't think Tom was the reason.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

With Liu and Tennell both making equally dramatic coaching changes, Mariah Bell just earned herself the 2021 US Championship.

 

[Aerobicidal]

With Liu and Tennell both making equally dramatic coaching changes, Mariah Bell just earned herself the 2021 US Championship.

Congratulations to Anna Shcherbakova for winning 2021 Russian nationals.

Off I go to Las Vegas to bet my entire savings on both results. The logic couldn't be more foolproof.

Anyway, Bradie's taste level has been consistently inconsistent, so I don't feel positive or negative about this coaching change. If she can keep working with Richaud, that'll likely be promising.

 

[annie720]

OMG, why? That would be my last choice for her.

 

[skateboy]

True. But I agree with you that I don't think Tom was the reason.

I'm curious about this... so who WAS the reason? Natural talent is one thing, but there's always someone guiding it.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Tom Dickson is at Broadmoor, and he did programs for Farris. It would be great if Tennell could work with Dickson and Lindgren.

 

[centerpt1]

Tom Z has always shown a stunning disregard for his skater's health and well-being.

I wish Bradie well, but I'm worried.

 

[natsulian]

Tom's statement via Twitter:

"After three weeks of specific work on the 3A it is getting ready to be put in the oven and we are working on recipes for a couple of quads."

Link: https://twitter.com/CoachTomZ/status...130053120?s=20

 

[Frau Muller]

This is a great choice for Bradie, working in an elite team setting...at ALTITUDE.

 

[overedge]

Jeremy Abbott, Josh Farris, and Camden Pulkinen want a word.

IMO all three of them had great interpretation/presentation - some developed with other coaches - that would have shone regardless. Bradie's interpretation was just starting to be really interesting, and I'm not sure this is the best coaching move for her in terms of that development.

 

[casken]

How long until Tom starts posting videos of Bradie doing cheated quads in a harness as proof of... something.

Tom Z has always shown a stunning disregard for his skater's health and well-being.

I wish Bradie well, but I'm worried.

I'll never forget that exasperated "No!" Farris said to Tom when Tom asked him if he was glad he skated while injured at 2011 Nationals. Tom was like "It builds character!"

 

[kre56]

Tom Z. has been shedding students for a while, so this is a good get for him.

I don’t think he’s been shedding them..... they have been leaving in groves.
There must have been a reason why he has lost so many students lately. Not sure this was the right choice for Bradie......

 

[VGThuy]

At least Mirai openly said he was the right coach for her at that exact moment. Maybe it'll be the same for Bradie despite others leaving.

 

[b-man]

I don’t think he’s been shedding them..... they have been leaving in groves.
There must have been a reason why he has lost so many students lately. Not sure this was the right choice for Bradie......

Agree with Colonel Green, a good get for Tom. He still has Ting, doesn't he. Bradie and Ting make a formidable pair nationally.

 

[Willin]

I mean, maybe this will work out?

But I think this was the single dumbest choice she could've made. Bradie's jumps are better than most US ladies. What she's critiqued on is her artistry or lack thereof - so she goes to a coach infamous for ignoring artistry in favor of tech content?