U.S. Ladies [#28]: Achieving 2020 Vision

[natsulian]

With the quarantine affecting almost the entirety of the world, now is a great time to forget about the woes of the world and indulge in some of the season’s best performances.

- Karen Chen’s absolutely thrilling and redemptive skates at Four Continents where she put out TWO CLEAN performances (clean defined by having no falls in this case).

Karen Chen - FS, 4CC 2020 Seoul

4 Continents Figure Skating Championship 2020 Seoul Korea Karen Chen (United States) - Free Skating Score : 133.68 Rank 6 (Total Rank 7) 四大陸フィギュアスケート選手権 四大洲 ...

youtu.be

- Bradie Tennell’s captivating performances at the Grand Prix Final where she showed up and showed out.

Брэди Теннел. Произвольная программа. Женщины. Финал Гран-при по фигурному катанию 2019/20

Смотрите произвольную программу в исполнении американской фигуристки Брэди Теннел, занявшей пятое место в финале Гран-при по фигурному катанию в Турине! По и...

youtu.be

- Mariah Bell’s magical Free Skate to “Hallelujah” at Nationals. This will be remembered for a VERY long time.

Mariah Bell wows in Nationals free skate I NBC Sports

Mariah Bell finally has her 'Hallelujah' moment at the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, skating an incredible program that landed her on the podium an...

youtu.be

- Amber Glenn’s impressive performance to “Scars”.

Amber Glenn - Short Program - 2020 U.S. Figure Skating National Championships

Skater: Amber Glenn Club: Dallas Figure Skating Club Music: "Scars" by Papa Roach, covered by Madilyn Bailey Choregraphy: Cordero Zuckerman Score: 73.16 (4th...

youtu.be

- Alysa Liu’s Junior Worlds Free Skate where she showed maturity, lines, and the ability to skate well under pressure.

A. Liu | Ladies Free Skating | ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships | #WorldJFigure

Visit https://www.isu.org/ for more information. SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/SkatingISU?sub_confirmation=1 LIKE us on Facebook: https:/...

youtu.be

- Kate Wang’s impressive outing on the Junior Grand Prix circuit where she put out two clean performances including a Free Skate with a 3Lz+3Lo.

Kate Wang (USA) | Ladies Free Skating | Chelyabinsk 2019

Visit https://isu.org/JuniorGrandPrix for more information on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating. LADIES FREE SKATING START ORDER 14:00:00 - 14:06:0...

youtu.be

- Isabeau Levito’s beautiful performances at Nationals.

(Linked above)

- Audrey Shin’s Free Skate at the Youth Olympics.

Audrey SHIN. YOG 2020, FS

youtu.be

- Gracie Gold’s emotional performances at Nationals.

Gracie Gold's emotional free skate: 'a chance to start over and rewrite an ending' I NBC Sports

Gracie Gold left it all out on the ice in her emotional free skate at the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Gold's program underscored her journey back...

youtu.be

What are some of yours?

Honorable mentions: Calista Choi’s skating skills, Isabelle Inthisone’s impressive technical arsenal, and Starr’s Junior Worlds outing.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

With the quarantine affecting almost the entirety of the world, now is a great time to forget about the woes of the world and indulge in some of the season’s best performances.

- Karen Chen’s absolutely thrilling and redemptive skates at Four Continents where she put out TWO CLEAN performances (clean defined by having no falls in this case).

Karen Chen - FS, 4CC 2020 Seoul

4 Continents Figure Skating Championship 2020 Seoul Korea Karen Chen (United States) - Free Skating Score : 133.68 Rank 6 (Total Rank 7) 四大陸フィギュアスケート選手権 四大洲 ...

youtu.be

- Bradie Tennell’s captivating performances at the Grand Prix Final where she showed up and showed out.

Брэди Теннел. Произвольная программа. Женщины. Финал Гран-при по фигурному катанию 2019/20

Смотрите произвольную программу в исполнении американской фигуристки Брэди Теннел, занявшей пятое место в финале Гран-при по фигурному катанию в Турине! По и...

youtu.be

- Mariah Bell’s magical Free Skate to “Hallelujah” at Nationals. This will be remembered for a VERY long time.

Mariah Bell wows in Nationals free skate I NBC Sports

Mariah Bell finally has her 'Hallelujah' moment at the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, skating an incredible program that landed her on the podium an...

youtu.be

- Amber Glenn’s impressive performance to “Scars”.

Amber Glenn - Short Program - 2020 U.S. Figure Skating National Championships

Skater: Amber Glenn Club: Dallas Figure Skating Club Music: "Scars" by Papa Roach, covered by Madilyn Bailey Choregraphy: Cordero Zuckerman Score: 73.16 (4th...

youtu.be

- Alysa Liu’s Junior Worlds Free Skate where she showed maturity, lines, and the ability to skate well under pressure.

A. Liu | Ladies Free Skating | ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships | #WorldJFigure

Visit https://www.isu.org/ for more information. SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/SkatingISU?sub_confirmation=1 LIKE us on Facebook: https:/...

youtu.be

- Kate Wang’s impressive outing on the Junior Grand Prix circuit where she put out two clean performances including a Free Skate with a 3Lz+3Lo.

Kate Wang (USA) | Ladies Free Skating | Chelyabinsk 2019

Visit https://isu.org/JuniorGrandPrix for more information on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating. LADIES FREE SKATING START ORDER 14:00:00 - 14:06:0...

youtu.be

- Isabeau Levito’s beautiful performances at Nationals.

(Linked above)

- Audrey Shin’s Free Skate at the Youth Olympics.

Audrey SHIN. YOG 2020, FS

youtu.be

- Gracie Gold’s emotional performances at Nationals.

Gracie Gold's emotional free skate: 'a chance to start over and rewrite an ending' I NBC Sports

Gracie Gold left it all out on the ice in her emotional free skate at the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Gold's program underscored her journey back...

youtu.be

What are some of yours?

Honorable mentions: Calista Choi’s skating skills, Isabelle Inthisone’s impressive technical arsenal, and Starr’s Junior Worlds outing.

Great roundup of performances!

 

[clairecloutier]

Mariah Bell is living in her parents' RV during the BB shutdown. (Better than it might sound--it's a fairly luxe RV. ) As ever, Mariah is looking on the bright side of this whole experience.

Mariah Bell is sheltering in place in the family RV

Mariah Bell is coming off her best figure skating season but now gets to spend time in her family’s 45-foot RV while waiting out the coronavirus pandemic.

bit.ly

 

[Tinami Amori]

dbl.

 

[annie720]

Mariah Bell is living in her parents' RV during the BB shutdown. (Better than it might sound--it's a fairly luxe RV. ) As ever, Mariah is looking on the bright side of this whole experience.

Mariah Bell is sheltering in place in the family RV

Mariah Bell is coming off her best figure skating season but now gets to spend time in her family’s 45-foot RV while waiting out the coronavirus pandemic.

bit.ly

I didn't know you could get an RV with a full-sized refrigerator. That's the same model I have in my house! And how many TV's do they have? There's even one on the outside. Wow. But then I've never been in an RV so maybe this is standard.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I didn't know you could get an RV with a full-sized refrigerator. That's the same model I have in my house! And how many TV's do they have? There's even one on the outside. Wow. But then I've never been in an RV so maybe this is standard.

https://blog-cdn.rvshare.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Fridge_RV.jpg

https://www.coachsupplydirect.com/s/cc_images/cache_947381017.JPG?t=1455714910

one can install several TVs in an RV, as long as space allows.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4e/0b/49/4e0b494c99e27e9099f8dace26ce2701.jpg

imgur.com

Discover the magic of the internet at Imgur, a community powered entertainment destination. Lift your spirits with funny jokes, trending memes, entertaining gifs, inspiring stories, viral videos, and so much more from users.

imgur.com

 

[Carolla5501]

I didn't know you could get an RV with a full-sized refrigerator. That's the same model I have in my house! And how many TV's do they have? There's even one on the outside. Wow. But then I've never been in an RV so maybe this is standard.

The big ones like this are basically rolling homes. The sides slide out to give you more space when you park and it's not uncommon for owners to have a nice "Outdoor' set with TV etc..

 

[euterpe]

Don't you have to have a place to park the RV when you're not touring? You'd need utilities and sewage, too. You'd probably have to own a piece of land that's zoned to allow mobile homes.

 

[Carolla5501]

Don't you have to have a place to park the RV when you're not touring? You'd need utilities and sewage, too. You'd probably have to own a piece of land that's zoned to allow mobile homes.

Well there are lots of VERY nice RV parks out there. THe one the Bell's are in is very nice. (I think I have an idea which one it is... and it's nicer than a lot of "normal" subdivisions)

My father was a live aboard for years. You just take a long term 'rent' on one of these park places and have yourself a good time.

When they aren't using them there are storage lots for them.

 

[Bellanca]

Nice interview from Mariah. Mariah said a couple of times how small the sport is when compared to the bigger picture. So very true. Smart girl! Always been a Bell supporter and for good reason, she has her priorities straight.

Eta: Bell’s rabbit Gizmo in quarantine with them, too.

 

[Lacey]

Her technique reminds me a great deal of Sasha Cohen's.

Twins!

 

[AxelAnnie]

Twins!

Oh...soooo not.

 

[clairecloutier]

A new update on Bradie Tennell from Figure Skaters Online.

Bradie Tennell 'living day to day' during coronavirus pandemic - Figure Skaters Online

Bradie Tennell’s suitcase was up in her room, half-packed for the 2020 World Championships in Montreal, when she heard the news that the event was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

bit.ly

Bradie on her reaction to Worlds getting canceled:

“It was literally like somebody kicked me in the gut. I was shocked. We found out four days before we were supposed to leave,” she said. “Obviously, it was the right decision, but it was very hard for me.”

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

A new update on Bradie Tennell from Figure Skaters Online.

Bradie Tennell 'living day to day' during coronavirus pandemic - Figure Skaters Online

Bradie Tennell’s suitcase was up in her room, half-packed for the 2020 World Championships in Montreal, when she heard the news that the event was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

bit.ly

Bradie on her reaction to Worlds getting canceled:

I was just reading this now having my morning glass of orange juice and vodka where I forgot to put in the orange juice.

I’ll cross reference this into my fan thread for the 2020 world silver medalist

 

[Alexa]

Article about Mirai helping with Parent’s restaurant during this difficult time

Column: Olympian Mirai Nagasu finds hope in fight to keep parents' restaurant from closing

Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu, who grew up in her parents' restaurant in Arcadia, is determined not to let the coronavirus close the family business.

www.latimes.com

She also posted the article on IG

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[aftershocks]

^^ More about this on U.S. figure skating Instagram with a link:

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Kudos to Mirai! ♥

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's a short article on Indi Cha, who was U.S. ladies intermediate national champion in 2018:

Cha glides into new mindset after injury comeback

Sophomore Indi Cha’s skating career was turned upside down when the doctors could not find a diagnosis for the injury that kept her from doing what she loves. After weeks of being away from the rink, Cha simply wanted an answer. She longed to be back on the ice, gliding, jumping, and twisting...

thenewtonite.com

Indi lost most of last season to a knee injury, but is now almost recovered and hoping for a successful return to the ice.

The article doesn't mention the current covid-19 situation and how that may be affecting her.

 

[Sylvia]

Polina Edmunds' tweet today (includes 4 photos): https://twitter.com/PolinaEdmunds/status/1272573368638689283

Graduating with a bachelors degree in Communication & minor in Business! Thank you @SantaClaraUniv for the happiest 4 years of my life

Congratulations to her!

USFS' website has featured articles on several U.S. ladies in rcent months...

Mirai Nagasu: https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/productive-and-hopeful-nagasu-sorting-life-out-boston
Excerpt from the end:

Next up for Nagasu, she hopes, is regaining strength in her hip. She’s consulting with Dr. Ellen Geminiani, the chair of the U.S. Figure Skating Sports Science and Medicine Committee who practices at Boston Children’s Hospital, in hopes of resolving chronic pain from her earlier surgery. Even if she never returns to competition, she would certainly like to pursue a performing and coaching career free of pain.
“Nothing is as satisfying as pushing through a long program,” she said. “I guess I like to be hard and mean to myself because there’s nothing like feeling your lungs almost give out after a long program, and then going back to work on the elements that you made mistakes on. I miss all that.”

Gracie Gold Q&A: https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/gracie-gold-getting-back
Excerpt:

Tell me about the standing ovation at the U.S. Championships.

Gracie: I ended in my lunge, and I was like, “OK, that was pretty good. That wasn’t too bad.” But then the audience erupted. The noise was overwhelmingly loud and it was for something bigger than the performance. That was different, because that doesn’t happen a lot in skating. But they were standing up —the feeling and the energy was for something bigger than skating. It felt like it was for me as a person, and that was different. And then how long the applause lasted. At first, I wasn’t crying because I had so much adrenaline, but then the moment immediately brought tears to my eyes, because the applause was still going at the same intensity even while I was bowing.
I was aware the skating didn’t deserve that, but it was just that moment that was bigger than skating, bigger than my performance. It felt like it stood for something and that I was being applauded for my journey and for what that moment in my life symbolized.

Both Mariah and Bradie spoke with USFS' Friends of Figure Skating members via a Zoom chat in recent months.
Bradie in May:

Tennell weathers pandemic with family | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

Link to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfcOcSjP0QE

Mariah in April: https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/life-inside-mariah-bells-rv
Link to watch (from inside her parents' RV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-kQDUpEjs4

 

[Wyliefan]

Congrats to Polina! Ting Cui also graduated (from high school). https://www.instagram.com/p/CBUAXAypUAs/?igshid=xgy0u7szwste

 

[Sylvia]

Alysa Liu Reflects on Season's Accomplishments (May 12): https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...-liu-reflects-on-seasons-accomplishments.aspx

Link to watch Alysa's Off-Ice Challenge video from April: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ODRKJgb8V/

 

[natsulian]

According to TSL, Alysa Liu has changed coaches and will now be under Massimo Scali. They said that, "signs point to working with Lee Barkell." Fans were speculating after Liu unfollowed Laura on Instagram but hopefully the split was amicable. Wishing Alysa the best of luck with this coaching change.

Original tweet: https://twitter.com/SkatingLesson/status/1275067773266227201?s=20

 

[Sylvia]

Excerpt that quotes Massimo Scali on working with Alysa from this article after the 2020 Nationals SP: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/01...-has-long-climb-at-u-s-skating-championships/

Most recently, Liu has started to work with Massimo Scali, a three-time Olympic ice dancer from Italy.
“The goal for Alysa’s improvement is to raise the level of her skating skills to reach an effortless way of skating,” Scali said this week. “Also, improving the maturity and the quality of her movements by focusing on her expression and connectivity throughout the programs.”
Scali is confident the 4-foot-10 Liu will eventually become a more complete skater.
“Alysa has absorbed so much new information in just a few weeks of working together,” he said. “She’s already more polished and demonstrating better flow, attention to detail and expression. That’s what I expect from her this year and I know she will make it happen.”

ETA that this is the most recent article, published on June 18, about Alysa (I assume her quotes are from 2020 Junior Worlds): https://www.goldenskate.com/2020/06/repetition-is-key-for-usas-alysa-liu/

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

According to TSL, Alysa Liu has changed coaches and will now be under Massimo Scali. They said that, "signs point to working with Lee Barkell." Fans were speculating after Liu unfollowed Laura on Instagram but hopefully the split was amicable. Wishing Alysa the best of luck with this coaching change.

Original tweet: https://twitter.com/SkatingLesson/status/1275067773266227201?s=20

huh? why? what happened?

Scali is coaching single ladies?

 

[Rebecca Moose]

it was clear laura lipetsky was in over her head this season, once alysa competed internationally, so I'm relieved to see this change.

 

[Jayar]

it was clear laura lipetsky was in over her head this season, once alysa competed internationally, so I'm relieved to see this change.

How did you come to that conclusion?

 

[Rebecca Moose]

How did you come to that conclusion?

losing to the russian girl for silver at junior worlds who didn't have a quad or a 3axel is a BIG problem. alysa needs a coach who can properly promote and politic for her. she's going against the eteri machine and I don't think lipetsky is up to it. the programs were OK but needed to be better and showcase alysa more.

 

[aliona22]

losing to the russian girl for silver at junior worlds who didn't have a quad or a 3axel is a BIG problem. alysa needs a coach who can properly promote and politic for her. she's going against the eteri machine and I don't think lipetsky is up to it. the programs were OK but needed to be better and showcase alysa more.

This ^

Seeing Alysa on the ice with the Russian girls highlighted her lack of speed, ice coverage, and power.

 

[Vagabond]

Seeing Alysa on the ice with the Russian girls highlighted her lack of speed, ice coverage, and power.

And yet, she's now training with Massimo Scali.

 

[Sylvia]

Phil Hersh's tweet: https://twitter.com/olyphil/status/1275150765070450690

Got confirmation from person with first-hand knowledge that 2-time US Fig Skate Champ [Alysa Liu] has left longtime coach Laura Lipetsky to work with team including Massimo Scali in Oakland and Lori Nichol / Lee Barkell in Toronto. They had been together all 9 years Liu has skated

ETA that USFS' press release is out (same version is linked below): https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/press-release/alysa-liu-announces-coaching-change

Two-time and reigning U.S. champion Alysa Liu announced today that she will begin training under a new team of coaches including Lee Barkell, Lori Nichol and Massimo Scali. She has worked with all the coaches except Barkell in the past.
Liu, who became the youngest lady to win a U.S. title at age 13 in 2019, will continue to be based in Oakland, California.
“I am very excited to announce that I will be training under the guidance of a new team of coaches including Lee Barkell, Lori Nichol and Massimo Scali," Liu said. "I look forward to working with all my coaches even though some of them are located in different parts of the world.”
...
“I want to take this opportunity to thank my former coach Laura Lipetsky for everything she has done for me since the beginning of my career,” Liu said. “We’ve worked so closely together and she has helped me get to where I am today.”
Liu will compete as a junior internationally and senior domestically during the 2020-21 season.

 

[Firedancer]

US Figure Skating Fan Zone article:

Alysa Liu Announces Coaching Change - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Two-time and reigning U.S. champion Alysa Liu announced today that she will begin training under a new team of coaches including Lee Barkell, Lori Nichol, and Massimo

usfigureskatingfanzone.com