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

[Sylvia]

2020 U.S. Junior pewter medalist Isabelle Inthisone has shared a practice clip of her 4T in the harness: https://www.instagram.com/p/CB8e_2IJlry/

 

[Willin]

Liu always said Lipetsky was like a mother to her — and she grew up without a mother. So I’d think this change is very traumatic for her. Maybe she unfollowed Lipetsky because it’s too painful to be separated. Lipetsky’s quote is consistent with this — the adults made the decision and she’s worried about how it’s affecting Alysa.

Interesting take. I wonder how Linus would do without his blanket.

Skating at the elite level, with all the decision-making, money invested, and so much at stake, must really suck the fun out of the experience. Talk about turning this into a job.

I would hate to transfer the stress and expectations I experienced working at the middle management corporate level, and apply them to my fifteen year old self, that's for sure.

It's been known in the past that USFS heavily "suggests" coaching changes to top skaters even when the skater doesn't want to (see: Gracie and Frank). I've been out of the gossip loop at Oakland for a year or so, but I would bet USFS played a heavy hand in the switch. They probably didn't want to keep paying to fly her to other states/countries to work with a variety of top coaches temporarily, so they brought a team to her permanently.

 

[feraina]

It's been known in the past that USFS heavily "suggests" coaching changes to top skaters even when the skater doesn't want to (see: Gracie and Frank). I've been out of the gossip loop at Oakland for a year or so, but I would bet USFS played a heavy hand in the switch. They probably didn't want to keep paying to fly her to other states/countries to work with a variety of top coaches temporarily, so they brought a team to her permanently.

I really hope this is true and they’ve actually found an effective way for Lee Barkell to help Liu with the jumps, despite the remote coaching. I mean, who’s going to work with her in the harness, if needed?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

It's been known in the past that USFS heavily "suggests" coaching changes to top skaters even when the skater doesn't want to (see: Gracie and Frank). I've been out of the gossip loop at Oakland for a year or so, but I would bet USFS played a heavy hand in the switch. They probably didn't want to keep paying to fly her to other states/countries to work with a variety of top coaches temporarily, so they brought a team to her permanently.

Why would the USFS have been paying at all? USFS support is a flat amount. If she wanted to fly to other states/countries to work with a variety of top couches temporarily, they wouldn't have given her extra money. And they didn't bring her a team permanently. She's working with one person in Oakland who she was already working with in Oakland and the other two members of her team are still in another country.

 

[Sylvia]

Scott Hamilton chatted with Gracie back on Friday, May 1, 2020 (uploaded on May 9; Kori Ade appears at the beginning):

Scott Hamilton Talks With Gracie Gold

In week 6 of his interview series, Scott enjoyed an EPIC conversation with the unstoppable Gracie Gold. Gracie talks about her journey in skating, the amazin...

www.youtube.com

I've posted links to 2 Ashley Wagner chats (with Jordan Cowan & Scott H.) in her cheer thread:
https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...-tonights-lecture.101175/page-26#post-5825047

 

[Rebecca Moose]

I agree.

And now her next step should be organic and fluid. She should come down here and be coached by the legendary Angela Nikodinov.

does she even coach anymore?

 

[Jammers]

I'm glad to see Alysa has a former Ice Dancer as a coach since ice dancers are all about skating skills and speed but does Alysa have a technical coach too? She's still going to need a jump coach for her jumps especially the big ones like the 3axe and quads.

 

[Willin]

Why would the USFS have been paying at all? USFS support is a flat amount. If she wanted to fly to other states/countries to work with a variety of top couches temporarily, they wouldn't have given her extra money. And they didn't bring her a team permanently. She's working with one person in Oakland who she was already working with in Oakland and the other two members of her team are still in another country.

I'm not saying they're giving her extra money. I'm saying that they would probably rather her spend that money on a stable set of coaches (even if that means flying to Canada for a few months/year) rather than spending it on flights to see people who could help her, but only work with her for a few weeks - hardly enough for any real permanent change in her skating. If they're giving her money they probably want her to spend it wisely, and wisely for them probably means a stable training environment and team rather than one coach and plenty of short stints with specialists. I would assume she can also facetime the permanent coaches in Canada easier than she could for the assortment of specialists she was working with before.

I'm glad to see Alysa has a former Ice Dancer as a coach since ice dancers are all about skating skills and speed but does Alysa have a technical coach too? She's still going to need a jump coach for her jumps especially the big ones like the 3axe and quads.

She'll be working with Lee Barkell as well.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Liu always said Lipetsky was like a mother to her — and she grew up without a mother. So I’d think this change is very traumatic for her. Maybe she unfollowed Lipetsky because it’s too painful to be separated. Lipetsky’s quote is consistent with this — the adults made the decision and she’s worried about how it’s affecting Alysa.

Maybe she was ready to go to college....and leave her mother behind. Kids do that

 

[AxelAnnie]

It's been known in the past that USFS heavily "suggests" coaching changes to top skaters even when the skater doesn't want to (see: Gracie and Frank). I've been out of the gossip loop at Oakland for a year or so, but I would bet USFS played a heavy hand in the switch. They probably didn't want to keep paying to fly her to other states/countries to work with a variety of top coaches temporarily, so they brought a team to her permanently.

Fantasy guessing

 

[Sylvia]

There are currently 29 ladies listed in the ISP (Nationals/Sectionals placements/team envelope skaters are noted):

The International Selection Pool (ISP) includes junior- and senior-level athletes and teams who meet criteria approved by the U.S. Figure Skating International Committee. These athletes and teams are eligible to be considered for assignment to international competitions.

Alysa Liu S1 (Team A)
Mariah Bell S2 (Team B)
Bradie Tennell S3 (Team A)
Karen Chen S4 (Team B)
Amber Glenn S5 (Team B)
Starr Andrews S6 (Team B)
Sierra Venetta S7 (Team C)
Courtney Hicks S8 (Team C)
Gabriella Izzo S9 (Team C)
Rena Ikenishi S10
Maxine Marie Bautista S11
Gracie Gold S12
Emily Zhang S13
Paige Rydberg S14
Sarah Jung S15
Caitlin Ha S17
Ting Cui S-wd (Team C)
Hanna Harrell S-wd (Team C)
Julia Biechler E-S5
Audrey Shin E-S6
Lindsay Thorngren J1 (Team C)
Isabeau Levito E-N1/J2 (Team C)
Calista Choi J3 (Team C)
Isabelle Inthisone J4 (Team D)
Kate Wang J5 (Team D)
Tamnhi Huynh M-N2/J6 (Team D)
Elsa Cheng M-N1/J7 (Team D)
Hannah Herrera J15 (Team D)
Alena Budko (scored 159.66 in winning NWP Regional Junior Ladies)

Team D envelope (not in ISP but likely in the Athlete High Performance Development Pool):
Hazel Collier E-N2/J16
Michelle Lee P-N1/J18

There are published criteria re. qualifying for team envelope funding - link is posted in this thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...opes-international-selection-pool-isp.107349/

 

[Tinami Amori]

Isabeau Levito E-N1/J2 (Team C) --- moving up in the world of US skating!!!!!

 

[Sylvia]

Natalia Linichuk has shared a short clip of Emily Zhang skating to The Cinematic Orchestra's "To Build A Home": https://www.instagram.com/p/CCS5QFcpNHx/

 

[Sylvia]

Back in February there was some local media coverage of 2020 U.S. Junior silver medalist Isabeau Levito who has since turned 13:

Meeting Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Dream Come True For 12-Year-Old South Jersey Olympic Hopeful

Isabeau Levito is already a two-time medalist at the U.S. Championships, but meeting her favorite Flyers on Friday was a dream come true.

philadelphia.cbslocal.com

Another local article mentioned she was preparing to compete in Italy -- presumably in the advanced novice category of Egna Spring Trophy (cancelled due to the p*ndemic ).

My fan cam clip of the last 40 seconds of Levito's Nationals free skate: https://twitter.com/SylviaUnseen/status/1220423705991532544

 

[gkelly]

‘I Want to Inspire Them’ - Amber Glenn Reflects on a Memorable U.S. Championships – and Beyond

 

[Sylvia]

Nick McCarvel's article (linked above) mentioned that Amber Glenn, like Isabeau Levito, was scheduled to compete at Egna Spring Trophy before it was cancelled.

ETA:

USFS has shared Amber's 2020 Nationals SP on their IGTV: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCZZdEigyDK/

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

‘I Want to Inspire Them’ - Amber Glenn Reflects on a Memorable U.S. Championships – and Beyond

GET IT AMBER!

Love her!!!!!!

 

[Sylvia]

Hanna Harrell demonstrates an edge exercise that uses a hockey puck: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCbeAaxJlUM/

 

[natsulian]

Natalia posted, on Instagram, training videos of Ting Cui jumping and spinning.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCbo7x5plbY/?igshid=1tgodvms9lxqn

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCZDdXjp3sq/?igshid=oj6fvmqmzhf9

 

[Sylvia]

Karen Chen, Starr Andrews & Pooja Kalyan are 3 U.S. ladies who have appeared in USFS' promo videos for the 2020 virtual edition of the Peggy Fleming Trophy artistic competition: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCUTPE2AJ6O/ & https://www.instagram.com/p/CCb_NXYAy-l/

The comp. will be streamed via USFS' Fan Zone platform on Friday, July 17‬, starting at 7 pm Eastern time.