U.S. Ladies [#29]: Skating with Adjusted Vision

[SkateFanBerlin]

I maintain this is still one of the finest ladies programs of the 21st century code of points era. Pure class. The Russians should be required to take notes on the innate musicality and flow here. And for the jumps-obsessed,a flawless triple-triple and triple lutz.

Also Miss Corwin's "Take Five" is the definitive version: https://youtu.be/qsW83cfrmf4 Criminally undermarked,per usual.

-BB

You guys don't see big pre-rotation?

 

[Sylvia]

2021 Nationals Junior Ladies final standings (protocols are linked from here): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/27989/CAT005SEG010.html

Top 5:

GOLD Isabeau Levito was 2nd in FS (121.82) with 7 triples landed, including opening 3Lz! and second half 3F+3T< (9 points) & 3Lz!+1Eu+3Sq (her highest scoring element at 10.35). She kept both her programs from last season and skated them very precisely and with polish.

SILVER Kanon Smith won FS (123.36) landing 7 triples, including opening 3F+3T< (8.55 points) & 2A+1Eu+3S (9.05 points), 3Loq; both 3Lz received edge warnings; her final layback, very fast with deeply arched back up to one-handed Biellmann, was awarded all +5s by the judges. Skated with a big smile - very endearing and charming performer!

BRONZE Clare Seo - 6 triples attempted with opening 3Lz+3T<< fall, her second half 2A+1Eu+3S (small step out) & solo 3Lz with good speed/flow both received 8 points; only one with all level 4s for spins & steps. Looked very fast across the ice and also like she was enjoying being out there.

PEWTER Ava Ziegler - came back from 8th in SP, went for 6 triples, landing 5 (though several had messy landings) - graceful and elegant style.

5 Elsa Cheng - opening 2A+3Tq followed by 5 triples cleanly landed, including 3Lz+2T & 3Lz+2T+2Lo; very serious expression throughout.

Mia landed a beautiful 4T<!!!!

Here's a clip of Mia Kalin's 4T that opened her Junior FS at Nationals (gutsy!): https://www.instagram.com/p/CKVPVTKDRhe/
4T< = 7.60 (base value) -1.67 GOE +2.00 jump bonus = 7.93 points

I really liked what I saw from Adele Zheng in 7th - very deep knees and good movement across the ice & received level 4 for her step sequence in both programs.

@natsulian and anyone else who watched the event - what were your highlights in the Junior ladies' free skates?

 

[mtnskater]

I just watched Junior ladies. What a great group of talented skaters. Very exciting.

I was so taken by Kanon Smith. I loved everything about her performance. The music was wonderful for her...so age appropriate and she presented it with such charm and delight. Her jumps are excellent . But the highlight was the eye popping, jaw dropping layback Bielmann sequence. Is she truly 12 years old? Just wow. I had never seen her before this competition.

Also Isabeau Levito has such beautiful line and positions and so solid on her jump landings with gorgeous rotation in the air. She really did credit to her Carmen music and can pull it off at her age, which is amazing. Loved her presentation in the short program too (“Pehaps, Perhaps Perhaps”). So very much happily reminds me of one of my all time faves Sasha Cohen. I’ve been a fan enjoying her development the last few seasons. Now she is Junior National Champ!

Clare Seo impressed with her speed. I think she has great potential too.

And Mia for being such a tiny leggy skater going for a quad. Love that she is so ambitious!

I also really liked Ava Ziegler’s presentation. Lovely ability to present the choreography.

Also as Sylvia said Adele Zheng looks promising too.

Oh and I almost forgot Kate Wang. An obvious growth spurt but her jumps look stronger and better. Kudos to her for that. If She is in the Bay Area maybe she can work with Scali or Cassar on posture and presentation because she is great technically.

ETA: I stand corrected that Isabeau skated to Malguena...all the same it was a great interpretation at her age.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

You guys don't see big pre-rotation?

No

 

[Frau Muller]

...

Also Isabeau Levito has such beautiful line and positions and so solid on her jump landings with gorgeous rotation in the air. She really did credit to her Carmen music and can pull it off at her age, which is amazing. Loved her presentation in the short program too (“Pehaps, Perhaps Perhaps”). So very much happily reminds me of one of my all time faves Sasha Cohen. I’ve been a fan enjoying her development the last few seasons. Now she is Junior National Champ!

...

...

Levito skated to Malagueña, not Carmen. Sorry but I fail to see any resemblance to Sasha Cohen...maybe a somewhat crude version (effortful). For ex., the spiral in front of the judges had wobbly edge...struggled to maintain position. Frozen smile that stopped the moment that the music ended.

Sometimes it’s about going into a competition as “the anointed one” and cranking out the tech. Kanon Smith, Clare Seo and a couple of others were smoother, musical, natural and generally more pleasant. Different points of view.

 

[mtnskater]

Levito skated to Malagueña, not Carmen. Sorry but I fail to see any resemblance to Sasha Cohen...maybe a somewhat crude version (effortful). For ex., the spiral in front of the judges had wobbly edge...struggled to maintain position. Frozen smile that stopped the moment that the music ended.

Sometimes it’s about going into a competition as “the anointed one” and cranking out the tech. Kanon Smith, Clare Seo and a couple of others were smoother, musical, natural and generally more pleasant. Different points of view.

To each his own Frau But thanks for the correction. Right as I was posting I thought “was it Malaguena or Carmen?” and somehow remembered Carmen

 

[euterpe]

I noticed how leggy Kate Wang and Isabeau Levito have gotten in the past 6 months. That had to affect their jumps for sure.

 

[layman]

The resemblance between Isabeau Levito and Sasha Cohen is striking. I see it in the way they both are aware of line, the way they point their feet and stretch to create that perfect line. I see it in the basic stroking. I see it in the jump technique...they both pull in tightly and point their feet at the top of the jump. I see it in the entrances and exits of the jumps. I see it in the spin technique...the flexibility that both skaters show...the centering and the perfect positions. I see it in the way they both listen to their music and use the music to make choreographic points. I don't remember Sasha ever being as consistent with the jumps as Isabeau is though.

 

[Jammers]

The resemblance between Isabeau Levito and Sasha Cohen is striking. I see it in the way they both are aware of line, the way they point their feet and stretch to create that perfect line. I see it in the basic stroking. I see it in the jump technique...they both pull in tightly and point their feet at the top of the jump. I see it in the entrances and exits of the jumps. I see it in the spin technique...the flexibility that both skaters show...the centering and the perfect positions. I see it in the way they both listen to their music and use the music to make choreographic points. I don't remember Sasha ever being as consistent with the jumps as Isabeau is though.

Not sure if having the same jump technique or basic stroking as Sasha is good though since those were her weakest elements and were not exactly top notch.

 

[bladesofgorey]

You guys don't see big pre-rotation?

Corwin doesn't pre-rotate these jumps. She turns her head and shoulders before rotation but if you watch her take-offs she doesn't pre-rotate the jump itself. She also doesn't toe-axel, it's just that her head and shoulders turn out of the circle on all of her jumps and it's especially true for her toeloops. Her blade leaves the ice correctly.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Corwin doesn't pre-rotate these jumps. She turns her head and shoulders before rotation but if you watch her take-offs she doesn't pre-rotate the jump itself. She also doesn't toe-axel, it's just that her head and shoulders turn out of the circle on all of her jumps and it's especially true for her toeloops. Her blade leaves the ice correctly.

I'm reminded of how two skaters in particular, Elvis Stojko from Canada and USA's Troy Goldstein, appeared to jump using their heads instead their arms to create rotation if that makes sense.

 

[Marco]

Sorry but I fail to see any resemblance to Sasha Cohen...maybe a somewhat crude version (effortful). For ex., the spiral in front of the judges had wobbly edge...struggled to maintain position. Frozen smile that stopped the moment that the music ended.

These things do remind me to Sasha though.

 

[Frau Muller]

These things do remind me to Sasha though.

Was Sasha wobbly on spirals? She’d hit glorious positions and glide smoothly.

I truly hope that Levito can continue to improve on speed, edging, sincerity of delivery. She and several other top Jrs have a lot of great qualities.

 

[natsulian]

My thoughts on the junior ladies:

- Isabeau Levito: I've watched this young lady keenly, ever since she popped up on my radar some few years ago at the Intermediate level. What struck me about Levito was not her jumps but her beautiful lines, extensions, musicality, and humongous presence on the ice. As soon as she steps on the ice, you can't help but be drawn in because of her unequivocal command of the ice. This competition was no different. Isabeau improved major aspects of her skating such as her speed and skating skills. Her performances were superb. However, if there was any critique I would give, I would love for Isabeau to work with a jump specialist to improve her technique. Although not horrendous, the "halt before you jump" habit is not going to do her jumps any favor in terms of cleanliness and execution. I will say, however, that based purely on her double-Axel, they have DEFINITELY improved her jumps. However, before heading into the international arena, I hope Isabeau works on her jumps and speed because everything else is EXCELLENT.

- Kanon Smith: I first watched Kanon skate when her Juvenile level video randomly popped on YouTube. Kanon not only has the elusive "IT" factor to her skating but her overall maturity and presence far exceeds the level of choreography she was given. Although her programs played to her strengths and presented her as a "child having fun on the ice," her skating seemed too poised and elegant for such juvenile programs. Kanon's strength, to me, lies in her jumps. With her jumps, Kanon gains great height and distance while landing with soft knees and a beautiful edge. However, I hope Kanon improves the rotation of the triple-Toe on her triple-triples so that she will not penalized. Moreover, I thought her spins were in a class of their own. Kanon's layback was probably the best--senior or junior.

- Mia Kalin: Mia was tremendously gutsy attempting the quad-Toe and although under-rotated, it is a huge step forward for this young lady. Although Mia needs to improve her speed, spins, and musicality, her drive to push the technical boundaries are quite commendable. I hope Mia works on her consistency in competition as well because I've seen her do multiple clean run-throughs during practices but in competition, she hesitates, loses speed, and it is attributing to her jumps being short of rotation and her overall programs lacking dynamic and attack.

Honorable Mentions: Adele Zheng, Elsa Cheng, Ava Ziegler, and Clare Seo.

 

[VGThuy]

Was Sasha wobbly on spirals? She’d hit glorious positions and glide smoothly.

I truly hope that Levito can continue to improve on speed, edging, sincerity of delivery. She and several other top Jrs have a lot of great qualities.

Sasha was at the beginning of her career depending. Like those opening spirals in her Carmen LP from 2002. They got better as her skating skills improved.

 

[aml78]

Random but does anyone know what happened to Elise Freezer? Did she quit?

 

[Tinami Amori]

Random but does anyone know what happened to Elise Freezer? Did she quit?

I think she stopped skating competitively. Her mother made the IG private right after that. I remember before she did that, she posted something about "injury is not healing that fast" and then something about "puberty is not being friendly to Elise". Then some times later, she posted that Elise still wants to skate, but the photos posted (imo) showed that Elise is skating for fun, and not training for the competition. after that i did not look.

 

[Willin]

@aml78 Yes. She quit.

 

[crzesk8dad]

I think she stopped skating competitively. Her mother made the IG private right after that. I remember before she did that, she posted something about "injury is not healing that fast" and then something about "puberty is not being friendly to Elise". Then some times later, she posted that Elise still wants to skate, but the photos posted (imo) showed that Elise is skating for fun, and not training for the competition. after that i did not look.

She did do a commercial for SunTrust bank, when she was 11 years of age:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1671RHB1Us

 

[Tinami Amori]

She did do a commercial for SunTrust bank, when she was 11 years of age:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1671RHB1Us

Yes, and then she went to Canada to be coached by Osmond's coach, and she and her mother were travelling back and force between Colorado and Canada. She continued to skate for about a year or so, after she did that commercial, and her mother gave a couple of interviews how expensive figure skating is.

 

[radcliffe96]

My thoughts on the junior ladies:

- Isabeau Levito: I've watched this young lady keenly, ever since she popped up on my radar some few years ago at the Intermediate level. What struck me about Levito was not her jumps but her beautiful lines, extensions, musicality, and humongous presence on the ice. As soon as she steps on the ice, you can't help but be drawn in because of her unequivocal command of the ice. This competition was no different. Isabeau improved major aspects of her skating such as her speed and skating skills. Her performances were superb. However, if there was any critique I would give, I would love for Isabeau to work with a jump specialist to improve her technique. Although not horrendous, the "halt before you jump" habit is not going to do her jumps any favor in terms of cleanliness and execution. I will say, however, that based purely on her double-Axel, they have DEFINITELY improved her jumps. However, before heading into the international arena, I hope Isabeau works on her jumps and speed because everything else is EXCELLENT.

- Kanon Smith: I first watched Kanon skate when her Juvenile level video randomly popped on YouTube. Kanon not only has the elusive "IT" factor to her skating but her overall maturity and presence far exceeds the level of choreography she was given. Although her programs played to her strengths and presented her as a "child having fun on the ice," her skating seemed too poised and elegant for such juvenile programs. Kanon's strength, to me, lies in her jumps. With her jumps, Kanon gains great height and distance while landing with soft knees and a beautiful edge. However, I hope Kanon improves the rotation of the triple-Toe on her triple-triples so that she will not penalized. Moreover, I thought her spins were in a class of their own. Kanon's layback was probably the best--senior or junior.

- Mia Kalin: Mia was tremendously gutsy attempting the quad-Toe and although under-rotated, it is a huge step forward for this young lady. Although Mia needs to improve her speed, spins, and musicality, her drive to push the technical boundaries are quite commendable. I hope Mia works on her consistency in competition as well because I've seen her do multiple clean run-throughs during practices but in competition, she hesitates, loses speed, and it is attributing to her jumps being short of rotation and her overall programs lacking dynamic and attack.

Honorable Mentions: Adele Zheng, Elsa Cheng, Ava Ziegler, and Clare Seo.

Nice wrapup @natsulian.

Looking at the protocols and planned content of this year's nationals, some things really struck me. Out of ALL juniors AND seniors at this nationals, there were only 4 clean triple-triples executed in the freeskates. Anyone please double check that but I think it's correct. They were by Mia (LzT), Bradie (LzT), Amber (FT) and Rena Ikenishi (FEuSal).

Mia did her clean Lz Toe AFTER landing a legitimately scored 4T< (not a fall, not a downgrade) and a 3F. "Gutsy" is indeed a good word for this. Her planned content had her doing the next flip in combo (3F+Eu+3S) but it looked like her legs died at that point and she fell on the flip. Yet she still had the presence of mind and the determination to put her last axel into a combo to make up for it (2A+Eu+3S).

Isabeau, Mia and Kate were the only three juniors who even planned to execute two triple-triples in their freeskates. My impression of Kanon is that she will fight to get in on that too.

I think only about a third the seniors planned (according to their PPC) to do 2 triple triples, which is really the minimum required to be relevant internationally.

 

[Natanielle825]

I didn't watch the juniors but the 3-3 situation in the seniors was very discouraging. At the last Olympics, all our girls tried only one 3-3 in the free. While I greatly appreciate Bradie's consistency, and Alyssa's past success, as a whole the field has not much improved. On the one hand I hope they're all working on triple axels, on the other hand I hope they're all getting their acts together on competitive combinations.

 

[Sylvia]

Local New Jersey article on Lindsay Thorngren who placed 6th in her senior national debut:

Montclair Figure Skater Lindsay Thorngren Eyes 2022 Olympics

Montclair High School freshman and figure skater Lindsay Thorngren always puts her left skate on first, then her right.

baristanet.com

Excerpt:

Thorngren trains for three hours, five days a week at the Ice House in Hackensack, N.J. with [Julia] Latouwa – her coach since she was six years old.
“She’s a very driven girl, very focused on her goals and concentrated,” Latouwa said. “She’s shy, but also fierce. She’s all into what she wants to achieve. She’s very good in school too… a perfectionist all around.”
She’s was thrilled with Thorngren’s recent performance at the senior national championships, impressed by her ability to compete well in the mix of veteran skaters.
“I think she did fantastic, I’m very proud of her,” she said.
Thorngren was a little harder on herself. “There’s always room for improvement,” she said.

 

[Skibean]

I really think Thorngren could be a contender next year. She reminded me of Lipinski a little. Big expectations for herself at her first Nationals. She wanted to win. I hope she continues and working hard.

 

[edgefairy]

Amber Glenn appeared on Polina Edmunds's podcast this week! They talked about her experience at this past Nationals with mindset and the triple axel. Here's the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amber-glenn/id1525495252?i=1000507459573

You can watch the interview on youtube too:

Podcast ep. 26: Polina Edmunds x Amber Glenn Interview

I chat with 2021 US Silver medalist Amber Glenn about her skating journey, getting the triple axel and trying it in competition, how she trained mentally for...

www.youtube.com

 

[clairecloutier]

I agree that the triple/triple situation for the ladies at Nationals was disappointing, particularly the senior ladies. I have to wonder if the lack of competitions this season played into that. And whether we would have seen more triple/triples executed at Natls if the ladies had done more competitive events in general.

 

[Marco]

I agree that the triple/triple situation for the ladies at Nationals was disappointing, particularly the senior ladies. I have to wonder if the lack of competitions this season played into that. And whether we would have seen more triple/triples executed at Natls if the ladies had done more competitive events in general.

That's why I would have picked Amber over Karen, as much as I adore Karen's free skate. Amber's 3/3 was by far the more consistent and fully rotated 3/3 compared to Karen's, which had not been called clean in YEARS, and heck even compared to Bradie's which was UR all season including at Nationals which she was lucky not to have it called.

I adore Karen's skating, I really do. I just hope the USFS's preference for her this time round serves them better than it did last time in 2018 against Ashley.

 

[VGThuy]

I wouldn’t call it preference when Ashley straight up lost to Karen at 2018 Nationals even with all the calls Karen received. BOW was also on Karen’s side at that time.

 

[Coco]

We all saw 2018 Nationals. I wouldn't call it a straight up loss as Ashley had higher, albeit marginally, TSS. Karen placed higher due to PCS.

 

[VGThuy]

Either way, Karen placed ahead of Ashley. If it was the other way around and Wagner was given the Olympic spot, people wouldn't be saying Ashley stole Karen's spot or that USFS preferred Ashley. So by placing third, Karen had the assumed spot unless Ashley had other considerations to allow her to leap frog over her a la Mirai in 2014. This time, she didn't. Same thing here. Amber Glenn and Karen virtually tied but Glenn placed ahead of Karen so Karen leapt-frog over Glenn for the Worlds spot. In that situation, I will say USFS made a decision that took Glenn's assumed Worlds spot and gave it to Karen based on other considerations.