U.S. Women [#1]: The Contenders Unmask Themselves

[Sylvia]

The qualifying competition in Henderson, Nevada this week has Mariah Bell (she already has a bye to Nationals but good idea to compete before her GP season, especially since she now doesn't have an ISU Challenger beforehand) and Hanna Harrell listed in Senior; JGP singles competitors listed in Junior are Clare Seo, Mia Kalin, and Josephine Lee. They all compete on Friday & Saturday (to be streamed on Peacock Premium).

 

[Frau Muller]

The qualifying competition in Henderson, Nevada this week has Mariah Bell (she already has a bye to Nationals but good idea to compete before her GP season, especially since she now doesn't have an ISU Challenger beforehand) and Hanna Harrell listed in Senior; JGP singles competitors listed in Junior are Clare Seo, Mia Kalin, and Josephine Lee. They all compete on Friday & Saturday (to be streamed on Peacock Premium).

My greatest hope is that Mia Kalin has ditched the black-red onesie Sambo-Wanna-Be costume for the LP. Complete with gloves...exactly like Valieva’s Bolero in Finlandia!

 

[Coco]

Thanks, @Sylvia

ETA: I've been looking at who scored what and who is in which 'priority' group for Olympic selection.

Basically, it is too soon to know anything although Karen, Alysa and Lindsey have not hurt themselves. That said, I do think Nationals will be as important as ever, if not more so. I am almost impressed with USFSA's selection criteria. It seems well thought out and relatively transparent. Fingers crossed that team selection is uncontroversial and no one feels double crossed.

 

[Jarrett]

Finally watched Karen's programs. They are lovely and I didn't expect anything less. Can't wait to see her on the Grand Prix (the rest of the U.S. women too!)

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting here from the Championship Series thread last night in Kiss & Cry:

69.73 for Mariah's "River Flows In You" [by Yiruma] SP debut - 2A with nice edges/turns on entry & exit, 3F+2T, back spiral to 3Lz.

I liked what I saw.

I don't think she's planning to skate her FS (reportedly has gone back to Hallelujah) because she's not listed in the starting order of the final group in Henderson, NV tonight.

 

[Sylvia]

Copying over the relevant parts of this post from the Challenger Series thread (thanks, @Stephanie):

USFS has published their entries for the November challengers:

Cup of Austria: Andrews, Shin, Tennell

Warsaw Cup: Izzo, Tennell, Thorngren
A few comments from me:
-Tennell will be competing 3 weekends in a row and 4 weekends out of 5. I'll be surprised if she ends up doing both challengers.
-Andrews and Shin will now have byes to nationals with their 3 challenger/GP assignments

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Copying over the relevant parts of this post from the Challenger Series thread (thanks, @Stephanie):

So this event will give Lindsay Thorngren the chance to earn her senior minimums? Good, get it out of the way. She'll probably be on the Olympic team.

 

[olympic]

This particular program from Mariah Bell - I feel like I am watching the best of MK and Sasha in one person; the soft lyrical overall quality and good technique of MK, and the flexibility, spins and performance quality of Sasha. This can go far! I would not count her out for the Olympic team

ETA - the ponytail made me think of Sasha circa 2002

 

[mtnskater]

If you have Peacock and haven’t watched Starr Andrew’s short program from the Blaine, MN competition, I highly recommend checking it out. A good reminder of just how good Starr can be! Wish she could produce this type of performance consistently. All around fabulous. I know her eeville twin reappeared for the free but that short was great!

Also watched Mariah Bell’s new short from Henderson. Now that program is vintage Mariah. Gorgeous and spellbinding. Perfect for her IMHO. She is such a special performer and the jumps were really good (lutz, flip/2 toe and 2 axel) even though no 3/3.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

If you have Peacock and haven’t watched Starr Andrew’s short program from the Blaine, MN competition, I highly recommend checking it out. A good reminder of just how good Starr can be! Wish she could produce this type of performance consistently. All around fabulous. I know her eeville twin reappeared for the free but that short was great!

Also watched Mariah Bell’s new short from Henderson. Now that program is vintage Mariah. Gorgeous and spellbinding. Perfect for her IMHO. She is such a special performer and the jumps were really good (lutz, flip/2 toe and 2 axel) even though no 3/3.

Is it subscription Peacock? I’m about to do that today to watch the new Halloween movie

 

[Sylvia]

Is it subscription Peacock?

Yes, Peacock Premium is streaming all the senior & junior events in the USFS' Championship Series - link to the U.S. qualifying competitions thread in the Kiss & Cry section: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ifying-competitions-oct-5-nov-20-2021.108695/

 

[wickedwitch]

I don't particularly love Mariah's new SP -- although it could just need more mileage -- but it's sooooo much better than her old SP that I don't care.

(I am still amazed at how bad it was. I can't remember watching such a terrible program -- and that's saying something! I have no clue how Raf (or even Mariah herself) thought that program was remotely decent.)

 

[mtnskater]

Is Kanon Smith scheduled to compete at any of the Nationals qualifiers? Or is she out of Nationals?

 

[Marco]

I don't particularly love Mariah's new SP -- although it could just need more mileage -- but it's sooooo much better than her old SP that I don't care.

(I am still amazed at how bad it was. I can't remember watching such a terrible program -- and that's saying something! I have no clue how Raf (or even Mariah herself) thought that program was remotely decent.)

It's like... bland is sufficient in comparison.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

It's like... bland is sufficient in comparison.

That is her major problem. Bland is her forte. She has the personality of a perky smiley cheerleader, and when she tried to pull off Adam Rippon's choreo to edgy/modern music to show her 'bad girl' side, well, it ain't there. Don't try it. Do not try this at home. But, she did, got it out of her system, and fortunately put that program to pasture. I'm glad she went back to Hallelujah, no matter how overdone I think that song is. It allows her to present herself at her best. And that's all we want from her.

eta: I would look just as ridiculous trying to perform Adam Rippon choreo like Mariah, so I'm not crapping on her or anything.

 

[Frau Muller]

Could somebody please explain the thing about Mariah Bell and bunnies? Does she collect stuffed bunnies...or is it a nickname? In the latest TSL episode, Dave Lease and Jeni Kirk allude to something about bunnies, related to the USFS Nats qualifier event in Nevada. Huh?

 

[Integrity]

Could somebody please explain the thing about Mariah Bell and bunnies? Does she collect stuffed bunnies...or is it a nickname? In the latest TSL episode, Dave Lease and Jeni Kirk allude to something about bunnies, related to the USFS Nats qualifier event in Nevada. Huh?

She has bunnies as pets.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

She has bunnies as pets.

Did she get one for Easter or something? A friend did this for her kids one year and by year's end she had a litter. They're cute, but get them spayed/neutered!

 

[Integrity]

Did she get one for Easter or something? A friend did this for her kids one year and by year's end she had a litter. They're cute, but get them spayed/neutered!

As far as I can recall, she's had them for years, more than one.

 

[orbitz]

It's like... bland is sufficient in comparison.

Bland and pretty have been working Ok for Karen Chen these past few years. Bell just need to land all of her jumps, including the 3-3.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Bland and pretty have been working Ok for Karen Chen these past few years. Bell just need to land all of her jumps, including the 3-3.

Karen Chen has been such a disappointment as a fan for six years. Yes, Butterfly Lovers is pretty pretty, but she is capable of so much more choreographically. I would like more Chinese movements and less NorthAmericanPrettyArms in her program. Otherwise, she just comes across as boring to me. Pretty, but boring.

 

[wickedwitch]

Is Kanon Smith scheduled to compete at any of the Nationals qualifiers? Or is she out of Nationals?

The list of competitors hasn't been publicized for most of the events, so we can't know.

 

[kwanatic]

That is her major problem. Bland is her forte. She has the personality of a perky smiley cheerleader, and when she tried to pull off Adam Rippon's choreo to edgy/modern music to show her 'bad girl' side, well, it ain't there. Don't try it. Do not try this at home. But, she did, got it out of her system, and fortunately put that program to pasture. I'm glad she went back to Hallelujah, no matter how overdone I think that song is. It allows her to present herself at her best. And that's all we want from her.

eta: I would look just as ridiculous trying to perform Adam Rippon choreo like Mariah, so I'm not crapping on her or anything.

I wouldn't call Mariah bland--that's a bit harsh. She just shines in traditional lyrical or safe programs. Honestly, I think she can pull off the "bad girl" thing just fine, with the right choreography and music. Her Britney SP was surprisingly entertaining and, when she nailed it, it scored well. I think Adam may have been trying to go for a viral/get-them-talking moment with that vogueing SP and it just ended up being a big clusterf*ck of a mess.

Hallelujah is a beautiful program and I'm very happy she went back to it as well. That is an Olympic program--I can see her having another moment with it at nationals and in Beijing as well. Now that first FS she had...THAT was a bland program. Actually I'd say it was boring and, again, it's an Olympic year. You want something that can create a moment and that FS would have just created nap time for the audience.

I love Yiruma's music and that piece is beautiful. It's safe but it's pretty so it will work.

 

[Frau Muller]

As far as I can recall, she's had them for years, more than one.

Thanks.

 

[Sylvia]

Fan Zone article on Audrey Shin who will make her "real" Grand Prix debut later this week:

Audrey Shin Looks to Repeat Magic at Skate America® - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Last year, Audrey Shin surprised everyone, including herself, when she earned the bronze medal at the 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America behind veterans Mariah Bell

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Basically, it is too soon to know anything although Karen, Alysa and Lindsey have not hurt themselves. That said, I do think Nationals will be as important as ever, if not more so. I am almost impressed with USFSA's selection criteria. It seems well thought out and relatively transparent. Fingers crossed that team selection is uncontroversial and no one feels double crossed.

I agree, and it appears we are probably set with a team comprised of Alysa, Bradie, and Karen. No big surprises are likely, though Thorngren taking Karen's spot would be nice.

 

[VGThuy]

I agree, and it appears we are probably set with a team comprised of Alysa, Bradie, and Karen. No big surprises are likely, though Thorngren taking Karen's spot would be nice.

Depending on your perspective, I guess.

 

[Sylvia]

Depending on your perspective, I guess.

Not need for the "I guess."

 

[Coco]

I hate to think of any of them that making it, but I feel that Bradie is far more vulnerable than Karen. At least Bradie has a medal from Pyeongchang team event.

I feel that Lindsay is going to be on the team. It will most likely be Alyssa, Karen and Lindsey.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

I hate to think of any of them that making it, but I feel that Bradie is far more vulnerable than Karen. At least Bradie has a medal from Pyeongchang team event.

I feel that Lindsay is going to be on the team. It will most likely be Alyssa, Karen and Lindsey.

I am concerned with Bradie too. But she has never really been a major </UR skater like Karen, so her return to form shouldn't be as hard. Just get back to BradieForm, no need to start learning 3axels at this point.