U.S. Women [#2]: The Unbearable Lightness of Beijing

[Lacey]

Many people have commented on Alysa's unsustainable jump technique with Laura which relied on her incredibly fast rotation. However, that's difficult to keep with puberty. For Laura to have succeeded with Alysa after Alysa went through puberty, she would have had to teach Alysa a whole new jump technique. I don't think Laura would have been able to do that considering she didn't teach Alysa sustainable jump technique in the first place. Jeremy and Massimo have reworked Alysa's jump technique so that she can still do triples and she's attempting the triple axel again. Laura also has no experience with working with skaters competing at the international level, and it showed with Alysa appearing more 'juniorish' than the other ladies she was competing against who were the same age as her in the 2019-20 season.

I think for Alysa, she may look "juniorish" because of her short stature. She seems to flip through her program moves quickly, but I think Jeremy and/or Massimo have reworked not just her jump technique but all of her skating so that she is getting more flow and glide and is slowing down her programs to mature them and also they are choosing the right music. She is becoming more "seniorish." It is all going to flow together.

 

[mtnskater]

So Alysa finishes third in the free skate and people are all doom and gloom about her jump technique and think she should switch coaches She was virtually tied with Young You in the free and ahead of Mana Kawabe. Young You has been on the Grand Prix a lot longer than Alysa. Same with Eunsoo who used to train with Raphael. Alysa had a fall in the short and Mana under rotated and fell on the same element in the free. Lots of the other top skaters here had q’s and underrotations and falls too.

Alysa’s progress dealing with the puberty monster is pretty amazing to me in a years time. Yes, we see things that are still needing to be addressed. But kudos to her for coming back as a top lady so quickly. I think she needs to slow down her presentation and not rush through all the complicated movements and choreography. She needs to look up more, soften her arms more and watch her posture. I think her programs may be too complex, though I love them. She isn’t going into the jumps with a lot of speed because she is doing a lot of transitions and choreography. Most of the other girls are just bombing down the ice with a few arm movement or a three turn and racking up bigger GOE because of that speed. Look at Kaori. Do the judges want speed or transitions into jumps? Seems like they want the ladies flying into jumps so maybe Alysa can simplify her moves a bit and work On speed into her jumps To gain more GOE. She is already one of the best spinners. I thought Alysa did an amazing salchow in the early part of the program. Just popped it right up during the choreography.…and I was surprised how little GOE it was given.

 

[olympic]

...and can I just add that this new 'q' rule is absolute crap. It further complicates an already complicated system that lost the sport some popularity. Just give full credit for the freaking jump to the skater!

 

[million$momma]

I think for Alysa, she may look "juniorish" because of her short stature. She seems to flip through her program moves quickly, but I think Jeremy and/or Massimo have reworked not just her jump technique but all of her skating so that she is getting more flow and glide and is slowing down her programs to mature them and also they are choosing the right music. She is becoming more "seniorish." It is all going to flow together.

I think Alysa looks juniorish because of her 'cutsy' grin. Skaters who rely on 'cutsy' for presentation when they are young often struggle as they age and take time to develop a new on ice personality.

 

[Coco]

I liked her dress yesterday, but I think brighter colors would draw attention to one of her strengths, which is her high energy presentation.

 

[zigzig]

I liked her dress yesterday, but I think brighter colors would draw attention to one of her strengths, which is her high energy presentation.

Yeah she definitely needs more stylish, sophisticated costumes with a better point of view. Her dresses are tacky and generic.

 

[Karen-W]

Yeah she definitely needs more stylish, sophisticated costumes with a better point of view. Her dresses are tacky and generic.

You think her Mathieu Caron dresses this season are tacky and generic? I think they're gorgeous, though I preferred her earlier SP dress to the one she's worn on the GP. I will say, while I like the different color for her FS dress that she debuted this weekend, I think it's lazy of the designer to use the same design as the earlier FS dress. If you're going to go to the trouble of making two dresses, at least make them distinct from each other beyond the color.

 

[honey]

There is nothing tacky about Alysa's costumes. I didn't love the new long program dress but tacky is the last thing I would call it. I think she should go back to the dress from Skate Canada though. It's a better color on her and there's just a bit too much skirt on the new one (IMO of course).

And in more important things relating to her skating, I still see her as a lock for the US team. The unders will not be a limiting factor for that (it's not like there is a pack of other US women without rotation issues). I'm sure she's looking bigger than making an olympic team though and long term, the jumps need real re-working. She has made some steps to try to fix it, and I give her and her team huge props for that, especially when she was dealing with growth as well. More needs to be done though and I imagine we won't see any huge changes until the season is over.

Right now I'd focus on more speed and I would move the combos to the first half where she might have a better chance of getting them around on fresh legs.

 

[sk9tingfan]

You think her Mathieu Caron dresses this season are tacky and generic? I think they're gorgeous, though I preferred her earlier SP dress to the one she's worn on the GP. I will say, while I like the different color for her FS dress that she debuted this weekend, I think it's lazy of the designer to use the same design as the earlier FS dress. If you're going to go to the trouble of making two dresses, at least make them distinct from each other beyond the color.

I liked her previous LP dress far better. This one washed her out but you never know how the colors will be read by the monitors. I absolutely love her SP dress.

 

[Tavi]

Am I the only one who thinks she needs to get some help back from Laura Lipetsky?

Assuming she learned her basic jump technique from Laura Lipetsky, why do you think that would help?

 

[Wyliefan]

I think Alysa looks juniorish because of her 'cutsy' grin. Skaters who rely on 'cutsy' for presentation when they are young often struggle as they age and take time to develop a new on ice personality.

She's not being "cutesy," she's naturally a joyful skater on the ice and it's really nice to see.

 

[sk9tingfan]

She's not being "cutesy," she's naturally a joyful skater on the ice and it's really nice to see.

She engages her audience as well as the judges with a lot of musical interpretation. The Russian crew of skaters make no attempt to emotionally engage anyone or anything. The only exceptions might be Kostornaia or Tuktemisheva.

 

[Coco]

I wouldn't call Scherbakova stonefaced, but she does seem to come from the Medvedeva school of "engage audience for 10-15 seconds, then focus to rip off 4-5 elements, rinse, repeat."

But if a skaters facial expression is going to be disengaged from the music / choreo, I would almost rather see a stone face than a smile, as smiles that don't fit are creepy.

There is more to Liu's presentation than smiles, though. She projects a lot of energy, hence my comment on bright colors making sense for her.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I wouldn't call Scherbakova stonefaced, but she does seem to come from the Medvedeva school of "engage audience for 10-15 seconds, then focus to rip off 4-5 elements, rinse, repeat."

Oh I would call her stone faced with little musicality.
I am sure she is a lovely woman who has mastered difficult elements....and as I if have said before, I would rather watch Sasha Cohen with 2 falls than a skater who is, clean but is skating around like a robut.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Oh I would call her stone faced with little musicality.
I am sure she is a lovely woman who has mastered difficult elements....and as I if have said before, I would rather watch Sasha Cohen with 2 falls than a skater who is, clean but is skating around like a robut.

PTSD = Post Tuberidze Stress Disorder....

 

[canbelto]

I don't think Liu looks juniorish in her presentation. I think her jumping style looks a bit juniorish because she's tiny and doesn't get much height when she jumps.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I don't think Liu looks juniorish in her presentation. I think her jumping style looks a bit juniorish because she's tiny and doesn't get much height when she jumps.

She's not that tiny any more. She's 5'2"

 

[AxelAnnie]

PTSD = Post Tuberidze Stress Disorder....

Thanks, that made me laugh~

 

[Skibean]

I prefer the smiles to the stressed out, nervous scared looks I’ve seen from several of the Russian girls.

 

[Marco]

Alysa's current coaches having her work on her basics (and it showed) is absolutely the right thing in the medium to long run. Once she gets the speed and power she needs for her body (for a top skater) she will get the spring she needs to fully rotate her jumps. Unfortunately timing isn't so right as she needs the 3axel and big tricks this season. All the URs in the GPs is upsetting but hopefully she will figure it out by Nationals / Olympics. If this is happening 2 years before the Olympics I would think she is right on track.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Alysa's current coaches having her work on her basics (and it showed) is absolutely the right thing in the medium to long run. Once she gets the speed and power she needs for her body (for a top skater) she will get the spring she needs to fully rotate her jumps. Unfortunately timing isn't so right as she needs the 3axel and big tricks this season. All the URs in the GPs is upsetting but hopefully she will figure it out by Nationals / Olympics. If this is happening 2 years before the Olympics I would think she is right on track.

More than tricks she needs GOE. For now sttay with the 3A. Focus on getting >1 GOE on 3-3's. She has plenty of BV but is wearing herself out.

 

[Frau Muller]

She's not being "cutesy," she's naturally a joyful skater on the ice and it's really nice to see.

Just like Vivien Papp of Hungary. Pure joy! Hey, so was Midori Ito as she moved from Jrs to Srs, I recall. Tracy Wainman too, in comeback year.

Keep skating with a smile, Alysa! Please do not skate to whiny Eilish songs.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

I prefer the smiles to the stressed out, nervous scared looks I’ve seen from several of the Russian girls.

Well, it's no fun watching Amber Glenn visibly stressed out and scared and nervous and bombing either. Just saying.

 

[Stephanie]

Really happy to see Hanna Harrell assigned to Golden Spin! It'll be her first international in over 2 years.

 

[Maximillian]

I have to admit I find Alysa's SP 'juniorish'. I get what she and her team are going for but I found that the choreography is a bit rushed and thus some of her positions are ill-defined. This, along with the constant smiles, gave the impression of a rather 'immature' skater. I also think that she's a done deal for the Olympic team, but...after seeing her up against the Japanese and Korean ladies this weekend, her lack of maturity was quite noticeable.

 

[Karen-W]

Really happy to see Hanna Harrell assigned to Golden Spin! It'll be her first international in over 2 years.

Yup! A surprise, for sure, great to see her return to international competition! And kudos to the USFS for getting as many of our women who could qualify for the Olympic team our on the fall international circuit!

 

[Sylvia]

Really happy to see Hanna Harrell assigned to Golden Spin! It'll be her first international in over 2 years.

Since 2019 JGP Courchevel in August 2019! Her solid showing (171.51) in the Henderson, NV qualifying last month likelt led to this assignment.

U.S. women (3) assigned to Golden Spin:

Mariah BELL
Hanna HARRELL
Bradie TENNELL
Subs: Amber GLENN, Gabriella IZZO

 

[Frau Muller]

Well, it's no fun watching Amber Glenn visibly stressed out and scared and nervous and bombing either. Just saying.

The other current US senior woman who seems to be super stressed while performing is Gabriella Izzo…and that LP music to Sunset Blvd doesn’t help, with the off-key singer, LOL! “Mr. DeMille, I’m NOT ready for my close-up!”

 

[VGThuy]

I can only take so much Glenn Close bashing.

 

[Sylvia]

Gabriella Izzo…and that LP music to Sunset Blvd doesn’t help, with the off-key singer, LOL!

But it's @peibeck's absolute favorite version!