U.S. Women [#3]: Skating Clean

[Sylvia]

For those without access to the Kiss & Cry section, 13-year-old Soho Lee won the U.S. Junior Team Cup in Milwaukee this past weekend and should be able to make her JGP debut this season:

Video of Soho Lee's winning FP to The Nutcracker:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

This kid has really got something! Beautiful presentation skills for her age!

 

[ice coverage]

OMG ... Kate Wang is part of Steph Curry's new Snapchat original series, "Level Up with Stephen Curry."

So far, Kate is seen in the trailer.

Level Up With Stephen Curry

Watch Level Up With Stephen Curry on Snapchat

story.snapchat.com

Also tweeted by Steph: https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1539784388111568896 (Jun 22)​

And on Snapchat's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/shorts/ABs60Ui0pvw​

Kate's individual episode is yet to come.

"Stephen Curry, NBA superstar, mentors and empowers up-and-coming athletes to raise their game—both on and off the court—in ways they never thought possible."
"Watch Stephen Curry become Coach Curry"

A glimpse of Kate also is seen on a huge wraparound electronic billboard promoting the series, as seen in today's tweet from Steph:

https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1543368518149623808 (Jul 2)​

(Maybe it is this billboard in LA? https://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/news/sna-displays-brings-wrap-around-led-wall-to-downtown-la/ )

Congratulations, Kate!

Update: Kate Wang's full episode with Steph Curry was published today.

Level Up With Stephen Curry

Watch Level Up With Stephen Curry on Snapchat

story.snapchat.com

Plus Kate posted some behind-the-scenes shots of her cool experience:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgE5viCLoeD/ (Jul 16)​

Very nice to hear Kate speaking about herself and about her sport, especially the mental aspect.
I think Steph enjoyed Kate's maturity and candor, as well as her sense of humor and fun.

I know I did. Great job, Kate!

ETA:

Ooops, I had not seen that Sylvia started a separate thread today for Kate's episode.

Kate Wang on "Level Up with Stephen Curry" Snapchat series!

Creating a thread from @ice coverage's original post in the U.S. Women's news thread in GSD (for those who may not visit that thread and because this is a very :cool: thing for Kate!): OMG ... Kate Wang is part of Steph Curry's new Snapchat original series, "Level Up with Stephen Curry." So...

www.fsuniverse.net

 

[Coco]

Re-watching the 2014 Team finals, ladies FS. Interesting scores...

http://www.isuresults.com/results/owg2014/owg14_TeamLadies_FS_F_Scores.pdf

 

[Sylvia]

Very nice to hear Kate speaking about herself and about her sport, especially the mental aspect.
I think Steph enjoyed Kate's maturity and candor, as well as her sense of humor and fun.

I know I did. Great job, Kate!

ETA: Ooops, I had not seen that Sylvia started a separate thread today for Kate's episode.

No problem, I just wanted to give Kate's very episode with Stephen Curry more visibility for fans who may not read this thread on a regular basis.

 

[Sylvia]

Bradie, in this 7/20 Fan Zone article by @Jayar, "I would say that I am at 60% right now":

After Emotional Year, Bradie Tennell is Cautiously Optimistic - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Last summer, as the new season began to come into view, Bradie Tennell had dreams of earning a berth on the three-woman team that would compete at the Olympic Winter

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Excerpt:

With Beijing off the table, Tennell took a step back from the sport to take time for her foot to heal, figure out what might come next, and most importantly, to give herself the space to grieve the loss of her season.
"It was the hardest thing that I ever had to go through mentally," she admitted. "But even with all the mental strain, it was a lot to handle on the physical side. As an elite athlete I'm so incredibly used to just being able to demand whatever of my body and have it just show up. Suddenly that was just ripped from me, and I felt like my identity was gone."
As Tennell adjusted to her new reality, she decided to pick up a few courses at the local community college. In between homework and resting, Tennell tackled what she called her miles long 'to be read' list. She also learned a few things about herself and how she wanted to live her life moving forward.
"When I tell people about that time, they say that it sounds so sad," she said. "It was sad, but that's okay. I was going through something that was pretty devastating. I have, in the past, tried to hide the sad stuff or the things that may be ugly in society's view, but I realize that things aren't always perfect. Social media portrays this unrealistic image and the nitty gritty parts of life kind of stay behind this wall."

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

She never says what she's doing different. I'm a pianist with pain issues. I've learned that taking time off does not in itself solve it. It may heal the stress fracture, for example, but if you go back with the same technique the pain will return. This seems to be the case in the earlier part of the article.

I had to find the combination of things that were the problem. There were several. Then I had to work with a specialist in musician related pain and start to do things in a new way. It's a drag to nearly start over something you were very good at. But you can't cheat the process. When pain starts to creep in I have to use what I've learned diagnose and correct.

I love Bradie's skating and hope she finds her way. I'm not an athlete but I have some idea what she's experiencing.

 

[Coco]

Brandie is so likeable. Hope she is able to get to a pain free level.

 

[Wyliefan]

Only 60 percent after all this time? I'm worried. Hope she can make it all the way back!

 

[Sylvia]

Paige Rydberg Q&A to help promote the 2022 U.S. Collegiate Championship taking place July 22-24 in Richfield, Minnesota:

U.S. Collegiate Championships Spotlight: Paige Rydberg - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

The 2022 U.S. Collegiate Championships & Invitational are taking place July 22-24, 2022, in Richfield, Minnesota. The U.S. Collegiate Championships are an opportunity

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Cross-posting from the Kiss & Cry section...

24 Senior women currently are listed in the 2022 U.S. Collegiate Championships SP starting order (July 22 with FS on July 23): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30680/CAT005SEG005.html
Scheduled to debut at this comp. are Ting Cui and Audrey Lu (returning to singles competition), Wren Warne-Jacobsen (in ISP with Rydberg) and past ISP member Isabelle Inthisone.

 

[Lizziebeth]

Only 60 percent after all this time? I'm worried. Hope she can make it all the way back!

I read that to me that her fitness is only 60%, which would not be surprising. She did say that her foot pain is gone but I am sure she will have to do careful training so it does not return. I wish the best for her!

 

[Baby Yoda On Skates]

I'd be surprised to see Bradie back in competition. Her situation reminds me of Polina Edmunds and her foot injury and she was never able to get back to where she had been when she almost won Nationals.

 

[mtnskater]

I would love to see Bradie make a comeback! Keeping fingers crossed for her continuing progress. She clearly wants it….and she was missed last season.

 

[Karen-W]

I'd be surprised to see Bradie back in competition. Her situation reminds me of Polina Edmunds and her foot injury and she was never able to get back to where she had been when she almost won Nationals.

Agreed, but I fully expect to see her assigned to at least SkAm and a 2nd GP.

 

[Willin]

To be fair to Polina, she has a huge life outside of skating, and I'm 1000% sure the foot injury only made that more apparent to her. After that injury I doubted she'd ever be back beyond a try at a second Olympics. She had graduated high school, was about to start studying full time at a pretty good school, and wanted to join a sorority. (She was also involved with service organizations and clubs)

It seems Bradie has a lot fewer things happening to her that would make her not want to train.

 

[Stephanie]

Based on her ISU bio, it seems Kate Wang has switched coaches to Jeremy Abbott and Massimo Scali from Jeff Crandell. I'm interested to see if she goes back to the JGP or will focus on senior challengers and trying to get a Skate America host spot.

http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00108177.htm

 

[Jammers]

Based on her ISU bio, it seems Kate Wang has switched coaches to Jeremy Abbott and Massimo Scali from Jeff Crandell. I'm interested to see if she goes back to the JGP or will focus on senior challengers and trying to get a Skate America host spot.

http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00108177.htm

She might as well get a start for the new Olympic cycle since their are plenty of Junior girls to fill the JGP this season.

 

[Stephanie]

She might as well get a start for the new Olympic cycle since their are plenty of Junior girls to fill the JGP this season.

I agree. I don't think she has a ton to gain from a third JGP season.

 

[Sylvia]

Based on her ISU bio, it seems Kate Wang has switched coaches to Jeremy Abbott and Massimo Scali

I'll be very interested to see what they can do for her re. choreography since Kate primarily has been known as a jumper.

BTW, Kate's new SP is listed in her ISU bio: "Stop This Flame" by Celeste Epiphany Waite, Jamie Hartman.

From @mtnskater's report on the 6/29/22 Peggy Fleming Trophy, posted in the Kiss & Cry section:

Kate Wang was lovely and is really improving artistically. Very nice to see. A couple of years ago she was a jumper but very shy with presentation. Great to see the strides she has made. She also did a reverse spin, which always impresses me.

It's encouraging to see Bradie listed as one of the skaters scheduled to perform on July 29 at Benoit Richaud's Peak Ice camp in La Garde, France: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgOym2bszMh/

 

[Bouffantrex]

I've always felt Bradie to be an outstanding young lady with old school character. It's unfortunate training ultra-C elements due to chasing the doping Russians led to extensive injuries. I am thrilled to see her entered for the Grand Prix and wish her nothing but the best on her comeback trail.

 

[Sylvia]

7 different U.S. women have received 2022 ISU Grand Prix assignments (Mariah opted out of competing and hasn't announced her plans yet; Karen is returning to Cornell U. this fall):

Isabeau Levito (GP debut): #1 Skate America & #4 MK John Wilson Trophy in GBR
Lindsay Thorngren (GP debut): #2 Skate Canada International & #6 Espoo FIN
Audrey Shin: #3 Internationaux de France & #5 NHK Trophy
Bradie Tennell: #4 MKJW Trophy #6 Espoo FIN
Amber Glenn: #1 Skate America & #5 NHK Trophy
Gabriella Izzo (GP debut): #4 MKJW Trophy
Starr Andrews: #5 NHK Trophy

3rd spot TBD at Skate America (perhaps at Champs Camp again?)

 

[Willin]

Based on insta, I'm most excited to see Amber. I think Lindsay will be the breakout star, but I'm verrrrrry curious about how Isabeau's jumps will look. I'm not expecting much from Bradie on the GP, but I would be happy if she did well.

 

[Frau Muller]

Has Starr even been practicing? I check her social media periodically…few signs of skating life. Lots of cool outdoor modeling photos on Instagram.

Starr☆ (@starrandrews2001) • Instagram photos and videos

39K Followers, 1,443 Following, 183 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Starr☆ (@starrandrews2001)

www.instagram.com

I hope that Starr will surprise us.

 

[Trillian]

Has Starr even been practicing? I check her social media periodically…few signs of skating life. Lots of cool outdoor modeling photos on Instagram.

What is this even supposed to be implying? I follow Starr on Instagram and she posts photos maybe every week or two. I doubt she’d have trouble squeezing in trips to the rink in between.

Some skaters post a lot of on-ice content on their social media and others don’t. I don’t assume Mariah Bell hasn’t been training just because she only posts pictures of her pets. These people are allowed to leave the rink at the end of the day.

 

[Karen-W]

Has Starr even been practicing? I check her social media periodically…few signs of skating life. Lots of cool outdoor modeling photos on Instagram.

Starr☆ (@starrandrews2001) • Instagram photos and videos

39K Followers, 1,443 Following, 183 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Starr☆ (@starrandrews2001)

www.instagram.com

I hope that Starr will surprise us.

One would assume she has since she already announced her program music for the season.

 

[Sylvia]

Has Starr even been practicing?

Some skaters post a lot of on-ice content on their social media and others don’t.

Yes. Most skaters are more likely to share clips from training via their Instagram stories rather than in posts, including Starr.

ETA - re-posting here from the Programs/Choreographers thread:

Lindsay Thorngren (USA)

SP: Concerto de Aranjuez; choreo. by Benoit Richaud

FS: An Amalgamation Waltz, Often a Bird, Nostos; choreo. by Benoit Richaud

Source: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00108093.htm

On Ice Perspectives' video, filmed in June and uploaded on July 18, says Pasquale Camerengo is the choreographer of Audrey Shin's new Tango Opera SP to "Yo soy María de Buenos Aires": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKmB0kiRAg

Maryn Pierce (debuted on JGP last year, competes at the Senior level in U.S. & is at Skate Detroit this week)
SP Music: Paula Abdul’s "Cold Hearted"
Choreographer: Drew Meekins
Clip filmed by Jordan Cowan in June: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfv-GCP-WUI

 

[DreamSkates]

Gracie is listed in USFS' ISP but hasn't announced anything about her skating plans. She appears to be focusing on her "Road to Gold" training camps - Vail, CO is July 27-31 and Juneau, Alaska is planned for September 10-11: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfhWpsFJybz/

That’s great she is contributing to help other skaters.

 

[DreamSkates]

One would assume she has since she already announced her program music for the season.

She’s listed for a GP assignment.

 

[Sylvia]

I noticed that Clare Seo's ISU bio, like Lindsay's, already has been updated with her 2022-23 music, most likely for the JGP season: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00111283.htm
SP: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op.28 by Camille Saint-Saens (choreo. by Drew Meekins, I've confirmed)
FS: Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi (choreo. by Catarina Lindgren)

Clare currently has the highest Senior women's total score (185.10) so far this summer from when she won her Senior level debut at the Broadmoor Open in late June, while Soho Lee has the highest Junior women's score (183.11) - her winning FS video from the Junior Team Cup is linked in post #481 above.

USFS is only counting National Qualifying Series (NQS) competition total scores in the qualification process for Sectionals in November. Nicole Park, who competed at the Novice level last season, was recently added to the ISP after she won the Senior event (158.19) at the first NQS competition for singles, Cactus Classic, last week.

 

[Frau Muller]

One would assume she has since she already announced her program music for the season.

Sometimes these are only placeholders. I’m hoping that’s not the case with Starr. We want Guaranteed Rate - Guaranteed Showing!

 

[DreamSkates]

Agreed, but I fully expect to see her assigned to at least SkAm and a 2nd GP.

Yes that is posted in the ISU assignments lists!