U.S. Women [#6]: The More the Merrier!

[Karen-W]

Part of the issue with ladies in the team event was that men and dance earned the right to substitute if the leaders wanted to, so there was always going to be only one lady. Karen's world ranking was higher than Mariah's, wasn't it?

Could be.

It will be interesting to see what happens for 2026, but that's a discussion for a different thread.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I think it’s lame that only two disciplines can sub in the TE. And that FS points aren’t 10-8-6-4-2.

 

[Karen-W]

I think it’s lame that only two disciplines can sub in the TE. And that FS points aren’t 10-8-6-4-2.

Eh - I sort of like that you can only sub in for two disciplines - it requires some strategy that is absent from the other disciplines. And changing the FS points wouldn't change the results, generally. I've played around with a couple of different scoring/points approaches to the TE, using the TE results from 2014, 2018 & 2022, and I think @tony has too - conclusion is that the medals wouldn't have changed - maybe the 5th team that qualifies for the FS would have changed but that's about it.

Budapest Trophy Free Skates -

Liu - https://rumble.com/v5ij4i5-liu-budapest-trophy-2024-fs.html
Thorngren - https://rumble.com/v5ij5i5-thorngren-budapest-trophy-2024-fs.html

 

[kwanfan1818]

Eh - I sort of like that you can only sub in for two disciplines - it requires some strategy that is absent from the other disciplines.

Strategy didn’t stop Canada from taking a pass on a second substitution in 2018.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I’ve always liked Lindsay but I disagree. Thorngren is an introvert and her skating is elegant but somber. Alysa brings joy to the ice. There’s no PCS component that covers this but I find her wonderful to watch.

100% agree, I was gonna make the exact same post, but didn’t think that I should. Lindsay is an elegant skater, but as dick button would say she does not invite us in.

She’s introverted, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but she doesn’t show us anything north of her shoulders, she has one expression, and one expression only. I like her, but I want to love her, but until she invites us, and I just can’t fully commit. She almost always has a sense of looking unhappy.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Apart from Kaori, I'm not sure any woman in the world has the IT factor enough to be considered clutch.

I’m going to just let you think on that for one more minute

Tee-hee

 

[Karen-W]

I’m going to just let you think on that for one more minute

Tee-hee

Yeah, no thinking necessary. Sorry, sweets.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Alysa is going to be on the podium in Nationals for sure if judged fairly without favoritism. I'll say 75% she will get GOLD. Why? Isabeau's jumps are a mess, even if Isabeau is clean, those jumps are not going to get GOEs if judged fairly and her jumps are currently failing her miserably. Has Amber ever skate two clean programs in her skating career?

Somewhat disagree. You can always count on Alysa for some under rotations. And if she goes for the triple axle that she had been two years ago, it was either downgraded, or sometimes a fall.

Amber doesn’t have to so much worry for two back to back clean programs as as we saw at last year‘s nationals. No one else does that either so why single her out?

Right now I’m looking at Amber, Elyce, Sarah, Bradie, and Alysa.

 

[layman]

Great start to the season for Alysa Liu in Budapest! Congrats to her for the win!

Budapest Trophy 2024

Event results for Budapest Trophy 2024

hunskate.hu

Yet, for those of you saying that she no longer needs the ultra-C elements to be competitive, her total competition score from Budapest indicates to me that she has a ways to go to close the (score) gap with the top scores from the US women so far this season (it just so happens that the top international scores this season, so far, are from the US women). The ultra-C elements could help Alysa do that (catch up with the rest of the field). I agree with her coach that Alysa is stronger and faster than she was as a pre-teen. I have been watching the evolution of her technique now for years, and I can see (from the extra spring in her 2-axel and the set up for her 3-lutz) that she is still capable of those ultra-C elements, so I hope that Alysa and her team got the memo from this competition. The ultra-C elements are necessary...maybe not this season (which is a building season) but they will be necessary next season if she wants an Olympic medal. Judging by the number of 3-axels that we saw from the Junior women in Wuxi this weekend, it's clear that this jump will soon be mandatory (to reach the podium) for the Senior women (if it is not already).

 

[TAHbKA]

Glad to see Liu and Tennell back. Got an impression Tennell was not quite sure what was going on in her SP. Hope it will become better by the nationals.
Between Levito, Liu, Tennell, Glenn and that junior girl whose name I don't yet remember - will be interesting to watch the nationals

 

[layman]

Shout out to Sophie Joline von FELTEN this weekend in Wuxi! She was nervous, and tired and she bombed, but she was so gutsy to try 3 triple axels (again) and a 4-salchow at this competition! She only managed to land one of the 3-axels cleanly, but I give her major props for trying all those difficult elements!

ISU JGP Wuxi 2024

Event results for ISU JGP Wuxi 2024

results.isu.org

I also believe that Sophie Joline von FELTEN (especially the three clean 3-axels that she landed last weekend in Ljubljana) is the reason that half the women's field in Wuxi was spooked into attempting the 3-axel in the LP. It's great to see the evolution of the sport!

 

[Sylvia]

I also believe that Sophie Joline von FELTEN (especially the three clean 3-axels that she landed last weekend in Ljubljana) is the reason that half the women's field in Wuxi was spooked into attempting the 3-axel in the LP.

No, they each (Ami, Yuseong, Inga, Hana) had attempted 3A in their free skates before.

 

[DreamSkates]

100% agree, I was gonna make the exact same post, but didn’t think that I should. Lindsay is an elegant skater, but as dick button would say she does not invite us in.

She’s introverted, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but she doesn’t show us anything north of her shoulders, she has one expression, and one expression only. I like her, but I want to love her, but until she invites us, and I just can’t fully commit. She almost always has a sense of looking unhappy.

I’m open for her to take her time opening up to the audience. Joining the senior ranks may be stressful.

 

[Jammers]

Just a shout out to Alysa for winning the Budapest Trophy. The US ladies have now won 4 out of the 5 Challengers so far this season. I can't remember the last time US ladies have looked this good this early in the season. 8 medals now in Challenger events and add in Bradie's silver at Shanghai Trophy makes it 9 total medals.

 

[Sylvia]

From the U.S. Women's news thread on Aug. 21, 2021 re. Thorngren:

mtnskater Just watched the Junior women's free from Courcheval. Great result! Great podium! So happy for Lindsey. I became a budding fan of hers last year. Love her line, stretch and the flexible positions. She achieves a full split in the Bielmann And I agree with Ted who was gushing over the soft knees in her jump landings and flow out. She seems super shy in the expression department so I hope she can work on that for the future. Her interview was cute and she was super excited with the win. She probably isn’t that tall but was towering over Kaiya and Clare standing side by side.

Jayar's reply

She [Lindsay] is VERY shy. I talked with her after she won her junior title and she said few words. Her coach was the perfect juxtaposition to her shyness-- super outgoing and a total riot. Julia was helping Lindsay give more detailed responses-- they worked very well together,

 

[natsulian]

With the Junior Grand Prix coming to a close and the Grand Prix starting next week, here are the updated scores of the U.S. women internationally.

Top U.S. Women Scores (International)
1. Elyce Lin-Gracey, 213.33 (Nebelhorn Trophy)
2. Amber Glenn, 212.89 (Lombardia Trophy)
3. Sarah Everhardt, 201.90 (Lombardia Trophy)
4. Isabeau Levito, 198.13 (Nebelhorn Trophy)
5. Sophie Joine Von Felten, 197.41 (JGP Ljubljana Cup)
6. Bradie Tennell, 196.61 (Shanghai Trophy)
7. Alysa Liu, 192.77 (Budapest Trophy)
8. Lindsay Thorngren, 179.70 (Budapest Trophy)
9. Sofia Bezkorovainaya, 170.17 (Tayside Trophy - Junior)
10. Josephine Lee, 166.54 (JGP Czech Skate)
11. Starr Andrews, 164.89 (Cranberry Cup)
12. Logan Higase-Chen, 161.98 (JGP Bangkok)
13. Annika Chao, 157.66 (JGP Riga Cup)
14. Brooke Gewalt, 153.39 (Tayside Tropy - Senior)
15. Sonja Hilmer, 151.43 (Cranberry Cup)
16. Cleo Park, 149.88 (JGP Solidarity Cup)
17. Alex Evans, 148.91 (Tayside Trophy - Senior)
18. Clare Seo, 147.66 (Cranberry Cup)
19. Emilia Nemirovsky, 147.05 (JGP Ankara)
20. Wren Warne-Jacobsen, 141.63 (Cranberry Cup)
21. Jiaying Ellyse Johnson, 139.27 (Tayside Trophy - Junior)

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ Thanks @natsulian! Emilia Nemirovsky won the Junior B event at Cranberry Cup International in August with a score of 180.37 (though it doesn’t count as an ISU SB/PB; ditto for Shanghai Trophy & the Tayside Trophy Senior/Junior scores).
Trivia: I've heard Sophie Joline von Felten likes to be called Joline.

9. Sofia Bezkorovainaya, 170.17 (Tayside Trophy - Junior)
14. Brooke Gewalt, 153.39 (Tayside Tropy - Senior)
17. Alex Evans, 148.91 (Tayside Trophy - Senior)
21. Jiaying Ellyse Johnson, 139.27 (Tayside Trophy - Junior)

I just wanted to acknowledge that this weekend’s Tayside Trophy marked the international debuts of both Brooke Gewalt (won the silver medal & was 1st in the SP, landing 3F+2T, 3Lo & 2A + 3 level 4 spins) and Alex Evans (4th place). Brooke's Instagram post after she received her Team USA jacket: https://www.instagram.com/p/DA1RpaoSSCG/

Re-posting here from the Kiss & Cry section:

Junior Women
Result
FPl. Name Nation Points SP FS
1 Sofia BEZKOROVAINAYA USA 170.17 2 1 (7 clean triples landed: 3Lz, 2A+3T, 3F+2T, 3Lo / 3Lz+2A+2T, 3F, 3S)

Sofia B. shared an Instagram story photo of the 4 Team USA Junior singles medalists in Dundee - (eta) it’s photo #5 of 8 in her post:

Sofia on Instagram: "It was such an incredible honor to represent Team USA at the Tayside Trophy GBR International!🇺🇸❤️ @usfigureskating"

180 likes, 19 comments - sofiabezkorovainaya on October 14, 2024: "It was such an incredible honor to represent Team USA at the Tayside Trophy GBR International!🇺🇸❤️ @usfigureskating".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

I just wanted to acknowledge that this weekend’s Tayside Trophy marked the international debuts of both Brooke Gewalt (won the silver medal & was 1st in the SP, landing 3F+2T, 3Lo & 2A + 3 level 4 spins) and Alex Evans (4th place).

Wagon Wheel FSC posted 2 photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBHBHT9NnOl/
Lars Jensen (2nd photo) has coached Brooke for 10+ years and I’m very glad they got to experience her Team USA debut together.
ETA the link to Brooke’s own post:

Brooke Gewalt on Instagram: "Tayside Trophy🥈🇺🇸 Thank you @usfigureskating for this amazing opportunity to represent Team USA in Scotland! I’m honored to bring home the silver medal at my first international competition!❤️🇺🇸#teamusa"

393 likes, 42 comments - brooke.gewalt on October 15, 2024: "Tayside Trophy🥈🇺🇸 Thank you @usfigureskating for this amazing opportunity to represent Team USA in Scotland! I’m honored to bring home the silver medal at my first international competition!❤️🇺🇸#teamusa".

www.instagram.com

Alex Evans’ post with 6 photos:

Alex Evans on Instagram: "Tayside Trophy! So beyond grateful for this opportunity to represent Team USA at my first international competition in Dundee, Scotland. Thank you @usfigureskating for this amazing opportunity. Thank you to my amazing coac

411 likes, 88 comments - alexkevans on October 14, 2024: "Tayside Trophy! So beyond grateful for this opportunity to represent Team USA at my first international competition in Dundee, Scotland. Thank you @usfigureskating for this amazing opportunity. Thank you to my amazing coaching team...

www.instagram.com

Elyce Lin-Gracey was on the Oct. 10th episode of the This Week in Skating podcast:

https://redcircle.com/shows/this-week-in-skating-podcast/ep/6aa52e62-e568-4bfd-8c6e-890486fb7234

 

[Sylvia]

Bradie Tennell article by Troy Schwindt (Oct. 16):

Bradie Tennell Shaping Her Own Skating Future | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

 

[layman]

I have not seen it mentioned in this thread yet but Elyce Lin-Gracey has been given a 2nd Senior Grand Prix at Skate Canada.

So, Elyce will be skating this weekend at Skate America (her Senior Grand Prix Debut) and then the following weekend at Skate Canada. I believe Elyce earned this 2nd Grand Prix Assignment by virtue of having the highest (combined) score of any American woman (or any woman period) in the ISU Challenger Series of Competitions. Way to go Elyce Lin-Gracey!

https://www.isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2024-25/grand-prix-5/entries-9/33867-women-4/file

 

[Sylvia]

Phil Hersh's article on Elyce before she makes her GP debut at Skate America:

Elyce Lin-Gracey, whose skating has Olympian roots, takes breakout season to Skate America

Rising U.S. figure skater Elyce Lin-Gracey makes her senior Grand Prix debut at Skate America.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[layman]

Phil Hersh's article on Elyce before she makes her GP debut at Skate America:

Elyce Lin-Gracey, whose skating has Olympian roots, takes breakout season to Skate America

Rising U.S. figure skater Elyce Lin-Gracey makes her senior Grand Prix debut at Skate America.

www.nbcsports.com

Thank you for sharing. That article explained a lot. It was hard to believe when I saw Elyce Lin-Gracey's big, high, fully-rotated jumps that she was a Tammy Gambill student but according to the article, she just started working with Tammy. Before that, she had other coaches in California including Naomi Nari Nam!

Whomever taught Elyce her jump technique, they did a wonderful job and should take a bow! I believe that Elyce currently has the highest senior combined score of any woman because she gets such high grades of execution on her jumps (and other elements as well)!

 

[Sylvia]

Before that, she had other coaches in California including Naomi Nari Nam!

And Amy Evidente (she was coaching with Nam at the time and Evidente was still listed as one of her coaches last season even though Elyce had relocated to CO Springs full-time): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elyce_Lin-Gracey
Elyce's first coach was Natasha Adler-DeGuzman in Pasadena.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Whomever taught Elyce her jump technique, they did a wonderful job a

I will say when I was watching her in practice at skate America yesterday I was like wow her jumps are so high and fully rotated. I noticed it more in the practice group yesterday than I did at Nebelhorn.

 

[Sylvia]

As posted in the GP Assignments thread today, Sarah Everhardt got her 2nd GP spot - France!

 

[layman]

As posted in the GP Assignments thread today, Sarah Everhardt got her 2nd GP spot - France!

The Skate Gods are being so kind! I am jumping for joy, as Sarah is the other American (making her Debut on the Senior Grand Prix) who has big, high, fully rotated jumps! I was just checking the GP assignments page yesterday for this news (but the page had not been updated then).

 

[Jammers]

Thank you for sharing. That article explained a lot. It was hard to believe when I saw Elyce Lin-Gracey's big, high, fully-rotated jumps that she was a Tammy Gambill student but according to the article, she just started working with Tammy. Before that, she had other coaches in California including Naomi Nari Nam!

Whomever taught Elyce her jump technique, they did a wonderful job and should take a bow! I believe that Elyce currently has the highest senior combined score of any woman because she gets such high grades of execution on her jumps (and other elements as well)!

Let's hope Tammy doesn't ruin that jumping technique or try to tweak it.

 

[Allskate]

I'm loving Isabeau's short program. It's a departure from what she usually does and she's doing it very well.

I still don't love Bradie's short program. (To be fair, I don't usually like the Irish dance programs, but I don't like the step sequence that much. Most of it doesn't seem all that Irish. I don't care for the multiple running starts, even if that is somehow Irish dance.) That being said, I am thrilled for her that she is healthy and skating so well. (The judges clearly are happy to see her back.)

 

[Sylvia]

Mariah interviewed Isabeau after her SP:

U.S. Figure Skating on Instagram: "Hear @isabeau.levito recap her first place SP performance with @mariahsk8rbell Women’s FS begins at 7:10 pm CST tomorrow! #figureskating #gpfigure #skateamerica"

134 likes, 1 comments - usfigureskating on October 18, 2024: "Hear @isabeau.levito recap her first place SP performance with @mariahsk8rbell Women’s FS begins at 7:10 pm CST tomorrow! #figureskating #gpfigure #skateamerica".

www.instagram.com

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

I like Mariah as a commentator. Makes it about the skater and not herself. So unassuming. She`ll get people to open up to her.