U.S. Women [#7]: Make Me a Believer!

Karen-W

Karen-W

YMCA is such a catchy tune!
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jlai said:
No surprise there.
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None whatsoever.

I was amused earlier this week when I saw someone on Xwitter make a super-early Worlds prediction that had her on the US team. My thought (did not comment) was "that's some hard stanning going on there..."
 
AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)

AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)

Get it Amber 😝
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Sylvia

Sylvia

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Let's discuss (better here than in Isabeau's fan thread, IMO):
Karen-W said:
As it is, I'm operating under two assumptions: 1) the old adage "no news is good news" and 2) the USFS will give her [Isabeau] as long as she needs to come back from whatever took her out of Finlandia - which means, as the reigning World silver medalist, she'll be provisionally named to the Worlds team even if she does WD from Nats (precedent set the last two seasons with Chan/Howe & Hawayek/Baker both being named to the Worlds team). If she's not ready by the end of February, whomever is Alt #1 will replace her.
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AngieNikodinovLove (ANL) said:
I hope they don’t. She withdrew presumably because of injury and if you can’t prove you’ve recovered from that even if you’re a world champion, I don’t want them onto a world team especially when this event is securing spots for The Olympics.
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Karen-W

Karen-W

YMCA is such a catchy tune!
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AngieNikodinovLove (ANL) said:
I hope they don’t. She withdrew presumably because of injury and if you can’t prove you’ve recovered from that even if you’re a world champion, I don’t want them onto a world team especially when this event is securing spots for The Olympics.
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We don't know why she withdrew from Finlandia. There is one random screenshot floating around SM that purports to be a DM with a fan where Isabeau stated it was an injury. Given her established track record of NOT sharing practice clips or having much of a SM presence outside of the summer of 2023 when she was having fun with other skaters at the Italy training camp, I've always viewed that screenshot with a healthy degree of skepticism.

With all that in mind, Isabeau's SB from SkAm would easily put her in the top 10 at Worlds. IF she does withdraw from Nats, the USFS certainly has far more information about Isabeau's status and whether or not she is likely to be ready by Worlds. It is entirely appropriate, if they believe she will be ready, to name her to the Worlds team. And, frankly, I think it would be pretty damn stupid for them to NOT name her to the Worlds team if they think she'll be ready. She has demonstrated, time & time again, that she is one steely competitor. THAT is the kind of skater we want & need on the pre-Olympics Worlds team when those Olympic spots are on the line. The only other US woman who has a proven track record of similar steely competitive nerve is Alysa.

I realize that we, as fans, are in the dark about what's going on with her and it makes US nervous. We're also stuck in that rut between J-Nats and Canadians where there's pretty much NOTHING going on in the sport & very little news breaking. Unless & until Isabeau actually does withdraw, this conversation is just us filling up time because there's nothing better to do, lol.
 
Sylvia

Sylvia

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Sophie Joline von Felten article by Kama Stigall (Jan. 6, 2025):
usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Von Felten Transforming Herself Into A Complete Skater - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

When Sophie Joline Von Felten was 11 years old, she appeared on the popular German television show "Klein gegen Gross (Small versus Big)." On the show, she competed
usfigureskatingfanzone.com usfigureskatingfanzone.com
As Von Felten looks forward to the 2025 U.S. Championships and beyond, she has big goals for herself. She understands that to be among the best skaters in the United States and abroad, she must balance her athleticism with artistry.
"I want to be known as a skater who can show consistent quad and triple Axel jumps along with beautiful skating skills and emotions in programs," Von Felten said. "I want to be able to be a full package."
And even at an early age, she already learned one of the most valuable lessons of all — the power of perseverance.
"Skating is about overcoming obstacles," Von Felten said. "There are always hard times, and you have overcome them."
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Karen-W

Karen-W

YMCA is such a catchy tune!
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Sylvia said:
Michelle Lee is the 3rd alternate (160.19, 6th at Mids), coached by Damon Allen, Eddie Shipstad, Sandy Straub: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/michelle-lee/1076
(Note: Seo's coach as listed Eddie Shipstad: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00111283.htm).

ETA: Katie Shen is the 4th alternate (158.74, 3rd at Pacific Coasts).
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I can't believe we're contemplating the 3rd & 4th alternates and we still have 2 weeks to go before the competition starts.
 
Sylvia

Sylvia

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Private Citizen said:
But I am glad skaters are withdrawing early enough to give replacements adequate notice.
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Brooke Gewalt found out last year that she would make her U.S. Nationals Senior debut 6 days before her first official practice in Columbus (per this 1/25/24 Chicago article https://shawlocal.com/northwest-her...l-compete-at-us-figure-skating-championships/) as the 1st alternate for Ava Ziegler.
This year Brooke has a full 2 weeks notice!

Excerpt from last year's article:
Lars Jensen, an international skater from Denmark, has been Gewalt’s coach for more than a decade. She also works with choreographer Rohene Ward and spin coach Amber Gil.
“I am very excited and proud to take Brooke to her first Nationals,” Jensen said. “She and her family truly deserve it. She is a bit of a perfectionist. She has a very kind heart.”
Gewalt finished eighth in the sectional last year, which was a solid move forward, then moved up three more spots this year and will now skate in her first national competition.
“There was a last-minute withdrawal, it happens all the time,” Ellen Gewalt said. “That’s where the first alternate gets called up. She got the call the week before the event. Kind of crazy.
“Being a figure skater brings many challenges, not only physically, but mentally, as well. Brooke faces those challenges with a true-grit mindset. Her dedication, drive and commitment to her sport started early on and has only grown throughout the years.”
[...]
“I’m looking to really just have fun and use it as a new experience and take it all in,” Gewalt said. “I also want to take this year as a good experience and to work harder to make it again next year.”
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Sylvia

Sylvia

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From the Wichita Nationals planning thread in GSD:
Sylvia said:
USFS Rulebook:
2720 Draws for Initial Starting Orders – Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance
2721 At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships only, the starting order for the junior and championship (senior) women’s, men’s and pairs short program and junior and championship (senior) rhythm dance events will be established as follows:
A. The competitors who hold an ISU World Standing in their discipline will skate in reverse order of their ISU World Standings, as of the date of the draw, with the highest ranked competitor skating last.
B. Any competitors who don't hold an ISU World Standing in their discipline will skate first in their event. The starting order for these remaining competitors will be by closed, random draw conducted by the chief referee and chief accountant.
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Current ISU World Standings (Senior women scheduled to compete in Wichita):

2 Levito
6 Glenn
20 Lin-Gracey
23 Thorngren
26 Tennell
34 Andrews //
35 Everhardt
51 Liu
81 J Lee
94 S Zhang
97 Hilmer
117 Kalin //
128 Higase-Chen
203 Gewalt
219 Evans
Unranked (accountants will draw among): Bonillo, Cui, Gasparotto

Note: Michelle Lee is 3rd alt., ranked #253 in WS.

Junior Women SP starting order based on ISU WS:

152 Annika Chao
193 Sophie Joline von Felten
216 Emilia Nemirovsky
226 Cleo Park
229 Sofia Bezkorovainaya
255 Jiaying Ellyse Johnson //
315-tie Ela Cui
315-tie Teryn Kim
334 Jessica Jurka
Unranked:
Alayna Coats
Skylar Lautowa-Peguero
Maria Platonova
Mia Iwase
Hannah Kim
Angela Shao
Carina Tanabe
Kaya Tiernan
Annabelle Wilkins
 
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kalamalka

kalamalka

Well-Known Member
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jägerbomb said:
The competition lull is bogus. We have weekends in October with four simultaneous competitions, but crickets this time of year.
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Ummm . . . Christmas?? - in most of the countries that compete in international FS. This is not a big-$$ professional sport - most of the people who put on the competitions (including judges) are volunteers.
 
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Karen-W

Karen-W

YMCA is such a catchy tune!
Messages
51,096
jägerbomb said:
The competition lull is bogus. We have weekends in October with four simultaneous competitions, but crickets this time of year.
Click to expand...

kalamalka said:
Ummm . . . Christmas?? - in most of the countries that compete in international FS. This is not a big-$$ professional sport - most of the people who put on the competitions (including judges) are volunteers.
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And also New Year's.
 
Sylvia

Sylvia

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SkateFanBerlin said:
Watch US Chopin Competition......
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Thanks! For anyone interested, I’ve started a thread in OTBT :):

11th National Chopin Piano Competition, January 4-12, 2025 in Miami

Thanks for the heads up in the U.S. Women's news thread, @SkateFanBerlin! :) Watch US Chopin Competition...... https://www.chopin.org/2025-competition Renowned as one of the premiere piano competitions in the world, the National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States is widely...
www.fsuniverse.net

A Chicago area photographer filmed Brooke Gewalt in a practice session and shared his video+a few still photos in late December:
www.instagram.com

Ron McKinney on Instagram: "Figure skating session with @brooke.gewalt Figure Skating Club: @wagonwheelfsc Team @usfigureskating #figureskating #figureskater #teamusa #figureskatingphotography"

283 likes, 11 comments - ronmckinneyphoto on December 28, 2024: "Figure skating session with @brooke.gewalt Figure Skating Club: @wagonwheelfsc Team @usfigureskating #figureskating #figureskater #teamusa #figureskatingphotography".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

ETA: Rohene Ward choreographed Brooke's FS to "A Piece of Sky" (performed by Barbra Streisand at the end of Yentl) and her "Whatever Lola Wants" SP.
 
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