U.S. Women [#8]: Meet Me in St. Louis

[layman]

I love Amber's new SP. I can see why every one is excited about the program and I will be rooting for Amber this season (as always) but as far as making predictions...has Amber ever skated two clean programs (short & long) back to back? Until I see that from her, I will remain guarded in my optimism.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I love Amber's new SP. I can see why every one is excited about the program and I will be rooting for Amber this season (as always) but as far as making predictions...has Amber ever skated two clean programs (short & long) back to back? Until I see that from her, I will remain guarded in my optimism.

As far as the back to back, last year she was the GP final champion, she won Japanese nationals and won the USA nationals. Totally undefeated going into worlds having swept the house at all her events. I think that speaks volumes.

I do consider you to be part of the moral standard of this group along with @On My Own

 

[toddlj]

I love Amber's new SP. I can see why every one is excited about the program and I will be rooting for Amber this season (as always) but as far as making predictions...has Amber ever skated two clean programs (short & long) back to back? Until I see that from her, I will remain guarded in my optimism.

Her personal best is from last years Cup of China. She had a q and unclear edge calls in both programs, but no pops and no falls.

 

[SidelineSkater]

Coughs. @AngieNikodinovLove (ANL) Don’t forget your bestie!

I think the previous poster was talking back to back clean programs. I don’t think she has had one clean comp. But she’s been close. I don’t recall if anyone this past season had one clean comp - other than Alysa at Worlds?

I’ve said Amber has solid spins but not best in class. She doesn’t get quite the higher GOE. I think if she had faster spins a la Bradie or others, she’d squeeze out a few more tenths/points.

Amber also has the complete set of triples. Let me say that again - complete set of triples. Even the top favorites of yore didn’t compete them all, especially in later years. Mao was mentioned earlier. Yes she had both artistry and tech with the 3A. But never the full set without the lutz from 09 on. Yuna didn’t do the 3 loop. Carolina struggled with Lutz into her prime. She won worlds doing only five triples in the FS. Mirai had the full set her last year but only went cleanish once.

Amber most always has clean technique. No lip or flutz. The salchow is her doubled/popped jump - if she’s going to do so. Sometimes unclear edge. Last season proved she no longer completely melts down after one mistake.

My point is - Amber doesn’t have to have two back to back clean programs. If she lands the 3A, she just has to be cleaner than everyone else. Which usually isn’t a hard ask.

 

[Vagabond]

@SidelineSkater He says it to everyone with whom he agrees. He probably even says it to those members of his imaginary harem that he meets in real life. So please don't get jealous.

 

[peibeck]

Amber is not as scary thin as Isabeau or Bradie. She's still tiny, but not a toothpick, which makes her spins a bit less effective if not less difficult. I'm definitely looking forward to her new SP. If she keeps the free... eh, not her best, not her worst. But maybe coughing up the $$$ for the Madonna rights kept her purse too empty for a new FS too.

Kaori is amazing live. The speed, the deep edges, the flight and distance on her jumps. I think she's been hampered by some dreadful music choices these past three seasons. Hopefully this retirement year brings her (and us) something far better.

 

[Vagabond]

The long lead up to her 3a probably hurts her PCS as much as anything. It's just so...empty. It's one of the first things the judges see and they kind of can't ignore it.

Don't ask me which criteria it would fall under as I haven't tried to comprehend the PCS changes. It's super glaring.

https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/Corporate-Site/Governance/Transparency/ISU-Communications/2701-SP-Levels-and-GOE-Season-2025-26-1745584466-4032.pdf

A judge is supposed to should give a jump with a long preparation a deduction of between one and three points in GOE, so a jump with "super glaring" telegraphing should get marked down three points and not receive any mark higher than +2 no matter how good it may otherwise be. Not that this necessarily happens.

Inside ISU

Corporate Home - International Skating Union

www.isu.org

Composition: the intentional, developed and/or original arrangement of the repertoire of all types of movements into a meaningful whole according to the principles of proportion, unity, space, pattern, and musical structure. In evaluating the Composition, the following must be considered:

- Multidimensional movements and use of space;

- Connections between and within elements;

- Choreography reflecting musical phrase and form;

- Pattern and ice coverage;

- Unity.

I'm no , but I think judges are supposed to consider telegraphing when they evaluate connections between elements and choreography. Not that they do.

 

[Willin]

I feel like judges care about telegraphing for all the jumps but the 3A. There are a lot of men/women that telegraph the 3A but it doesn't seem to hurt their scores as much as it should.

That being said, Amber telegraphs it less and less every season. Mirai's degree of telegraphing was painful to watch - but she also had fewer seasons with the jump and Tom Z at the helm.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I think the previous poster was talking back to back clean programs.

Yes, honey bunches I mentioned that in my very first line of the first paragraph but to me it doesn’t really matter for an Olympic gold. If she was able to win the Japanese national and the US nationals and the Grand Prix final without having back-to-back what else do people want? She won all of that without having clean back to back programs. It’s not needed if you have higher technical base that can afford some leniency

And luckily, she’s not getting dinged for under rotations as much as some others.