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

[kwanfan1818]

Liu said in the SA press conference that she’d only use Lady Gaga at GPF if all of the pieces were in place, including costumes, etc.

 

[Allskate]

Alysa posted on her IG story today that she's using MacArthur Park for her FS this week still.

That's a shame. This would have been a good time to test out a new program in front of an international judging panel. Personally, even in it's first iteration, I would prefer the Lady Gaga program. It's December, and there are no international competitions left before the Olympics, so if we're not seeing another program now, I'm doubtful that we're going to see one.

 

[Allskate]

Yeah, I thought she looked under-trained.

The footwork seemed a bit slow compared to the music and she was out of breath. But, she may just be pacing herself for the season. She did say just before her first GP that she was spending less time training than a lot of other skaters do.

Maybe having more balance in her life makes it less stressful. It is a bit odd that she has been tearful after her short programs. Sure, the program may be emotional, but I don't remember her being so emotional after her performances last season. She has a lot more pressure and expectations now. That also can sap some energy.

Amber also is trying not to overdo it. She mentioned that she writes down the jumps she does in practice in order to prevent herself from overdoing it.

Isabeau has also mentioned staying healthy as her number one goal for the season and trying to relax more. (She bought herself a pool floatie to read and relax in even though she doesn't have a pool. ) She was sick at her second GP, but nothing as problematic as her injury last season.

It's hard to find the right balance, though. After her second GP, Sarah said that she has been taking it too easy and needed to work harder.

 

[Firedancer]

interview with Amber ahead of GPF:https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/amber-glenn-aims-defend-grand-prix-final-title-free-fear

 

[Jammers]

The footwork seemed a bit slow compared to the music and she was out of breath. But, she may just be pacing herself for the season. She did say just before her first GP that she was spending less time training than a lot of other skaters do.

Maybe having more balance in her life makes it less stressful. It is a bit odd that she has been tearful after her short programs. Sure, the program may be emotional, but I don't remember her being so emotional after her performances last season. She has a lot more pressure and expectations now. That also can sap some energy.

Amber also is trying not to overdo it. She mentioned that she writes down the jumps she does in practice in order to prevent herself from overdoing it.

Isabeau has also mentioned staying healthy as her number one goal for the season and trying to relax more. (She bought herself a pool floatie to read and relax in even though she doesn't have a pool. ) She was sick at her second GP, but nothing as problematic as her injury last season.

It's hard to find the right balance, though. After her second GP, Sarah said that she has been taking it too easy and needed to work harder.

Remember Alysa had problems with her boots at the start of the season and wasn't even sure she was going to compete at Lombardia with her old boots basically being taped so they didn't fall apart. She seemed to mention that she hadn't had the time to properly practice her jumps because of the boot issues and wasn't expecting much at Lombardia and was actually happy how she skated despite finishing 4th. Between the boots and her problems with her programs it's felt like she's been playing catchup all season. I'm surprised she's kept it together like she has other skaters might have just melted down.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

That's a shame. This would have been a good time to test out a new program in front of an international judging panel. Personally, even in it's first iteration, I would prefer the Lady Gaga program. It's December, and there are no international competitions left before the Olympics, so if we're not seeing another program now, I'm doubtful that we're going to see one.

I had been wondering about this - even after the GPF, might there be some lower level international competition where Alysa might be able to try out her Gaga FS, even before Nationals? Since the answer is no, now I'm wondering if Alysa might give her Gaga FS a spin at the Philly Ice show later in the month - or maybe in Japan at the GPF exhibition, even if it's not quite ready?

Apart from Alysa's boot problems early in the season, she did mention to her coaches that she had 'tied her boots too tight' just before her FS at Skate America, and this apparently caused a little bit of a problem for her on her jump take offs and landings. At the SA FS Press Conference she added that next time she would take care to put her boots on earlier before her skate. I love Alysa and her carefree ways but I hope that she doesn't make such an (almost Novice) mistake at the GPF, or worse at the Olympics! In the broadcast I remember that they showed Alysa backstage lacing up, iirc, just as the skater before her was getting off of the ice. That IMO is MUCH too close for comfort! Sorry, I didn't mean to rant on, but that did bother me a little.

 

[BittyBug]

I'm wondering if Alysa might give her Gaga FS a spin at the Philly Ice show later in the month - or maybe in Japan at the GPF exhibition, even if it's not quite ready?

I think that the exhibition rules prohibit skaters from performing their competitive programs at an exhibition. More likely she’ll have a private monitoring session from USFS.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I think that the exhibition rules prohibit skaters from performing their competitive programs at an exhibition. More likely she’ll have a private monitoring session from USFS.

Really??! I've never heard of Exhibition rules before. In the past I've seen skaters perform their competitive routines in Exhibitions. In Exhibitions it's usually anything goes. Is this specifically a GPF rule?

 

[Allskate]

Remember Alysa had problems with her boots at the start of the season and wasn't even sure she was going to compete at Lombardia with her old boots basically being taped so they didn't fall apart. She seemed to mention that she hadn't had the time to properly practice her jumps because of the boot issues and wasn't expecting much at Lombardia and was actually happy how she skated despite finishing 4th. Between the boots and her problems with her programs it's felt like she's been playing catchup all season. I'm surprised she's kept it together like she has other skaters might have just melted down.

I don't remember her saying that she had missed practicing her jumps because of her boots, and it seemed to be a pretty brief problem. She had no problems adding the lutz/loop. In fact, she didn't even mention the boots when she was interviewed shortly before leaving for China. It was in that interview that she said that she was putting in less time than some skaters, but not because of boot problems. Also, they fixed the boot problem quickly. I really don't think she missed very much training time because of the boots. And she's had plenty of time to tweak the GaGa long program; she already had a version at the beginning of the season. And she hasn't had to spend time finessing a new short since she quickly went back to her old short, which is working well for her. At one point this season, she mentioned that she had gone to an outdoor rink just to skate for fun and that she does plenty of other It could simply be that she doesn't really like the GaGa program and prefers the McArthur Park program.

Also, she could very well be pacing herself. She wants to peak at the Olympics. And it's not like she's skating poorly. She did make the GPF.

IMO, the McArthur Park program just isn't a great program. She was able to feed off of the energy of the crowd in Boston and she was in the zone, giving a performance that even she said was even better than her practice and the best she had skated. I think it's unrealistic to expect her to perform it that way every time.

But, if keeping the program is what makes her happy and makes her enjoy the sport (unlike the first time around when she said she hated skating), then she should do what makes her happy.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I don't remember her saying that she had missed practicing her jumps because of her boots, and it seemed to be a pretty brief problem. She had no problems adding the lutz/loop. In fact, she didn't even mention the boots when she was interviewed shortly before leaving for China. It was in that interview that she said that she was putting in less time than some skaters, but not because of boot problems. Also, they fixed the boot problem quickly. I really don't think she missed very much training time because of the boots. And she's had plenty of time to tweak the GaGa long program; she already had a version at the beginning of the season. And she hasn't had to spend time finessing a new short since she quickly went back to her old short, which is working well for her. At one point this season, she mentioned that she had gone to an outdoor rink just to skate for fun and that she does plenty of other It could simply be that she doesn't really like the GaGa program and prefers the McArthur Park program.

Also, she could very well be pacing herself. She wants to peak at the Olympics. And it's not like she's skating poorly. She did make the GPF.

IMO, the McArthur Park program just isn't a great program. She was able to feed off of the energy of the crowd in Boston and she was in the zone, giving a performance that even she said was even better than her practice and the best she had skated. I think it's unrealistic to expect her to perform it that way every time.

But, if keeping the program is what makes her happy and makes her enjoy the sport (unlike the first time around when she said she hated skating), then she should do what makes her happy.

I'll have to look it up but I DO remember something about Alysa saying that the boot problems had hampered her training. And it wasn't just a quick fix, she'd been having boot issues iirc since some time in the summer, and she had gone through multiple pairs of boots, trying to find the right fit. I may be misremembering but I think that she also wasn't able to fully present her programs at Champs Camp because of her ongoing boot problems.

She DID say in interviews that all of the choreo for the Gaga FS was about done but her dress wasn't ready, and the program also needed some more work. She was still hopeful to do the Gaga program at that time, but made it clear that she wouldn't do it before it was ready (as well as her new dress). At the Skate America FS press conference she mentioned that she would be training BOTH Free Skates, and that the Gaga FS is 'new and fresh'. I don't think that Alysa is going to go through all of that trouble just to NOT compete the Gaga FS whenever she feels that It's ready.

Women's FS Press Conference - Skate America

- YouTube

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

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[BittyBug]

Really??! I've never heard of Exhibition rules before. In the past I've seen skaters perform their competitive routines in Exhibitions. In Exhibitions it's usually anything goes. Is this specifically a GPF rule?

I believe it’s an ISU rule. Skaters frequently skate an excerpt of their competitive programs as an encore but I’m pretty sure they’re not allowed to skate their competitive programs in their entirety in lieu of an exhibition program.

(I caveat all if this by saying it’s been a looooong time since I’ve turned my gaze to a rule book and things may have changed. It’s also quite possible that my memory may not be reliable. )

 

[Karen-W]

I believe it’s an ISU rule. Skaters frequently skate an excerpt of their competitive programs as an encore but I’m pretty sure they’re not allowed to skate their competitive programs in their entirety in lieu of an exhibition program.

(I caveat all if this by saying it’s been a looooong time since I’ve turned my gaze to a rule book and things may have changed. It’s also quite possible that my memory may not be reliable. )

Well, is it a competitive program if it's appreciably different from the one she skated at Lombardia and she's never used the current version as a FS?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I’m pretty sure that rule applies to the competitive programs they performed in that competition, not theoretical future competitive programs they might someday skate.

 

[peibeck]

And in exhibitions skaters don't normally do all their jumps and modify the choreography. So does that make it the "same program?" I wouldn't think so.

IMO it's a ridiculous rule. Most skaters are not using exhibitions as "practice sessions."

 

[Vagabond]

I’m pretty sure that rule applies to the competitive programs they performed in that competition, not theoretical future competitive programs they might someday skate.

The Tiffany Chin Rule?

 

[jmtfti]

I don't think that rule is still in effect, or if it is, it's as @Theatregirl1122 suggests. Fear/Gibson have used their Rocky FD as an ex, and Lajoie/Lagha have done the same with several of their rhythm dances (in both instances a season or more after competing them).

 

[Allskate]

She DID say in interviews that all of the choreo for the Gaga FS was about done but her dress wasn't ready, and the program also needed some more work. She was still hopeful to do the Gaga program at that time, but made it clear that she wouldn't do it before it was ready (as well as her new dress).

How long does it take to get a new dress done? I have a really hard time believing that a dress is the reason she isn't doing the GaGa program in December. That would not make sense. Whatever her boot problems were, they have been over for quite some time and she was able to compete well enough, including adding a lutz/loop combo this season, to make the GP Final. So, I also have a hard time believing that boot problems are the reason she is not doing the GaGa program now. Maybe she doesn't like the GaGa program as much as her McArthur Park program or there are other issues. She should do whatever she and her coaches think is best for her. On a purely selfish level, I would like to see a new program because I personally just don't care for the old program, and it's always fun to see a new program. But, I don't expect her to cater to my wishes.

I’m pretty sure that rule applies to the competitive programs they performed in that competition, not theoretical future competitive programs they might someday skate.

Whatever the rule is, it doesn't make sense for Alysa to test out a new competitive program under spotlights after having just finished a competition and without even having the benefit of feedback from an international judging panel.

 

[natsulian]

Debuting a new program at the Olympics would be the craziest and most Alysa thing to do. I cannot say that I'm not stressed for her but time and time again, Alysa has proven her mettle.

 

[Private Citizen]

Debuting a new program at the Olympics would be the craziest and most Alysa thing to do. I cannot say that I'm not stressed for her but time and time again, Alysa has proven her mettle.

Sarah Hughes reworked most of her program just before the Olympics, with mostly new choreography and possibly new music edits (can’t remember), and it worked well for her.

Robin Wagner tried it again with Sasha Cohen’s “Robin Lake” at 2004 Worlds, with 50+% new choreography and music, and it almost worked. Sasha never skated more cleanly than she did under Wagner and with Robin Lake.