U.S.Women [#9]: Now That's What I'm F*@&%!$ Talking About!

[kwanfan1818]

Tcherkaskaya worked for Nikodinov, because she already had brilliant technique and an intrinsic fluidity and gentleness that needed to be expressed. Plus willingness and simpatico with her coach/teacher in what was an unusual relationship in skating. Everhardt doesn't have that movement quality.

I think what she does have could be amplified with a super-heroine type of program and a costume with clean lines: fussiness does not translate into detail, costume- or movement-wise. I don't know if she likes unitards, but there are plenty of dresses that could do the trick.

I know that the actual Firebird character is an empowered, magical creature, not Swan Lake II: even if she is caught, she has enough power to bargain her way out of captivity. The program didn't lean into the sharpness and power of the character, but many people wouldn't have accepted it, although I think it would have played to her strengths more.

She can be so wry IRL, but wryness isn't one of those qualities that translates into singles programs that readily.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Amber is such a strange case for me. I root so hard for her because I adore her as a person, but her skating doesn’t excite me that much. Maybe it’s because I’m always so stressed out watching her, waiting for the other shoe to drop, that I can’t fully enjoy what she’s doing. The only performance I can remember that fully engaged me was her SP this year at Nats. I know she’s had some other great performances, but maybe it’s also the music choices she’s had (the long programs have been especially snoozy for me).

 

[Skaterbob]

Amber is such a strange case for me. I root so hard for her because I adore her as a person, but her skating doesn’t excite me that much. Maybe it’s because I’m always so stressed out watching her, waiting for the other shoe to drop, that I can’t fully enjoy what she’s doing. The only performance I can remember that fully engaged me was her SP this year at Nats. I know she’s had some other great performances, but maybe it’s also the music choices she’s had (the long programs have been especially snoozy for me).

Amber skating really excited me for the first time in the fall of the previous season where she beat Kaori but this season not much. I previously remember being rather fond her of her skating in 2018 then I was focusing on Mirai but also remember her being so emotional even during practices like she was about to burst into tears when she made mistakes. Since then I have just be teetering on the edge of my seat like you waiting for the other shoe to drop. It is horrible experience as a viewer (at least for me) so that is why I am selfishly saying I would like her to move on from competition because I can't do it anymore. lol Also I think her focusing on trying to keep everything together has really stunted her long programs performances for the last two season but that is common with a lot of skaters. Her shorts have been rather entertaining with the Janet program from last season being the tops for me.

None of this has to do with Amber off-ice because she appears to a wonderful person.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I feel that Amber should continue competing for as long as she wants to. If it makes her happy just in the trying, that is entirely her choice.

Most athletes don't medal at a Worlds or Olympics anyway. And Amber did win an Olympic gold medal in the Team event. Also, apart from Alysa and Isabeau, there aren't too many US skaters that can challenge and beat her at this point in time. Which of the current ones have ever beaten Amber at a GP event or Nationals in recent memory?

I understand the frustration. BELIEVE me I do - I went through this with Sasha Cohen who DID medal at Worlds and the Olympics, but she always seemed to just miss the gold. I went through it again with Mirai Nagasu who topped off her career with a triple Axel and burnished bronze in the Olympic team event. And there's nothing 'wrong' with that as no doubt Alysa Liu would point out. Most of us will never be top five, or ten in the World at anything, let alone make it to a Worlds or Olympics. I hope that skaters like Amber and Bradie stay in as long as THEY want to, not as long as some fans want them to.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Hmmmm....uptrend someone pointed out that Kaori leaving doesn't chage much. Already there is Mone, Nikki, Jin and now Shimada. It's a numbers game. Under what circumstances could Amber score higher than these women?

Not sure about Alysa. Promoters will offer any $$ she wants. Plus all the endorcement money crashing at her feet. Will she give this up to spend 7 hours a day training? Hard to keep them down on farm........

According to Alysa she trains at most 3 hours a day. She hasn't trained under some crazy schedule since before she retired. And if I trust anyone at their word, it's Alysa. She's stated repeatedly that she loves to compete and that she'll be back next season. Until she states otherwise for whatever reason, Alysa WILL be back.

And if Amber doesn't beat any of those new kids on the block next season, so what? As long as she's in good shape and wants to compete, that should be sufficient. There aren't too many US skaters that are going to be able to challenge her anyway, apart from Alysa and Isabeau. That is if this year's Nationals is anything to go by.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Even while less than perfect, Amber has placed 5th and 6th at the only two Worlds she competed at. Hardly terrible results. She's not going to stick around for another full Olympic cycle, but if she wants one more year, I don't believe we here should begrudge her that.

What kind of crack do they deal in southern Illinois? Amber has skated at doubled the amount of Worlds you say she has. Four times in fact. The last four consecutive worlds. Now, can I get an amen up in here?

Stop. That. Train.

 

[Karen-W]

Even while less than perfect, Amber has placed 5th and 6th at the only two Worlds she competed at. Hardly terrible results. She's not going to stick around for another full Olympic cycle, but if she wants one more year, I don't believe we here should begrudge her that.

What kind of crack do they deal in southern Illinois? Amber has skated at doubled the amount of Worlds you say she has. Four times in fact. The last four consecutive worlds. Now, can I get an amen up in here?

Stop. That. Train.

LOL - yes, I was going to say... "Wait a minute, did someone purge Amber's 12th & 10th place finishes in 2023 & 2024 from their mind before posting?"

She's done well the past two seasons, make no mistake, but those first two Worlds appearances were less than auspicious - especially 2023 when she & Bradie couldn't manage to finish in the Top 9 and we lost the 3rd spot as a result; though credit to her for managing Top 10 in 2024 along with Isabeau's 2nd place & securing the 3rd spot again, which they both stated was their goal going into Montreal.

 

[peibeck]

What kind of crack do they deal in southern Illinois?

Sorry, dealing with some personal drama and have had very little sleep the last 9 days. Honestly I only remembered her past two appearances. Sorry!

 

[Allskate]

So, is the mental aspect of competing not just as important as physical injuries?

It is not as important, and it is not the same. Amber suffers from anxiety and also has ADHD. That is going to be a challenge for her whether she is skating or not. Not so with physical injuries. And it's been a challenge for her for her entire career. Should she never have skated at all?

But, you know what Adam has that Amber doesn't have? A Worlds medal and a couple of ISU Continental Championship titles. Heck, Kao has more ISU hardware than Amber, come to think of it. And both Adam & Kao are younger than Amber (and Kao is younger than Ilia too) with already greater successes internationally.

Adam won his silver medal at Worlds when he came in nineteenth in the short program, messing up every jumping pass. He is wildly inconsistent. So is Kao, who didn't even qualify for the free program this week and has never finished as high as Amber's sixth place at Worlds or won the GP Final.

It is very common for skaters to make mistakes in competition, including really good skaters. Heck, even Kaori often makes mistakes. So does Yuma. I think this was the first time all season that he skated his long program cleanly.

 

[PRlady]

Kao and Adam are up and down skaters with a lot of talent. But the truth is they are far more typical than someone like Sato, who might not have a lot of individual flare but is pretty consistent in competition.

The thing is that when you get a skater like Alysa or Med who rarely make mistakes in the clutch, they’re the unicorns. One think I’ll never forget about Z/K this season as that as time went on and they got more and more attention, they still didn’t make a major mistake in competition. It’s unusual!

So Amber is more open about her mental game than most skaters are, but it doesn’t mean she should retire IF she is still getting some joy from the roller coaster.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Sorry, dealing with some personal drama and have had very little sleep the last 9 days. Honestly I only remembered her past two appearances. Sorry!

Sorry, hon, I’ll reach out privately.