2019-20 U.S. Ladies Figure Skating

[zounger]

Very happy about Mariah, what a skate, what an audience and standing ovation. I think she experienced the pure joy of achievement, a moment and feeling that she will remember for a long time.

I hope for a similar skate at worlds and US ladies bring back the 3 spots, they will need them for the upcoming seasons leading to Olympics.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

I guess we’ll have to wait to find out until Sunday, but I already have my junior worlds team picked. Alysa, Lindsay, and ummmmm....... ok, so I guess I don’t have the team fully picked out. I guess I would be happy with Alysa, Lindsay (to get her more experience) and Rena (big, promising jumps) or Sierra. But should we pick Gabbie Izzo who is already 18 or 19 and will quickly become too old for juniors?

Skate-off!!!!

 

[frida80]

I guess we’ll have to wait to find out until Sunday, but I already have my junior worlds team picked. Alysa, Lindsay, and ummmmm....... ok, so I guess I don’t have the team fully picked out. I guess I would be happy with Alysa, Lindsay (to get her more experience) and Rena (big, promising jumps) or Sierra. But should we pick Gabbie Izzo who is already 18 or 19 and will quickly become too old for juniors?

Skate-off!!!!

Only girls with their junior minimums will be selected to go to JW camp. They’ll select the team in a week.

The ladies that did well will probably be sent to senior Bs as an award.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Only girls with their junior minimums will be selected to go to JW camp. They’ll select the team in a week.

The ladies that did well will probably be sent to senior Bs as an award.

Ok. I forgot about the JW camp. I wonder who’ll be selected to go to the camp.

 

[frida80]

Ok. I forgot about the JW camp. I wonder who’ll be selected to go to the camp.

Lindsay
Calista
Isabelle
Alysa
Starr
Gabriella
Audrey (possible)

 

[crazydreamer]

I think what this year proves is that there is very little incentive in figure skating now to develop artistry and performance. Skaters like Mariah and Bradie and Alina Zagitova, who were not standout artists in their youth, can put in all the work to develop truly beautiful artistry, and then have the skates of their lives, and they have zero chance of winning competitions. So what is the point for a skater like that in continuing to train and compete? There kind of isn't, which is why you see Alina retiring.

IMO that is a major loss to figure skating. I don't know how to fix it, because people who can do things technically that no one else can do DO DESERVE to get major points for that. And artistry is highly subjective.

 

[Jammers]

Crazy that two of the greatest skates in US Nationals history never won the title. Jason and his Riverdance didn't win either back in 2014 but this was more impressive. Jeremy had a big lead after the SP and could afford a mistake or two but Alysa didn't have much of a lead and couldn't afford to make any mistakes and she just went out like it was another day. You can't teach that.

 

[jenaj]

Can’t believe what just happened. IMHO besides Kwan’s free programs at 2003 and 2004 nationals, Mariah’s free program tonight was probably the most memorable in terms of the emotion it brought to the audience. Love Alysa, but it’s just too saddening to see her win tonight when you compared her free to Mariah’s.
The age limit topic has been discussed for a long time, but tonight was perhaps another prime example of why the age limit should be raised. Or maybe the PCS should have a higher factor for the “ladies.” If the technical scores for the ladies are just as high as the mens, then maybe the ladies PCS should have the same factor as the mens?

I agree that in ISU senior events the age limit should probably be raised to 16. But that would not affect Alysa because she won’t be able to compete as a senior until she is 16 under the current rules. But at national events the local federation sets the rules and there is good reason to allow younger skaters to compete. It prepares them for a higher level of competition and provides valuable feedback from judges and other officials. It also begins to build an audience and fan base for a talented skater like Alysa. And it is nothing new. Tara Lipinski won nationals at age 14. So did Mirai Nagasu.

 

[jenaj]

But Alysa's "quad" wasn't even clean....

Yes, but it was worth more than a triple. Alysa has a very smart layout. She does 3 lutzes, a quad and two triples. Both of her triples are in combination and both are in the bonus. She really maximizes her point potential.

 

[jenaj]

PCS if applied based on the guidlines laid down by the judging standards should have been enough for Mariah to win. Alysa simply does not do enough to earn those higher marks, her skating is very empty, and it’s very obvious she isn’t doing much outside of the elements. She also is still pretty slow. The reason people get so upset after results like this is PCS is misapplied and tends to rise as the technical score rises not just as skating skills and performance level improves.

She won by 10 points. She could have gotten 59 PCS (average 7.4) and still would have won. Mariah received Nationals inflation too in her long program—75 (average about 9.4). I think Alysa’s PCS of 68 (average 8.5) was correct, relative to Mariah’s.

 

[Mathman]

I think what this year proves is that there is very little incentive in figure skating now to develop artistry and performance. Skaters like Mariah and Bradie and Alina Zagitova, who were not standout artists in their youth, can put in all the work to develop truly beautiful artistry, and then have the skates of their lives, and they have zero chance of winning competitions. So what is the point for a skater like that in continuing to train and compete? There kind of isn't, which is why you see Alina retiring.

IMO that is a major loss to figure skating. I don't know how to fix it, because people who can do things technically that no one else can do DO DESERVE to get major points for that. And artistry is highly subjective.

I think that is what is behind the ISU's talk of turning the SP into an "artistic program" of equal weight to the "technical program" (LP).

If that system had been in place here Mariah would be the "artistic champion" and Alyssa the "technical champion," and then it would come down to placements for who was the "overall champion" (with Brady still in the mix if she got 2nd in both).

 

[breadstal]

i guess we'll keep acting that Alysa is a disgusting skater, when she has nice lines, pretty spirals (if they were only longer :c), really good spins, has improved her SS tremendously (i mean compare them to last year, yikes. what a queen.) you can actually see her joy while she skates (while doing such a hard routines), she has some nice performance qualities, she emotes more than most junior skaters (and quite many senior skaters as well), she uses her arms beautifully, her IR is as good as I expect 14 yo girl to have. her PCS were overscored, that's a fact, but she's not an awful skater, who only have jumps. her jumps have been improved as well, especially her 3A, they look so much better. all her triples look easier now, her 4lz is mess but that's also on isu, for allowing all these girls (AND boys) to cheat their quads. i'm glad she won tbh she has a lot of potential, which sadly people don't give her credit for. mariah's a really nice skater, don't get me wrong, but i think her pcs were over the top as well, i wish she didn't wear these ugly boots because they completely destroy her lines, at least for me, (her spirals were still nice ofc). her jumps are usually shaky and sort of 'stiff', so are her landings. her ss are really nice but i don't like her crossovers, they're so agressive, she has great spins, spirals, her IR is amazing, so is her PE even though when it's time for jumps she completely shuts down, which i hope she will continue to work on, as well her jumps overall. i hope she will do well at 4cc and worlds. and alysa at jr worlds

 

[noskates]

I think Alyssa is amazing and clearly the future of US Women's figure Skating. I firmly believe, however, that no skater should be allowed to compete in Seniors until they are age eligible for international competition. Have always believed that. She has all the technical skill and now needs to develop the performance skills. I really look forward to seeing her progress and hope she doesn't have a growth spurt like Mirai did to throw her off track.

Mariah was magical last night. Her jumps were solid, her spins beautiful, and she was clearly feeling her music. She just looks so much more confident out there than ever before. Bradie doesn't inspire me. I feel like she skates within herself and is programmed for her performance. I just don't get any emotion. Amber Glenn surprised me. Never cared much for her OR Courtney Hicks but Amber really brought it this year. I hope she continues skating.

 

[Greengemmonster]

Mariah Bell and her love of animals is so endearing.

I'm watching her instastories and after such a big night for her she's swooning over an assistance dog. She's super excited and smitten with the dog. Made me laugh!

 

[elbkup]

Mariah Bell and her love of animals is so endearing.

I'm watching her instastories and after such a big night for her she's swooning over an assistance dog. She's super excited and smitten with the dog. Made me laugh!

That's Benny the ice skating dog... he assists with puck drops at major league hockey games, does skate with me events for charity etc.. he was a shelter dog adopted just before they were going to euthanize him... the lady who owns him is a skater, noticed his jntelligence and performing abilities, got him custom-made skates and out onto the ice, rest is history. Benny is lovely. .. I follow him on instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/p/B680AegpaHH/?igshid=1f4gqsdib65x8

 

[Joekaz]

Even losing to 3A, Kihira and You they can get three spots. All they need is to beat Miyahara and Higuchi.

That is hard to predict this year. While both Japanese haven't had good seasons, they are both more talented more accomplished skaters than any American. So it really is up to them.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

I think it could be possible for Bradie and Mariah to get 3 spots back. I think they can place above Satoko probably, and maybe Higuchi if she doesn’t do a 3A, and same with Young.

 

[lpt]

While both Japanese haven't had good seasons, they are both more talented more accomplished skaters than any American.

I don't think so.

 

[Joekaz]

I don't think so.

Think again. They both are World silver medalists. What comparable accomplishment does any active American skater have?

 

[evasorange]

Think again. They both are World silver medalists. What comparable accomplishment does any active American skater have?

Tbh if Mariah was skating at the level she is now back at the 2018 worlds she definitely could have medaled there. Nothing against Wakaba, she was awesome and deserved her medal. But both her and Satoko only scored 210 to get their medals, Mariah got 212 at gp France this year. Tbh I think it’s not a problem of being sooo far behind in talent for American ladies but more so they can never hold it together for two clean programs when it counts. Mariah and Bradie have consistently scored higher then the Japanese ladies(besides Rika) this season. They have leveled up in a way the Japanese ladies simply haven’t this year. It all will come down to who’s the cleanest at worlds.