2020-21 US Women's Figure Skating

[drivingmissdaisy]

unless we get 3 spots back this year, there are no guarantees for anybody and Alysa will have even less of a chance.

That's true. Prior to the start of the last Olympic season, I don't think any of us expected Bradie to make the team, much less go to the Olympics as the top American woman. One of those spots could easily go to someone not on our radar yet.

 

[theharleyquinn]

Even if Alysa gets her jumps back, the fact that she has not had time to build up PCS is also a liability with no international competition. If the points of any high technical content she has is really just to dig out of a PCS hole against more seasoned seniors, it's a debate about whether she's the best pick for the Olympic team.

I also think this exact problem is also what makes it harder for skaters like Amber and Ting (if she comes back in time) to really contest for a spot against Mariah and Bradie, who both have stronger cases than any of the ladies the U.S. sent to the Olympics in 2018. Of course, it's a weird year, and if Mariah and Bradie aren't showing the consistency they have in the past two years leading up to the Olympics, it's worth considering other skaters.

 

[natsulian]

The US ladies were starting to truly build depth two seasons ago with the arrival of Alysa, Ting, and Hanna on the radar but that quickly tapered off with the latter two being injured. With Karen, Amber, and Audrey all on the rise and a few ladies like Lindsay Thorngren debuting at the senior level this season, we might finally have a true fight for the podium. I hate it when the outcome of a competition is all but known and with six ladies in the mix for medals at Nationals, things have truly gotten interesting.

The advantage both Mariah and Bradie have is that their PCS has grown tremendously in the last two seasons and both can get near 70 internationally and above 70 domestically when clean. Both can easily score anywhere between 210-230 domestically. Karen is another beautiful PCS skater and if she can keep improving and avoid injury and boot problems, she can score above 210. Audrey with cleaner jumps and maybe a second triple-triple in the second-half of the program could score above 210. Alysa is the biggest question mark because if she doesn't have the quad or triple-Axel, her upper limit is probably in the low 200s. With her technical firepower, she could score anywhere between 230-240. Amber Glenn can score above 200 if clean and if she lands the triple-Axel, around 210-215. Now, this is all based on cleanliness. If all of our top ladies bring their A-game, the gold could be anyone's.

 

[NAOTMAA]

After she placed 4th at Worlds I was expecting big things from her. She is still a beautiful skater and if she can just get 1 3/3 I think she has a great chance at Nationals. The way the judges are treating Bradie this season, I hope she can keep her place on the podium.

I still remain puzzled how for 2017 nationals and worlds, and four programs, she got only one UR call and yet since then for the most part cannot go without getting called multiple times.

She struggled before her national title and it seemed she finally had a breakthrough but after worlds simply went back to square one. So what exactly was different at those two competitions that she can't come close to again?

 

[shine]

Agreed. I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about her. I think she might be our new rising star. I like her a lot.

I know. Page after page of Mariah vs Bradie and Alysa's lost jumps but hardly any discussion of Audrey Shin who had a stunning debut at a major senior event, with a very real chance of making the 2022 team if she stays on this trajectory. Don't think I understand.

 

[Jeanie19]

I know. Page after page of Mariah vs Bradie and Alysa's lost jumps but hardly any discussion of Audrey Shin who had a stunning debut at a major senior event, with a very real chance of making the 2022 team if she stays on this trajectory. Don't think I understand.

I feel the same. Audrey had the only two clean programs, and she skated them beautifully.

 

[Thrashergurl]

I’m just as excited about Audrey as everyone, but she was skating with no real pressure. She was a relative unknown. Let’s see how she does after some hype and pressure. That’s the real test.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I’m just as excited about Audrey as everyone, but she was skating with no real pressure. She was a relative unknown. Let’s see how she does after some hype and pressure. That’s the real test.

This. She had one great competition, and we've seen that many times before. She might be like Bradie in 2015-16 and follow that up with more strong performances, but it's hard to talk about her as a threat to unseat one of our top 3 after just two strong programs. She's definitely one to watch though, and I think she has a lot of great qualities.

 

[shine]

This. She had one great competition, and we've seen that many times before. She might be like Bradie in 2015-16 and follow that up with more strong performances, but it's hard to talk about her as a threat to unseat one of our top 3 after just two strong programs. She's definitely one to watch though, and I think she has a lot of great qualities.

It’s not just that she had a strong competition, but also the quality skater she is and the sophistication of her programs especially for a 16-year-old. Bradie IMO wasn’t nearly as exciting.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

It’s not just that she had a strong competition, but also the quality skater she is and the sophistication of her programs especially for a 16-year-old. Bradie IMO wasn’t nearly as exciting.

I totally agree. I was just saying that she won't get anywhere unless she can reproduce that form regularly, as those at the top are consistently topping 200. We've seen skaters have break-out performances, like Karen at 2015 Nationals and Caroline Z during the 2007-08 GP season, but then struggle to cement their place at the top long term.

 

[chuckm]

The fact is Audrey has very limited international exposure, and none at a major international competition. We have no idea how she will react to pressure; the only test she will face this season is at US Nationals, if she makes it.

 

[ice coverage]

The fact is Audrey has very limited international exposure, and none at a major international competition. We have no idea how she will react to pressure; the only test she will face this season is at US Nationals, if she makes it.

Audrey Shin already has qualified for 2021 Nats.
I do not know what you mean by, "if she makes it."

Audrey already has qualified because she earned a bye from ISP Points Challenge, and because she has met the 2021 Nats requirement for minimum TES.

(Alysa, Mariah, Bradie, Karen, and Amber have byes to 2021 Nats b/c they were top five at 2020 Nats.

Also earning byes to 2021 Nats were the senior ladies with the top four scores from ISP Points Challenge (excluding the scores from the ladies who earned byes at 2020 Nats.)

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ETA:

U.S. Championship Series starts the second week of November, with competitions in Norwood, Mass. (at SCOB); Spokane; and Blaine, Minn.

Start orders have been published for Norwood (which as of Oct 29 still is happening, with COVID testing required).

21 Senior Ladies, including Hanna Harrell (now training at SCOB); Gabbie Izzo; Heidi Munger; Julia Biechler; Rena Ikenishi; Lindsay Thorngren (who has a bye to Nats). (Trisha Roohan returns to competition after time away to perform on a cruise ship.)
15 Junior Ladies in Group A, including Isabeau Levito. Also Indi Cha (now representing SCOB, not MJM).
15 Junior Ladies in Group B, including Tamnhi Huynh.
15 Junior Ladies in Group C, including Hazel Collier.​

Competitor list for Spokane (as of Oct 20) includes:

Senior Ladies: Alysa Liu and Pooja Kalyan (both of whom have byes to Nats); Paige Rydberg; Sierra Venetta.
Junior Ladies: Hannah Herrera; Maryn Pierce.​

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ETA (on Nov 1):

Forgot to mention that Emilea Zingas is listed (as of Oct 18) in the start order for Senior Ladies at the Fort Wayne event of U.S. Championship Series.

Although she has competed in U.S. qualifying in past seasons (and I recall liking her ), this season Emilea has represented Cyprus at two international competitions.

I have not checked the USFS rulebook, but I am surprised that a skater who actively is representing another country nonetheless is permitted to register for U.S. qualifying???​

ETA (on Nov 2):

The Fort Wayne competition is scheduled for Nov 17 - 20.

Just read elsewhere on GS that once again representing Cyprus, Emilea is on the entry list for Cup of Tyrol, Nov 23 - 30.​

ETA (on Nov 6):

Cup of Tyrol has been cancelled.

Representing Cyprus, Emilea is on the entry list for Santa Claus Cup, Nov 26 - 29, in Budapest.

The change of U.S. Championship Series to virtual format has no bearing on my head-scratching over registering for U.S. qualifying while representing a different country.​

 

[mrrice]

Since Skate Canada has been cancelled, when is the next time we'll see live skating?

 

[Tahuu]

Just watched the Las Vegas Skating Spectacular. Though it’s not a competition, it gave the feeling US ladies may become the weak link for Team USA at the Olympics. Men and dance are good. Pairs have improved. Ladies may not be competitive, if Alysa wouldn’t recover in time.

 

[mrrice]

It really is too bad that Worlds were cancelled last year. I truly believe that they would have attained that 3rd spot. Honestly, I enjoyed both of their programs from last season over this season.

 

[Jammers]

Just watched the Las Vegas Skating Spectacular. Though it’s not a competition, it gave the feeling US ladies may become the weak link for Team USA at the Olympics. Men and dance are good. Pairs have improved. Ladies may not be competitive, if Alysa wouldn’t recover in time.

How do you figure that? The US ladies were doing just fine last season and had a great chance of getting that 3rd spot back before this virus came along. Only Russia had a obvious stronger ladies team last season and the US was doing as well as the Japanese team which hasn't been the case for years. Pairs is still the weak link where winning a medal on the GP is still cause for celebration. Younger skaters like Ting and Hanna Harrell being hurt all last season hasn't helped with the depth either. Speaking of is Ting going to compete at all this season? If she's healthy she needs to get out there and show what she can do. She still i think has the most potential of all of the younger ladies coming up but can't afford to sit out another season.

 

[mrrice]

It really is too bad that Worlds were cancelled last year. I truly believe that if last years worlds had happened, they would have attained that 3rd spot. Honestly, I enjoyed both of their programs from last season over this season.

 

[katymay]

Just watched the Las Vegas Skating Spectacular. Though it’s not a competition, it gave the feeling US ladies may become the weak link for Team USA at the Olympics. Men and dance are good. Pairs have improved. Ladies may not be competitive, if Alysa wouldn’t recover in time.

I missed it, which of the ladies performed?

 

[katymay]

Agree. I think there was a good chance last year they would have been 6 and 7-this year, I'm not so sure.

 

[sparklestan]

I missed it, which of the ladies performed?

I saw Audrey, Alysa, Bradie, and Mariah. I started watching 15 minutes late though, so I may have missed someone.