2021-2022 US Women's Figure Skating

[TontoK]

I liked Levito, a very promising girl. Besides, she somehow reminds me of Russian girls. The USA is lucky that they have such a high-quality figure skater.

The only thing I didn't understand was why the technical team was so blind and supportive of her lutz. It is clearly problematic for her. She makes a typical movement of Zhenya Medvedeva, and changes to a slightly inner edge at the moment of the push. In such cases, they always call "!". What was my surprise when I did not see any "!" in the protocols. But why? She would have won anyway - the score would have decreased by no more than three or four points (if you call "!" on all three lutz). Why undermine the authority of refereeing out of the blue? I do not understand.

I don't get too worked up about the prospects of 14 year old girls... Who can know how that's going to turn out.

She's intriguing because her best qualities are not what the Russians... or just about any of the young skaters I've seen... can offer.

Will she continue to grow and develop? Gain new technical skills? What will we see from her in two years?

That's like trying to figure out the weather in two years. Nobody knows; we just have to wait and see.

 

[natsulian]

Based on Starr's Instagram stories, it seems Audrey Shin is at Champs Camp (she posted a photo of her with Alysa and Audrey).

 

[Amei]

I don't get too worked up about the prospects of 14 year old girls... Who can know how that's going to turn out.

She's intriguing because her best qualities are not what the Russians... or just about any of the young skaters I've seen... can offer.

Will she continue to grow and develop? Gain new technical skills? What will we see from her in two years?

That's like trying to figure out the weather in two years. Nobody knows; we just have to wait and see.

This! Its pretty difficult to get too worked up with Junior (and younger skaters) - as there are so many variables that can equal them never ending up on the senior circuit.

 

[readernick]

I don't get too worked up about the prospects of 14 year old girls... Who can know how that's going to turn out.

She's intriguing because her best qualities are not what the Russians... or just about any of the young skaters I've seen... can offer.

Will she continue to grow and develop? Gain new technical skills? What will we see from her in two years?

That's like trying to figure out the weather in two years. Nobody knows; we just have to wait and see.

percent this. Not just about Isabeau but about every junior skater. People are constantly making predictions but we all have no idea what the future will bring!

 

[ice coverage]

Based on Starr's Instagram stories, it seems Audrey Shin is at Champs Camp (she posted a photo of her with Alysa and Audrey).

FWIW, Gabbie Izzo also was en route to Champs Camp yesterday, I believe?

(Seemed so to me, based on her own Instastory from Logan Airport yesterday morning and on one of SCOB's Instastories showing some of the SCOB skaters on a flight to Nashville. Lu and Mitrofanov were 100% recognizable in the SCOB photo, as was Maxim Naumov's mother/coach [with Max not fully visible but sitting next to her, I think]. Sitting across the aisle from them was a person [wearing a mask], who I feel 99% sure was Gabbie.)

ETA (on Sep 1):

Confirmation of Gabbie's presence at Champs Camp is in group photos from the closing night on Tuesday -- shared by Audrey Shin:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTQ6olDLIhB/ (Aug 31)​

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... And then she skipped Novice ...

I will take this opportunity to note that Isabeau could be taken as an example of a positive effect of elimination of Juvenile thru Novice competition from Nats.

By winning Novice at her sectionals in the 2019-20 season, Isabeau qualified to compete in Junior Women at 2020 Nats -- where she placed second to Thorngren.
Followed by Isabeau's Junior title in 2021, of course.

Anyway, congratulations to Isabeau for gold in Courchevel.
Congratulations also to Josephine Lee, who made a nice JGP debut.

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ETA:

Cross-posting from the Cranberry thread, where the video links are posted:

2021 Cranberry Cup YouTube videos posted by the official videography vendor on Aug 26 and 27 included ...

- Short & Free for Alysa Liu, Young You, Mariah Bell, Audrey Shin, Paige Rydberg, Gracie Gold​

 

[katymay]

Unconfirmed reports (AKA rumor) is Mariah is skating to River Flows in You. If true, a much better choice for her.

 

[Weathergal]

Unconfirmed reports (AKA rumor) is Mariah is skating to River Flows in You. If true, a much better choice for her.

For which program? Sorry, I'm not a fan of either of her programs this season.

 

[el henry]

For which program? Sorry, I'm not a fan of either of her programs this season.

I read elsewhere (oh why be coy, as in another site) that Mariah will be skating River Flows in You for the SP, that she is returning to Hallelujah for the LP, and that Adam knew at Cranberry that the programs weren't working.

Whether this is true, not true, or a fan's fever dream, I can't say.

 

[catjohnsn2]

This is my favorite Alyssa Czisny spin. https://youtu.be/E-XIncejFUg?t=64
I also particularly like Alysa Liu's layback. https://youtu.be/QOAwTcgDPbg?t=172

I miss her light and graceful centered spins. Her injuries ended her competitive career; I miss her…

 

[katymay]

For which program? Sorry, I'm not a fan of either of her programs this season.

Short Program

 

[yelyoh]

Re: Mariah switching her programs, Hallelujah!!!!!!!

 

[skylark]

I don't get too worked up about the prospects of 14 year old girls... Who can know how that's going to turn out.

She's intriguing because her best qualities are not what the Russians... or just about any of the young skaters I've seen... can offer.

Will she continue to grow and develop? Gain new technical skills? What will we see from her in two years?

That's like trying to figure out the weather in two years. Nobody knows; we just have to wait and see.

I see your point. But I'm not watching Isabeau with an eye to her future prospects.

I'm watching her (and re-watching) because I thrill to her skating *now.*

 

[Greengemmonster]

I see your point. But I'm not watching Isabeau with an eye to her future prospects.

I'm watching her (and re-watching) because I thrill to her skating *now.*

She is so very lovely to watch. I've rewatched both programs a few times too.

I think it's quite a treat to be fully engaged in both junior and senior skating right now! I'm rather thrilled with it all!

 

[skylark]

She is so very lovely to watch. I've rewatched both programs a few times too.

I think it's quite a treat to be fully engaged in both junior and senior skating right now! I'm rather thrilled with it all!

Me too. And yeah, I watch Isabeau (and select others) for my own pleasure. I am a bit like @el henry -- I'm more amazed, because I don't usually watch junior women at all. In my case, I also don't watch junior men, seldom jr. pairs ... and until this weekend when I discovered US Junior Ice Dancers Isabelle Flores and Dmitry Tsarevski -- almost never jr. ice dancers.

 

[elbkup]

Me too. And yeah, I watch Isabeau (and select others) for my own pleasure. I am a bit like @el henry -- I'm more amazed, because I don't usually watch junior women at all. In my case, I also don't watch junior men, seldom jr. pairs ... and until this weekend when I discovered US Junior Ice Dancers Isabelle Flores and Dmitry Tsarevski -- almost never jr. ice dancers.

We make new discoveries in these Junior comps.. I like the ice dancers too.. I really like the sibling pair team from Sweden (? Junior or senior) the Crafords. Never heard of them before
But was impressed ..

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CPyBBHmnr8C/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

[mrrice]

This! Its pretty difficult to get too worked up with Junior (and younger skaters) - as there are so many variables that can equal them never ending up on the senior circuit.

I often say this and I use Caroline Zhang as an example. There is a marked difference between them and that is all about Jump Height! Caroline rotated very quickly but she never had a big 2A, even when she became a Senior. Similar to Jenny Kirk, another Junior World Champion who never had big height in her jumps but rotated very quickly. We'll have to see what happens with Isabeau but, I am a believer that she will become a star.

 

[silveruskate]

I kind of feel like everyone sees their own favorite skater in Isabeau - she's so good that people link her to whoever else they think is great. If you love Anna, she reminds you of Anna. If you loved/still love Sasha, she's a new Sasha. I see shades of Alena

I am worried about her jump technique and her lutz. She's not the only skater not getting calls with suspect edge technique there, but at some point it'll be called. I'd imagine she's working hard on it (and hopefully her coaches are considering program combinations that minimize lutzes too). Others have pointed out how much she continues to improve, which is really amazing.

And she reminds me of Valieva.

P.S. Jumps during the gala looked better to me. Even with young Zhenya comparisons etc. her jump take-offs look like they're behind them all at the same age. But best of luck, no doubt she can still do it!

 

[macy]

I agree. We all thought Sasha skated like a Russian Ballerina and that's a huge compliment. Remember when Dick said she had the best pointed toes in skating.

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man i miss a good spiral sequence.

 

[ana]

Alysa Liu and Vincent Zhou will go to Nebelhorn Trophy for 3th spot. Good luck to them! I can't wait to see them skating again.

United States to Send Liu, Zhou to Nebelhorn Trophy - U.S. Figure Skating

U.S. Figure Skating announced today the athlete selections for 2021 Nebelhorn Trophy, set for September 21-25 in Oberstorf, Germany. It is the final qualifying competition

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[frida80]

Bad news for US competitors. It looks like the US is going to be put in them red zone for Europe this week. That means all competitors would need to quarentine two weeks before entering Europe. That affects both skaters on the JGP, CS, Nebelhorn, and both GPS in France and Italy. I hope USFS is prepared.