2019-20 U.S. Ladies Figure Skating

[katymay]

^^ This exactly. What Alysa does as a junior won't (or shouldn't) define her career. The important thing is she learns from these experiences. Nathan never won JWC either (highest he got was a bronze) and that hasn't affected his career in the slightest. Alysa's young, she is making steady progress, and she's got a good head on her shoulders... she's got time. (Anyway I certainly don't consider bronze a failure. She should be incredibly proud of what she's done!)



I don't think a coaching change is likely given how close she is to Lipetsky. But I'll bite. If Alysa were to consider a coaching change, who could she go to?

* Raf? She could train with Mariah and Marin. Raf specializes in teaching sustainable technique. He's in California so the family would only need a minor relocation. And Shae-Lynn has now relocated there so that's another plus.
Likelihood: Super unlikely. Raf has made his stance on quads and young girls pretty clear so I highly doubt he'd be willing to take her in.

* Denise Meyers? In addition to having Bradie, Meyers also has a bunch of junior girls also learning quads. She's good at creating layouts that maximize and squeeze points out of everything.
Likelihood: Also unlikely... Meyers already has a lot of juniors and she's certainly not going to take on Bradie's direct competitor.

* Tammy Gambill (or anyone at the World Arena)? She'd be training with Ting and Karen (if Karen doesn't go back to school; also does Mirai still train there?). Rika and Young also spend large chunks of time in Colorado. The US Olympic Training Center is here too.
Likelihood: Not completely unlikely. But which coach would take her? (No TomZ please...)

* Mie Hamada? Again, Hamada's got Rika and Young, both with 3As and training quads. She had (has?) Satoko and we know she specializes in teaching SS.
Likelihood: Pretty unlikely. If it happened at all it would have to be like Vincent, a half-time arrangement since Alysa would not be able to relocate to Japan. Also not sure Hamada would take on Alysa since she'd be a direct rival to both Rika and Young in 2022.

* Lee Barkell? Satoko is there, and Gabby. He's also in Toronto so close and easy access to Lori Nicol. How is Barkell as a jump doctor? Satoko must have some faith in him that he can give her more height on her jumps, since Satoko's goal is getting a 3A.
Likelihood: This is not a bad idea actually. Alysa has the same problem as Satoko... tiny jumps and prone to UR. And training with Satoko can have some real benefits.

* TCC? Well Evgenia's there which is a huge plus. Alysa has already spent time here working with Orser on her 3A and other specialists on her quads. She could join Tracy's stroking classes.
Likelihood: IF Alysa really was going to make a coaching change, I'd say TCC is the most likely because she's already been working there... she knows the coaches and the coaches know her. Like World Arena though, which coach would take her? Or perhaps Lipetsky would stay on as her "main" coach and Alysa could just train most of the time with different specialists?

Anyone I missed?

I think Colorado would be the best fit. For one thing, training at altitude would help. If not Colorado, then TCC and Brian, but the problem with TCC is she wouldn't get the same individual attention she gets now.

 

[MiraiFan]

I just hope they keep Alysa off social media and Goldenskate. Good gravy people. She’s a 13 year old child who finished 3rd at Junior Worlds. Some of y’all are acting like she didn’t make the free skate, or came in last. Which would have been ok too. It’s her first year. I just can’t even with this. CONGRATS to Alysa on her bronze! Great job! A bronze medal is a great achievement!

Indeed! Well done and good for her for giving the quad a go... She is a very self aware skater for her age and knows what she has to work on. I really like her and hope to see her develop her potential.

 

[katymay]

For those of you who think Alysa needs a coaching change, may I ask specific reasons why? Does she need a coaching and choreographer change? Just a new choreographer? Just a new coach?

I think the choreographer has done a brilliant job given her skill set. Lack of speed has been masked by transitions and 'rest' spots. For the most part, music selections have been brilliant. She has had wonderful coaching as well, it is more that at a certain level it helps to settle in to a more competitive environment.

 

[el henry]

Maybe I am missing something, but Alysa is 14, isn’t she?

IMO, her family should make the decisions that are best for her as a 14 year old in the context of her family life, her education, and her skating.

In that order

 

[theharleyquinn]

Maybe I am missing something, but Alysa is 14, isn’t she?

IMO, her family should make the decisions that are best for her as a 14 year old in the context of her family life, her education, and her skating.

In that order

That's very easy to say but parents of skaters, especially those with serious promise, have differing priorities.

 

[Edwin]

That's very easy to say but parents of skaters, especially those with serious promise, have differing priorities.

Depends entirely on the parent'(s) ambitions.

Many gym moms are even crazier than those dance moms, wanting to realise themselves through their children, putting enormous pressure on their girls. Wanting a return on the $$$$ spend on gymnastics, everything goes well until the girl reaches 12-13 and starts puberty. Look at all those IG pages with level 10 gymnasts, figthing for endorsements

Mr Liu doesn't strike me as such a kind of person. Alysa herself appears to be reasonably grounded and realistic, her self reflection is wonderful.

Alysa will most likely be on that long tour, before starting the off season, relax some with her siblings, before starting to prepare for the next.

 

[Artemisa]

I don't get this discussion of Alysa changing coach... her coach did a great job and there programs were good .. she has a 3A and a 4 .. and with no competition in the usa she doesn't need a powerfull coach ...

 

[KatGrace1925]

I don't get this discussion of Alysa changing coach... her coach did a great job and there programs were good .. she has a 3A and a 4 .. and with no competition in the usa she doesn't need a powerfull coach ...

It's unlikely she will continue to have "no competition" in the USA, her presence on the scene has ignited more fire in the other girls. Things can change a lot in a season, and she needs to stay at the top of her game and make the adjustments needed to earn higher scores internationally.

 

[Jeanie19]

I think her coaching situation is fine, but I think she should do one of the summer training camps at TCC.

 

[lpt]

It's unlikely she will continue to have "no competition" in the USA, her presence on the scene has ignited more fire in the other girls.

As long as domestic judges turn a blind eye to her URs and see only her "beautiful smile" and "bright personality" she is perfectly safe.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I don't get this discussion of Alysa changing coach... her coach did a great job and there programs were good .. she has a 3A and a 4 .. and with no competition in the usa she doesn't need a powerfull coach ...

I also think a coaching change is unnecessary, especially if she is happy and enjoys going to the rink everyday. Most other coaches in the US, even if they taught her to be a masterful skater, would probably only have her doing the jumps through the lutz. How would any talented 14 year old stack up against Bradie and Mariah with the same technical content? I suspect she wouldn't be competitive with them, much less beat them at Nationals twice.

 

[KatGrace1925]

As long as domestic judges turn a blind eye to her URs and see only her "beautiful smile" and "bright personality" she is perfectly safe.

And maybe at some point they'll realize that turning a blind eye is a bad idea, if the international judges continue to call them out then they'll start calling them out as well.

 

[lpt]

Eteri girls look like someone is literally pointing a gun to their heads when they get on the ice. It makes me so uncomfortable to watch given that they are actual children.

In fact, many of them look scared/uncomfortable on the ice.

In fact, they look serious and concentrated.
Some people just should learn how to accept defeat with dignity.

 

[moonvine]

Maybe I am missing something, but Alysa is 14, isn’t she?

IMO, her family should make the decisions that are best for her as a 14 year old in the context of her family life, her education, and her skating.

In that order

Sorry. 14. Amend my statements from “13 year old child” to “14 year old child.”

 

[Artemisa]

And maybe at some point they'll realize that turning a blind eye is a bad idea, if the international judges continue to call them out then they'll start calling them out as well.

I don't think so ... they don't have anyone trying a 3A or a 4 in the ice so they will push her ... in the other hand she looks so happy in the ice that is difficult not give her points ..

 

[el henry]

Sorry. 14. Amend my statements from “13 year old child” to “14 year old child.”

I’m sorry, @moonvine, I wasn’t referring to you (I do try to quote or “at” posters if I am referring to someone). I literally meant that I myself didn’t know how old Alysa was.

ETA: and jumping off, not directed at you, if I were the parent of a 14 year old, I would be in no rush to have them leave for a high performance coaching situation, gold medal or no gold medal. But that is just me and I am not Alysa’s parent, so my vote doesn’t count

 

[moonvine]

I’m sorry, @moonvine, I wasn’t referring to you (I do try to quote or “at” posters if I am referring to someone). I literally meant that I myself didn’t know how old Alysa was.

ETA: and jumping off, not directed at you, if I were the parent of a 14 year old, I would be in no rush to have them leave for a high performance coaching situation, gold medal or no gold medal. But that is just me and I am not Alysa’s parent, so my vote doesn’t count

No, I made an error. I do that all the time. I should have looked it up. And I'm with you, as I often am!

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I don't think so ... they don't have anyone trying a 3A or a 4 in the ice so they will push her ... in the other hand she looks so happy in the ice that is difficult not give her points ..

Why does she need to have anyone "push" her? She's already doing the jumps.

 

[Jammers]

No, I made an error. I do that all the time. I should have looked it up. And I'm with you, as I often am!

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Why does she need to have anyone "push" her? She's already doing the jumps.

While it would be great to have numerous skaters pushing each other like the Russian girls do all the time that didn't stop Nathan from pushing himself to learn how to do just about every quad known to man and there were no US Men pushing him when it came to doing quads. Skaters like Nathan and Alysa are singular and not like your normal skater and that's what makes them special. They see something and say to themselves why not and go do it.

 

[MarinHondas]

^^ This exactly. What Alysa does as a junior won't (or shouldn't) define her career. The important thing is she learns from these experiences. Nathan never won JWC either (highest he got was a bronze) and that hasn't affected his career in the slightest. Alysa's young, she is making steady progress, and she's got a good head on her shoulders... she's got time. (Anyway I certainly don't consider bronze a failure. She should be incredibly proud of what she's done!)



I don't think a coaching change is likely given how close she is to Lipetsky. But I'll bite. If Alysa were to consider a coaching change, who could she go to?

* Raf? She could train with Mariah and Marin. Raf specializes in teaching sustainable technique. He's in California so the family would only need a minor relocation. And Shae-Lynn has now relocated there so that's another plus.
Likelihood: Super unlikely. Raf has made his stance on quads and young girls pretty clear so I highly doubt he'd be willing to take her in.

* Denise Meyers? In addition to having Bradie, Meyers also has a bunch of junior girls also learning quads. She's good at creating layouts that maximize and squeeze points out of everything.
Likelihood: Also unlikely... Meyers already has a lot of juniors and she's certainly not going to take on Bradie's direct competitor.

* Tammy Gambill (or anyone at the World Arena)? She'd be training with Ting and Karen (if Karen doesn't go back to school; also does Mirai still train there?). Rika and Young also spend large chunks of time in Colorado. The US Olympic Training Center is here too.
Likelihood: Not completely unlikely. But which coach would take her? (No TomZ please...)

* Mie Hamada? Again, Hamada's got Rika and Young, both with 3As and training quads. She had (has?) Satoko and we know she specializes in teaching SS.
Likelihood: Pretty unlikely. If it happened at all it would have to be like Vincent, a half-time arrangement since Alysa would not be able to relocate to Japan. Also not sure Hamada would take on Alysa since she'd be a direct rival to both Rika and Young in 2022.

* Lee Barkell? Satoko is there, and Gabby. He's also in Toronto so close and easy access to Lori Nicol. How is Barkell as a jump doctor? Satoko must have some faith in him that he can give her more height on her jumps, since Satoko's goal is getting a 3A.
Likelihood: This is not a bad idea actually. Alysa has the same problem as Satoko... tiny jumps and prone to UR. And training with Satoko can have some real benefits.

* TCC? Well Evgenia's there which is a huge plus. Alysa has already spent time here working with Orser on her 3A and other specialists on her quads. She could join Tracy's stroking classes.
Likelihood: IF Alysa really was going to make a coaching change, I'd say TCC is the most likely because she's already been working there... she knows the coaches and the coaches know her. Like World Arena though, which coach would take her? Or perhaps Lipetsky would stay on as her "main" coach and Alysa could just train most of the time with different specialists?

Anyone I missed?

I think Barkell or Orser would be great moves. Rather have Orser, but if he’s unavailable... Barkell please. Like you said though, she seems comfy in her current team and I don’t think she will switch ..... I think it could be very helpful if she were to change coaches, but I don’t see it happening.

Best of luck to her in improving in whatever environment she’s in. :luv17:

 

[KatGrace1925]

I don't think so ... they don't have anyone trying a 3A or a 4 in the ice so they will push her ... in the other hand she looks so happy in the ice that is difficult not give her points ..

We'll see. I don't understand how it would be difficult not to give someone points if they didn't earn them. There's no bonus in the criteria for being happy on the ice. If she continues to have chronic underrotation issues and pace behind others internationally because of it, then it would be absolutely scandalous of the USFS to continue to ignore it. An obvious case of corruption.

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I don't think so ... they don't have anyone trying a 3A or a 4 in the ice so they will push her ... in the other hand she looks so happy in the ice that is difficult not give her points ..

We'll see. I don't understand how it would be difficult not to give someone points if they didn't earn them. There's no bonus in the criteria for being happy on the ice. If she continues to have chronic underrotation issues and pace behind others internationally because of it, then it would be absolutely scandalous of the USFS to continue to ignore it. An obvious case of corruption.