Let's not forget that in the same way in which people are sensitive to objectively criticize their favorite skater, there are also people getting too sensitive about reading random podium placing comments that do not include their favorite skaters. For all we know, those podium places can be in everyone's hearts and only exist in a far unicorn Utopia where dogs have learned to skate and that's fine. Celebrating a skater that up until recently has received a good amount of hate from trolls from her own country is good. Having constructing criticism is also good. And if people choose to worry over small things so early, well, you do you and that's fine. It's a forum and that's the point.
I'm all about talking about positive and negative things, but as we get into the Olympic season, people will bring a new wave of anxiety and toxicity that will push rather harshly some skaters for the sake elevating others. And I think that's what sort of happened with Alysa when people were noticing she was aiming to jump things other US ladies could not do at that time. A portion of the conservative US skating audience wanted to put her down through snarky comments saying 'she is not artistic enough!' or 'what health consequences will she have with this type of physical load?' or isn't this too risky for a girl?' or 'her technique will not survive and thus her jumper identity will be gone and she will be out of the game' and all of this snowballed into online hate thrown at a child.
My point being, let's criticize everyone in many ways but hopefully not with the intention of proving that she will be 'out of the game' soon. And if people want to say that there will be a full Russian podium, or that Trusova will finally win it all, or that Kamila will be outed by Anna for gold, or that, magically somehow, we will have the same 2020 Junior World's podium on these Olympics (which includes Alysa), then that's fine. I find Eteri to be an interesting character with some interesting quotes, and I think she once mentioned that "the Olympics has a way of bringing the best from the naive ones". And I like to think that, yes, we can see everyone's progress and make projections for this season, but with the pandemic and universal mental anxiety that this situation has brought to all of us, it is fair to say that in the end the podium will be claimed, really, by anyone who brings their A-game on that specific moment.
Anyway, back to Cranberry this Saturday!
-- but no matter what high points and not-so-high points are seen from Amber and Mariah on Saturday and Sunday, I will be keeping my mind just as open regarding their potential improvement 
in the months ahead as it is regarding Alysa's potential improvement 
Yes. Without video, I think it is impossible to really assess what the Silicon Valley PCS "should" have been.
Holy Cow, what a lineup of skaters!!!! This is an event I would love to be at live. Unfortunately, it's as far away from me as it could be. Great to see some top ladies competing against each other nice and early in the season.
