2021-2022 US Women's Figure Skating

[moonvine]

It's not really a packaging problem with Starr - it's just that her skating has stagnated. All the pretty dresses in the world can't make up for talent that hasn't really gone anywhere. It's not just the jumps - the problem is that nothing has improved. The pandemic didn't help, but that can be said for most skaters.

I was hoping she could do something substantial with the Skatingly Yours money. Maybe it’s not enough money to have a lot of effect? It looks like Jimmy Ma did a lot with his envelope money.

 

[moonvine]

Starr is 20

I pray for the day 20 means “still very young; plenty of time.”

 

[el henry]

I was hoping she could do something substantial with the Skatingly Yours money. Maybe it’s not enough money to have a lot of effect? It looks like Jimmy Ma did a lot with his envelope money.

I know this is the women's thread, but do you have any reason to think that Jimmy Ma's coaching change had to do with money? He had been training with the Cains, and now he's training with Olga and Alex, and I assume they charge similarly. I think he has improved, and it may very well be the influence of Olga and Alex, but I don't think it was monetary.

And I think if Starr wanted to change coaches, she would be supported by USFS.

 

[mrrice]

Starr is 20

 

[yelyoh]

I know this is the women's thread, but do you have any reason to think that Jimmy Ma's coaching change had to do with money? He had been training with the Cains, and now he's training with Olga and Alex, and I assume they charge similarly. I think he has improved, and it may very well be the influence of Olga and Alex, but I don't think it was monetary.

And I think if Starr wanted to change coaches, she would be supported by USFS.

I wish she would as DD has taken her as far as he can perhaps but she is loyal and perhaps just so comfortable with him and trusts him. And maybe her parents.....

 

[natsulian]

Top International Scores
1. Alysa Liu, 219.24 (CS Lombardia Trophy)
2. Isabeau Levito, 202.35 (JGP France II)
3. Gabriella Izzo, 182.76 (US Classic)
4. Lindsay Thorngren, 181.45 (JGP France I)
5. Mariah Bell, 179.42 (Cranberry Cup)
6. Sierra Venetta, 177.40 (US Classic)
7. Ava Marie Ziegler, 176.29 (JGP Kosice)
8. Clare Seo, 174.80 (JGP France I)
9. Audrey Shin, 174.73 (Cranberry Cup)
10. Karen Chen, 173.00 (Autumn Classic)
11. Kate Wang, 170.93 (JGP Russia)
12. Paige Rydberg, 170.51 (Cranberry Cup)

*Green denotes junior events
**Blue denotes senior events

Upcoming events:

• JGP Slovenia, September 22 to 25 - Lindsay Thorngren & Ava Marie Ziegler
• Nebelhorn Trophy, September 21 to 25 - Alysa Liu

Not the greatest start for many of our senior women (bar Alysa Liu), but it is the Olympic season and many will be looking to peak several months from now.

 

[Dogo]

Top International Scores
1. Alysa Liu, 219.24 (CS Lombardia Trophy)
2. Isabeau Levito, 202.35 (JGP France II)
3. Gabriella Izzo, 182.76 (US Classic)
4. Lindsay Thorngren, 181.45 (JGP France I)
5. Mariah Bell, 179.42 (Cranberry Cup)
6. Sierra Venetta, 177.40 (US Classic)
7. Ava Marie Ziegler, 176.29 (JGP Kosice)
8. Clare Seo, 174.80 (JGP France I)
9. Audrey Shin, 174.73 (Cranberry Cup)
10. Karen Chen, 173.00 (Autumn Classic)
11. Kate Wang, 170.93 (JGP Russia)
12. Paige Rydberg, 170.51 (Cranberry Cup)

*Green denotes junior events
**Blue denotes senior events

Upcoming events:

• JGP Slovenia, September 22 to 25 - Lindsay Thorngren & Ava Marie Ziegler
• Nebelhorn Trophy, September 21 to 25 - Alysa Liu

Not the greatest start for many of our senior women (bar Alysa Liu), but it is the Olympic season and many will be looking to peak several months from now.

Maybe call me crazy but I really think Lindsay can become a solid dark horse if she has a great skate at Nationals. I know it's early, but so far the starting season has really gone rough for Mariah, Karen, and Amber.

 

[ice coverage]

Hanna Harrell scored 64.18 tonight to win Pasadena Open SP.

---

I was hoping she could do something substantial with the Skatingly Yours money. Maybe it’s not enough money to have a lot of effect? It looks like Jimmy Ma did a lot with his envelope money.

I know this is the women's thread, but do you have any reason to think that Jimmy Ma's coaching change had to do with money? He had been training with the Cains, and now he's training with Olga and Alex, and I assume they charge similarly. I think he has improved, and it may very well be the influence of Olga and Alex, but I don't think it was monetary. ...

Jimmy's 2021-22 envelope funding (based on his 2021 Nats placement) came after he already had switched to Ganicheva/Letov.
I don't think moonvine was suggesting that Jimmy's coaching change had to do with money?

As for Starr, her comments in Feb about the benefits of the Skatingly Yours funding:

“It just opens a lot more doors for me to get more ice time, more lessons and take more ballet classes and Pilates and off-ice classes,” said Andrews, who has been working on adding a triple Axel and a quadruple jump to her repertoire. “The more technically difficult my program is, the higher I will rise in the ranks.”

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/02/24/starr-andrews-black-like-me-michelle-obama/​

I don't know what else Starr has said about how she is using the funding.
My guess would be that she would consider her work on triple axel to be an example of something substantial?
With effects to come?

 

[AlysaLiuStan]

4 events in, Alysa Liu still has the highest score this season. Given Trusova's history of collapsing, there could be a surprise at NHK...

 

[readernick]

Maybe call me crazy but I really think Lindsay can become a solid dark horse if she has a great skate at Nationals. I know it's early, but so far the starting season has really gone rough for Mariah, Karen, and Amber.

I think if Mariah, Karen, Amber and Bradie continue to have issues, Lindsay is definitely the skater who will go to the Olympics. She seems very stable. But, we will have to see. Bradie and Amber haven't competed a whole competition yet. If both overcome injuries, they are both capable of getting similar scores as Alysa. I don't see Karen getting those scores, or Mariah. ( Unless they have a lenient caller) but both are quite artistic and pleasant to watch.

Honestly though, all speculation is worthless. None of us can predict the future with accuracy.

 

[Minz]

My only concern for Alysa is the bloodbath that is Skate Canada. That field includes Valieva, Tuktamysheva, Kostornaia, and Kihira, not to mention several other strong women. Some of the best skaters in the world could end up off the podium, even if they skate lights out. However, if Alysa beats those skaters then that could reduce those skaters' chances at the GPF. So it could go either way. Also, Karen Chen is competing at SCI as well.

 

[moonvine]

I know this is the women's thread, but do you have any reason to think that Jimmy Ma's coaching change had to do with money? He had been training with the Cains, and now he's training with Olga and Alex, and I assume they charge similarly. I think he has improved, and it may very well be the influence of Olga and Alex, but I don't think it was monetary.

And I think if Starr wanted to change coaches, she would be supported by USFS.

I know that he got the most envelope funding from USFS he has ever gotten (Team B Tier 2) unless I’m missing something important. He did something with it. Could have been choreography or costumes or extra ice time.

it is my belief Starr doesn’t want to change coaches at this time or she would have done so.

 

[moonvine]

Hanna Harrell scored 64.18 tonight to win Pasadena Open SP.

---

Jimmy's 2021-22 envelope funding (based on his 2021 Nats placement) came after he already had switched to Ganicheva/Letov.
I don't think moonvine was suggesting that Jimmy's coaching change had to do with money?

As for Starr, her comments in Feb about the benefits of the Skatingly Yours funding:

“It just opens a lot more doors for me to get more ice time, more lessons and take more ballet classes and Pilates and off-ice classes,” said Andrews, who has been working on adding a triple Axel and a quadruple jump to her repertoire. “The more technically difficult my program is, the higher I will rise in the ranks.”​

​

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/02/24/starr-andrews-black-like-me-michelle-obama/​

I don't know what else Starr has said about how she is using the funding.
My guess would be that she would consider her work on triple axel to be an example of something substantial?
With effects to come?

Right. I was suggesting he did something beneficial. Choreography, off Ice conditioning, extra ice time…something. Because he has improved a tremendous amount. In my opinion.

A triple axel for Starr would be fabulous!

And so happy for Hanna! Is there an archive or an amateur video?

 

[Seven Sisters]

Right. I was suggesting he did something beneficial. Choreography, off Ice conditioning, extra ice time…something. Because he has improved a tremendous amount. In my opinion.

Not just your opinion. Since Jimmy moved to his new training situation last season, there has been a marked improvement in his skating. I see a commitment to being the best he can be that I have never seen before, over years of watching his progress. I give his new coaches all the credit in the world—and suspect that others will be following his lead, as these same coaches are also responsible for the breakout star of the Autumn Classic, Marilena Kitromilis!

 

[Dawn825]

My only concern for Alysa is the bloodbath that is Skate Canada. That field includes Valieva, Tuktamysheva, Kostornaia, and Kihira, not to mention several other strong women. Some of the best skaters in the world could end up off the podium, even if they skate lights out.

Its possible but not likely I think. We hardly ever see GP events with more than 3 skaters doing clean programs. More likely some of those skaters will skate well and some will not, and the top 3 will be the 3 that kept it together. Minus possibly Kamila, who can afford a few mistakes.

 

[Lutzedge]

A 64.18 for Hanna Harrell is good for her. Hopefully she will do well in the free and keeps fighting to try to get back on track.

 

[beepboop]

Maybe call me crazy but I really think Lindsay can become a solid dark horse if she has a great skate at Nationals. I know it's early, but so far the starting season has really gone rough for Mariah, Karen, and Amber.

I was thinking this too. Obviously we haven't seen much of Amber this season, but Lindsay is proving herself to be very consistent and is standing up on her 3A (albeit UR)--both consistency and a solid 3A are things that Amber needs to prove this season if she wants a spot on that Olympic team, IMO.

 

[Hyena]

Kate Wang pleasantly surprised me this weekend. She was the next big thing two seasons ago and didn’t compete much last year. Her lutz loop combo surprised me, her artistry has improved, but she really needs to improve her spins.

Kate impressed me too. She got solid scores and was first among the non-Russian competitors, which is an achievement in and of itself. I agree about her spins and I hope she'll continue to really work on her speed, which could transfer to improvements across the board (better SS scores, better overall impact, stronger jumps).

 

[mrrice]

My only concern for Alysa is the bloodbath that is Skate Canada. That field includes Valieva, Tuktamysheva, Kostornaia, and Kihira, not to mention several other strong women. Some of the best skaters in the world could end up off the podium, even if they skate lights out. However, if Alysa beats those skaters then that could reduce those skaters' chances at the GPF. So it could go either way. Also, Karen Chen is competing at SCI as well..

Skate Canada is going to be EPIC! It will be very interesting to see how Alysa stacks to that group of Ladies. Even if she doesn't win, if she skates well she will be in the mix. Technically, she matches Tuk and Kostornaia and it would be great to see her make the podium.

 

[Olympic]

Skate Canada is going to be EPIC! It will be very interesting to see how Alysa stacks to that group of Ladies. Even if she doesn't win, if she skates well she will be in the mix. Technically, she matches Tuk and Kostornaia and it would be great to see her make the podium.

Does she match Kostornaya? Kostornaya skates big and fast compared to Liu. If Tuk executes 3As cleanly, she probably would score better than Liu as well. But, I think Tuk does need to skate clean to hold off Liu in top form.