2021-2022 US Women's Figure Skating

[Jammers]

And i thought Gracie was reckless in 2013 when she left Alex Ourashiev right before the Olympic season started. But at least she had time to get a new coach and it was a legend who knew how to prepare a skater for the Olympics. But if she goes to Tom Z or tammy G she's going to the king and queen of coaches who's skaters can't rotate their jumps.

 

[moonvine]

Did Mariah turn into ectoplasm? She is also a possibility. I don't do twitter or
I'd speak up.

I did not create the poll. Perhaps Twitter polls are limited to certain number of responses.

 

[ManiDani]

I really hope Alysa is staying with Jeremy and Massimo, but I did notice that Alysa was featured in a lot of social media Young You at NHK. The two of them really seemed to hit it off and get along well. Maybe the hope is that training with You in Colorado will give Alysa a direct competitor to bounce off in training and possibly help to stabilize her 3a.

 

[Jammers]

I really hope Alysa is staying with Jeremy and Massimo, but I did notice that Alysa was featured in a lot of social media Young You at NHK. The two of them really seemed to hit it off and get along well. Maybe the hope is that training with You in Colorado will give Alysa a direct competitor to bounce off in training and possibly help to stabilize her 3a.

Alysa needs to keep working on her speed and skating skills to help with her jumps and who in Colorado can help with that? Tom Z skaters usually are slow and lack good skating skills can you remember any skater he has ever helped in those areas?

 

[moonvine]

I really hope Alysa is staying with Jeremy and Massimo, but I did notice that Alysa was featured in a lot of social media Young You at NHK. The two of them really seemed to hit it off and get along well. Maybe the hope is that training with You in Colorado will give Alysa a direct competitor to bounce off in training and possibly help to stabilize her 3a.

But she specifically said she wanted to stay in CA. Unless and until she or her team confirms it I would just say it’s a rumor.

 

[Amei]

I don’t know what’s up with Raf. He certainly doesn’t seem overly invested in Mariah.

I don't follow the ins and outs of his team but I don't necessarily view him not going to this competition necessarily as an indicator of his relationship with Mariah. Part of it may be that she is scheduled this weekend with GP France and next week with GP Russia, it wouldn't surprise me (actually it would surprise me if she did the opposite) if she and Adam stay in Europe this week between France and Russia vs. flying back to the States for a few days only to have to turn around and go back to Europe for another long flight with jet lag/time change, etc. having an assistant coach be gone for a couple weeks is probably less taxing on the rest of the students vs. the main coach being gone.

Before I post this I'm going to say - I'm in no way condoning it, if it is the case

If Raf truly has an issue with not being invested in Mariah any longer, that might not be the case with Alysa, Alsya has a far more promising future competitively on the international scene than Mariah had when she moved to Raf or has now. Alysa has done the big elements in the past.

Isn't Jeremy her choreographer? I certainly enjoy her programs more this year than ever.

I do like her programs, but just because she isn't coached by him doesn't mean she can't keep the programs or have him choreograph for her in the future (as long as the split was amicable).

 

[katymay]

Many felt she was seriously low-balled in GOE. She landed all her jumps and did all her spins beautifully.. got a L3 on her Step Sequence which perhaps should have been higher AND she did 3 axel two-footed but landed..
Some pointed out she is slow and lacks the Wow factor but perhaps these will gel later.. imv she is a lovely skater..

Lindsay comes to an almost dead stop before her jumps, today I was surprised she got some of them off and rotated. She has some strong legs, if she just built some speed into those jumps she would be incredible. I think today she just wanted to get the tech min. and so skated carefully, and she did get it. She has all the pieces and parts, but the lack of speed hurts GOE and PCS.
Mariah CAN do a triple triple, I've seen it a number of times in practice. I would love to see her finally go to the Olympics-it is within reach, because no one knows if Bradie will be able to compete at a high level or at all.

 

[Amei]

But she specifically said she wanted to stay in CA. Unless and until she or her team confirms it I would just say it’s a rumor.

Did she say that before or after the GP series?

She has been hyped the last 3 years as the next big skater from the US, but the GP series might've been a harsh reality check that she's not there yet internationally.

 

[soccerjc77]

Lindsay was great at warsaw cup, I wondered why she has not being in the podium. It was 2 strongs skate to me and I really enjoy her performance, I hope that it boost her confidence to have the Technical element score required for the olympic. Congratulations Lindsay !

 

[katymay]

But her under-rotation problem is still there; PCS can keep her lifted in the standings to some extent but to medal in the big competitions and even GPs, triple axels and quads are both necessary and money-makers (or point makers) and the triple axels we've seen in competition from her have not been cleanly rotated and/or landed.

I wonder if Raf would be interested in her

They approached Raf a long time ago, for whatever reason, (and I've heard many of them) it didn't happen.

 

[chuckm]

In Senior competition, Lindsay is a total newbie. She did really well to finish 5th at Warsaw. If she doesn't make the Olympic team, she should be a lock for 4CC.

 

[moonvine]

Did she say that before or after the GP series?

She has been hyped the last 3 years as the next big skater from the US, but the GP series might've been a harsh reality check that she's not there yet internationally.

Before. But it seems rash to change coaches at this time. But what do I know.

If Raf wouldn’t work I can’t think of anyone but BOrser. Do these rumors include where she is going or just that she’s leaving?

 

[skatinggold]

Before. But it seems rash to change coaches at this time. But what do I know.

If Raf wouldn’t work I can’t think of anyone but BOrser. Do these rumors include where she is going or just that she’s leaving?

Why does everyone think these coaches are miracle workers, it's the skater who can change things if they put in the hard work. Marin went to RAF and look at her now. Evgenia went to Orser and she got no quads and her jumps are still so so. Jason is with Orser and he can't even rotate his jumps.

 

[Amei]

Before. But it seems rash to change coaches at this time. But what do I know.

Maybe Alysa is trying to compete with the Russian ladies and coaching drama??

It does seem super rash, especially when (IMO) I don't see a great option for her issues in Colorado Springs.

If Raf wouldn’t work I can’t think of anyone but BOrser. Do these rumors include where she is going or just that she’s leaving?

It seems this rumor of a coaching change came from the FSU board and there are some interesting things being said in that board. I've not followed Alysa's coaching changes, but according to that board, it seems like a lot of the big time coaches have turned down Alysa. - Don't know how true any of it is,

 

[Amei]

I really hope other ladies step up and beat Karen at Nationals i'm bored with her to be honest. She's never really panned out and hasn't pushed herself technically and isn't really any better of a skater then 4 years ago and plus a US lady going to the Olympics in this day and age should be able to do 3-3 combo's.

I think its going to come down to how the Fed is going to play the decision - do you want to go with your seasoned team that is giving you the same stuff they have given you for years OR do you go with 2 newbies, Alysa and Lindsay + 1 seasoned skater, and look more towards giving your future talent exposure. None are going to medal unless there are some injuries/illness happen to the Russians, Japanese and probably Korean skaters.

Least controversial decision (as long as there's not a lot of PCS funny business at Nationals) is to go with top 3 age-eligible finishers from Nationals.

In Senior competition, Lindsay is a total newbie. She did really well to finish 5th at Warsaw. If she doesn't make the Olympic team, she should be a lock for 4CC.

She did do well, stood up on everything but she does have some area to improve - which she has done, her TES has improved YOY, now its just the performance and making the jumps flow in the program smoothly to increase her GOEs.

 

[moonvine]

I think its going to come down to how the Fed is going to play the decision - do you want to go with your seasoned team that is giving you the same stuff they have given you for years OR do you go with 2 newbies, Alysa and Lindsay + 1 seasoned skater, and look more towards giving your future talent exposure. None are going to medal unless there are some injuries/illness happen to the Russians, Japanese and probably Korean skaters.

Least controversial decision (as long as there's not a lot of PCS funny business at Nationals) is to go with top 3 age-eligible finishers from Nationals.



She did do well, stood up on everything but she does have some area to improve - which she has done, her TES has improved YOY, now its just the performance and making the jumps flow in the program smoothly to increase her GOEs.

It is so important to the skaters, I send the seasoned team, especially Karen because without her we have two spots. There are a LOT of places to get experience. 4CCs, Worlds, Challengers.

 

[mrrice]

It is so important to the skaters, I send the seasoned team, especially Karen because without her we have two spots. There are a LOT of places to get experience. 4CCs, Worlds, Challengers.

Well, IMO, it all depends on Bradie's Health. Karen has not had a great season and neither has Mariah Bell. A healthy Bradie is our best bet but, if she's not healthy, I think Karen would be great, provided she skates well at Nationals. I don't see the "Committee" getting involved this year.

 

[moonvine]

Well, IMO, it all depends on Bradie's Health. Karen has not had a great season and neither has Mariah Bell. A healthy Bradie is our best bet but, if she's not healthy, I think Karen would be great, provided she skates well at Nationals. I don't see the "Committee" getting involved this year.

To be fair - Mariah has competed in 2.5 comps this year. At Cranberry she had a whole different SP and LP and won the bronze. She skated her SP only at one of the domestic comps, since she had changed it. Then this one GP. Alyssa and Karen and Amber have been competing all season.

 

[Greengemmonster]

Agreed. Every single one of Tammy's skaters has underrotation issues and Vincent is the only one of Tom's skaters that's actually doing well this year. I guess Damon Allen and Christy Krall still coach there, but Damon's skaters haven't exactly been lighting the world on fire either (Camden and Tomoki). Honestly if I were an elite skater, Colorado is the last place I would go for coaching.

Also want to add that Vincent is also coached by Mie Hamada. Could be why he's doing so well.

They could send Alysa to Mie Hamada. She partially coaches Young You (I think), had a lot of promising Japanese youngsters and I think for the most part did a great job with my baby Rika Kihira.

Yeah I know she's mean etc etc but she's a good coach for results it seems.

 

[Amei]

It is so important to the skaters, I send the seasoned team, especially Karen because without her we have two spots. There are a LOT of places to get experience. 4CCs, Worlds, Challengers.

Well that's going to be 1 of those agree to disagree situations on who to send probably. I don't particularly agree to reward Karen because she secured Alysa's shot at validating the third spot from last year's performance at Worlds and Alsya from securing it at Nebelhorn. If we are doing that then why not also hand a spot to Bradie while she didn't do as well as everyone thought at Worlds, her keeping it together helped maintain that shot at the third spot...then ta-da no one is competing for a spot this season.

Been preaching this 1 for awhile and should honestly make it my signature at this point: no one they send is medaling (potentially not even getting into the top 5) without some unfortunate things happening to non-US competitors, so don't create a controversy where there is no reason to have it - top 3 age-eligible finishers (no cherry picking on calling URs, edges, gifted PCS, etc) go to the Olympics. If that means 2 from the trio of Amber/Mariah/Karen goes to the Olympics then so be it. Once upon a time, Nationals was the only competition that mattered to go to the Olympics.

To be fair - Mariah has competed in 2.5 comps this year. At Cranberry she had a whole different SP and LP and won the bronze. She skated her SP only at one of the domestic comps, since she had changed it. Then this one GP. Alyssa and Karen and Amber have been competing all season.

True, this is really Mariah's first complete outing with her new programs, but
1) that's really based on Mariah's choices that she's in late November doing her first complete competition of the season with her programs
2) Was this outside the norm of what we get from Mariah?