2021-2022 US Women's Figure Skating

[dancelion21]

Video of Mariah skating her SP at the Great Park Ice Nationals Send-Off

Mariah's still going for the triple-triple, and it still doesn't look great. She fell on the triple toe, and it looks somewhere between a downgrade and an underrotation. Nationals are in two and a half weeks, so she still has a bit of time to try to get it better, but considering that it hasn't been happening all season, not sure if she can get it back. She should probably just keep going for the triple-double and bank on the other US ladies not going clean, which is usually a pretty safe bet.

 

[Dawn825]

Mariah's still going for the triple-triple, and it still doesn't look great. She fell on the triple toe, and it looks somewhere between a downgrade and an underrotation. Nationals are in two and a half weeks, so she still has a bit of time to try to get it better, but considering that it hasn't been happening all season, not sure if she can get it back. She should probably just keep going for the triple-double and bank on the other US ladies not going clean, which is usually a pretty safe bet.

Absolutely. She hasnt landed it well all year and should go for a clean triple double.

 

[AlysaLiuStan]

https://twitter.com/anythinggoe/status/1473006819303899136?s=21

Alysa on Colorado:

 

[macy]

https://twitter.com/anythinggoe/status/1473006819303899136?s=21

Alysa on Colorado:

huh this is interesting. is she not training in colorado 100% of the time? it doesn't sound like she doesn't have much of a training plan leading up to nationals which is a bit concerning.

i'm not too sure what to make of the comments about her time with Abbott and Scali and the decision to move. it doesn't sound very mutual to me.

i'm at least glad she is now enjoying training and doesn't feel the pressure. i think it's smart to not do any quads at nationals.

 

[Amei]

huh this is interesting. is she not training in colorado 100% of the time? it doesn't sound like she doesn't have much of a training plan leading up to nationals which is a bit concerning.

i'm not too sure what to make of the comments about her time with Abbott and Scali and the decision to move. it doesn't sound very mutual to me.

i'm at least glad she is now enjoying training and doesn't feel the pressure. i think it's smart to not do any quads at nationals.

Well Christmas is Friday/Saturday so it makes sense she's going home, but its a bit odd that it seems like they don't have a plan in place based on that quote.

I wonder who she's training with when she's home

 

[AlysaLiuStan]

Well Christmas is Friday/Saturday so it makes sense she's going home, but its a bit odd that it seems like they don't have a plan in place based on that quote.

I wonder who she's training with when she's home

Phillip Diguglielmo is her coach in SF

 

[elliana]

Mariah's still going for the triple-triple, and it still doesn't look great. She fell on the triple toe, and it looks somewhere between a downgrade and an underrotation. Nationals are in two and a half weeks, so she still has a bit of time to try to get it better, but considering that it hasn't been happening all season, not sure if she can get it back. She should probably just keep going for the triple-double and bank on the other US ladies not going clean, which is usually a pretty safe bet.

I'm a little worried for Mariah at Nats. Perception is important too right? I'm pretty sure Karen and Bradie will go for 3-3s even though they will UR or get it downgraded. Often times Tara will commentate: "Mariah doesn't have the tech content of some of the other US ladies". So I wonder whether the judges will let Mariah squeak by with PCS if the others attempt unclean 3-3's vs. her clean 3-2s. Also what if the tech controller is really lenient and hardly calls any UR? Then it would've been worth it to just land the UR 3-3s, right?

 

[dancelion21]

I'm a little worried for Mariah at Nats. Perception is important too right? I'm pretty sure Karen and Bradie will go for 3-3s even though they will UR or get it downgraded. Often times Tara will commentate: "Mariah doesn't have the tech content of some of the other US ladies". So I wonder whether the judges will let Mariah squeak by with PCS if the others attempt unclean 3-3's vs. her clean 3-2s. Also what if the tech controller is really lenient and hardly calls any UR? Then it would've been worth it to just land the UR 3-3s, right?

I guess the issue is that it doesn't look like Mariah can land UR 3-3 right now. She's fallen on two attempts we've seen and at Rostelecom, she doubled the triple she intended. It's certainly worse to fall on an UR 3-3 compared to a clean 3-2. Also, USFS might not really have a choice in propping up Mariah because she's proven to be a consistent competitor, even with the lesser tech content, while her competition is extremely volatile.

 

[Amei]

I'm a little worried for Mariah at Nats. Perception is important too right? I'm pretty sure Karen and Bradie will go for 3-3s even though they will UR or get it downgraded. Often times Tara will commentate: "Mariah doesn't have the tech content of some of the other US ladies". So I wonder whether the judges will let Mariah squeak by with PCS if the others attempt unclean 3-3's vs. her clean 3-2s. Also what if the tech controller is really lenient and hardly calls any UR? Then it would've been worth it to just land the UR 3-3s, right?

For the GP season Mariah is the only skater that's been solid even over Alysa, is she doing very difficult routines - No but she's been relatively clean with only 1 fall across her events. If she goes the safe route and is clean I do think the Fed will reward her, especially if Karen/Amber are messy.

 

[RatedPG]

“I feel the best going into these Nationals because I’ve started to care less about the expectations so it feels good to not have pressure. And now skating is more fun and I’m skating with friends, so it makes it better.” Alysa Liu

I love this attitude. I feel that athletes do better when they just skate without the fear of meeting certain expectations.

 

[Ichk]

I feel like Mariah should go for the triple-triple because I am almost certain that this nationals will be like last years—ignoring under-rotations, boosting of scores. Especially considering it’s the Olympic season and all the top ladies struggle with rotation issues, including Amber at her recent showing.

If Alysa, Karen, Bradie, and Amber show up all doing multiple triple-triples being called clean, albeit under-rotated, it won’t be a good look for Mariah if she’s the only one doing a triple-double.

 

[purplecat]

For what it's worth, Mariah posted a vid on her Instagram stories today of her doing a 3 flip-3 toe so she's still aiming for it I think.

 

[dancelion21]

For what it's worth, Mariah posted a vid on her Instagram stories today of her doing a 3 flip-3 toe so she's still aiming for it I think.

Just saw the vid. It's landed, but it's def underrotated. If she can land it regularly, then it's worth going for since Nationals scoring is always generous and the underrotation probably won't be called (take it out for the Olympics though). However, I just feel like she can't land it based on how she's been competing in the fall. Feel like it makes more strategic sense to do a beautiful triple-double and bank on the other US ladies messing up.

 

[Amei]

I feel like Mariah should go for the triple-triple because I am almost certain that this nationals will be like last years—ignoring under-rotations, boosting of scores. Especially considering it’s the Olympic season and all the top ladies struggle with rotation issues, including Amber at her recent showing.

If Alysa, Karen, Bradie, and Amber show up all doing multiple triple-triples being called clean, albeit under-rotated, it won’t be a good look for Mariah if she’s the only one doing a triple-double.

multiple triple-triples...
Amber didn't do a single triple-triple combination at Golden Spin, she's only been doing 1 in each program at her GP events and Karen hasn't been consistently attempting a triple-triple in the SP. Who knows with Bradie as she has been WD due to injury. All Mariah and all any of them need to do is be better than 2 of them. If Mariah goes with a safe 'go clean' strategy that doesn't include triple-triples I don't think she's shooting herself in the foot too much because even if the judges at Nationals are lenient I think the Fed are likely to understand international judges won't be.

 

[skatefan17]

I will be truly happy for her if she returns. When she returns I hope that her packaging will do her justice. I would think really great packaging (like Madison Chock's snake charm look) boosts your PCS a bit, don't you think?
I wish she could have Madison Chock help her design her costumes and help with her makeup and hair. It's just a missed opportunity, is all I'm saying.
OTOH I think Karen and Mariah have packaged themselves nicely this season.

Imagine if Bradie shows up to nationals with a bob cut, long silver gloves and skates to jazzy rhythm and blues? I would love it honestly.

 

[skatefan17]

Showing she can still tie her laces on her boots ....

That’s usually the first sign of recovery- tying your boots.

 

[beachmouse]

I had a look at the answer Karen gave about food and while the brutal truth is that no elite figure skater is going to consume as many calories as their body truly needs in order to stay competition lean, it does look like her camp has put some thought into having a good mix of foods that provide a wide variety of nutrients, an appropriate mix of carbs, protein and fat and a lot of calcium to promote good bone health. Seems like a big step up from the 'coffee and two pieces of toast a day' some other elite skaters have described.

 

[moonvine]

Agreed, 100%.

And it's always the same - with female athletes, it's like "she lives off yogurt and celery," and with male athletes it's "watch Michael Phelps eat seven pizzas on a race day"

Yes, he ate 10-15k calories. He was actually unable to physically eat it all and had to supplement with energy drinks.

 

[ptvvibezz]

New radio interview from Bradie

Here's a quick summary:

And in our athlete spotlight we talk with American figure skater Bradie Tennell, who is recovering from an injury, as she eyes a second Olympic bid. A lot has changed since she rose to the ranks of elite Olympic figure skater in 2018. She explains what life has been like since, what she’s learned, and how she’s charting out her path to Beijing.

 

[skatefan17]

Thanks for posting that interview. Glad to hear that Bradie sounds to be in positive spirits. Unfortunately it seems like the injury is pretty serious based on her answers to the questions.