2026 U.S. Nationals Practice Reports

[labgoat]

Emily Chan doubles both her sbs jumps in their runthrough. JLB compliments the speed and quality of their pushes and that they both carry the presentation. They are marking their throws. She just seems shell shocked with the jumps and it is sad seeing the usually animated Spencer so subdued. It cannot be easy to work through this so publicly. Sending you all my support.

They are working on all the other pair elements and slowly starting to look more like themselves with better energy.

 

[labgoat]

My compliments to Linzy & Keaton - they are sitting last but are closing the gap on all the other teams.

 

[labgoat]

Tarah Kayne saying she counted her timing on throws was one, two bend, three - go/throw.
This sounds like good communication.

 

[labgoat]

Tarah joking about Spencer's new poker face calling him Private Spencer.

 

[labgoat]

Group B
Chelsea Liu / Ryan Bedard
Olivia Flores / Luke Wang
Katie McBeath / Daniil Parkman

 

[labgoat]

Chelsea has come to practice wearing a mask. She is recovering from pneumonia. With her hair dark again she is giving me young Tai Babilonia vibes. With her long limbs she even moves very similarly. They are very well trained to do a nearly complete program. SHe must be feeling better.

 

[labgoat]

Olivia & Luke have a lot of really unusual extras in their bag. Both JLB and Tarah want them to work on how they relate to each other - not quite senior quality yet.

 

[labgoat]

Katie & Daniil. Tarah compliments him on his improvements in presentation and facial expressions. Apparently one year at Champs camp the skaters were given a mime's guide to facial expression. Tarah says Katie is a very gritty pair girl - like a cat. She mentions that they need more work on the levelled elements - death spiral, lift and spin. There are points left on the table. JLB says he looks so serious but personality wise is a teddy bear.

 

[labgoat]

Both JLB & Tarah urges the audience the not be afraid to cheer loudly . It gives the skaters and adrenaline rush and a boost of energy.

 

[labgoat]

Group C
Valentina Plazas / Maximiliano Fernandez
Ellie Kam / Danny O’Shea
Audrey Shin / Balazs Nagy
Alisa Efimova / Misha Mitrofanov

 

[labgoat]

Per Tarah...
Three teams vs 4 on warm-up. Tarah says its about which teams are there. Lefties are tougher. Faster skaters are also challenging. They are usually good at navigating.

 

[labgoat]

Tarah says she has done lifts with Max and says he is so strong and stable in spite of being the shortest guy out there. The waltz jump into the entry to the lift by Val is a feature. One of their lifts is an ode to Amanda Evora.

 

[yelyoh]

Tarah joking about Spencer's new poker face calling him Private Spencer.

Probably because he's concerned and deflated. Or knows something we don't.

 

[labgoat]

JLB says Danny took his stroking classes and is such an eager learner and such a good leader on the ice. She says he is great at assisting the girl. He understands tracking.

 

[labgoat]

Probably because he's concerned and deflated. Or knows something we don't.

I fear this is it. I always thought he wore his heart on his sleeve and so this seems different for him. I am hoping to seeing smiling Spencer in the free.

 

[labgoat]

Pair teams talk to each other in simple clear words. An experienced partner finds ways to let a partner who fell behind catch up.

 

[labgoat]

JLB compliments Spencer & Balasz show more advanced expression for pair guys in use of knees and hands. They both say how strong she is.

 

[labgoat]

Alisa comes across as fierce - she is the boss keeping Misha in line. She has great carriage. Their pair spin is beautiful and unique. Effortless throws because of the run of her blades. They have one of the prettier FI death spirals.

 

[labgoat]

Womens Practice
Group A
Erica Machida
Katie Shen
Brooke Gewalt
Anabel Wallace
Emilia Nemirovsky
Sonja Hilmer

 

[labgoat]

Managing your peak for Nationals with something leftover for later.