Karly: You're in the Loop. We're here to discuss the ups, downs, and sideways of the sport of figure skating and maybe give you +5 GOE along the way. Let's introduce this week's hosts. Hello I am Karly and I spent the new year realizing that we are half way through the season and subsequently stressing. You can find me on twitter @cyberswansp. And today we have a guest host!
Aly: Hi I'm Aly Wein, and I'm the founder and editor of Edges of Glory. I'm so honored to be cohosting In The Loop this week with my girl Karly.
Karly: Yay welcome Aly!
Aly: Thank you! It's so surreal.
Karly: Seriously, I've been looking forward to this recording for weeks because we've had Aly on standby for an episode. You were at Canadian Nationals so it's perfect for you to host this episode.
Aly: Yes I was at Canadian Nationals and I got sick at Canadian Nationals and had many fever dreams of finnsteps, so that was fun.
Karly: [laughter] This is our US and Canadian Nationals episode but to start off we're going to have a little mini five minute interview with Aly. So just tell us about yourself and Edges of Glory. What you do ? Why you do it? How you got into skating? Just a little bit about yourself.
Aly: Okay. Well I'm born and raised in Los Angeles, California. So as you can imagine I'm very scared by snow whenever I go up to Canada. I have loved skating my whole life. I used to skate. I grew up doing musical theatre, all things artsy. I started Edges of Glory about a year and two weeks ago. I loved skating but I felt there was something missing in that I feel like so often media just pictures these skaters and promotes them as skaters and not as holistic human beings. Holistic sounds so weird but you know you really want to know "who are these people behind the skates ?". Like yes they did a quad lutz but what is their dog's name? What emotions are going through their head ? So I felt like there was really a niche I could fill and I love doing interviews, I love interviewing people. I have a background in journalism and writing. So it kind of came off of that and it's just grown, and is crazy. I love going to events and I love all the amazing people I've met, including all of you guys! [Karly: Yaaaay!] And I love your interviews as well. Karly is like the interview girl if you don't know and she's awesome!
Karly: Many of my interviews are actually inspired by your interviews.
Aly: Thank you! But yeah that's basically it, detailed personal coverage of skating. I always say "I'm in the profession of being personal" and so I always try to do that in whatever I do. Whether it's photographs or interviews or quotes. I just love skating. I love all the skaters.
Karly: What's your favorite discipline to watch ?
Aly: Ice dance for sure! I have to really challenge myself to not over cover ice dance because I tend to do that and I need to veer into other disciplines more. I love all the disciplines but coming from a musical theatre background I just love ice dance. Especially the Broadway rhythm dance this year.
Karly: I was going to say, this rhythm dance is perfect for you.
Aly: It's my dream. I just love ice dance. The ISU posted their developmental seminar on the new Junior pattern dance for this season, the Tea Time Foxtrot, and it was like three hours long. I think I watched it three times just for fun. Just for fun I'm like "Oh man yeah those rockers!! Oh yeah the little hoppy steps!!".
Karly: The man twizzle.
Aly: The man twizzle. Yes. Very important.
Karly: That's the only step I know of Tea Time Foxtrot is the man twizzle.
Aly: Oh my god. Tea Time is a beast. But it's a posh beast.
Karly: Isn't it like 54 steps ?
Aly: Yeah it's long. Especially compared to the twenty second Finnstep little bite we get this season. I wish they kept the full thing in there but alas.
Canadian Nationals 2020: Men
Karly: Moving onto to our actual competition coverage. Canadian Nationals, commonly referred to as "Canadians", was first up. It was a couple weeks ago. In all but one discipline we welcomed new champions. So that's exciting!
Aly: It is exciting.
Karly: So we're going to start with that and we're going to start with the men.
Aly: It was interesting to say the least.
Karly: So just to shape our discussion, Canada has a home Worlds this season. It's in Montreal. Many of In The Loop's members will be going. And Canada only has one men's spot so this was a bloodbath to get that spot.
Aly: But it was a really friendly bloodbath because everyone loved each other and they didn't want it to be bloodbath. Oh my god Keegan and Nam. Their bromance is out of this world. Let me tell you it is real.
Karly: They are not exaggerating on those commercials.
Aly: They are really not.
Karly: So our podium. We had champion Roman Sadovsky. Silver medalist was Nam Nguyen. And in bronze was Keegan Messing. Which are all names that most people know. It's interesting to note that the podium reversed from the short to the free. We started off the free with Keegan in first with a four point lead. Which is a decent lead. And then I forget Roman's score but he was in third and then Nam was in second obviously. But mistakes in both Keegan and Nam's programs kept them from leading over the young blood.
Aly: Yeah it was interesting. Because coming out of the short you thought "okay it's definitely between Keegan and Nam. Leaning towards Keegan". And then Keegan had said afterwards that that one Worlds spot was looming over him because they're bros and their friendship is so strong that's a hard situation for anyone. So I feel what kind of happened is it was going like "No you take the World's spot! No you take it!" and then Roman was like "Oop I'm just gonna sneak past you and get that gold!".
Karly: Roman was like "No I'll take the World's spot!".
Aly: Yeah it was bizarre. I mean all great skates all around but yeah it was an interesting outcome. I don't think anyone really expected that.
Karly: I will say Roman was definitely the cleanest of the free in the free skate. I think he was almost perfect.
Aly: Oh, for sure.
Karly: So he definitely deserved that title. I would give him the Worlds spot. So Canada technically released their assignments for Four Continents and Worlds, but it's really just the assignments for Four Continents.
Aly: Yeah that's true. There are so many TBDs. They're dependent on Four Continents which is this upcoming week.
Karly: So Keegan, Nam, and Roman are all going to Four Continents. Canada is refusing to name that one man until they see the result from there. I personally think they should send Roman. He did well on his second GP, he medaled at NHK Trophy. He pulled out really good programs here and seems pretty consistent lately. However, there is also an argument to be made for Nam because he did medal at Skate Canada with really good programs. He was unable to keep that momentum for his next Grand Prix [Rostelecom]. And then Keegan...Keegan didn't do badly on the Grand Prix. He got fourth at both of his [assignments]. But maybe at Four Continents he can make a case for himself because if he pulls out his best there he could probably be on the podium. So it's a shame that the top 3 couldn't perform at their best so we couldn't see who would come out on top. But I'm still really happy for Roman. He seemed really happy after his free skate. You may remember his quote "This isn't good for me. The stress isn't good for my heart.". Which is highly relatable: me this past weekend.
Aly: Honestly. That's how I felt at Canadian Nationals. That's how I feel in general as you know, as I stress text you almost every week.
Karly: [laughter] It's like the stress isn't good for my heart. What are you stressed about? I don't know!
Aly: Literally everything. I mean figure skating is stressful in general. It's stressful for the skaters, the coaches, the fans, the media. Just anyone involved in skating. It's not relaxing to watch.
Karly: It's not! It's really not!
Aly: But it is what it is, it's crazy and it's terrible and it's great and we love it. We're in this crazy world.
Karly: Whether we like it or not.
Aly: We're stuck for life.
Karly: Anyway, what I really liked during Canadian Nationals was the Keegan/Nam bromance propaganda. Every other commercial was Keegan being like "Nam took me to the mall!" and Nam being like "I forced Keegan to go shopping!".
Aly: Yeah I mean being backstage in the mix zone...They're such bros. They throw jabs at each other in a friendly way and then Keegan trying to trashtalk Nam is just really him complimenting him. Which is so funny to see in person. It's great. I asked Nam "How his friendship with Keegan had changed him as a person and a skater?" and he said that Keegan has taught him how to be a better person and not take life so seriously and look at the bigger picture. So I think it's really powerful in a discipline that is so competitive to have the top skaters have that bond and have that friendship. It is sportsmanship personified and it is honestly beautiful and I love it.
Karly: Shoutout to the bros.
Aly: The bros! The bromance! So I mean whatever happens their friendship is going to transcend Worlds.
Karly: Who[ever] wins.
Aly: Exactly! That's what is really important here and I think it's a good reminder for all of us that this is just skating, these are just competitions, it's not what really matters in the big picture of life.
Karly: So moving on we want to talk about some of our other favorites from the Canadian men who may not have been on the podium, but one of them who almost was on the podium was Joseph Phan who was fourth place. I love that for him! I love him so much. Check out our interview with him that I did with him back in August before his Junior Grand Prix. He hasn't really made his Senior debut on the Grand Prix yet but he had a really good showing here and I'm really proud of him.
Aly: Yeah. He got assigned to Junior Worlds.
Karly: Oh yeah!
Aly: I'm a "phan" .
Karly: I'm kicking you out of the episode!
Aly: No please don't! Please don't I swear! When I was at Cricket Club in November taking photos and doing interviews I met him and he was just so lovely and so sweet and down to earth. He's a good bean. I think he has a lot of talent and potential.
Karly: I agree.
Aly: I'm really excited to see him move into the Senior realm and really challenge and make name for himself.
Karly: It was my first time seeing Conrad Orzel's new Les Mis program which he changed about half way through the season. I just really liked it. It was really good. There was a step sequence to "Do You Hear the People Sing?" and I just thought that was really well placed.
Aly: Oh yeah you can't go wrong with Les Mis. Les Mis is epic on the ice, on the stage.
Karly: And my final shoutout to the Canadian men is Nicholas Nadeau. His Depeche Mode free program is literally the best program I've ever seen and he deserves the world. That's my shoutout.
Canadian Nationals 2020: Ice Dance
Karly: Moving onto ice dance, which is Aly's speciality: Canadian ice dance.
Aly: Canadian Junior ice dance is really my niche. Which is really niche but I love it.
Karly: We have new champions, Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier, love them!
Aly: Wooo!
Karly: Second place went to Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha and third place went to Carolane Soucisse / Shane Firus, which was their first time medaling. So we are really excited about new Canadian ice dance champions Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier. It is what they deserve!
Aly: We are so excited! I mean after all the silvers...they are just two really good people, two amazing skaters, creative skaters, and I am beyond happy for them. I've been a fan of theirs for awhile. I think that they've kind of been cult favorites but now they're becoming more mainstream. They made it to the Grand Prix Final for their second time. I just think they're amazing all around. I think what I really appreciate about them is that they really push the envelope and push the sport forward artistically. They don't just stick with the same old programs. They're constantly reinventing themselves no matter what they do it's always interesting, it's always colorful. Them and their coaching staff who are amazing. I visited their rink back in November, their coaching staff is incredible. Carol and Jon Lane, they're British, they're amazing. Juris Razgulejevs, his wife is their off ice trainer...Marc-Andre Servant...they just have a great team. Scarborough is amazing. They also had the Novice and Junior teams on the podium. I really can't say enough good things about Piper and Paul. And also Piper's dog Scout, who I finally met. That was definitely the highlight! Scout is adorable. I finally met her in person. Can you say in person for a dog?
Karly: I met her in dog.
Aly: I met her in dog! She is so sweet. I remember hearing a quote that "ice dance performance is successful if it makes you feel something". And it's definitely the most storytelling focused of any of the disciplines which is why I personally love it so much. Piper and Paul are one of the top teams because they are two of the best storytellers out there. Their expressions and nuances in the movement, creativity in the music cuts, their costumes, everything! Even in the lyrics like "with perfection stamped on every feature" and she steps on his foot and it is honestly the best.
Karly: I have not disliked any program of theirs because of their storytelling. Like you said they push the envelope. They have such fun and/or creative programs.
Aly: They're like the king and queen of creativity. I think one of my all time favorite ice dance, if not skating, programs is their 2015-16 short dance, which they actually kind of retooled three weeks before Worlds, their Beatles short dance, and it was the Ravensburger Waltz and they had to create a patterned type step sequence, and that pattern type step sequence is actually going to be the pattern dance for the juniors in the Olympic season. It's gonna be called the Maple Leaf March and they're working with the ISU to develop that. And next year's also gonna be Ravensburger, but it's also gonna be folk theme, and I won't elaborate on my thoughts on that and all the cultural appropriation that is soon to follow.
Karly: I think this is really a season for them where they make a mark and like you said, become more mainstream. And I'm really excited for that.
Aly: I think onwards and upwards. You know, you don't wanna peak too soon, I think their end goal is 2022, and I think they're gonna get there, and pass with flying colors, and I'm really excited to see how they do at Four Continents and Worlds this year.
Karly: Me too. Talking about Marjorie and Zach, Canada kind of seems to be riding that wave since they became World Junior Champions last season. For being a fresh senior team, they got pretty nice scores, and just comparing to the scores that they got on the Grand Prix and at their challenger, I was just surprised that they did so well. I'm happy for them, because they seemed very committed at Nationals, and I liked their performances at Nationals. They seemed like they were really looking to make a mark there. So I was a little surprised at their scores, but I guess I think it was well-deserved.
Aly: Coming off of being Junior World Champions, they had a rough couple seasons. They were always nearly off the podium at JGPF for a few years, and they ended last season on such a high, and then this season they placed seventh and sixth at their Grand Prixs, Rostelecom and Skate Canada respectively, and then fourth and seventh at Finlandia and Lombardia, challengers, and I think that they're still a new senior team, still in the running, still kind of figuring out their voice and the story they want to tell, but I think in regards to Canada, they're up there at the top, but internationally they're still kinda getting their feet wet.
Karly: And then Soucisse and Firus, I'm really proud of them. I've seen them a few times before. This is their first time medaling at Nationals, and it's really a shame because I feel like they can't compete a program without someone falling. It just happens a lot to them, which is a shame because both their programs this season bop.
Aly: Yeah, I love their Jersey Boys "Oh What a Night" rhythm dance, it's amazing. And they have such, even in the beginning when they're sidestepping, they just have such a dope skating style. They're both just so expressive and they feel the music, and artistically it's great, and it's a shame when the technical elements don't match up with the artistic, and they have had those falls. I think they had a fall on one of their Finnstep keypoints, the slide stop, I forget which competition that was at, which was so unfortunate. They're a great team, so I'm really hoping they can take this momentum from Nationals and run with it. Or skate with it.
Karly: And then, just off the podium, just wanna give a quick shoutout to Haley Sales and Nikolas Wamsteeker, they're my Mamma Mia Canadians, they skate to Dancing Queen in their rhythm dance and I love them for it. And they came in fourth. That's the power of ABBA.
Aly: It is true. They're great. I mean their Mamma Mia rhythm dance is definitely a highlight for me this season and so I'd love to see them gaining more traction, and I think they're fantastic, it's ice dance, nobody can watch that program and not come out of it smiling, so I'm really happy that they had a successful season program-wise, and I'm really hoping that they can take it to the next level. And then also coming after them is Molly Lanaghan and Dmitre Razgulajevs, who are coached by his dad and partially his mom, and they're a really solid team. I wrote in my notes that I hope they get more international assignments and then I found out they were assigned to Bavarian Open next week, so that's really exciting. I think they have lots of potential, they have a long way to go, but they're always just on it. I really love them. And then of course this is ice dance, so I have a few more shoutouts, do you have any other senior teams that really caught your eye?
Karly: Not really, just because I missed Fournier-Beaudry and Sorensen. I missed them.
Aly: Oh yeah. Lolo and Nik. It's such a shame about his knee. They were there, I talked to them in the hallway, and he had just had surgery, a meniscus thing, so he had just had surgery in December. I think them and everyone in Skate Canada are kind of hoping they can recover for Worlds, that's kind of a question mark, but I feel like that's why there's a TBD in the Worlds assignments. They have Piper and Paul, they have Marjo and Zach, and then I think they're holding that spot in hopes for Lolo and Nik because they're just amazing. Bronzes at both their Grand Prixs while he was injured.
Karly: And they have one of the most fantastic rhythm dances.
Aly: Oh, for sure. I mean those twizzles, the Bonnie and Clyde twizzles?
Karly: With the finger guns!
Aly: With the finger guns.
Karly: Those are money.
Aly: I scream at the screen every time I see that. I'm really hoping - he had the same problem with his knee around a decade ago, so I'm really hoping that it will work out for them, because how cool would it be, you know, Worlds in Montreal, that's Gadbois town!
Karly: It is.
Aly: And then also real quick, junior dance is one of my favorites, so just wanted to shoutout the podium. It was interesting because we had the Youth Olympics the same week, so two of the top teams, Natalie D'Alessandro and Bruce Waddell out of Cricket Club and Miku Makita and Tyler Gunara from British Columbia, they were at the Youth Olympics. Nat and Bruce got a team bronze and came fourth individually, and so they weren't there, and that kind of opened the door for some other teams who have kind of been at the top. We had Emmy Bronsard and Aissa Bouaraguia out of Ice Academy of Montreal, they got gold at Nationals, last year they were sixth, they got bronze at one of their Junior Grand Prixs in Croatia. I love their rhythm dance, love their David Bowie free, they're one of my favorite teams, I'm really excited. They're definitely gonna make a big mark in the future when they turn senior in a handful of years. Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont out of Scarborough, Piper and Paul's rink, they took silver, they're amazing, and then Olivia McIsaac and Corey Circelli, they won bronze! And Corey also won gold in junior men, shoutout to those double discipline skaters. And also, I met Marie-France Dubreil in person for the first time, and let me just say she is terrifying in the best way possible, kind of like a Devil Wears Prada vibe.
Karly: That's what I aspire to be. How were her coats?
Aly: Oh my god. She had a different coat for each event. She had a coat change between practice and competition one day.
Canadian Nationals 2020: Ladies
Karly: Oh my god. Moving on to our third discipline, ladies. Our podium was Emily Bausback in gold, she's a new senior national champion, in silver we had Alison Schumacher from TCC, and in bronze we had Madeline Schizas. To be honest, Canadian ladies is a little bit tragic right now. Emily's actually been on the international junior circuit since the 2016-2017 season, she ended up sixth at her only Junior Grand Prix which was Lake Placid, but she also got her first international senior assignment, Warsaw Cup, where she ended up sixth and that's where she got the technical minimum for other competitions - until the ISU changed it, which is a whole other issue that we can talk about later. She talked about how her goals for the season were just to work on her expression and how she delivers her programs, but she became national champion, so I'm really excited for her, and I hope she can get those TES minimums. And then Madeline Schizas, she actually won the Skate Canada challenge this year, and last year she was the Canadian Nationals junior women's silver medalist. She did have a competition, she had the Volvo Open Cup in 2019 where she ended up fifth, but she did have some momentum going for her. So I'm really happy for everyone on this podium, but I think it says something that I think all three of the podium don't have the TES minimums for Worlds.
Aly: That's unfortunate. I think there was also criticism of the federation for not sending their junior ladies out on more senior or international assignments, I mean, Madeline has only competed at one other assignment.
Karly: Madeline is assigned to, actually the same weekend as Four Continents, to Bavarian Open, along with the junior champion Kaiya Ruiter. So she can also get some more international experience there.
Aly: I feel like Bavarian Open is like the junior equivalent of Four Continents assignment-wise. Four Continents, they're using that for Worlds, and Bavarian Open, they're using that for junior Worlds, for both US and Canadian. There also was some criticism of the feds for not sending their ladies on enough international assignments, senior or junior, because we are coming off a golden age of Canadian skating, with Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, Patrick Chan, Kaetlyn Osmond, you know, 2018 World champion, and now we're really rebuilding in the ladies. But Kaiya Ruiter, everyone's kind of pinning their hope on her, she won junior ladies this year, she got gold at sectionals and at Challenge, she won novice ladies last year, she has a killer triple-triple combo.
Karly: It kind of says something - just about the state of Ladies, not trying to pin anything on them - that their biggest hope is Kaiya Ruiter, this thirteen year old girl. But we have talked about last year on the US Nationals episode, which I was also on, but we talked about how it is not healthy to anyone to put your hopes and dreams of an entire fed on a thirteen year old girl. CC Alysa Liu.
Aly: Kaiya Ruiter is kind of like... not a Canadian Alysa Liu, but it's kind of similar, although not at the same level, because the American press is going crazy over Alysa.
Karly: We do want to talk a little bit about some other skaters. Gabby Daleman. It's really sad because it seems her health issues seem to want to stop her from doing her best. She's been very honest about struggling with mental health, and she also had some health problems, she had pneumonia during Nationals which might have stopped her from performing to her best in the free program. Honestly, she's probably under a lot of pressure as Canada's only top woman, so I just really wish that she can get in a healthy headspace and do her best in that headspace.
Aly: Yeah, I agree. She's been criticised a lot on social media and has been very open about her mental health struggles, and I just know that figure skating isn't the healthiest environment to be in when you're in that really dark mental space, so I hope she does what's best for her, whatever that means. It is sad though because she has so much talent, two Olympics, her jumps are massive, and when she's good, she's good. She is just a little firecracker. And so we're really in a transition in Canadian ladies, there's a lot of pressure on everyone, there's a lot of scrambling, and we're halfway through the quad, the Olympics are in two years, who are we gonna send? How many spots are we gonna have? Are we gonna retain our two women's spots at Worlds?
Karly: See, that's a good question going into Worlds because Canada hasn't assigned any women to Worlds yet. We said earlier that none of the podium at Canadian Nats has the TES minimums to make it to Worlds, now that the ISU changed them mid-season which was a horrible thing to do because it screwed over many.
Aly: By like one point. That's a shady move.
Karly: It's just rude.
Aly: It's a shady move. I cannot see any practical thing changing by, I think it was literally one point. That's just really messing with small fed skaters, but then again, Canada's not a small fed.
Karly: But yeah, Emily and Alison are both assigned to Four Continents, so they can try to get the TES minimums there, and it would really be a step up for Canada to have the ability to send their national champion to Worlds. We also have Alicia Pineault, she wasn't on the Nationals podium, but she is assigned to 4CC, she does have the TES minimum, so she could possibly be going to Worlds as well, depending on how Four Continents goes.
Aly: I mean it's interesting, she was first after the short program with 63.15, and then she was fifth after the free, coming in fourth overall, and Veronik Mallet, she was at two Grand Prixs, and all the ladies that we thought might medal at Nationals, none of them did. They were all in the fourth-fifth-sixth-seventh-eighth kind of position.
Karly: And that just kind of says something about the state that it's in.
Aly: Yeah. Aurora Cotop, she was in twelfth after the short program, and then she withdrew, and so those are the names we're used to seeing in international competition.
Karly: Canada's ladies is just a big question mark right now. But I do wish for the best for them at Four Continents, and that those who need to get the tech minimums can.
Canadian Nationals 2020: Pairs
Kar: And then our final discipline of Canadian Nationals 2020 is the pairs, which is also not really a competitive discipline. The podium is Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro in gold, up-and-coming pair Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud in silver, and then in bronze we have Lubov Ilyushechkina and Charlie Bilodeau.
Aly: I feel like for pairs and dance, the podiums are actually exactly what I predicted in my head, so I feel like it's very, not too many surprises there, I mean Lubov and Charlie coming in the season as a new pair, they're super strong, they're definitely challenging. Some people thought they might get silver, some people even thought they might get gold, but Kirsten and Mike, you know, Grand Prix Final, they are going strong, they are solidifying their spot as a top pairs team internationally.
Karly: Yeah, I think I was part of the people who thought Lubov and Charlie would take silver, because even though they are a new team, they aren't to be counted out, they got bronze at one of their Grand Prixs after finishing not on the podium in the other.
Aly: Yeah, it was Cup of China, and then they got fifth at Skate Canada, and also bronze at Finlandia.
Karly: Yeah, so they've had a couple medals already on the international circuit, for this being their first year as a team. I will say they both still struggle with their side by side jumps. They did with their old partners, and teaming up doesn't seem to have fixed this. So this can definitely continue to plague them and keep them from being in podium contention if they still struggle. But it was nice to see them get on the podium.
Aly: Yeah. I think the more the merrier, the more top pairs teams we have the better, and I mean all three on the podium were all assigned to Four Continents, and then for Worlds, we only have two pairs spots, and currently only Kirsten and Mike are assigned so that second pairs spot at Worlds is going to be a battle between Evelyn and Trennt and Lubov and Charlie.
Karly: Kirsten and Mike are the only non-new National champs, they were National champs last year. They've pretty much been keeping Canadian pairs afloat since the last Olympics after Duhamel and Radford retired. They're pretty much solidified as the top Canadian pair. Since they've made it to the Grand Prix Final in Torino, they're definitely aiming to prove their worth as a top pairs team at Worlds. They challenged for the Four Continents title last season.
Aly: Oh yeah, I remember that. I was there in Anaheim last season, just about two hours for me.
Karly: Oh you were?
Aly: Yeah.
Karly: And then we have Evelyn and Trennt. They've been kind of a lower-ranked Canadian pair for a bit of time, but hopefully this is the start of a rise for them. They were third in the short but they delivered an amazing free to take silver, and that's just really exciting for them.
Aly: Yeah, I mean this is only their second senior season, they were a junior pair for so long. They're still new in the senior game, but they kind of came in at the right time in the new quad. I think something I wanted to know is that the camaraderie between Kirsten and Mike and Evelyn and Trennt, especially between Mike and Trennt because they're roommates now.
Karly: That's so cute.
Aly: They're training mates because Evelyn and Trennt train with Alison Purkiss in Brantford, but they also train part of the time in Oakvile, with the new pairs' school there that's become such a hub. In the mix zone, they were joking about how Trennt cooks Mike dinner every night, is such a good house wife, and then he kissed him on the cheek as a joke. It was cute. They were both backstage, they were both so happy for each other, and it was just really great to see. That was a highlight, I think. Trennt has a super cute pug, Bilbo Puggins.
Karly: Oh my god.
Aly: So cute, so chubby, I recommend you go check out his instagram.
Karly: And then there's something else in regards to Skate Canada pairs that we wanted to talk about. you may have seen on Twitter that over the weekend of Canadians, a video was shared of a Junior Pair, which is Emy Carignan and Bryan Pierro She's thirteen, she was dropped from probably 5-6 feet in the air in a failed twist, and she landed on her wrist and knee. She went and competed in the Short Program. Afterwards, she had to be carried off the ice and was found to have a broken wrist and knee cap. We just want to talk about that and say that the fact that she wasn't checked out until after performing in the Short Program was incredibly alarming, and the fact that she was also lauded by commentators for “bravely” performing on her injuries is also distressing. Because it’s not brave to perform on injury, especially one as bad as she could have sustained. It’s kind of stupid, and I really hope that we have more qualified personnel on the scene that know when to step in and stop people from doing so.
Aly: Yeah, especially in pairs, when the risk for injury and concussion....They are so high up in the air, and they can crash down so hard. People on Twitter were really angry and they were tweeting Ted Barton, who was one of the commentators who had said she was brave, and he had said that he had assumed that the proper protocols were going on rinkside, and he didn't know. I think it's just really a systematic issue, and it reminds me of Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, her really bad fall back in December of last season at Golden Spin. She could barely stand, and they kept going, and no ref stopped them. These are people, it's not just about finishing a program, or a competition, it's long term, what is this doing to their health.
Karly: And we'll link this in our transcript, but according to Skate Canada’s official concussion protocol, which was released in 2017, if there is concern of a skater sustaining a concussion, or a non-emergency head or spinal injury, they are to be removed from the ice immediately. What’s more, a youth, which Emy was, who is suspected to have a concussion is not to return to the ice, to their training, or to their coach before having a medical assessment done. Skate Canada also states that a concussion should be suspected and investigated should a skater take an impact to the head, face, neck, or body, which she very clearly did. Something wasn't being followed there, and that's very distressing, and we just really need more medical personnel who can speak up.
Aly: Yeah, exactly. I'd also like to note that the rink had a weird set up. It wasn't like there was all-around boards where you could stand, the seats went all the way up to the ice except for a few little pockets, so I don't even know where the medical personnel were, or if they even saw that, or saw the angle, and what the protocol was, so it was kind of confusing.
Karly: It's just not a good look for Skate Canada, and I just really hope she's okay. I just really hope she's okay.
Aly: Pairs girls are tough, man. They're made of fire and steel and nails.
US Nationals 2020: Men
Karly: Moving on to US Nationals. It was a fun event. US events are just such a time, because we both went to Skate America last year, and there were illusionists, and there was Rusty Bucket or whatever his name is.
Aly: Who's Rusty Bucket?
Karly: He's that guy who always interviews everyone.
Aly: That guy?
Karly: Yeah, his name is Rusty-something, I just call him Rusty Bucket.
Aly: I always wondered who he was and why he was there, and he kind of looks like a car salesman.
Karly: He does.
Aly: And he talks like one too. Anyways, Skate America is actually how we met, how I met the 'In The Loopies', that was an amazing experience.
Karly: That was where Edges of Loop was born.
Aly: Edges of Loop, or In the Glory, which sounds wrong.
Karly: Anyways, at US Nationals we're going to start off again with the men. In our podium was Nathan Chen in gold, Jason Brown in silver, Tomoki Hiwatashi in bronze, and then , the US special, the pewter medalist, was Vincent Zhou. So, talk to me about Jason Brown, US National silver medalist. You have no idea how happy I am to say that.
Aly: Oh my god, he is amazing. I mean, between his skating skills, that spiral that is held for longer than anyone has held a spiral this season, and the quad Toe, he's just really establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with, and he has this Mama Tracy Wilson to back him up, he is all good.
Karly: And it's not like he wasn't already a force to be reckoned with.
Aly: Well, he's been a force, but I feel like now he's even more of a force.
Karly: I could talk about Jason for days, but I'm not going to, I'm going to spare you all that. Jason delivered two stellar, absolutely amazing programs here, and he said that this quad, it's his campaign to make the 2022 Olympic team. You may remember, he missed out on the 2018 Olympic team. If he can continue to perform like this, especially at Nationals, he’s got a really, really good chance. And it's also worth it to note that he said in an interview , post his Free Skate at Nationals, that he doesn't really consider himself to be as consistent as he used to be before he got to TCC, which is a coaching change he made a couple of years ago, which he’s chalked up to a change of training and technique, but maybe, just maybe, this is the start of something new.
Aly: Did you just High School musical?
Karly: It's the start of something new, with Jason Brown, I'm here with you.
Aly: I just let you take that one by yourself, girl.
Karly: We're reaching the end of that 18 month trial period that both Jason and Brian have mentioned before that has to do with solidifying technique and training habits, so more eye emoji?
Aly: That's so ominous, a trial period. That never makes you feel good and secure.
Karly: But it's good here, because it means that Jason is getting used to TCC, so we're happy for him. Anyways, I love Jason Brown, the end.
Aly: Really? I had no idea that you loved Jason Brown, because you skipped over gold medalist Nathan Chen, and you were like, "But Jason Brown..."
Karly: I know I went a little out of order, I just really wanted to get my love for Jason out of the way. Moving on to Nathan, I don't have a lot to say about him, he's as consistent as ever, although he wasn’t as clean as we’ve seen from him before here (which, he has been sick, and he said it was the least prepared for a Nationals he’s ever been).
Aly: Oh yeah, he was super sick. That article, the journalist was like, "Oh yeah, Raf showed me a picture on his phone of Nathan curled up in his office on the floor." Because I was sick at the same time Nathan Chen was, you could say I was Nathan Chen.
Karly: You're the US Nationals gold medalist in the men?
Aly: I really am, surprisingly, I've kind of found my niche.
Karly: Everyone, this is actually an interview with Nathan Chen. Anyways, you have to really give it to Nathan. He hasn't even had a nearly bad skate much less a completely bad skate since the Olympics, which was almost two years ago. He also hasn’t missed out on a gold medal since.
Aly: Do you remember, at Skate America, when we were sitting together, and Nathan was skating, I said, "Wow, he's like the skating equivalent of Simone Biles. He's so solid." And then he popped right when I said that.
Karly: Yeah, Aly cursed him.
Aly: I cursed him.
Karly: So we're not going to call him anything anymore, we're just going to talk about him.
Aly: I mean, I have so much respect for him, and I love his programs. I know sometimes he gets criticism, but I love watching him. I think he's a great performer. He makes skating cool. Young boys are going to see him and be like, "I want to be like Nathan." I love his programs, it's relatable music. I think, during Skate America, I cried during Rocket Man, which was probably from lack of sleep. I was very touched. He's pretty epic, he's solid, he's consistent. And I love how everybody tries to turn him against Yuzu, and be like, "So are you going to take that 4A from Yuzu?" and he's like, "No, he can have it, I love Yuzu. Yuzu's the best man." Nathan's just always loving on Yuzu.
Karly: He's his hype man.
Aly: He is. Media is always trying to get them to go against each other, but Nathan is like, "Man, Yuzu. Being here with Yuzu is an honour." It's so cute, it's great.
Karly: It's lovable. And in bronze, I'm realy, really proud of Tomoki Hiwatashi. I freaking love this kid. He was pewter last year, and now he's bronze this year, and I'm so excited for him. He really is skating transitions monster, because, I mean, who else does Russian splits or a cantilever into a jump? He literally does Russian splits into a triple Loop. Who else does that?
Aly: He's insane, in such a good way.
Karly: There is one thing I wish he could work on, in his Free Skate...His Short Program is One Republic and it's easy to have a determined expression to the song he skates to, but his Free Skate to Petrushka, he kind of has a static expression on it, so I would wish he would work on emoting throughout his programs. But even with that, when he's on, he is a joy to watch. And honestly, get me another man who’s doing a good Biellman recently, because you can't.
Aly: I feel like more men should do Biellmanns. Girls jump quads now. People in the past were like, "Girls can't jump quads." Well, men can do Biellmanns. Men can do gorgeous spirals, let's bring that back.
Karly: And then, in our Pewter medalist position, we had Vincent Zhou. He moved down from silver last year, but it's still commendable considering he's been out all season, and has been adjusting to his first year at Brown University. He was still able to put out a clean Short Program, and a good Free Program, which surprised everyone, because his practices were kind of a mess. He was fourth after the Short Program, fourth at the end of the Free Program, so he still had a good Nationals.
Aly: Yeah, and then pewter medal...it's interesting because is there any other competition that gives out pewter medals in skating?
Karly: I don't believe so. I really think the point of the pewter medal is so that USFSA looks like they have more podium contention than they actually do. They're like, "Look how many people could have won." But it's not really that.
Aly: I feel like it's also if they get fourth place, you say pewter medalist and it sounds a bit more impressive. Whenever I'm writing interviews, if they got pewter at Nationals, I'll include that. It just kind of adds to the...It enhances it. It's like a seasoning to their career. It's like paprika, but in medals.
Karly: The paprika medal.
Aly: It is, and I mean it's good and it's bad. But if they're going to have a pewter medal and medalist, and have them presented with that in the medal ceremony, they should have them at the press conference.
Karly: Yeah, I agree. It's weird that they don't do that.
Aly: Yeah, like if you're going to commit to the pewter, commit to the pewter.
Karly: We have a couple of shout-outs. Sean Rabbitt is an oldie but goldie (not really, he's only 29). I started to appreciate after last US Nats, when he had a really fun West Side Story Free Program. But this year he had a really stellar short program to East of Eden (which is the soundtrack that always makes me cry).
Aly: Oh yes.
Karly: I’m going to echo something that Tanith and Charlie said about him, which is that his joy for skating shows through his programs. You can just tell that he loves what he’s doing. And the fact that he went clean, and he was very happy after his Short Program, just made it that much more exciting to watch. And actually, when he got his score, which was a 78, the audience actually booed that his score was, which is not something that happens a lot. And then Andrew Torgashev, he was third after the short program which was really awesome. He got a 97. It was very, not surprising, but very exciting to see him be in third. It was unexpected to see him up there with the big leagues of Jason and Nathan which was really awesome. I'm very proud of him. He had a couple of mistakes in the free program but he still finished top five overall and is an alternate for Worlds. Good for him! Moving onto Worlds assignments. Worlds are Jason, Nathan, and Vincent. Assignments came out Sunday and Vincent got the last Worlds sport over Tomoki which kind of caused a fire on twitter.
Aly: Oh yeah. Big fire.
Karly: What I have to say on this is that Vincent is World Bronze medalist but he's been out most of the season. He didn't compete in the Grand Prix. He competed at one challenger: US Classic where he got third. Didn't compete in the Grand Prix and only came back for Nationals. While Tomoki didn't have the greatest Grand Prix season, he is reigning Junior Worlds Champion in the men, and he beat Vincent and is expected to peak in the second half of the season. USFSA's choices are just kind of frustrating to fans because it makes sense to send Tomoki and he might not have this kind of chance again.
Aly: That is true but does anything in figure skating make sense?
Karly: You are correct.
Aly: That was surprising when assignments came out because no one thought this was how they were going to go. It is what it is.
Karly: For Four Continents, we have Jason, Tomoki and Camden Pulkinen who I love so much. He has the most beautiful skating ever. I'm really glad we'll get to see Camden and Tomoki one more time this season. It's a chance to get more momentum for next season and fix some international scores so far.
Aly: I agree. Camden is one of those people who is ready to launch. He's ready to get there. He's not quite there yet but I have no doubt that he will get there in the coming season.
Karly: He has everything he needs to get there. He just needs to put it together.
US Nationals 2020: Ice Dance
Karly: For the podium for U.S. Ice Dance. In gold, we have Madison Chock and Evan Bates winning their second U.S. title with their first being back in 2015. In silver, we have Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donoghue. In bronze, a consistent bronze, we have Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker.
Aly: Don't forget the pewter medal.
Karly: Oh yeah! The pewter medalists are Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko.
Aly: I was so happy to have — what we are going to call the battle of the Madis. Madi and Evan, their first U.S. title was five years ago in 2015, also in Greensborough. I think Rusty Bucket, after interviewing them as you said, was saying "So are you guys just going to move to Greensborough now?" and they just gave him a look like "Sure Rusty". But the crowd was going crazy. They were very strong all season. They're really challenging Madi and Zach. It's more interesting watching an event where you don't know the outcome. That's what Madi Hubble said in the press conference regarding the whole Papadakis and Cizeron dethroning at Euros, also last week. They performed great and did a great job. They should be proud of themselves. All of the teams did great but they made their way to the top. They slithered their way to the top.
Karly: It's really interesting as you said, with the battle of the Madis, considering Chock and Bates came out of top at Grand Prix Final 2019. Is this a change of tides in who the USFSA decides to back leading up to 2022? Because Chock and Bates only won base value in the protocols by 0.37 points. Their GOE and PCS, with quite a lot of 10s appearing on their protocols, really put them on top of Hubbell and Donoghue. I will say, I really enjoy Chock and Bates' lifts. I don't really like the Free Dance but the first lift, the curve lift plus curve lift.
Aly: I love that it's a double curve lift. I think they had something similar in their Elvis Free last year. Quite an interesting Ice Dance event for Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donoghue. They were the U.S. National Champions of 2019. Something interesting happened in their Free Dance that a lot of people, including myself, didn't even notice until after the fact. They got turned around during a choreographic spin I believe. They ended up doing a whole chunk of their program backward. As in reversing the directions for everything. I don't know how that is possible and how they managed to get through that. Madi was saying that they're supposed to do the twizzles towards the judges and they went away. They had a lift all over the place. They basically did half of their Free Dance backwards.
Karly: What even?
Aly: It's so weird. I need to go back. The judges for sure knew. If you have watched their Free Dance and knew it from the back of your hand, you would also know but to the casual viewer you couldn't tell anything is wrong. I kind of want to go back and rewatch now that I know. That was crazy. The skill to be able to literally be turned around... That is so difficult in ice dance. With all the directions and all the turns. It can get very confusing with the edges. Especially in dance when you're dealing with all the intricate patterns around the ice. The skill and experience to deal with that on the fly and still perform at Nationals. I'm astounded.
Karly: That takes a lot of talent.
Aly: Then Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker brought down the house with their disco rhythm dance.
Karly: That's so fun.
Aly: Right!? Like finnstep to Staying Alive.
Karly: I showed my dad that program because he loves SaturdayNight Fever with a passion and he was like "This was worth pausing my alligator hunting show".
Aly: He watches alligator hunting?
Karly: He does.
Aly: You heard it here folks! Kaitlin and Jean-Luc are better than alligator hunting.
Karly: They were bronze last year, and they were bronze this year. Right now they are pretty consistently America's top three team. It was my first time seeing their free dance which Kat describes as goth flamenco. I'm just taking that term and running with it.
Aly: I think Kaitlin described it as: she is Spanish flamenco Marie-Antoinette. Somebody said they look like goth vampires which is kind of accurate. It was interesting. It didn't get the reaction from the crowd that the disco got and it was... I don't know. It wasn't my favorite program from them. I love their exhibition. Have you seen their exhibition?
Karly: I have. The swan.
Aly: Swan-Luc Beaker. That's what I started calling it. It's great. They're both two really quirky people and I love to see them infuse their programs with that more. I feel like they have done that with their rhythm dance but, so often, for their free, it's very traditional. You have such great personalities and such great quirks that no one else has. Why not put that into your programs, artistry, and make yourselves stand out. Then we have pewter medalists Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko in their second senior season together. I'm very excited for them. Something to note is that they would have come third in the free dance, still fourth overall, but they got their choreographic character step sequence invalidated. The sad thing is that they had all plus fives from the judges before it was invalidated. Apparently, it was invalidated because they weren't close enough to the boards when they started it. It's very picky.
Karly: Ice dance is picky.
Aly: It is picky but it's those details and those little things. People aren't falling on triple axels. It's because they are on the wrong edge from 0.2 seconds and that's what makes the difference. That sucked but going into their first senior season they were sixth best with the Parson siblings, and Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter ahead of them. Now they've kind of moved ahead of Lorraine and Quinn who had a really rough season. Also, Green and Parson, so Caroline Green who teamed up with Michael Parsons after their respective siblings retired. U.S. ice dance is a really deep field.
Karly: I was surprised that Green and Parsons did so well considering they are a very new team. But they seem like a very good partnership.
Aly: Some people have criticized their age gap.
Karly: I get it.
Aly: It's not super big and they're from the same school. Both Green and Parsons, and Lorraine and Quinn are from Wheaton Ice Skating Academy in Rockville, Maryland. They've grown up with the same coaches, and it should be noted that both of those teams had fluke falls. Lorraine and Quinn, coming out of an element, he kind of lost his footing and brought her down with him and they fell. Green and Parsons, she kind of stumbled, he pulled her up, then he stumbled, and she stumbled. I don't know if it was counted as a fall but they both kind of had rough skates. Christina and Anthony were really working it. They have been improving this season. Something to be noted about ice dance, compared to the other disciplines, is that it's very much a "wait your turn, do your time" kind of pecking order. This was Madi and Zach's ninth season together. Madi's 11th international senior season. Zach's 9th international senior season. It's Madi and Evan's 9th season together. Kaitlin and Jean-Luc's 6th international season, 8 seasons together. Christina and Anthony's 2nd senior season. you can see how it goes by longevity and length of time in the sport.
Karly: Going off on that; do you think Chock and Bates have been on the rise in the U.S' eyes since their win at Four Continents last year?
Aly: I don't know if they have. I mean... Stationery lift base? It was an interesting time. I think Chock and Bates, and Hubbell and Donoghue are on a similar footing and similar ground. I don't think one has too much of a lead over the other. I think they're pretty equal but that might change depending on the results at Worlds.
Karly: That's something to look forward to. The Worlds and Four Continents team are chock and Bates, Hubbel and Donoghue, and Hawayek and Baker. Last year, Hubble and Donoghue got a medal, but Chock and Bates won Four Continents. It's going to be interesting to see how those World Medals play out.
Aly: It will. Looking ahead at the coming season, we're almost at the pre-Olympic year which is crazy. Next year's Worlds will decide the Olympic spots, and next year's Worlds are kind of related to this year's Worlds. I think something to be noted ice dance wise is that it's a given that Chock and Bates, and Hubbell and Donoghue will be going to 2022 barring any disaster. It's ice dance so there is always room for disaster. You have to think of the next quad which I think it will be the time for Kaitlin and Jean-Luc versus Christina and Anthony, and the next generation coming in. It really does take two quads to percolate to the top of the ice dance podium. It's really interesting to watch the politics of ice dance because it's not a microwave; it's a slow cooker.
Karly: That's a good analogy.
US Nationals 2020: Pairs
Karly: Going into U.S pairs. Our podium is Alexa Knierim and Chris Knierim in first place. Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson in silver position, and Tarah Kayne and Daniel O'Shea in bronze, and our pewter is Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc. The Knierims kind of pulled this out of their butts after a disappointing showing last season. They had a clean short program, a clean free program besides the side by side jumps... I personally think Calalang and Johnson should have won because the Knierim kind of got crazy GOE and beefed both their side by side. Calalang and Johnson were squeaky clean and pretty clean in the short program. But the USFSA loves the Knierims, and they do have an amazing twist and were solid on the other elements. I'm not going to go raging at the USFSA's door or anything.
Aly: I think that when they are consistent... that twist! I remember when watching the Olympics; it's massive!
Karly: It's their side by side that they struggle on.
Aly: The Knierims, they seem to be on a much clearer mindset. Maybe this will be their year. Hopefully, in 2022 we will have two pairs spots but that depends on next year's Worlds, which depends on this year's Worlds... We'll have to see. They have a new training environment this year. They train alongside Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson in Irvine California at the Great Park Ice which is where they held Champs Camp. It is a beautiful complex and it is very nice. They train under Jenni Meno and Todd Sand who are actually three-time national champions in pairs, World medalists, and they went to two Olympics. It's a really great school that is developing. They are putting Southern California back on the map. They're really great. I was observing their training and photographing them back in October.
Karly: It's interesting to see that. There used to be a monopoly on pairs coaching. There were a lot of Delilah Sappenfield teams at last nationals. It's interesting to see where pairs move. It's interesting to note that the top two at U.S came from Meno and Sand.
Aly: They're married, they're great, they have adorable kids. I'm wondering if they will get more pair teams interested in their school and if Irvine will become the new Colorado Springs.
Karly: That would be interesting. Moving on to Kayne and O'Shea. They were clean enough to merit a bronze medal. I don't really like their programs this season. I think they had a Les Mis free program?
Aly: They did. They did skate to Les Mis.
Karly: We'll talk about assignments later but I personally thought it would get them a Worlds spot... but it did not. Surprise, surprise.
Aly: I think what surprised me is that they didn't have much height on their twist and throws compared to Johnson and Calalang, and the Knierims. It was underwhelming in regards to technical elements. They've been a team on USFSA's radar for a while. They continue to be a force in U.S figure skating season after season.
Karly: Cain-Gribble and LeDuc.
Aly: Oh my heart, my heart aches for them.
Karly: They are technically a part of the podium. They had a pretty meh outing here, they had a lot of mistakes in both the Free and the Short, but they had enough to make the pewter podium, so... yay for that.
Aly: I mean, it's so hard because they had such a great Nationals last season, a great Worlds -- they got us two Worlds spots, that is not to be forgotten. They did okay at the US Classic, the Challenger earlier this season, they won even with some falls. And then Skate America wasn't their event, and they've had a rough fall this season -- the season I mean, not falling, but that too. My heart just breaks for them. Going from US Champs to pewter medalists in a season after the great outing at Worlds, and getting the Worlds spots... But you know, they just weren't there. So onwards and upwards, and I wrote here earlier: "They got back the two spots for Worlds and now they most likely won't be there," but they actually were assigned Worlds and a lot of people were angry at that. But I think: they got back those spots, it's only right that they be there, maybe they can redeem themselves from this season. I'm glad they got the Worlds spot in addition to the Knierims.
Karly: I had to redo my entire Pairs discussion, because I wrote it before assignments came out, and then assignments came out and messed up my entire rant. But I thought that the Worlds team would be the Knierims and either Kayne/O’Shea or Calalang/Johnson, but it's the Knierims and Cain-Gribble/LeDuc. I'm conflicted, because while Cain-Gribble/LeDuc were the ones who got top ten and got the two spots back, they have been a mess this season. But on the other hand they do have the highest score of the US pairs... And while they didn't have a good showing at US Nationals, Haven Denney/Brandon Frazier were the only US pair to medal on the Grand Prix this season, and they medalled at both [their GP events], they got bronze at both. So they definitely have some good international scoring potential that USFSA could be missing out on at Worlds.
Aly: Yes, I was surprised at their placement at Nationals, because they killed it on the Grand Prix. I remember seeing them in Vegas, their Lion King Free: they were crying at the end, we were crying at the end...
Karly: It was awesome.
Aly: I'm sad that they lost that momentum. They're the third alternate for Worlds and they're the first alternate for Four Continents, but there's always next season.
Karly: Yes, I hope they can improve next season and do better at Nationals, because I really do like them as a team.
Aly: Yes, I do too, I feel like they have a lot of potential, and I feel like all the Pairs are on the same level and are not quite challenging internationally yet -- in addition to all the controversy US Pairs has faced over the past year, it's just not the best look for the discipline. So I'm hoping that we can continue to improve both on the ice and off the ice in the Pairs realm.
Karly: Same, because there's some budding talent.
Aly: Definitely budding talent, we have the potential, it's just realising that potential. And delivering those results.
US Nationals 2020: Ladies
Karly: Moving on to our final discipline of US Nationals: the Ladies.
Aly: Ladies! The US is -- or we were -- known for our Ladies, if you think back to the 90s: Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski... That's what you think of when you think of figure skating. Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan... we have a very, very long history in Ladies. And I think America's ego has definitely taken a hit in recent years.
Karly: Oh yeah.
Aly: Even the last two Olympics, really, being so far behind the Russians and the like. Alysa Liu, gold medalist, has really become a beacon of hope. But then you have to think, like you said earlier, that it's unhealthy to pin a nation's hopes and dreams on the shoulders of a 14 year-old who makes killer slime and Tik Toks.
Karly: I love her.
Aly: She's great. I love Alysa Liu, I met her several times, she's a normal kid. But why don't you tell us the podium?
Karly: Yes! The podium for US Ladies was Alysa Liu in gold position, Mariah Bell taking silver, Bradie Tennell in bronze and pewter for Karen Chen. I just want to shout out to the pewter medal for being the main G and allowing Karen to be on the podium. Starting off with Alysa, she's a tiny firecracker when she's on ice. While she still has lots of room to improve, and I hope to God her team capitalises on it, she's just so fun to watch. In both her Short which I adore, it's to "Don't Rain on My Parade" sung by Barbara Streisand, and her Free program which is "Illumination" by Jennifer Thomas, which I came to love this time around, you can really tell that she's having a great time while she's out there and she loves being on the ice. She had a mistake on the triple Axel in the Short Program, which had her in second place, but she landed both her triple Axels, one in combination, and the quad Lutz in the Free to take the win.
Aly: Yeah, she has those outstanding technical elements, big quads -- like you said, triple Axel. But to me why she's amazing is her attitude, her performance skills, her blossoming skating skills which she has really worked on this year and acknowledged that she's been working on. And most importantly her mindset, her positive attitude. Here's a kid who loves to skate, who always has a sunny disposition.... I think her naive nature is definitely an asset at this point. I'm praying that she retains that childlike innocence and pure joy for skating as long as she can, because God knows that the sport really has a dark side. It's really refreshing to see that she's still loving what she's doing, that she's not letting the pressure get her. I feel like if the pressure [was going] to get to her, it would have gotten to her already. Of course, that's going to look different going into the Olympic year, but she's like Nathan. They're both really surprisingly humble, they both have really good mindsets, love skating, they're just easy breezy, they just do it.
Karly: Easy breezy beautiful figure skating.
Aly: Exactly. I really love watching her skating.
Karly: Talking about silver, Mariah Bell. Damn, did she pull out a Free Program.
Aly: Oh yeah!
Karly: She fell on the step sequence in the Short, which put her in third. But she pulled out a squeaky clean Free with loads of crowd support and pulled off the silver, which is a step up from her bronze last year. She clearly has the support of the US behind her, because she had tons of 10s in her PCS.
Aly: And Adam Rippon behind her...
Karly: She also has Adam Rippon behind her. He's choreographer slash coach.
Aly: Slash hype guy. Her Short fell short, and she fell short also -- actually fell -- but her Free was just -- the audience was roaring, she said she'd never had a moment like that in her skating career, and I think those are those magical moments you remember forever, and the emotions that come with it, and seeing the score, and [going] so clean. I got goosebumps, that's what skating's about. You work so hard and slave day after day in hopes that you'll get one of those magical moments. I think she's going to remember that forever.
Karly: She was sobbing after her Free Skate. Then we have Bradie in bronze. Like Nathan, she's known for being very consistent. She did make the mistake of a fall on her last jump in her Free Program, which might have been what brought her down to bronze, or the rise in Mariah's PCS -- one of those things. I think both Bradie's Short and Free Program are really good programs for her, her Free Program capitalises on the type of program she's good at while her Short lets her try out new styles. Her Short Program is fun. I'm not personally a fan of it, but I like that she's trying new things.
Aly: I really like Bradie's Short, [imitates section of music] it's been stuck in my head since Skate America. And I really like seeing that other side of her, not just that ice princess, perfect -- I like seeing that more cool, spunky vibe. I'd really love to see her do a Free that is totally opposite to what she's known for, and I think next season would be perfect to try that out. Obviously you don't want to go too far away from what you're good at in Olympic season but maybe just mix it up for pre-Olympic season. Bring some of that personality in, because we don't really see her personality much. She's stoic, she's really put together and composed.
Karly: I agree. Putting some personality into her programs like she does in her Short would make a good Free Program.
Aly: I'm excited to see what is to come for her. She and Mariah will be at worlds, because we have those two spots, and then she will be at 4CC along with Karen Chen and Amber Glenn, who we will touch on later.
Karly: Karen: technically part of the podium. She didn't have perfect skates here, but she really showed how dedicated she is, how much of a fighter she is, coming back to US Nats after injury left her out all last season and after starting school at Cornell.
Aly: Ivy League! They should call them the Icy Leagues.
Karly: Talking about more [skaters] who are off the podium. We have Amber Glenn who gave the Short Program performance of her life at US Nats.
Aly: Oh yeah.
Karly: It was amazing to watch. Amber is a really good emoter on the ice. I realized at Skate America. She also seems like such a chill person that you can't help but cheer her on, you know?
Aly: Yes. Especially recently, because this was her first competition after she came out publicly in that magazine interview. Everyone was waiting for her and she had the most memorable Short Program of the event in my opinion, but fell short in the Free which was really sad, because I really wanted her to podium. About her coming out, she is such a great role model, especially for younger LGBTQ+ skaters, it's not often you see a lot of openly gay, bisexual or pansexual skaters. It's really important, especially at a high level, to be who you are and share your truth, it can really inspire lots of younger skaters.
Karly: I'm really proud of her. She seems like she really enjoys being on the ice and that's one of my favorite qualities in skaters. She's really easy to support.
Aly: She is, and she has those big expressive eyes. She tells such a story on the ice. I'm really glad she got Four Continents, and I hope she does really well there, because if she can perform both programs like she performed her Short she will knock the socks off of everyone.
Karly: I'm really proud of her. She made a mark internationally this season. She got a lot of attention, she got two Grand Prix [events] for the first time. I'm really glad that she's made a name for herself. I also want to talk about Sierra Veneta, she's my new daughter. She went from 12th at last Nationals to 7th here, and 5th in the Free Program. You should check her out if you can. You know how Piper Gilles has that easy grace about her when she skates her Free Dance? She reminds me of that. She has this lovely smile on her face, and she carries herself so gracefully. It really made me like her skating. She says her dream is to represent the US internationally, so I really pray she can get a Challenger soon. Final shoutout, Gabrielle Izzo: I love Gabby so much, she's so sweet and a great human being. We had an interview with her last August before her first Junior Grand Prix. This was her Senior Nationals debut, where she got into the final group after the Short Program. A few mistakes in the Free Program did end her up in 9th but I'm still excited to see what comes from her next season.
Aly: She's great. She's deferring, she's going to Harvard next year and she does good stuff --
Karly: She does lots of volunteering.
Aly: Yes, lots of volunteering, because she is a good human being!
Karly: Just some talking points about Ladies: the USFSA looks to have all their eggs in Mariah's basket. She won PCS by 2 points, she was definitely placed above Bradie who has the US' golden girl for the past couple of years. Bradie wasn't clean here, so hopefully they can both go clean at Worlds and we can see who comes out on top, because it's going to be telling [as regards] what the FSA thinks. They both had a successful Grand Prix. Mariah medaled at both and Bradie made the final, so who knows, man? US Ladies is a little competitive within the discipline.
Aly: Oh sure. And can any of them -- I mean, Alysa Liu doesn't turn Senior until the Olympic year, but do you think any of them are going to be able to beat her?
Karly: Honestly, if she keeps performing like she does I don't think so.
Karly: We do have a small shout-out after wrapping up our US Nationals discussion. It goes to Tanith Belbin White and Charlie White, who were NBC Gold's commentators. I really liked them as commentators for this event, I really appreciate that they wait till before and after programs to discuss skaters and their performances.
Aly: Pulling a Ted Barton.
Karly: They're generally well-informed and supportive. I think a supportive commentator is really important. They gave me a good impression. Also they're cute and funny.
Aly: I agree. We had had Tanith as a commentator, we had had Charlie -- but was this the first time they were actually commentating together on something?
Karly: I think so.
Aly: It was great. They give very constructive, respectful, kind [commentary] -- nothing said was mean. It reminded me a lot of Ted Barton's commentary. I love that they didn't talk during programs because commentators who talk during programs really take away from the experience of watching the program. I think if there is going to be commentary, it should add and not detract. I think that's what Charlie and Tanith's commentary did, and I think they should commentate literally everything.
Karly: Just put them with Ted for everything.
Aly: Oh my god, can you imagine those three?
Karly: The trifecta of pureness.
Aly: Literally, so pure. So pure!
Karly: That wraps up our [US] Nationals discussion. I hope you had a good time. My shout-out of the week goes to Aly Wein for being my co-host on this episode, she did such a good job and I'm really proud of her.
Aly: Thank you Karly! Thank you ITL for trusting me with co-hosting a podcast, what?! and to Karly my main squeeze for holding my hand figuratively through the process. And to Evie for editing out... things!
Karly: Oh god [both laugh].
Aly: Thank you guys, this has been a blast.
Karly: We want to give thanks to the research team for this episode, which is me and Aly [laughing], our transcribing and quality control team, Evie for editing and Gabb for graphic design. If you want If you want to get in touch with you can contact us via our website inthelopodcast.com, or on Twitter or Instagram. You can find our episodes on Youtube, Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. If you've enjoyed the show and you want to help support the team then please consider making a donation to us on our ko-fi page or you can buy our merch on RedBubble. We'd like to give a huge thank you to all the listeners who have contributed to our team thus far. You can also find all the links to our social media pages and to our ko-fi on the website.
Aly: Go follow Edges of Glory @edgesofglory on instagram and @edges_of_glory on twitter because somebody took our handle... Thanks for putting up with me for this hour.
Karly: Definitely check out Edges of Glory, she's got some awesome interviews. I'm inspired by her interviews.
Aly: Thank you. More coming soon!
Karly: If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a rating and a review if you've enjoyed the show. Thanks for listening, this has been Kar,
Aly: And Aly!
Karly: Thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed our guest host!