U.S. Women [#5]: Remain on the Dance Floor

[Sylvia]

I recall Ashley Wagner mentioning in The Runthrough podcast last month that she would be attending Mr. Nicks’ 95th birthday celebration.

Article on the 3 Hilbelink skating sisters (at 13 Keira is the youngest one):

Tia, Maile and Keira Hilbelink are a trio of elite skating sisters

Tia, Maile and Keira Hilbelink are a sisters and are all elite figure skaters training with 9-time U.S. Nationals competitor Sean Rabbitt.

figureskatersonline.com

Clip of Keira attempting 3Lz 3 years ago to landing 3Lz+3T now: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6FXWWzvdVW/

 

[coppertop1]

Fwiw, Jessi's coach isn't listed as Tom Z. It's Alena Lunin.

 

[Sylvia]

Fwiw, Jessi's coach isn't listed as Tom Z. It's Alena Lunin.

Yes, in her ISU bio (Alena coached Jurka in her 2 internationals so far - when she won Adv. Novice gold at Challenge Cup in NED in late Feb. 2023 & Cranberry Cup International last season as a junior).

The 2024 U.S. Nationals program book listed her coaches as Alena Lunin, Alexander Lunin [Fort Wayne, IN], Stephanie Kuban, Tom Zakrajsek [CO Springs].

Her latest 3A clip 3 days ago: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6ZoQXdPusa/
"Practice makes progress!!! Followed by coach @coachtomz axel… he promised if I landed a triple axel again he would do a single one!" [Erik Schulz is the harness coach for TZ in the clip].

 

[coppertop1]

I don't understand why Tom Z is still influential, considering his horrible reputation.

 

[ice coverage]

Sasha Cohen went to see John Nicks for his 95th birthday: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6XZnnYPqru/?igsh=MW1oNHd4a2cwMDV0

Sasha and Mr. Nicks were always my favorite K&C duo! The man must have the patience of a saint for all he put up with from her through the years!

Fun fact. Ever polite and not one to name drop, in conversation Mr Nicks referred to Sasha as “‘my pupil” or “my student.” He looks amazing!

Aw. Still remember volunteering at 1999 Nationals during practice sessions and having Mr Nicks very politely asking me to ask Sasha to come out of the locker room. A gentleman!

I recall Ashley Wagner mentioning in The Runthrough podcast last month that she would be attending Mr. Nicks’ 95th birthday celebration. ...

Another update for fans of Mr. Nicks :

2024 winner of PSA's Legends Award is John A. W. Nicks, per yesterday's announcement of EDI Awards.​

"This award is presented to a skater or coach who has brought recognition to the sport in a positive and favorable manner. The winner exemplifies a level of distinction like the legendary figures who have come before."​

Professional Skaters Association (PSA) on Instagram: "📣 2024 EDI Award Winners Announced Let's tag these coaches and show them some virtual appreciation! 📣 The presentation of these awards will take place on Wednesday, May 15, at the 2024 U.S. Figur

325 likes, 11 comments - skatepsa on May 2, 2024: "📣 2024 EDI Award Winners Announced Let's tag these coaches and show them some virtual appreciation! 📣 The presentation of these aw...".

www.instagram.com

https://skatepsa.com/ (home page at present has this year's full-blown announcement of EDI winners)​

 

[Willin]

I don't understand why Tom Z is still influential, considering his horrible reputation.

Because he still coaches in CS and is still frequently rubbing shoulders with USFS big wigs.

And while his reputation is bad with fans, I wouldn't say he has a bad rap with skaters or other coaches beyond usual levels of rink drama AFAIK. Say what you will about his coaching or his skaters underperforming, but he does seem to produce pretty technically proficient jumpers - and in this day and age that could be a draw. IMO he'd make a great jump specialist coach.

 

[Sylvia]

Info on Zakrajsek's 2nd "Aspire Higher" Camp this summer: https://coachtomz.com/aspire-higher-2-summer-figure-skating-camp/

 

[coppertop1]

Because he still coaches in CS and is still frequently rubbing shoulders with USFS big wigs.

And while his reputation is bad with fans, I wouldn't say he has a bad rap with skaters or other coaches beyond usual levels of rink drama AFAIK. Say what you will about his coaching or his skaters underperforming, but he does seem to produce pretty technically proficient jumpers - and in this day and age that could be a draw. IMO he'd make a great jump specialist coach.

His skaters have often had issues with under rotation. He isn't a great jump coach

 

[Jarrett]

His skaters have often had issues with under rotation. He isn't a great jump coach

Just because Vincent underrotated jumps doesn't make Tom a bad jump coach. Mirai had underrotated issues before Tom and she improved under him. Max, Jeremy, Rachel, Agnes, Ryan who exactly are you talking about? I think all of them pretty much maxed their potential jump wise.

 

[Jammers]

The problem with Tom Z is besides the jumps he was not good at anything else as a coach his skaters often had terrible programs and they tended to be slow with weak skating skills. Perfect example was Mirai she did get the 3axel with him and made another Olympic team and got a team Bronze medal at the Olympics but every other part of her skating declined when she was with him.

 

[Wyliefan]

If you read your last sentence again, I'm not sure it conveys exactly what you meant it to convey.

I know what you're getting at, though. But I expect Mirai would say it was worth it -- that 3A took her pretty far.

 

[Sylvia]

Bradie’s back on the ice! (and on social media):

Bradie Tennell on Instagram: "Bradie - 1, bracket - 0 😉 Five months, two surgeries, and one healed ankle later… my bracket has never looked better #imback #again #teamusa #usfigureskating #isufigureskating #auraskates #johnwilsonblades #figureskat

bradietennell on May 3, 2024: "Bradie - 1, bracket - 0 😉 Five months, two surgeries, and one healed ankle later… my bracket has never looked better #imback #aga...".

www.instagram.com

ETA: after reading her hashtags!

 

[Frau Muller]

Bradie’s back on the ice! (and on social media):

Bradie Tennell on Instagram: "Bradie - 1, bracket - 0 😉 Five months, two surgeries, and one healed ankle later… my bracket has never looked better #imback #again #teamusa #usfigureskating #isufigureskating #auraskates #johnwilsonblades #figureskat

bradietennell on May 3, 2024: "Bradie - 1, bracket - 0 😉 Five months, two surgeries, and one healed ankle later… my bracket has never looked better #imback #aga...".

www.instagram.com

Bradie was so impressive at the Shanghai Trophy last fall. So sad that she had her injury soon after.

 

[Private Citizen]

Bradie was so impressive at the Shanghai Trophy last fall. So sad that she had her injury soon after.

Impressive by 1993 standards, maybe. Both the programs and the jump content seemed "retro" to me. 3Lz+2T isn't going to get her anywhere.

 

[Frau Muller]

Impressive by 1993 standards, maybe. Both the programs and the jump content seemed "retro" to me. 3Lz+2T isn't going to get her anywhere.

“Retro” is great for me. Elegance, please. And keep Eilish far, far away!!!!!

 

[Sylvia]

Cleo Park, who will turn 15 on August 5, is featured today (May 5) in this Golden Skate article by Paula Slater:

Cleo Park: From Disney helmets to U.S. Junior bronze

Cleo Park This past fall, USA's Cleo Park made her international debut as a junior in two back-to-back international events: 2023 Kings Cup International

www.goldenskate.com

Cleo has had her last season's "Dans La Nuit" SP reworked and is using the music again this season. Here's a 30-second clip from her new "Jungle Cruise" FS, choreographed by Jamie Isley, that she debuted at her club's competition last month (previous info on this comp. is below): https://twitter.com/jrskating/status/1785881954547556627

... Cleo Park, Annika Chao and Alayna Coats (these 3 are in the Women's current ISP) and Hannah Kim (P-N2/J11 at Nationals) competed in the Glacier Falls Spring Spectacular club competition last weekend (April 20-21) and I shared screenshots of the top 3 protocol sheets in my X post yesterday (SP and FS are separate events/scores are not combined) because these are good scores for so early in the season: https://twitter.com/SylviaUnseen/status/1783137285006934392
Junior SP top 3:
Cleo Park, Glacier Falls FSC 65.98 (her older sister Nicole is currently in France for the Nations Cup with LA Ice Theater's Junior team)
Annika Chao, Glacier Falls FSC 63.13 (competed SP only)
Hannah Kim, Glacier Falls FSC 63.06
Junior FS top 3:
Alayna Coats, All Year FSC 108.37 - I came across her FS video is on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQVgwUhUPZY (coached by Naomi Nari Nam)
Hannah Kim, Glacier Falls FSC 106.88
Cleo Park, Glacier Falls FSC 102.77