US National Championships - Nashville, TN - 3-9 Jan. 2022

[Elizabeth]

Current schedule from: https://www.usfigureskating.org/event/2 ... s#Schedule
Tuesday, Jan. 4
12:00 p.m. Session 1 - Junior Pairs Short Program and Junior Men Short Program
8:15 p.m. Session 2 - Junior Rhythm Dance

Wednesday, Jan. 5
9:00 a.m. Session 3 - Junior Ladies Short Program Free Skates/Dance
12:00 p.m. Session 4 - Junior Men Free Skate and Junior Pairs Free Skate
8:30 p.m. Session 5 - Junior Free Dance

Thursday, Jan. 6
11:45 a.m. Session 6 - Junior Ladies Free Skate
3:45 p.m. Session 7 - Championship Pairs Short Program
6:30 p.m. Session 8 - Championship Ladies Short Program (Bridgestone Night)

Friday, Jan. 7
2: 00 p.m. Session 9 - Championship Rhythm Dance
6:30 p.m. Session 10 - Championship Ladies Free Skate (Opry Entertainment Night)

Saturday, Jan. 8
2:00 p.m. Session 11 - Championship Men’s Short Program
5:45 p.m. Session 12 - Championship Pairs Free Skate
7:25 p.m. Session 13 - Championship Free Dance

Sunday, Jan. 9
11:15 a.m. Session 14 - Championship Men’s Free Skate
6:30 p.m. Session 15 - Skating Spectacular

[The full coloured schedule is here: https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/d ... hedule.pdf]

Entries in Junior and Championship (Senior) disciplines: https://t.co/vyW17V1WPn

Practice groups: https://t.co/XOxXmh0R9r


TV coverage available in Canada (all times in ET):
Friday January 7
8:00-11:00 PM Women's Free Skate LIVE (NBC) Delayed for Pacific Coast

Saturday January 8
4:00-6:00 PM Men's Short Program LIVE (NBC)

Sunday January 9
2:00-4:00 PM Men's Free Skate LIVE (NBC)

[Elizabeth]

The competition "hub" with news stories, photo links, etc.: https://figureskatersonline.com/news/20 ... ships-hub/

[Elizabeth]

There have been a number of withdrawals from US nationals, some due to positive tests, some due to injuries or other reasons - the list (from RockerSkating):
Sr Women: Tennell
Sr Men: Naumov
Sr Pairs: Liu/O'Shea, Mokhova/Mokhov, Smirnova/Siianytsia
Jr Men: Broussard
Jr Pairs: Fletcher/Brown
Jr Dance: Brown/Brown, Flores/Tsarevski, Larson/Appel

[Elizabeth]

The start orders/results link: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderb ... /index.asp

The senior events are labelled as "Championship" events and begin on Thursday.

[Elizabeth]

An article about the current issues for skaters (and other athletes) hoping to compete in Beijing and the need to avoid COVID: https://www.wsj.com/articles/olympics-f ... 641240920?
This is a concern for the Canadian & US skaters set to compete this week and hoping to be selected to the Olympic teams.

[Elizabeth]

The team considered to be the favourites in the senior pairs has withdrawn after Brandon Frazier tested positive today:





From RockerSkating - a comparison the other top pairs teams competing (and hoping to go to the Olympics) looking at the criteria USFS will use to make their selections:


It is not yet clear whether/if Knierim/Frazier will successfully "petition" for a spot on the Olympic team: https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/01/ ... ips-covid/

[Elizabeth]

I have seen these protocols for US Nationals for accredited athletes, coaches, chaperones posted online:
- negative PCR or NAAT within 3 days (not 72 hours) of arrival
- if unvaccinated, negative rapid on arrival
- health attestation including requirement to report new symptoms to medical ASAP
- masks at all times including in the official hotel and shuttle bus except when on ice
- anyone credentialed for more than four days (Senior athletes, coaches, chaperones, etc.) have to take a USFS-provided rapid after four days
- Junior athlete/coaches/chaperones lose credentials, become spectators after their event ends

Some problematic loopholes:
- competitors are allowed to skate regular freestyle sessions at local rinks, unmasked with whoever else is there.
- Developmental camp is still happening, including two days of attendance at Nationals. USFS’ High Performance Director/Olympic Team Leader will host the opening meeting of development camp - including a gaggle of unvaccinated children - 36 hours before he hosts the Olympic team meetings.

[Elizabeth]

Another challenge in Nashville...


They are not used to/prepared for snow. Traffic delays have prevented some skaters from getting to practices!

I guess Bridgestone (whose name is on the arena) didn't provide winter tires to everyone!!

[Elizabeth]

Good news! The Olympics Channel is providing us (outside USA) with live streaming

Go to: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/20 ... g-schedule
The Pairs SP will begin imminently.

The start order: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderb ... EG009.html

[Elizabeth]

The Women's SP live stream: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/20 ... g-schedule
It was scheduled for 7:15 ET but now delayed to 7:50 ET. (Nashville is in Central Time Zone)
The start order/live scores & post event protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderb ... EG011.html

[Elizabeth]

From Jason Brown on Twitter:

We’re coming Nashville!!

To everyone experiencing travel troubles to #USChamps22 due to snow, you’re not alone! Thx @AirCanada, @AmericanAir & @Delta
4 working together & helping us along the way! Been a really long day, but if all goes well, we should arrive midday tomorrow!

[kittykins]

Good news! The Olympics Channel is providing us (outside USA) with live streaming

Go to: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/20 ... g-schedule
The Pairs SP will begin imminently.

The start order: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderb ... EG009.html

GREAT! Whoops, I should have checked in yesterday! It's a good thing I have more than one computer, lol.

[Elizabeth]

Good news! The Olympics Channel is providing us (outside USA) with live streaming

Go to: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/20 ... g-schedule
The Pairs SP will begin imminently.

The start order: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderb ... EG009.html

GREAT! Whoops, I should have checked in yesterday! It's a good thing I have more than one computer, lol.

The Pairs SP and Ladies (the US is still not calling them Women) SP were streamed live through the link I shared. The same link should take you to today's event.

The start orders/results links are here - all times are Central Time Zone for Nashville but those on the broadcast schedule come up in ET for me): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderb ... /index.asp

At least a part of the Ladies event will be in tonight's NBC TV coverage.

[Elizabeth]

Jason didn't arrive in Nashville in time for the early morning practice today but here's hoping he arrives safely. I understand that he, unlike Keegan Messing, has his skates with him but only practice clothes. As we say, stay tuned...

Meanwhile, there have been a couple of withdrawals from the men's event which begins tomorrow:

[Elizabeth]

The Rhythm Dance is beginning here: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/20 ... g-schedule

Entries/Start Order/Results: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderb ... EG013.html

Nguyen & Smirnov are out - he apparently has a hip injury:

[Elizabeth]

Alyssa Liu, who skated the SP yesterday, is now out due to a positive test:

AND Amber Glenn!

[Elizabeth]

Another withdrawal in the Sr. Men's event:





In the better news department,
From Jason Brown on Twitter:

After 33 hours of travel, 5 cancelled flights, 4 airline changes, 3 airports, 2 countries, an overnight in Atlanta, a rental car, and a ton of help…

We officially made it to Nashville!

He was given a solo practice time between events in the competition today as he had missed all his practices so far.

[Elizabeth]

The Men are starting their free skates as I type this - the short programs last evening, even if there were only 14 men "left standing", were exciting. Here's an article: https://t.co/r9zEMu33z6

TV coverage later today on NBC. You can also watch live: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/20 ... g-schedule I believe there will be a long break between group 1 (3 men) and groups 2 & 3 for the Hall of Fame inductions. I'm not sure if that part will be shown to us.

[kittykins]

You were right about the long wait in-between the flights, before the final one. I watched the coverage of the men's SP & FS. It was so exciting and it was so nice they provided live coverage. However, I thought it the announcers said one more time Nathan is the best the world has ever seen, I was going to throw something at the TV! He deserves the praise, and most importantly does not play into the idea that he is the greatest, but is very humble. I hope for the best at the Olympics, but perhaps Hanyu will have something to say about that! I was very impressed with the young 17 year old Russian-American, Ilia Malinin...what an unbelievable young talent.

[Elizabeth]

I thought Ben Agosto, who did all the commentary on the live stream, did a good job. I avoided watching the "Tara & Johnny" show as I find them a bit too "over the top" most of the time and they talk too much.

Apparently the USFS wants to bid to host the World Championships in Nashville in the future - I hope they weren't using this event as a "model" with all the extended breaks with the country musicians performing during the competition, not just those that will be in the Gala! Somehow I don't see that as "ISU-style"!!

I also strongly believe that they should have cancelled the Gala, as Skate Canada did, especially since I understand that they had the Junior skaters rehearsing group numbers! Too many more opportunities for the virus to spread....

[Elizabeth]

The US Olympic team nominations as announced during the event - Alyssa and Alexa & Brendon successfully "petitioned" to be on the team after COVID related withdrawals:


Alternates: Lindsay Thorngren, Amber Glenn, Gabriella Izzo)


Alternates: Jessica Calalang/Brian Johnson; Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov ; Emily Chan/Spencer Howe


Alternates: Caroline Green / Michael Parsons; Emily Bratti / Ian Somerville; Katarina Wolfkostin / Jeffrey Chen


Alternates: Ilia Malinin; Camden Pulkinen ; Jimmy Ma

The dance team nominees all train at I.AM

[kittykins]

I thought Ben Agosto, who did all the commentary on the live stream, did a good job. I avoided watching the "Tara & Johnny" show as I find them a bit too "over the top" most of the time and they talk too much.

Apparently the USFS wants to bid to host the World Championships in Nashville in the future - I hope they weren't using this event as a "model" with all the extended breaks with the country musicians performing during the competition, not just those that will be in the Gala! Somehow I don't see that as "ISU-style"!!

I also strongly believe that they should have cancelled the Gala, as Skate Canada did, especially since I understand that they had the Junior skaters rehearsing group numbers! Too many more opportunities for the virus to spread....

Good idea...definitely too chatty...over the top is the right description. I got lazy and turned on the TV as I get a better quality picture. Next time, if there is one, I'll have to try the live stream.

I guess Vegas wouldn't be better even with the built in hotel? My first thought was I thought that was a safer arena.

[Elizabeth]

In case anyone is looking for the "Skating Spectacular" that followed the US Championships on Sunday evening, it is now available on the Olympic channel: https://olympics.com/en/video/figure-sk ... -nashville

In my opinion, USFS was unwise in holding this gala event and increasing the risk to their skaters, particularly those hoping to travel to the Olympics. At least one of those skaters did not perform - Nathan Chen.

NBC will be showing a version of this on TV at some point - it is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. but, as they say, "check your local listings"