What does Jeremy need to do for a comeback?

[judgejudy27]

Did Jeremy skate a clean program this year? OK a clean short at Nationals with only a triple-double combination so it wasnt really a clean short (if you arent trying the quad you atleast need to be cleanly doing the standard 4 triples non quad men are doing). None of his long programs this season were even close to clean. So where is the progress in handling nerves? Atleast the previous 2 seasons he had some clean long programs, heck atleast 3.

[aftershocks]

You rate "progress" differently perhaps. Jeremy's progress to me is in coming back at all, and with two great programs, and competing well (even though he was not given better marks). He has managed his nerves well. If he hadn't (e.g.) he would have been rattled by being delayed in starting his short program at Nationals. You can't know unless you're inside Jeremy's head, exactly what kind of progress he's made with managing his nerves in all types of competition situations.

[judgejudy27]

Well whatever progress he is supposably making it isnt nearly enough. Fact is he failed to make the GP final, has seen himself passed internationally by guys like Amodio and a resurgent Verner, has seen guys like Chan and Takahashi pull a chasm away from him, and placed 4th at Nationals behind Bradley and 2 newcomers, failing to even make the World team. He has to step it up in a BIG way if he is going to even survive should he stay in the amateur side of the sport.

[aftershocks]

Your opinions, yes ... thankfully you're not the judge and jury. Making GP final is not the Holy Grail. Fact is, Jeremy has won the GP Final before. And again, you can't know what Jeremy's going to accomplish or not going to accomplish in his life.

[Yazmeen]

I'm sure I'm going to tick some people off by saying this, but with his "bring it on" attitude, I'm wondering if he thought he'd have a easy ride at Nationals. No US man was dominant throughout the Grand Prix season like Alissa was for the ladies. Jeremy got a couple of medals, so did Brandon, Adam got one but none made the final. Coming into Nationals with Evan and Johnny out, Jeremy could have easily viewed himself as the strongest skater and the likely easy National champ with possibly Adam and Brandon somewhat, but not really close. Then Bradley comes out of nowhere in the short with no pressure after Jeremy skates conservatively, and this really had to do a number on his already fragile head. Then he falls apart after a mistake, and boom, it's gone.

I'm not an Abbott fan, but I do see the beauty in his skating when it's on. At this point, I think he needs either a sports psychologist or perhaps a willingness to do what Alissa did, not just change coaches, but really be willing to listen, bare his soul and look at things from scratch. Alissa went back to basic singles and doubles with her jumps and reworked everything to a new level of confidence, especially not falling apart after something doesn't go quite perfectly (witness her flawed but fought-through loop jump - not pretty, but she didn't give up and fall). Maybe Jeremy needs the same willingness to bare his soul, face his demons and imperfections and start anew? It wasn't too late for Alissa; perhaps it will work for him.

[aftershocks]

You make some good points, Yazmeen. I don't disagree, except the "bring it on" attitude is not out of line. It's part of the whole competitive process, which is sometimes brought out of skaters by the way the media asks questions. I read this quote on Ice Network, but I didn't hear the context of Jeremy actually saying it.

I agree that Ryan being in first after the short might have thrown Jeremy off, but his coaches (same coaches for Alissa) probably helped him deal with that. It may be what Sandra B. said -- that Jeremy may have started thinking too much after he doubled a planned triple. Paul Wylie has been a behind-the-scenes mentor for Jeremy -- not a bad role model. Alissa has had loads of help and support from many people in figure skating, including Kurt Browning, Brian Boitano, Scott Hamilton, and now her new coaches, Yuka and Jason. It's been a long up-and-down process for her. Something seems to have clicked, but largely, she's repaired her technique on jumps, calmed her nerves, and found a way to fight during programs.

[jlai]

I think he'll be hungry next season. He'll know he has to bring it, even when there is seemingly no competition. He was shocked when he was in third after his LP. He clearly wasn't expecting that and I wonder if he thought he would be held up by the judges. In that sense, perhaps he can take a page out of Chan's book. Chan could've risked zoning it in at Nationals but he still put it all out.

He actually doesn't need to peak here, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be in top condition by mid season. Given his way of falling apart after halfway point in the long I would say stamina being an issue. I'm surprised he didn't put more triples in the first half of the program to make up for it. Or at least a rest point where he can regroup and rest

He needed to be at a condition where he can land 7 triples consistently. But according to the Detroit sendoff show's report he wasn't in that condition. (He landed 3 triples at the sendoff which sounded off an alarm bell to me.)

[ioana]

Alissa went back to basic singles and doubles with her jumps and reworked everything to a new level of confidence, especially not falling apart after something doesn't go quite perfectly (witness her flawed but fought-through loop jump - not pretty, but she didn't give up and fall).

I think part of the reason why Alissa had to go back to a basic level of single and double jumps was that her alignment of take offs was all out of whack. I'm not sure if that was -at least partly- due to nerves, but I remember reading reports of her practice sessions from early Nationals, where other fans mentioned the same thing -flawed technique on her take offs. Alissa's always had gorgeous basics and spins, but her jumps were a liability since she didn't have very good technique. She's reworked them to the point where they look much better. Still far from being a strong point, but no longer the huge problem they used to be. I'm sure this in turn helped her confidence, but I don't really think this was a matter of Alissa being willing to do this; rather she *had* to once she went to good technical coaches.

Jeremy, OTOH, seems to have very good technique on his jumps, but things go haywire under pressure. And, not just with his jumps. He trips on footwork, etc. I'm not sure if he needs to go and break down technique that works just fine. A regular sports psychologist or (like other posters mentioned) taking some college courses on the side to help his perspective seem like a better idea.

[jlai]

hasn't he always been going to a sport psychologist? (confused) If a sport psychologist can turn things around like that (snap your fingers) there will be no headcases.

Anyway, I think this one he just needs to dig deep and figure it out himself. And it's probably not a bad life lesson, however hard one this may be.

[neptune]

She's reworked them to the point where they look much better. Still far from being a strong point, but no longer the huge problem they used to be.

That's a fair assessment. Sandra and Scott seemed to be positively drooling over Alissa's performance last night, and while she had an excellent skate that did deserve the win, I wouldn't exactly call the jumps breathtaking. But as you said, they're definitely improved.

Jeremy, OTOH, seems to have very good technique on his jumps, but things go haywire under pressure. And, not just with his jumps. He trips on footwork, etc. I'm not sure if he needs to go and break down technique that works just fine. A regular sports psychologist or (like other posters mentioned) taking some college courses on the side to help his perspective seem like a better idea.

That makes sense. Besides, Jeremy is allowed a so-so season. I don't think it indicates anything hugely significant. And we should probably also wait and see how he fares at 4CC.

[judgejudy27]

Your opinions, yes ... thankfully you're not the judge and jury. Making GP final is not the Holy Grail. Fact is, Jeremy has won the GP Final before. And again, you can't know what Jeremy's going to accomplish or not going to accomplish in his life.

No I am not judge and jury. The judges who gave him scores that put him out of the GP final despite that you call improved performances, and that placed him 4th at his own Nationals after an off free skate are judge and jury. And as you even conceded he is on the way down with them, the ultimate judge and jury.

Not making the GP final doesnt mean much if you rebound by doing well at Worlds. Missing the GP final in the weakest season for mens skating in decades and missing the World team altogether in possibly the weakest year of U.S mens skating in decades is not possible to sugarcoat though for someone like Abbott.

[jlai]

That's a fair assessment. Sandra and Scott seemed to be positively drooling over Alissa's performance last night, and while she had an excellent skate that did deserve the win, I wouldn't exactly call the jumps breathtaking. But as you said, they're definitely improved.



That makes sense. Besides, Jeremy is allowed a so-so season. I don't think it indicates anything hugely significant. And we should probably also wait and see how he fares at 4CC.

I have always wished for Jeremy to have more than a bronze at 4CC which was 07. How about a win?

[blue_idealist]

I saw Jeremy Abbott on twitter about an hour before the mens' competition started today, and I thought "what is he doing on twitter? won't that distract him?" so I think the idea of having more tunnel vision might be on the right track.

[centerpt1]

I don't think twitter is the problem.

Whatever is going on between the boots/blades/feet to brain is the issue. Does he really have feet/boot issues, or does he just think he does. Until that gets sorted out, the rest doesn't matter.

[jlai]

I don't think twitter is the problem.

Interacting with fans online will inadvertantly expose you to opportunitis where you end up reading what has been said about you, Links to articles, posts, gossip and even fsu (and we know he sometimes reads that). JMHO

Jeremy himself said once he used to do what he
s been told and now he lives on his own, it is understandably very hard to go from do-what-youare-told to doityourself. But then other skaters follow certain strategies in general(not reading what's said about you, intereact with fans at the right times, focus on your skating, don't watch your competitor, pace yourself in the program by allowing breaks, getting into top form in mid season, etc etc etc), and it wouldn
t hurt to use the same strategies.

[skatesindreams]

I'm not ready to consign Jeremy to the ashes.
It seems obvious that he had boot problems which are still an issue.
I can't imagine how difficult it would be to do the necessary content if your feet were uncomfortable and you felt unstable on the ice

That alone would undermine anyone's confidence.
Let's see what happens at 4CC.

His programs are mature, and beautiful.
I look forward to seeing them again.

[Frau Muller]

Well, he's still Tweeting and happy-sounding. Just got this one saying that he's falling asleep on Alex Shibutani's shoulder during the flight back home! Earlier, he offered Congrats to the guys who outskated him.

http://twitter.com/jeremyabbottpcf

Good for Jeremy.

[museksk8r]

I'm not ready to consign Jeremy to the ashes.
It seems obvious that he had boot problems which are still an issue.
I can't imagine how difficult it would be to do the necessary content if your feet were uncomfortable and you felt unstable on the ice

That alone would undermine anyone's confidence.
Let's see what happens at 4CC.

His programs are mature, and beautiful.
I look forward to seeing them again.

I totally agree!

Funny how some are even questioning whether he really had/has a boot problem or not. Yeah, he's just making mistakes on his spins on purpose. I've NEVER seen Jeremy have the problems he's had this season on his spins before. Normally in the past, he's a very solid spinner with respectable centering and speed. This season with the boot problems, his spins have been slower and not as steady, and he's been losing levels on them. That's not typical Jeremy, and I really do believe he has serious equipment issues this season. No psychologist can amend boot problems.

Back to as you were, as some know what's going on with Jeremy apparently better than he does, so it seems. At least this thread is where it belongs - in the TRASH can.

Did Jeremy skate a clean program this year? OK a clean short at Nationals with only a triple-double combination so it wasnt really a clean short (if you arent trying the quad you atleast need to be cleanly doing the standard 4 triples non quad men are doing). None of his long programs this season were even close to clean. So where is the progress in handling nerves? Atleast the previous 2 seasons he had some clean long programs, heck atleast 3.

He did a 3flip+3toe. If you're gonna trash talk, you could at least get your facts straight.

[portia]

Although he went to Finlandia and 4CC when he was 21, Jeremy didn't make his WC debut until 2008 when he was 22 years old. I wonder if part of the reasons for Jeremy's inconsistencies can be attributed to the fact that he was exposed to Sr. level international judging so late. Especially when you compare him to likes of Dai, Brian, and Stephane, all of whom had world medals before they were even 22 years of age. It's so weird that Jeremy, Dai, and Stephane are all the same age/ Brian a year older. Both Dai and Brian probably won't skate in Sochi; but Jeremy is regarded as the "next generation" of U.S. men.

IDK if Twitter and the pressure of being the reigning U.S. champ messed with Jeremy's psyche. Twitter and other social media can be very addictive, to the point of being disruptive in some people's lives. I'm not suggesting that this is the case with Jeremy, but it might be a good idea to not tweet right before your skates. Remember when Peggy Fleming made a big deal chastising Michelle Kwan when Kwan called Peggy from Nagano to wish her good health after the breast cancer diagnosis? Peggy was incredulous that Michelle wasn't solely concentrating on Olys and Olys alone.

At 25, Jeremy has more life experience than those 19 year-olds, not to mention he has had more opportunities to be tested as far as mental toughness is concerned. So it's rather troubling that boot problems aside, Jeremy hasn't been able to put together a competition worthy of his true talents and capabilities. Sports psychologist is a very good idea, so are attempting quads or having consistent quads.

OT, but maybe the USFSA is trying to expose youngsters like Dornbush and Miner to Sr. level international judges in order for them to avoid having the same problems as Abbott.

[centerpt1]

How can boot problems last this long?
If he's not comfortable in his boots now...what difference will 2 weeks at 4CC make? He'll bomb there, too.
He's a much better skater than this.
Is he contracted to this boot company? Surely it isn't good press for them to have him so unlike himself.
The spins are key- he's always been a great spinner- now this.
He also looks really unconditioned out there. Does he also have health issues?
Why hasn't he or his team got this under control?
I don't want him to become another Johnny- all that skill and talent gone to waste.