What's next for Adam

[kwanette]

I saw Adam last night at FSIH and there was no bronzer, lovely sun glow from Nice. His hair was adorable as was he.

[apatinar]

I think that when Adam retires and looks back on what surely will be a mediocre career, he will see that leaving Orser was his biggest mistake... All of these Bobeks switching coaches anytime something doesn't quite go right is detrimental to their skating in the long run (there are few exceptions)

[arakwafan2006]

At what point does a skater just make it work where they are at? It’s like any relationship. Barring a skill deficit or competency issue, there is sometimes not a reason to leave. This truth is amplified if the student possesses in himself the problem at hand.

[Doubletoe]

At what point does a skater just make it work where they are at? It’s like any relationship.

In other relationships, that's called "settling" . . . unless the person continues to have the exact same issues over and over in each relationship, in which case there is an internal problem that needs to be dealt with. So has Adam had the same problems with Morozov, Orser and Dungjen/Sato? I don't think so. He's a smart kid and I'm sure he's learning something new from each season's mistakes (as Carolina Kostner says she has), so what's wrong with letting him continue figuring out what type of coaching works for him?

[winterone]

He needs the off ice training Orser wanted him to do, but Adam, I understand, balked at.

Depends that what he needs Depends.

[Vagabond]

I think that when Adam retires and looks back on what surely will be a mediocre career, he will see that leaving Orser was his biggest mistake... All of these Bobeks switching coaches anytime something doesn't quite go right is detrimental to their skating in the long run (there are few exceptions)

Oh, apatinar, what a little ray of sunshine you are turning out to be!

[maureenfarone]

I wish Adam the best...love his skating. Though he landed his 3A more this season the long setup really detracts from the program. If he can improve the 3A and get one reliable quad, I think he will have a bright future.

If he doesn't get a quad and a much better 3A, I will still enjoy him, but don't see him being on another World team or an Olympic team. I would hate for him to join some of my other favorites - Ryan Janke and Nicholas LaRoche. I also loved Matt Savoie and Todd Eldredge who both needed a quad and just couldn't get one reliable.

[wonderlen]

Cut the hair and improve his jump consistency. He can't even consistenly land clean other triples, let alone 3A and quad.

[snoopysnake]

A haircut? So he doesn't look like Harpo Marx.

Naw...he should grow it more and look like Charlie White!

[Sparks]

Never cut the hair.

[judgejudy27]

He is pretty old to have not even really mastered a triple axel yet. Maybe he needs to go to a jump specialist and if that doesnt work I am not sure there is much hope for him.

[The Accordion]

WHY ON EARTH are people saying he should cut his hair? It is incredibly beautiful!

What I would like for Adam is for him to get to a place where he doesn't look relieved for it to be over. Stepping off the ice seemed to be what he enjoyed most at this Worlds.

I wish that whatever happens that he can enjoy being out there at least.

[aliceanne]

I'm curious. Have you ever seen an elite female gymnast?

Here's a photo of the 2008 United States women's gymnastic team: http://0.tqn.com/d/gymnastics/1/0/t/...TY82281166.jpg. It speaks for itself.

For that matter, did you ever see Midori Ito, Tonya Harding, and Surya Bonaly in their prima? Have you ever seen Maé Bérénice Méité?

Alissa Czisny has a different body type from those skaters, but she doesn't look physically fragile to me. (She looks more if you ask me.) I think you may be confusing her facial expressions with her physique.

Well, I didn't mean to insult the ballet dancers and gymnasts about their physical fitness. My observation was more along the lines that they on average weigh less than skaters because their skills require it. How they make it through their day on the skimpy diets they claim to follow is beyond me. Anyway, this is off topic.

I was only suggesting a change in fitness regimen for Adam, Alissa, and Jeremy because if they have gotten this far in their career and can't control their nerves enough to compete, then it is pretty much over. Maybe the should talk to Shizuka or Rudy and find out how they reinvented themselves.

If this is the best they can do, well they still made it further than most skaters ever do.

[Doubletoe]

I was only suggesting a change in fitness regimen for Adam, Alissa, and Jeremy because if they have gotten this far in their career and can't control their nerves enough to compete, then it is pretty much over.

You mean, like it was over for Carolina Kostner? Sometimes the mental/emotional control takes a long time to learn, but it's not like you can't learn it after a certain age.

[Finnice]

I wish he continues his career for many, may years. I rather watch him just gliding over the ice than many of those jump machines. He has soul in his skating.

[smarts1]

On another note (because of that skating article with Hersh), what are Christina's plans for next year? Is she leaving the sport?

[aliceanne]

You mean, like it was over for Carolina Kostner? Sometimes the mental/emotional control takes a long time to learn, but it's not like you can't learn it after a certain age.

I thought Carolina's strategy was to cut back her jumping content. I don't think Adam can afford to do that and medal. He did skate cleanly when he wasn't attempting the 3A or the quads.

[Doubletoe]

I thought Carolina's strategy was to cut back her jumping content. I don't think Adam can afford to do that and medal. He did skate cleanly when he wasn't attempting the 3A or the quads.

It's not so much about strategy as it is about mindset. Carolina thought she would beat her demons and become more consistent if she traveled halfway around the world and trained in L.A. with Frank Carroll. That didn't work. She went back to her old coach in the place that felt like home to her and she says she started skating for the love of skating instead of for the goal of winning competitions. That complete change of mindset is most likely what allowed her to compete at Worlds this year without the nerves getting the best of her. I think leaving the 3Lz out of the program was just a part of the decision to skate for the love of skating instead of to win, since it was a problematic jump for her.
Having said that, I agree that Adam cannot medal without clean programs that include solid 3A's if not quads. Patrick Chan has just set the bar so high, and Takahashi and Hanyu are approaching it. Adam may just need more time, and he also might need to discover some psychological tools that work for him.

[kwanette]

I wish he continues his career for many, may years. I rather watch him just gliding over the ice than many of those jump machines. He has soul in his skating.

[Vash01]

I thought Carolina's strategy was to cut back her jumping content. I don't think Adam can afford to do that and medal. He did skate cleanly when he wasn't attempting the 3A or the quads.

I agree. In the mens field cutting down on jumps will not work. Carolina was able to do it because there were no strong jumpers among ladies this year, with the absence of Yu na and Miki, both strong jumpers. Next year could be different.