U.S. Men 2012-13 news, updates & general discussion

[Sylvia]

USFS posted their Gardena Spring Trophy (April 1-3) entries on their site today: http://www.usfigureskating.org/Athletes.asp?id=216
5 men are going to Italy:
Senior - Adam Rippon, Brandon Mroz
Junior - Jimmy Ma (J4), Jordan Moeller (J5)
Novice - Vincent Zhou (J1)
It will be the international debut for Ma, Moeller, and Zhou.

^I love the fact that the US is sending notable skaters to these competitions (don't they normally skip them?). I hope they do well.

Gardena looks like a "makeup" competition for Rippon and Mroz, both of whom had to withdraw from their last competition due to injury. Rippon lost the chance to improve his Season Best total score and gain ISU World Standings ranking points at Four Continents (Dornbush, his replacement at 4CC, subsequently passed him on both lists), while Mroz was originally scheduled to go to Challenge Cup with Alex Johnson. Glad to see USFS being so proactive!

[misskarne]

If Rippon is going to this one, I would assume he's not going to WTT?

When do they have to announce the WTT entries?

[Sylvia]

When do they have to announce the WTT entries?

I don't know when USFS will announce their team but entries are due on March 25.

ETA to add on March 20 that Max Aaron and Jeremy Abbott have been named to World Team Trophy -- see: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...=1#post3881006

[Sylvia]

2013 Gardena Spring Trophy Senior Men's final top 4:
1 Takahiko KOZUKA JPN 228.63 1 2
2 Adam RIPPON USA 219.16 3 1 (he received 225 ISU WS ranking points)
3 Stèphane WALKER SUI 193.71 4 3
4 Brandon MROZ USA 190.26 2 5 (he received 182 WS points)

ETA Gardena podium pic via Twitter:
Senior Men (L to R: Rippon, Kozuka, Stephane Walker SUI)

FS top 5:
1 Adam RIPPON USA 155.52 74.18 81.34 8.08 7.92 8.25 8.17 8.25 0.00 #10
2 Takahiko KOZUKA JPN 147.45 70.45 79.00 8.00 7.67 7.83 8.17 7.83 2.00 #9
3 Stèphane WALKER SUI 130.96 62.96 68.00 7.00 6.50 7.08 6.75 6.67 0.00 #11
4 Abzal RAKIMGALIYEV KAZ 125.74 57.56 68.18 6.75 6.42 6.92 7.08 6.92 0.00 #13
5 Brandon MROZ USA 121.42 51.42 71.00 7.08 6.92 7.08 7.25 7.17 1.00 #12
Protocols: http://application.fisg.it/results/3..._FS_Scores.pdf

Rippon wrote a short blog for his site before he left for Italy and mentioned that he had started jumping again 2 weeks ago after recovering from the ankle injury that forced his WD from Four Continents. He debuted a new long program today to Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, choreographed by Tom Dickson. 2 photos from today's FS:
Beginning(?) pose: http://imgur.com/fY0OIip
End pose: http://imgur.com/yYx85PP

2013 Gardena Spring Trophy Junior Men's podium photo (L to R: Shu Nakamura, Jordan Moeller, Jimmy Ma)
1 Jordan MOELLER USA 195.67 1 1
2 Shu NAKAMURA JPN 163.82 5 2
3 Jimmy MA USA 153.98 2 3
FS:
1 Jordan MOELLER USA 132.05 66.73 65.32 6.58 6.25 6.75 6.58 6.50 0.00 #6
2 Shu NAKAMURA JPN 116.46 60.96 55.50 5.83 5.17 5.58 6.00 5.17 0.00 #5
3 Jimmy MA USA 98.90 44.90 55.00 5.83 5.08 5.75 5.67 5.17 1.00 #9
Moeller landed 7 triples: 3F, 2A, 3Lz+3T, 3Lo, 3Lz, 3F+2T+1Lo, 3S, 2A+2T.

Vincent Zhou won the Novice Boy's gold medal with an impressive total score (153.55) and 7 triple FS (3S, Rippon 3Lz, 2A, 3Lo, 3F, 3F+2T, Rippon 3Lz+3T):
1 Vincent ZHOU USA 105.09 58.26 46.83 6.67 6.25 6.67 6.42 0.00 #7

[pinky166]

Nice PCS for Adam...higher than Kozuka , the new program must be pretty great! Did he try a quad of any kind here?
Zhou continues to be great, too bad he's still too young for JGP next season.
Moeller much better than at Nationals but he won't go anywhere without a 3a, likely not even on the JGP, so hope that jump will be ready soon!

[Skittl1321]

According to the protocol there was no quad, no 3A, and he had a lutz (!) combo <. But he did say on his blog this competition would not be about jumping. Kozuka did a 4t

[pinky166]

According to the protocol there was no quad, no 3A, and he had a lutz (!) combo <. But he did say on his blog this competition would not be about jumping. Kozuka did a 4t

Wow, amazing score considering! He must of gotten huge +GOE!

[LilJen]

Looks like just 2 men tried a 4t; one fell and one nearly fell? Mroz looks to have planned a 4t to open his program but did a 3t instead. Adam did only 2A, no 3A. Can't wait to see this program; Tom Dickson always knocks it out of the park with his choreography and Adam has that flowing lyrical style that suits Dickson's choreography well.

[Skittl1321]

I'm sure once Adam is no longer battling injury those 2As will be triples.

[casken]

Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, choreographed by Tom Dickson. 2 photos from today's FS:
Beginning(?) pose: http://imgur.com/fY0OIip
End pose: http://imgur.com/yYx85PP

Looks like he's going for the Nijinsky style interpretation like Ilia Klimkin did. It should suit him well.

Nice to see Rippon get strong PCS from an international panel despite the watered down jump content. Doubt it will make a difference with the US Nationals judges and their +5 PCS bonus for just standing up on a quad jump.

[pinky166]

Looks like he's going for the Nijinsky style interpretation like Ilia Klimkin did. It should suit him well.

Nice to see Rippon get strong PCS from an international panel despite the watered down jump content. Doubt it will make a difference with the US Nationals judges and their +5 PCS bonus for just standing up on a quad jump.

After Max's season I wouldn't be surprised if he gets PCS of almost 90 in the FS at Nationals next season . If Jeremy rocks it at WTT and gets his mojo back I assume Miner's components will fall back to Earth at Nationals though and Aaron and the vets (meaning Abbott and Lysacek if he shows up) will be the only ones getting hearty PCS boosts come Nats. Excited to see what pukeyface does at WTT...I hope he has another good season in him. I can't handle another great skater going the route of Verner

[SkateFan66]

After Max's season I wouldn't be surprised if he gets PCS of almost 90 in the FS at Nationals next season . If Jeremy rocks it at WTT and gets his mojo back I assume Miner's components will fall back to Earth at Nationals though and Aaron and the vets (meaning Abbott and Lysacek if he shows up) will be the only ones getting hearty PCS boosts come Nats. Excited to see what pukeyface does at WTT...I hope he has another good season in him. I can't handle another great skater going the route of Verner

Pukeyface? Why such disrespect?

[kwanfan1818]

It's the "about to puke" expression that Abbott has waiting for a program to begin when his nerves get to him. There seems to be a direct correlation between his confidence -- ie facial expression -- and his performance.

[pinky166]

Pukeyface? Why such disrespect?

Haha I like Jeremy it's just a nickname because his "I'm an arteest" face he has when he hits his starting pose for his programs always looks like he's nauseous and about to yack...hence pukeyface. It's not meant to be mean, sort of just something viewers have noticed over the years. It might be due to nerves too.

[Sylvia]

I've posted the link to Adam Rippon's new Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun FS in the thread that was started about it: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...=1#post3893088

[olympic]

^Thanks, Sylvia. I watched his LP and it's a beauty. Now, he just needs the jumps ....

Is he planning to stay with RA this season???

[skatesindreams]

Rippon wrote a short blog for his site before he left for Italy and mentioned that he had started jumping again 2 weeks ago after recovering from the ankle injury that forced his WD from Four Continents. He debuted a new long program today [Tuesday, April 3]

I'm sure that the jumps will come; as he continues to recover/regain his strength and confidence.
It's a beautiful program with an amazing level of performance already!

[Marco]

Sure - Adam's 3axel technique was much improved at Nationals.

[pinky166]

Ahh love Adam's new program. I honestly thought he was probably done and haven't been too impressed with his programs/artistry for a few seasons now but this program changes all that. Just lovely. Adam doing what he does best, being lyrical and pretty.

[casken]

What a *perfect* program for him. Love it.