U.S. Men in 2017 - articles & latest news

[SkateGuard]

And, to jump off from this post and not because you said anything about this, @skateboy, I would say the entire discussion about ballet and who has ballet skills and who knows ballet doesn't really impact my opinion, because, I'm not really all that interested in ballet...... And although many would have credited Toller with "balletic" style, Toller himself didn't, and I agree with him:

"Ballet sort of bores me. I think skating is much more interesting than ballet. It's more exciting, more athletic, more thrilling. There's only so many ballets that you can see with people running around in their nightgowns and little witches coming around the bushes and the prince dying at the end. I want more than that."

http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-tiny-trove-of-titillating-tollerisms.html

(Many thanks to @N_Halifax and his SkateGuard blog for the quote)

Loved that Toller quote too and I can definitely agree with some of the arguments about his rationale behind it. It's obvious that dance had an influence on Toller's style, but he really was unique.

 

[meggonzo]

I guess this confirms that the Matador went to the chopping block (omg I am so sad about this).

That is really unfortunate.

 

[flyingsit]

That is really unfortunate.

Agreed. I have never been a fan of his, but that program was the only time I've ever seen him commit to music, choreography, and performance when the jumps went haywire. It showed his potential far more than anything else he's ever done and this is the year he really needs to show that commitment.

 

[Sylvia]

No more Mr Mills programs [for Max Aaron], that's interesting. I am unfamiliar with the new choreographer.

I recall first seeing Katherine Hill's name associated with the choreography of this Jordan Moeller short program in 2014-15 to "Wakare No Kyoku" (a Chopin-inspired piece): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4zuLeyWDgM

Sarah Brannen, in the second of her "Creating the program" IN articles on Vincent Zhou's FS, referred to Hill as a "movement specialist" who is working with Zhou alongside Drew Meekins in Colorado Springs.

 

[aftershocks]

Yes indeed, that Jordan Moeller sp by Katherine Hill was so lovely! I have also seen wonderful work from Katherine when she competed on Young Artists Showcase (YAS).

 

[olympic]

Mixed results from Glacier Falls - Unfortunately, all the top US men were slain by the Quad in the SP, but they attacked their programs like the ladies did

 

[Interludes]

There's a clip floating around of Nathan's possible short program (choreographed by Shae) that he was practicing at Sun Valley today. It's on someone's personal IG - but it's public, so I'm assuming it's okay to post (let me know if it's not!!): https://www.instagram.com/p/BXJRxVIBRd6/

 

[VGThuy]

I really like that...like a lot.

 

[dinakt]

There's a clip floating around of Nathan's possible short program (choreographed by Shae) that he was practicing at Sun Valley today. It's on someone's personal IG - but it's public, so I'm assuming it's okay to post (let me know if it's not!!): https://www.instagram.com/p/BXJRxVIBRd6/

Wow, that looks terrific.

 

[Willin]

This is great! I really hope that's one of his programs. The choreography also makes him seem very artistically improved compared to last season.

 

[Tavi]

He looks great - love it!

 

[Sylvia]

Nathan's music sounds like this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugGN_Z1jPoM

 

[Interludes]

That's definitely the song! I love the direction he's going in. I wanted him to do something more modern.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting these links from the Glacier Falls competition thread in Kiss & Cry:

Glacier Falls senior men's SP results [TES/PCS]
https://twitter.com/umbsgoblue/status/891127870298267648

FS results [TES/PCS] https://twitter.com/umbsgoblue/status/891482302005428224

And BIG thanks to @UMBS Go Blue for these fan cams from Glacier Falls:

1 Ross Miner 242.83
(76.29 SP 4th): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XqDOlcUUwM (BomBom & Downtown by Macklemore)
(166.54 FS 1st): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isdk4AQVwPs (last season's Queen medley)

2 Jason Brown 234.01
(86.39 SP 1st): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVbwozvds0s (The Room Where It Happens from Hamilton)
(147.62 FS 3rd): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKAyF_kQOKA (an original composition for Jason by Maxime Rodriguez)

3 Grant Hochstein 229.84
(81.26 SP 3rd): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZcaQYRGS7w (Your Song from Moulin Rouge)
(148.58 FS 2nd): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Ov50U2uVM (All I Ask of You/Music of the Night from POTO)

4 Sean Rabbitt 220.49
(75.24 SP 5th): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QU4Pd3XW-0 (Tequila)
(145.25 FS 4th): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmOMx3FEPB0 (last season's Mambo medley)

Honorable mention goes to Jimmy Ma who reportedly fell on a 4Lz and landed both 3A in his 5th place FS (141.87).

ETA link to Sean Rabbitt's photo of the 4 men's medalists: https://www.instagram.com/p/BXJ7mX4nkj0/

 

[Willin]

Looks like Jason is going for the 4S. It looked less UR than the 4T he did in his SP. I'll be interested to see if he can get both by the Olympics. He has it all but the quad, but the quad is so tough for him. I really hope he can get at least one, but it seems it's a good strategy to go for both.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

2 Jason Brown 234.01
(86.39 SP 1st): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVbwozvds0s
(147.62 FS 3rd): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKAyF_kQOKA

This is my favorite Jason Free program since Riverdance.

That choreo is BELLISSIMO... if that is from Rohene than count me in 110%!

Now.. all.... we need are those things.... what are they called??? Oh jumps. lol

Shantay, you stay!

 

[aftershocks]

This is great! I really hope that's one of his programs. The choreography also makes him seem very artistically improved compared to last season.

Of course Nathan is young and improving all the time, but he's as hip and cool artistically as he's always been. Just take a look at Nathan's exhibition from last season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IWrJOhUVl0 I would not call Nathan 'very artistically improved,' because he was not really lacking artistically. He does have more maturity and a somewhat different focus with a new choreographer this season. Last season, Nathan simply wasn't being given credit by some fans for his very fine artistic sensibilities. His main focus last season was establishing himself technically. But he was also working on fine-tuning aesthetics with Marina. And he's always had a great feel for the music. Obviously, cool Shae-Lynn knows how to bring out the hip and funk side of skaters while utilizing what they are good at.

Remember this one by Shae: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jljuph8ISAQ
One of the top two best 2009-2010 men's short programs next to Dai Takahashi's that season. And it's certainly one of the most memorable men's sps of all time. If Jeremy had hit it as well at the 2010 Olympics and being in Vancouver as U.S. champion, he would have had to be top 3 or 4 in sp. And if judging was fair and non-political, I would say in first or in second behind Dai Takahashi, with Plush/ Johnny/ Evan dead heat behind them.

 

[dr.frog]

Can I say I hate both of Jason's programs? They just seem totally wrong for an Olympic year, especially compared to what he did 4 years ago. The music for the short is painfully un-listenable to me, and the FS seems like it's recycled choreography from last year's program set to even more boring music. It's clear that he's not going to jump his way onto the Olympic team and he really needs stronger and more exciting programs to make up for it.

 

[aftershocks]

A nice start for Ross winning at Glacier Falls. Ross is not holding back with his technical content, and I love seeing his stylish skating with some familiar signature moves along with some new ones that also display his unique personality on the ice.

Jason's programs are looking stronger than his last outing. He seemed to lose endurance later in the fp, but very entertaining choreography as always. For those who don't get the nuances and expressiveness of Jason's programs, well what else is new.

Jason is purposely keeping some of the style and movement qualities from his much praised and admired last year's fp. This is revealed in an interview with GS's Ted Flett, and also discussed by Jason in his vlogs. In addition, composer Maxime Rodriguez approached Jason and Ko-Ro a couple of years ago about having enjoyed Jason's performance to his music (2015 fp). Rodriguez then expressed a desire to compose music for Jason. This season Jason & Rohene liked a thematic passage from The Danish Girl, which they asked Rodriguez to expand upon in creating music especially for Jason's fp.

I hope Jason can breathe in, exhale and relax into aceing the quads and being consistent, as he usually is with everything that he does so well.

 

[aftershocks]

Nathan's music sounds like this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugGN_Z1jPoM

Mmmm great. Wonderful edgy sound, meaningful lyrics and title: Nemesis "is our token ... Our genesis smiles back at me ...
If I held my breath on you
I would have died a thousand times
And if chewing was to show you how much I cared
I would probably be wearing dentures by now
...
If you held your breath on me
You would have died a million times
And if chewing was to show me how much you cared
You would have probably swallowed
Your tongue by now ..."

 

[VGThuy]

I seriously hope that is his SP. I already love what I saw.

 

[aftershocks]

Well, if it's not yet confirmed, it could also be an exhibition? I too would love to see it as a sp.

 

[SmallFairy]

There's a clip floating around of Nathan's possible short program (choreographed by Shae) that he was practicing at Sun Valley today. It's on someone's personal IG - but it's public, so I'm assuming it's okay to post (let me know if it's not!!): https://www.instagram.com/p/BXJRxVIBRd6/

That was great! I'm more and more growing into a Nathan über, he's so fun, and I'm more and more over his FS from last year. Can't take more of that. (His SP was though). I need kick-ass programs from him this year, he's THAT GOOD!

 

[SmallFairy]

About Jason, that Maxime Rodrigues piece is to generic all the the way through, he uses it lovely and Jason-esque and everything, but it's not much there, and we've seen it before. For such a sophisticated perfumer, I would hope for a little more excitement and a little twist. But I get it. It's the olympic year. It's just that Jason could really have done something contemporary or modern or different, and pulled it off like no one else....

 

[Karpenko]

There's a clip floating around of Nathan's possible short program (choreographed by Shae) that he was practicing at Sun Valley today. It's on someone's personal IG - but it's public, so I'm assuming it's okay to post (let me know if it's not!!): https://www.instagram.com/p/BXJRxVIBRd6/

This is fantastic and suits him really well, it's very interesting and new/modern, they totally nailed it. I hope that's his short and not an exhibition program. Triple axel like it was a single. he's going to easily win US Nationals again this year IMO.

Is Jason injured? I can't handle this again someone hire a voodoo witch and buy a lifetime supply of cortisone shots. Fix this problem before it gets worse please.

 

[Firedancer]

There's a clip floating around of Nathan's possible short program (choreographed by Shae) that he was practicing at Sun Valley today. It's on someone's personal IG - but it's public, so I'm assuming it's okay to post (let me know if it's not!!): https://www.instagram.com/p/BXJRxVIBRd6/

Thank you for posting! I really like this for Nathan!

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

About Jason, that Maxime Rodrigues piece is to generic It's just that Jason could really have done something contemporary or modern or different, and pulled it off like no one else....

. GF seemed to be an exercise in competing 4's and 3A/3T. The music changes tempo and mood. enough I think. I agree it's thin now, but I believe he'll add density as season progresses. His 3A is almost beautiful now. Put a 3A-1/2L-3S at the very end and you'll have something.

 

[shine]

I seriously hope that is his SP. I already love what I saw.

That 3A at the beginning gives me hope it's his SP. And does this mean he's possibly going to be back loading the quads? That would be super ambitious!

 

[dr.frog]

About Jason, that Maxime Rodrigues piece is to generic all the the way through, he uses it lovely and Jason-esque and everything, but it's not much there, and we've seen it before. For such a sophisticated perfumer, I would hope for a little more excitement and a little twist. But I get it. It's the olympic year. It's just that Jason could really have done something contemporary or modern or different, and pulled it off like no one else....

Yes, exactly. The FS music is all one tempo (slow) and totally forgettable, and he might as well just skate exactly last year's choreography to that music. I'd like to see him skate to some classical piece with some tension or excitement to it, or that sounds celebratory or triumphant. I remember once Scott Hamilton was complimenting some skater's music choice as "Olympic-sounding" and "big", and this isn't it.

I am not worried about the jump content at this competition. Jason usually takes it easy on the jumps in his early-season competitions and does a lot of intentional doubles. He needs to plan to peak later in this season this year and he's getting a later start to compensate.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

he music for the short is painfully un-listenable to me,

Well, it seems like dialogue to me, not music.

I havent seen Hamilton (I have seen the La La Land..Oy-vey). So for me I think these movie/stage musical number productions will take some time to grow on me.

Now the free program I was sold on the first time watching. I think its FAB. Now, do some jumps!!!