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

[SkateFanBerlin]

Nice to see Grant 2nd at O. Nepela. Aside from the sideways 4T he looked prepared and strong. Good luck in thee long!

 

[katmari]

I wonder if it would help skating skills if more ice dance testing/training was encouraged for international competitors? I know a few of the younger skaters like Dinh Tran have competed in a couple solo dance competitions during the off season for major singles competitions (February/March).

Tbh, since solo dance is becoming more popular I wonder how many top US singles skaters are taking those tests or doing ice dance training to improve skating skills? Those judges are harsh (most of the judges for my tests were National/International Gold judges because there's so few young judges going into ice dance judging). They also judge performance quality (facial expression, moving to the music, posture, etc.), so maybe that would help develop PCS more?

After Jordan Moeller broke his leg in 2015 he practiced ice dance as part of his rehab. He competed this past April in the Adult Nationals Bronze Dance category with a partner and won. Also, I seem to recall reading that Alex Johnson has had some training in ice dance.

I think the fluid style they both have has been helped by the ice dance training.

 

[olympic]

Nice to see Grant 2nd at O. Nepela. Aside from the sideways 4T he looked prepared and strong. Good luck in thee long!

I watched Grant's SP. He really tilted bad on the 4T, but everything else was great. He scored 79.98 and is in 2nd place, a smidgen behind Voronov. He is actually outperforming himself, doing better at this point than during the last two seasons on the GP.

 

[olympic]

Ross had a rough outing at the Autumn Classic: Bailed on the 4S and had a bad landing on the 3A

But congrats to Torgashev on his Silver medal at the JPG event in Minsk scoring 212+. He successfully landed a 4T and I think he achieved a PB?

 

[Jun Y]

I love Ross Miner's short program. Ross always seems a bit stiff and proper to me, but this choreography really changed that impression. His and Johnson's short programs together really make the US men a little more fresh and interesting this season.

 

[Willin]

Other than the current up-and-comers (Chen, Zhou, etc.) it seems like the US men have a lot of guys that would've been very competitive back when quads were a non-issue. I think Brown, Rippon, Miner, Hochstein, etc. all could've been really competitive even as recently as seven years ago, but with quads being weighted so heavily it hinders their medal potential. Which is a shame, because all of them are great skaters that deserve recognition for their performances.

 

[olympic]

Other than the current up-and-comers (Chen, Zhou, etc.) it seems like the US men have a lot of guys that would've been very competitive back when quads were a non-issue. I think Brown, Rippon, Miner, Hochstein, etc. all could've been really competitive even as recently as seven years ago, but with quads being weighted so heavily it hinders their medal potential. Which is a shame, because all of them are great skaters that deserve recognition for their performances.

True. Brown and Rippon for example in their current shape would be beating Olympic champ Lysacek in 2010.

I often think that JW's success in the lead up to Torino, working the new IJS without a quad and Lysacek winning in 09 and 10 may have stymied quad development in the US. They showed you could win without a quad, a big deal after quadsplosion in SLC 02. Quad carries greater risk of injury so why bother if you don't need it?

 

[olympic]

Ross made a small comeback in the LP at the Autumn Classic. His 4S was called UR but was otherwise clean. He seemed to run out of steam, doubling easier jumps at the end of the LP. I know Mark and Peter don't train full run-throughs but Ross seems like he would benefit from that

 

[kre56]

I think Mark and Peter run a lot of full run-throughs. They always seem to have the skaters in great shape and fit before a competition. Ross probably just lost a little focus.

 

[Jun Y]

So far we have 4 guys who medaled on JGP: Krasnozhon and Pulkinen won first places, Hiwatashi bronze, and Torgashev silver. I imagine all 4 will get a second assignment, but 2 of them will be at an event together.

 

[Jammers]

So far we have 4 guys who medaled on JGP: Krasnozhon and Pulkinen won first places, Hiwatashi bronze, and Torgashev silver. I imagine all 4 will get a second assignment, but 2 of them will be at an event together.

Even with losing the likes of Nathan and Vincent in the last couple of years the US is still doing good in Juniors. Pulkinen was certainly a surprise not just getting on the podium but winning his event.

 

[pairskatingfan]

I imagine Pulkinen will have a tougher time at his second event. Hopefully he can still pull out a top 4 finish for a chance at the final. I think torgashev and Krasnozhon have a realistic chance at the final

 

[olympic]

Even with losing the likes of Nathan and Vincent in the last couple of years the US is still doing good in Juniors. Pulkinen was certainly a surprise not just getting on the podium but winning his event.

Absolutely. Also consider Hiwatashi was skating conservatively to protect an injury while still getting a bronze. I think the US is setting up some real depth of talent for years to come. Zhou is fresh out of Juniors, too.

 

[olympic]

Nebelhorn - Alex Johnson in 2nd after SP! 82+ and was foot-perfect!

Kinda makes up for C/L

 

[Sylvia]

Nebelhorn - Alex Johnson in 2nd after SP! 82+ and was foot-perfect!

Johnson won the silver -- his first ISU Challenger Series medal -- on the strength of his SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc0Kxn7TaFQ
He was 6th in the FS but still got 3 new personal bests in Oberstdorf (226.04 total, 82.55 SP & 143.49 FS).

Alex Krasnozhon qualified for his second consecutive JGP Final by winning his 2nd gold this season in Zagreb, setting 2 new ISU PB scores -- 225.48 Total & 80.26 in SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSuhPIA8xCc

Two U.S. Novice boys, Goku Endo (147.38, 12th in Zagreb) and Nicholas Hsieh (146.58, 13th in Minsk last week), both were offered valuable developmental experience in their respective JGP debuts.

Competing next week in Gdansk, Poland are Camden Pulkinen (gold in Salzburg) and Dinh Tran (his JGP & Team USA debut); Andrew Torgashev (silver in Minsk) and Tomoki Hiwatashi (bronze in Riga) will close out the series in Egna/Bolzano, Italy.

 

[olympic]

Congrats to Johnson and Krasnozhon for both achieving PBs early in the season.

Johnson's skating skills are killer! Too bad had can't do a quad, but even w/ solid 3As, he would in my eyes be in Jason Brown territory on PCS (although since he has no international cred, it wouldn't be given to him).

Krasnozhon is coming along nicely. I wish he could get better extension on his spins though.

ETA - It seems US men are outperforming the ladies ....

 

[dr.frog]

Re Alex and PCS. I've often thought he's undermarked, too; he has exceptional dance ability and always seems super-stylized in his positions and movements. But one thing I particularly noticed in his Nebelhorn FS is that the jumps are not well-integrated with the choreography, and there was a lot of stroke, stroke, jump. Ah well. I've been watching skating long enough that I try to appreciate skaters for what they are.... and I admit that in Alex's case the "eye candy" factor comes into it too. Sorry to be a dirty old frog, but....

 

[olympic]

Adam in 3rd at Finlandia - He looked like he was skating to get his legs underneath him again. No quad or attempts at one, but a strong clean skate: 3F-3T, 3A, 3Z (but only 'tano, not Rippon!) - 83 pts.

Vincent in 6th - Not perfectly clean but went for 4Z and 4F-3T! 4Z was UR and a foot down, but combo was clean! Oddly the 3A was messier than the 4Z. No Falls. I give him props for going for it. Seems like he wants to go after Nathan! - 76 pts.

Ross just behind - popped the 4S to a triple and popped the Axel. UGH. I actually think Ross has slightly stronger SS than say Adam, but he doesn't do himself any favors by faltering when he could use these early comps to move ahead. He won't make the US team any other way.

 

[misskarne]

Top overall scores from the US men so far this season:

Nathan Chen - 275.04
Max Aaron - 261.56
Jason Brown - 259.88
Vincent Zhou - 250.01
Adam Rippon - 249.88
Ross Miner - 233.72

Everyone's had at least one international (Miner has two).

 

[olympic]

Excellent early season scores. They give me an org!

With these successes, this thread should have all the traffic, not US ladies

Why do ladies get all the drama?

ETA - Let's not forget just below Ross, the U.S. has Alex Johnson and Alexei Krasnozhon who scored 226.04 (PB) and 225.48 points respectively so far this season. Grant and Tim can do better, and hopefully, they will.

 

[Bellanca]

Excellent early season scores. They give me an org!

With these successes, this thread should have all the traffic, not US ladies

Why do ladies get all the drama?

I agree with you. It has been a good long time since the U.S men enjoyed this kind of depth. The suspense as to which one will make the cut and bring their best A-Game to make the Olympic team is just going to be a show in and of itself. It is nerve-racking, but in a good way because these men are just great guys, tremendously talented athletes and every single one is deserving of the Olympic experience. Now if that's not drama, I don't know what is!

 

[misskarne]

If that was your Nationals result, the Olympic team would be Chen/Aaron/Brown. I could absolutely live with that.

Interesting to note that the two highest scorers so far are pretty much the only two top US men who don't have issues with jump rotation.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Why do ladies get all the drama?

Speaking for gay guys, we always go for the sopranos - a tragic Mimi, a heroic Aida, etc.

Agree US men are looking great. With rule changes not happening until post Olympics the US team will 1st be those with the most quads who hit their target.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Amazed at what a strong competitor Adam has become. Even with months off he was fit and competition-ready. When did he develop these Russian nerves? Even against those with ridiculous jumping arsenals he gets out and delivers what he's got - often to winning results.

 

[Dobre]

Congratulations to Camden for qualifying for the JGPF!

 

[SmallFairy]

Amazed at what a strong competitor Adam has become. Even with months off he was fit and competition-ready. When did he develop these Russian nerves? Even against those with ridiculous jumping arsenals he gets out and delivers what he's got - often to winning results.

Adam seems so relaxed, happy and sure of himself. Maybe since no one expects him to lands all these zillion quads anyway, he's not under the same kind of pressure as the younger guys. He also has so much routine now, and he has programs that really shows off his personality-wide range. Love both his programs, I'm glad he kept them. He clearly loves skating them, and that gives confidence too.

 

[jlai]

If that was your Nationals result, the Olympic team would be Chen/Aaron/Brown. I could absolutely live with that.

That would make me very happy too.
I like Zhou, but I feel like his time will come.
I like Adam, but Jason is a better skater. Of course, if Adam suddenly manages to land a quad then all bets are off (big big big if)

 

[olympic]

Amazed at what a strong competitor Adam has become. Even with months off he was fit and competition-ready. When did he develop these Russian nerves? Even against those with ridiculous jumping arsenals he gets out and delivers what he's got - often to winning results.

It might be Adam training near Nathan day in and day out that pushes him. He might have to fight for Raf's attention a lot more these days. I also think that men w/ fewer or no quads have to really attack all the elements they have now more than ever before to stay in the conversation, or risk not making the team. Vincent and Max are doing multiple quads in addition to Nathan = No room for error.

 

[DDNatalia]

Well, with the men's free skate at Nationals happening on the Saturday evening, instead of the recent historical trend of Men's finishing on Sunday afternoon, that will provide a full overnight almost 24 hours for the politicking/committee decision making to occur before the Olympic team is announced on Sunday afternoon/evening. Will be interesting to see whether the Grand Prix series + Nationals results helps or only makes more difficult, the decision making process of selecting the Olympic team. i.e., could be a moot point come Saturday night at Nationals ... or not.

 

[Seerek]

Adam will be getting some healthy 9+ component scores if he lands all his content at Nationals, which will certainly keep him within range of Vincent/Max for Top 3 no matter what content they complete.

Everyone else (other than maybe Grant) is realistically out of it at this point.