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

[DreamSkates]

I'm so glad I watched the men's free from Cup of China unspoiled. I'm so happy for Max! Winning the free skate is huge. And beating Zhou in both segments is huge. I hope this gives him the confidence to skate like this the rest of the season.

Nathan Chen, be looking over your shoulder - you're the one they are chasing! Men's nationals (US) is going to be really exciting this year.

 

[DDNatalia]

With the Men's Free skate happening on the Saturday night at nationals, this will allow for all sorts of debates, tactics, and politicking to take place during the 18 or so hours which follow the conclusion of the event to when the Olympic team is named. Makes one think of those TV cameras on the door, behind which a committee is apparently making a life impacting decision which will make or break hearts.

 

[Bellanca]

I'm so happy that Max and Vincent moved up the field @ CoC!! I had a feeling they would. Nice, fellas, nice!!

 

[skateboy]

What the scores don't show is how lucky Zhou was to be skating here, with this soft-ass tech panel, rather than in Regina last week. The slo-mo replays brought into question every single quad's rotation. You could have dinged him for all of them (though I may have been inclined to give benefit of the doubt to the first one). That he only got dinged for two is very, very, very lucky for him - and is why I'm concerned about the potential impact of a soft tech panel at US Nationals.

I know what you mean, but it is very important to realize that seeing a "hook" on a landing is not necessarily always a sign of underrotation. It all depends on where the takeoff skate left the ice. It is possible to have the rotations around and still hook a landing, which would mean complete rotation but a sloppy landing. No doubt some of Vincent's jumps were UR, but some were given credit. I need to check out his jumps in slo-mo to get a better idea of what the judges are seeing.

 

[Jammers]

Vincent needs to do what Nathan did during the GP last season and take at least one of those quads out of his SP. He doesn't have the stamina that Nathan had and all his jumps look labored and he had some really bad landings. I know he's going the same route as Nathan did last season will all the quads but i just don't think mentally or physically he's as strong as Nathan and also his skating skills and speed are not as good. Her also needs to stop bombing the SP he would have easily been on the podium with just one fall in the SP.

 

[jlai]

I don't know who will be on the Olympic team, but I think Grant is out of contention with his two gp showings. He hasn't had a good international outing for some time and even if he places third at nationals they will likely pick someone who places lower with a better body of work

 

[olympic]

I don't know who will be on the Olympic team, but I think Grant is out of contention with his two gp showings. He hasn't had a good international outing for some time and even if he places third at nationals they will likely pick someone who places lower with a better body of work

I watched the men yesterday from start to finish [the Olympic channel chucked Kevin Reynolds even if he did well] and Grant was obviously disappointed in the K&C after the LP.

I never thought Grant had a realistic shot at a team spot. All of Nathan, Jason, Vincent, Max and Adam vastly outscore him and Ross, who is behind this group of 5, still outscores Grant by a sizable margin on a good day. He has landed the 4T but if you have no reliable quad, you must nail the 3A x2 and he popped one yesterday. Too bad because he showed a lot of fight in the SP [I think that was right below his PB].

ETA - Coming from behind are men like Krasnozhon, whose goal is a 6th place finish at Nationals (oddly specific), this might push Grant down further.

 

[jlai]

Yet grant placed 4th at two nationals in a row, so at least on paper he is in contention for 3rd place, but body of work means he is likely out of contention for the Olympic team

 

[Vagabond]

Yet grant placed 4th at two nationals in a row, so at least on paper he is in contention for 3rd place, but body of work means he is likely out of contention for the Olympic team

Hochstein benefited from Brown's absence and Zhou's inexperience in 2016 and Rippon's absence and Aaron's meltdown in 2017. I have nothing against Hochstein, but I hope that lightning doesn't strike three times in the same place.

 

[olympic]

Yet grant placed 4th at two nationals in a row, so at least on paper he is in contention for 3rd place, but body of work means he is likely out of contention for the Olympic team

Were these the years that Jason (2016) and Adam (2017) were out? I don't remember. Vincent also wasn't around in 2016 at such an elite level.

ETA - OK. I just saw the post by @Vagabond . Max also took himself out of the running in 2017.

 

[her grace]

Realistically, the team will be composed of some combination of Chen, Brown, Zhou, Rippon, or Aaron. Both Miner and Hochstein would likely be passed over if they finish in the top three.

 

[Sylvia]

In Grant's case, I assume he wants to skate his programs as well as possible/perform full out with no regrets at his final Nationals this January and let the chips fall as they may. As @Jeschke succinctly posted in the #TTW thread:

Hochstein: ... Well, I will always have his '16-worlds-FS, always!

ETA: Ditto for Ross Miner and anyone else who may be retiring after this season.

 

[Jeschke]

Both Miner and Hochstein would likely be passed over if they finish in the top three.

 

[olympic]

Looking forward to NHK - Jason and Adam up to bat. I'm still sad about the fact that Josh is out and will probably not return to competitive skating.

But, looking at the roster, both Jason and Adam have legitimate shots at a medal. Probably nothing more than a silver w/ Yuzu there.

Take nothing for granted!

 

[Willin]

After China, I think Max's stock really went up. He did a great job. Zhou looked like he had a lot of uncalled URs, and he had three falls. We'll have to see how the rest of that season goes, but I think Zhou's might get passed over.

 

[her grace]

Body of Work Update

Tier 1
- 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships: TBD
- 2017 ISU Grand Prix Final: TBD
- 2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships: Chen 6th, Brown 7th

Tier 2
- 2017 Grand Prix Series Competitions: RC: Chen 1st, Hochstein 11th; SC: Brown 2nd; COC: Aaron 3rd, Zhou 4th, Hochstein 9th
- 2017 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships: Chen 1st, Brown 6th, Hochstein 9th

Tier 3
- 2017 Challenger Series Events and other senior international competitions: [only listing medalists] USIC: Chen 1st, Aaron 2nd; Lombardia: Brown 2nd; Nebelhorn: Johnson 2nd; Finlandia: Zhou 2nd, Rippon 3rd
- 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Championships: Chen 1st, Zhou 2nd, Brown 3rd, Hochstein 4th, Miner 5th, etc.
- 2017 World Junior Figure Skating Championships: Zhou 1st, Krasnozhon 8th, Torgashev DNQ to free skate
- 2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final: TBD (Krasnozhon, Pulkinen, & Torgashev qualified)

 

[StitchMonkey]

I wonder if they've consulted with a "jump doctor" for Jason. He has a great coach and a great choreographer but they are not necessarily technical experts on everything.

Doug Ladret is part of 7k now and could be called a jump doctor. He is credited with teaching Max Aaron his first jumps.

 

[SCeline]

I hope each one of these guys has a wonderful "moment" at some point over the course of this season. E.g., I'll be rooting for Ross to "make a memory" and feel the love in Lake Placid at Skate America, regardless of placement.

There's just a generation of great guys in the men's field that one wants to see not have this season only be about "making" or "not making" the Olympic team. Otherwise, it's just too depressing IMO.

 

[jlai]

Back to Olympic selection, I think the following scenarios.

If Brown or Rippon makes the team and is considered top 2, he may be asked to do the short program (they each have fairly consistent shorts). But their long's TeS scoring potential is lower.
If Aaron or Zhou makes the team and is considered top 2, he'll be asked to do the lp but most likely not the short.
If Nathan makes the team, he may be asked to do whichever event he needs to help with.

 

[SCeline]

IIRC the short is more 'make or break' than the free, as the way the points work it really sets up positioning for making the 'cut' for the free

 

[Frida80]

IIRC the short is more 'make or break' than the free, as the way the points work it really sets up positioning for making the 'cut' for the free

Agreed. Nathan will most likely do the short because of high level of competition. If Japan doesnt make the cut, the #2 man can do the free.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Japan should make the cut quite easily......and if France had better single skaters, they would have a shot at a team medal as well.

It would surprise me if Nathan didn't do both the SP and LP in the team - the U.S. isn't going to take any chances.

 

[kwanette]

I hope each one of these guys has a wonderful "moment" at some point over the course of this season. E.g., I'll be rooting for Ross to "make a memory" and feel the love in Lake Placid at Skate America, regardless of placement.

There's just a generation of great guys in the men's field that one wants to see not have this season only be about "making" or "not making" the Olympic team. Otherwise, it's just too depressing IMO.

Lovely post.

 

[Frida80]

Japan should make the cut quite easily......and if France had better single skaters, they would have a shot at a team medal as well.

It would surprise me if Nathan didn't do both the SP and LP in the team - the U.S. isn't going to take any chances.

NO chance at Nathan doing both. That would exhaust him. They would much rather have a OGM from him than another team bronze. Nathan is getting tons of publicity and endorsements because he’s expected to be a contender at the Olympics. He can’t do both. I think it’s most likely that th Shibs do both and Ashley does both. Based on their consistency. Plus Ashley gets high components. Davis and White did both, and it didn’t effect them as much. Ashley has no chance at an individual medal with this field. Best to use her to her fullest at the team event than put someone less experienced on the team instead.

 

[jlai]

If Jason makes the team, it's likely he will get asked to do the team event sp, since his quadless short could get a competitive score. (Like 90)

 

[Frida80]

If Jason makes the team, it's likely he will get asked to do the team event sp, since his quadless short could get a competitive score. (Like 90)

As of right now, all the non-Nathan top men’s FS scores are pretty close. Since Jason is the most consistent, they may chose him for the team event. If they decided to rest Nathan completely, then it will be all Jason or a mix of Jason and Max/Adam/Vincent.

 

[Wyliefan]

NO chance at Nathan doing both. That would exhaust him. They would much rather have a OGM from him than another team bronze. Nathan is getting tons of publicity and endorsements because he’s expected to be a contender at the Olympics. He can’t do both. I think it’s most likely that th Shibs do both and Ashley does both. Based on their consistency. Plus Ashley gets high components. Davis and White did both, and it didn’t effect them as much. Ashley has no chance at an individual medal with this field. Best to use her to her fullest at the team event than put someone less experienced on the team instead.

I don't think anyone should do both if it can be avoided. We saw last time what that could do to skaters, and we shouldn't rule any of the top skaters out of the individual medals. Strange things happen at the Olympics when nerves are all keyed up.

 

[Interludes]

Yeah, I don't think they'll have Nathan do both either. I think I read that there's no rest day in between the men's SP and LP for the individual event? So I don't think they'll want to risk having Nathan do both the team SP/LP and his own event.

 

[Frida80]

I don't think anyone should do both if it can be avoided. We saw last time what that could do to skaters, and we shouldn't rule any of the top skaters out of the individual medals. Strange things happen at the Olympics when nerves are all keyed up.

I agree. The Olympics is the time for shock and story book moments. Once those nerves kick in, it’s very hard for the favorites to stay on their game. Plus there’s always that Cinderella moment we love to see.

I just did the calculations for the team event. At the best case scenario Japan will probably miss the cut to Italy. They may not be the best in all fields, but their men aren’t that bad and the other three fields should hold them up. Without a Pairs team, Japan can’t make up the points. If Patrick isn’t fired up, it means USA can contend without Nathan.

 

[vesperholly]

I don't think anyone should do both if it can be avoided. We saw last time what that could do to skaters, and we shouldn't rule any of the top skaters out of the individual medals. Strange things happen at the Olympics when nerves are all keyed up.

Wasn't it a rule that only two disciplines could have different skaters/teams? Has that rule been changed?