U.S. Men in 2018 - articles & latest news

[Sylvia]

Tim Dolensky will debut his short program ("Spark" by Amber Run, choreographed by Daniil Barantsev) later today at the Broadmoor Open and he is keeping his "Faux Amor" FS from last season: http://figureskatersonline.com/news...y-my-ultimate-goal-is-to-podium-at-nationals/

 

[Vagabond]

Oh my ... Jason cut his hair, I think? https://twitter.com/JasonBrownFP/status/1008093120578220032

Hopefully this won't have a Samson-like effect on his skating.

I have been waiting for quite some time for him to come up with a "Samson and Delilah" program.

 

[just tuned in]

He posts different things on US-based and Russia-based social media. I am sure he knows "going hunting animals for fun" and reposting comments about girls like "I don't care if you (a girl) are fat or thin, as long as you're is not fat", will not fly well with the US crowd.
https://pp.userapi.com/c841121/v841121002/4d7a5/KELQO71zAqI.jpg
https://pp.userapi.com/c543107/v543107366/22d71/5jG2y8RdMs0.jpg

etc.... ... i don't care if people are un-PC or "anything they are"... I just can't stand two-faced ones..

Thank you for this information. I appreciate your insights into the differences in his posts for Russian vs American audiences.

 

[Lanie]

Thanks @Sylvia for the interview with Tim! I love his skating, and hope he reaches his potential this season and is on the podium!

 

[LilJen]

His current length and your pinning idea makes it perfect for a The Last Samurai routine.

Last year when he buzzed a bit under his pony I thought he should don shades of orange/yellow/red and do a Hare Krishna program. . . um, okay, totally tasteless suggestion. But Samurai, yes!! Samurai Jack?

 

[clairecloutier]

Journal update from Andrew Torgashev: http://figureskatersonline.com/andrewtorgashev/some-big-changes/

He has moved to Colorado and switched coaches to Christy Krall.

 

[el henry]

Journal update from Andrew Torgashev: http://figureskatersonline.com/andrewtorgashev/some-big-changes/

He has moved to Colorado and switched coaches to Christy Krall.

Confirmation of the move! Although at this point Andrew, I don’t think anyone who follows you hadn’t figured it out

And confirmation he’s keeping Roxanne Yes, it’s a warhorse, and if Andrew skates that program to it’s potential, it’s a warhorse I’ll be happy to watch....

 

[Sylvia]

Journal update from Andrew Torgashev:
http://figureskatersonline.com/andrewtorgashev/some-big-changes/

He has moved to Colorado and switched coaches to Christy Krall.

Thanks for posting the link! Torgashev previously worked with Krall in Colorado Springs from time to time so he should be familiar with her coaching already. Excerpt from his journal:

Another big change is that I took on the role of choreographer this season. I worked with Evgeni Platov and Scott Brown to choreograph my short program, which is “Open Arms” by Journey. I have a bit of story for my short program. Evgeni and I finished the choreography for the program the day of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School shooting in Parkland, Florida. Since the school is right across the street from where I live in Florida and the fact that I am friends with many of the students at that school, I have decided to dedicate the program to the victims of the school shooting. A lot of my friends were in the school during the shooting. Luckily, they are all okay, but I wanted to do this program as tribute to the victims and to show that tragic events like these damage communities, but also cause them to come together and become stronger.

Here's his "Open Arms" SP at Broadmoor Open: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OpgplbvqU4

Re-posting from the "Team Champéry and recent interviews with Stéphane Lambiel" thread:

Camden got choreo from Stéphane:
https://twitter.com/CamdenPulk/status/995946778485755905

It turns out that Camden Pulkinen's Tango SP (to Piazzolla's "Oblivion") was choreographed by Lambiel in Daugavpils, Latvia, back in May. Tom Dickson choreographed Pulkinen's FS to West Side Story.

I originally posted this link to my compilation of results, program music, and a few videos in the 2018 Broadmoor Open competition thread in the 2018-19 Kiss & Cry section (which now requires a season pass to access): https://unseenskaters.wordpress.com...ugural-peggy-fleming-trophy-aerial-challenge/
The top 6 U.S. men's finishers in the Senior Men's event were: Camden Pulkinen (1st in SP, 2nd in FS - both videos are linked in my blog), Emmanuel Savary (2nd in SP with a 4S landed), Andrew Torgashev (debuted his SP to Journey's "Open Arms" - video linked above), Tim Dolensky (6th in SP, won the FS), Jimmy Ma, and Jordan Moeller.

Dolensky won the inaugural Peggy Fleming Trophy with his program to "Evermore" which I really enjoyed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH6Mj_uIMC8
Tim shared some photos from this past weekend on his IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/BkgukK4la3u/?hl=en&taken-by=timdolensky
(Tim's 3rd photo with Peggy Fleming includes Camden Pulkinen 2nd & Jordan Moeller 3rd in the PF Trophy.)

 

[Sylvia]

Listing out all the U.S. men's Grand Prix initial assignments that were published today (10 spots total):

Nathan Chen (2): Skate America (#1), France (#6)
Vincent Zhou (2): Skate America, Japan (#4)
Jason Brown (2): Skate Canada (#2), France
Alex Krasnozhon (2): Finland (#3), Russia (#5) - his GP debut season
Alex Johnson (1): Japan - his GP debut at long last!
Skate America: 1 TBD

 

[misskarne]

I'll probably be skewered for this but oh well:

My initial thought on seeing that list is that it's quite weak. Last season the US had five GP medallists (Max, Adam, Jason, Nathan, and Ross) including two event winners (Max and Nathan) and four of whom (Max, Adam, Jason and Nathan) actually medalled during that series. This season they have two medallists (Jason and Nathan). Vincent may move into that category, if he gets some friendly panels and skates better than last GP season. Krasnozhon is SB32 and Johnson is SB44. They're not likely to medal barring weird unforeseen circumstances.

I suppose weak is not the right word. More...top-heavy. Less depth than previous seasons. For now, anyway. The absence of Max and Adam appears to have opened up a bit of a hole, and those fresh from juniors aren't quite ready yet to fill it.

 

[VGThuy]

That's to be expected when you compare the GP series at the end of an Olympic cycle v. at the beginning of the new one, especially when there's more retirements from people who were holdovers from a previous Olympic cycle.

 

[misskarne]

I just don't remember it being quite so stark after Sochi.

 

[Bellanca]

I suppose weak is not the right word. More...top-heavy. Less depth than previous seasons. For now, anyway. The absence of Max and Adam appears to have opened up a bit of a hole, and those fresh from juniors aren't quite ready yet to fill it.

But quite eager to give it a try sooner rather than later, I'm sure.

 

[VGThuy]

I just don't remember it being quite so stark after Sochi.

It was pretty much the same thing after Vancouver with the retirement of Weir and Lysaceck and with only Abbott and Rippon being previous GP medalists with Rippon having won one bronze at TEB in the 2009-2010 season. The other American men in the GP series for 2010-2011 were Brandon Mroz, Grant Hochstein, Ross Miner, and Armin Mahbanoozadeh. Hochstein and Miner were fresh out of juniors. At the end of the series, Abbott won a silver and a bronze, Mroz won a silver and a bronze, Rippon won a bronze, and Mahbanoozadeh won a bronze.

 

[aftershocks]

Congrats to Timothy Dolensky on winning the inaugural Peggy Fleming Trophy. With the retirements among U.S. men, Timothy D certainly has an opportunity to make an impact and move up into medal territory at U.S. Nationals. His fp definitely has the chance to make an impact. So I hope he can put everything together in the new season. Best of luck!

 

[Marco]

Happy for Alex Johnson! But is Tim Dolensky still competing?

 

[Sylvia]

But is Tim Dolensky still competing?

If you scroll up this page, you'll find your answer since I've posted very recent news about him.

 

[Marco]

If you scroll up this page, you'll find your answer since I've posted very recent news about him.

Thanks Sylvia. I remember reading it somewhere.

As much as I like Tim, I am glad they are giving Alex a shot. I also hope Tim gets a host pick if he has a good summer / fall.

 

[aftershocks]

Thanks Sylvia. I remember reading it somewhere.

As much as I like Tim, I am glad they are giving Alex a shot. I also hope Tim gets a host pick if he has a good summer / fall.

Yep, Tim D says in the interview with @Sylvia that his focus is on making the podium at U.S. Nationals, and hopefully he will. He certainly has a good chance for bronze or pewter.

At this past U.S. Nationals, Tim placed 7th in sp, 9th in fp and 7th overall, while Alex Johnson was 10th in sp, 8th in fp and 8th overall:
https://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2018/26192/results.html


ETA:
With the retirements by three top U.S. men, Tim and Alex have a chance to make an impact and show off their considerable chops...

 

[Sylvia]

Just to clarify: I only posted the link to Dolensky's recent interview with FSO; it was not my interview.

I'm hoping Tim will do well in his upcoming summer competitions and make a strong case for the Skate America host spot.

 

[Sylvia]

Alex Krasnozhon article by Tatjana Flade: https://goldenskate.com/2018/06/usas-krasnozhon-ready-to-bounce-back-after-suffering-injury/
Excerpt:

Krasnozhon has prepared two new programs for the season to show his growth and development as a skater. “My short program was choreographed by Scott Brown to the music ‘Dancing on My Own’ and this program will show a totally different style of my skating,” the Texan revealed. “My long program was choreographed by Marina Zueva and it is a classical, powerful piece of music to ‘Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 16’ (by Edvard Grieg). Right now, I am working on my presentation and trying to look like a senior skater. I am working on my jumps as well.”
Technically, Krasnozhon is aiming for two or even three quads in his programs next year and has not been shaken by the injury he suffered last season. “Yes, I did get injured on a quad Salchow, but I still plan on doing it. This year, I will work on quad Sal, toe, and loop and the goal is to get them clean and consistent. I’m going to prove to everybody that Alex Krasnozhon can do a quad,” he pointed out.

 

[aftershocks]

News posted in Prog/Choreo thread about Nathan's new programs:

A brief clip from sp by Shae-Lynn Bourne with music that has been guessed as: Caravan by Fanfare Ciocarlia
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkn9Hx3n1nG/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=fy2rp1t7idng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-7W4-DLFEA&feature=youtu.be the music sounds great

And the little bit of movement we see in the program looks fantastic. Shae-Lynn has definitely tapped into a fab funky new age style that is just Nathan's groove. It's hard to categorize.

The below silent fp clip posted by Chouinard is difficult to decipher. Nathan's fp is by Chouinard and M-F Dubreuil -- they are keeping the music a secret for now. I'm wondering what this is all about. It almost looks like kung-fu fighting. But why is Chouinard asking what fans think it is? Does he mean guess what the music is, or guess what it is Nathan is supposed to be doing? To me Nathan looks like he's either kung-fu fighting or in the throes of a hip-hop dance frenzy overdose, or something. I like what I see -- it's Nathan-edgy I suppose, but there's not enuf being revealed to guess what he's doing, much less guess the music.

Oh well, it's just a sneak preview tease. What's with the piecemeal promise of more to show us? Is that supposed to be a fan-friendly way of holding our interest during the off-season. Our interest is already held though, and I'm not sure if anticipatory clips here and there is the best way to roll-out Nathan's new programs. Perhaps they are trying to head-off third-party leaks by rink regulars? And perhaps keeping the music secret for awhile to prevent copycats?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkqRtYDFh9d/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=194rq3uxg2nc8

 

[Sylvia]

Alex Krasnozhon currently is training/rehabbing in Colorado Springs (this group photo with Torgashev, Pulikinen, Hiwatashi & Yaroslav Paniot of UKR on World Arena ice last week has been posted on IG by everyone): https://www.instagram.com/p/BlBh_kcjh20/?hl=en&taken-by=akrasnozhon
I heard Krasnozhon will not be competing at Skate Detroit later this week; Tim Dolensky is the other "high profile" Senior man listed to compete and will be there, AFAIK.

Team USA's entries for Asian Open Trophy have been posted on USFS' International Assignments page. For those with Kiss & Cry access, I've started 2 threads -- one in the ISU Challenger Series sub-forum and the other for the Junior/Novice events in the regular Kiss & Cry sub-forum.

Junior Men: Nicholas Hsieh [N3]
Advanced Novice Boys: Ilia Malinin [Int1 at 2017 Nationals; won North America Series comp. #1 in Milwaukee this past week]

 

[Sylvia]

Jimmy Ma is scheduled to compete at the Philadelphia Summer International competition next week in Aston, PA and will debut a free skate choreographed by Josh Farris: http://figureskatersonline.com/news/2018/07/23/jimmy-ma-speaks-his-mind-to-figure-skaters-online/

 

[Sylvia]

JGP assignments are not yet posted on USFS' International Assignments page but the 2 men listed for the first JGP in Bratislava SVK are Ryan DUNK and Andrew TORGASHEV (great to see U.S. picking up an extra spot! ). 12 others are listed as substitutes on the ISU entries page:
Goku ENDO
Tomoki HIWATASHI
Nicholas HSIEH
Joseph KANG
Max LAKE
Maxim NAUMOV
Camden PULKINEN
Eric SJOBERG
Dinh TRAN
Alex WELLMAN
Jonathan YANG
Paul YEUNG

 

[misskarne]

Jimmy Ma is scheduled to compete at the Philadelphia Summer International competition next week in Aston, PA and will debut a free skate choreographed by Josh Farris: http://figureskatersonline.com/news/2018/07/23/jimmy-ma-speaks-his-mind-to-figure-skaters-online/

I can't wait to see what Josh has come up with for Jimmy. I am very curious.

Also, Jimmy's fanboying is super cute.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Sean Rabbitt has been added to the ISP thanks to his performance at Glacial Falls. He has the two highest scores of the summer... I think he is our front runner for Skate America TBA!

 

[Sylvia]

Here's the debut of Sean Rabbitt's FS to West Side Story (orchestral medley from the original film soundtrack) at Glacier Falls on Saturday night (fan cam): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thL3i9P6gBI
He won GF with a total score of 223.83, 146.47 in FS (70.45 TES/76.02 PCS).

ETA link to Sean's message on his IG about what and how much his performance/outcome at Glacier Falls meant to him: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl1l-jtFED4/?hl=en&taken-by=seanrabbitt

 

[Sylvia]

Top 3 Junior men at the Glacier Falls:
Ryan Dunk 197.87 1 1 (121.56 FS) - he reportedly landed 3A & 3Lo+3Lo in his SP (scored an impressive 76.31!)
Joonsoo Kim 171.22 4 2 (115.68 FS) - he has been added to the ISP as a result
Dinh Tran 170.04 3 3 (112.19 FS)

 

[crzesk8dad]

Sean Rabbitt has been added to the ISP thanks to his performance at Glacial Falls. He has the two highest scores of the summer... I think he is our front runner for Skate America TBA!

Stitch, you are much too kind! It would be cool, however, being that my side of the family is from Washington state and we continue to have relatives and friends there.

But, we still have Philly...