U.S. Men 2025-26 Discussion - Quad God and the Mere Mortals

[Lara]

I just looked up Ken Mikawa because I didn't recognize the name. I thought perhaps that he skated out of country under a different name (causing a broken SkatingScores.com history). But I looked up his IG and he says that he returned to competitive skating last year after a 10 year hiatus. He had last competed as an Intermediate in 2013. And he landed a clean 3A. That's wild, way to go!

Very cool! I enjoyed his 90s RD short and he showed nice diversity in the free. But the unexpected fall near the end might really be a shame unfortunately seeing how close his score was to Xie.

Would have liked to see Sedliss closer but it’s his first year in seniors, fingers crossed the jumps come.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

In the short term, yes. But he's still young, let's give him a little time before writing him off. If he doesn't happen to get his quads, he could always take his refinement to the next level. I think it's a good idea for all skaters to try to get to Jason's level of refinement for a long career, because quads are pretty rough and hard to maintain.

Jason wasn`t someone who just practised hard. For whatever reason he can sence what looks good and prosesses uncanny flexibility for a man. Others can improve their artistry but Jason has been doing what others cannot for 10 years. A kind of prodigy.

 

[zigzig]

Jason wasn`t someone who just practised hard. For whatever reason he can sence what looks good and prosesses uncanny flexibility for a man. Others can improve their artistry but Jason has been doing what others cannot for 10 years. A kind of prodigy.

Yes, he has a sensitivity to music that is innate. It can be sort of learned but you always know the real thing when you see it. Satoko Miyahara and Nicole Bobek are others that came to mind. Michelle Kwan had to really cultivate it but I think the seedling was always was there.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Yes, he has a sensitivity to music that is innate. It can be sort of learned but you always know the real thing when you see it. Satoko Miyahara and Nicole Bobek are others that came to mind. Michelle Kwan had to really cultivate it but I think the seedling was always was there.

And Sasha - she had that ability to know exactly how a move would look on her. Hence, they were all beautiful.

 

[Jammers]

Put Oksana Baiul on that list too what she had was just something that can't be taught.

 

[bladesofgorey]

Yuna Aoki is another. (Shame about the jumps).

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting here from Jason's fan thread... CBC Sports’ Anastasia Bucsis' in depth chat with him at the Cricket Club in early September (17 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo_My0mbiyQ

From Joe Klein in August:

"... Thank you to everyone for the support, and I hope to start my season this Fall!"​

It's the closing thought of his update on overcoming some injury issues.​

https://www.instagram.com/joeskates_/p/DND46RxxSBN/​

Joseph Klein is recovered enough to be competing with his Northwestern University figure skating team now while studying for an environmental policy & political science double major - very good article published on October 16:

Balancing act: Joseph Klein juggles figure skating, school and real estate Joseph Klein balances figure skating, school and real estate

Every day after class, Weinberg sophomore Joseph Klein rushes from Evanston to the Northbrook Sports Center, his hometown ice rink. He trades his textbooks for a pair of skates and trains with his childhood figure skating coach, Agata Czyzewski. It’s a tight schedule, but skating is an...

dailynorthwestern.com

Unfortunately he will not be competing at Mids this week (not listed in the Senior Men SP starting order).

 

[Sylvia]

Beck Strommer announced his withdrawal from Mids today due to injury (in 3 screenshots): https://www.instagram.com/p/DRK_W-ykyb8/

https://twitter.com/x/status/1990527863792242963

 

[BittyBug]

Joseph Klein is competing with his Northwestern University figure skating team now while studying for an environmental policy & polisci double major

 

[misskarne]

Jason wasn`t someone who just practised hard. For whatever reason he can sence what looks good and prosesses uncanny flexibility for a man. Others can improve their artistry but Jason has been doing what others cannot for 10 years. A kind of prodigy.

The flexibility wasn't something he was born with - he worked tremendously hard to get it and at 30 years old I can only imagine how hard he works to keep it.

 

[Rukia]

The flexibility wasn't something he was born with - he worked tremendously hard to get it and at 30 years old I can only imagine how hard he works to keep it.

I think it has to be a little of both though. I could work on my flexibility forever and never get the way he is because my body is naturally just very tight/stiff. I took ballet for years and no amount of stretching was going to change that lol. So he must have the right body to be able to do it but also put in the work to improve it and keep it up.