2026 US Nationals Men's SP "Je Suis Malanin"

[Karen-W]

You read too much politics into

Exactly. Brown is over scored but he is also the one whom I trust to deliver 80+ score in a short program internationally. The other performances may end up around 79 from an Isu judge.

Objectively I would place Torgy second but you know about reputation in the sport

See, now, I think Tomoki's SP would have scored around 85 internationally. I do agree that Max & Torgy probably would have been in the 79-81 range internationally for what they delivered last night.

I don't think that Torgy's being punished for his intemperate social media posting last month - if he was, he wouldn't be sitting in 5th, and I'm someone who had far less of a problem with what he said or his personal politics than most folks around here.

At this point, I'm not sure the USFS knows what they want the composition of the men's team to be - or rather, some of them are probably hoping & praying that Jason really locks in tomorrow night and delivers a clean FS because that's where they need him to contribute in the TE. I still believe the third spot will go to whomever comes out on top of the other three and right now, it's looking like Tomoki is the most reliable and locked in of them.

 

[jlai]

See, now, I think Tomoki's SP would have scored around 85 internationally. I do agree that Max & Torgy probably would have been in the 79-81 range internationally for what they delivered last night.

I don't think that Torgy's being punished for his intemperate social media posting last month - if he was, he wouldn't be sitting in 5th, and I'm someone who had far less of a problem with what he said or his personal politics than most folks around here.

At this point, I'm not sure the USFS knows what they want the composition of the men's team to be - or rather, some of them are probably hoping & praying that Jason really locks in tomorrow night and delivers a clean FS because that's where they need him to contribute in the TE. I still believe the third spot will go to whomever comes out on top of the other three and right now, it's looking like Tomoki is the most reliable and locked in of them.

I agree

 

[skateboy]

NBC may want Ilia, Tomoki and Max.

I want Ilia, Tomoki, and Max.

 

[MacMadame]

I accept all that as an opinion but really, woke has nothing to do with slagging a competitor publicly. Thats just bad sportsmanship (and stupid, when the target is as loved as Jason.)

I'm giggling at the idea that USFS is woke or cares about others being "woke."

 

[Theatregirl1122]

As we all know, USFSA is well known for being a diverse and woke organization with no conservative views.

 

[jlai]

I'm giggling at the idea that USFS is woke or cares about others being "woke."

Yeah as in the sport where skaters are afraid to be out

 

[tangerine dream]

I do hope that before too long, technology takes over the calling as it is by far the most erratic aspect of judging and has the largest impact on results.

Yeah, it's kind of like MLB and robo umps. When human bias plays a big role in the results, I say bring on the technology and let's see if it can do a better job.

 

[my little pony]

USFS is literally the other red hat group

 

[Vagabond]

Speaking of "woke," someone needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[Sarah]

I’ve loved Max for years but I truly wish he’d skate well all season other than just Nationals (this is in general, not necessarily about this year). But, I can’t root against him either.

 

[misskarne]

He slagged a competitor AND he apparently made anti-woke or pro-Trump comments that ended up on a fan-created "problematic skater" list. Then he (stupidly) further engaged with said person. I'm suspicious that the tide has turned against him immediately following that.

He had a social media crashout about Jason after he choked his own performance at the pre-Olympic Worlds. Of course the tide of public opinion turned against him after that. Jason saved his ass and this was the repayment he got?

Mark the skating. In what universe does Torgashev's PCS deserve to be below Tomoki and on par with Naumov? Why is it so far below Jason Brown's? Something smells fishy to me.

The universe where Torgashev fell on his ass and Tomoki and Maxim didn't?

Torgashev, Naumov and Hiwatashi's PCS were virtually identical. That in itself is a problem to me and says that whatever conspiracy you're trying to cook up, it's not borne out in reality. If USFS really wanted to dump Torgashev for being "anti-woke" they could have dumped his PCS a few more points to bring it in line with what he was getting internationally.

I'm not a fan of any of the guys. I accepted that Brown will be named to the team, and I'd like Naumov to get the final spot for sentimental reasons. But I have no desire to watch a competition with pre-determined outcomes.

Were you this pressed about the insanity in 2022 where the judges seemed to judge Zhou with closed eyes because USFS had boxed themselves into a corner with the body of work?

I'd like a caller for Nationals that is most like whoever will be the caller at the Olympics. That would be the most helpful tactic for USFS. I do hope that before too long, technology takes over the calling as it is by far the most erratic aspect of judging and has the largest impact on results.

I've been calling for this for years. Literally every Nationals scoring controversy since 2014 has been caused by the technical panel not calling flagrant URs and downgrades. And then they go to the internationals and sit in the kiss and cry with shocked looks on their faces as the TES drops.

I'd see that as a reason to not name him to various teams, not as a reason to lower his score in the SP.

OTOH, I didn't see Torgashev's PCS scores as being ridiculously low--it was significantly higher than he achieved on the GP this fall or at Worlds last year in the SP. His PCS last night in the SP was 44.51. His PCS at GP France was 39.25; at NHK it was 39.36. At last year's Worlds, it was 41.15.

Exactly. People claiming Torgashev was underscored are not looking at reality. He got virtually the same PCS as Naumov and Hiwatashi.

Ultimately, Jason will make the the team because he has always, always, always delivered for Team USA when it matters. Remember a bunch of you screaming about Jason being picked for Worlds last year and how he didn't deserve it, even when his scores were still better than all the others? Good thing they did, eh?

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

I’m surprised they didn’t toss them back into the stands afterwards. Or at least hand them out at the exits afterwards. Maybe after the gala.

I feed dumb replying to myself, but since I can't do a "ETA" to my post anymore...

Another kind option is to pack them all in with the haul that Jason will be taking to the Ronald McDonald House.

 

[LilJen]

Tomoki lets all of the air of the program with those spins.

AVERAGE SPIN JOURNEYMAN

Torgy’s movement over the ice compares favorably to everyone in the world

there’s something about him and a few other skaters, where they have just the right coordination of knee and ankle bend that creates an amazing ease across the ice, both actual and perceived.

Ilia's fake flesh does not match his skin tone ... at all.

Well, his trousers are the color of poop, so…