U.S. Men 2021-22 season news & updates

[Sylvia]

Fan Zone article on 16-year-old Ilia Malinin by Darci Miller before he competes in Courchevel (his 3rd JGP since 2019):

Armed with New Repertoire of Quads, Ilia Malinin Prepared and Excited for Return of Junior Grand Prix - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Ilia Malinin is making a bold statement with his Instagram handle.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Excerpt:

That focus on his quads comes naturally for Malinin. He's coached by his parents, Tatyana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, who were Olympic figure skaters for Uzbekistan.
There's not a whole lot of separation between skating and home, but it certainly came in handy when rinks were shut down, when Malinin got to see his coaches and do off-ice training every day.
"There's some good and bad sides about it," Malinin said. "Like for example, you definitely get free lessons, which I guess is everyone's dream. But also, since you basically see them every day and all the time, you can talk about all the stuff that I need to do, instead of them having to come up to me for 30 minutes and tell me what I have to do, and I do that, and I go home. You get reminded of what you need to do.
"I'd say that there's a lot of good things, more than there are bad things."

 

[Panja]

I really enjoyed reading this interview. This is a kid in the right place mentally, encouraged by his (coaching) parents but not forced into anything. He wants it, nobody else!

 

[mtnskater]

Be still my heart. Lucas Broussard got the silver at his first junior Grand Prix That posture, line and the evident ballet training. Cannot wait to see how he develops. I’d give him one tip…to work on the hands a bit more. Sometimes they look less ballet and more scarecrow. But at 15 I have no doubt he will work that out.

Also Ilia! Bravo on the gold! Great short program. Shaky first half of the free but pulled it together. I’m sure we’ll see those quads in competition soon. It’s all a learning experience for the juniors.

Also Corey and his lovely ballet positions too. I was sorry about the jumps but I want to see his spread eagle over and over again. I don’t think I’ve seen such a lovely straight body line spread eagle since the days of Boitano and Wylie. He just needs more lean on that edge and to hold it out. Of course the scoring system doesn’t really give worth to that move any more unless you jump out of it.

 

[livetoskate]

That was a very exciting competition. The skater from India was inspirational, & it was nice that Ted Barton interviewed him too. Congratulations to Ilia & Lucas!

 

[tony]

That was a very exciting competition. The skater from India was inspirational, & it was nice that Ted Barton interviewed him too. Congratulations to Ilia & Lucas!

Wrong thread for me to discuss, but the interview with Tated was really good!

 

[Sylvia]

I've posted the link to the Indian skater's interview with Ted Barton in this thread, along with some additional info about him: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...-in-figure-skating.107470/page-2#post-6042509

JGP Courchevel (1) results:
GOLD Ilia MALININ USA 214.64 1 1
SILVER Lucas BROUSSARD USA 192.31 3 2

Be still my heart. Lucas Broussard got the silver at his first junior Grand Prix That posture, line and the evident ballet training. Cannot wait to see how he develops. I’d give him one tip…to work on the hands a bit more. Sometimes they look less ballet and more scarecrow. But at 15 I have no doubt he will work that out.

Broussard's FS (129.66), including his very excited/emotional reaction in the kiss & cry afterwards : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOl6C_Q6FYE

Also Ilia! Bravo on the gold! Great short program. Shaky first half of the free but pulled it together. I’m sure we’ll see those quads in competition soon. It’s all a learning experience for the juniors.

Ilia's 1st place SP (80.07): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7SaPnCwrzA

Clip from Absolute Skating's Instagram (4T & 4S that Malinin landed/left behind in his FS practice run through): https://www.instagram.com/p/CS1GOgVINVB/
Montage of clips from the same source (AS' interview in Courchevel with Malinin to be published in the future): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS0x3W0Isbj/

“Just” a few of the Quads Ilia Malinin jumped duing his practice session yesterday !
Toeloop - Salchow - Lutz - Flip

Ted Barton's winner's interview with Ilia "Malininin" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZypdS59bTs

In the Courchevel gala on Saturday night, Malinin performed his 2019-20 SP to "Make It Rain" by Ed Sheeran - landed 4T+2T, 4S & 3Lz under spotlights! His program starts here in the archived stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qkp0-VcRMM&t=5860s

 

[Sylvia]

Listed on the ISU website for Lombardia Trophy (Sept. 10-12 in Bergamo, Italy), the 1st Challenger Series comp. of the season (eta that USFS' International Assignments page is updated now & confirms these assignments):
Tomoki HIWATASHI
Yaroslav PANIOT

In addition to the 2 Junior men (Baker, Endo) added to the ISP last week, Andrew Torgashev's name has appeared in the ISP as well.

New assignments published as of August 23: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...22-international-assignments-and-results.aspx

JGP #4 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia (Sept. 15-18, 2021):
Lucas Broussard** (placeholder spot but he's likely to go now after winning silver in Courchevel)
Eric Prober (Team USA & JGP debut)

U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in Norwood, Massachusetts (Sept. 15-18, 2021):
Jimmy Ma
Maxim Naumov
Eric Sjoberg (senior international debut)
Dinh Tran (senior international debut)

CS Autumn Classic International in Pierrefonds, Quebec (Sept. 16-18, 2021):
Camden Pulkinen

JGP #5 in Ljubljana, Slovenia (Sept. 22-25, 2021)
Daniel Martynov

 

[haribobo]

Great to see all the assignments! So far, Andrew Torgashev is the only senior man scoring over 200 total this summer yet to be assigned somewhere.

 

[Sylvia]

So far, Andrew Torgashev is the only senior man scoring over 200 total this summer yet to be assigned somewhere.

Torgashev didn't attempt a 3A or quad at Glacier Falls -- I assume he was focusing on debuting his programs in front of a judging panel after not having competed since 2020 Junior Worlds -- and more intensive training time at home is likely his priority right now.

Snippet from a Russian interview with Vadim Naumov (he was asked how he assessed the chances of his son Maxim "who took fifth place in the US Championship last season, to break into the Olympic team?") and this was Vadim's reply:
— Настрой у него есть. Особенно после того, как освоил два четверных — тулуп и сальхов. Желание побороться за путевку на Олимпиаду тоже есть, но объективно шансы невелики. Мне кажется, что федерация уже сформировала для себя состав, но в спорте случается всякое. Будем бороться!
He has the mood. Especially after I [Maxim] mastered two quads - sheepskin coat [toe loop] and salchow. There is also a desire to compete for a ticket to the Olympics, but objectively the chances are small. It seems to me that the federation has already formed a composition for itself, but in sports everything happens. Let's fight!

 

[missing]

Torgashev didn't attempt a 3A or quad at Glacier Falls -- I assume he was focusing on debuting his programs in front of a judging panel after not having competed since 2020 Junior Worlds -- and more intensive training time at home is likely his priority right now.

Snippet from a Russian interview with Vadim Naumov (he was asked how he assessed the chances of his son Maxim "who took fifth place in the US Championship last season, to break into the Olympic team?") and this was Vadim's reply:
— Настрой у него есть. Особенно после того, как освоил два четверных — тулуп и сальхов. Желание побороться за путевку на Олимпиаду тоже есть, но объективно шансы невелики. Мне кажется, что федерация уже сформировала для себя состав, но в спорте случается всякое. Будем бороться!
He has the mood. Especially after I mastered two quads - sheepskin coat [toe loop] and salchow. There is also a desire to compete for a ticket to the Olympics, but objectively the chances are small. It seems to me that the federation has already formed a composition for itself, but in sports everything happens. Let's fight!

Who can we petition to get toe loop officially renamed sheepskin coat?

It would be worth all the effort just to hear Johnny Weir say, "I loved the clean landing on his quad sheepskin coat!" Because, you know, he would mean it.

 

[sk9tingfan]

As reported in the polling thread, Vincent has been given the nod to Nebelhorn:


https://www.instagram.com/usfigureskating/ Vincent gets the nod!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTNJmL_rr_g/

 

[olympic]

As reported in the polling thread, Vincent has been given the nod to Nebelhorn:


https://www.instagram.com/usfigureskating/ Vincent gets the nod!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTNJmL_rr_g/

I'm fine with that after his performances at Cranberry. But, please send an alternate!

 

[misskarne]

I'm fine with that after his performances at Cranberry. But, please send an alternate!

What do you mean? They can list an alternate, but they can't send a second competitor to use their result instead if Zhou blows it, if that's what you mean.

 

[olympic]

What do you mean? They can list an alternate, but they can't send a second competitor to use their result instead if Zhou blows it, if that's what you mean.

No. I meant the alternate ready to go. In case there was a chance of Vincent being injured.

 

[Karen-W]

No. I meant the alternate ready to go. In case there was a chance of Vincent being injured.

I would guess the USFS has a couple of alternates in mind since Paniot and Hiwatashi are competing at Lombardia couple weeks earlier, like Alysa and Audrey. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if all 4 of our Lombardia singles competitors remain in Europe until Nebelhorn starts.

 

[sheetz]

No. I meant the alternate ready to go. In case there was a chance of Vincent being injured.

Or more likely testing positive.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Or more likely testing positive.

????

 

[sheetz]

????

For C O V I D.

 

[Sylvia]

JGP men's updates:

At JGP Courchevel (2) last week, Maxim ZHARKOV, 17, placed 4th (178.05) and Kai KOVAR, 15, was 5th (175.87) in their respective JGP debuts. Zharkov was 4th in the SP (landed 3A) & 5th in the FS (scored 117.60; rotated but fell on his opening 4T then landed 3A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eK1A1r9u18), while Kovar was 6th in the SP and 4th in the FS (scored 118.63 & landed 5 triples well, including 3A & 3Lz+3T: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gSpXMbG8EY).

Will ANNIS, 16, will be the only man competing at the JGP in Kosice, Slovakia this week (he debuted on the JGP 2 years ago in Krasnoyarsk).

Confirmed for JGP #4 in Krasnoyarsk: Lucas BROUSSARD, 15 (his 2nd assignment) and 2021 junior champ Eric Prober, 18 - link to his updated Team USA bio: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/eric-prober/567

One man is confirmed for JGP #5: Daniel MARTYNOV, 15

Awaiting his 2nd assignment: Ilia MALININ, 16 (could be #6 or #7)

Listed as JGP alternates:
Matthew NIELSEN, 18 (won Cranberry Cup Junior men's event)
Jacob SANCHEZ, 14 (3rd at Cranberry Cup)
Joseph KLEIN, will turn 17 in Sept. - yesterday he shared a past practice clip of a very good 3A ("Sorry for not posting for a while-I’ve been off the ice with a heel injury, but I’m hoping to get back on soon!"): https://www.instagram.com/p/CTNNXoSnazR/

 

[sk9tingfan]

For C O V I D.

Yes, but I think that he's taking all relevant precautions

 

[Carolla5501]

No. I meant the alternate ready to go. In case there was a chance of Vincent being injured.

Haven’t you already figured out that Vincent only becomes injured after the short So I would assume having somebody there to take his place is useless

 

[sheetz]

Yes, but I think that he's taking all relevant precautions

I'm sure all athletes are but delta is extremely contageous so you never know. I think the chances of him catching it are greater than getting injured.

 

[Sylvia]

Congratulations to Will Annis for winning the bronze (204.60) at JGP Kosice this past Friday!
His 1st place SP (76.21) with 3A, 3F, 3Lz+3T & all level 4 spins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm9__s4q5H8
4th place FS (128.39) with opening 4Lo (hand down, step out): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i3RWRRlVqk

ETA a correction to my earlier post:

Will ANNIS, 16, will be the only man competing at the JGP in Kosice, Slovakia this week (he debuted on the JGP 2 years ago in Krasnoyarsk Chelyabinsk).

Posted in the JGP thread in GSD on Friday:

USFS has published the preliminary Austria [#7 Linz] entries:
...
Men: Ilia Malinin confirmed
...
I assume Will Annis will get one of the TBD Gdansk [#6] spots after his medal today

 

[Stephanie]

Daniel Martynov is listed as withdrawn from the Slovenia JGP on the USFS site. I'm really hoping that he'll be replaced and of course that he recovers quickly if he's injured.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting these men's updated assignments from the JGP thread in GSD (thanks @Stephanie):

Some changes for the US per the ISU website entries:

Slovenia: Matthew Nielsen added (replaced Daniel Martynov who WD) for men, his first JGP of the season

Poland: Will Annis added (second assignment), replacing Maxim Zharkov's placeholder spot.

I'm guessing who gets Kai Kovar's Poland placeholder spot will depend on how Eric Prober does in Russia. I'm still hoping that Jacob Sanchez gets something.

ETA: Camden Pulkinen is no longer listed for Autumn Classic International on the ISU website... he may have been shifted to U.S. Classic (Senior B in Norwood, MA), I've heard. Hopefully Camden will get a later ISU Challenger Series assignment.

 

[Stephanie]

ETA: Camden Pulkinen is no longer listed for Autumn Classic International on the ISU website... he may have been shifted to U.S. Classic (Senior B in Norwood, MA), I've heard. Hopefully Camden will get a later ISU Challenger Series assignment.

This switch for Camden is now confirmed on the USFS international assignments page

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting here from the Challenger Series general thread (thanks again @Stephanie!):

USFS assignments are up for Finlandia and the Asian Open (Olympic Test Event):
Finlandia: Jason Brown, Maxim Naumov

Asian Open: Jimmy Ma

Happy to see Jimmy get the opportunity to compete in Beijing!
ETA that Camden Pulkinen was added (later on Sept. 10th) to USFS' International Assignments page as the 2nd man for Aisian Open FS Trophy.

Rough day for the U.S. men at Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo today - Tomoki Hiwatashi is in 9th (66.69; 4S< fall, 3Aq, 4Tq fall but at least he received all level 4s) and Yaroslav Paniot had to withdraw before the end of his SP -- 4F(nice!)+3T hand/fall, popped his 4T & his 3A became a waxel -- boot problem? He didn't look injured/seemed to be walking normally as he exited the rink... what a shame that his first international abroad for Team USA ended so abruptly.

 

[mtnskater]

^^^Yikes for Tomoki and Yaro!

Popped into this thread to post about William Annis. I just watched his first place short program at Kosice on YouTube. Where did he come from? The height and distance of his jumps was impressive. Ted Barton definitely noticed. And his skating ability looks good all around. Reminds me of a young Keegan Messing. Exciting! Plus he’s a total cutie patootie. Looking forward to his development. Hope he gets another junior Grand Prix assignment.

 

[Sylvia]

Abolute Skating's Judith D. (in Bergamo) posted an Instagram story yesterday that stated Yaroslav Paniot "had to withdraw because his skate broke during his [Lombardia Trophy] SP" which is what it looked like from the livestream, as I wrote earlier. SIGH.

Popped into this thread to post about William Annis. I just watched his first place short program at Kosice on YouTube. Where did he come from? ... Hope he gets another junior Grand Prix assignment.

Will Annis, 16, was the 2019 U.S. Novice men's champion who debuted on the JGP later that year and has since switched to coaches Aleksey Letov and Olga Ganicheva at the SC of Boston -- link to his Team USA bio: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/will-annis/470
He recently received his second JGP assignment to Gdansk, Poland.

 

[VGThuy]

Now his withdrawal makes sense.