U.S. Men 2024-25 news & updates

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

We need the third spot so that Jacob, Lucas or Patrick can get Olympic experience for 2030 & beyond. We definitely don't need it to give the other guys a nice trip to Italy next February.

Oh, I see what you were saying so you were talking about the third spot for the youngsters. Yes

 

[jlai]

Oh, I see what you were saying so you were talking about the third spot for the youngsters. Yes

We will have to see how these youngsters do in senior internationals competitions to see if they have the potential to be like Brown or not. They may but they may also struggle with quads and triples like the others

 

[Karen-W]

Just a random Q - Outside of Ilia and Jason, who would FSU rate as the most dependable: Torgy, Jimmy or Camden?

Scene...

A high school auditorium, with a handful of proud parents sitting in the audience. On stage - two long tables, opposite each other with a speaker's podium in the middle upstage, two podiums facing each other downstage & a large screen hanging from the back.

Two girls - one rather nerdy (think Mayim Bialik as Amy Farah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory) and the other fairly cute despite the sad polo shirt she is wearing along with her three very nerdy, male teammates - approach the downstage podiums.

On screen a math problem presents itself, and the cute girl struggles, trying to recall what was written on the blackboard that day months ago while she mooned at the really cute jock who sat in front of her in their calculus class. It was something about limits...

The nerdy girl, scribbling madly on the paper they each had on their respective podiums to work out the math problem, buzzes in first and gives an incorrect answer.

Oh, what was the answer to the math problem facing the really cute girl with the state math championship on the line? Suddenly, it hits her!

"There is no limit! The limit does not exist!"

The answer to your question is one only Cady Heron can answer. The dependability of any of the proposed candidates does not exist.

Have a lovely day. And go North Shore High Mathletes!

 

[MacMadame]

And let’s call it …. do we need a third spot?

That's a good question. I think the answer is that the US has enough skaters that even if that 3rd spot goes to one who ends up bombing, it's still experience for them. We aren't like GEO which had to bring skaters out of retirement to field a full team at WTT. And we don't have a bunch of skaters who struggle to get the TES minimums so even if we had the slots, they couldn't be used.

So we may not always need another slot but it's not like having them is a complete waste.

 

[Trillian]

I get that there are people who don’t want to see Jason Brown on the World/Olympic team anymore, but he hasn’t done anything to stop the other guys from displacing him. They’ve had a bunch of Grand Prix events, they’ve been to 4CCs, a couple of them have been to worlds. The opportunities have been there and they haven’t had consistent results. I’ve heard absolutely nothing to suggest any of them have had their funding reduced because he’s continued competing. And if the other guys show up at nationals thinking there’s only one spot available for worlds - there would likely only be one other spot available if he wasn’t competing, because we’d only have two. He’s not bumping anyone, he’s just creating opportunities for himself.

I also think a lot of people hyping the “USFS keeps sending him because they want three spots” narrative are missing a lot of the point. USFS is also sending him because he’s popular and shows up at worlds and delivers good performances and audiences keep giving him standing ovations. That’s better TV than what any of the other U.S. men besides Ilia have been doing at worlds for the last few years, and again - they have had the opportunity. Even if you think he doesn’t deserve any of it, on a purely pragmatic level, he’s giving a lot more ROI to USFS than just another slot to fill at this point.

 

[jlai]

Maybe the other inconsistent guys can try to go the Brown route and focus on PCS and forgo the quads that make their skating so inconsistent. Worth a try at this point

 

[caseyedwards]

Maybe the other inconsistent guys can try to go the Brown route and focus on PCS and forgo the quads that make their skating so inconsistent. Worth a try at this point

Yes I agree! Brown never ever did a quad! Why does Sanchez need one if he is so good musically?

 

[caseyedwards]

I get that there are people who don’t want to see Jason Brown on the World/Olympic team anymore, but he hasn’t done anything to stop the other guys from displacing him. They’ve had a bunch of Grand Prix events, they’ve been to 4CCs, a couple of them have been to worlds. The opportunities have been there and they haven’t had consistent results. I’ve heard absolutely nothing to suggest any of them have had their funding reduced because he’s continued competing. And if the other guys show up at nationals thinking there’s only one spot available for worlds - there would likely only be one other spot available if he wasn’t competing, because we’d only have two. He’s not bumping anyone, he’s just creating opportunities for himself.

I also think a lot of people hyping the “USFS keeps sending him because they want three spots” narrative are missing a lot of the point. USFS is also sending him because he’s popular and shows up at worlds and delivers good performances and audiences keep giving him standing ovations. That’s better TV than what any of the other U.S. men besides Ilia have been doing at worlds for the last few years, and again - they have had the opportunity. Even if you think he doesn’t deserve any of it, on a purely pragmatic level, he’s giving a lot more ROI to USFS than just another slot to fill at this point.

If you have a competitor who has pcs fixed in the 90’s and your pcs is in the 70’s and your tech score fluctuates between 60 and 90 you can actually never hope to really displace

 

[mtnskater]

Jason’s short program at WTT was absolutely fabulous in my eyes today. I’m not tired of his skating and will never be tired of skating like that. Glorious stuff he put out there today!

 

[skateboy]

Scene...

Two girls - one rather nerdy (think Mayim Bialik as Amy Farah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory) and the other fairly cute despite the sad polo shirt she is wearing along with her three very nerdy, male teammates - approach the downstage podiums.

On screen a math problem presents itself, and the cute girl struggles, trying to recall what was written on the blackboard that day months ago while she mooned at the really cute jock who sat in front of her in their calculus class. It was something about limits...

The nerdy girl, scribbling madly on the paper they each had on their respective podiums to work out the math problem, buzzes in first and gives an incorrect answer.

Why am I suddenly thinking about the movie "Carrie?"

 

[skateboy]

Double post.

 

[skateboy]

Jason’s short program at WTT was absolutely fabulous in my eyes today. I’m not tired of his skating and will never be tired of skating like that. Glorious stuff he put out there today!

It was a lovely program.

 

[Vagabond]

Just a random Q - Outside of Ilia and Jason, who would FSU rate as the most dependable: Torgy, Jimmy or Camden?

Purple.

 

[Allskate]

Just a random Q - Outside of Ilia and Jason, who would FSU rate as the most dependable: Torgy, Jimmy or Camden?

I think it's kind of irrelevant because they aren't dependable. If Ilia and Jason stay healthy and are skating next season the way they have been this past month, nobody else is even going to be considered for the team event at the Olympics. I mean, Torgy was the most consistent this season, but he fell apart at Worlds (again). No way would they put him in the team event. So, the question then is who would place the highest if they actually skated the way they have in their best performance. And we'd have to look at the younger guys and how they perform in competition as well. (I hope Max will be competing as well.)

 

[MacMadame]

Why am I suddenly thinking about the movie "Carrie?"

Because you haven't seen Mean Girls??

 

[Allskate]

Maybe the other inconsistent guys can try to go the Brown route and focus on PCS and forgo the quads that make their skating so inconsistent. Worth a try at this point

Nerves are nerves. Torgy didn't just miss the quads. Plus, it's not that easy to get Jason's PCS. And they would have to also get his levels and GOEs.

 

[jlai]

Brown didn’t start off having those pcs or this skating skills. He worked to get there so I think it is doable.

 

[tony]

Brown didn’t start off having those pcs or this skating skills. He worked to get there so I think it is doable.

If it were as easy as you are making it sound, then don't you think all the skaters who don't have quads would be working towards getting 9.00?

Skating skills are more or less developed in the younger years just as good or bad jump technique is, but the judging panels do what they want with the scores anyways.

 

[MacMadame]

If it were as easy as you are making it sound, then don't you think all the skaters who don't have quads would be working towards getting 9.00?

They seem to think it's better to work on quads.

 

[jlai]

They seem to think it's better to work on quads.

Not everyone will be able to do that but some have the basics to try that route. It’s not as if Jason had ss like this early, not until he switched to Orser

That’s an option for those who can’t get the quads done in Competition. Or under immense pressure

 

[mtnskater]

Torgy has amazing skating skills. His issue is jump consistency in competition. And expression at times. I love him and wish he could continue to improve those. Still wondering if RAF at worlds threw him off his game. He did great when it was only Brandon.

Also hoping Max will continue to compete.

 

[barbk]

In what other pro sport do we suggest that high achievers get out of the way so that low achievers get more chances?

 

[Stephanie]

In what other pro sport do we suggest that high achievers get out of the way so that low achievers get more chances?

I wouldn’t call guys coming up from juniors low achievers at all. They’re 5-10 years younger and thus at a different stage in their development.

 

[barbk]

I wouldn’t call guys coming up from juniors low achievers at all. They’re 5-10 years younger and thus at a different stage in their development.

And when someone rockets up...they get the assignments. Alysa Liu certainly did. So did Michelle Kwan. So did Nathan Chen. Who are those mysterious new seniors who've rocketed up?

 

[BittyBug]

I was critical of prioritizing Jason when he was struggling and having difficult managing a 3A and a 3/3 combo, which to me are core requirements for a senior-level man, but his axel and combos are back, and combined with his other skills, it's more than enough to make him very competitive, even among the quadsters. No one is holding the up and comers back except themselves. If and when they can deliver consistent results, they'll rise to the top. Until then, I care less about someone's age and more about what they're putting out on the ice, and for now, Jason is delivering quality material, so go Jason.

 

[YukiNieve]

For those of you who might be interested...(I have been at WTT).

Ilia told us that he choreographed "To Build A Home" (the tribute exhibition program he skated for the 2025 Worlds) himself.

Jason designed and prepared the T-shirts that the US team wears (see picture below) literally in a few weeks after he found out he was doing WTT and will be a team captain.

Golden Skate on Instagram: "Happy team captains! Day 1 is done and USA is in the lead. Result after Day 1 1. USA 🇺🇸 52 pts 2. JPN 🇯🇵 44 pts 3. FRA 🇫🇷 34 pts 4. ITA 🇮🇹 30 pts 5. CAN 🇨🇦 28 pts 6. GEO 🇬🇪 25 pts"

1,051 likes, 6 comments - goldsk8 on April 17, 2025: "Happy team captains! Day 1 is done and USA is in the lead. Result after Day 1 1. USA 🇺🇸 52 pts 2. JPN 🇯🇵 44 pts 3. FRA 🇫🇷 34 pts 4. ITA 🇮🇹 30 pts 5. CAN 🇨🇦 28 pts 6. GEO 🇬🇪 25 pts".

www.instagram.com

US boys are talented, right?

 

[Aceon6]

With US Men #3 so open your could drive a truck through it, if I was a candidate, I’d spend the entire summer making sure that all of my jumps are fully rotated and that my spins and footwork were in order. I’d also make sure my short program combo Plan B was locked and loaded. Finally, I’d make my best qualities easy to see and judge. Whoever does this wins.

 

[jlai]

We do have promising jrs in the past whose progress slowed once they have to to compete with quads. So let’s see how these youngsters jrs handle that when competing senior

 

[MacMadame]

And when someone rockets up...they get the assignments. Alysa Liu certainly did. So did Michelle Kwan. So did Nathan Chen. Who are those mysterious new seniors who've rocketed up?

I had this thought last night. If Alexa and Brandon had stayed in this entire quad, would we have EfiMit as National Champions? EfiMit are a new team that may never have formed if KniFra stayed in for the entire quad.

My issue has always been that (a) USFS should not pay any athletes to stay in and (b) doing so makes it harder for someone not on our radar to get on our radar. But mostly (a).

We do have promising jrs in the past whose progress slowed once they have to to compete with quads. So let’s see how these youngsters jrs handle that when competing senior

The jump from Juniors to Seniors is hard in all the disciplines.

 

[Karen-W]

I had this thought last night. If Alexa and Brandon had stayed in this entire quad, would we have EfiMit as National Champions? EfiMit are a new team that may never have formed if KniFra stayed in for the entire quad.

Well, I think whether or not EfiMit would be National Champions is a separate question from whether or not they would have partnered up or not. What's more likely is EfiMit would be the two-time US silver medalists and there would be less hand-wringing over having three "worthy" teams in the mix for the Olympic team.

EfiMit would still have formed whether KniFraz stayed in or not. Efimova got dumped by Blommaert before they even left Saitama after Worlds 2023 & Misha reached out to her almost immediately. Maybe people within US Figure Skating knew KniFraz were done, maybe they didn't, but I'm sure the EfiMit tryout would have happened anyways & gone forward.

What is the more interesting question is, had KniFraz stayed in for the entire quad, would KamOShea been given the insane push they've gotten in the past two seasons? They certainly wouldn't have beaten KniFraz for the 2024 US title, but would the judges have felt compelled to put them ahead of EfiMit for the silver medal? I think not. Mind, I do think we'd have probably only had two pairs teams in Boston because the 2024 Worlds team would have still struggled to keep the 3rd spot - KniFraz would have knocked KamOShea & PlaFern down a spot in the final standings (I'm presuming ChanHowe would have been left off the team due to Spencer's delayed injury recovery), and would have needed a 1st or 2nd place finish for the US to retain three spots for Boston. The end result this year would have been the same - regaining the third Worlds spot with KniFraz & EfiMit easily earning less than 13 points & we'd still be discussing who gets sent to Beijing to earn the 3rd Oly spot, lol.

My issue has always been that (a) USFS should not pay any athletes to stay in and (b) doing so makes it harder for someone not on our radar to get on our radar. But mostly (a).

Agreed.