U.S. Men in 2017 - articles & latest news

[Jammers]

Raf is like a proud papa when he talks about Nathan. Yes he has great respect for what Ashley and Adam have done at their late ages but you can see Nathan is special to him. He knows he sees a possible future World and Olympic champion with Nathan.

 

[aftershocks]

Yes, indeed. Nathan is very special in any case. But Raf is particularly proud I'm sure to have been able to guide Nathan from such a young age. There's no way to box and sell the special qualities and characteristics that Nathan possesses. And that's even aside from his spectacular jumping ability.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Aeutunian's been working with Chen since he was a boy.

 

[aftershocks]

Aeutunian's been working with Chen since he was a boy.

^^ Yes Raf has. No question.

Raf's last name is a real humdinger to pronounce, much less to spell accurately. That's why I call him Raf. No disrespect intended.

 

[jlai]

Raf is no more partial to his skaters than other skaters' fans are partial to their favorites

 

[aftershocks]

^^ What?

 

[pinky166]

Sometimes I wonder if skating would be better off being scored more like gymnastics. Difficulty scores and grade of execution but PCS didn't exist.

The one thing I will say is that the scores among the very top continue to get higher and higher, while for everyone who isn't quite top tier, the scores haven't really changed much since the creation of IJS.

If you look at Worlds results for the past 10 years, the scores for the top say 6 or so skaters has risen a ton, but for people finishing 10th place or lower the shift hasn't been anything too significant

 

[DreamSkates]

Where were all these people who are griping about Nathan's PCS when Yulia Lip was getting PCS almost has high as Carolina or Mao by the time of Europeans and the Olympics. I don't think a skater has ever had their PCS rise so fast in such a short amount of time over one season and it's not like she was some kind of great artist on the ice. At least Nathan seems to listen to the music unlike Yulia who could have been skating to anything.

I agree with Artunian's comment on why the skating community is not complaining or comparing component marks for someone like Kostner or Osmond. Or Wagner. There is much more maturity in these skaters than the younger Russians. So as mentioned elsewhere in this forum, the component marks go up with technical ability? Which doesn't give a fair or accurate component mark. The judges are not well enough educated? Or are they encouraged to give higher component scores to skaters who can do the harder jumps to keep this on the level of an Olympic sport and not an ice show?
(yes these are questions - open to all answers - please comment - this judging system is getting more frustrating as time goes on and especially headed into the Olympics).

 

[jenniferlyon]

I agree with Artunian's comment on why the skating community is not complaining or comparing component marks for someone like Kostner or Osmond. Or Wagner. There is much more maturity in these skaters than the younger Russians. So as mentioned elsewhere in this forum, the component marks go up with technical ability? Which doesn't give a fair or accurate component mark. The judges are not well enough educated? Or are they encouraged to give higher component scores to skaters who can do the harder jumps to keep this on the level of an Olympic sport and not an ice show?
(yes these are questions - open to all answers - please comment - this judging system is getting more frustrating as time goes on and especially headed into the Olympics).

The judges could and would manipulate any kind of system. If we were still using 6.0, the same skaters who are getting high PCS now would be getting 5.9s and 6.0s for presentation. The sport could switch to letter grades, Roman numerals, or tally marks on a chalkboard and the end result wouldn't be much different.

 

[olympic]

The judges could and would manipulate any kind of system. If we were still using 6.0, the same skaters who are getting high PCS now would be getting 5.9s and 6.0s for presentation. The sport could switch to letter grades, Roman numerals, or tally marks on a chalkboard and the end result wouldn't be much different.

I was just going to say under 6.0 system, you would have the same deal. For example, Nathan would probably pull 5.9 / 5.8 or 5.9 / 5.7 and continue to be a medal threat. I actually think fewer people would be complaining: They would see the lower Artistic / Presentation mark and be more in agreement

 

[A.H.Black]

I'm very happy with the new schedule change that will put Men's Free on Saturday night in San Jose. It should be the headline show - with Ladies Free on Friday night, Pairs on Saturday afternoon, and Dance on Sunday afternoon.

You'd think they were noticing that men's will be exciting or something.

 

[skatesindreams]

I'm sure that NBC's "interest" necessitated the changes.

 

[Sylvia]

What would @USFigureSkating's @MaxTAaron do if he never had to sleep?! Find out on the first edition of #MeetNGreetMonday! (1-minute video) https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/841318445484449792

 

[misskarne]

What would @USFigureSkating's @MaxTAaron do if he never had to sleep?! Find out on the first edition of #MeetNGreetMonday! (1-minute video) https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/841318445484449792

I like his taste in cars.

I'd like to see a jazz program on him. Maybe a new ex?

 

[just wondering]

I like his taste in cars.

I'd like to see a jazz program on him. Maybe a new ex?

Ha! I'm sure more than a few people would volunteer to be his "new ex." Ohhhhhh.......you probably meant exhibition, as in exhibition program. Got it. ;-)
(And, I'm with Max, I'd definitely take one of the those Audi R8s, if someone offered.)

 

[misskarne]

Ha! I'm sure more than a few people would volunteer to be his "new ex."

Definitely not the ex part, anyway.

(And, I'm with Max, I'd definitely take one of the those Audi R8s, if someone offered.)

Absolutely. Fast, powerful, handles well...well gee, sounds familiar, eh

 

[Sylvia]

Here's a Q&A with Andrew Torgashev before Junior Worlds: http://figureskatersonline.com/news/2017/03/06/qa-with-andrew-torgashev/

And here's an interview with Alexei ("Alex") Krasnozhon: http://figureskatersonline.com/news...ow-a-russian-born-texas-loving-figure-skater/

Krasnozhon will skate #32 of 45 junior men in the short program (5th in group 6), Vincent Zhou #35 (2nd in group 7) and Andrew Torgashev #39 (6th in group 7).

 

[dinakt]

Krasnozhon and his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon- we have another smart type A personality in skating
Good luck to Vincent, Alex and Andrew at Junior Worlds! Great team!

 

[Skateparent]

And here's an interview with Alexei ("Alex") Krasnozhon: http://figureskatersonline.com/news...ow-a-russian-born-texas-loving-figure-skater/

Krasnozhon will skate #32 of 45 junior men in the short program (5th in group 6), Vincent Zhou #35 (2nd in group 7) and Andrew Torgashev #39 (6th in group 7).

Wow, impressed by the three wishes that Alex named: a pill to cure cancer, becoming neurosurgeon, and for his family to achieve their dreams especially his sisters

 

[eurodance2001]

Vincent Z! 3 quads, positive GOE's on everything, no falls and level 4's on everything except the step sequence which was a 3. Fabulous and well deserved title.. great job on the guys retaining 3 spots for next year.. I was glad to see Torgashev clapping and supporting his teammates in the stands after the disappointment of not making the free skate

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

OK all y'all Im ready to announce the USA MENS 18 OLYMPIC TEAM!!!
Chen, Zhou and either Brown or Farris... need to see how they both come along.

COULD THE USA ACTUALLY have the MENS world CHAMPS this year in Both Juniors and seniors? I think so.

Was Farris doing quads? Im having brain farts this morning.

Look at the free skate protocols for world junior men...SO MANYYY doing quads and multiple quads...in juniors.... I do think Brown will have to have one in SP and AT LEAST one CLEAN in free.... for next season.

How exciting.......

(added later) Hmmmm, maybe some of you were/are right in your argument for allowing Zhou in this years Senior Worlds.. he did eventually attain the requirements.... I stayed out of that argument last month... but now after Karen at 4CC and mens junior worlds I do think USFSA should NOT name the FULL worlds team until around now. NATS are in Jan....worlds are ALMOST IN April.. too much changes within that large gap....

heck, who knows, maybe even Gold pulled it together by now. lol. (Dont take this serious. She did nothing to prove a case)... my point is that a legit worlds teams shouldnt be fully named in jan. Let the season unfold a bit more.

(added later later) That Alex Krasnozhon is gonna get my PORNY award in the future soon.

 

[olympic]

Chen v. Zhou - Yagudin v. Plushenko American version???

 

[Jammers]

I think we can say that a new era in US Men's skating is taking place right in front of our eyes. For years the US Men have been behind the rest of the world when it came to quads but the younger guys saw in the last few years that wasn't going to cut it anymore and now we are seeing them push themselves at a younger age to learn to do quads and it's paying off bigtime.

 

[skateboy]

I think we can say that a new era in US Men's skating is taking place right in front of our eyes. For years the US Men have been behind the rest of the world when it came to quads but the younger guys saw in the last few years that wasn't going to cut it anymore and now we are seeing them push themselves at a younger age to learn to do quads and it's paying off bigtime.

And it's about time!

I am so proud of Vincent. Both his SP and FS were absolutely clean at Jr. Worlds. Looks like the video of his FS has now been taken down, but it was spectacular. And he's far from an inartistic skater; he was so joyous during the entire program and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Along with Nathan and Vincent, we've got Alexei, Andrew T and Tomoki right behind them. So nice to see the US men finally making a difference again!

 

[misskarne]

So after four years of "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE QUADS EW GO AWAY MAX" now it's "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE QUADS YAY YAY YAY!"

Fcuk you, USFS. Fcuk you.

And anyone who is throwing him on the trash heap is a short-sighted fool.

 

[vesperholly]

So after four years of "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE QUADS EW GO AWAY MAX" now it's "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE QUADS YAY YAY YAY!"

It's about (clean, sorry Adam) quad lutzes, apparently. Sigh.

 

[jlai]

So after four years of "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE QUADS EW GO AWAY MAX" now it's "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE QUADS YAY YAY YAY!"

Fcuk you, USFS. Fcuk you.

And anyone who is throwing him on the trash heap is a short-sighted fool.

USFSA didn't do anything today or this week other than sending a silver medalist to jr worlds, and it is the ISU judges who let the quadster win.
USFSA sent Max to worlds from 2013-6. He missed only the Olympics and the 2015 worlds. Some even said USFS favored him over Brown for worlds spot.
So how did USFSA tell Max to go away for 4 years?
When Max landed all his stuff at 2013 nationals, they did back him.
USFSA judges sometimes preferred other skaters (as in 2015 nationals), but not for 4-5 years in a row.

 

[misskarne]

When Max landed all his stuff at 2013 nationals, they did back him.

And when he landed all his stuff at 2016 Nationals? They fcuked him over because "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE QUADS EW" and supposedly it was all about the arteestes even if the supposed arteeste FELL ON HIS ARSE and then suddenly the next year, when they have their shiny cute kid, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE QUADS. And then to make it even worse, their shiny cute kids are getting away with every single damn thing that Max has been criticised for over the last four years. Stroke-stroke-jump? It's okay when these kids do it! Pause in the program? It's okay when these kids do it! Or when an arteeste does it! Minimal choreography? It's okay when these kids do it!

 

[skatingguy]

Didn't Max finish 2nd at US Nationals last year and go to Worlds? I think the skater your thinking of is this guy named Nathan Chen, maybe you haven't heard of him, but he landed four quads at the 2016 US Nationals and the judges put him 3rd.

 

[VGThuy]

At 2016 Nationals, even with Adam's UR call on his Quad Lutz, his TES base value was slightly higher than Max's. Nathan had the highest base value by about 12 points but still came in behind Adam and Max.

I think whether the USFS shows favoritism or not seems to be in the eye of the beholder. I remember when Max first came on the scene, people kept commenting how the USFS was drooling over him because he seemed like the straight hope in a field of gay artist types who couldn't do consistent quads. I don't know if I agree with that, but I do remember Max was heavily promoted at the time. IMO, it's years of inconsistent skates and scoring mostly in the 140-160 range that explains his career so far.

That said, there was 2015 Nationals. Did Max deserve to place in the top 3 at 2015 Nationals? It seems despite his BV being almost ten points higher than Adam's, his GOEs were tempered compared to Adam's GOE which resulted in Adam scoring higher in TES. I actually don't remember the 2015 Nationals skates from the top men, so I need someone to refresh my memory.