U.S. Men in 2018 - articles & latest news

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It was a toe loop. Also Wiki says toe loop.

Right, it was a toe loop. I fixated on the 'loop' ending. :)

In response to Kurt's below comment: Quad revolutions aren't easy and in hindsight, there wasn't any incentive in the scoring. Attempting and landing quads was simply seen back then as a jaw-dropping oddity.

TPTB lacked vision regarding exactly how much quads differ from triples, and how quad revolutions would eventually impact the men's discipline. At the same time, TPTB failed to address problems with the scoring system under 6.0, despite efforts by people within the sport who were advocating for change. In both cases, quadruple jumps and scoring system, it took scandal and controversy at the Olympics before TPTB were jolted into action. Poor scenarios in both cases. They needed to address both issues much sooner, which would have likely led to more beneficial developments and fewer complications that unfortunately are now being experienced.

Per Wiki:
  • 1988
    • Kurt Browning (CAN) lands the first ratified quadruple jump, a toe loop, at the World Championships (with three turns on the landing).[12][14][15] Browning said: "I remember that there were a few people landing the jump (in practice) long before I did, and by watching them I was inspired to try it myself. After landing it, I certainly expected more skaters to start doing it in competition. I was surprised in the next few years when that really did not happen."[12]
    • Brian Boitano (USA) attempts a quad toe later in the same competition but cannot hold the landing and takes an extra step; ruled not valid.[14]
  • 1989
    • Kurt Browning (CAN) lands a quad toe loop at the World Championships but touchdown with free foot. [15]
 
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2odYqB6azY

Josef Sabovcik landing his quad at Euros 1986. It was a slight touch with the free leg, but fully rotated. Browning did a three turn out of his two years later. I can see why Browning was given the "first quad honor", knowing the rules back then, but I will stick my head out and say that if Browning had done Sabocvik's quad in 86, it would have been ratified. Can vs Cze. Oh well....
 
^^ Oh well, at least Kurt acknowledged being inspired by what Leapin' Joe Sabovcik and others were doing with that extra revol. On slo-mo of Sabovcik's quad toe at 1986 Euros, it looks a bit like pre-rotation as well as two-footing and even possibly a slight UR, as Sabovcik's landing foot appeared to slightly complete the rotation on the ice. In real time, the jump looks pretty good, but still obviously two-footed. The 6.0 from the Czech judge for technical was overdoing it (especially with the unclean landing, other miscues in the program, and the way Sabovcik lost concentration, slowed down and did doubles where he'd planned triples).

Kurt's ratified quad jump at 1988 Worlds evidenced a much cleaner landing on one foot, despite the 3-turn out of it (Kurt landed it even better in the warm-up). Also, Kurt skated well after landing the quad toe; he did not get overexcited like Sabovcik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxpCu8wRv14

This part of the Wiki (quad jump history) entry is interesting too:
Patrick contradicts an ISU decision, and Mroz is still the first to land the quad lutz! So Mroz gets the designation twice in both a small domestic competition and in a larger international competition. :lol:

And AdaRipp was trying that dang quad lutz as early as 2011. :D

2011
  • Brandon Mroz (USA) lands a quad Lutz in the short program at the 2011 Colorado Springs Invitational.[3][4] The U.S. Figure Skating-sanctioned competition was a small non-ISU event with three men's entries, making it unclear whether the accomplishment would be recognized by the International Skating Union.[4][43] On October 26, the ISU announced it had ratified the jump as the first quad Lutz to be performed in a sanctioned competition.[5][6] World Champion Patrick Chan of Canada commented, "I don't think it can be an official ISU record until [Mroz] has done it in an ISU event."[44]
  • Adam Rippon attempted quad Lutz in his free skating at the 2011 Skate Canada, but the jump was downgrated and two-footed.[45]
  • On November 12, 2011, Brandon Mroz (USA) landed a quad Lutz as his opening jump in the men's short program at the NHK Trophy in Sapporo, Japan, becoming the first skater to land a quadruple lutz in international competition.[46]
 
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^^ Oh well. Shoma gets credit for 'that thing,' and Evan Lysacek gets snubbed and dissed for not landing a quad at 2010 Olympics. To add insult to injury, everyone and Wiki too has amnesia about Evan landing a quad/triple at 2007 U.S. Nationals, and other quads in international competitions. Go figure. :COP:
 
^^ Oh well. Shoma gets credit for 'that thing,' and Evan Lysacek gets snubbed and dissed for not landing a quad at 2010 Olympics. To add insult to injury, everyone and Wiki too has amnesia about Evan landing a quad/triple at 2007 U.S. Nationals, and other quads in international competitions. Go figure. :COP:

I've seen other BIO's lacking; really depends on "his fans" making the addition! He must not have had anyone who cared! I've done it once or twice, but it was to embellish the history for Martina Navratilova who I thought wasn't getting her due!
 
^^ Oh well. Shoma gets credit for 'that thing,' and Evan Lysacek gets snubbed and dissed for not landing a quad at 2010 Olympics. To add insult to injury, everyone and Wiki too has amnesia about Evan landing a quad/triple at 2007 U.S. Nationals, and other quads in international competitions. Go figure. :COP:

It always baffled me when Evan became known as an artist who didn't do quads. Until he hurt his foot he was all about the quad.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2odYqB6azY

Josef Sabovcik landing his quad at Euros 1986. It was a slight touch with the free leg, but fully rotated. Browning did a three turn out of his two years later. I can see why Browning was given the "first quad honor", knowing the rules back then, but I will stick my head out and say that if Browning had done Sabocvik's quad in 86, it would have been ratified. Can vs Cze. Oh well....
That was a pretty obvious two-footed landing - he did land on the right foot initially but the left toe pick smacked the ice immediately afterward. A "slight touch" makes it sound like his free foot touched down after the landing. I can see why it wasn't ratified.

The one he did in practice was fabulous, though.
 
The first time I ever saw a quad lutz attempted was by Vyacheslav Zagorodniuk in a practice session the day between the men's short program and freeskate at 1995 Skate America. It was underrotated with the free toe down, but it was far beyond what anyone else was trying in competition at the time. I had heard about Elvis Stojko also attempting quad lutzes and salchows at competition practices around that time, but I wasn't present to witness them.

Zagorodniuk was also practicing quad toes that day with similar not-quite-success, but there didn't seem to be any intention to put them in his competition programs, anymore than Slutskaya's 3Lo+3Lo attempts in practice at the same event. In fact, I don't think Zag ever attempted 4T in competition at all.

Whatever was being attempted in regular practice sessions at home with no one watching, we'll never know unless someone whips out home movies from the pre-youtube era.

And on the subject of U.S. men,

Gay Olympian Adam Rippon blasts selection of Mike Pence to lead U.S. delegation

and

Before figure skater [URL='https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/adamrippon?source=feed_text&story_id=1969856336362252']#AdamRippon became a U.S. champion, he was a young boy from Clarks Summit dreaming of going to the #Olympics.[/url]
 
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Ballet West issued a press release in support of Ballet West Academy alumnus Nathan Chen going to the Olympics:
https://balletwest.org/news/academy-alumnus-nathan-chen-headed-to-the-winter-olympics

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – January 17, 2018 – In a tour-de-force display of artistry and athleticism, Nathan Chen won the national title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships last weekend and secured his spot for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Nathan trained at Ballet West Academy for six years, dancing alongside company dancers in TheSleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. Taping a promotional package at the Ballet West studios for NBC News this fall, Nathan told correspondent Stephanie Gosk, “This is where it all started. My training and ballet background definitely gives me the competitive edge on the ice.”

“He had an incredible one-of-a-kind focus,” said Peter Christie, former Academy Director and current Education and Outreach Director. “It was clear to all of us watching him that this was his destiny. He has the drive and determination to make all of his dreams come true.” His talents were even noticed by the late Ballet Master Mark Goldweber who created a variation just for Chen in The Sleeping Beauty to show off his jumping abilities. Now, five years later, Nathan is the first and currently the only skater competing with five different types of quadruple jumps: toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, and Lutz. He also holds the record for the first skater to land seven clean quadruple jumps in a competition.

“What Nathan has accomplished is truly remarkable,” said Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “We are proud to have played a role in his success. He has earned our deep respect and I will be loudly cheering him on from Salt Lake City next month when he competes in South Korea.”​
 
You really don’t need to feel baffled...because he never did.
I've heard many people who barely pay attention to skating who talk about how Evan won the Olympics on an artistic mark because he can't do a quad.

Obviously there is no such thing as an artistic mark.

These people also probably no longer know his name.
 
That's a triple

I faintly remember Weiss had some blades specially made so he could do that spread-eagled split on his heels! I was terribly moved by his performance for the '97-98 Olympic season with the Bach LP and trying a Quad Lutz! To beat out Eldridge, he had to do something special! It must have been intimidating to force a very conservative Todd to try a Quad Toe at Nat'ls I'd never seen before! Of course he missed it; but the judges weren't going to send him to Nagano as a runner up with Silver! More shady goings on! This is when skating was skating though; Urmanov, Kulik, Yagudin, & Plushenko ruled that era IMO! TE had no real chance to win, but should have at least taken Bronze in Nagano; blew it allowing Candeloro to win his 2nd OM! What a joke! What was going on his TE's head? He got such glowing praise all over the place, but never fulfilled that promise IMO! :rolleyes: :COP: :plush: :puppet: :respec: :violin:
 
KING QUAD! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvzD9x0kdmM
"Helping superheroes fly for 38 years. Proud to fly Team USA."

Nathan Chen Origin Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbwXDP1-ZXQ

Seems like it was just yesterday Timothy Goebel was the Quad King, now he's more the Prince making it fashionable to perform more than 2 in the LP and at least 1 in the SP! At Europeans, guys are attempting 2 in the SP and now Nathan's taken it to a new level going for 5 or 6 in his LP! I just never thought I'd see the day while the ladies are woefully lagging behind! Surya and Irina did more 20+ years ago! :rolleyes: :40beers: :COP: :irina1: :plush: :respec:
 
Before figure skater #AdamRippon became a U.S. champion, he was a young boy from Clarks Summit dreaming of going to the #Olympics.
Thanks! :) This 40-second local news clip of a 13-year-oid Adam (filmed in December 2002) is also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wbrewyou/status/953039169739280384

I believe this was his first season of U.S. qualifying competition and he made it to "Junior" Nationals in Lake Placid, NY at the Juvenile level, finishing 7th in the Final Round (quite a blast from the past, ordinals & all! Ricky Dornbush won that year, Eliot Halverson was 3rd, Curran Oi 6th, Alex Zahradnicek 9th, Grant Hochstein 10th, Christopher Caluza 11th & Alex Johnson 12th): http://www.usfsa.org/eventrelateddetails?id=71442&ri=/content/events/200203/jrnats/juvboys-final.htm
Adam was 2nd in Qualifying Round C behind Ricky with Eliot 3rd & Grant 5th (top 6 in A-C advanced to the Final): http://www.usfsa.org/eventrelateddetails?id=71442&ri=/content/events/200203/jrnats/juvboys-1C.htm
 
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The eight verbs of my 2017-2018 season (Alex Johnson's 1/18/18 blog post): http://figureskatersonline.com/alexanderjohnson/home/the-eight-verbs-of-my-2017-2018-season/
He ends this way:
All things aside, I’m thrilled with everything I accomplished both on and off the ice. I may not be representing our country at the Olympics, but I have never been prouder to be a part of U.S. Figure Skating’s incredibly talented group of athletes. Onwards and upwards.

Here’s to a great 2018!
 
I know the 4cc selection was controversial at the time, but now I am glad that Jason, Max and Grant got to go to 4cc. In a way, this became a redemption competition for them, esp for Max and Jason.
 
Congratulations to Jason, Max and Grant on some of their best scores ever. Special Congrats to Jason on a bronze in a field that I would consider stacked- Japan and China fielded their A teams, and Ge, Ten and some of the best Canadian men were there.

For the risk of opening old wounds, 4CCs justified IMO the USFSA selection process and choices for alternates. I don’t think Ross would’ve touched Jason here. He could’ve also chosen to compete but declined but maybe it doesn’t matter, as I believe he is retiring. Still, he could’ve tried, done well and given the USFSA the proverbial finger
 
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