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

[Sylvia]

Copying out their post-SP "quick quotes" from the ISU website/2018 Worlds event page:


Vincent:

Coming up to this event I was training extremely well. I came here to do a job and I'm doing it so far. It felt amazing out there.
(On coming to the World Championships after the Winter Olympic Games) At the Olympics I didn't skate too badly but there were a lot of small mistakes which cost points. So my coaches worked on the technical aspects of the programs and my stability on landings. I've had a lot of skating skills lessons which have made me feel better on the ice. After the Olympics there's a mental and physical barrier and it's difficult to stay committed, to stay in the game mentally, but I hope I've done it.
(On his plans for the free program) I've been training clean programs with five or six quads but I plan to do five quads in the free here. I don't want to get ahead of myself.

Max:

It was a tough program but for the time that I had training I did the best that I can and I have no regrets. I’m somewhat proud of what I did but I’m really just here to support the boys Nate [Nathan Chen] and Vincent [Zhou] in case anything goes wrong and I can sneak in there and help them secure two [ETA: he meant 3] spots. But I’m really confident that those boys are going to lay it down and, hopefully, bring home two World medals. So I’m just here for support and to help them out as much as I can. I actually wasn’t training. I took time off, I was an alternate and I didn’t think it would ever happen so I had 3 or 4 weeks off, shame on me, then I got the call and came back and threw myself into it. I am happy that I qualified for the free but I’m really just here to support our two men.

Nathan:

Compared to my short program at the Olympics this was definitely redemptive, and compared to the Olympics I'm very happy with it. But there were a lot of small mistakes. I had to fight for it. It wasn't clean. It wasn't perfect, and that's what I'm striving for.
(On his plans for the long program) I think I'll do five quads. Six is very challenging, very risky. It makes the second half of the program very risky. So I think I'll stick with five.

In tomorrow's free skate, Max skates #7 (first in 2nd group) and Vincent #23 and Nathan #24 will close out the event.

 

[Skittl1321]

Max means three spots, right?

 

[Sylvia]

Max means three spots, right?

Yes. ETA: This is what USFS has posted on their website for Max: http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=91405&type=media

“It was a tough program, but given the time that I had to train, I did my best,” Aaron said. “I have no regrets. I’m really here to help support [Nathan and Vincent]. If something were to go wrong, hopefully I could sneak in and help get the United States three spots, but I’m pretty confident that those boys are going to lay it down and hopefully bring home two World medals. I’m like the support dog. I just want to help them out as much as I can and have the best skate I can.”

U.S. men performing in club ice shows recently and upcoming include:

Jason Brown, Alex Johnson & Paul Wylie in Aspen, CO last weekend: https://twitter.com/JerrySolomon_SG/status/976782297960734720
Looks like Hamilton is one of Jason's show numbers (for SOI as well, I assume): https://twitter.com/JerrySolomon_SG/status/975755502725591040

Tim Dolensky in Moorhead Minnesota, near Fargo, ND, this weekend (March 23-25): http://www.kvrr.com/2018/03/22/moorhead-ice-show-celebrating-40-years-special-guest/

Alex Johnson in Bemidji, Minnesota this weekend (March 24-25): https://www.bemidjifigureskatingclub.com/page/show/636542-come-join-the-fun-learn-to-skate-

ETA - Ross Miner in Amherst, Massachusetts this Sunday, March 25 at 2 pm: http://www.scamherst.org

 

[VGThuy]

Max is such a class act.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I have to say I'm so proud of Vincent. From a respectable but not earth-shattering GP season and a tech panel at Nationals that did NOT want him on the Olympic or World team to a great Olympic showing (with appropriate PCS) and third at the Worlds SP. I hope he can carry it over in the LP but no matter what, he made himself a contender this season and made the very difficult first-year transition from juniors to seniors a successful one...and during an Olympic year where it's the most difficult because people are mostly like "we're full, come back later."

YAYYYYY. Ever since August I wanted the Junior World Champion on the OLY TEAM!!!

Now if he can medal tomorrow when was the last time a Junior World Champion IN MENS went on to medal at Worlds the very next year?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I am in LOVE with Nathans SP costume now. Anyone else?

Classic, clean, striking.

 

[VGThuy]

I sort of wish the greyish black on top matched his pants and it reminds me of a black and white cookie. But I do think it gives him a striking look and shows off his physique to the max.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

it reminds me of a black and white cookie

LMAO I just bought those at Trader Joe's yesterday...

Maybe thats why I'm partial.

 

[Sylvia]

Now if he can medal tomorrow when was the last time a Junior World Champion IN MENS went on to medal at Worlds the very next year?

All I can think of is Artur Gachinski winning bronze at 2010 Junior Worlds and then bronze at 2011 Worlds in Moscow.

Vincent Zhou answers "How do you feel after your skate [SP] today?" (yesterday) on the ISU's YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAswCBO0Ry0

ETA link to the Men's SP "small" medals ceremony (starting around the 5-minute mark) & press conference for the top 3 yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy65fSPazFw

 

[clairecloutier]

I sort of wish the greyish black on top matched his pants and it reminds me of a black and white cookie. But I do think it gives him a striking look and shows off his physique to the max.

Nathan's costume isn't bad, but I was thinking last night that I'd like to see him switch to straight leg trousers instead of the skinny look he's wearing now. I feel like it might help improve his leg line. He doesn't have the longest legs, and the skinny look emphasizes that instead of hiding it a bit.

I just caught up w/ the men's SP last night and I was quite amazed to see Vincent in 3rd! Definitely his best skate of the season.

TBH, I felt that both Nathan and Vincent paled quite a bit artistically compared to Uno and Kolyada. But they did bring it in the quad dept. So kudos for that. I think they said Vincent would be the youngest World medalist since Plushenko? That's quite an interesting achievement, if it were to happen.

 

[jlai]

I am not a fan of Vincent, but I kind of get this feeling that Vincent can win this outright. He has no fear; he's feeling less pressure than Nathan. And he is not quite so exhausted.

 

[mag]

Nathan scored very well (for him) in spite of a couple of forward landings on his quads but he rotated them,

I am confused, if he landed forward then he didn’t rotate them. (I haven’t watched Nathan’s Skate so I am actually confused, not being a jerk)

ETA: Wait, nevermind, I know what you mean. His body pitched forward as he landed, not that his blade was forward. Clearly not enough coffee this morning.

 

[Fiero425]

I am not a fan of Vincent, but I kind of get this feeling that Vincent can win this outright. He has no fear; he's feeling less pressure than Nathan. And he is not quite so exhausted.

The judges won't allow it! He had a good program with a 4L for Gawd-sake and he's still running behind his seniors! Kolyada had 1 quad and Nathan had shaky landings! Max way back and I can't understand it besides him not being well enough known internationally!

 

[jlai]

He's skating second to last. We know skating order has an effect on pcs and results.

 

[berthesghost]

Max Aaron is not we’ll known internationally? Compared to who, Madonna? Didn’t he win SA? I feel like he’s been doing every major int comp save Olys for a while now.

ETA: ok I refreshed my memory: he’s been to worlds 4 times in the past 6 years and he’s finished top 10 the last 3 times, so yeah, they know him pretty well.

 

[umbuma]

Not trying to be mean. But where were the steps into Nathans solo jump?

 

[Willin]

@umbuma The steps can be either into the combo or the solo jump. There were steps into the combo.

 

[VGThuy]

@umbuma The steps can be either into the combo or the solo jump. There were steps into the combo.

Really? Is that a rule change?

 

[misskarne]

All I can think of is Artur Gachinski winning bronze at 2010 Junior Worlds and then bronze at 2011 Worlds in Moscow.

Which, incidentally, is still the last time a Russian man won a Worlds medal.

Not trying to be mean. But where were the steps into Nathans solo jump?

He must a designated "big name" who doesn't get called on those.

@umbuma The steps can be either into the combo or the solo jump. There were steps into the combo.

No. It has to be the solo jump.

Max's comments combined with Ben Agosto's comment on Ice Talk made me cry so much. He's so down on himself that he views himself only as backup, and all of that combined doesn't make it too hard to read between the lines.

 

[Willin]

It is technically the rule but it doesn't seem to be enforced. They don't penalize if one adds the combo onto the solo jump out of steps...

 

[misskarne]

It is technically the rule but it doesn't seem to be enforced. They don't penalize if one adds the combo onto the solo jump out of steps...

It is selectively enforced. The lower down the order you are/the smaller the flag next to your name, the more likely you will get pinned for it.

I know commentators =/= judges, but really, the problem with it was highlighted by that awful Hanretty at CoC men's SP: he made a point to really complain about Max and Boyang not having them - and was dead silent on Vincent, Mikhail, and at least three other men who didn't have them. In other words, if he liked the skater, he didn't care; if he didn't like them, he took extra care to point it out.

I think the steps before should become a tech panel thing and it should be like the ChSq - you have it or you don't. It wouldn't be a complete fix, but it would help.

 

[alexikeguchi]

Congratulations to Nathan Chen on becoming the new World Champion! It may have been a seriously fugly competition, but Nathan at least did himself proud. And good on Max for coming in as third(?) alternate and helping the US hang on to three spots for men.

 

[Angela-Fan]

Nathan!!!

 

[Sylvia]

THANK YOU, MAX!!!

“...If something were to go wrong, hopefully I could sneak in and help get the United States three spots ... I’m like the support dog. I just want to help them out as much as I can and have the best skate I can.”--Max after his SP

YOU'RE AWESOME!!

 

[Max Enchilada]

I am so happy Max Aaron came through and saved 3 spots for the US men!! He is such a nice guy, I bet he even gave Vincent the tissues to dry his tears.

 

[StasiyaGalustyanLove]

I am so happy Max Aaron came through and saved 3 spots for the US men!! He is such a nice guy, I bet he even gave Vincent the tissues to dry his tears.

My wife and I really enjoyed his skate today, I will watch it again and probably need tissues myself after-ward!

 

[Fiero425]

My wife and I really enjoyed his skate today, I will watch it again and probably need tissues myself after-ward!

I missed him; not waking until the last 3 or 4 skaters! What a messy ending, but happy for Nathan; the only one of the favorites to stand up after all's said and done! What in the world happened? (no pun intended) No wonder they usually skip it after the Olympics; Yagudin one of a few to perform well after winning back in '02!

 

[misskarne]

Holy Jesus.

Thankyou Nathan for saving the whole event.

Thankyou Max for saving the third spot. Now please stay in and use it next year. I think you earned that.

I just want to give poor Vincent a big hug. He looked so devastated.

 

[jlai]

Wow crazy to think that second year into seniors the only thing Nathan hasn't won or medaled in is the Olympics

 

[olympic]

I am thrilled by Nathan's win. He has won every major title except the Olympics now. But jeez, what happened to the men? More than Vincent, Boyang must really be feeling horrible right now.