- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
He's looking for ore, not the diminutive
He's quite boring. There's no transition, no choreography in his programs.
Going out on a limb, I say Abbott, Miner for the world team this year, and Abbott, Miner, and Dornbush for the Olympic team in 2014!!
herios, I think that is true. (i.e., if he doesn't do it, he won't win)
However, this is the first year that Ross has attempted to add a quad to his programs. He's been ambitious, and has added a 4S attempt to both SP & LP. He's had 3 or so competitions so far where he has tried quads (unless he tried one at Liberty this summer? that I'm not sure about); for sure Salt Lake Senior B, Skate Canada, and NHK. This is his first success with it. He went about it the same way when he added the 3A-not much success, but when he got it down, things improved fairly quickly. Of course, the quad Sal is more challenging than the 3A, and this may be the only time he ever lands a 4S in a competition. But at this point, I think it is too early to know whether he will reduce it to practice, like his 3A, or if it will remain a some time thing for him.
If you think about it, when Brian Boitano was younger (leading right up to the season before the 1988 Olympics) people were saying he was a jumper but not much of an artist. He then went to Sandra Bezic for his Olympic year choreography. The right packaging made him unforgettable. I think Ross has gorgeous basic skating skills, and with the right packaging and a little more experience, he just may have a chance to be another unforgettable skater from the US. He certainly has the basic skating skills and CONSISTENCY to build from!
As I (and many others) pointed out on the NHK Men's FS thread, Ross is a very underrated skater. But now he has the highest overall SB score out of the U.S. men. And that 4S was beautiful in the FS (though he missed it in the SP). I think he needs more work on making it consistent. But given his past work with his 3A -- I do think this is possible.
Does anyone think he can rise up the ranks and perhaps even win? Let's discuss.
Maybe. Miner's LP is boring this year compared to last year's Casablanca program but that quad at NHK was impressive. Abbott just never, ever seems to be able to but it together but when he does, it usually at Nationals. I think Abbott will skate well enough to win, by Miner may get that second spot if Johnny and Evan don't show (which I don't feel is very likely at this point).
If you think about it, when Brian Boitano was younger (leading right up to the season before the 1988 Olympics) people were saying he was a jumper but not much of an artist. He then went to Sandra Bezic for his Olympic year choreography. The right packaging made him unforgettable. I think Ross has gorgeous basic skating skills, and with the right packaging and a little more experience, he just may have a chance to be another unforgettable skater from the US. He certainly has the basic skating skills and CONSISTENCY to build from!