2013 US Nationals Senior Men LP

[golden411]

@MaxTAaron

Thank you Omaha! What an amazing week! Words cannot express how grateful I am for all the support EVERYONE has given me! #DREAMSDOCOMETRUE
6:02 PM - 28 Jan 13

[Mathman]

I've been looking for Aaron's FS several times with high hope to see brilliant skating, but really disappointed. What kind of choreography was that, especially after both 4Ss. It looked like he totally forgot what he needed to do and just walk around after the first, and looked like cleaning/rubbing his nose after the second.

Naw, after the second quad where he is standing there doing nothing he is "being a Jet." The next time he is "making our hearts, one heart."

[Olympia]

Naw, after the second quad where he is standing there doing nothing he is "being a Jet." The next time he is "making our hearts, one heart."

Bring back the Duchesnays!

[silverlake22]

Max apparently has "chola" eyebrows, so are we sure he's supposed to be a jet and not a shark??
And realistically Josh and Jason likely haven't given up on trying to skate as well as possible leading up to Sochi and hope to make the team, they just aren't being vocal about it and won't put up a stink about being sent to junior events because they are too polite and well-mannered, and are young enough for juniors, and also realize there's about 8 guys gunning for the 2014 team so it's anyone's game anyways. Further, acting entitled and cocky at 18 is not going to get them any fans or favors from the judges so I'm just happy to see them enjoying themselves and being happy with their accomplishments. I think most people agree Josh deserved to be 3rd, arguably 2nd, here, but he was thrilled with his scores and placement regardless which shows he and his team have his head screwed on straight and thank goodness for that. Also, Jason didn't make excuses for his mistakes and acknowledged that going for two 3a in his FS is new so he's just happy he went for both of them and landed one in combination, and that he knows the process takes awhile. They are classy guys and even if they are sort of accepting that USFS wants them to "wait their turn" and that irks some fans, it shows good perspective on their part.

[KwanIsALegand]

Who is Alexander?? He is pretty amazing! I saw that he is 23, is he just popping into seniors this year? He is going to go far he is strong technically and artistically, he has such great flow over the ice.

[Skater Boy]

really good skating. I am happy for Max though I am not sure how he will do internationally. I wonder really how reasonable was it to think Evan would have been competitive in 3 weeks or even 6. this will be exciting. USA is sending two men with little commercial appeal so far; while many sport enthusiasts wil have heard of Weir, Abbott and Lysacek I think Miner will be a stretch and Aaron a bigger stretch unless you are a skating enthusiast - and a true enthusiast. But let their skating speak - I do think Max is vulnerable. He could skate like this but I am not sure his pcs won't be crushed. I actually, gulp think Canada's no. 2 man was better this year - Reynolds despite bad hair.

[Jaana]

Congratulations to Aaron for his win!!! WOW, what a wonderful jumper he is.... In my opinion if one has this kind of jumping ability, the PCS can be built upon it with more training and with the help of an excellent choreography, etc. After all Aaron is still rather young, isn´t he? He can still develop in many areas. It also seems that he has a good body type to look pleasing to the eye on the ice, and that helps a lot. He is no Elvis Stojko....

[Moment]

Alex Johnson's FS is finally up on Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-1AI1fXdiE

I think I'm in love!

Brilliant!

[karne]

- so happy that Jason Brown had a relatively good competition. That's one more 3A he's landed...and the sky's the limit as long as he gets the jumps
- LOVE Josh Farris...goodness, if he continues to do what he does, Jason gets his jumps, and Max develops his artistry, the US will have quite a formidable trio next post-2014...

Just out of interest, here is a rather familiar-looking podium...

2010 US National Championships: Junior Men

1. Jason Brown 195.22
2. Joshua Farris 195.03
3. Max Aaron 191.86
(4. Scott Dyer 178.49)

Did Farris leave Tom after he broke his foot?

Yes, he did. Thank goodness for that. He's become a much better skater, IMO. And funnily enough, hasn't been injured since...while getting injured before was an annual event...

Next season I'd like to see him work with a more known choreographer and maybe try a new type of music for one of his programs to see if he has it in him to become a little less white bread.

While I agree with you on the music genre - I'd love to see him do something other than classical next season - I feel like currently the choreography is part of his development. It was almost like Damon Allen's decision to allow Josh to choreograph parts of his own programs skyrocketed Josh's artistic growth. Parts of Clair de Lune, parts of the original Rach LP, and almost all of the Bach SP are Josh's, not Damon's.

They are classy guys and even if they are sort of accepting that USFS wants them to "wait their turn" and that irks some fans, it shows good perspective on their part.

If the USFSA was smart, they'd market the hell out of these guys in a couple of years. How good does it look for the sport to have these two young enormous talents who are so level-headed and well-grounded? There's nothing diva-ish or snarky about them, heck, they have a great rivalry on ice and are good friends off it. It's a PR goldmine.

[Icey]

For what it's worth, Javier Fernandez landed THREE QUADS in his free skate (one in combo with a 3T!) this weekend at European's. He won the title. The USFSA knew they couldn't send Abbott to World's.

And the silver and bronze medalist, both landed two quads in their free program.

[Skater Boy]

the American men will find it tough to eat Javier - can anyone really touch him if he lands the axel and three quads? Poor Chan must be thinking he should retire; no one can compete with that really.

[Tonichelle]

the American men will find it tough to eat Javier -

Yes I think anyone but a cannibal would find it hard to eat Javi!

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

[Jammers]

the American men will find it tough to eat Javier - can anyone really touch him if he lands the axel and three quads? Poor Chan must be thinking he should retire; no one can compete with that really.

Chan has way superior skating skills compared to Javier and if Chan lands his quads it won't even be close.

[noskates]

I got lost in uTube land yesterday and came across a Jason Brown performance to MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This!" I swear I watched it more than several times. It's a different Jason than we're used to seeing and the boy.can.dance! So much talent, so much musicallity and so much personality on the ice. I think it was from Evening with Champions or some such program last September. (wait, I'll go find it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE4FNDys1Tk

Anyway, I just think it shows the depth this young man has. I like that his coach and the USFSA isn't rushing him into anything. Get the 3A down, get a quad, and add that performance capability and we'll definitely have a winner. When you look at Jason's performances (this cute silly one plus competition) and you look at Aaron's performance (yes he has the jumps) there is no comparison in my mind for the future! JMO of course.

[loveskating]

To me, Aaron's program popped and Miner's didn't. I don't know about ticking off CoP bullets on the PCS side, but Aaron's performance held my interest for four-and-a-half minutes.

I am not worried about Worlds. Go, skate, what happens happens.

I thought Minor did a superb job and he is really loving what he is doing. But I spotted Max right away during practices, and I predicted he is going to win. His athletic ability and dorkines when he skates, is something I realy found exiting! Also Alexander was amazing to watch! Like you , I am not worried about worlds! I thought the judges did a great job in the senior level! Just great.