State of the U.S. Men's Figure Skating for 2014-15

[LRK]

Thx as always for your data, Mrs. P. And best to Dornbush in Shanghai.

The latest from the ISU stats:

ISU World Standings

http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsmen.htm​

1 4182 Yuzuru HANYU
2 3774 Patrick CHAN
3 3376 Tatsuki MACHIDA
4 3166 Javier FERNANDEZ
5 3152 Denis TEN
6 3037 Takahito MURA
7 2765 Max AARON
8 2709 Daisuke TAKAHASHI
9 2625 Michal BREZINA
10 2566 Maxim KOVTUN
11 2481 Jason BROWN
12 2463 Sergei VORONOV
13 2449 Richard DORNBUSH
14 2443 Konstantin MENSHOV
15 2259 Han YAN​

Next USA man is Abbott at #21.​

ISU Season's World Ranking

http://www.isuresults.com/ws/wr/wrmen.htm​

1 968 Alexander PETROV
2 725 Shoma UNO
3 670 Takahito MURA
4 660 Jason BROWN
5 656 June Hyoung LEE
6 624 Max AARON
7 594 Nam NGUYEN
8 592 Stephen CARRIERE
9 570 Ross MINER
10 519 Sergei VORONOV​

Next USA man is Razzano at #20.​

Woohoo! Sorry about being OT, but as he's a new Favourite of mine, I couldn't help but be chuffed that he's doing so well!

 

[karne]

People can bash, pick on, take potshots at, and hate Max all they like, but the stats don't lie: #1 US Man in the World Standings and #2 US man in the season's rankings (and the difference is the difference between the points for silver and the points for bronze).

Not bad for someone who "can't skate" and "skates heavy" and "is just a jumper".

 

[Tavi...]

People can bash, pick on, take potshots at, and hate Max all they like, but the stats don't lie: #1 US Man in the World Standings and #2 US man in the season's rankings (and the difference is the difference between the points for silver and the points for bronze).

Not bad for someone who "can't skate" and "skates heavy" and "is just a jumper".

Out of curiosity, why is he higher in rankings than Jason? Because he went to worlds or won more medals or what?

 

[Mrs. P]

Out of curiosity, why is he higher in rankings than Jason? Because he went to worlds or won more medals or what?

Namely cause Max has more points from the 2012-2013 season. That year Max was in seniors while Jason was in juniors, i.e. Max's 7th place finish at Worlds (447 points with 70 percent modifier) yielded more points than Jason's 2nd place finish at Jr. Worlds (315)

As noted earlier, Jason has slightly more points for the 2014-2015 season. Last season, Max had slightly more points (1,361 v. 1,328) due to a better placement at Worlds than Jason at the Olympics and the fact he won his Senior B while Jason finish second at his.

 

[apgold]

I have to admit that I wasn't too familiar with Stephen before this event. I do like his skating style quite a bit, so I'm hopeful for him this season. Max, too, impressed but I have to admit on the shallow side, I preferred the slicked back look to the Jewfro. It's too distracting while he's skating. It's the same reason the ladies wear their hair in a bun or ponytail.

I am also impressed by Max's sister Madeline. She would also make a beautiful ice dancer given her ballet training.

 

[Tavi...]

Namely cause Max has more points from the 2012-2013 season. That year Max was in seniors while Jason was in juniors, i.e. Max's 7th place finish at Worlds (447 points with 70 percent modifier) yielded more points than Jason's 2nd place finish at Jr. Worlds (315)

As noted earlier, Jason has slightly more points for the 2014-2015 season. Last season, Max had slightly more points (1,361 v. 1,328) due to a better placement at Worlds than Jason at the Olympics and the fact he won his Senior B while Jason finish second at his.

Thank you, Mrs. P - great, clear explanation!

 

[chuckm]

The Seasons World Ranking at this point is pretty meaningless, since it includes only the top juniors from the JGP and the few senior men who have competed in Challenges/Senior Bs and two GPs. The ISU World Ranking will change rapidly from week to week after each GP event as well.

 

[ice coverage]

The Seasons World Ranking at this point is pretty meaningless, since it includes only the top juniors from the JGP and the few senior men who have competed in Challenges/Senior Bs and two GPs. The ISU World Ranking will change rapidly from week to week after each GP event as well.

For those of us who appreciate Mrs. P's score lists -- and her method of assigning score-tracker points to come up with an overall hierarchy -- the ISU charts are no less and no more meaningful.

We are well aware they all are ever-changing snapshots that are influenced by who already has competed and who has not.

 

[noskates]

Golden - I agree about Steven Carriere. Honestly, had he not fallen in his long program I think it would have been very tight between him and Max! There was only .10 difference in the final scores! Couldn't be much closer! In fact, that fall was probably the difference between Steven being on the podium and not being on the podium. Steven skated a beautiful SP and LP and seemed really "involved" again. He has that nice tight rotation on his jumps and his choreo - with the exception of the dreadful music changes - was spot on! Last seasons rankings really don't mean diddly squat - it's what the skaters do this season that matters.

While I have my favorites (yes, more than 1) I do think Nationals is anybody's for the taking! I just don't see a clear favorite because each of the top men has his strengths and his weaknesses. Some of the weaknesses are more pronounced in some than others, but all of them have their strong points! As I said before - it's going to be an exciting season!

 

[chuckm]

For those of us who appreciate Mrs. P's score lists -- and her method of assigning score-tracker points to come up with an overall hierarchy -- the ISU charts are no less and no more meaningful.

We are well aware they all are ever-changing snapshots that are influenced by who already has competed and who has not.

The ISU World Ranking is more stable since it lists all the skaters, reflects results over a 2+ year period, and includes more varied types of competitions.

 

[ice coverage]

The ISU World Ranking is more stable since it lists all the skaters, reflects results over a 2+ year period, and includes more varied types of competitions.

Yes, more stable -- but the ISU World Standings too have been changing week by week as each Challenger event and GP is completed.

For example, don't want to jinx Dornbush, but if he skates well at Cup of China, his position within the World Standings could change relative to Max and Jason. Before the season started, he was the top U.S. man in the World Standings (ahead of Max by just eight points).

http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?41129-Max-Aaron&p=956343&viewfull=1#post956343​

 

[LRK]

The Seasons World Ranking at this point is pretty meaningless, since it includes only the top juniors from the JGP and the few senior men who have competed in Challenges/Senior Bs and two GPs. The ISU World Ranking will change rapidly from week to week after each GP event as well.

'Tis true, I know - but all the more reason to enjoy the moment while it lasts.

 

[ice coverage]

'Tis true, I know - but all the more reason to enjoy the moment while it lasts.

Indeed. :yes:
Thanks, LRK. :agree:

 

[LRK]

Indeed. :yes:
Thanks, LRK. :agree:

No, thank you for the info!

Oh, and I just copied the season's ranking part in the Petrov fan thread - of course crediting you ; I hope this is all right?

 

[80sskatergirl]

Golden - I agree about Steven Carriere. Honestly, had he not fallen in his long program I think it would have been very tight between him and Max! There was only .10 difference in the final scores! Couldn't be much closer! In fact, that fall was probably the difference between Steven being on the podium and not being on the podium. Steven skated a beautiful SP and LP and seemed really "involved" again. He has that nice tight rotation on his jumps and his choreo - with the exception of the dreadful music changes - was spot on! Last seasons rankings really don't mean diddly squat - it's what the skaters do this season that matters.

While I have my favorites (yes, more than 1) I do think Nationals is anybody's for the taking! I just don't see a clear favorite because each of the top men has his strengths and his weaknesses. Some of the weaknesses are more pronounced in some than others, but all of them have their strong points! As I said before - it's going to be an exciting season!

Poor Stephen lost on spins. One of the spins was absolutely dreadful. If he can pull those spins together I think he will surely be a dark horse in Russia...

 

[karne]

Poor Stephen lost on spins. One of the spins was absolutely dreadful. If he can pull those spins together I think he will surely be a dark horse in Russia...

Quite possibly. But remember Max and Jason will also be there, and I'd wager heavily on both of them having improved in the interim also; and that's not even to start with the Russians (I believe Menshov, Gachinski, and...Pitkeev, I think?). And then Fernandez...it's a pretty deep field.

I'm just glad I have only one favourite at CoC and none at TEB. I blew nearly a quarter of my internet bandwidth for the month on Skate Canada...

 

[silverfoxes]

Gachinski, Voronov and Kolyada are the Russians skating at CoR. Well, Kolyada is still on the roster, but I'm not sure if he's going to be fit to skate yet.

 

[chuckm]

Poor Artur! I had hopes for him at SA, but he self-destructed in the FS. I felt so sorry for him in the KnC as the wrath of Tarasova descended on him full blast.

Voronov is boring-enough. I prefer Menshov even if he is a bit rough around the edges.

 

[ice coverage]

Carriere attached a sweet caption to the U.S. class photo from Skate Canada International:

@sjcarriere
Kelowna, B.C
Team USA! I miss everyone SO much already!!! #SCI2014
http://instagram.com/p/u_IFeWBNHu/ (posted Nov 4)​

No, thank you for the info!

Oh, and I just copied the season's ranking part in the Petrov fan thread - of course crediting you ; I hope this is all right?

Most definitely all right. Petrov is lucky to have your support.

 

[noskates]

Went back and watched Stephen's LP again. I really think he could be the dark horse this year at Nats if he can put 2 good programs together. He really is nice to watch and he's got it all.