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

[gravy]

Does anyone know why Joshua Farris only got one GP assignment? Thanks!

He got 2. The other was the CoC, but he withdrew because of an injury.

 

[calbskate]

He got 2. The other was the CoC, but he withdrew because of an injury.

ah thanks. Do u know what kind of injury? (sorry if someone already talked about it) He's going to NHK it seems?

 

[onyxrose81]

Ankle sprain.

 

[karne]

ah thanks. Do u know what kind of injury? (sorry if someone already talked about it) He's going to NHK it seems?

He sprained his ankle twice in six weeks during the summer. He'd only just started doing triple Axels again around the time of Evening with Champions, and he withdrew from CoC because he wasn't completely ready. He'll be at NHK.

 

[ice coverage]

Rippon skates, choreographs with deep love of craft
Two-time world junior champ gears up for quadrennial, creates for others

Posted 11/22/14
by Jean-Christophe Berlot,
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2014...n-skates-choreographs-with-deep-love-of-craft​

 

[Mrs. P]

Sectionals are over and we got some national qualifiers...and some interesting things to watch!!

Nathan Chen, 243.89 (167.70 FS; 1st Pacific Coast) -1st in Jr. in 2014 and 2012; 3rd in Jr. in 2013; reigning World Jr. Bronze medalist
Jordan Moeller, 217.18 (1st Midwestern) -2nd in Jr. in 2014
Alexander Johnson 212.36 (2nd Midwestern) - WD in 2014, 7th in 2013
Sean Rabbitt, 202.26 (2nd Pacific Coast) - 14th in 2014
Grant Hochstein 200.95 (1st Eastern) - 11th in 2014
Shotaro Omori 193.43 (3rd Pacific Coast) - WD from Nationals due to injury in 2014; 2nd in Jr. in 2013
Timothy Dolensky 185.29 (2nd Eastern) -13th in 2013
Patrick Rupp, 183.01 (3rd Eastern) - 5th in Jr. in 2014 Eastern Sectionals
Phillip Warren 179.66 (4th Pacific Coast) -16th in 2014
Jimmy Ma, 177.53 (4th Eastern) - 3rd in Jr. in 2014
Sebastian Payannet 146.64 (3rd Midwestern) - 5th in Sr. at 2014 Midwestern Sectionals
Robert Przepioski 136.06 (4th Midwestern) - 19th in 2014

With the 9 men who have byes, we have a field of 21.

Random note: Scott Dyer, who placed 5th at Pacific Coast Sectionals, would have qualified had he stuck to Midwestern sectionals, as he did last year.

***

So we got to talk about Nathan Chen. That FS score is insane. It's not only the best among the U.S. men by far, but it would have been enough to win TEB FS and overall today. That's how good it is. He did not attempt a 3A, but attempted at least two quads and got one of them. The only error he made was on the 1st quad. He backloads his program (six freakin' jumping passes). This guy could be a spoiler to the party.
Of course on paper, he currently has 8th best SB score (208.16 from JGP Croatia, where he received the bronze medal). He looks good to have a nice senior debut this year.

Grant Hochstein, who has the 10th best SB score (204.37) has an opportunity to improve on that score at his second senior B, Golden Spin of Zagreb.

Jordan Moeller has the 13th best SB score (189.81) from the U.S. International Senior Classic. Alexander Johnson is one up in 12th from his appearance at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic (193.06). Timothy Dolensky is one up from that in 11th, also from the Skate Canada Autumn Classic (196.93). Shotoro Omori struggled on the JGP this season and has the 14th best SB score among the U.S. men from his JGP in Germany (173.54).

 

[StitchMonkey]

So do we know if Nathan Chen is planning to jump to seniors or what? Would he be looking at world's or jr. worlds this year?

 

[Mrs. P]

So do we know if Nathan Chen is planning to jump to seniors or what? Would he be looking at world's or jr. worlds this year?

IF he places in the top 3 with that kind of score and ratified quads w/ + GOE, they will be sending him to Worlds, no doubt.

Anything outside the top 3 would mean another trip to Jr. Worlds.

Finally looking at the protocols, and the insane thing is that he got that score without an insane amount of +GOE. He got really great GOE on his step sequences, but the actual jumps were mostly +1.

His BV was 78.36. For perspective the TES (BV+GOE) of the top 3 highest U.S. men internationally is Max Aaron (83.46 from Skate Canada), Jason Brown (80.58 from Rostelecom Cup) and Adam Rippon (77.82 from Finlandia Trophy).

This means that if all he did was the jump content planned and received NO GOE, he would still have been third in TES among the US men.

Of course ice is slippery and we'll have to see if he pulls of this program at nationals..but it's certainly really interesting to see!

 

[ice coverage]

.... With the 8 men who have byes, we have a field of 20. ...

Stupid question:

Who are the eight men who have byes?​

Top five at Nationals:

1. Jeremy Abbott, Detroit SC
2. Jason Brown, Skokie Valley SC
3. Max Aaron, Broadmoor SC
4. Joshua Farris, Broadmoor SC
5. Richard Dornbush, All Year FSC

Four others with GP assignments:

• Carriere
• Rippon
• Razzano
• Miner

So Carriere or Miner gets left out?? ​

Glad that Sho Omori qualified. Congratulations to him and all the others who advance to Nats.

 

[Mrs. P]

Stupid question:

Who are the eight men who have byes?​

Top five at Nationals:

1. Jeremy Abbott, Detroit SC
2. Jason Brown, Skokie Valley SC
3. Max Aaron, Broadmoor SC
4. Joshua Farris, Broadmoor SC
5. Richard Dornbush, All Year FSC

Four others with GP assignments:

• Carriere
• Rippon
• Razzano
• Miner

So Carriere or Miner gets left out??

I miscounted. My bad. Will edit my post.

 

[Jammers]

Wonder why Nathan isn't even trying the 3axel? Good for him though for going for the quad when he gets the axel he will be tough to beat. Just wish Jason would try a quad it's not doing him any favors to be so far behind technically compared to the other guys.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Videos of the men seem easier to find than of the ladies.

0316seisato has been very helpful.

Nathan Chen SP
Nathan Chen FS

Jordan Moeller SP
Jordan Moeller FS

Sean Rabbitt SP
Sean Rabbitt FS

Shotaro Omori SP
Shotaro Omor FS

Alexander Johnson SP
Alexander Johnson FS

 

[Meoima]

Nathan has incredible skating skill for his age, but his jumps are not secured in my eyes, his landing makes me cringe sometimes. His jumps are small, indeed, but he's still small so I guess it's not much of a problem. He still lacks projection, as some poster has stated in the US national thread, I agree. Nathan reminds me of PChiddy when he was 15. Even though PChiddy didn't jump like that. They are just too much alike.

At first, when I heard of his scores I thought he might be much better than Shoma Uno. But now after watching his performance I don't know. Shoma has better projection and conviction in his skate. But still Shoma is almost 17 while Nathan is just 15. So I guess in a few years, baring injuries, I might take Nathan as the better skater. Still, junior worlds this year is going to be very interesting.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Abbot was sensational at NHK. No quad. But still sensational. The quality, the charisma, the sense that he loves being on the ice...they were all there, and it just worked. Abbott has that little something extra that just draws you in. Spins were so good. Abbott. Yes.

 

[centerpt1]

Abbot was sensational at NHK. No quad. But still sensational. The quality, the charisma, the sense that he loves being on the ice...they were all there, and it just worked. Abbott has that little something extra that just draws you in. Spins were so good. Abbott. Yes.

He was one with that music-I think it helps him.

 

[yyyskate]

No 3A for Nathan in SP as well?

 

[Plisskin]

Inconsistencies aside I do love that the US keeps churning out such artistic skaters. Technically such disastrous programs from Farris at NHK, but even in those disastrous programs you could how brilliant he is artistically. Same with Rippon last season. Loved his Afternoon of a Faun LP. Wish he would have kept that this season.

 

[Jammers]

Inconsistencies aside I do love that the US keeps churning out such artistic skaters. Technically such disastrous programs from Farris at NHK, but even in those disastrous programs you could how brilliant he is artistically. Same with Rippon last season. Loved his Afternoon of a Faun LP. Wish he would have kept that this season.

Problem is artistic will not get you to the top of the heap unless you land some jumps. The fact that their are 2 Russians in the GPF tells you artistry doesn't matter. Kotvun and Voronov don't have a artistic bone in their bodies but can land jumps and quads and the American men can't land their jumps and only a couple are even trying quads. If you merged the Russian and American guys together you'd have a heck of a skater since they both have what the other needs.

 

[Plisskin]

Problem is artistic will not get you to the top of the heap unless you land some jumps. The fact that their are 2 Russians in the GPF tells you artistry doesn't matter. Kotvun and Voronov don't have a artistic bone in their bodies but can land jumps and quads and the American men can't land their jumps and only a couple are even trying quads. If you merged the Russian and American guys together you'd have a heck of a skater since they both have what the other needs.

I know this. But in spite of that, I love that the U.S. Men consistently churn out some damn good artistic skaters. I'd rather watch quad- less Jason Brown/ Joshua Farris, or an inconsistent Jeremy Abbott and Adam Rippon over Kovtun and Voronov. I'm a fan of Women's Artistic gymnastics and it's kind of funny but the roles are reversed in that sport. The Russians are artistic but inconsistent while the Americans, whom generally aren't artistic, are consistent and have higher difficulty and usually win.
Merging Kovtun or Voronov with Jeremy Abbott or Joshua Farris would be a GOAT type of skater.

 

[silverfoxes]

Problem is artistic will not get you to the top of the heap unless you land some jumps. The fact that their are 2 Russians in the GPF tells you artistry doesn't matter. Kotvun and Voronov don't have a artistic bone in their bodies but can land jumps and quads and the American men can't land their jumps and only a couple are even trying quads. If you merged the Russian and American guys together you'd have a heck of a skater since they both have what the other needs.

Voronov is far more artistic than Kovtun. They don't belong in the same sentence. There are other ways to be artistic besides trying to look angst-ridden all the time.