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

[shiroKJ]

That is an insanely packed 2nd half. SIX jumping passes? That's extremely unbalanced. I mean, why not go even more overboard and put the 3Z in the 2nd half instead of a 2A?

Looks like they're trying to play the COP game as best they could without a quad. Don't really like it all jammed together but it might help garner more points. :think:

 

[Mrs. P]

Looks like they're trying to play the COP game as best they could without a quad. Don't really like it all jammed together but it might help garner more points. :think:

It's not really jammed together. He's done a 3-5 layout and I dont think he'd just ticking off the jumps....

 

[ice coverage]

Big sections of this article are devoted to Farris and to Moeller

Tar Heel tales: Farris revisits scene of 2011 travails
Martin endures roller-coaster year; Moeller makes big leap with two Axels

Posted 1/22/15
by Lynn Rutherford and Amy Rosewater
http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2015/01/22/107127720​

 

[karne]

That is an insanely packed 2nd half. SIX jumping passes? That's extremely unbalanced. I mean, why not go even more overboard and put the 3Z in the 2nd half instead of a 2A?

Why not? Max does it. It's great and so exciting to watch as he actually gets stronger as the program goes on.

Big sections of this article are devoted to Farris and to Moeller

Tar Heel tales: Farris revisits scene of 2011 travails
Martin endures roller-coaster year; Moeller makes big leap with two Axels

Posted 1/22/15
by Lynn Rutherford and Amy Rosewater
http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2015/01/22/107127720​

Thanks! I'm glad Josh seems relaxed and isn't being haunted by too many memories. But I'm not happy with Damon's comment about the ankle. Judging by that, the rest of the next four years is going to be spent on tenterhooks waiting for the next time it fails him. Ugh. Stupid Greensboro. Stupid Z. I had wondered before if all the sprained ankles were linked to the break, and it's one of those moments I hate being right.

 

[snowflake]

I'm not so sure about Brezina (who has always had unfortunate luck at Worlds) and Han Yan has really under-delivered this season (collision at CoC notwithstanding) and even last season he wasn't at his best. I'm pretty sure it'll be Kovtun getting the bronze, or Voronov if Kovtun bombs. If Ten has another big-moment skate, he can certainly edge them both out but he hasn't shown it this season in the FS.

You are probably right. But I meant that Brezina and Yan can also beat the top US skaters. Meaning the US men have to skate much better than they did this autumn to be among the 6 best at worlds. Which I really hope atll of them do

 

[centerpt1]

Per icenet interview- Jeremy not planning quads. Was seriously considering not competing at Nationals. "heart wasn't in it"


So he really is not gunning for the Championship. Looks like he wants a beautiful skate in memory of his dad.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2015/01/23/107162020/tar-heel-tales-abbott-out-to-make-late-dad-proud

 

[Meoima]

Per icenet interview- Jeremy not planning quads. Was seriously considering not competing at Nationals. "heart wasn't in it"
So he really is not gunning for the Championship. Looks like he wants a beautiful skate in memory of his dad.

Oh dear Jeremy, stay strong. I know how hard it is. my heart goes out to you.

 

[noskates]

I do feel badly for Jeremy. I hope he skates well. But I still wish he had lived up to his statement last year at Nationals and retired. It must be very difficult for him to concentrate on competing right now.

 

[ice coverage]

Per icenet interview- Jeremy not planning quads. Was seriously considering not competing at Nationals. "heart wasn't in it"


So he really is not gunning for the Championship. Looks like he wants a beautiful skate in memory of his dad.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2015/01/23/107162020/tar-heel-tales-abbott-out-to-make-late-dad-proud

The exact quote from the article:
"Abbott said he wrestled with the decision to compete at the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships this week after losing his father ..."

IMO, that is not the same as saying that he seriously considered not competing at Nats.

Anyway, best to Jeremy.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Oh man. Jeremy was easily the best of the night. Jeremy's skating is everything that is right with COP.

 

[gmyers]

Based on their programs American men don't think they need quads. Maybe because of lysacek in 2009 and 2010.

 

[shiroKJ]

Based on their programs American men don't think they need quads. Maybe because of lysacek in 2009 and 2010.

I'm not saying that what they think (Jeremy has said otherwise), but maybe they don't. I mean its not impossible for them to win without quads....They just need the other guys to completely meltdown which is possible. Especially with all the injuries going around.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

I don't think it's that the American men don't think they need quads. They've tried to become more complete skaters. I think they're well aware of just how deep the men's field is for when they go to worlds.

maybe they don't have quads that are competition-ready at the moment, and they'd like to focus on hitting everything with +GOE and level 4's to close the gap. I would like to see the American men step it up a little. But it might be very wise to keep the quads out of competition if they aren't ready. It wouldn't be good to earn a underrotator reputation, and that's what might happen if they insist on including quads before they're ready.

 

[kiara_bleu]

"We made strong statement fig skating can be an art as well as a sport,"

So Abbott said this at the press conference and I just have such an issue with this If the other top male skaters currently who are doing quads and getting rewarded for it are just jumping machines that's one thing. But that is not really the case...the likes of Patrick Chan, Hanyu, Javier, Denis Ten, Machida (before he retired) etc. have produced exciting/innovative/compelling/beautiful programs that blend artistry, or at least performance, with technical difficulty. If you ask me, some of these men have skated a program this season that has made a far more compelling case for figure skating as a sport and art form.

 

[Interspectator]

"We made strong statement fig skating can be an art as well as a sport,"

So Abbott said this at the press conference and I just have such an issue with this If the other top male skaters currently who are doing quads and getting rewarded for it are just jumping machines that's one thing. But that is not really the case...the likes of Patrick Chan, Hanyu, Javier, Denis Ten, Machida (before he retired) etc. have produced exciting/innovative/compelling/beautiful programs that blend artistry, or at least performance, with technical difficulty. If you ask me, some of these men have skated a program this season that has made a far more compelling case for figure skating as a sport and art form.

But that doesn't take away from the fact that these 3 skaters skated beautiful programs. Technique is about jumps, but ALSO about spins and steps too. So...I'd say Jeremy is correct in his assessment.

These guys did the following successfully: 3A, 3-3 Combination, 3lutz or flip. Also, Level 3,4 spins, Level 3,4 step sequences and choreo- Very sporty. The ONLY thing they didn't do was a quad. So, they'll tackle that next.

 

[Mrs. P]

"We made strong statement fig skating can be an art as well as a sport,"

So Abbott said this at the press conference and I just have such an issue with this If the other top male skaters currently who are doing quads and getting rewarded for it are just jumping machines that's one thing. But that is not really the case...the likes of Patrick Chan, Hanyu, Javier, Denis Ten, Machida (before he retired) etc. have produced exciting/innovative/compelling/beautiful programs that blend artistry, or at least performance, with technical difficulty. If you ask me, some of these men have skated a program this season that has made a far more compelling case for figure skating as a sport and art form.

I don't think Jeremy was making some universal statement about men's figure skating or making some sort of anti-quad statement. Rather, I think he was just simply saying that he felt that the results reflected the fact that the top skaters tonight blended both technical ability and artistry.

And quite frankly, a quad is not the only indicator of technical ability. I don't dispute that Machida, Yuzuru, Patrick Chan, etc. have done the same with their programs that have included quads, but I don't see why the three top performances tonight should be excluded from that club because it doesn't have a quad.

Jason's jumps very really good tonight. As Michael Weiss said in the commentary, it was like he has springs on his feet because his jumps had such nice height. Joshua's 3A was even better -- the best in the competition.

Jason's spins and steps were great, as were Josh's. Jeremy's steps were great as well.

But that doesn't take away from the fact that these 3 skaters skated beautiful programs. Technique is about jumps, but ALSO about spins and steps too. So...I'd say Jeremy is correct in his assessment.

These guys did the following successfully: 3A, 3-3 Combination, 3lutz or flip. Also, Level 3,4 spins, Level 3,4 step sequences and choreo- Very sporty. The ONLY thing they didn't do was a quad. So, they'll tackle that next.

Ha, you beat me to it!

 

[karne]

"We made strong statement fig skating can be an art as well as a sport,"

I have to admit this line did make me squirm a little, especially knowing who was fourth...it just seemed a little pointed in tone. But he was generally great in the press conference.

 

[kiara_bleu]

Okay I just read the rest of Abbott's answer about the quad:

To be rather blunt, I think this is a rather tired topic,” Abbott said. “We all know that we have to have a quad at the world stage to medal … but I think that attention needs to be paid to detail. … Figure skating is a craft, and the craft can sometimes be a little overlooked. I think it’s important to have both, to be honest.

So I take back what I said before because he does acknowledge it. I just see so much potential in these male American skaters and they offer something unique that I just want to shake them and say "Strive to be great! Don't be satisfied with just being good! Gaah!!! You can do it!!!" They need a killer instinct more than the quad.

 

[Interspectator]

Okay I just read the rest of Abbott's answer about the quad:

To be rather blunt, I think this is a rather tired topic,” Abbott said. “We all know that we have to have a quad at the world stage to medal … but I think that attention needs to be paid to detail. … Figure skating is a craft, and the craft can sometimes be a little overlooked. I think it’s important to have both, to be honest.

So I take back what I said before because he does acknowledge it. I just see so much potential in these male American skaters and they offer something unique that I just want to shake them and say "Strive to be great! Don't be satisfied with just being good! Gaah!!! You can do it!!!" They need a killer instinct more than the quad.

This. Don't just shoot for the podium, shoot for GOLD. When Hanyu scraped into the GPF he said "Even if by the tips of my fingers, I'm going to scramble up that wall. I've come in as the lowest ranked guy, but I'm going to shoot for the very top with all of my might."
I'd like to see that sort of intense will to win from the US guys because they have it in them to be champions on the world stage.

Strategies can differ from skater to skater, but they have to make themselves believe they can win.

 

[Mista Ekko]

Ugh, I want Jeremy at worlds...

I get that a team of Brown, Aaron and Farris is a likelihood now, But i wish at least one of Abbott or Rippon makes it in there instead :scowl: