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- Jan 1, 2013
What a wonderful team that would be!
State of the U.S. Men's Figure Skating for 2014-15
- Thread starter Mrs. P
- Start date
What a wonderful team that would be!
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.
I think Jason has that killer competitive instinct as well. It's just that he's so outgoing and sunny that it really hides the determination and drive he has for competition. He's never resigned to the fact hat "I don't have this jump or that jump." He just says, 'you know what? I have other things to bring to the table and I think it can make for what I don't have."
That's why he's had a successful junior career despite the lack of a 3A and a relatively successful senior career without a quad.
Josh has faced a lot of challenges, namely of the injury/sickness variety, and he's managed to keep trucking along too.
Well here's Christine Brennan's two cents on U.S. Men "playing it safe" : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ational-championship-short-programs/22265287/
LOL at her bringing up Jeremy's comment from Sochi again.
Key comment:
Here's the thing, just because you have a different strategy towards winning doesn't mean you're "happy to be there" or "don't have an urgency to win." That seems to be lost on all these reporters who have repeated ad infinitum about the terrible state of men's figure skating.
LOL at her bringing up Jeremy's comment from Sochi again.
Key comment:
Here's the thing, just because you have a different strategy towards winning doesn't mean you're "happy to be there" or "don't have an urgency to win." That seems to be lost on all these reporters who have repeated ad infinitum about the terrible state of men's figure skating.
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- Joined
- Jul 31, 2014
I swear if the reporters keep this up, the judges are going to give a quadless Misha Ge the bronze just to mess with their heads!
That was a pretty useless and snide article. Wish I had back the two minutes I wasted reading it.
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2014
What a ridiculously snotty column. And it sounds like Brennan doesn't even know what she's talking about, and she's been covering skating for decades now, right? The Nationals are a different animal than the Worlds. If you want to get to the Worlds, it's better to play safer to get there. Then you go for broke. It's just like not putting your biggest effort into a qualifying run.
I'd guess that Jeremy and Josh would put a quad in their SP at Worlds this year if they wanted a shot. Hopefully Jason can finally get one this summer. I think I said the same thing last year though. Here's hoping.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2004
What a snotty article.
I wonder when Jason said those quotes? Because his more recent quotes have more been along the lines of "I might try it at Worlds." He hasn't mentioned the whole summer thin in the presser.
She's pulling Jeremy's quotes from Sochi...so I can't help but wonder if the Jason quotes are from the past too.
ETA: Never mind. She must've interviewed him after the short program. Jason has been all over the place with the timing...
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With all this talk of the quad, can we please note what Jason and Joshua have accomplished? In terms of presentation and skating skills they've given me what I've been missing since pro skating died. In 6.0 (which I also loved) once the the jump content got harder (I would say after 1980 or so) we had folks who focused on their jumps with a little artistry thrown in. It wasn't until they turned professional that we would get some intricacy and creativity. I've had some problems with the busyness of the current system, but skaters like Jason and Joshua are making it work in a lovely and interesting package. I pick up new things each time I watch their programs.
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- Jul 31, 2014
Maybe after the reasonable point was made that you should not risk stuff when spots are on the line, they reevaluated. Though as someone who logistically could attend "local" competitions. . . . this works just fine for me!
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
To be honest, I can't stand Christine Brennan and her warped view of figure skating. She does pick and choose what she'll write, takes comments out of context, pulls things from the past and makes them seem current, etc. etc. Anybody who doubts whether or not a figure skater is trying for the podium is being, quite frankly, ignorant. These men and ladies (and sometimes children) put their lives on hold for this sport. They work out for hours on and off the ice, sometimes foregoing the things that kids cherish growing up like sleepovers and parties and snow skiing or skateboarding or whatever - all for this sport.
I think Jason's strategy all along has been to skate clean and give a great performance. There were people who said he'd never get a 3A - and he has it and it's big and it's beautiful. The quad will come. With his tight rotation and the spring in his legs and height in his jumps - he'll have it!!! And more. He's still young and he has excellent coaching. And never doubt, just because he's smiley and sweet and outgoing, that he isn't determined.
Jeremy has had a rough time of it. He had all the promise in the world, had some wonderful skates (generally at Nationals) but would get on the world scene and skate with his head instead of his feet. That fact that he's still competing is odd to me but clearly he still has the desire. I doubt that he would be happy "just skating" or "just being on the podium" - he wants to be at the top again.
I think Jason's strategy all along has been to skate clean and give a great performance. There were people who said he'd never get a 3A - and he has it and it's big and it's beautiful. The quad will come. With his tight rotation and the spring in his legs and height in his jumps - he'll have it!!! And more. He's still young and he has excellent coaching. And never doubt, just because he's smiley and sweet and outgoing, that he isn't determined.
Jeremy has had a rough time of it. He had all the promise in the world, had some wonderful skates (generally at Nationals) but would get on the world scene and skate with his head instead of his feet. That fact that he's still competing is odd to me but clearly he still has the desire. I doubt that he would be happy "just skating" or "just being on the podium" - he wants to be at the top again.
Oh, for heaven's sake. Shut up, Christine Brennan. USFS isn't "sending a message." There's a ridiculous lack of context in that article. With this quote:
She's neglecting to mention that a clean Max will never beat even a semi-clean Yuzu, Fernandez, Kovtun, Mura, Ten, Voronov, or Kozuka (and I'm probably leaving a few people out) with the PCS he gets internationally. I like Max, but he gives up at least 10 points in PCS in the LP to those guys. And while I loved Adam's performance, he didn't actually land a quad; he underrotated one. Had he landed it well, he'd be in the lead. Nobody below the top 3 skated a clean program, and that's why they're the top 3. The programs that did have quads (or quad attempts) wouldn't be competitive on the world stage, either.
She's neglecting to mention that a clean Max will never beat even a semi-clean Yuzu, Fernandez, Kovtun, Mura, Ten, Voronov, or Kozuka (and I'm probably leaving a few people out) with the PCS he gets internationally. I like Max, but he gives up at least 10 points in PCS in the LP to those guys. And while I loved Adam's performance, he didn't actually land a quad; he underrotated one. Had he landed it well, he'd be in the lead. Nobody below the top 3 skated a clean program, and that's why they're the top 3. The programs that did have quads (or quad attempts) wouldn't be competitive on the world stage, either.
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
under the right circumstances the American could medal with those performances and if they land their quads - Abbott in particular could really have a good shot - but he has failed to be consistent. Jason to win a medal would have to have a lot of help - Hanyu, Fernandez, Kovtun, Yan, the rest of the Japanese men and Ten would have to have some bad skates. If Voronov skates well he too could make it hard for the Americans to climb on to the podium. AT least there is no Canadian contender - Canada would be thrilled for a top ten placement and they could be down to one guy unless Nam skates amazingly well - one would think he is due for a bad skate unfortunately. So far he has been a rock but the pressure may be too much (though it has been noted his skating skills are getting stronger as the season progresses). The State of americanskating is really about waiting for either a breaktrough skate and landing quads. Brown needs a quad really to have a great medal shot. Abbott, Rippon have it all and FArris and Aaron have the big tricks - the issue is can they put it together when it counts - so far the jury is out.
Jeremy as well.
I find it funny that people (especially some of these reporters) seem to think that powerhouse jumping is the only way to have successful program. Even in more "physical" sports like football and basketball there's quite a bit of strategy involved in winning games beyond just having a good shot. Some college teams (my point of reference as I love college basketball), like Louisville and Wichita State, depend on a full-court intense physical press to win games while other teams, like Kentucky, Gonzaga and U. of Michigan, are more finesse teams that win games with amazing passing/ball play. Both styles co-exist nicely in college basketball. So I'm not sure why it has to be one way only in figure skating.
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- Nov 19, 2010
The theory of talent drain into other sports hurts figure skating in the US contradicts the theory of ideal body type helps other countries. There are all kinds of body types in the US and those talented in other sports are not likely the figure skating types.
Jeremy quote is just a cheap shot, from someone who only knows from the sensationalizing general media .
Jeremy quote is just a cheap shot, from someone who only knows from the sensationalizing general media .
I think the problem (not problem, more of a challenge?) is that there are skaters who have VERY good programs and SS that I'd rather see skate than Jason and Joshua's quadless programs. i.e. Hanyu, Chan. When I see those two skate it's like they're not even human. They have a wow factor to them other than their artistic skating. However, compared to most of the other men, Kovtun and the like, I prefer Jason and Joshua's approach.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2014
Boy, at this speed I´m gonna need another drink by the time the men start skating 
Looking the world field this year (i.e. not including Chan cause he's taking time off) , Hanyu, now that he's healthy again, is probably the only one that is truly out of reach. Fernandez can score big, but he also can do poorly and give away a lot of unnecessary points, namely due to zayaking by popping his salchow jumps. Kovtun has two quads, but the way his FS is designed, there's major holes if he doesn't hit those quads.
That said, the advantage those skaters have is that with such a huge BV, you can give away a lot of points and still be in the game. Jason doesn't have that luxury.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2014
^^^
Hanyu just came out from 2 weeks hospital stay from bladder surgery, he needs to fully recover and lost training time. I'm not sure how healthy he will be by Worlds or whether he will have enough training
Hanyu just came out from 2 weeks hospital stay from bladder surgery, he needs to fully recover and lost training time. I'm not sure how healthy he will be by Worlds or whether he will have enough training
^^^
Hanyu just came out from 2 weeks hospital stay from bladder surgery, he needs to fully recover and lost training time. I'm not sure how healthy he will be by Worlds or whether he will have enough training
Oh right. But even if he's only 75 percent, he probably still can do well relative to the rest of the field..We'll see I guess.
