2016-2017 State of U.S. Men Figure Skating

[ice coverage]

... I haven't seen the interview but, does she talk about Mariah Bells exit and move to Raf?

No mention whatsoever of Mariah by Kori or Dave in the new TSL This and That.

Dave does ask Kori to talk about "what's going on at 7K," -- and they discuss Jason and Jordan and (in a collective sense) the 7K skaters going to regionals.

(Only my speculation, but the absence of a question from Dave about Mariah makes me wonder whether he had agreed/promised in advance not to go there.)

ETA:

It is their prerogative to talk about whomever they want to talk about.
Just seemed to me that they were ignoring an elephant in the room. Surprised that the topic did not come up at least briefly -- in which case, I believe Kori would have said that she wishes Mariah well, even if Kori preferred to say nothing more.​

 

[mrrice]

No mention whatsoever of Mariah by Kori or Dave in the new TSL This and That.

Dave does ask Kori to talk about "what's going on at 7K," -- and they discuss Jason and Jordan and (in a collective sense) the 7K skaters going to regionals.

(Only my speculation, but the absence of a question from Dave about Mariah makes me wonder whether he had agreed/promised in advance not to go there.)

That's exactly what I was thinking. If it were me, I think I'd still be a little bit hurt by Mariah's decision to leave, even if I understood why. Which in fact, I don't. Raf is just as busy, if not more so than Kori. Maybe she and Ashley get along really well but, with Adam, Ashley and Nathan all having a real shot at Medaling at Worlds, I'm surprised he'd take on another skater who is in direct competition with Ashley. One fall from Ashley and Mariah could definitely beat her. I wonder how Diva Wagner feels about this.

 

[ice coverage]

That's exactly what I was thinking. If it were me, I think I'd still be a little bit hurt by Mariah's decision to leave, even if I understood why. Which in fact, I don't. Raf is just as busy, if not more so than Kori. Maybe she and Ashley get along really well but, with Adam, Ashley and Nathan all having a real shot at Medaling at Worlds, I'm surprised he'd take on another skater who is in direct competition with Ashley. One fall from Ashley and Mariah could definitely beat her. I wonder how Diva Wagner feels about this.

Raf already had Hannah Miller and Ashley (plus Adam and Nathan) ... and it so happens that Hannah has left.
So now Raf has Mariah and Ashley (plus the two men).
My opinion is that Ashley probably feels fine about Mariah joining Team Raf.

ETA:

Mariah has chosen to remain silent (which is fine by me) about her departure from 7K.
Her reason(s) might have absolutely nothing to do with either coach being less busy or more busy.​

 

[mrrice]

Raf already had Hannah Miller and Ashley (plus Adam and Nathan) ... and it so happens that Hannah has left.
So now Raf has Mariah and Ashley (plus the two men).
My opinion is that Ashley probably feels fine about Mariah joining Team Raf.

That's big of her. It shows that Ashley is very confident about her position as Raf's Top Lady. When I was coaching dance, the seniors were never that thrilled when a new hotshot freshman would show up at the first practice. You could see it when they'd go "Across The Floor" at the rehearsals over the summer. Personally, I always loved it as it lit a fire under the upper class dancers.

 

[ice coverage]

That's big of her. It shows that Ashley is very confident about her position as Raf's Top Lady. When I was coaching dance, the seniors were never that thrilled when a new hotshot freshman would show up at the first practice. You could see it when they'd go "Across The Floor" at the rehearsals over the summer. Personally, I always loved it as it lit a fire under the upper class dancers.

Well, of course, I cannot claim to be sure as to how Ashley feels.
But my guess is that she would consider it ultimately a good thing to be pushed by her training-mates -- in the lighting-a-fire way that you describe.

 

[Skater Boy]

I have always said that Jeremy skates with his head and not his feet. He is a beautiful skater but he is not a good competitor on the international scene. If he comes back and if he gets out of Nationals - more power to him. Unfortunately I fear that is just one medal the US won't get at Worlds or anywhere else offshore.

I see your point but really what else do we have? Jason Brown the beloved American boy really needs to up the ante tech wise and be consistent. Jason ubers will say he is doing it but arguably it has been a slow process and some will argue he has been fortunately well received but easily we could see lower pcs. Adam Rippon really doesn't have the quad lutz or consistency. And Max might have slightly more tech wise than Jeremy but pc wise is short. So you have Jason Brown who is almost guaranteed a spot and then the battle. This doesn't even include Nathan Chen who appears to be the heir apparent especially if Jason doesn't get it together this year. Ho Hum Grant H. is well ho hum.

 

[mrrice]

Well, of course, I cannot claim to be sure as to how Ashley feels.
But my guess is that she would consider it ultimately a good thing to be pushed by her training-mates -- in the lighting-a-fire way that you describe.

I truly hope that's how she feels because in the long run, the caliber of the skaters around you always motivates you to work harder. I was certainly that way. When we'd do a full out run through at the end of practice, I would kick higher and leap bigger, just to make sure everyone knew why "I" was the Captain....

It sounds rather trite when I think about it now but, that's definitely how I was.

 

[Mrs. P]

I see your point but really what else do we have? Jason Brown the beloved American boy really needs to up the ante tech wise and be consistent. Jason ubers will say he is doing it but arguably it has been a slow process and some will argue he has been fortunately well received but easily we could see lower pcs. Adam Rippon really doesn't have the quad lutz or consistency. And Max might have slightly more tech wise than Jeremy but pc wise is short. So you have Jason Brown who is almost guaranteed a spot and then the battle. This doesn't even include Nathan Chen who appears to be the heir apparent especially if Jason doesn't get it together this year. Ho Hum Grant H. is well ho hum.

Nobody is guaranteed a spot ever.

Jason didn't even get an injury bye last year to Worlds, so I don't see why you think he's a lock.

 

[mrrice]

Raf already had Hannah Miller and Ashley (plus Adam and Nathan) ... and it so happens that Hannah has left.
So now Raf has Mariah and Ashley (plus the two men).
My opinion is that Ashley probably feels fine about Mariah joining Team Raf.

ETA:

Mariah has chosen to remain silent (which is fine by me) about her departure from 7K.
Her reason(s) might have absolutely nothing to do with either coach being less busy or more busy.​

When did Hannah leave, and where did she go?

 

[Mrs. P]

When did Hannah leave, and where did she go?

She's training with Tammy Gammill in Riverside.

 

[Mrs. P]

Anyway for those wondering who is where we got:

Vincent Zhou (S8) and Camden Pulkinen (J11) at Junior Grand Prix Tallinn (Estonia)
Max Aaron (S2) at Skate Canada Autumn Classic
Alexander Johnson (S6) at Ondrej Nepala Memorial

Nathan Chen (S3) is scheduled for Finlandia Trophy the following week.

So after Finalndia we will have had all the top 9 senior men from U.S. Nationals (plus Jason Brown) accounted for so we can do a power rankings update. Whee.

 

[mrrice]

She's training with Tammy Gammill in Riverside.

Oh........Isn't that where Shotaro trains? Maybe she's getting help from Ricki during his time off.

 

[Mrs. P]

Oh........Isn't that where Shotaro trains? Maybe she's getting help from Ricki during his time off.

Shotaro moved from Tammy at one point but is back with her, IIRC. Sean Rabbit and Vincent Zhou also train with Tammy.

 

[mrrice]

Shotaro moved from Tammy at one point but is back with her, IIRC. Sean Rabbit and Vincent Zhou also train with Tammy.

I really need to keep up these things. It's like musical chairs with these skaters. Thanks Mrs. P

 

[apgold]

I really need to keep up these things. It's like musical chairs with these skaters. Thanks Mrs. P

Agreed, all these coaching changes this year is making my head spin. It will all be clearer to me when we see the skaters sitting in the KnC with their new coaches.

 

[Mrs. P]

Agreed, all these coaching changes this year is making my head spin. It will all be clearer to me when we see the skaters sitting in the KnC with their new coaches.

Going to take a stab at the top 10
Rafael Arutyunyan (Lakewood, Calif.): Adam Rippon (S1), Nathan Chen (S3)
Tom Zakrajsek (Coloraldo Springs, Colo.): Max Aaron (S2)
Peter Oppergaard/Karen Kwan-Oppegaard (Artesia, Calif.): Grant Hochstein (S4)
Mark Mitchell/Peter johansson (Boston area): Ross Miner (S5)
Page Lipe (Minneapolis, Minn.): Alexander Johnson (S6) She is Rohene Ward's former coach in Minneapolis. He is also continuing to work with Tom Dickson when he is in Coloraldo Springs.
Tammy Gammill (Riverside, Calif.): Vincent Zhou (S8) and Sean Rabbit (S9)
Kori Ade (Monument, Colo.): Jason Brown (S1-2015). He's also working part-time with Frank Carroll at Toyota Sports Center in El Selgundo, Calif.

Seems the men are either in Coloraldo Springs or Southern California.

 

[ice coverage]

Oh........Isn't that where Shotaro trains? Maybe she's getting help from Ricki during his time off.

Shotaro moved from Tammy at one point but is back with her, IIRC. Sean Rabbit and Vincent Zhou also train with Tammy.

Shotaro Omori is not with Gambill, AFAIK.
After he moved to Detroit for several months, he returned to California -- but not to her.

As of Jan 2016, he was with Wendy Olson and Amy Evidente:

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/12/05/161066480​

Here a photo of Sho with them in Jul 2016 at the Los Angeles Open:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHqvGbWjxaf/?taken-by=sho_omori
http://lafsc.org/2016/07/10/63rd-an...ri-and-sean-rabbit-detailed-results-included/​

 

[mrrice]

Shotaro Omori is not with Gambill, AFAIK.
After he moved to Detroit for several months, he returned to California -- but not to her.

As of Jan 2016, he was with Wendy Olson and Amy Evidente:

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/12/05/161066480​

Here a photo of Sho with them in Jul 2016 at the Los Angeles Open:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHqvGbWjxaf/?taken-by=sho_omori
http://lafsc.org/2016/07/10/63rd-an...ri-and-sean-rabbit-detailed-results-included/​

Thanks Ice coverage. I can't believe how much more mature Shotaro is looking. I stlll remember him looking like a cute baby face back in 2012/2013 when he was in that rivalry along with Joshua and Jason. The US is deep in Men's talent these days. I can't wait for The GP series to begin.

 

[Jaana]

I have always said that Jeremy skates with his head and not his feet. He is a beautiful skater but he is not a good competitor on the international scene. If he comes back and if he gets out of Nationals - more power to him. Unfortunately I fear that is just one medal the US won't get at Worlds or anywhere else offshore.

US getting a medal at 2017 Worlds is rather unlikely anyway, better chance in 2018 Worlds, IMO.

 

[skylark]

This and That with Kori Ade as Dave's co-host, to talk about Nebelhorn, is highly enjoyable. She speaks most about the men's field, I think, but she has really interesting remarks about the other disciplines.

Kori makes great observations, always fair. I love what she said about Grant. Also, a cute bit from an unnamed skater: having a quad is like having a high maintenance girlfriend.