- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
And those remain his best programs (although a case can be made for his hilarious Lion King last season). He actually got into the music and had personality. Everything afterwards, not so much.
2017-18 State of U.S. Men's Figure Skating
- Thread starter Mrs. P
- Start date
And those remain his best programs (although a case can be made for his hilarious Lion King last season). He actually got into the music and had personality. Everything afterwards, not so much.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
BOP.....I love you but I have to disagree. Look at Max's Nessun Dorma SP from Skate America. This is the BESP version and he was just so good. He has looked good this summer and I think he has momentum going into the GP season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNQlsxRLBBQ
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
Sorry but his Nessun Dorma is dull to me. It never seems like he cares about the music or having something personal to say, he just tries to moves his arms as he's been told to do. There's a small layer of elegance to the performance because of paying attention to the arm placements, but they are always so flat and inexpressive. Then there's his spins and footwork, which are impersonal and never more than merely competent, and the way he still pumps in some of the crossovers.
Speaking strictly of the artistic qualities I get more out of his Tron program - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVm1sNlgMQo. He stretches his hands with excitement, he stares out into the audience, he smiles with spontaneity. When you look at the "V" form he makes after the first jump combo, or other such movements throughout the program, you can tell he is engaged; he's trying to express something that interests HIM and trying to bring the audience into that feeling.
Speaking strictly of the artistic qualities I get more out of his Tron program - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVm1sNlgMQo. He stretches his hands with excitement, he stares out into the audience, he smiles with spontaneity. When you look at the "V" form he makes after the first jump combo, or other such movements throughout the program, you can tell he is engaged; he's trying to express something that interests HIM and trying to bring the audience into that feeling.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
Have a listen to this song by fee waybill. It's the title to running scared. I always thought it would be good for Max and it is certainly better than Footloose. IMO, of course. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmr1osDSeBg
Nathan's msg to fans, and his understandings regarding his FS program from his own mouth
https://www.facebook.com/nathanJPFan/videos/1663485043725258/
I thought it is valuable to be posted here.
https://www.facebook.com/nathanJPFan/videos/1663485043725258/
I thought it is valuable to be posted here.
- Joined
- May 20, 2015
I think Max has to have a good GP season + be completely clean at U.S. Nationals to go to the Olympics. Gut feeling.
I'm
about Joshua ever making it back to U.S. Nationals. There's no word that he's back to training, much less competing at Midwestern (or is it Pacific?) Sectionals.I think, worse case scenario, Nathan falls once or twice and USFS may be :disapp: because he is being advertised as one of their stars, but if he is healthy, I can't see the U.S. not using Nathan for both the SP and FS in the team event. But then there's how well Nathan will recover for the individual event.
Max's Footloose SP has to be one of the most epic fail SPs I've seen from a U.S. man in years. I was really excited when Max announced it because I thought he would do an epic interpretation of Ren McCormack. Sigh.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
How does the Japan Open work? It's not an individual event is it? Is it similar to the WTT?
it is a fake competition event sponsored by IMG. there is only single's FS competition.
Scores are give to everything FS performances and combined total are used to rank 3 teams, North America, Japan and Europe
Nathan ranked #2 below Javi in terms of FS score.
he made a few mistakes on jumps. attempted 5 quads, rotated 4 there.
he earned lv4 on all his spins and lv3 on his stsq but +2 GOE.
Nathan's PCS is still very low, about 10 points lower than Javi's...
performance wise not as calm as US international classics. there are hits and misses in this particular one
but he did a fabulous SP in EX afterwards, and earned stand ovation and lots of love from Japan.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
Oh, I'm not so sure. Vincent just beat Jin and Kolyada in the FS at Finlandia. For that matter, so did Rippon.
I'm not saying he would be "favored" to win a medal, but in a high-risk/high-reward environment, it also can't be ruled out.
All it takes is one hot hand during one competition. The Olympics isn't (or it shouldn't be) a lifetime achievement award.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
Of course anything's possible. But that's true for many skaters, not just Vincent.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
And I don't disagree with that.
Finlandia showed pretty clearly that the judges are open to upstarts scoring well and beating more established skaters if the performances merit it.
Who would have guessed a year ago that Vincent could have earned a Top 5 placement in that field?
Now, still early season, he's bagged a silver medal and beaten a World and European medalist in a free skate?
I think it's an encouraging sign that no one may be "held up" this season.
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
I really like Nathan and he seems like a nice guy. However, most skaters do the PR but not many are truly artists. Actors maybe but those whose souls are truly one with the music is rare. The Americans in particular are taught to sell themselves, make it appear they are healthy, moving forward and their programs artistic and meaningful. Skaters try but so many really don't understand their music including Osmond - isn't one of h er songs really about a hooker? In the past when you watch programs they didn't pretend - they often skated with three or so pieces of music that had no relation. Then Torvill and Dean came and the one theme concept or story came about. Good or bad we now have a lot of people with stories or explanations for their programs. They are claiming to interpret something or they are skating for whoever or whatever. Things to tug on the judges and public heartstrings - Schindler's list, 9-11, war, Sarajevo, freedom... That's why in some ways I like Max - he isn't really trying to pretend he is an artist - well I guess now he is somewhat.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
I don’t know who, over the past four year has been “held up” by USFS, unless, of course, it is younger skaters held up for mere “potential” or for “having” quads.
Certainly Jason, who has fought and battled and earned for every point and every placement he’s ever garnered, has not been “held up” by the USFS. Of course, Jason has bagged a silver medal this year from international judges. So that is an encouraging sign that skaters with quads, young or old, won’t be “held up” merely for being young or having quads.:agree:
Let the skating begin!
Certainly Jason, who has fought and battled and earned for every point and every placement he’s ever garnered, has not been “held up” by the USFS. Of course, Jason has bagged a silver medal this year from international judges. So that is an encouraging sign that skaters with quads, young or old, won’t be “held up” merely for being young or having quads.:agree:
Let the skating begin!
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
There are a lot of talented men on the US squad. I do think Dolensky, Minor, Grant,Farris are distant contenders. The battle is really Max, Jason, Nathan, Vincent and Adam. I think Nathan is the only one for sure and somehow and some way they will find a way for Jason to go. I think the third spot is Vincent's to lose. If Adam can land a quad I hope they will send Adam and not Jason unless he gets a quad. I know everyone loves Jason but Adam is not a bad artist at all. Adam's skating skills are nothing to l augh at but everyone just loves Jason so so much and that makes it hard. His personality and all makes him a fan fave and the judges love him leaving Adam to be Ashley Wagner's whipping boy, cheerleader. But I don't think the Americans will give Adam a chance with Jason around. I am sorry for all those oter fans of Max and Farris while they could make it I think it will be tough for them.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
Something else that is true for many skaters.
Have finally been able to start catching up on some of this season's JGP vlogs on IN
.Jacob Simon's vlog from Poland has a lot of Camden Pulkinen in it (to the point that at the end, C calls it "our vlog" 
).
It has some bits of Dinh Tran too.
Keenan Prochnow's roommate in Latvia was Max Naumov, who has a big presence in Day 3 of Lockley/Prochnow's vlogs from Riga. (That's as far as I have gotten ...)
).It has some bits of Dinh Tran too.
ETA: I don't think I ever congratulated Camden for earning the silver medal and qualifying for the JGPF :yay:.
Keenan Prochnow's roommate in Latvia was Max Naumov, who has a big presence in Day 3 of Lockley/Prochnow's vlogs from Riga. (That's as far as I have gotten ...)
ETA:
Day 4 has a cute mini-glimpse of Tomoki on the bus + napping 
shots of Max in the hotel room.
Day 5 has cheering for Max and Tomoki at their FS + more with Max the roomie and travel-mate.
And Goku Endo and Krasnozhon are in the vlogs from "Prochley"
at JGP Croatia.
shots of Max in the hotel room.Day 5 has cheering for Max and Tomoki at their FS + more with Max the roomie and travel-mate.
And Goku Endo and Krasnozhon are in the vlogs from "Prochley"
at JGP Croatia.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
I don’t know who, over the past four year has been “held up” by USFS, unless, of course, it is younger skaters held up for mere “potential” or for “having” quads.
Certainly Jason, who has fought and battled and earned for every point and every placement he’s ever garnered, has not been “held up” by the USFS. Of course, Jason has bagged a silver medal this year from international judges. So that is an encouraging sign that skaters with quads, young or old, won’t be “held up” merely for being young or having quads.:agree:
Let the skating begin!
El, dear friend, this reads as very defensive to me.
I never said that Jason had been held up.
I merely mentioned that Vincent's FS placement could be a sign that nobody would be held up if someone else beat them on merit on the day.
Neither Vincent nor Adam were really clean in their performances, but they were certainly better than Jin or Kolyada, and the judges placed them higher in that aspect of the competition. That's encouraging.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2013
I'm
There's not been any official word that he ever stopped training, either.
Jason earns every damn spot he gets, thankyou very much. He earns every plaudit he gets and every medal he gets. He's never been granted any special favours and he's certainly never had to rely on a marshmallow tech panel to win anything.
Considering Rippon was gifted a US Nationals title he absolutely did not deserve, I find it odd you state the Americans wouldn't give him a chance.
El Henry's post was most certainly in response to Skater Boy's.
And yet Vincent's total score was lower than three other US men so far this season.
It is so early in the season that it is rather impossible to predict anything. The total scores have been rather low, but that will change as the season goes on. Only after the 6 GP events it will be possible to get a realistic picture from the situation. US skaters need to peak at US Nationals and not in September/early October...
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
I agree with Jaana (surprise!
) that it's far too early to predict much. One thing I learned from watching Nathan last season was not to judge too quickly: At Finlandia, he was pretty much a sloppy mess; by Nats, he looked far better. Right now, Adam is coming back from injury, Vincent is plagued with < and (IMO) still appears "juniorish", Max is trying to integrate a 4T and improved presentation but is not fully there yet, and Jason, as he has for the past few years, is struggling to land quads in competition and make something of a SP that he strongly believes in but that seems problematic to many. Which of these guys makes the team will depend on who improves the most by Nats. But as to your point about "favored" skaters being "held up" and young "upstarts" being held back, frankly I don't see a lot of evidence of that. For example, starting with Finlandia last season, Nathan placed quite high at almost all of his competitions. It's funny that you cite Jin and Kolyada as "established" skaters who might have been held up over Vincent here, because only a couple of years ago, they were the upstarts - and they - like Shoma - pretty much shot to the top as soon as they showed what they could do. If you're specifically talking about PCS: I'd say that IMO a lot of those guys were marked on the low side initially because they were fresh out of juniors and their presentation reflected it. To their credit, all of them, and especially Boyang, have worked hard and improved in that area.
How fast Vincent will improve and deserve PCS and GOE higher than what he got at Finlandia is an open question, but it's the important one for me in terms of assessing his potential to medal at the Olympics. The fact that he won the FS at Finlandia and silver overall is nice, but neither his SP/FS performances nor his scores would be competitive at a championship event, where the winning totals are likely to be 300+ - quite a bit higher than the 250 he scored here. Perhaps Vincent, like Nathan, will improve to the 300+ level by February, but at this point, it's a bit early to say.
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