2017-18 State of U.S. Men's Figure Skating

[ask]

congrats Max. way to go.
now skate clean at Nationals, and this will be an awesome year for you.

 

[Tavi...]

Congratulations to Max, who graduated UCCS today!!!!

USFS congratulatory tweet

Picture of Max in his cap and gown thanks to USFS instagram

Neat article from UCCS site (Max graduated "magna cum laude", which other people more well-versed in US higher education than me tell me that he had a 3.7-3.89 GPA). Favourite bit:

Wow, huge congratulations to Max! I never doubted that he was smart, but finishing a finance (as opposed to a fluff) degree in three years while maintaining such a rigorous and time consuming training and competition schedule is really really impressive! And graduating magna cum laude means he likely earned mostly As and graduated in the top 5-10% of his class. If he does indeed want to do an MBA at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia or another top B-School eventually, his academics + athletic achievements should give him a great chance. Fantastic news for him!

 

[Mrs. P]

Congrats Max!
That is a great achievement, especially with such a rigorous schedule. Well, now that's done, time to train up for nationals. Can't believe it's less than three weeks away.

 

[noskates]

Congratulations Max! Well done.

 

[shmay]

Congrats Max!

Of course, there's always the option of cutting this season short and diving headfirst into what I'm sure will be a very lucrative career. Never too early to start thinking about the future...

 

[karne]

Congrats Max!

Of course, there's always the option of cutting this season short and diving headfirst into what I'm sure will be a very lucrative career. Never too early to start thinking about the future...

A career that will be much more lucrative with that Olympic ring on his finger. You ain't getting rid of him that easily.

 

[shmay]

A career that will be much more lucrative with that Olympic ring on his finger.

I suddenly feel ill

 

[karne]

I suddenly feel ill

Ill with excitement at the idea of seeing one of the sweetest, most deserving men in US figure skating on the Olympic team? Seeing Max in that Olympic uniform would be pretty great.

 

[draqq]

I'm a big fan of Hamilton, but I'm not in love with Jason's program. I think there were more effective ways to do a Hamilton program, but this works fine. I just think it could have been better. And the beginning bugs me a little, because it's Hamilton talking and it seems like Jason's acting like he's him, then right after when it's Hamilton and Burr talking, it's not clear to me who Jason is trying to be, and then he's Burr. And there are a couple moments where, I don't know if it's the choreo or Jason's expression, but it seems a little celebratory, which fits with the music, but not with Burr's character at this point. I probably wouldn't notice these things if I didn't know the musical so well.

Part of the reason this music is hard is that there are two people talking, but their emotions/points of view during the song are very different, which leads to those unclear moments for me. That's why I think Dear Theodosia might have worked better. It was also has both Burr and Hamilton, but their perspectives are very much the same in the song. Also, it's just a lovely, sweet song. And of course Wait for It would have been interesting, and has a very clear point of view, nice changes of pace.

And not necessarily Jason, but the right person could do something really entertaining with You'll Be Back (the King George one), maybe as an Ex, though I'd love it see it as a competitive program. Actually, I like Jason could have had fun with that, or someone like Nic Nadeau.

It's sill a good program and I enjoy it, but I probably won't go back and watch it, and I was hoping he'd wow me since I love the music so much.

I agree with your assessment; though I like Jason's short program, I'm not in love it. I think that character-driven programs are a bit more difficult for Jason, because whenever he does a program, what shines is him and his bright personality.

When he's doing a classical piece or Riverdance, he only needs to act like himself and how he interprets the piece. But if he's trying to act a role - Hamilton, in this case - or trying to portray a section of the music that's serious or sad or crestfallen, his innate optimistic personality tends to override that. This doesn't take anything from the quality of his steps, strong timing, and extensions of course. He's still got higher PCS to me than anyone else in the US right now.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Ill with excitement at the idea of seeing one of the sweetest, most deserving men in US figure skating on the Olympic team? Seeing Max in that Olympic uniform would be pretty great.

Nah, ill at what may or may not happen at nats.
Go Nathan, Jason, and Max

 

[Arriba627]

My Olympic team is Nathan, Jason, and Max. Haven't said a word about it until now, cos I didn't want to jinx anyone. We'll know soon enough though. Can't even believe it's already time for Nats.

 

[yelyoh]

Go Nathan Adam and Max.

 

[Skater Boy]

What a nice story about Max.I appreciate his candor, hard work and intellect. I wish him well on his bid to the Olympics. Nothing against Jason but I obviously have to go with a chance for OGM and then Max and Aaron who have not had a chance to go to the Olympics. Do I think it will happen - no Jason will get a spot. But I would like to see Max and Aaron get their oly shot. But life isn't always fair, and fair is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[Tavi...]

What a nice story about Max.I appreciate his candor, hard work and intellect. I wish him well on his bid to the Olympics. Nothing against Jason but I obviously have to go with a chance for OGM and then Max and Aaron who have not had a chance to go to the Olympics. Do I think it will happen - no Jason will get a spot. But I would like to see Max and Aaron get their oly shot. But life isn't always fair, and fair is in the eyes of the beholder.

I think you mean Max and Adam (or Vincent), since Max and Aaron are one and the same?!!

 

[mrrice]

My Olympic team is Nathan, Jason, and Max. Haven't said a word about it until now, cos I didn't want to jinx anyone. We'll know soon enough though. Can't even believe it's already time for Nats.

Neither can I....This season has flown by and after the season that Adam has had, I have him on the team nudging Jason Brown. Nathan basically has the spot and with Max's firepower and nerves of steal, I expect him to take the silver. The fight is for the Bronze, if we go by the GP it's going to be between Adam and Jason. Vincent seems to be in the same sophomore slump as Karen Chen. Neither of them has been great this season.

 

[Arriba627]

I'm pulling for Jason, but a lot will depend on skating clean. I really like Vincent but feel he doesn't have enough experience. Karen is a lovely young lady, but I'm just a little concerned about who is "steering the ship" with her and her team...I'm already getting a stomach ache thinking about Nats. The singles disciplines are gonna be nail biters! Also pulling for Bradie Tennell. Yikes! :hpull:

 

[TontoK]

Congrats to Max! Graduating college is a massive achievement, and doing it while being a world-class athlete must make it that much sweeter.

I'm pulling for you Max! Dazzle us at Nationals!

 

[Skater Boy]

I think you mean Max and Adam (or Vincent), since Max and Aaron are one and the same?!!

oops I meant Adam.

 

[Jaana]

Congrats to Max! Graduating college is a massive achievement, and doing it while being a world-class athlete must make it that much sweeter.

I'm pulling for you Max! Dazzle us at Nationals!

Now I understand why Aaron has been inconsistent in his jumps for quite some time.. We will see what happens as he now can concentrate fully in his skating programs... Hopefully there is enough time for him to catch up and become totally ready for the Nationals!

 

[Mrs. P]

I think the team will be Ashley Wagner, Mirai Nagasu, and Bradie Tennell. Maybe Karen instead of Bradie if Karen pulls herself together by Nationals.

IMO, the ladies' event is going to be the most hotly contested. I think the men's (Chen, Rippon, Brown) and the dance (Shibs, Chock/Bates, Hubbell/Donohue) are more or less set.

I don't think the men are set at all. There are four men going for two spots.

I do agree it's less of an open field than the ladies though since there is no "Nathan" that locked any of the ladies spots.