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

[mrrice]

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.

Neither do I. Outside of Nathan, There's Max, Adam, Jason, Vincent, and even Alexei Krasnozhon. Who knows what could happen. I will say that this is the most exciting group of Men we've had since 2010. We had Evan, Johnny, Jeremy Abbott, Ryan Bradley, and Adam Rippon.

 

[ice coverage]

Tomoki is no longer with 7k, and he did leave after sectionals.

Thank you for confirming that; do you know who is currently coaching him? (the tweet I saw said he was "seen" at World Arena, but Tomoki has trained there last year while staying with the 7k coaching staff). ...

FWIW re Tomoki (in response to the Dec 2 posts above, which I copied from the Team KoRo fan thread):

Tomoki was one of the skaters posing with Christy Krall in a recent photo from Larkyn Austman:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc8ynLBjGTb/?taken-by=larkynaustman (posted Dec 20) [swipe/scroll to last image]​

The photo shows Tomoki, Larkyn, Alex Wellman, and Angela Wang posing with Christy at the World Arena Ice Hall.

(I don't know whether or not Tomoki has trained with Christy at the same time that he was a 7k skater??)​

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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:

Congratulations to Magna Max .

Small FYI: the GPA range is from the UCCS commencement program.
(My guess is that the range for magna probably is not exactly same for every U.S. college.)

 

[amc987]

@Mrs. P and @mrrice, we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't think Max or Vincent will make the team unless they skate perfectly and Rippon and Brown have uncharacteristic mistakes. The judges, IMO, see Rippon and Brown as superior skaters and reward that superiority with high PCS. So unless Max and/ or Vincent can run up the technical score in a big way, I don't see them going to Pyeongchang.

 

[TontoK]

@Mrs. P and @mrrice, we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't think Max or Vincent will make the team unless they skate perfectly and Rippon and Brown have uncharacteristic mistakes. The judges, IMO, see Rippon and Brown as superior skaters and reward that superiority with high PCS. So unless Max and/ or Vincent can run up the technical score in a big way, I don't see them going to Pyeongchang.

Of course you are free to have any opinion you'd like... we all do.

But, based on Mrs P's analysis of the numbers, tracked over the course of a season, the four men trailing Nathan are really tightly packed, and I mean REALLY tight, like one missed jump could make the difference. It's going to be a barn-burner, and who knows what will happen. Each of those four guys have had some great performances and some not-so-great performances. I'm sticking with my preseason guess... which does not include Jason or Adam, although deep in my heart, I've been thinking Adam has a better chance than I originally thought.

*Edit: Sorry, I thought this was the men's thread. My apologies for going off track.

 

[Seren]

My fingers are crossed for Nathan, Adam, and Jason. If Jason doesn't make the team I hope he keeps his freeskate another year. I want to see it skated to his potential.

I love Max, I think he an adorably sweet and hardworking skater but his skating doesn't really inspire me. That said, if he skates clean I have no issue with him being on the team. The two other spots also need to be made with the knowledge that spots for next year are on the line. USFS is going to send the team they think will have the highest placements.

 

[Tahuu]

My fingers are crossed for Nathan, Adam, and Jason. If Jason doesn't make the team I hope he keeps his freeskate another year. I want to see it skated to his potential.

I love Max, I think he an adorably sweet and hardworking skater but his skating doesn't really inspire me. That said, if he skates clean I have no issue with him being on the team. The two other spots also need to be made with the knowledge that spots for next year are on the line. USFS is going to send the team they think will have the highest placements.

There’s no spot on the line for next season at the games. Competing at the Olympic is more of an honor for the athletes, and a glory if they can medal.

 

[mrrice]

@Mrs. P and @mrrice, we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't think Max or Vincent will make the team unless they skate perfectly and Rippon and Brown have uncharacteristic mistakes. The judges, IMO, see Rippon and Brown as superior skaters and reward that superiority with high PCS. So unless Max and/ or Vincent can run up the technical score in a big way, I don't see them going to Pyeongchang.

Well, I do have Adam on my list after he defeated Jason at Skate America. However, I don't have Jason on the list because he doesn't have a reliable quad. When you put that against Max, who is capable of landing 4 quads, I'd put Max on the team ahead of Jason. Jason's biggest asset is that he rarely makes a mistake and if Max or Vincent don't skate well, they will open the door. However, if they all skate their best, I think Nathan, Adam, and Max make the best team. Sorry for posting this in the ladies section..

 

[Mrs. P]

Men's short program is two weeks from today! Crazy.

So let's ask two things.
1.) Who do you want to be on the team? (so you can include whoever you want)
2.) Who do you think will actually end up on the team?

Who I want: Nathan, Jason, Ross
Who I think will be on the team: Nathan, Adam, Jason/Max (total cop out, but I think it's that close).

And here's an article from Lynn Rutherford on the U.S. men's field: http://www.usfigureskatingfanzone.c...pionships-chen-arrives-armed-with-five-quads/

 

[Jaana]

Who I want: Chen, Zhou and Aaron
Who I think will be on the team: Chen and two from the group Rippon/Aaron/Zhou/Brown

Chen is in his own category but the others are really, really close to each other. Anything can happen, which of course is very exciting.

 

[Tavi...]

Well, I do have Adam on my list after he defeated Jason at Skate America. However, I don't have Jason on the list because he doesn't have a reliable quad. When you put that against Max, who is capable of landing 4 quads, I'd put Max on the team ahead of Jason. Jason's biggest asset is that he rarely makes a mistake and if Max or Vincent don't skate well, they will open the door. However, if they all skate their best, I think Nathan, Adam, and Max make the best team. Sorry for posting this in the ladies section..

Mrrice: Jason was not at Skate America this year. Jason and Adam were both at Skate America last year; Jason took silver and Adam took bronze. Perhaps you were thinking of the 2017 GPF, where Adam placed 5th and Jason placed 6th? Or maybe NHK (Adam was second, Jason 4th)?

Also, I don’t think Max has ever landed four quads in a FS in competition. He has landed 2 in the SP and 2 or 3 (can’t remember which) in FS.

 

[bevybean]

Who I want: Chen, Zhou and Aaron
Who I think will be on the team: Chen and two from the group Rippon/Aaron/Zhou/Brown

Chen is in his own category but the others are really, really close to each other. Anything can happen, which of course is very exciting.

I agree that it will be exciting to watch. I'm wondering how close Vincent really is. He struggled a lot in the Grand Prix season and I'm not sure how much of a boost being World Junior Champion will help. (Not because it was juniors. I'm wondering the same about Karen Chen and her U.S. National title from last year.) I know Max had a horrible season last year, but at least we are looking at the actual programs he would skate in the Olympics if we look at this season. I'm seriously uncertain how these 2 will be evaluated.d

Who I want: Nathan, Jason, Adam, Max (I really have not been able to narrow down past these 4)
Who I think will be on the team: Nathan, Adam, Jason/Max/Vincent

 

[tosca]

Men's short program is two weeks from today! Crazy.

So let's ask two things.
1.) Who do you want to be on the team? (so you can include whoever you want)
2.) Who do you think will actually end up on the team?

Who I want: Nathan, Jason, Ross
Who I think will be on the team: Nathan, Adam, Jason/Max (total cop out, but I think it's that close).

And here's an article from Lynn Rutherford on the U.S. men's field: http://www.usfigureskatingfanzone.c...pionships-chen-arrives-armed-with-five-quads/

1) Who I want to be on the team? Nathan, Max, Adam/Vincent - in that order. Cop out? Yes. Sorry! Max is a sentimental favorite and so is Adam but I believe that Vincent is the future (w/ Nathan, Alexei and Tomoki).

2) Who do I think will actually end up on the team? Nathan, Adam, Vincent - Vincent has a way of pulling it out in the LP (his BV is insane) and has had all this time to train. I think Adam has done an amazing job this season to make case for himself.

Jason lacks the tech and has been inconsistent with his current tech arsenal. Max lacks PCS and GOE in his tech.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Who do I want?
Nathan, Jason, and Max

Who do I think?
Nathan, Jason, and Adam

 

[yelyoh]

Who do I want: Nathan Adam and Max

Who do I think: Nathan Adam and Max

 

[Mussique]

I like everyone
Nathan definitely deserves it and that SP is absolutely amazing.
Adam has killed this season, is skating to my favorite song in his FS with an awesome choreography and a music cut that gives me goosebumps and I love his personality.
Jason Brown gives me sunshine when I'm down. Also, that flexibility? Otherworldly.
Max Aaron is such a hard working, talented and capable guy.
Vincent kills me every time with his attitude, with his poetry. He's so young but so keen and sincere. So sensible.


Who do I want?
I want to have more spots for the US team. No kidding. This choice is too hard for me. I can't make it. Frankly before this week I'd have quit Max Aaron, but the more I learn from the guy
I connect more with Adam's and Jason's style of skating, maybe, out of all the guys (and with Nathan SP, I've had Nemesis on repeat since I first heard it, LOL). But I've got such a sweet spot for Zhou and lately even Max too... Aaaargh.

Who do I think?
Nathan is the obvious choice.
Adam has been having a superb season and I think if he doesn't flunk it at Nationals he'll get his check
Jason hasn't had a bad season either but he hasn't got a quad and lately he has been having troubles with some jumps as well... Vincent's had it kind of bad since he went up from juniors... Max has been also kind of inconsistent... I think if Jason has a clean program then he'll get chosen, but, will he?
So, in this order, I'd guess Nathan/Adam/Jason/Max/Vincent. But it's pretty tight between the four of them. Ugh! Best of the luck to all of them. I really love the US Team this year, whatever comes out.

 

[merrywidow]

I want: Nathan, Max & Vincent. Vincent because he needs the experience.

Who do I think will go? Nathan, Adam & Max.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Who I want: Chen, Zhou and Aaron
Who I think will be on the team: Chen and two from the group Rippon/Aaron/Zhou/Brown

Chen is in his own category but the others are really, really close to each other. Anything can happen, which of course is very exciting.

I think it will be Chen, Zhou, and one of Adam or Jason. We need one of the veterans for the team event (probably skating the LP) but I hope the USFSA recognizes that it needs to cultivate talent for the future. I'll be disappointed if Vincent beats the others by 15+ points on TES but gets buried on PCS.

 

[noskates]

Who do I want? Nathan, Jason and Adam.

Who do I think? Nathan, Jason and Adam.

I really seriously don't think the Olympics is the time to cultivate talent for the future. That should happen at the Grand Prix events and the B competitions. If Vincent gets buried on PCS then he knows what he has to do in the next 4 years.

 

[TontoK]

Who I want: Chen, Zhou and Aaron
Who I think will be on the team: Chen and two from the group Rippon/Aaron/Zhou/Brown

Chen is in his own category but the others are really, really close to each other. Anything can happen, which of course is very exciting.

I'm just borrowing your response. It is exactly, to the letter, how I'd respond to Mrs P's questions.

 

[el henry]

Who do I want?
Three guesses, and the first two don't count. The other two are of much less importance to me.

Who do I think?
I don't want to tempt the skating gods. Nathan and two guys not named Nathan.