2018 US Championships Sr Men FS

[Ares]

Usfsa is disgusting, they may not want Ross but he is their silver medalist! This was vincient’s best competition and he was still beaten by Ross Miner anyways! Send Vincent to worlds as the 3rd person when spots are on the line. The 3rd spot to the olympics is going for the experience/life dream of skating at the olympics, no spots are on the line and Ross Miner earned it last night. Vincent’s doesn’t have a body of work from this season. All he has is last season which is all junior level besides nationals when he placed second in front of an injured Jason Brown. I agree bumping 3rd place for Adam as I️ think he has a very solid body of work, especially compared to the 3rd place person. But who sends 1, 3, and 4 to the olympics, Jesus USFSA get your act together and have some respect for the sport like Japan does.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Ross the Boss. I was super impressed by how he skated his two programs :agree:. Bittersweet Cinderella stories just so rarely take place. I am sad despite lasting happiness for his Silver medal here. I was also so excited that he landed 4S. There are no spots on the line in Pyeong Chang for anything in the future, so let him skate there. Skating at the Olympics is the dream of every athlete and the ultimate reward itself regardless of your score or placement ... 4CC or even World Championships just can't compare. Only figure skating fans watch these. That's what I would do. So I can't say I am happy with this decision even though Adam gets to skate. Ross has just stepped up to the mark in this high pressure competition.

I was indifferent when it comes "who I want to have as this 3rd American bar Nathan and Adam'' but Ross won me over and I love stories like this one.

My dream team (aka not the case according to selection - assignments list that we know now) accounting together both this season as a whole (and perhaps previous ones with smaller weight) and skating at Nationals here is like

As this somewhat selfish choice of:

Nathan, Ross, Adam (he imploded in Free Skate but he's my very favourite skater ... that's why - much less because of that body of work argument that does not held enough importance to factor in if I were to think more logically, he isn't no 1 American, neither GPF medallist from this season - that would objectively count enough to weigh in as crucial here with cooler stance ... and not my wishful thinking expressed before just because).

Sorry Vincent ... but his skating leaves me cold - there is no musicality or skating skills to write home about - things that I love more in skating and his body of work isn't really better than that of Ross Miner if we were going with it. Just my two cents. The Silver Medallist should have been rewarded also with Olympic Spot considering how close Olympics are.

To be honest I am little bit surprised albeit not shocked that they chose Adam for the Olympics ... I was thinking they will stay with top 3 at Nationals even though Ross came out of nowhere while Adam have been very consistent for a while and won two Silver medals at his Grand Prix. I also was (naively I guess) thinking they would if anything sweep Vincent for Adam if they were willing to put Adam on the Olympic team and stay with Ross as Vincent finished lower than Ross here. Multiple quads are not be all and all for me as well even if I admit that Vincent's 4LZ - 3T combo was a thing of beauty.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

It will be forgotten in a month, just like Ross when he retires.

I think you vastly overestimate how much people care.

I’ve begun looking for hotels in Vancouver already instead of planning a trip to Detroit. There are several factors in this decision but I’m not sure I want to give money to this type of backroom spectacle. Plus aside from a handful of performances the skating wasn’t all that great this year to beat the ladies JGPF and a few days at Whistler. Back room committee undermines the point of the Championship IMO and just served as the tipping point.

It’s so cold in the D

 

[Jaana]

I can't think of that scenario for Jason's sake who placed even behind Grant at Nationals and his consistency this season is pretty wild.

According to Brown´s own words "the whole season, I put out strong performances and have been consistent and solid" .

https://goldenskate.com/2018/01/2018-us-nationals-men/

 

[museksk8r]

According to Browns own words "the whole season, I put out strong performances and have been consistent and solid" .

https://goldenskate.com/2018/01/2018-us-nationals-men/

Typical delusional skater’s speak to twist a narrative of confidence and steadiness amidst a storm of doubt and uncertainty. These skaters should do standup, seriously.

 

[el henry]

According to Browns own words "the whole season, I put out strong performances and have been consistent and solid" .

https://goldenskate.com/2018/01/2018-us-nationals-men/

And he said this *before* the LP, when he had placed 2nd and 4th at GP events, which was more than anyone not named Nathan and Adam had done.

Anyone who thinks there is something wrong with “Brown’s own words”

 

[Icey]

What a shock!!!! Didn't get to watch last night, then come here to see 2nd and 3rd are such a surprise. The ice is, indeed, slippery. Have they named the men's team, yet?

 

[BravesSkateFan]

What a shock!!!! Didn't get to watch last night, then come here to see 2nd and 3rd are such a surprise. The ice is, indeed, slippery. Have they named the men's team, yet?

Yes. Olympics is Chen, Rippon, Zhou

 

[Icey]

Yes. Olympics is Che, Rippon, Zhou

Another shock!!!! OMG.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

This is the first time I have agreed with the statement, “Why even have a National Championship in an Olympic season?”

Ummmm...to determine the national medalists just like every other year. Ross is still the national silver medalist. It doesn't mean he deserves to go to the Olympics based on his body of work in comparison to others.

 

[Lester]

On paper it definitely looks bad. But nowadays the selection criteria is not just solely or even mostly Nationals, it's Nationals situated within the larger context of other competition results from the past year. And Miner hasn't been doing well in ANY competition for basically the past 5 years.

He medaled at Rostelecom I think 2 years ago? Edged out Adam for the bronze by a quarter of a point or something

But I don't agree with this body of work thinking, unless it is like all wins and this random meltdown... no, actually, not even then. It's true that someone may have failed but when they seem to be showing improvement, why pass them up for someone who may have been good but is currently failing? I think it is illogical from a psychological standpoint. I think you should always reward those who do well at the moment because even this championships shows that no one can predict how an event will pan out.

And I think it mostly harms the person who "benefited" from the switch because it feels like a handout and not a hard won thing. I hope Adam proves me wrong and skates lights out at the Olympics but still, I don't envy his current position.

 

[Crossover]

That's a good point.

I have a feeling we'll be seeing some crazy alternate scenarios though. I think it's not out of the realm of possibility for Jason to be chosen as 1st alternate, when I think about it more. I personally think he doesn't have a case to go to Worlds really as a team member, but even with his struggles -- he still had a better fall than Vincent, Ross and Grant, and I think they might put that into consideration when choosing alternates.

Actually, Jason's placement in the alternates for both Olympics/Worlds will actually be VERY telling in terms of how USFS sees him.

Weird. Our discussion about your possible scenario on Jason's case was done BEFORE the official announce from USFS got released, so when I first saw your post, I wondered what this sentence meant in bold texts. I guess I know now since Jason is indeed named as the first alt for both Olympics and Worlds.

 

[Cleo]

I'm still thinking through this but are the implications here that someone like Ross or Grant had no chance for the Olympic team? That was Ross at his best and with a quad ending in second place and still nothing? Something about that feels wrong despite the fact that I wouldn't call it an injustice. I would have been more comfortable with Vincent being left off for Adam, but it was a tough decision all around.

Grant's Nationals placement didn't even get him 4CC - he's 1st alternate behind Jason, Ross and Max! Ugh.

 

[Sabrina]

So, in the end Ross Miner didn't get any appointment (OG, Worlds 4CC)?

 

[el henry]

Typical delusional skater’s speak to twist a narrative of confidence and steadiness amidst a storm of doubt and uncertainty. These skaters should do standup, seriously.

Since you are referring to a quote of Jason’s taken before the LP, I think this comment is inapplicable. I have been following Jason for a while. The *last* thing he is, is delusional.

He skated a bad LP and took himself out of the Olympics team conversation. What has he said *after* the LP that would cause anyone to call him delusional?:

 

[ExMaleSkater]

Fun fact. The Olympics doesn't give medals for "body of work." It's a moment. A time for someone to perform with all the pressure and lights shining on them. Anyone can have the skate of their life and win or medal. Nationals has been that way for a long time, but no longer. No more can you train your ass off for the biggest competition in US skating and shock the system. You can't have a down year, train your ass off, and come out ready for the big moment.

I like Adam, I really do. I respect like hell the work he put in this year. But at the moment he faltered. It's sad, but that's how it should work.

I'm sad for Miner who had a great skate.

Effing Max Aaron as an alternate. Holy S. Ross not even first alternate, in favor of Brown, who I love, is a slap in the face.

 

[Crossover]

So, in the end Ross Miner didn't get any appointment (OG, Worlds 4CC)?

Only assigned to 4CC. He is also the second alternate respectively to Olympics and Worlds both behind Jason who placed 6th at Nationals.

Grant is the one who got no 4CC assignment at all despite his 5th at Nationals.

FYI, 4CC team members are Ross (2nd at Nationals), Jason (6th at Nat), Max (9th at Nat).

Quite a work from USFS. :disagree:

 

[lavender]

I guess no one believed that the federation would follow through and not use nationals as the only criteria:sarcasm:

 

[Ares]

According to Brown´s own words "the whole season, I put out strong performances and have been consistent and solid" .

https://goldenskate.com/2018/01/2018-us-nationals-men/

Lol. :noshake:

 

[Cleo]

Eh, they should both retire because in their entire careers they failed to accomplish anything of note up until this point. That isn't the USFSA's fault.

Grant was 4th place finisher at Nationals in 2016 and 2017. Had two 4th place GP finishes a couple of seasons ago. Was 10th place at Worlds in 2016, competing as an alternate since Nathan was injured. That's not nothing.

 

[rlopen]

Just watched all of this because I couldn't watch it yesterday due to a horrible migraine! Gotta love em!

Highlights:

Even with the mistakes...I still loved Jordan Moeller's Clair de Lune program.

Ok Ben I see you with the hydroblading!!!

REDEMPTION for Tomoki!!!! I was so worried but besides that Axel mistake and UR 4T flawless performance!!!

Jimmy Ma putting on a MUCH different skate than his SP I see...a good performance but (don't hate me for this) I kinda lived for his SP performance. It might not have been the performance that figure skating fans wanted...but he pushed the envelope artistically with that program (whether you like it or not is up to debate) and I think we need that now more than ever (ok maybe a little exaggerated).

I could watch Alex skate for days

You know what? Timothy didn't have it but he fought through it and landed himself in yet another 7th place so I'm pretty happy.

Vincent and his quads are just wonderful to watch...but work on those URs!!!!!!!!

Ross...ROSS...ROSS!!! Yes that is the way to have your moment!!! Please make the Olympic team!!!

Lowlights: (And I don't mean this in solely terms of what I didn't like but also letdowns, etc.)

Scott Dyer I was just so disappointed in...knowing that this was most likely his last Nationals and he just couldn't give a great performance...he really is a nice skater though...and I'm a sucker for Turandot, it really is the best warhorse to have a great moment to (at least for me), but he didn't have a great moment unfortunately.

Oh Max...I had so much hope for you this Nationals...oh well.

Alexei's spins...:noshake:. I hope he works on that in the off-season.

Andrew...sigh. If only you were a good jumper because you have everything else...someone hit him up with Tom Z.

Grant's performance wasn't awful...but I can't help feeling disappointed after his magical SP.

Oh Adam and Jason...that was depressingly tragically beautiful. I haven't checked the Olympic selections yet but boy I hope at least one of them get it.