2018-19 U.S. Men’s figure skating | Page 14 | Golden Skate

2018-19 U.S. Men’s figure skating

snowflake said:
I don’t know much about Jimmy Ma, but I remember his charismatic programs at 2018 US Nationals. Big crowd pleaser. His bios are old, like really old. I suppose because Skate America will be his his first big international competition(actually first international comp since 2014 it seems). Has he been injured or focused on other things? His eleventh place at last nationals is a big leap from 20th in 2017. He must be thrilled.
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Jimmy's first international comp since 2014 was the recent 2018 Philadelphia International (where I happened to speak briefly to his mother).

As for "other things":

I am not an expert on Jimmy, but want to mention that classical piano has been a big part of his life. I had read something about that before, plus his mother also alluded to it during our little chat.

Also … just now as I was looking for a link to a reference in print to Jimmy and piano, I learned that he used to commute from New Jersey to the Bronx to attend Fordham University. (IIRC, he has been with Team Cain in Dallas for only a year or so??)

After two and a half semesters commuting to Fordham’s Rose Hill campus from New Jersey, Ma moved to Dallas, where he’s been training with a group he refers to as being “as close-knit as a family”.

"Figure skating is very classical, very balletic. And I totally respect that. I used to do ballet, I was a classically trained pianist...It’s an art. …"

When he was a kid … Ma was occupied with ballet, swimming, and classical piano, going on to perform at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Of being a concert pianist, “I look back at it, and it was a big part of my life. And I’m thankful that my mom, like, freaking, tiger momed me on that...I didn’t see it back then, but it was something to calm myself. And understanding music, I realized that it’s helped me with everything else I’ve done.”

http://therival.news/a/5a73cb077152200635db4ff0/us-figure-skater-jimmy-ma (Feb 4)​

StitchMonkey said:
... Why bother with a TBD spot at all and wait this late to name someone if you are not going to take summer into consideration? Jimmy has not impressed this summer, Sean has. Either summer counts or it does not, just pick one USFS.

Had Jimmy been named to SA right off the bat I think most of us would be happy and agree with it. But if you wait, you should look at how people are doing over the summer.
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My two cents -- of a general nature, not related specifically to Jimmy:

"Summer" is more than just competitions. USFS is working with and monitoring skaters outside of competition as well … and we as fans are not in the loop on what USFS is seeing outside of competition.

At Philadelphia International, I had a very interesting conversation (general conversation) with a coach of U.S. skaters at the international level. (Not Jimmy's coach, and the conversation was not at all about Jimmy.)

The coach told me (I'm paraphrasing) that doing well and standing out/impressing at this summer's USFS ISP camp is making a big difference in assignments for some skaters.

The coach added that what USFS sees at its camps will continue to play a significant role in assignments.​

Sean is one of my favorites. At the same time, I recognize that USFS has a better picture of the pool of skaters than I do.

Andrea82 said:
I think it may be the first time also for Alex Johnson who is getting his GP debut at 28
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:agree: I am super-excited for the self-described #grandpa ;) Alex. :luv17: :ghug:
 
Ice Dance said:
Sigh. First of all, we don't know that Sean isn't invited yet. We only know that Jimmy is.

If they've chosen Jimmy over Sean, then I think it's because Jimmy is a member of the next generation. I don't think they knew that they were going to go with him. And I don't think it's because he's a crowd pleaser. Sean is a crowd pleaser too so that's not the reason.

I personally think Emmanuel should have been added to the ISP, considering he defeated a bunch of the guys on the top ten list this summer and has the third highest score.

But Jimmy had a solid performance in Philadelphia while Emmanuel didn't, and Jimmy defeated Dolensky head-to-head there. So Jimmy has a summer-results-related argument against everyone not on the JGP except Sean. With Sean, I think sadly, it would have to be an age-related and/or stage-of-his career argument.
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Sadly, I am agreeing with this. Selfishly, I would have loved to have seen Sean at SA. One, he's a longtime crowd favorite and sentimental favorite of many who follow the US men, but two, I don't know how much longer Sean is going to compete. I would guess, as Jimmy Ma is five years younger, that Jimmy will compete past this year. Sean, I am not so sure. So I want to see his program.

I hope that Sean at least gets a senior B:pray:
 
Or, it really could be as simple as this.

Jimmy has a good 3A and is trying a quad.

Sean doesn't even have a 3A.

Jimmy is younger than Sean.

I know Sean is popular, but this is a no-brainer, really.
 
Ice Dance said:
But Jimmy had a solid performance in Philadelphia while Emmanuel didn't, and Jimmy defeated Dolensky head-to-head there.
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Looking back over this post of mine from earlier, I just wanted to add that this is perhaps an exaggeration on my part. Since I recall reading the play-by-play for the men's SP performances in Philadelphia, and I'm pretty sure none of the guys in the international portion of the event had a solid performance in the SP portion of competition. But relative to the other guys, I guess you could say Jimmy had a more solid performance overall.
 
KatGrace1925 said:
I don't understand why more skaters don't try new music and seem to go with whatever warhorses or new favorites are in trend at the moment. There is so much music, beautiful piano music and score pieces that would make great programs. Yet we have to do exogenesis again.
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I would rather see skaters skate to music that resonates with them personally in the moment, in the season, for whatever reason. Like Tarah and Danny skating to Music of the Night (a Streisand/Crawford duet, but still) the year AFTER the POTO Explosion. You could tell that the program brought out the best of Danny, in particular.

I like Vincent's choice of Exogenesis. For someone as young as he is, he seems to go for the music he wants and sticks with it. That's just an impression of mine. Tons of people whined about him skating to Moulin Rouge last year. I think he felt a strong emotional connection to it. Anyway, Vincent is good-natured about the comments he's already getting.
 
karne said:
Or, it really could be as simple as this.

Jimmy has a good 3A and is trying a quad.

Sean doesn't even have a 3A.

Jimmy is younger than Sean.

I know Sean is popular, but this is a no-brainer, really.
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I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case, but... even though Jimmy has a 3A and is trying a quad, Sean is still scoring much higher than him this summer (25 points higher already!) which would show to me that Sean is more ready to compete at an early GP than Jimmy. However, Jimmy's also a fan favorite and finished a few places ahead of Sean at nationals. So I don't think it's that much of a no-brainer.
 
Mrs. P said:
USFS has updated its international assignments page.

Autumn Classic International
Jason Brown

Ondrej Nepala Trophy
Sean Rabbitt
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No surprise Jason at ACI, but yay Sean for Ondrej Nepela

Mrs. P said:
Photo of U.S. men at Champs Camp
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmvgDDkgvlA/?taken-by=usfigureskating
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This one of everyone is sweet, and it seems like all the guys took photos with their partners, but Jimmy Ma and Jason serving up "Side Eye Stir Fry" is too cute.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmuhm7khuv_/?taken-by=jasonbskates

Who decided to pair up these two? :biggrin:
 
i wonder what Challenger Nathan assigned since he's not at the US Classic. Or perhaps he doesnt want a challenger? Also who could get Nebelhorn/Finlandia spot beside Nathan?
 
skatenewbie said:
i wonder what Challenger Nathan assigned since he's not at the US Classic. Or perhaps he doesnt want a challenger? Also who could get Nebelhorn/Finlandia spot beside Nathan?
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Nathan's schedule at Yale might not allow him to do a Challenger. I believe that SkAm is during his fall break and TdF is during his Thanksgiving break.

So far Timothy, Vincent, Jimmy, Jason and Sean got Challenger Events. I bet Alexander Johnson will get Nebelhorn. Maybe Alexei for Finlandia?
 
Because two different people wrote it differently. I am the OP of this thread and probably made a typo and forgot to correct it.
 
Last edited:
Joshua Farris :hap85: is officially listed as a coach on Torgashev's ISU bio.

And Andrew is listed as one of his own choreographers. (For the first time, IIRC?) :cool:

Coach:
Christy Krall, Erik Schultz, Joshua Farris

Choreographer:
Scott Brown, Ilona Melnichenko, Andrew Torgashev

Former Coach:
Artem Torgashev, Curtis Chornopyski

http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014939.htm​

ETA:
Forgot to wish good luck to Andrew at JGP Bratislava. :yay: Also to Ryan Dunk.​

Mrs. P said:
… So far Timothy, Vincent, Jimmy, Jason and Sean got Challenger Events. …
Click to expand...

:)

Mrs. P said:
… I bet Alexander Johnson will get Nebelhorn. ...
Click to expand...

:pray:
 
Mrs. P said:
Nathan's schedule at Yale might not allow him to do a Challenger. I believe that SkAm is during his fall break and TdF is during his Thanksgiving break.

So far Timothy, Vincent, Jimmy, Jason and Sean got Challenger Events. I bet Alexander Johnson will get Nebelhorn. Maybe Alexei for Finlandia?
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ahh i see, sad since i want to see his program in competition! its so good tbh. Alexei def would get one since he's competing in GP. as for later challenger it will be given to senior eligible who do JGP right? Camden and Andrew T especially
 
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