2018-19 U.S. Men’s figure skating

[snowflake]

I don't know. Jimmie Santee was saying Tomoki's Nationals performance was the best he had ever seen Tomoki skate, and that Tomoki is from his neck of the woods and Jimmie had seen him skate a lot. Of course if he can maintain that quality..maybe.

I saw quality in Tomoki even when he didn't skate well (and in the other US juniors for sure :thumbsup But from what I've seen recently I would bet on Tomoki challenging for US third. Jason is special though and you never know what happens when/if he gets his quad(s).

Anyway it will be an exciting next season. I'm hoping for lots of competition between them all.

Is the success of the US guys, mostly SuperNathan of course, getting more fans for figure skating in USA?

 

[moonvine]

I saw quality in Tomoki even when he didn't skate well (and in the other US juniors for sure :thumbsup But from what I've seen recently I would bet on Tomoki challenging for US third. Jason is special though and you never know what happens when/if he gets his quad(s).

Anyway it will be an exciting next season. I'm hoping for lots of competition between them all.

Is the success of the US guys, mostly SuperNathan of course, getting more fans for figure skating in USA?

Jason was #2 in the SP at Senior Worlds. I just don't see Tomoki doing that..yet.
I really don't think the success of the US guys is getting more fans. When I was at Nationals, I talked to a couple (as in a relationship, not as in two) who just started watching at the last Olympics. I was so excited to find new fans But I was horrified by how few fans were in the stands for the men's free at Nationals. I mean there was half of an arena available (they didn't put the upper half of the seats on sale that I know of. If they did no one bought them) and the fans for the men's free filled maybe 1/2 of the half, if that makes any sense. Ladies are still the draw in the US. I mean look at how successful our ice dancers are...yet they get close to no audience. It is really sad.

 

[journalist101]

Jason was #2 in the SP at Senior Worlds. I just don't see Tomoki doing that..yet.
I really don't think the success of the US guys is getting more fans. When I was at Nationals, I talked to a couple (as in a relationship, not as in two) who just started watching at the last Olympics. I was so excited to find new fans But I was horrified by how few fans were in the stands for the men's free at Nationals. I mean there was half of an arena available (they didn't put the upper half of the seats on sale that I know of. If they did no one bought them) and the fans for the men's free filled maybe 1/2 of the half, if that makes any sense. Ladies are still the draw in the US. I mean look at how successful our ice dancers are...yet they get close to no audience. It is really sad.

I agree. I'll admit I only used to watch the ladies because I grew up idolizing Michelle Kwan but after she retired I only watched during Olympic years. But by chance, I happened to catch 2016 Nationals on tv and Nathan has reinvigorated my interest in the sport. I still think ladies run the show in the US simply because of how popular they were back then. Really it's our ice dance and men that should draw viewers these days. I mean when was the last time we had a world champion in ladies, Kimmie Meissner in 2006?

Nathan's a 2x world champion, Vincent's a world bronze medalist, we had Davis and White who were 2x world champion and Olympic champions and all kinds of other medals from ice dance.

 

[snowflake]

Jason was #2 in the SP at Senior Worlds. I just don't see Tomoki doing that..yet.
I really don't think the success of the US guys is getting more fans. When I was at Nationals, I talked to a couple (as in a relationship, not as in two) who just started watching at the last Olympics. I was so excited to find new fans But I was horrified by how few fans were in the stands for the men's free at Nationals. I mean there was half of an arena available (they didn't put the upper half of the seats on sale that I know of. If they did no one bought them) and the fans for the men's free filled maybe 1/2 of the half, if that makes any sense. Ladies are still the draw in the US. I mean look at how successful our ice dancers are...yet they get close to no audience. It is really sad.

Sure Tomoki has a long way to go to be second at a worlds sp.

Jasonn making it was awesome. He is in a place of his own. I hope he comes up with something as good (or better if possible )for next season. Still there is the combined result that counts and Jason wasn’t close with his free skate at last worlds.

It’s sad that men can’t draw people to figure skating in US. I would have thought while Nathan is such a role model. And if there is a need of success from women skaters to get new fans… well?

 

[Mamamiia]

Can't speak for other people, but last year we had a group of 10 people going to SOI for the first time and this year our group has grown to 18 ...mostly if not all thanks to Nathan.:luv17:

 

[snowflake]

Can't speak for other people, but last year we had a group of 10 people going to SOI for the first time and this year our group has grown to 18 ...mostly if not all thanks to Nathan.:luv17:

Sounds promising. Hope it's a trend Have fun!

 

[moonvine]

Can't speak for other people, but last year we had a group of 10 people going to SOI for the first time and this year our group has grown to 18 ...mostly if not all thanks to Nathan.:luv17:

That is awesome! I'm going strictly by attendance at Nationals, which may not be a good metric.

 

[Mamamiia]

That is awesome! I'm going strictly by attendance at Nationals, which may not be a good metric.

I also went to Nationals for the first time to watch Nathan .

 

[vitamintea]

Is the success of the US guys, mostly SuperNathan of course, getting more fans for figure skating in USA?

I think so!! I saw this article yesterday from the Washington Post: US takes lead at figure skating's World Team Trophy; and today there was Chen, Zhou dominate free skate at World Team Trophy. There's always so much coverage when the US is doing well! (The US ladies were mentioned in the article, getting a sentence of coverage. They're not making the headlines these days...)

 

[snowflake]

I think so!! I saw this article yesterday from the Washington Post: US takes lead at figure skating's World Team Trophy; and today there was Chen, Zhou dominate free skate at World Team Trophy. There's always so much coverage when the US is doing well! (The US ladies were mentioned in the article, getting a sentence of coverage. They're not making the headlines these days...)

Still there's like 5 times more talk about them in this forum

 

[el henry]

The men, sigh, have never gotten the press or the coverage that the ladies do.

And it’s not a question of results, it’s a question of what folks watch. And they watch ladies.

Individual men may indeed attract individual fans. The number of fans “of a certain age” who “came back” to skating after seeing Jason, and in particular Riverdance, are legion on this Board and elsewhere. Nathan’s success, not to mention his amazing back story this year, may attract others.

But it can’t stop with one skater, because all skaters will eventually retire and either we keep watching others, or we fade away because we’re just in love with *that* skater. Which is why I’m always looking for younger talent in the junior men.

And I went to SOI last year: in my backyard! Jason! This year, a two hour drive and no Jason. Not happening.

Until they sign Andrew T.

 

[Casual]

Still there's like 5 times more talk about them in this forum

That's because male skaters are pretty much awesome, while ladies in comparison suck, so there's more to discuss with ladies. More controversy invites more talk, always.

 

[ladyjane]

Sorry, not replying to any other posts. I just want to put forward how I have enjoyed the US males this year. Nathan just being really very good at Worlds (while I tend to like Yuzu more, Nathan just was better), Vincent finally getting (most of) the jumps fully rotated - and he was superb at WTT today - and then Jason just being the perfect skater to watch. You lucky ones with such talents!

 

[natsulian]

What a deep men's field we have. It seems as though when one field dips in the US, the others become increasingly chock-full of depth. Due to Nathan's tenacity to push the US men forward, Vincent's drive to constantly improve, and Jason challenging himself, the rest of the pack are not slacking and continually seeking to meet or thrust past the standards set by the three aforementioned men. With the ladies field on a slow, somewhat hopeful upward trend and the US pairs wanting to battle their international rivals, US skating is in a great position. Congrats to Nathan and Vincent for putting forth such wonderful programs, the latter is truly a late-season's bloomer.

I hope Vincent continues to work with Hamada... they seem to possess an innate chemistry and I can't wait to see what they will work on next. After Vincent worked with Hamada, not only did his jumps improve, but his artistry as well. They seem like a perfect match.

 

[Jeanie19]

I know I shouldn't be jumping the gun, but ....

Tim Dolensky is not on the list for the USFSA International Selection Pool :sad21:

https://www.usfigureskating.org/story?id=84156&menu=TeamUSA

His latest IG post, showing a lovely Caribbean (South Florida is the Caribbean, isn't it? )Sea, said "Here's to new adventures"

Yes, skaters can be added at any time, but I can't help but think we may have seen the last of those gorgeous headless scratch spins.

If so, :sad21:

Where is Sean Rabbitt?

 

[mrrice]

I feel like singing "I'm Proud To Be An American" since this is where I live now. I'm so proud of the US Men for their Free Programs this afternoon.

 

[el henry]

Where is Sean Rabbitt?

I know.

Also :sad21:

I do not know if Sean did not meet whatever international score threshold they set, or if he is retiring from competition. His social media shows him skating and working out, but he is a coach and he likes to work out No announcements there yet.

He has given so many years of skating pleasure to fans, I could not blame him for finally hanging up his competitive skates, but if he is ....

:sad21:

 

[hippomoomin]

I am really glad to see that Vincent's jumps are getting better and better and he is gaining physical strength. Does anyone know why he worked with Mie Hamada recently?

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Two excellent skates by both Zhou and Chen!

Also love Chen's less than subtle reminder to everyone that he still has the 4S in his arsenal.

(And kudos to Uno for the 3A-4T attempt!)

 

[truthbooth]

I am really glad to see that Vincent's jumps are getting better and better and he is gaining physical strength. Does anyone know why he worked with Mie Hamada recently?

Maybe because he didn't want to travel back and forth to Japan from the USA so close after worlds? Nathan stayed for SOI.

I agree Vincent looked especially strong, technically and artistically, at WTT. Is there any chance he moves to Hamada full time? Obviously, it's a big move, but he's improving and it shows. It will be interesting to see him pushing Nathan now. As we saw at WTT, even one mistake from Nathan leaves the door open when Vincent is clean. US men's skating is certainly strong at the moment!