Jason Brown

[Mrs. P]

Satoko has been in Toronto this whole time. My understanding is her parents, who are both doctors, have been working during the pandemic in Japan so it made more sense for her to stay in Canada.

She ended up starting an IG account and taking dance classes. But I’m sure she’s happy to be back training!

As for Jason, I think it was the right thing for him to return home. It sounded like he had a good time with his whole family. The rinks are open in Chicago and he’s skating so he’s fine for the time being.

 

[ice coverage]

... Hubbell/Donohue and Chock/Bates did remain in Montreal all along, and yesterday they were able to return to ice there.

... As for Jason, I think it was the right thing for him to return home. It sounded like he had a good time with his whole family. The rinks are open in Chicago and he’s skating so he’s fine for the time being.

:agree: If I were Jason, I would have done exactly what he did -- return to the U.S. to be with family.

Especially given that it was completely unpredictable as to how bad the pandemic would get and how long it would last. (We still don't really know.)

To be clear: I was by no means passing any judgment on any skater's decision (whether Jason's or anyone else's) when I made a factual statement re Hubbell/Donohue and Chock/Bates -- in response to Bookseller's (innocent) misimpression that it was Vincent who always had been in Canada.

Under unprecedented circumstances, each skater (without a crystal ball) had to make a tough decision as to what seemed like the lesser "evil" in her or his individual case -- the risk of getting stuck (for an unknown length of time) away from family vs. the risk of getting stuck away from the training base.
(I know that Hubbell, Chock, and Bates have said that it has been extremely hard not to be able to see their families in person. For all I know, Donohue has said the same.)

---

Satoko has been in Toronto this whole time. My understanding is her parents, who are both doctors, have been working during the pandemic in Japan so it made more sense for her to stay in Canada.

She ended up starting an IG account and taking dance classes. ...

Satoko has started a TikTok account too.

 

[Bookseller]

I am 99% sure that Vincent Z unfortunately is in the same boat as Jason -- meaning unable to cross from the U.S. into Canada.

When the border was closed in March, Vincent got "stuck" (his word) in Colorado, to which he had traveled right after the cancellation/postponement of Worlds. He had gone there to get show choreo.
Vincent still was in Colorado in late May ... although I do not remember whether I have seen anything of him since then, I assume that he has not attempted to enter Canada.

ETA:

Per article published on Jun 5:

Zhou ... will be getting back to the grind with Barkell in preparation for the upcoming season as soon as he is able to cross the US/Canadian border. He is currently training at the Broadmoor Arena in Colorado Springs.​

Hubbell/Donohue and Chock/Bates did remain in Montreal all along, and yesterday they were able to return to ice there.

Last I had heard was that Vince was still in Toronto. I was obviously mistaken. Jason was strongly urged by USFS and who knows who else, to return to the US in March and he did so. Brian specifically indicated that the recommendation to Jason was strong and that being Jason, he complied. I don't know if they can get him back in or not. I'm sure that Brian and Tracy are concerned about all of their elite skaters. I'm sure that Jason will let us all know if he makes it back to Toronto. But who knows when that will be?

 

[dorispulaski]

Meanwhile Jason instagram shared 9 year old Kaitlin Saunders Black Lives Matter tribute.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CBVxdg5nNvN/?igshid=lr976xtdfmv4

 

[Ross74]

I noticed that Jason just started following the Monument Ice Rinks on instagram so I had to check out their posts to see if anything interesting is going on. They appear to be sprucing up the rink and painting, and Dalilah Sappenfeld just announced the establishment of the International Ice Academy of Colorado at Monument and she is moving her pairs skaters there from World Arena!

But to get it back to Jason, on this post from Monument from March, I couldn't help but notice the banners for Jason hanging in the rink. Just a nice little memory. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9z0W0JHz0w/

 

[Bookseller]

I noticed that Jason just started following the Monument Ice Rinks on instagram so I had to check out their posts to see if anything interesting is going on. They appear to be sprucing up the rink and painting, and Dalilah Sappenfeld just announced the establishment of the International Ice Academy of Colorado at Monument and she is moving her pairs skaters there from World Arena!

But to get it back to Jason, on this post from Monument from March, I couldn't help but notice the banners for Jason hanging in the rink. Just a nice little memory. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9z0W0JHz0w/

He is still the most famous skater to have worked there. It seems to be thriving. And Kori and her group seem to be thriving in Nashville. Apparently Kori and Tom K are working together on a Coaching seminar based on their experience in the Olympic coaching seminar. I saw a live interview this morning where she was talking about how she teaches her skaters how to "brand" themselves to help them focus on who they are and how to make good choices. She used Jason as an example. It was interesting.

 

[fzztsimmons]

Anyone got any news on Jason? I am assuming the answer is probably no, but you never know! I haven't seen Jason tagged in anything on IG and have seen Canada have extended their border closure till end of July... I am praying Jason has access to ice right now as many of his high-level competitors are returning to the ice...

 

[Tavi...]

Anyone got any news on Jason? I am assuming the answer is probably no, but you never know! I haven't seen Jason tagged in anything on IG and have seen Canada have extended their border closure till end of July... I am praying Jason has access to ice right now as many of his high-level competitors are returning to the ice...

TSL mentioned in their last video that they thought he was back in Canada and self-quarantining for 14 days, but that’s totally unconfirmed and they didn’t cite any sources. I gather there are some exemptions to the border closure (like student permits) so if this is true, it’s possible something like that applies. But that’s just speculation on my part.

 

[fzztsimmons]

TSL mentioned in their last video that they thought he was back in Canada and self-quarantining for 14 days, but that’s totally unconfirmed and they didn’t cite any sources. I gather there are some exemptions to the border closure (like student permits) so if this is true, it’s possible something like that applies. But that’s just speculation on my part.

I just watched that TSL vid and came here to mention it - as much as I dislike TSL they're usually pretty on it with US skater knowledge, and fingers crossed this is true! Hopefully we'll see something from Jason/TCC to confirm soon!

 

[ice coverage]

Philip Hersh @olyphil

Caught up with @jasonbskates after he returned to Canada (and that was a trip….) to train for a season that may not happen. Look for the story Thursday on @NBCOlympicTalk

6:11 PM · Jul 1, 2020

https://twitter.com/olyphil/status/1278451141970452480​

 

[el henry]

Just came here to post the Phil Hersh Twitter; I was wondering if Jason might just decide to quarantine. It’s not as though we’re going to have a season start on time, IMO

Interested to hear about the trio, sounds like a border snafu, since a drive from Chicago to Toronto is not so long.

(And please disregard any highlighted text in my post; I am not linking to anything, although it appears as though linking is appearing magically. I suggest we all just use URLs for links that we as posters may want to provide

 

[NanaPat]

Just came here to post the Phil Hersh Twitter; I was wondering if Jason might just decide to quarantine. It’s not as though we’re going to have a season start on time, IMO

Interested to hear about the trio, sounds like a border snafu, since a drive from Chicago to Toronto is not so long.

(And please disregard any highlighted text in my post; I am not linking to anything, although it appears as though linking is appearing magically. I suggest we all just use URLs for links that we as posters may want to provide

But your post is actually a link. When I click on it, it takes me here:
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Without...t+a+face&qid=1593577409&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

 

[StitchMonkey]

But your post is actually a link. When I click on it, it takes me here:
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Without...t+a+face&qid=1593577409&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

I am actually getting that same link from a link in another thread... but Phill one here works.

I think we are haunted. (or maybe this is useful information to trouble shoot... i don't know.

 

[NanaPat]

I am actually getting that same link from a link in another thread... but Phill one here works.

I think we are haunted. (or maybe this is useful information to trouble shoot... i don't know.

Definitely something strange going on. I saw a post in another thread where there was text that was a link to that same book on amazon, followed by a real link (no text).

We are being haunted!

 

[el henry]

But your post is actually a link. When I click on it, it takes me here:
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Without...t+a+face&qid=1593577409&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Yes, I probably didn't explain in the best way.

Something is going on that changes text to links to an Amazon skating book. Like my post. I assure you I did not place the link to the Amazon site in the text.

The best explanation I saw was from posters in the announcements and feedback forum, which said that it appears that the last post in any thread gets this gremlin, which transforms into a hyperlink in text.

Whereas if I just linked to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vib4fl8N9jY
and said "Riverdance".
No hyperlink I hope

 

[StitchMonkey]

Yes, I probably didn't explain in the best way.

Something is going on that changes text to links to an Amazon skating book. Like my post. I assure you I did not place the link the Amazon site in the text.

The best explanation I saw was from posters in the announcements and feedback forum, which said that it appears that the last post in any thread gets this gremlin, which transforms into a hyperlink in text.

Whereas if I just linked to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vib4fl8N9jY
and said "Riverdance".
No hyperlink I hope

I got Jason

 

[NanaPat]

Yes, I probably didn't explain in the best way.

Something is going on that changes text to links to an Amazon skating book. Like my post. I assure you I did not place the link to the Amazon site in the text.

The best explanation I saw was from posters in the announcements and feedback forum, which said that it appears that the last post in any thread gets this gremlin, which transforms into a hyperlink in text.

Whereas if I just linked to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vib4fl8N9jY
and said "Riverdance".
No hyperlink I hope

Interesting. The hyperlink has disappeared on your post. On the other hand, my reply was the last post in the thread, and it didn't get the hyperlink treatment.

It reminds me of the old "Rick-roll" trick that people were doing (deliberately) years ago to send unwitting people to a video of Rick Astley.

 

[karne]

It's a relief to hear Jason is back in Canada and quarantining. I was really concerned he was going to be stuck at home for months longer.

Hopefully his TCC rinkmates will help him with not having his family around.

 

[katmari]

Jason's interview with Phil Hersh is now available:

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/07/02/jason-brown-figure-skating/

 

[Arriba627]

Very inspiring to read Jason's words as to how he is approaching the uncertainty of the current/upcoming season situation. It lifted my own mood just to read his thoughts. Thank you Jason!