2022 U.S. Nationals: Senior Men's Free Skate

[Horsefeathers]

If they come to a decision early I would appreciate them announcing it ahead of the scheduled time.

If they need all that time to argue about it, so be it, but I need a nap.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I think logically they have to pick Malinin

The fanboy in me won't be mad if it's Jason though

The thought of Jason not being there is

I have a feeling it'll be Jason. He's just too much of a sentimental fave, and other than the 4S he skated well and delivered (he just is significantly technically subpar without any quads, comparatively speaking).

 

[Baron Vladimir]

For sure... I think Brown deserved bronze here (albeit barely) if proper calls/judging had happened.

But even if Brown edged out Zhou for bronze, I still think Zhou deserves higher consideration for the Olympics than Brown, based on the season's results/performances/BOW.

Based on this international season, yes, i agree with you, but don't they take into account the last season too/last Worlds?

 

[norwegianfairytale]

 

[labgoat]

Is there a downside to two wildcards Ilia and Vincent?

 

[Tinymavy15]

His PCS advantage is immediately negated by the lack of quads. His international PBs are 96.81/180.11/274.82 (from a while ago at that), and his TES personal bests are 50.69/92.72.

Brown has never attempted a quad in the SP, to my knowledge.. and has only ever attempted one quad in freeskates. Like Worlds 2019, Brown might make a final flight, but he'll get buried in the FS no matter how high his PCS is. It's a numbers game and his lack of quads simply doesn't cut it. His best shot at major individual medal was OWG2014 when everyone bombed, but I don't see it happening in 2022.

But as we saw in this event, not everyone who attempts a quad will land one. He won't likely medal but top 5 isn't unrealistic. Maybe I'm too sentimental but this is his last chance to be on an Olympic team.

 

[soccerjc77]

I don't want a marketing choice like they did with Adam Rippon 4th place at 2018. Clearly if they choose Jason over Illia, it's clearly for a marketing choice ... And, you know what a marketing choice isn't good enought in the Olympic, just look at Adam Rippon who finish 10th at the Olympic. Jason if he is choose will have probably the same path as Adam Rippon ... Just became famous and not placing well at the Olympic.

I prefer Ilia who is the kid of the future and will probably place higher than 10th place at the Olympic.

 

[Mista Ekko]

Is there a downside to two wildcards Ilia and Vincent?

Not one that Jason would likely eliminate

 

[skatesofgold]

I would assume he had his test back negative but i´m not sure when he was tested because it seems it only was required as a routine every 3rd day. If you are in close contact with someone it could take some time before you test positive, but you could still infect others without symptoms. For me it´s totally weird that someone who is close contact is allowed to compete, but I guess he was allowed according to the guidelines so no blame to put on him, what else should he do when he was cleared. It was a bit scary watching the warm up - six skaters without a mask during warm up. Fingers crossed everyone will be fine. Jasons grouo wouldn´t be the only exposed. Everybody who was in the same practice group and warm up group as Amber as well, and Alysa, but until now there hasn´t been any reports of any of them testing positive so let´s stay positive

My uncle got sick with COVID in the fall, but his wife, my aunt, never did.

 

[sworddance21]

I don't want a marketing choice like they did with Adam Rippon 4th place at 2018. Clearly if they choose Jason over Illia, it's clearly for a marketing choice ... And, you know what a marketing choice isn't good enought in the Olympic, just look at Adam Rippon who finish 10th at the Olympic. Jason if he is choose will have probably the same path as Adam Rippon ...

I LOVE me some Adam Rippon, but I think Jason' s scoring potential is considerably higher than Adams. I don't think it's apples to apples. Jason wouldn't be just a "marketing" choice.

 

[Horsefeathers]

So, I'll ask the leading question: What exactly is the problem with Jason not being able to land quads? He's obviously fit as a fiddle (if he were any leaner, he'd disappear). He doesn't appear to have any lingering injuries preventing him from practicing them. Is it strictly a mental hurdle he's unable to cross, and the more years he goes on without succeeding, the stronger the mental block?

If things continue as they are, especially if Yuzu finally successfully lands a 4A, I'm seeing skating diverging into two sports: jumping only and artistry only (kind of like rhythmic gymnastics vs "artistic" gymnastics). I'm not sure there are any skaters that can combine jumps ala Yuzu/Nathan AND performance ala Jason. It's even more obvious on the women's side. Maybe I'm just too old, me and my wanting to be emotionally moved by a performance.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Based on this international season, yes, i agree with you, but don't they take into account the last season too/last Worlds?

In the 2021 season, Zhou was 2nd at SkAm (275.10) and at Nationals (291.38). Brown was 3rd at Nationals (276.92), and scored 262.17 at Worlds.

I get certain people here think Zhou anomalously placing 25th in the SP at Worlds is reason to dump him from the team, but that would be incredibly irrational if you look at what Zhou and his competitors have been doing THIS season.

If there were no cutoff for the SP at 2021 Worlds and Zhou had replicated either FS from Nationals or Skate America that particular season (or done even better), he would have scored enough to place in the top 11 at Worlds which coupled with Chen's win would have been enough for 3 spots too.

 

[TontoK]

So, I'll ask the leading question: What exactly is the problem with Jason not being able to land quads? He's obviously fit as a fiddle (if he were any leaner, he'd disappear). He doesn't appear to have any lingering injuries preventing him from practicing them. Is it strictly a mental hurdle he's unable to cross, and the more years he goes on without succeeding, the stronger the mental block?

If things continue as they are, especially if Yuzu finally successfully lands a 4A, I'm seeing skating diverging into two sports: jumping only and artistry only (kind of like rhythmic gymnastics vs "artistic" gymnastics). I'm not sure there are any skaters that can combine jumps ala Yuzu/Nathan AND performance ala Jason. It's even more obvious on the women's side. Maybe I'm just too old, me and my wanting to be emotionally moved by a performance.

It's been debated a lot. I think the answer is "It's really hard to jump quads."

I've seen video of very nice ones done in practice, far outshining what he's done in competition. So, it's not that he can't, it's that he hasn't yet gotten them consistent in competition.

 

[Mista Ekko]

So, I'll ask the leading question: What exactly is the problem with Jason not being able to land quads? He's obviously fit as a fiddle (if he were any leaner, he'd disappear). He doesn't appear to have any lingering injuries preventing him from practicing them. Is it strictly a mental hurdle he's unable to cross, and the more years he goes on without succeeding, the stronger the mental block?

He can't score enough to be competitive right now, I think this event was a perfect example,
He had a super friendly home panel here, And he still finished 4th behind a messy Vincent and
a newbie Malinin, While competing probably his best event this season so far

 

[yume]

I opened twitter and did regret it instantly.

 

[cheerknithanson]

I opened twitter and did regret it instantly.

Why

 

[yume]

Why

The only thing i can say is "poor Vincent".

 

[mrrice]

Jason might still get picked because of his GP medals.

But honestly, he got to go in 2014 after being a surprise silver medalist and got a team bronze there, and a solid career afterwards.

Giving Brown the Olympic spot would just be a sentimental victory lap a la Japan choosing Takahashi in 2014 over Oda/Kozuka. He has beautiful programs which the world should see, but Malinin has the greater potential as far as results go and getting that initial Olympic experience which could set him up for a very strong career.

The USFS picking Brown over Malinin would be understandable but sends a message that Malinin never had a chance no matter how he did at Nationals.

300 is a very hard score to ignore.

That's almost word for word what Ross and his Coaches said in 2018. There's no denying Illia's scoring potential but, I still wish we'd seen him in front of an International Panel as a Senior. When I watch his SP, I had thoughts of Rudy Galindo. Rudy was great but, he was SLOW across the ice. Especially when you compared him to Todd Eldredge. Illia looks slow on TV which means he must be slow in the rink as well. When you see Jason skating right after him, you could really see the difference in speed as Jason was much faster. I still have Vincent as the skater I would leave off the team if it comes down to it.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

But as we saw in this event, not everyone who attempts a quad will land one. He won't likely medal but top 5 isn't unrealistic. Maybe I'm too sentimental but this is his last chance to be on an Olympic team.

Top 5 is unrealistic for Brown. This isn't like Worlds years ago when he came 4th. Chen and Zhou would score higher than them if their perform to their ability, as would all three Japanese. Final flight/6th is possible, but even then Kolyada might outscore him.

As mentioned, Brown has only the 9th best total score this season of any man.

 

[TontoK]

I opened twitter and did regret it instantly.

I cancelled my twitter account some time ago. I don't need that kind of toxicity in my life.

I do maintain an Instagram account, but I am very selective of who I follow, and I never ever post or even reply. It's really more of a news service for me - skating, golf, and fitness/nutrition. That's it.