2025 World Championships Men's Free Skate | Page 58 | Golden Skate

2025 World Championships Men's Free Skate

Kirsten has my vote for doing all of the skating commentary. She's amazing and doing her research really showed.

I think she did a great job the first few days, but the last day it felt like she was exhausted. I know they probably don't have the budget for it, but why does the ISU only hire one commentary team per competition? Doesn't it make more sense to have "specialists" that can actually attend the relevant practices, and then come for the competition?
 
Every time. (Jason delivering to earn/save Olympic spots)
I thought you'd be interested in Jason's remarks about this:


As you know, I disagree with the Body of Work approach to naming World and Olympic teams... but I have to say I admire Jason's direct response. In short, he's saying "Scoreboard!" I like the rare instances in which skaters actually say what's on their mind.
 
Rebranding: Jimmy Ma is the Deanna Stellato-Dudek of the Men's event

My concern with Lucas is that he seems to be very injury prone. I'm not sure when he last managed a full season? It is a shame, because he has huge potential. (I have assumed you were talking about Lucas Broussard).
Lucas is a growing boy, still settling into his adult body at 18. He has had sacroiliac injury and pain in the past, which can become chronic and tricky - he seems to have been through recurrences going back a few years - but it's possible that it can also heal completely given enough time. But it could be that the training demands and repetitions of jumping will keep causing him trouble. He has time, so he and his team are smart to be careful with his health. I believe that is what kept him out of 2024 Nationals, and then a pelvis fracture in late 2024. If he can get healthy, he has such pristine technique that will serve him well. Really hoping...
 
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I thought you'd be interested in Jason's remarks about this:


As you know, I disagree with the Body of Work approach to naming World and Olympic teams... but I have to say I admire Jason's direct response. In short, he's saying "Scoreboard!" I like the rare instances in which skaters actually say what's on their mind.
I always believed in Jason. His stellar record over so many years speaks for itself. It makes me have some small faith in this pretty little hot mess of a sport that we follow that the judges haven’t forgotten about him. While it’s a small victory that he has the highest PCS of all the skaters here, the fact that Malinin is 2nd in PCS is just wrong. Aymoz and Vasiljevs should have received their PCS due as well as they were also basically clean in the FS and should have been ahead of Ilia in that criteria.
 
USFS has clear criteria to be followed when selecting skaters to major championships.
Yeah like BOW and you get into the room you really have to look. Ilia of course the 2 time World Champion is going to get a ticket to Milian, next Jason who had 2 top 5 finishes at Worlds and the other one was still top 10 and was fourth in the free skate most likely going to get a ticket too, it is the third spot where things get tricky because you could base on Nationals but I think what would be smarter is to take the two most promising young seniors which are most likely going Jacob and Lucas Broussard and which ever one has the strongest results in the fall should get the third if the National results support the decision. Look I am getting tried of watching and waiting for any other man to step up. I think we need to start fresh with Ilia and the kids. I am getting tired of using Nationals where a skater who may one great skate that season as a gauge of who should go to Worlds because it seems like they got the most part are bombing once they get there. Jason who was having major boot problems, came skated and got 8th place and saved the spots for the US for the Olympics.
 
If a 30 year old makes the Olympic team next year it's a sad statement on the younger skaters let's face it Jimmy despite his Bronze medal at 4CC is not really what you call among the elite skaters in the world.
I think Jason will be 31 by the time of next year's Nationals he has birthday in December just like Ilia.
 
For better or worse I think Yuma needs to stop trying to catch up to Ilia... As much as that'd be a lot to take in I don't want another Rika to happen :dbana:
I wonder if Yuma's Dad and Carolina are helping him to just achieve and skate his best and not ruin his body or have any serious injuries trying to attempt quads beyond his capabilities. Just skate his best self! Wishful thought: maybe Nathan could refer a sports psychologist to him. The mental endurance and coping of stress in sport, especially during crucial competitions like this, is so real.
 
Don't laugh but a bunch of us try to keep track of such things...

Nice list. I remember the Croatian skater Vrdoljak, didn't know he is as tall as Memola.
 
For better or worse I think Yuma needs to stop trying to catch up to Ilia... As much as that'd be a lot to take in I don't want another Rika to happen :dbana:
I honestly think Yuma has hit his ceiling and nothing going to change that now. Ilia not the only skater he has to worry about now. Misha, Adam, Wlad, and the youngsters like Jacob. Yuma has pretty skating skills but quite frankly that only going to take so far. These days you have to jump and jump big and I just do not think he has in him to keep up with rapid advancement of technical skills that Ilia is leading the charge in. Ilia is on cusp of doing quints. Yuma even said that if Ilia skates clean he is invincible. Do I think Ilia is beatable yes but I just do not see Yuma as the skater to do it. Even if he decided to retire he has lot to be proud of and the Olympic Silver and several World medals to his credit so his career has not been a failure by any means but I just not know if it would worth to keep trying but I am not a part of his team but they have a lot to think about.right now.
 
I honestly think Yuma has hit his ceiling and nothing going to change that now. Ilia not the only skater he has to worry about now.
I don't see Yuma picking up a 4th quad but he has a beautiful salchow, a good flip and toe. He can contend in the SP and he certainly, when skating clean, contend as well in the LP without more. Of course, Ilia's BV is way higher so Yuma needs to be clean and hope for mistakes... but it's not impossible.
Misha, Adam,
I would think these are the two who yes, can give Ilia a run for his money. Misha has improved tremendously this season. His landings are so much smoother. He is quite basic in presentation but has some charisma... I think Ilia is more wild in expression but Misha's PCS will rise if he is consistent, just like Ilia's did (note : i think it's wrong but this is what it is). Adam is a full package skater. If healthy, he can beat Ilia.
from ROC ? he's never skated internationally... we will have to see
and the youngsters like Jacob.
My favourite American skater but he has yet to learn some quads... if not, he has the same BV as Jason. That will not be enough.. Adam Hagara is another example. Super clean program, 2 triple axels... where does he stand ? Nowhere near the top.
Yuma has pretty skating skills but quite frankly that only going to take so far.
if he doesn't land his jumps, i agree. If he lands them, he quite delightful to watch.
These days you have to jump and jump big and I just do not think he has in him to keep up with rapid advancement of technical skills that Ilia is leading the charge in.
Ilia is pretty much maxed out with what he is allowed to perform... others know what they are chasing... he cannot really up the ante... even if he started doing 4-4 combos or 3a-4t or 3a EU 4S like Misha... At some point, the rules only will let you repeat a certain number of quads/ jumps and that's it.
Ilia is on cusp of doing quints.
That doesn't matter as long as they are not in the IJS
Yuma even said that if Ilia skates clean he is invincible.
Sure.
Do I think Ilia is beatable yes but I just do not see Yuma as the skater to do it.
I do.
Even if he decided to retire he has lot to be proud of and the Olympic Silver and several World medals to his credit so his career has not been a failure by any means but I just not know if it would worth to keep trying but I am not a part of his team but they have a lot to think about.right now.
 
I am getting tired of using Nationals where a skater who may one great skate that season as a gauge of who should go to Worlds because it seems like they got the most part are bombing once they get there.
In Andrew's case, it wasn't having one great skate at Nationals. He came into Nationals with a bronze medal at GPdF and second alternate for the GPF. He had the strongest body of work prior to Nationals and his performance at Nationals wasn't a case of it being one great skate. He earned that spot at Worlds.
 
I don't see Yuma picking up a 4th quad but he has a beautiful salchow, a good flip and toe. He can contend in the SP and he certainly, when skating clean, contend as well in the LP without more. Of course, Ilia's BV is way higher so Yuma needs to be clean and hope for mistakes... but it's not impossible.

I would think these are the two who yes, can give Ilia a run for his money. Misha has improved tremendously this season. His landings are so much smoother. He is quite basic in presentation but has some charisma... I think Ilia is more wild in expression but Misha's PCS will rise if he is consistent, just like Ilia's did (note : i think it's wrong but this is what it is). Adam is a full package skater. If healthy, he can beat Ilia.

from ROC ? he's never skated internationally... we will have to see

My favourite American skater but he has yet to learn some quads... if not, he has the same BV as Jason. That will not be enough.. Adam Hagara is another example. Super clean program, 2 triple axels... where does he stand ? Nowhere near the top.

if he doesn't land his jumps, i agree. If he lands them, he quite delightful to watch.

Ilia is pretty much maxed out with what he is allowed to perform... others know what they are chasing... he cannot really up the ante... even if he started doing 4-4 combos or 3a-4t or 3a EU 4S like Misha... At some point, the rules only will let you repeat a certain number of quads/ jumps and that's it.

That doesn't matter as long as they are not in the IJS

Sure.

I do.
The quint base values are in the IJS. I think they start at 17 5 points and bunch of rules on how many you can do and there not allowed in combination yet but once Ilia, most likely, lands the first one next season then we will have to deal with all the other issues that come with that achievement. Even if he doesn't go for quints he still has the Quad Axel triple toe combo that he was working on this week with Raf. Ilia is one everyone is chasing right now and Scott Hamilton said this week he does not know where Ilia ceiling is and I do not think Ilia even knows how that and as Sagittarius they dream and they dream big so the sky is the limit.
 
I always believed in Jason. His stellar record over so many years speaks for itself. It makes me have some small faith in this pretty little hot mess of a sport that we follow that the judges haven’t forgotten about him. While it’s a small victory that he has the highest PCS of all the skaters here, the fact that Malinin is 2nd in PCS is just wrong. Aymoz and Vasiljevs should have received their PCS due as well as they were also basically clean in the FS and should have been ahead of Ilia in that criteria.
But as much as I love Jason, the truth is it is not so much about judges remembering the value of beautiful skating as him having the right passport. Was he from a smaller federation, this would not be the case - see Kevin, Denis, Jun, Shun, all these great skaters from other federations whose PCS should also be mountains higher than those of Ilia Malinin, and yet they are not.This is sad. But uncomfortably true.
 
The quint base values are in the IJS. I think they start at 17 5 points and bunch of rules on how many you can do and there not allowed in combination yet but once Ilia, most likely, lands the first one next season then we will have to deal with all the other issues that come with that achievement. Even if he doesn't go for quints he still has the Quad Axel triple toe combo that he was working on this week with Raf. Ilia is one everyone is chasing right now and Scott Hamilton said this week he does not know where Ilia ceiling is and I do not think Ilia even knows how that and as Sagittarius they dream and they dream big so the sky is the limit.

The base values of all the quints are 14 points. I'm certain Ilia won't try any of them at competitions in an Olympic season because the risk of injury is way too high, it isn't worth to go for it a few months before the Games. However he can repeat the 4A if he wants to, but that's also risky and lately (GPF/Worlds this season) it's not as clean as it used to be.
 
The quint base values are in the IJS. I think they start at 17 5 points and bunch of rules on how many you can do and there not allowed in combination yet but once Ilia, most likely, lands the first one next season then we will have to deal with all the other issues that come with that achievement. Even if he doesn't go for quints he still has the Quad Axel triple toe combo that he was working on this week with Raf. Ilia is one everyone is chasing right now and Scott Hamilton said this week he does not know where Ilia ceiling is and I do not think Ilia even knows how that and as Sagittarius they dream and they dream big so the sky is the limit.
well... that's news to me :) shows to you how much i care about quints
if i were giving any advice to Ilia is that he should keep pursuing his goal of landing all six quads in one program. He did land all of them but two were on the quarter so the record is still not his. I know he can manage that one... quints ? I will believe it when i see it ;)

Also, if i may add one last comment : his jumping performance was better last year at worlds than this year... so sometimes, it's good to stabilize things.
 
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