State of the U.S. Men's Figure Skating for 2014-15

[Violet Bliss]

No doubt Jeremy's skating skills and musicality are among the very best in the world, but to get on the Worlds podium as he desires he needs a quad in each of his programs. He has tended to break down whenever he misses his quad, thus his performances and results have been hit or miss. Unfortunately, for him to win a worlds medal this season, he has no choice but to land his quads. Recovering from a quad fall to skate the rest of the program well is not enough even though the result would likely still be the best among US Man. He can do it with confidence and a right mindset.

 

[IcyEdges]

No doubt Jeremy's skating skills and musicality are among the very best in the world, but to get on the Worlds podium as he desires he needs a quad in each of his programs. He has tended to break down whenever he misses his quad, thus his performances and results have been hit or miss. Unfortunately, for him to win a worlds medal this season, he has no choice but to land his quads. Recovering from a quad fall to skate the rest of the program well is not enough even though the result would likely still be the best among US Man. He can do it with confidence and a right mindset.

Yes and he has stated he will have a quad (and eventually 2 in the FS) this season.

 

[StitchMonkey]

I agree about the music. This could be the poster child for why skaters should not use vocals. For one thing, the acoustics are so bad in most ice arenas that no one can make out the words anyway.

As for the performance, I know Jeremy wants to do his own thing. But unfortunately his own thing is moping around like he wants to commit suicide. Come on, Jeremy, skate!

I would say it is an an example of how they need to be careful with it. The acoustics are a good point that may get forgotten. This cut really does seem to be mixed/balanced/something more technical than i can articulate well to really focus on the singer. There are parts that it almost sounds a cappella. I think it was a bad cut/mix played on bad speakers, for a bad mix overall. I think the problem is when the skater seems to be interpreting the lyrics more than the song as a whole. The signer should not tell the skater what to do so to speak.

This did somehow come across as too exhibition and not in a good way. Ashley Wagner's new FS is sorta the same, too much singer and feels too much like an exhibition, I had very similar feelings to those two programs. The thing is you can be different and use lyrics in a way that works. Alena Lenova's SP this season to me is a good example of a program with lyrics that has an exhibition feel to it, but still feels like it works for a competition piece. It can be done, skaters really need to explore the gray more deeply.


The weird thing is his personality seems more playful than this. Can he only do mopey skating? This is the guy that sent a tweet out a couple days ago with hair as a unicorn horn. . . can't we see that version of Jeremy be himself on ice?

 

[centerpt1]

I love whimsical Jeremy (rhythm of love) - but he got a PCS wake up call at Worlds- and it sent him back to focus on classic skating this season. Not a bad thing. Just different than in the past when the SP has been a short upbeat "dancey" program.

 

[noskates]

Didn't like the music. See it as a show piece rather than a competitive program. And a lot has to do with the horrible accoustics in that arena. But it IS mopey and dreary. My favorite Jeremy SP was at 2012 Nats when he did the upbeat swing program. He did it beautifully (one of the best skates I can remember from him) and it was a happy score.

I'm not sure why we're still discussing who should or shouldn't have gone to Sochi but to even suggest that the US wouldn't have sent their national champion is pretty darn ludicrous! The fact is - Max didn't cut it this year at Nationals. Not even sure why he would have been considered over Jason - who skated lights out - not to mention Jeremy who won the competition.

I'll sure be glad when Skate America comes around as well as the other major Grand Prix competitions! It will put a lot of this inane discourse in perspective.

 

[ice coverage]

... Nick Zaccardi writes a brief story based on aforementioned teleconference.
http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/13/jeremy-abbott-figure-skating-skate-america-olympics/

This was an interesting quote:

“When I comepted against Evan and Johnny, I was always constantly fighting for that attention, because I was always that third one,” Abbott said. “I was always brushed aside by the media because they garnered the attention. Now, Jason Brown is garnering that attention as well. That’s great for figure skating, and that’s great for the U.S., but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s going to win.”

I guess his point is that just because Jason's getting all the media attention that he won't necessarily win Skate America (or Nationals, I suppose), but that seems to be an odd way to say it. ...

"Just to clarify, Abbott discussed media attention because he was asked a question about it," per Lynn Rutherford's post at FSU.

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...d-nbc-olympictalk-article.93322/#post-4344982​

 

[Mrs. P]

I'll sure be glad when Skate America comes around as well as the other major Grand Prix competitions! It will put a lot of this inane discourse in perspective.

No need to wait until Skate America! The Skate Canada Autumn Classic starts tomorrow! So we'll have new SP scores for Tim Dolensky, Ross Miner and Alex Johnson.

 

[Icey]

Where can the Autumn Classic be viewed?

 

[Jammers]

If Jeremy hadn't crapped away so many chances to be a champion internationally maybe the media wouldn't focus on other skaters. I wonder who he will blame this season after he struggles yet again when it counts. Hopefully he will realize it's time to retire.

 

[centerpt1]

Who has he ever blamed other than himself?

 

[noskates]

No need to wait until Skate America! The Skate Canada Autumn Classic starts tomorrow! So we'll have new SP scores for Tim Dolensky, Ross Miner and Alex Johnson.

I meant when Jason, Max, Ricky, Jeremy etc. start competing.

 

[Mrs. P]

I meant when Jason, Max, Ricky, Jeremy etc. start competing.

Well there's plenty to talk about besides those guys!

 

[StitchMonkey]

Well there's plenty to talk about besides those guys!

Well put!

To focus on something else, Tim Dolensky is one I am looking forward to seeing as he actually composed his own music for his short program. At least we (hopefully) will not be able to say it has been skated to before. I found it an interesting twist and am very much looking forward to the result. He also composed his own music for the 2011-2012 season as a junior. Can't help but think if he is doing it again, it likely did not suck the first time!

Are there any other guys who will be skating at their first senior nationals this year that we should be keeping an eye on? We keep talking about the people already around, I am hoping at least one new(er) comer gets some buzz come January.

 

[Mrs. P]

Are there any other guys who will be skating at their first senior nationals this year that we should be keeping an eye on? We keep talking about the people already around, I am hoping at least one new(er) comer gets some buzz come January.

Dolensky is in Eastern section, along with Grant Hochstein. Stephen Carriere is also in this section, though he has a bye due to his GP, I believe. Alexander Aiken is making a comeback.

Nathan Chen, Shotaro Omori, Jordan Moeller will be making senior debuts at nationals (if they make it through sectionals) Chen and Omori competed at the JGP this season, Moeller made his senior debut at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic.

Chen and Omori will be at Pacific sectionals, which will have plenty of competition! Sean Rabbit, Scott Dyer, Philip Warren and Doug Razzano were at Nationals last year from sectionals. Razzano might get a bye to Nationals with a second Senior B event (Sylvia noted that is a possibility). Chen should win and make it easily, Omori, on paper, should be able to make it, but it's hard to say.

Moeller will be at Midwestern sectionals. His biggest competition there will likely be Alexander Johnson. Lukas Kaugars is also in that section.


H/T to Sylvia at Unseen Skaters for a ton of this info: http://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/sectionals/


Another skater worth watching currently in juniors is Andrew Torgashev, who competed on the JGP. He's only 13 years old and doesn't have all the tricks yet, but shows a ton of promise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMf2dxYe2Uc

Also Aleksei Krasnozhon who did well in summer comps. Per Sylvia, HE aparently landed 3A, 3F3Lo, 3Lz3T to win the FS for Jrs. at Broadmoor Open.. I am surprise he did not get a JGP. (Not sure if it's because he's switching from Russia to the US).

 

[Mathman]

I will be interested to see if Hochstein really has a quad this year. Hope so.

Tim Dolensky is one I am looking forward to seeing as he actually composed his own music for his short program. At least we (hopefully) will not be able to say it has been skated to before. I found it an interesting twist and am very much looking forward to the result. He also composed his own music for the 2011-2012 season as a junior. Can't help but think if he is doing it again, it likely did not suck the first time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pnwa6LdQHM



One of the comments says: I literally know him! He skates at my rink! This is so awesome!

 

[StitchMonkey]

Mrs. P

Can you give us a bit of a crash course on who gets byes and how etc.?

Dolensky was 13th at senior nationals last year, Carriere was 10th, Hochstein was 11th, Rabbitt was 14, Kaugars as 15th, Warren as 16th, Dyer was 18th,. Razzano was 6th, so somewhere higher than that for a bye? How do you get byes from senior B/Challenger series and grand prix events? Chen and Moeller were 1st and second at Junior, neither gets a bye of any sort?

Andrew Torgashev is adorable but I was really hoping for some sort of sci fi or skeleton sounding music with that outfit.

Top four from sectionals move on correct?

Are there ever any weird exceptions or invite situations? Like if Chen was in a car wreck and could not skate for a few weeks, could have have some other path available to him?

So if i am reading this correct in theory Chen, Moeller, Omori are the likely virgins of the year?

 

[Mrs. P]

Mrs. P

Can you give us a bit of a crash course on who gets byes and how etc.?

Dolensky was 13th at senior nationals last year, Carriere was 10th, Hochstein was 11th, Rabbitt was 14, Kaugars as 15th, Warren as 16th, Dyer was 18th,. Razzano was 6th, so somewhere higher than that for a bye? How do you get byes from senior B/Challenger series and grand prix events? Chen and Moeller were 1st and second at Junior, neither gets a bye of any sort?

Andrew Torgashev is adorable but I was really hoping for some sort of sci fi or skeleton sounding music with that outfit.

Top four from sectionals move on correct?

Are there ever any weird exceptions or invite situations? Like if Chen was in a car wreck and could not skate for a few weeks, could have have some other path available to him?

So if i am reading this correct in theory Chen, Moeller, Omori are the likely virgins of the year?

Quick crash course:

Top 5 at U.S. Nationals gets a bye: Abbott, Brown, Aaron, Farris and Dornbush

You can also get a bye to nationals you qualify for either JGPF or GPF. Brown and Farris have received byes in the past this way: ( 2012/2013 Brown; 2011/2012/2013 for Farris)

Other skaters qualify for byes, either through regionals or sectionals by competing for international competition: Miner, Rippon and Carriere will likely get a bye through their respective sectionals due to competing on the GP in the month of November, when sectionals are held. Razzano is at Skate America, but it's too early to get a bye for sectionals -- how ever there are reports he is going to get a second Senior B (Graz, Australia) that will conflict directly with his sectional.

Chen and Moeller's events enabled them to likely skip regionals (if there was a competion held; in some cases the regional pool is so small, they don't even need to go to qualify to sections). But since neither has international events during sectionals time, they will have to go to sectionals.

Everyone else has to go to at least sectionals, if not regionals. The winner of sectionals in the previous year, typically gets a bye at least through regionals.

top 4 does qualify. As for exceptions, I'm not sure if there are any...usually if someone is injured (like Shotaro was last year) they just have to try again next year.

 

[ice coverage]

.. Razzano is at Skate America, but it's too early to get a bye for sectionals -- how ever there are reports he is going to get a second Senior B (Graz, Australia) that will conflict directly with his sectional. ...

FWIW, the Challenger standings chart indicates that Razzano is destined for Graz. But I don't know whether the assignment is official -- USFS has not announced it, AFAIK.

http://www.isuresults.com/events/cs2014/csmen.htm​

Thx for the crash course, Mrs. P.

Where can the Autumn Classic be viewed?

Live streaming will be available.
A number of us in the Autumn Classic thread are on the lookout for the streaming link. Supposedly it will be reachable via the Skate Canada website.

 

[karne]

To focus on something else, Tim Dolensky is one I am looking forward to seeing as he actually composed his own music for his short program. At least we (hopefully) will not be able to say it has been skated to before. I found it an interesting twist and am very much looking forward to the result. He also composed his own music for the 2011-2012 season as a junior. Can't help but think if he is doing it again, it likely did not suck the first time!

I really enjoy Tim Dolensky! I hope he does well. And I'm looking forward to Lukas Kaugars again too! (You may remember him as: the adorably cute guy in the pink shirt with the beautiful French SP who was so deliriously happy after his skate!)


Last comment on the Abbott thing: anyone who thinks he doesn't get media coverage/support from USFSA needs to go watch the NBC promos for Sochi again and also needs to go watch the "highlights" videos the USFSA posted of 2013 Nationals. Particularly the latter: if not for the clip of Max's celebrations at the end of the video, who would you have thought was National Champion that year?

 

[gkelly]

The music doesn't work for me. Seems like an exhibition with a triple axel thrown in. I hope the judges take him seriously.

It will probably come across more "serious" in competition lighting with full competition content. And hopefully sharper execution.