This is the latest in a series of threads looking at the U.S. Men. This thread is for the 2017-2018 season, which official begins on July 1, 2017 and goes through June 30, 2018.
See past threads here.
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014 (partial; second-half of the season)
***
Wow, we're to the Olympic season already. It seemed like just yesterday we were on the 2013-2014 thread, i.e. Sochi! Now we're on to journey Pyeongchang. The question is, which of the U.S. men will end up there come February?
As I did to open the previous season's thread, I will look at the current top contenders, dark horses and other men.
Top Contenders
Nathan Chen -Reigning U.S. Champion, Reigning 4CC Champion. Nathan's had quite a season. He's beat nearly every men, either at Nationals or internationally at some point in 2016-2017. Things fell a part a little at Worlds and he did not medal, but there's no doubt he's seen as a Olympic medal contender and is secured U.S. No. 1. The injuries that plagued him in season's past seems to be behind him, though efforts will likely be made to make sure they do not make a badly-timed return.
Jason Brown-Internationally, and score-wise, Jason did enough to prove that USFS decision to send him to Worlds over silver medalist Vincent Zhou was not a crazy one. I do feel that in spite of his struggles this season, this season clearly was a breakthrough in some ways, at least as far as international scores. He is the only U.S. man who has scored 90+ PCS in the free skate (at Skate America and at WTT) and other than at 4CC, he has garnered the top PCS scores among the U.S. Men. Of course he needs the quad. He knows it, everyone knows it. He has gone as far as he possibly can (175+ scores; 90 PCS; U.S. champ, top 10 finishes at Worlds) without a quad. His progress on it will tell the store of where he'll end up this season.
Vincent Zhou- Vincent had a strong second half that included a world junior title where he landed 3 quads. The PCS is obviously going to be a work in progress, but he enters the season with some strong momentum. Will he add the quad flip that he's been practicing?
Adam Rippon -Adam had a strong first half to the season that included making the GPF for the first time in his career. A freak training accident ended his season. However, he's on the road to recovery. Adam, to his credit, has continued to find ways to stay relevant despite his "old age." He and Jason are in a similar boat as far as the quad -- and both factions for each men have already started campaigning which "artist" should/would/could end up on the Olympic team. Jason has beaten Adam in every head-to-head match-up since 2014 U.S. Nationals, but of course patterns can always be broken.
Max Aaron - An unfortunate Nationals placement, but for now I'm listing him as a top contender because his scores internationally are still solid. His new Matador SP, debuted at Nationals, has potential and could dazzle if performed well.
Dark horse
Grant Hochstein -Despite placing 4th again at U.S. Nationals, his performances this season were not as strong as they were last season. Grant admitted that he had a late start this past season, which cause his competition rhythm to get off-sync. Grant's landed a few quads this year.
Ross Miner - Ross managed another top 3 finished after the SP at nationals only to again crumble in the free. Ross said this season is his last. He has a way of surprising folks, will he have one last surprise for us in 2017-2018?
Alexander Johnson -Alex had another top 6 finish at U.S. Nationals. His skating and programs are an audience delight, but like some of the U.S. men his technical content will be the determining factor whether he can move beyond top 6.
Tim Dolensky -- Timothy's season could have gone a bit better, but I still think there is some room for growth and movement. He definitely has a distinct style that does make him stand out even if the technical content isn't always there.
Joshua Farris -- I'm going to put him in dark horse status cause he's shown in shows and other videos that the jumps are there. He's a 4CC medalist and a three-time U.S. medalist, so that puts him on this list too. He could move into top contender status pretty quickly if he dazzles on the Challenge Series/GP circuit.
Other U.S. Men to watch for
Jeremy Abbott -He has not confirmed if he is returning to competition, but reports are that he is skating well and his program from Japan Open last year, where he landed several lovely 3As, was impressive.
Sean Rabbit- Sean Rabbit continues to show progress in his skating even as he enters his mid-20s. I'm not sure if there is much room for him to move up, but we'll see!
Andrew Torgashev -Poor guy had the worst ending to his season when he failed to make the FS at Junior Worlds. I expect he will bounce back. I think a top 10 finish (or maybe even a higher) and perhaps some solid finishes at junior competitions internationally is totally possible.
Jordan Moeller- Jordan had a respectable return to U.S. Nationals with a top 10 finish after being out for injury in 2016.
Alexei Krasnozhon Reigning U.S. Nationals champion in the junior level. Alex, as he likes to be called, had a few breakthroughs, including making the JGPF for the first time. It sounds like he will remain junior on the international level at least, but we may see him as a senior in San Jose. He's been working on his 4Lo, which was ratified, but the jump isn't quite consistent yet. I'm looking forward to seeing his progress on the jump.
Some statistics:
U.S. Champions in this field (5): Chen, Rippon, Brown, Abbott, Aaron
U.S. Medalists in this field (9): The above five, plus Zhou, Hochstein, Miner and Farris
It's going to be a bloodbath!
See past threads here.
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014 (partial; second-half of the season)
***
Wow, we're to the Olympic season already. It seemed like just yesterday we were on the 2013-2014 thread, i.e. Sochi! Now we're on to journey Pyeongchang. The question is, which of the U.S. men will end up there come February?
As I did to open the previous season's thread, I will look at the current top contenders, dark horses and other men.
Top Contenders
Nathan Chen -Reigning U.S. Champion, Reigning 4CC Champion. Nathan's had quite a season. He's beat nearly every men, either at Nationals or internationally at some point in 2016-2017. Things fell a part a little at Worlds and he did not medal, but there's no doubt he's seen as a Olympic medal contender and is secured U.S. No. 1. The injuries that plagued him in season's past seems to be behind him, though efforts will likely be made to make sure they do not make a badly-timed return.
Jason Brown-Internationally, and score-wise, Jason did enough to prove that USFS decision to send him to Worlds over silver medalist Vincent Zhou was not a crazy one. I do feel that in spite of his struggles this season, this season clearly was a breakthrough in some ways, at least as far as international scores. He is the only U.S. man who has scored 90+ PCS in the free skate (at Skate America and at WTT) and other than at 4CC, he has garnered the top PCS scores among the U.S. Men. Of course he needs the quad. He knows it, everyone knows it. He has gone as far as he possibly can (175+ scores; 90 PCS; U.S. champ, top 10 finishes at Worlds) without a quad. His progress on it will tell the store of where he'll end up this season.
Vincent Zhou- Vincent had a strong second half that included a world junior title where he landed 3 quads. The PCS is obviously going to be a work in progress, but he enters the season with some strong momentum. Will he add the quad flip that he's been practicing?
Adam Rippon -Adam had a strong first half to the season that included making the GPF for the first time in his career. A freak training accident ended his season. However, he's on the road to recovery. Adam, to his credit, has continued to find ways to stay relevant despite his "old age." He and Jason are in a similar boat as far as the quad -- and both factions for each men have already started campaigning which "artist" should/would/could end up on the Olympic team. Jason has beaten Adam in every head-to-head match-up since 2014 U.S. Nationals, but of course patterns can always be broken.
Max Aaron - An unfortunate Nationals placement, but for now I'm listing him as a top contender because his scores internationally are still solid. His new Matador SP, debuted at Nationals, has potential and could dazzle if performed well.
Dark horse
Grant Hochstein -Despite placing 4th again at U.S. Nationals, his performances this season were not as strong as they were last season. Grant admitted that he had a late start this past season, which cause his competition rhythm to get off-sync. Grant's landed a few quads this year.
Ross Miner - Ross managed another top 3 finished after the SP at nationals only to again crumble in the free. Ross said this season is his last. He has a way of surprising folks, will he have one last surprise for us in 2017-2018?
Alexander Johnson -Alex had another top 6 finish at U.S. Nationals. His skating and programs are an audience delight, but like some of the U.S. men his technical content will be the determining factor whether he can move beyond top 6.
Tim Dolensky -- Timothy's season could have gone a bit better, but I still think there is some room for growth and movement. He definitely has a distinct style that does make him stand out even if the technical content isn't always there.
Joshua Farris -- I'm going to put him in dark horse status cause he's shown in shows and other videos that the jumps are there. He's a 4CC medalist and a three-time U.S. medalist, so that puts him on this list too. He could move into top contender status pretty quickly if he dazzles on the Challenge Series/GP circuit.
Other U.S. Men to watch for
Jeremy Abbott -He has not confirmed if he is returning to competition, but reports are that he is skating well and his program from Japan Open last year, where he landed several lovely 3As, was impressive.
Sean Rabbit- Sean Rabbit continues to show progress in his skating even as he enters his mid-20s. I'm not sure if there is much room for him to move up, but we'll see!
Andrew Torgashev -Poor guy had the worst ending to his season when he failed to make the FS at Junior Worlds. I expect he will bounce back. I think a top 10 finish (or maybe even a higher) and perhaps some solid finishes at junior competitions internationally is totally possible.
Jordan Moeller- Jordan had a respectable return to U.S. Nationals with a top 10 finish after being out for injury in 2016.
Alexei Krasnozhon Reigning U.S. Nationals champion in the junior level. Alex, as he likes to be called, had a few breakthroughs, including making the JGPF for the first time. It sounds like he will remain junior on the international level at least, but we may see him as a senior in San Jose. He's been working on his 4Lo, which was ratified, but the jump isn't quite consistent yet. I'm looking forward to seeing his progress on the jump.
Some statistics:
U.S. Champions in this field (5): Chen, Rippon, Brown, Abbott, Aaron
U.S. Medalists in this field (9): The above five, plus Zhou, Hochstein, Miner and Farris
It's going to be a bloodbath!
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