2017-18 State of U.S. Men's Figure Skating

[mrrice]

Grant is *never* an embarrassment. But this is the US of A, if you're not top 5, you're just invisible, one way or the other.

Sad that Grant didn't skate well, but his tweets are the best.

"Every season will have its hiccups. Unfortunately, my hiccups were nonstop at this event. I will be much better in China, mark my words!"

And he loved the fan who threw cat toys on the ice for Qiu Qiu #catdad



Proud to be a #catdad? Grant is awesome

It's times like these when it's good to go home to someone like Caroline who understands exactly what you're going through. I have no doubt that he will rebound from this event and come back stronger. His attitude is great and I wish him the best when he skates in China.

 

[Weathergal]

Me too. I use Alexei Yagudin's Winter costume as an example. It's a simple shirt and pants but it was blinged up in a simple yet, very effective way. Todd Eldredge used to wear shirts that had a beautiful flow to them. In Nathan's case, I doubt they will make a change unless a judge makes a suggestion. I would also suggest that Nathan get "Pit Pads" for his costumes. He has so many arm movements above his head that his pit sweat can be seen by the camera's.

Here's Alexei's SP Costume:http://www.webwinds.com/icechips2002/alexei95125.jpg

Here's Todd: http://www.pluto.dti.ne.jp/~ando3/figureskate/Todd/images/JO2001/todd_fs17_big.jpg

mrrice, I agree with you about Alexei and Todd having nice costumes, particularly about the "beautiful flow" of Todd's shirts. That's a great way to describe them. He always looked very pulled together and elegant, for lack of a better word, on the ice.

I hate to say it, but I also agree with you about the "pit pads" for Nathan. (Sorry Nathan!) I noticed it, too, and it's a bit distracting. Hopefully someone on his team is helping him with this relatively minor glitch. I think he looks great in his SP, in particular, and his simple black costume, which I know can be boring if done in excess, really worked with this program.

I'm sending love your way for making me think about Winter. One of my favorite programs ever! He's the perfect example of a legend who didn't do things the classic way (posture, line, etc) but knew how to play to his strengths and had a wonderful sense of style. I always bought into his "experiments" because he committed. Off to Youtube to watch!

One my favorites also, GGFan. I have watched it many, many times!

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

NBC just showed a Nathan Chen Promo during the Patriots vs Falcons game. They hyped that he'll be chasing history and landing a record 5 quads while showing slow motion of him jumping. It was pretty cool and exposure like this is a really good thing IMO.

 

[el henry]

NBC just showed a Nathan Chen Promo during the Patriots vs Falcons game. They hyped that he'll be chasing history and landing a record 5 quads while showing slow motion of him jumping. It was pretty cool and exposure like this is a really good thing IMO.

There can be absolutely no doubt that the Nathan Promo Train will be chugging along this season, choo-choo! Nathan will not lack for support.

I do think it's kinda cool that it's on during NFL, but I doubt it will be showing on ESPN tomorrow while my Birds are playing. So I won't need to explain to my sis that no, that is not the skater that I'm always talking about

 

[ramurphy2005]

There can be absolutely no doubt that the Nathan Promo Train will be chugging along this season, choo-choo! Nathan will not lack for support.

I do think it's kinda cool that it's on during NFL, but I doubt it will be showing on ESPN tomorrow while my Birds are playing. So I won't need to explain to my sis that no, that is not the skater that I'm always talking about

If ABC had rights to the Olympics, I'm sure you'd see tons of promos on ESPN, but since for better or worse, NBC has the TV rights to the Olympics for awhile, only NBC will be hyping Nathan.

 

[frida80]

If ABC had rights to the Olympics, I'm sure you'd see tons of promos on ESPN, but since for better or worse, NBC has the TV rights to the Olympics for awhile, only NBC will be hyping Nathan.

Don’t worry. If he manages to get an OGM, ABC will have him on DWTS. Although, I think he might be too cool to do it. It doesn’t fit his personality at all.

 

[Mrs. P]

Alex K's interview with Ice Network:
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/10/23/259374292
He wants top six at nationals! Also, I realize it's not an either or RE: 4CC AND Jr. Worlds, since the former is at the end of January, three weeks after nationals and Jr. Worlds isn't until early March.

It's not out of the realm of possibility. He's ranking 6-8 in most categories in my score tracker...(and 3rd in TES in the SP).

 

[ask]

Nathan just punched his ticket to the Olympics. I think even with him placing 10th at Nationals, they will still send him base on last season and this season.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Nathan just punched his ticket to the Olympics. I think even with him placing 10th at Nationals, they will still send him base on last season and this season.

Definitely. However, it's hard to see him not winning Nationals, much less finishing 4th or lower.

 

[el henry]

Alex K's interview with Ice Network:
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/10/23/259374292
He wants top six at nationals! Also, I realize it's not an either or RE: 4CC AND Jr. Worlds, since the former is at the end of January, three weeks after nationals and Jr. Worlds isn't until early March.

It's not out of the realm of possibility. He's ranking 6-8 in most categories in my score tracker...(and 3rd in TES in the SP).

If I'm gonna love a jumper, it will be powerful and passionate Alex K. Don't ask me why ... well, I think I know why, I value passion over precision, and that's what Alex K. shows. Ever since he did the "shoot myself" gesture with his finger after the LP he wasn't happy with at Liberty this summer, I've had even more of a soft spot for him.

Go Alex K.

 

[karne]

If I'm gonna love a jumper, it will be powerful and passionate Alex K. Don't ask me why ...

The only jumper you'd love is a junior? None of the seniors?

 

[ice coverage]

The only jumper you'd love is a junior? None of the seniors?

Good thing Max is more than a jumper :yes:.

---

Just watching the nbc replay of rostelecom cup. They refused to even mention that Grant skated at all! Didn’t even list his placement. I guess it was an embarrassment.

That happens all the time. In most cases, it's only the final flight of skaters that make the broadcast. ....

I think "refused" is a bit harsh. ... I believe the Shibs winning performance was the only dance included at all, and the pairs coverage was even skimpier. The winners were awarded maybe 20 seconds of airtime under an advertising gimmick.

As far as I can tell, NBC allotted two hours to the event. Men's and lady's last groups took the lion's share. ....

Grant is not an embarrassment ....

Grant is not an embarrassment, but as Tonto said, NBC allotted only two hours to Rostelecom.

With that time limitation, NBC had to make trade-offs.

For Rostelecom, among the positive (to me) choices that NBC made were:

- Showing the full FD from the gold medalists (when NBC often has ignored or barely mentioned ice dance)
- Showing snippets of pairs (which NBC often has ignored entirely), both from the Rostelecom gold medalists and from the North Koreans at Nebelhorn.
- Showing Mirai, although she was not in the final group (and ended up placing ninth). Showing Mariah, although she was not in the final group (but moved up to sixth overall).​

Those positive choices no doubt meant trimming as many seconds here and there as possible -- including leaving out the graphics showing those who placed 7th-12th (not seen for either men or ladies at Rostelecom, IIRC?). And leaving out any verbal mention of Grant's placement.

 

[el henry]

The only jumper you'd love is a junior? None of the seniors?

Awww, I was typing too fast ....even though this is the senior thread, I was only thinking of juniors :
Also in my defense I think Max has more of the “total package” than Alex K. does; he certainly has more sophistication. He might be more in the “hybrid” model, like Grant.

And I drive a hybrid and love those as well:laugh

 

[SnowWhite]

I love Nathan Chen's costume (or lack of one). I'm not being distracted by flowy and/or sparkly clothing and get to see the beauty of his skating. It feels artistically pure- he's letting his skating (technical, components and choreography) speak for itself.

I think the simplicity makes him strand from all the other skaters.

After watching him this weekend, I have hopes he'll medal at the olympics.

I believe he said in an interview at the US Classic that these aren't his final costumes, but he wouldn't get those until after Rostelecom.

 

[skylark]

Good thing Max is more than a jumper

Good thing Alex K. is more than a jumper. Good thing Nathan Chen is more than a jumper.

 

[ice coverage]

Good thing Alex K. is more than a jumper. Good thing Nathan Chen is more than a jumper.

I was not trying to stir the pot.
Have been having connectivity problems, and it had been on my mind that I should go back and edit my post to add that I like Alex K. Because I do like Alex K.
And I do like Nathan.
Meanwhile, Max is my favorite.

I do not think el henry was trying to stir the pot either.

As for you, I have my doubts.

ETA:

I have been posting about Alex K and about Nathan for at least a couple of years in each case. And I have had only good things to say about both.
If you believe otherwise, then you are mistaken.

If being all-inclusive is important to you, then I would point out that you forgot to say: Good thing Vincent Zhou is more than a jumper.​

 

[mrrice]

IMO, the best thing about Alexei K is his competitive nerve. Sarah hughes was the same way. Even when she didn't win, she rarely gave things away by skating badly. IMO, Alexei still needs to learn how to perform. That is one area where Vincent is ahead of most our young men. At this point, Alexei belongs in a conversation with Tomoki and Andrew who are the future of our Men.

As for Max Arron. No skater has listened to the judges more than he has. His skating has always been fast and exciting. Now, he has the total package and like Alexei, he has nerves of steel. Knowing the USFSA, Max will not be held up due to his 2017 Nationals placement. Personally, I trust Max as much as I trust any of our Men. Last year was a fluke and Max has already put himself in the picture with his early season performances. Nathan, Max, Vincent, and Adam???? Still too early for me to tell. If Jason lands a quad of ANY kind, he will be nearly impossible to beat. He has done so well internationally without one, that he could win Nationals with 2.

How is Alexander Johnson looking? I've always loved his style.

 

[TontoK]

IMO, the best thing about Alexei K is his competitive nerve. Sarah hughes was the same way. Even when she didn't win, she rarely gave things away by skating badly. IMO, Alexei still needs to learn how to perform. That is one area where Vincent is ahead of most our young men. At this point, Alexei belongs in a conversation with Tomoki and Andrew who are the future of our Men.

This is an important point. Competitive nerve.

We've all been through the wringer with skaters who were glorious artists and good technical skaters.

But they couldn't withstand competitive pressure. I won't name names.

 

[skylark]

I was not trying to stir the pot.

Me neither. It just came up as a logical thought, for me, that if we're going to point out that Max is more than a jumper, so is Alexei. The first time I saw one of his videos, he skated his LP to Aaron Copeland's Rodeo. It was a good introduction to him, because 1) I adore that piece of music and think it shows the best and the joy of the cowboy culture; and 2) it tickled me that he seemed to be embracing that culture, living in Texas now, being Russian, competing for USA. I love it when we're able to draw a circle to be inclusive. 3) I loved how he skated that number. It was that he captured something essential in the music, with his movement. That's the essence of artistry for me, that and emotion. He made me feel something. Also, I loved his jumps.

Then, because Nathan is on my radar permanently now, I said that he's also more than a jumper. Just an opinion, but one that I feel strongly about. I'm not trying to convince anyone to think differently than they do. But when I post an opinion, the idea is implicit that at any time, someone might be encouraged to look at a particular skater with new eyes, open to what they're doing now, as opposed to a preconceived notion. It's happened to me, so why not?

Vincent is on my radar, but he's a little off to the side right now. I first saw Vincent skate at 2016 Nationals, and I was way impressed. In fact, I was waiting near the door of the venue when he walked through all alone, so I waved and hollered at him, "beautiful skate, Vincent!" or something to that effect. He smiled and waved back. And he was tiny! It was before his growth spurt. I still am way impressed with Vincent. At his last Challenger, I could see that he was giving as much attention to skating the program with musicality and emotion as he was to landing his jumps. For some reason ... and it may be because I'm thinking of Vincent as the US future in men's skating, he's, as I said, just a little off to the side on my radar. I included Alexei because he was the subject of the conversation in the first place, but I'm more invested in Jason and Adam, at the moment, than I am in Vincent and Alexei.

 

[mrrice]

Me neither. It just came up as a logical thought, for me, that if we're going to point out that Max is more than a jumper, so is Alexei. The first time I saw one of his videos, he skated his LP to Aaron Copeland's Rodeo. It was a good introduction to him, because 1) I adore that piece of music and think it shows the best and the joy of the cowboy culture; and 2) it tickled me that he seemed to be embracing that culture, living in Texas now, being Russian, competing for USA. I love it when we're able to draw a circle to be inclusive. 3) I loved how he skated that number. It was that he captured something essential in the music, with his movement. That's the essence of artistry for me, that and emotion. He made me feel something. Also, I loved his jumps.

Then, because Nathan is on my radar permanently now, I said that he's also more than a jumper. Just an opinion, but one that I feel strongly about. I'm not trying to convince anyone to think differently than they do. But when I post an opinion, the idea is implicit that at any time, someone might be encouraged to look at a particular skater with new eyes, open to what they're doing now, as opposed to a preconceived notion. It's happened to me, so why not?

Vincent is on my radar, but he's a little off to the side right now. I first saw Vincent skate at 2016 Nationals, and I was way impressed. In fact, I was waiting near the door of the venue when he walked through all alone, so I waved and hollered at him, "beautiful skate, Vincent!" or something to that effect. He smiled and waved back. And he was tiny! It was before his growth spurt. I still am way impressed with Vincent. At his last Challenger, I could see that he was giving as much attention to skating the program with musicality and emotion as he was to landing his jumps. For some reason ... and it may be because I'm thinking of Vincent as the US future in men's skating, he's, as I said, just a little off to the side on my radar. I included Alexei because he was the subject of the conversation in the first place, but I'm more invested in Jason and Adam, at the moment, than I am in Vincent and Alexei.

So am I. I think Nathan is a lock, especially after defeating Hanyu and Mikhail in Russia. Jason and Adam are the loved by the Judges and have been for years. Max, Ross, and Grant are the skaters from the "Old" guard who have quads and could medal at Nationals if they skate their best. Where oh where is Joshua Farris?? The biggest wildcard of them all.