Mathman, you still around this thread? I've got something semi-controversial to say, and I always appreciate your input when I do that.
It just struck me that Jason now heads to US Nats, likely the stand-alone deciding event in determining the Olympic Team, without having ever completed a clean quad in competition.
Given this, why didn't he even attempt them here? Do you think the idea was to skate clean and make the GPF?
So now what? Does he try them at US Nats? Does he go without them and hope someone else has bad programs and he sneaks into the Top 3 by default?
Everyone, including myself, has been so complementary of his coaching team, but now I'm bucking that narrative. I can't believe they've led him to this point.
Olympic berth on the line at US Nats, no clean competition quad ever, more rivals than spots on the team and all of them are technically superior, his most recent competition is a relative mess wherein he didn't even get competition reps on the quad attempt, finishing off the podium in a weaker GP field, losing badly to one of his rivals...
I don't know how a coaching team could have done worse in zapping confidence of an athlete. Y'all continue cheerleading Team Kori if you want, but I'm off that boat.
Ha, why Mathman? Can't handle me debating with you instead?
Just kidding. I'm not surprised by this post -- it's not that controversial to me really. And I understand 100 percent how you got to that view -- well you made it easy since you wrote it above.
I have thoughts. I don't expect anyone to be persuaded by my thoughts, just simply putting it out there for the record.
1.) I think it cannot be underestimated how much of an impact not having Yuzu there wreak havoc on his nerves. I know this comes off as an excuse, and you're welcome to see it as that. But I think Jason respects skaters who are better than him and if anything he feeds off their energy and ambition. It's like a person who drifts behind the lead cyclist in a a Tour de France. With Yuzu gone, he was the guy to set the standard. I don't think he was comfortable being in that position. Yes, a different person might have THRIVED on this sudden spotlight. But Jason wasn't, at least this time.
2.) There's also this additional pressure I think he puts on himself to do well in Japan. He has a really strong fan base there and he loves the country and performing there. Sometimes you can want something too badly.
3.) As to whether Kori & Co. were responsible for his performance here, I don't agree. I think they did what they could to deal with these nerves. I think they took out the 4T because they were hoping that would ease his nerves or take out the edge a bit. One thing, for better or worse, is that if a jump isn't working in the warm-up practice, they will adjust accordingly. I have a feeling the 4T was MIA that morning. So Kori tried to adjust. It didn't work. As I said, I can get why people think that was the wrong decision -- perhaps if he did the 4T and fell, it might have shocked him and he would have hit everything else -- but hindsight's 20-20.
4.) As to what he'll do at Nationals....who knows at this point. But just a quick story. At JGPF, he waxeled his sole 3A attempt in the FS and finished off the podium. At U.S. Nationals 2013, he basically was 1/2 on Axel attempts in the FS, but adding a new 3Z-1L-3S combo. At junior worlds a month later, he was 2/2 on the 3A, and had the 3-3 combos in the second half. Here was his protocals from
JGPF, where he finished OTP. Here is what he did at
Nationals about a month later. And here's the
protocals from Jr. Worlds two months after Nationals.
So it's not unprecedented that Jason lands things when he needs them. Things might not turn out that way this time, but I don't think it's crazy for him to land a quad at Nationals. If anything, this result might be exactly the thing he needs....
Anyway, I welcome your debate and disagreements, but thought you might appreciate my perspective.
