2018 US Championships Sr Men FS

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

The axel is required and Nathan should definitely go for the 3A as it's worth way more and he can execute it.

Unless of course you're a fan of his competitors in which case - YES! Definitely only go for a double axel.

 

[artsciboy]

Not to be controversial but could those under rotation calls have been used to help the skaters that were coming after him. Because as it was said before it was not counted on for Ross minor to have such a good skate

There was nothing controversial about Vincent's underrotation calls. The four quads after the opening 4z were clearly underrotated without need for instant replay. I was surprised one of his 3axels wasn't dinged.

 

[truthbooth]

The axel is required and Nathan should definitely go for the 3A as it's worth way more and he can execute it.

Unless of course you're a fan of his competitors in which case - YES! Definitely only go for a double axel.

Nathan needs the 3A in the short, but I'm not 100% sure he needs it in the free if he lands 5-6 quads. He'll still be in very good stead, technically-speaking.

 

[Utsprek]

My guess is that the committee sends Nathan, Ross, Vincent, the medalists to the Olympics because Adam has not been earning significant medals internationally. Body of work is meant to allow the committee flexibility to get the best team. However Adam is not expected to medal anyway. Therefore, his body of work doesn’t warrant his selection. By comparison, when Ashley went in 2014, she was medalling internationally with a Grand Prix bronze and a true medal hopeful for the olympics. If they find his body of work commendable, then he will replace Ross.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Ross has no business going to the Olympics. His programs are dated and cheesy. Nathan, Vincent and Adam should go. Jason had a terrible season and I blame his coaching situation for that although I know he would never blame them. Men’s figure skating in the US just got a little less interesting with Jason’s not making the team

Going to the GPF (even as alternate) isn't a terrible season. Not making the Olympics is of course a disaster. But Jason would have been pressed to do so. I would have been upset if he made it due to a non call on his SP 3A but it didn't come down to that.

Such a talented skater but if you don't jump well you gotta be penalized.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

My guess is that the committee sends Nathan, Ross, Vincent, the medalists to the Olympics because Adam has not been earning significant medals internationally. Body of work is meant to allow the committee flexibility to get the best team. However Adam is not expected to medal anyway. Therefore, his body of work doesn’t warrant his selection. By comparison, when Ashley went in 2014, she was medalling internationally with a Grand Prix bronze and a true medal hopeful for the olympics. If they find his body of work commendable, then he will replace Ross.

Not earning significant medals? Two GP silvers is notable, especially given some of the folks he beat to get those.

Ross unfortunately has zero body of work as of late so it's hard to justify him.

Things would have been so much easier for the selection committee had Ross placed just behind Vincent.

 

[Violet Bliss]

If this is the mindset regarding worlds then it should be the mindset regarding the Olympics. During the press conference after the ladies decision, the selection official said that the goal is to send whoever is most likely to win a medal. Reverting to GP form would certain work against Miner in this respect.

Nathan is the only US contender for an Olympic medal in Mens. Vincent can be a dark horse or at least in the top 10. He may even be the top contender from the US at the next Olympics. There is no medal hope for the rest of the US Men, especially those without any reliable quad, so that is not where the consideration should be placed. As I brought up before, the fed also needs to appear to have a consistent standard for the selection but they've put themselves in a dllemma: should they adopt the 2014 Wagner model or the 2018 Wagner model?

Worlds selection should focus on who would likely win more entries for the US next year. Thus consistency is a major consideration, unlike at the Olympics where it may just be a crap shoot for any non contender they send.

As for selection based on sentimental reasons, no one's Olympic dream is more important and worthier than another's.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Nathan needs the 3A in the short, but I'm not 100% sure he needs it in the free if he lands 5-6 quads. He'll still be in very good stead, technically-speaking.

I believe in senior men's, one of the required jump is an axel and if you can land a 3A then you are simply doing a disservice by doing a double. It's a loss of 5.2 points BV.

 

[caseyl23]

Does USFS dare pull Vincent from the team, since they've already bypassed him once (last year)? It's not as drastic as four years ago, but he did come into Nationals in a situation similar to Mirai's - trying to get onto the team after being bumped. If I remember right, he didn't have the international scores for Worlds, but this is still the second consecutive year in which he's performed well enough to finish in a position where he could be selected.

 

[Ravyn Rant]

I've left the arena, had some dinner and a cocktail and read a bit of this thread. I still haven't come to terms with what I saw tonight. Did that really just happen?
Vincent got a big standing ovation, and not just from the full section of his supporters that spilled over into the neighboring sections. It was a sea of red shirts at the opposite end of the arena from me and the deluge of stuffies that hit the ice after he skated was marvelously over the top. Then I started to wonder if they'd sent down a cursed Smuckers strawberry or two.
I haven't quite reached the point where I can say I'm gutted for Jason, Adam and Max because I still can't quite believe it.
Ross Miner had the skate of his life at precisely the right time, and if they sent someone in his stead I'd really be gutted. His was the skate of the night for me.
I'll probably post more if I ever wrap my head around this crazy competition. So glad that I got to see it live.

 

[da96103]

I'm just blown away by Nathan Chen's consistency and the nerve of steel they guy has.

Last night we saw it from Bradie Tennell on the ladies' side as well. If these two marry each other and have kids, what would they be like if they take on figure skating like their parents? Will Nathan Jr. be the first to land 4A, quad 1/2 loop quad and quad quad combo? Will Bradie Jr. be the first to land quads on the ladies' side? Just having some fun thoughts...

Bradie would need the approval of Uncle Raffie. Is she good enough for his son?

 

[truthbooth]

I believe in senior men's, one of the required jump is an axel and if you can land a 3A then you are simply doing a disservice by doing a double. It's a loss of 5.2 points BV.

Yes you need an axel jump in the free. The double is indeed worth far less but still more than the single he did tonight. It's a toss-up, and this probably would never happen, but it might be a worthy consideration (especially if he has the benefit of skating near the end and understands exactly what he needs to do). It's hard to believe such a talented jumper struggles so much with the 3A. I see it as the single biggest threat to an OGM for him.

 

[Skater Boy]

If Ross's 1990's cheese fest program goes to the Olympics I'm out...

You should be free to be out with your sexuality regardless of whether Ross goes to the olympics. But that being said I don't think Ross should go to the olympics based on the body of work argument. This is just a disaster. I mean Vincent has not had a great or consistent year. Adam jus thad to rotate those two pops - even with falls it might have been enough to get third. Now we have a gigantic mess after Nathan. Vincent is the future I agree but currently he has had far too many issues. And Ross has his fans but really while it is a nice feel good story this is not in the betst interests of the American skating team (team event). Still Adam and Jason really had issues - well Jason had no quad too.

This is going to be one harsh evening. I wonder if Adam and Ashley are getting drunk together. What a mess. USFA must be pulling their hair out. What will they do. I mean Ross and Vincent have their fans as does Adam but this is a real mess.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

Nathan is the only US contender for an Olympic medal in Mens. Vincent can be a dark horse or at least in the top 10. He may even be the top contender from the US at the next Olympics. There is no medal hope for the rest of the US Men, especially those without any reliable quad, so that is not where the consideration should be placed. As I brought up before, the fed also needs to appear to have a consistent standard for the selection but they've put themselves in a dllemma: should they adopt the 2014 Wagner model or the 2018 Wagner model?

Worlds selection should focus on who would likely win more entries for the US next year. Thus consistency is a major consideration, unlike at the Olympics where it may just be a crap shoot for any non contender they send.

As for selection based on sentimental reasons, no one's Olympic dream is more important and worthier than another's.

That may be your opinion, but it is not up to you to decide what the committee should consider. The selection official said that the goal is to send the team that is "most likely" to medal. That doesn't mean they will, just that they are the "most likely" to do so out of all the US men. In other words, the committee is considering Adam/Ross/Vincent's chances of medaling only in relation to each other for the purposes of this decision. Anything else is irrelevant.

 

[medoroa]

Woke up and went at the results. Alternate universe indeed! I enjoyed Miner's FS more (Miner's PCS being lower than Zhou's is insanity; it should have matched Rippon's PCS at the least! Granted I wasn't there in person, but isn't Miner's SS closer to Brown's than anyone else's in the last group?) but body of work is pretty clearly in favor of Rippon and I won't be surprised or mad if the team is Chen, Zhou, Rippon.

I don't know if I think Nathan should take out his 3A... he seems to have developed a mental block more than anything.

 

[Skater Boy]

The winner was fair and square Nathan on jumps. Loser Vera Wang - oh dear what was the woman thinking - did Evan design Nathan's outfits? Mayb he wanted to make sure Nathan doesn't win OG so he will be the most recent American hero? Anyways, no one will sleep to night but Nathan and many people not caught u p in the drama on who goes to the olympics for the men or who are not having nightmares from Vera Wang's fashion faux pas!

 

[topaz emerald]

what the heck is Nathan wearing again? another vera wang? vera wang is ruining nathan for me. that suit doens't go with this music. looks like he's preparing to go scuba diving.

 

[moonvine]

I am literally losing sleep waiting for the team to be announced..what is wrong with me...

 

[topaz emerald]

vera wang is bad luck for nathan, giving him the most horrendous outfits, no wonder he can't land that 3axel jump anymore. And a couple of his jumps he landed slightly forward.

 

[gravy]

Was at the arena again today!

Chen: Impressive quads but the program really didn't have much energy. Wasn't too impressed with his speed or skating skills. Choreography was excellent but not well executed or with any conviction. US media hype had me believing he was like the second coming of Hanyu. Lackluster program for the most part.

Miner: Performance of the evening! After his second 3A the audience really got into it. I was singing along in my head and bopping my head. Such a cool moment for him. Speed was nice, ice coverage was decent, energy was fabulous... you could see him just living the moment on the ice and smiling throughout it. My favorite skate. Got the loudest and biggest ovation from the audience. Well deserved. Olympics please!

Zhou: Nice speed and quads (before the URs came in)--that's about it. Pretty much all 5 components were missing from his program. But his TES is crazy... will the USFS deny him a spot on the Olympics just one year after denying him Worlds despite placing well at Nationals? I hope not otherwise they're just sending a message that the event doesn't matter.

Rippon: Very intimate skate... made me feel warm and fuzzy until his first pop. Was much slower than the short though; the program itself is my favorite of all the men but the energy left the building after his second pop. Not good and left a bitter taste in my mouth after his mistakes. "Quad" fall was hard but his layback was a beauty. Tough, but I honestly don't think his body of work merits inclusion on the Olympic team when you factor in who wasn't at his events or his scores. Nor do I think it's smart to hand out two retirement gifts to their men... I agree with Phil that the third spot is between Ross and Adam.

Hochstein: Pleasant, nice, crisp skating. Nothing offensive. Nice spread eagles and really filled out his music well (I think I said that about his short). He skates big but doesn't do anything too memorable.

Brown: After Rippon, his skate was also a shock. His quad fall was hard and after stepping out of his 3A, the performance kind of fell apart (or never got started to be honest). Beaaaaautiful skating, he just flies across the ice as he weaves around. His spins in person are so impressive... but the jumps were a mess though. His choreographic sequence might be my favorite element of the men--his spirals are so good! The music is a generic movie soundtrack stuff... not a fan. Next thing might be me being a bitter queen and I know people will disagree but I would've liked to see more aggression after his skate. Smiling from ear to ear and still doing that hand holding thing with Kori in the K&C after killing your Olympic chances... come on. But that's just me being an a-hole, I guess. Lulz.

Aaron: I'm not his biggest fan but it's still hard to watch him do so poorly. Music cut does him no favors, I'm afraid. I briefly met him yesterday and he's so charming in person, such a sweet sweet guy. @karne, I see why you like him so much; I thought of you when I gave him a hug. He'll kill it in whatever he aims to do in life after skating.

Krasnozhon: The skating grandmas in front of me were talking about him in a very provocative manner until I leaned in and told them he was only 17. He looks like a man out there. He'll be a nice one to keep an eye out on the future, shame he couldn't replicate his JGPF skate here.

Torgaschev: He's a little firecracker! He was riling up the audience Joubert-style even with his falls and his long-as fuggo 3A entrance. Please don't use Tango de Roxanne and please get some better choreography, this does you no favors.

Johnson: So close to a clean program! I loooooove his edges. He's so smooth and listens/responds to his music so well. I'm in love with him.

Rabbitt: I usually cringe at his obvious attempts to interact with the crowd on video but in person it plays off pretty well. And thank you for choosing non-emo/intense music; it was a very nice and welcome change of pace. The audience loved him.