2021-2022 U.S. Men's Figure Skating
- Thread starter YuBluByMe
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2007
Both Camden and Nam had very rough skates. I'm not feeling good about either skater. I'd like for them to go out happy if that's what they want no matter how they finish.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2015
Looks like Malinin missed getting the World's minimum TES in his SP. He did get the minimum for 4CC and the Olympics. He isn't really making a case for himself to be chosen for the Olympic team at his first senior competition. Tomoki and Camden didn't do themselves any favors either. I would say a Jason, Vincent, Nathan Olympic team looks more likely every day.
If, like Tahuu, you consider Ilia a top US man Raf is part of his coaching teamI can‘t imagine the top four US men going for this. After all, Raf only coaches one.
but who knows
The skaters are rarely the problem, their coaches on the other hand...
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
I am concerned for Camden as well. I know it's not super useful to compare scores across competitions, but that score would have put him in 16th out of 17th men at US Nationals this year. There's clearly something very very wrong. Not sure if it is mental or physical but I hope he is able to correct it because that was just sad to watch
There are two Other International events he could go to (Open d'Andorra, Open Belarus Cup), one before JGPF and one after, assuming he won't be able to get the score after Nationals.
I agree about the team. If he, hypothetically, has a bad SP skate at the Olympics he could be in a position to not make the FS. I'm sure USFS want all three of their athletes in top 10 if possible even if some fans think that only the ones who have a chance at a medal count and USFS can send anyone as the third man for the experience no matter the result. I think this is false, they do care about all the placements, medal or not. Ilia's jumps are amazing when he has good skates, but he's too unexperienced. Of course, he can score very high at Nationals, but can he handle the pressure of an Olympics?
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
He's not handling the pressure of a Cup of Austria. I don't think it does these skaters any kind of service to push them into positions they aren't ready for. Maybe 4CCs would be a good assignment for him. We have 2 men who consistently skate very well Internationally (Nathan, Jason) and one man who has been inconsistent in the past but has been tearing it up this year in Senior International competitions (Vincent). What would the purpose be of sending a skater who has been doing very well on the JGP but is hardly lighting the world on fire Internationally? He can go other places for experience. If he has such an amazing Nationals he beats Nathan and Vincent ok. Then we are talking. Really? We're talking about a skater who can't make tech minimums for Worlds (yet) being sent to the Olympics? I seriously don't get it.
I don't blame people having high hopes for him, I have high hopes for my fave(s) too, but it is what it is and the US already has three strong men who have been on the Worlds team each and every season for the last three seasons. It's pretty obvious.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
I have not been able to watch any skating today, and won't be able to for a while, but wow.
What happened to Ilia, I feel sorry for him.
However, I do think it's not entirely unexpected. Our young quad god is *16* years old. Luckily, in the men's discipline, he has many years of skating ahead of him, and I look forward to them.
He may very well come back and skate a great FP. But if you are relying only on quads, you need to land the quads in a comp. Consistently, in high pressure situations. Proclaiming that Ilia is bound for the Olympics based on his quads does him no favors. Let him develop and see where he is in the future.
What happened to Ilia, I feel sorry for him.However, I do think it's not entirely unexpected. Our young quad god is *16* years old. Luckily, in the men's discipline, he has many years of skating ahead of him, and I look forward to them.
He may very well come back and skate a great FP. But if you are relying only on quads, you need to land the quads in a comp. Consistently, in high pressure situations. Proclaiming that Ilia is bound for the Olympics based on his quads does him no favors. Let him develop and see where he is in the future.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
Re Ilia and minimums for 2022 Worlds:
Let's not forget that at 2018 Worlds, the placement of 
Max Aaron 
-- who had been *third* alternate -- was crucial in earning three spots for 2019 Worlds.
Max Aaron -- who had been *third* alternate -- was crucial in earning three spots for 2019 Worlds.(Partly because not all three 2018 Olympians wanted to go to Worlds.)
So ... I hope that USFS will be wanting to keep its options open regarding alternates for 2022 Worlds.
The best-case scenario of course would have been for Ilia to earn the Worlds minimums in Austria.
But at this point, I hope that that Ilia will have another chance to earn the Worlds minimums, whether at Four Continents or another senior international (it would not need to be before Nats).
I am not saying that it should be a done deal for a Four Continents spot or World alternate spot to be earmarked for Ilia yet (without knowing Nats results for him and others) -- but I think it is reasonable to expect that Ilia would deserve to be in the mix.
It is likely that Ilia will go to Junior Worlds, but IMO, it would not be unthinkable for him to go to (senior) Worlds too -- if he can get the senior minimums in time.
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I'm sorry, in my mind I thought he needed the minimum for him to even be put on the Worlds team right after Nationals, but of course he can be on the team and if he doesn't get the minimum at 4CC, the first alternate will go.Re Ilia and minimums for 2022 Worlds:
Let's not forget that at 2018 Worlds, the placement of Max AaronSo ... I hope that USFS will be wanting to keep its options open regarding alternates for Worlds.The best-case scenario of course would have been for Ilia to earn the Worlds minimums in Austria.But at this point, I hope that that Ilia will have another chance to earn the Worlds minimums, whether at Four Continents or another senior international (it would not need to be before Nats).
I am not saying that it should be a done deal for a Four Continents spot or World alternate spot to be earmarked for Ilia yet (without knowing Nats results for him and others) -- but I think it is reasonable to expect Ilia to be in the mix.
It is likely that Ilia will go to Junior Worlds, but IMO, it would not be unthinkable for him to go to (senior) Worlds too -- if he can get the senior minimums in time.
Agreed. Otherwise, what's the point of triumphing in a weak field?
Often, your greatest competitor can be your greatest peer. They understand intimately what you're sacrificing and going through.
(Also, Shoma is awesome. So, there's that.)
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
To clarify what I had in mind in my previous post:
I am thinking (at this point) in terms of Ilia possibly being named as an *alternate* to Worlds upon conclusion of Nats -- depending on results from Nats.
And in terms of USFS then doing its best to ensure that all alternates (possibly including Ilia) would be able to actually compete, if necessary.
(IIRC, the ISU deadline [as well as the USFS deadline] to earn World minimums is twenty-one days before Worlds. Something like that.)
I am not envisioning (at this point) that upon conclusion of Nats, USFS would give Ilia one of the three confirmed World team spots.
And in terms of USFS then doing its best to ensure that all alternates (possibly including Ilia) would be able to actually compete, if necessary.
(IIRC, the ISU deadline [as well as the USFS deadline] to earn World minimums is twenty-one days before Worlds. Something like that.)
I am not envisioning (at this point) that upon conclusion of Nats, USFS would give Ilia one of the three confirmed World team spots.
(All in the realm of speculation.)
Meanwhile, wishing better luck to Ilia in the FS in Austria.
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Was sort of expectin Ilya is be the alternate being that none of the other men were up to it. Now I am not so sure. I'm not so sure of any of them. Nats Nats Nats.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2019
Haha so true! Considering how young the skaters often are I'm always impressed by their maturity, attitude and general sanity! They are rarely (if ever) loose cannons!
Vincent is lovely. I follow him on IG and he's just a hard working dude who hikes in the mountains. I'm always thinking "Don't get lost!!!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2014
Sadly i have to agree.
He is young.... he could have 3 more Olympics in him (more likely two). I like his ambition, and i like seeing him shoot for the moon... but this was a step back, and shows he has some lessons to learn.
Level 2s will not cut it. quads count for little when the come with carrots and falls. He could have been more strategic
and less YOLO! (He can Yolo skate when he is in more of an Adam Rippon situation) with luck experience will temper this.
so he technically can go to the Olympics.... skaters who are qualified for worlds should be ahead in line in terms of body of work in my book.
If he wants to try again, so be it. But would more impressed/inclined to encourage him if at his next he did a clean with all levels and only triples than to squeak by just barely with carrot quads.
I mean i still hope he comes roaring back in the free.... but this was a setback.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
To clarify what I had in mind in my previous post:
I am thinking (at this point) in terms of Ilia possibly being named as an *alternate* to Worlds upon conclusion of Nats -- depending on results from Nats.
And in terms of USFS then doing its best to ensure that all alternates (possibly including Ilia) would be able to actually compete, if necessary.
(IIRC, the ISU deadline [as well as the USFS deadline] to earn World minimums is twenty-one days before Worlds. Something like that.)
I am not envisioning (at this point) that upon conclusion of Nats, USFS would give Ilia one of the three confirmed World team spots.
(All in the realm of speculation.)
Meanwhile, wishing better luck to Ilia in the FS in Austria.
@ice coverage just pointing out we have another Senior Man who I believe does have tech minimums, has quads and has been doing quite well in Senior International competitions.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
I certainly hope Jimmy gets 4CC, and I hope Worlds is a real possibility given the withdrawals that can occur.
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