2024-25 U.S. Men's Figure Skating

[Greengemmonster]

Jason isn’t nervy so if he can skate a full program with 3As in front of a committee he is likely to deliver it at Worlds??? I do wonder if it’ll finish in the top 10 though. Doesn’t everyone else have quads?

If he falls and someone with low PCS with a quad also falls, will he beat them?

 

[Ilia4A]

I am so worried about the skaters who could have been on the plane that just crashed over DC today. Please if anyone has updates that skaters are safe, let me know.

 

[cailuj365]

The plane was Wichita to DC?!? According to Ilia’s IG story? I’m assuming since he posted it 15 min ago that he’s OK? But there are a lot of DMV skaters!

Edit: Idk why in my head today was still Monday and thinking skaters would be traveling home right now. I think I was just in shock to see Wichita. Hope everyone is safely home already.

Edit 2: Apparently there may be other skaters from Development Camp traveling today. Oh my goodness.

 

[Ilia4A]

The plane was Wichita to DC?!? According to Ilia’s IG story? I’m assuming since he posted it 15 min ago that he’s OK? But there are a lot of DMV skaters!

Yes, Ilia is confirmed to be ok. I’m so relieved but still so worried about the others.

Edit: I know this is the men’s thread but just wanted to confirm that Josephine Lee, Jessi Jurka, Sophie Jolene are all ok

 

[yelyoh]

After Nats, people were questioning whether Andrew T could place top ten at Worlds. And doubtful. Yes he did bomb last trip to Worlds but he had just come back from a long injury timeout and prolly did not expect to podium at Nats better yet wind up at Worlds. After Europeans' results, I think the answer is yes he could place top ten but of course ice is slippery and so are nerves. But this is a more confident and battle-tested Andrew and I think he can do it.

On the sadder note, I am still so upset about the crash I cry everytime I hear about it (from friends) or read something or watch a video of a comp. I decided I can only feel love and appreciation for those who lost their lives, especially the kids. But it's just so painful and I know everyone here gets it.

 

[RatedPG]

After Nats, people were questioning whether Andrew T could place top ten at Worlds. And doubtful. Yes he did bomb last trip to Worlds but he had just come back from a long injury timeout and prolly did not expect to podium at Nats better yet wind up at Worlds. After Europeans' results, I think the answer is yes he could place top ten but of course ice is slippery and so are nerves. But this is a more confident and battle-tested Andrew and I think he can do it.

On the sadder note, I am still so upset about the crash I cry everytime I hear about it (from friends) or read something or watch a video of a comp. I decided I can only feel love and appreciation for those who lost their lives, especially the kids. But it's just so painful and I know everyone here gets it.

I know. The crash was shocking to me.

It makes me afraid of ever flying again. I’m aware that the chances of getting in an aircraft crash is rare and planes are safer than cars. But, something about being in the air and at the mercy of a pilot, terrifies me.

I feel so bad for Maxim. I can’t imagine losing my two parents, all at once.

Also, side note, the 12/13 year old novice girl, I remember watching Sectionals and I wrote down her name, Jinna Han. She placed in 4th at Sectionals. Top two from Novice go to Sectionals. However, she was in the harder sectionals and was 2nd alternate. So, two spots away. She was talented.

Such a sad tragedy. My prayers go out to all the victims.

 

[Ilia4A]

I agree with everyone. I feel so sad and heartbroken and helpless and I didn’t even know the skaters who died. I feel terrible for Maxim and really hope he is surrounded by loving friends.
All I can think to do is to support and encourage our American skaters, especially the kids, even if that just means “liking” their videos or writing a supportive message.

 

[Silevril Ilumire]

Nationals was pretty exciting. There was so much I still wanted to post in various fanfests, but now I feel too depressed. Maybe later; I do want to show support for everybody. None of the sad emojis are sad enough to express what I’m feeling right now.

Side note: I really appreciate all the sympathetic wishes from around the world. It warms my broken heart, and I hope it can bring even a small measure of comfort to the grieving families.

 

[Skater Boy]

I am very confident USA will earn three spots for the olympics. At worst, and this would be disasterous Malinin would be 3rd. Andrew and Jason both will be top ten most likely and the very least one of them will do the job. Jason must have made a very strong return of his triple axel to get the okay. I feel of course for Camden and Max (for many reasons) but it is what's best for the great US of A!

 

[YuBluByMe]

I am very confident USA will earn three spots for the olympics. At worst, and this would be disasterous Malinin would be 3rd. Andrew and Jason both will be top ten most likely and the very least one of them will do the job. Jason must have made a very strong return of his triple axel to get the okay.

Heh, yeah, you’re very confident. Ilia being on the podium is the only thing I’m confident in, but I don’t think it’ll be disastrous if he wins bronze. A disappointment, yes, but both Andrew and Brown need to be shooting for top ten anyway. I personally think Ilia’s going to win and easily, based on the way his closest competitors have been skating, especially in the second half of the season.

I consider Andrew to be Ilia’s wingman this go around and I see him at 7-12. If he skates like he did at Nationals (clean with technical content on par with Britschgi’s), then yeah, he’ll be up there. Top five. And he’s actually been skating his SP clean most of the time. If I recall, in the two SPs where he scored below 70, the scores were lower than usual because he Zayaked both times, not because he was a hot mess. I think he’ll do very well at Worlds and I think he’ll be able to handle the pressure.

As for Brown, I definitely don’t think he gave a strong performance with a 3A and fully rotated triples to get the go ahead. USFS standards simply aren’t very high when it comes to this and their choices are limited, if they have any at all. Levito was also cleared, but she didn’t look good in Italy (if anything she looked worse than she did earlier in the season) and that competition was actually used to monitor her! Pfft, I’m taking Brown’s clearance with a huge grain of salt.

 

[TontoK]

While I wasn't onboard with Jason's selection at the time - or I should say the medical waiver or whatever that mechanism is called - he is the best choice for that third spot from a slate of questionable candidates.

Who else could there be among the inconsistent? Camden? Jimmy? I thought Jacob Sanchez had a legitimate claim - but there's a risk there, too. I agree with @YuBluByMe Is Jason REALLY ready? Who knows, but it's not an unreasonable selection.

Depending on how he and others skate, Jason could be anywhere from Top 6 to Outside the Top 12. And as wide as that spread is, it's probably better than the alternatives.

 

[Skater Boy]

While I wasn't onboard with Jason's selection at the time - or I should say the medical waiver or whatever that mechanism is called - he is the best choice for that third spot from a slate of questionable candidates.

Who else could there be among the inconsistent? Camden? Jimmy? I thought Jacob Sanchez had a legitimate claim - but there's a risk there, too. I agree with @YuBluByMe Is Jason REALLY ready? Who knows, but it's not an unreasonable selection.

Depending on how he and others skate, Jason could be anywhere from Top 6 to Outside the Top 12. And as wide as that spread is, it's probably better than the alternatives.

I did not know the threshold for the monitoring. Somoene earlier said it wasn't that high. I assumed it was a clean triple axel and solid other triples. I have been feeling this for a couple of years that it seems like Jason is just holding on trying to make the 2026 olympics and a team gold medal. But I am wondering if Camdon, Andrew, Max, Jimmy, Luke et al if they skate cleanish and Brown makes an error on the 3A if he will beaten. His beautiful skating reminds me of Patrick Chan but chan had more tech content and skated in an era when the tech was far lower. Just love Brown's skating but sometimes I feel it might be time for him to show skate. But it is notimpossible for him to be top 5 in the world. A medal seems arder.

 

[Kris135]

I did not know the threshold for the monitoring. Somoene earlier said it wasn't that high. I assumed it was a clean triple axel and solid other triples. I have been feeling this for a couple of years that it seems like Jason is just holding on trying to make the 2026 olympics and a team gold medal. But I am wondering if Camdon, Andrew, Max, Jimmy, Luke et al if they skate cleanish and Brown makes an error on the 3A if he will beaten. His beautiful skating reminds me of Patrick Chan but chan had more tech content and skated in an era when the tech was far lower. Just love Brown's skating but sometimes I feel it might be time for him to show skate. But it is notimpossible for him to be top 5 in the world. A medal seems arder.

The biggest issue is that the fact that besides Ilia and now maybe Andrew no other US man can seem to put together a clean short and free program consistently to save their lives. So Jason who may not be flashy but until this year was consistent top 10 skater so why should not he try for third a Olympics when the almost all the rest of the men a clear mess. Jacob and some of the jumps been practicing at US Nationals, like a quad Lutz and working on quad flip (I guess since Ilia father was there they decided that could fit in a lesson on the jumps) is the first man that outside of Ilia and Andrew that could give Jason a run for his money on landing that third spot for Milian. I not saying that Jason can not do it but he have to get back to old self or Jacob going to pass him in the pecking order. I think the biggest issue is though why is Jason doing this at his age. One he wants to and the second he had to save the US men and keep those spots for the rest of men. Jason should not have to do this and in years past he could have made living on the Pro-skating circuit but these days the only way you can make a living by skating is to be a competitive ISU skater and it hard for anybody let alone a man that is past 30 years old and Jason and his old boot finally reached breaking point. I hope that is just a breaking new boot problem because he needs to skate clean enough to make the free skate and let other two their work and then we breathe again and just pick the best team to go to Milian.

 

[sworddance21]

What we've seen of Jason recently (LOI and Note Stellato) seems to suggest that Jason's boot problems are resolved. He looks very good. I know we haven't seen high level jump content, but still...I'm hopeful for worlds.

 

[Lamente Ariane]

I was a lot more skeptical about Jason's selection initially than Isabeau's, because in Isabeau's case I felt the published criteria made it so they had no other choice (given she is the current World Silver Medalist and her ceiling is a lot higher than Jason's, plus I do believe if she really wasn't ready she would withdraw). However, since Camden is also obviously injured now and there's no way of knowing if Jimmy would be able to replicate his 4CCs performance at Worlds + Jason seeming much more stable in shows, I understand the decision and I am hopeful that Jason will be able to put together two clean skates at Worlds. I do think there should be less pressure on Jason than there's been in the past because Andrew is absolutely capable of a top five finish this year as well, and it would take a meltdown of epic proportions for Ilia not to finish on the podium.

I also really hope Jimmy can keep the momentum going next season and build himself up a solid body of work in the fall.

 

[Kris135]

I was a lot more skeptical about Jason's selection initially than Isabeau's, because in Isabeau's case I felt the published criteria made it so they had no other choice (given she is the current World Silver Medalist and her ceiling is a lot higher than Jason's, plus I do believe if she really wasn't ready she would withdraw). However, since Camden is also obviously injured now and there's no way of knowing if Jimmy would be able to replicate his 4CCs performance at Worlds + Jason seeming much more stable in shows, I understand the decision and I am hopeful that Jason will be able to put together two clean skates at Worlds. I do think there should be less pressure on Jason than there's been in the past because Andrew is absolutely capable of a top five finish this year as well, and it would take a meltdown of epic proportions for Ilia not to finish on the podium.

I also really hope Jimmy can keep the momentum going next season and build himself up a solid body of work in the fall.

After seeing everything I have this season I think that this Worlds is Ilia's to lose. If he performs like we know he can it not going to be close. What going even more interesting is who will be on the podium with him.

 

[moonvine]

Who else could there be among the inconsistent? Camden? Jimmy? I thought Jacob Sanchez had a legitimate claim - but there's a risk there, too. I agree with @YuBluByMe Is Jason REALLY ready? Who knows, but it's not an unreasonable selection.

Depending on how he and others skate, Jason could be anywhere from Top 6 to Outside the Top 12. And as wide as that spread is, it's probably better than the alternatives.

I love Jacob but he has neither quads nor skating skills like Jason’s.

 

[Kris135]

I love Jacob but he has neither quads nor skating skills like Jason’s.

I think for Jacob the quads are coming because he is practicing them. I just do not think that they consistent enough to put in program yet this season that the main reason we have not seen them yet. If he gets them fully polished by the end of the summer watch out because he could really start moving up the list and he could turn into what Sarah did this year and earn his way to Olympics.

 

[Skater Boy]

Heh, yeah, you’re very confident. Ilia being on the podium is the only thing I’m confident in, but I don’t think it’ll be disastrous if he wins bronze. A disappointment, yes, but both Andrew and Brown need to be shooting for top ten anyway. I personally think Ilia’s going to win and easily, based on the way his closest competitors have been skating, especially in the second half of the season.

I consider Andrew to be Ilia’s wingman this go around and I see him at 7-12. If he skates like he did at Nationals (clean with technical content on par with Britschgi’s), then yeah, he’ll be up there. Top five. And he’s actually been skating his SP clean most of the time. If I recall, in the two SPs where he scored below 70, the scores were lower than usual because he Zayaked both times, not because he was a hot mess. I think he’ll do very well at Worlds and I think he’ll be able to handle the pressure.

As for Brown, I definitely don’t think he gave a strong performance with a 3A and fully rotated triples to get the go ahead. USFS standards simply aren’t very high when it comes to this and their choices are limited, if they have any at all. Levito was also cleared, but she didn’t look good in Italy (if anything she looked worse than she did earlier in the season) and that competition was actually used to monitor her! Pfft, I’m taking Brown’s clearance with a huge grain of salt.

Oh wow...BUt with the ladies they had lots of options. (Sarah, Bradie...) Back to focus on men. I am assuming and that is dangerous Jason must have done enough in light of Camdon mind you he is injured, Jimmy doing well at 4CC's and Max though I guess like Camdon this favours Jason as Max may need time still after all that he has gone through. Though sad circumstances Jason maybe US's best choice. I guess it would be nice to see one of his competitive programs and how he is really doing.

The biggest issue is that the fact that besides Ilia and now maybe Andrew no other US man can seem to put together a clean short and free program consistently to save their lives. So Jason who may not be flashy but until this year was consistent top 10 skater so why should not he try for third a Olympics when the almost all the rest of the men a clear mess. Jacob and some of the jumps been practicing at US Nationals, like a quad Lutz and working on quad flip (I guess since Ilia father was there they decided that could fit in a lesson on the jumps) is the first man that outside of Ilia and Andrew that could give Jason a run for his money on landing that third spot for Milian. I not saying that Jason can not do it but he have to get back to old self or Jacob going to pass him in the pecking order. I think the biggest issue is though why is Jason doing this at his age. One he wants to and the second he had to save the US men and keep those spots for the rest of men. Jason should not have to do this and in years past he could have made living on the Pro-skating circuit but these days the only way you can make a living by skating is to be a competitive ISU skater and it hard for anybody let alone a man that is past 30 years old and Jason and his old boot finally reached breaking point. I hope that is just a breaking new boot problem because he needs to skate clean enough to make the free skate and let other two their work and then we breathe again and just pick the best team to go to Milian.

I think Jacob was a bit of a disappointment at juniors. I think you need to consider Camden, Max and Jimmy. But admittedly Camden needs to decide between career and work and Max is going through so much. Jimmy is fun but not consistent. However, if Jason doesn't have his triples solid he is not a sure thing and as we have seen in past nationals even it was close for him to get passed.

 

[Skater Boy]

I was a lot more skeptical about Jason's selection initially than Isabeau's, because in Isabeau's case I felt the published criteria made it so they had no other choice (given she is the current World Silver Medalist and her ceiling is a lot higher than Jason's, plus I do believe if she really wasn't ready she would withdraw). However, since Camden is also obviously injured now and there's no way of knowing if Jimmy would be able to replicate his 4CCs performance at Worlds + Jason seeming much more stable in shows, I understand the decision and I am hopeful that Jason will be able to put together two clean skates at Worlds. I do think there should be less pressure on Jason than there's been in the past because Andrew is absolutely capable of a top five finish this year as well, and it would take a meltdown of epic proportions for Ilia not to finish on the podium.

I also really hope Jimmy can keep the momentum going next season and build himself up a solid body of work in the fall.

First of all I am concerned Mr. Brown isn't showing us the bigger jumps which for him aren't that big. Second Mr. Brown is skating shows so close to worlds when one would think he would be working on his programs and jumps. If he doesn't have a quad he better have the 3A at least. I understand with Camden's injury and Max's sad situation Jaason by default is th eno. 3.