2026 U.S. Nationals Practice Reports

[ramurphy2005]

Jackie Wong talked to Ilia and mentioned he is making some adjustments due to possible boot issues - oh not not Ilia too!

With Ilia though, I know I've seen comments that he tends to change skates around Nationals quite often, so he may be having issues, but I'm also not overly worried about it.

 

[ramurphy2005]

Stupid snow requires some shoveling....will have to catch up later.

Maine weather update:

Getting the snow off the steps wasn't that bad. It was more that we needed to clear the snow away before it switched over to rain which had already started as we were shoveling.

 

[labgoat]

So happy to see the Tomoki is getting some well deserved respect at this Nationals due to his excellent results so far this season. He is going out with a lot of energy - please save some for the event! He was composed even with any errors - he is the first to skate and was barely warmed up.

 

[labgoat]

Liam Kapeikis lands a gorgeous axel and then sits down. He is doing a full runthrough.

 

[labgoat]

Daniel Martynov starts at the boards holding his head as if he has a headache. Tracey Wilson is here with him. Great 3A to start. A very clean complete FS runthrough with quad toe a bit under. He ends laying on the ice.

 

[labgoat]

More skaters doing full runthroughs today rather than tomorrow

 

[labgoat]

Will Annis has great power on 3A and steps out then catches the boards to fall right on the lyrics...I keep on falling

 

[labgoat]

Jason Brown skating next to Riverdance he falls on the 3A unlike the clean ones in practice. The combo pass is clean. He does not skate another element and skates in deep thought.

 

[labgoat]

Goku Endo has amazing knees and elements. He nails his 3A. Effortless power from the ankles says JW. His music has a great beat and style and he matches it perfectly. This is becoming a favorite SP for me. JLB wishes the step sequence ended the program.

If he goes clean this could be a surprise

 

[labgoat]

Daniel Martynov nearly jumped into Jason Brown - close call but scary...
no fault here both were on the same curve from different directions

 

[labgoat]

Jason Brown skating next to Riverdance he falls on the 3A unlike the clean ones in practice. The combo pass is clean. He does not skate another element and skates in deep thought.

Jason lands perfect clean 3A later - no cause for panic

 

[labgoat]

Group C
Maxim Naumov
Jacob Sanchez
Andrew Torgashev
Lucius Kazanecki
Kai Kovar
Samuel Mindra

 

[labgoat]

Max Naumov is the pewter king... my avatar says I am the Patroness of the Pewter Medalist so I am bringing out the special pewter candlesticks for Max and anyone else who needs my powers which came from the Goddess Nike

 

[labgoat]

Max Naumov skates with huge power marking his jumps as he skates his FS. Setups for 2 sal, 2A setups. Jackie & JLB want this so badly for him. Can Max find his own rainbow at the end of this storm? If he does it will be the moment of Nationals that will be so cathartic and bittersweet.

 

[labgoat]

Jacob Sanchez also marks his jumps. So much potential and a bright future. I still think a fully mature Jacob is going to be Boitano-like.

 

[labgoat]

Andrew Torgashev skates his SP opening with an opened triple toe. Quad not warmed up. Triple axel really close to the boards. Combo is last jump pass of 3f-3T.Planning to go big with the quad - could work or be a double says JW. Very methodically skated, not too high and not too low.

 

[ChiGal]

Alysa’s newly dyed hair. Not my thing but then I’m old and out of it LOL.


View attachment 10670

Yeah, it's not my thing either as I think its a bit over-distracting. It looks like skunk hair, but I'm old too...LOL If she likes it, so be it!

 

[labgoat]

Lucius Kazanecki also goes for the 4T in the free. Attack and power is different for him than the other power quadsters. Gosh he is so tall out there after watching Goku & Tomoki. His musicality is developing nicely with this tango music.

His pants are not long enough, he needs dark socks to hide his bare skin.

 

[labgoat]

Kai Kovar's sister won bronze in junior pairs. He is very musical, but his specific movements need a bit more refining. He has some interesting extensions and uses his long legs to good advantage. Nice stag jump, kinda tame to the music of the step sequence. Hard program choreo-wise says JLB - very intense with few breaks.

 

[labgoat]

Samuel Mindra has nice percussive movement. Jump combo is 3LZ-2T. Great hand choreography. Step sequence is so intricate and exceptionally well timed to the movement with lots of arm accents. Precise, clear dance elements ending in a cartwheel. JW and JLB are in love with this program as am I.