Andrew Torgashev
- Thread starter el henry
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2018
Rough long program for Andrew, and I can tell you from being in the arena, the audience was being as supportive as they could, trying to lift him up with applause.
There was talk about this being a "learning experience" for him. I just hope he knows that his fans still support him, and are ready for his comeback next season.
There was talk about this being a "learning experience" for him. I just hope he knows that his fans still support him, and are ready for his comeback next season.
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2023
I'm so gutted for Andrew! He's in a lower placement at this season's Worlds than he was the last time he was there, and that was 21st place! I feel so bad for him... I hope he's going to be alright and not let this mess with his head. I know countless antis are counting him out and writing him off as a totally unreliable skater, but he only had one bad competition, not a bad season. This season was a breakthrough season for him and that can't be undone!
One bad competition is just that... ONE bad competition.
One bad competition is just that... ONE bad competition.
I haven't been writing anything here over past week. Because I was worried about Andrew's physical condition and didn't want to create panic.
I cried watching on youtube his first practice on Tuesday. His back problems were obvious.
Proud of Andrew for his success in the short program. It wasn't easy for him. He had a rough thursday morning practice with fallen under-rotated quads. He had a rough warm-up: several failed quad attempts, fallen axel. But then he made a great SP skate!
It was less logical and more surprising for me than failed free skate.
I cried watching on youtube his first practice on Tuesday. His back problems were obvious.
Proud of Andrew for his success in the short program. It wasn't easy for him. He had a rough thursday morning practice with fallen under-rotated quads. He had a rough warm-up: several failed quad attempts, fallen axel. But then he made a great SP skate!
It was less logical and more surprising for me than failed free skate.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
Has Andrew mentioned a current/recurring back injury since his free skate? I confess I don't have the heart to read any press about the Men's FS. Truly, I have not watched any of the Men's FS yet, including Andrew. I was quite ill for all of Saturday and am better now but still lacking energy. Guess what I did Saturday night? Checked the result, saw Andrew where he was, and thought, "Well, that fits with my day today." 
I'm happy for Jason and that 3 U.S. Men get to go to Milan. Although really, there's only one spot available for everyone else if Ilia and Jason are both healthy. (I don't see Jason's 2018 situation repeating itself).
I will watch Andrew's program and be back later this week. I have things I might say, but I'm not sure. Still processing.
I'm happy for Jason and that 3 U.S. Men get to go to Milan. Although really, there's only one spot available for everyone else if Ilia and Jason are both healthy. (I don't see Jason's 2018 situation repeating itself).I will watch Andrew's program and be back later this week. I have things I might say, but I'm not sure. Still processing.
No, he hasn't.
But he always mentions back injuries some time later after rough competitions.
There was some information about a period of time around Challenge Cup and Worlds 2023 in an interview after Lombardia 2023 (he named it "а stress fracture in my back").
Some about the fall of 2023, Skate America 2023 - interview after Nationals 2024.
About Nebelhorn 2024 - interview after NHK Trophy 2024.
I know stress fractures can return from time to time.
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- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
Earlier in this very thread, I wrote, "That terrible week in figure skating [week of plane crash and Dick Button] reminded me that every performance we get to witness from our favorite skaters is a gift, not to be taken lightly. Even the ones where they don't land their jumps." Andrew really put that to the test with his 2025 Worlds free skate.
I did it. I watched Andrew's free skate. On mute, because we know the music cut by now, and who needs any commentary to tell how bad of a day he was having. Andrew landed a 3Lo and a 3F. The 3F was the best jump of the program and I'm proud of him for doing that at the end. All the jumps looked very rushed. He was jumping like his junior self, rushing, not finishing the takeoffs to get height, going off-axis and out of the circle.
Interestingly, the program is still the same length, but the whole thing felt a little rushed. It was like he was skating in panic mode. When the panic mode started for him, I don't know. That looked like one of the least committed choreo sequences he's done in his life, understandably. The stare down was a nanosecond pause, and he didn't really do his ending position. His face said, "Get me off this ice as soon as possible."
What I will say about watching Andrew on mute, though, is he has really beautiful arm and leg extensions. It's almost easier to spot his choreographic intention with no commentary and no music to distract from it. I may go back to his Nationals free skate and watch it on mute, just for a different experience. Andrew is still Andrew, skating-wise. I have no idea what happened. Part of me would like to hear Andrew talk about how or why, and part of me says it's none of my business, ever.
I loved how Raf and Brandon were so visibly supportive, hugging him and touching him. I liked seeing that from Raf. They were discussing stuff in Russian but too quietly to overhear anything. Andrew's reaction when his score came up may have been the worst moment for me. I just wanted to hug him. I found it so awkward when the camera went over to Adam in the leader's chair and he gives this awkward wave. I can't know Adam's thoughts, but mine would probably have been, "The skater just had a terrible skate and score, but the camera is on me so I guess I'll do this." The chair thing is not awkward following a good skate, but after a bad one, it is.
Oh, and I love that the replay captured some of his choreo sequence. That was nice to watch in slo-mo.
That's enough for one post, right? But I do have more to say.
I did it. I watched Andrew's free skate. On mute, because we know the music cut by now, and who needs any commentary to tell how bad of a day he was having. Andrew landed a 3Lo and a 3F. The 3F was the best jump of the program and I'm proud of him for doing that at the end. All the jumps looked very rushed. He was jumping like his junior self, rushing, not finishing the takeoffs to get height, going off-axis and out of the circle.
Interestingly, the program is still the same length, but the whole thing felt a little rushed. It was like he was skating in panic mode. When the panic mode started for him, I don't know. That looked like one of the least committed choreo sequences he's done in his life, understandably. The stare down was a nanosecond pause, and he didn't really do his ending position. His face said, "Get me off this ice as soon as possible."
What I will say about watching Andrew on mute, though, is he has really beautiful arm and leg extensions. It's almost easier to spot his choreographic intention with no commentary and no music to distract from it. I may go back to his Nationals free skate and watch it on mute, just for a different experience. Andrew is still Andrew, skating-wise. I have no idea what happened. Part of me would like to hear Andrew talk about how or why, and part of me says it's none of my business, ever.
I loved how Raf and Brandon were so visibly supportive, hugging him and touching him. I liked seeing that from Raf. They were discussing stuff in Russian but too quietly to overhear anything. Andrew's reaction when his score came up may have been the worst moment for me. I just wanted to hug him. I found it so awkward when the camera went over to Adam in the leader's chair and he gives this awkward wave. I can't know Adam's thoughts, but mine would probably have been, "The skater just had a terrible skate and score, but the camera is on me so I guess I'll do this." The chair thing is not awkward following a good skate, but after a bad one, it is.
Oh, and I love that the replay captured some of his choreo sequence. That was nice to watch in slo-mo.
That's enough for one post, right? But I do have more to say.
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"It's a pity. Everything was totally perfect in the warm-up. You burned out. Okay, that happens"
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- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
I am going to say something that is on my heart because we are all Andrew fans here...
Is it really a good idea to have Raf in the KnC or to show up just for Worlds? I am superstitious, I admit. Both years he was at Worlds Andrew has either Artem or Brandon in the KnC for the regular season, and then a command appearance by Raf and then
Maybe I'm grasping at straws....
Is it really a good idea to have Raf in the KnC or to show up just for Worlds? I am superstitious, I admit. Both years he was at Worlds Andrew has either Artem or Brandon in the KnC for the regular season, and then a command appearance by Raf and then
Maybe I'm grasping at straws....
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
I expected Andrew to drop in the standings after the SP, but I did not expect him to drop that far. But I can't argue with his placement, given what he put out there.
Before this season, when Andrew talked about adding quads back in, I was concerned that more of his programs could be like this. Not this bad, of course, but the idea that falling on the quad might disrupt the rest of the jumps. But then, his 4Ts were generally so well-landed this season that we never had to find out.
Besides nervous, Andrew looked tired in that program. It was his busiest season in a while, with two back-to-back GPs unexpectedly, Nationals, plane crash emotions, Legacy on Ice, and Worlds. Maybe his body and mind were just done? I'd say he was tired and nervous in 2023 too, when he had the whirlwind of Nationals, Challenge Cup, and Worlds in a short time. That said, he did a fabulous SP in Boston. Raf even said in the FS K&C, "Everything was totally perfect in the warm-up." Dagger in my heart.
The thing that hurts the most as a fan, honestly, is that Worlds has the most eyes on it of any competition during the season, so a generalized "everyone" saw Andrew skate a free skate like that, as opposed to him skating more like NHK or Nationals. Not only that, but people who don't mind constantly harping on a skater's inconsistency as a negative talking point now have more ammunition to use against Andrew. They can say, "Both times he's been to Worlds, he's finished in the 20s." It was a terrible program at the worst possible time, when actually he still had his best season ever. He scored higher than Jason in the SP, with a PB, at the very same competition where he completely bombed the free skate. It's hard to reconcile those two contradictory facts in my mind, but so it is.
Immediately after Worlds, he is 28 in the WS. Ilia is 1, Camden is 20, Jason is 24, Andrew is 28, Jacob is 29, and Jimmy is 32. I didn't look any further down the WS.
Thanks to NHK, Andrew is at 19 on the SB List, which guarantees him one GP. I think the alternates come from further down the SB List, so I don't think he can get a second one? I could be wrong about that. I doubt he'll get the SA host spot. You know what's fascinating? His best international outing this season, score-wise, was at an event he wasn't originally assigned to skate at. I never would have dreamed that.
How might his placement at Worlds impact his BOW argument for next year? Neither Camden, nor Jimmy, nor Jacob, nor Max went to Senior Worlds, but Jimmy did go to 4CC and place 3rd, with Camden and Tomoki top 10. Worlds holds more weight than 4CC, right? Even a terrible placement at Worlds? If Ilia and Jason both make it to the Olympics, as we assume they will, there's only one spot for everyone else. Before 2025 Worlds, I was looking at Andrew as the solid #2/#3 guy, but at this exact moment, I'm not sure how it will play out. I suppose even if Andrew doesn't make the Olympics, if he's high enough at Nationals, he could be an alternate for Worlds, and Olympians often skip the post-Olympic Worlds, so he could get redemption at 2026 Worlds. But I'm getting way ahead of myself, I know.
It's a strange thing, to know that Andrew had such a good season, better than I could have dreamed, with more consistent jumps, quads included, mind you, than ever before, and yet it ended this way. So, his best-ever season ends with one of his worst skates ever. Sigh.
I love Andrew and I love you all. Thanks for reading my non-fiction novel.
Before this season, when Andrew talked about adding quads back in, I was concerned that more of his programs could be like this. Not this bad, of course, but the idea that falling on the quad might disrupt the rest of the jumps. But then, his 4Ts were generally so well-landed this season that we never had to find out.
Besides nervous, Andrew looked tired in that program. It was his busiest season in a while, with two back-to-back GPs unexpectedly, Nationals, plane crash emotions, Legacy on Ice, and Worlds. Maybe his body and mind were just done? I'd say he was tired and nervous in 2023 too, when he had the whirlwind of Nationals, Challenge Cup, and Worlds in a short time. That said, he did a fabulous SP in Boston. Raf even said in the FS K&C, "Everything was totally perfect in the warm-up." Dagger in my heart.
The thing that hurts the most as a fan, honestly, is that Worlds has the most eyes on it of any competition during the season, so a generalized "everyone" saw Andrew skate a free skate like that, as opposed to him skating more like NHK or Nationals. Not only that, but people who don't mind constantly harping on a skater's inconsistency as a negative talking point now have more ammunition to use against Andrew. They can say, "Both times he's been to Worlds, he's finished in the 20s."
It was a terrible program at the worst possible time, when actually he still had his best season ever. He scored higher than Jason in the SP, with a PB, at the very same competition where he completely bombed the free skate. It's hard to reconcile those two contradictory facts in my mind, but so it is.Immediately after Worlds, he is 28 in the WS. Ilia is 1, Camden is 20, Jason is 24, Andrew is 28, Jacob is 29, and Jimmy is 32. I didn't look any further down the WS.
Thanks to NHK, Andrew is at 19 on the SB List, which guarantees him one GP. I think the alternates come from further down the SB List, so I don't think he can get a second one? I could be wrong about that. I doubt he'll get the SA host spot. You know what's fascinating? His best international outing this season, score-wise, was at an event he wasn't originally assigned to skate at. I never would have dreamed that.
How might his placement at Worlds impact his BOW argument for next year? Neither Camden, nor Jimmy, nor Jacob, nor Max went to Senior Worlds, but Jimmy did go to 4CC and place 3rd, with Camden and Tomoki top 10. Worlds holds more weight than 4CC, right? Even a terrible placement at Worlds? If Ilia and Jason both make it to the Olympics, as we assume they will, there's only one spot for everyone else. Before 2025 Worlds, I was looking at Andrew as the solid #2/#3 guy, but at this exact moment, I'm not sure how it will play out. I suppose even if Andrew doesn't make the Olympics, if he's high enough at Nationals, he could be an alternate for Worlds, and Olympians often skip the post-Olympic Worlds, so he could get redemption at 2026 Worlds. But I'm getting way ahead of myself, I know.
It's a strange thing, to know that Andrew had such a good season, better than I could have dreamed, with more consistent jumps, quads included, mind you, than ever before, and yet it ended this way. So, his best-ever season ends with one of his worst skates ever. Sigh.
I love Andrew and I love you all. Thanks for reading my non-fiction novel.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
I was really hoping Andrew would get to do the gala, but it's obvious why he wasn't invited. The craziest thing is, he was the only U.S. skater/team competing at Worlds to finish outside the Top 10. 
And a long way from 10th or even 12th. 
Andrew has been healing his soul through eating pizza, according to his IG stories. He also got a card from someone who wrote inside, "Hey Andrew, there is great pizza in Milano. See you there, and good luck."
The main thing is, I hope he'll be okay physically, mentally, and emotionally from this. It can't be easy to know that you did that in front of the whole figure skating world.
I also saw his IG story from a couple days ago saying that he will keep on keeping on and we'll see him next season. Here is his IG post about Worlds.
And a long way from 10th or even 12th. Andrew has been healing his soul through eating pizza, according to his IG stories. He also got a card from someone who wrote inside, "Hey Andrew, there is great pizza in Milano. See you there, and good luck."
The main thing is, I hope he'll be okay physically, mentally, and emotionally from this. It can't be easy to know that you did that in front of the whole figure skating world.
I also saw his IG story from a couple days ago saying that he will keep on keeping on and we'll see him next season. Here is his IG post about Worlds.
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2014
Man, I don’t know what to say, but I became an Andrew stan last season with that magnificent short. I was in Boston. The odd thing was if I were home I would muting, closing my eyes, switching the channel. I obvs couldn't do that watching live, sitting in like the fifth row. (My husband has watched skating with me since 1990s but still doesn’t know a lutz from at axel from a sal. Sooo maybe times I would close my eyes and plug my ears while we watched on tv. I would ask what happened, and he would say something like, “Sheeee landed it!” And I would open my eyes after and say, “No, she doubled it!”) I did close my eyes for Amber’s triple axel in the long and waited to hear the reaction from the crowd. But I didn’t close my eyes for anything else.
Andrew’s warmup in long was perfect. Others in his group weren’t. But I dunno. I kind of felt when he was coming off the ice he was looking around at all the others in the group and feeling a little stunned at all the skaters who could do multiple quads. Total projection. I really don’t know. He belonged there, but I worry that casual watchers will think he was out of his depth. He wasn’t. His skating is beautiful. He is capable of two quads. Maybe even another barring injury.
I did see and hear Amber say coming off the ice that the ovation after she landed the triple axel in the long was so loud it was “startling.” That place was SO loud! I loved it, but I just wonder it if set some people off kilter. Some skaters fed off the energy, like Denis and obviously Alysa.
I will be rooting for Andrew to come back strong. It was just one comp. Sure it was a big one, but he’s got so many people rooting for him and who will have his back. Just like Amber. Just like Roman. Who see right to the core and see something special. He’ll come back. I know he will.
It’s weird that I was somehow able to process it better watching it live. Seriously, Yuma’s meltdown was way worse to watch. (And I have opinions about placement, which I’ll keep to myself.) I think Andrew will gain a lot from this comp and how other people are able to skate from the heart and just let it go. Put it on autopilot.
Also, it was so obvious the moment Alysa went out on the ice that she simply wasn’t going to fall and was going to have the skate of her life. I’m a Glenn head (or w/e we are called) and a Kaori stan, but it was so undeniable I had to root for her to win after that skate.
That will happen for Andrew. That autopilot. He’ll get it.
Andrew’s warmup in long was perfect. Others in his group weren’t. But I dunno. I kind of felt when he was coming off the ice he was looking around at all the others in the group and feeling a little stunned at all the skaters who could do multiple quads. Total projection. I really don’t know. He belonged there, but I worry that casual watchers will think he was out of his depth. He wasn’t. His skating is beautiful. He is capable of two quads. Maybe even another barring injury.
I did see and hear Amber say coming off the ice that the ovation after she landed the triple axel in the long was so loud it was “startling.” That place was SO loud! I loved it, but I just wonder it if set some people off kilter. Some skaters fed off the energy, like Denis and obviously Alysa.
I will be rooting for Andrew to come back strong. It was just one comp. Sure it was a big one, but he’s got so many people rooting for him and who will have his back. Just like Amber. Just like Roman. Who see right to the core and see something special. He’ll come back. I know he will.
It’s weird that I was somehow able to process it better watching it live. Seriously, Yuma’s meltdown was way worse to watch. (And I have opinions about placement, which I’ll keep to myself.) I think Andrew will gain a lot from this comp and how other people are able to skate from the heart and just let it go. Put it on autopilot.
Also, it was so obvious the moment Alysa went out on the ice that she simply wasn’t going to fall and was going to have the skate of her life. I’m a Glenn head (or w/e we are called) and a Kaori stan, but it was so undeniable I had to root for her to win after that skate.
That will happen for Andrew. That autopilot. He’ll get it.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
Today, I am bringing data to this thread and not only feelings. The numbers say that Andrew definitely belonged at Worlds. With the usual caveat of different judging panels, different competitions and the peril of comparing scores across competitions, I still think this is fascinating. Keeping all the other skaters' scores at 2025 Worlds exactly as they are, and using Andrew's SP score at Worlds, let's plug in his other international free skate scores this season and see where those would have put him at Worlds.
Andrew's Other International Free Skate Scores - 24/25 Season
Andrew's Worlds SP Score = 87.27
Hypothetical totals and placements - Worlds SP + x FS
What his Worlds FS actually scored was 125.52, for an actual total of 212.79. Even his "less good" prior FSs at Cranberry and Nebelhorn scored at least 15 points more than that. I also noticed that his FS trend this season was to score a little higher at each event. This trend continued until Worlds, where he got by far his lowest FS score of the entire season, and deservedly so.
So, he is capable of finishing in the 12s and teens at Worlds, top 10 (maybe) if he adds another quad and/or more people bomb their FSs. He is a much better skater and jumper than his Worlds FS showed, and all his FS scores from earlier in the season support this. It turns out he didn't score that badly at Cranberry and Nebelhorn, after all. 
Who knew?!
Andrew's Other International Free Skate Scores - 24/25 Season
| Event | FS Score |
|---|---|
| Cranberry | 140.64 |
| Nebelhorn | 143.73 |
| France | 152.10 |
| NHK | 162.22 |
Andrew's Worlds SP Score = 87.27
Hypothetical totals and placements - Worlds SP + x FS
| Event | New Total | New Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Cranberry | 227.91 | 18 |
| Nebelhorn | 231.00 | 17 |
| France | 239.37 | 15 |
| NHK | 249.49 | 12 |
What his Worlds FS actually scored was 125.52, for an actual total of 212.79. Even his "less good" prior FSs at Cranberry and Nebelhorn scored at least 15 points more than that. I also noticed that his FS trend this season was to score a little higher at each event. This trend continued until Worlds, where he got by far his lowest FS score of the entire season, and deservedly so.
So, he is capable of finishing in the 12s and teens at Worlds, top 10 (maybe) if he adds another quad and/or more people bomb their FSs. He is a much better skater and jumper than his Worlds FS showed, and all his FS scores from earlier in the season support this. It turns out he didn't score that badly at Cranberry and Nebelhorn, after all.
Who knew?!
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- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
By the way, the last time I remember having such a hard time after a skating result was Patrick Chan at the 2014 Olympics. That FS from Patrick was also mistake-ridden and it looked like he forgot to breathe. I posted a lot in his Fan Fest afterward, just like I'm doing here now, and I also wrote a blog post celebrating 2013 TEB, where Patrick had skated both of those same programs completely clean.
I titled the post "Sometimes Olympic Moments Don’t Happen on Olympic Ice," and wrote in part, "Although Patrick Chan did not get the color medal or the performances that he wanted at the Sochi Olympics, he has his perfect performances at 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard to look back on and be proud of. I don’t know how often he thinks about 2013 TEB, but I do know that as a fan, I think about it a lot. I wish Patrick had been able to replicate the TEB programs in Sochi, but at least they happened somewhere."
Please note, I wrote this blog post in March 2015 and had no idea then that Patrick would be coming back to competition through 2018 and provide me with so many new memorable moments to cherish.
In Andrew's case: "Sometimes a Worlds-worthy free skate happens on Nationals or NHK ice, but at least it happened somewhere, and we got to see it there."
Thank you, Andrew, for a much more wonderful season than I could have imagined for you. Other than the Worlds FS, he skated beyond my expectations. Truly. It'll feel like a long off-season waiting for him to announce new programs.
I titled the post "Sometimes Olympic Moments Don’t Happen on Olympic Ice," and wrote in part, "Although Patrick Chan did not get the color medal or the performances that he wanted at the Sochi Olympics, he has his perfect performances at 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard to look back on and be proud of. I don’t know how often he thinks about 2013 TEB, but I do know that as a fan, I think about it a lot. I wish Patrick had been able to replicate the TEB programs in Sochi, but at least they happened somewhere."
Please note, I wrote this blog post in March 2015 and had no idea then that Patrick would be coming back to competition through 2018 and provide me with so many new memorable moments to cherish.
In Andrew's case: "Sometimes a Worlds-worthy free skate happens on Nationals or NHK ice, but at least it happened somewhere, and we got to see it there."
Thank you, Andrew, for a much more wonderful season than I could have imagined for you. Other than the Worlds FS, he skated beyond my expectations. Truly. It'll feel like a long off-season waiting for him to announce new programs.
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Hi, I’m a new member. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s perspectives about the competition. I was also upset and shocked about Andrew’s long program. He seemed well trained and had such a good season until that point. He definitely earned his spot at Worlds.
My guess is that his nerves got the best of him and it went rapidly downhill after the first 4T. I also wonder if he was thrown off by the crowds and maybe even Raf being there. The rapport is clearly there with Brandon. Let’s hope that Andrew can recover going into next season. It is a big setback for him but certainly not insurmountable.
My guess is that his nerves got the best of him and it went rapidly downhill after the first 4T. I also wonder if he was thrown off by the crowds and maybe even Raf being there. The rapport is clearly there with Brandon. Let’s hope that Andrew can recover going into next season. It is a big setback for him but certainly not insurmountable.
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- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
Welcome Teddycat, post long and post often, especially here in the Andrew Fan Fest
It is always upsetting when the worst comp seems to come at the "worst" time. I remember a podcast with Polina Edmonds (Andrew seems to be her favorite guest, there were several
) where Andrew talked about trying to conquer the feeling that the world was on fire when he missed the first few jumps. But he had a great season up until now, with great skates, and it is a sports truism that you either win or you learn. Well, he has learned and what better year to apply the learning than next year?
