Jason Brown and Adam Rippon, Two Amazing Skaters

[WeakAnkles]

^^^This. If only USFA could figure out how to capitalize on this!

Endless discussions about quads, and not quads, and podium placement, can interest figure skating fans. But for those who couldn't care less about placements, rotations, and IJS/6.0, the joy that Jason radiates while skating draws them in. I don't want to watch someone who looks like they're mowing down the ice in the hunt for the almighty quad. And I don't want to watch someone who looks scared to death that they might not make the almightly quad, or loses all joy in their program when they fall in the hunt. And neither does the casual viewer.

I have not seen enough of Adam to compare him technically to Jason. But he doesn't strike me as belonging to the "pure joy" category; YMMV.

:agree:

 

[Interspectator]

Jason is not an underdog just an amazingly gifted skater as per his millions of you tube hits. He transcends. Aaron is striking. Farris is gifted. So far they don't have the it factor that hits out to millions of fans. Like Max's skates but he is not Jason who reminds me of John Curry.

Well, I never really thought of him as an underdog to be honest, I just thought it would be an interesting angle. Anyway, it's all wishful thinking at this point. I'd love to see more coverage of figure skating in the US no matter who they focus on. But in my opinion Jason stands out as a charismatic skater that would make for good TV. But back to the topic, I actually can't decide who I like better. Jason is easy to talk about and gush over, but when I really think about it, I like them both about the same. There is something stately about Adam's skating that I find fascinating. I want him to have a break-out performance this year that makes everyone go 'WOW'.

 

[plushyfan]

Jason is immersive, captivating. Adam is also good performer but he isn't on Jason's level. Adam is better technically.

 

[supsu]

I wish Adam would get his mental issues in check cause he could be a beautiful skater. Maybe not a World medalist but good nevertheless.

BUT then to Jason:

I appreciate that he pays attention to the performance which not all skater seem to do.

I wonder though if it's just me or has other people noticed this.

1) his posture is beyond weird. His butt looks too pushed out like he's a girl trying to take a selfie "belfie" and curves their back and so on.... i mean a good posture is great but his is just too much. It hurts my eyes.

2) i wish his gestures were a bit more subtle. Most of the time he finishes his movements but then most especially with his hands are too obvious and were they more subtle he'd look more mature.

3) i'd like to see more balletic arms. Maybe it's just me, but i like ballet and his hands are not.

Nothing against Jason and his ability to draw an audience but these are the things that have been bugging me for quite some time and with all the hype around him i wonder if anyone else thinks the same.

 

[Meoima]

1) his posture is beyond weird. His butt looks too pushed out like he's a girl trying to take a selfie "belfie" and curves their back and so on.... i mean a good posture is great but his is just too much. It hurts my eyes.

I have nothing against you or Jason. Just find it funny! Well, maybe his habit? Or maybe that's the way his coach think it's attractive?

 

[el henry]

I wish Adam would get his mental issues in check cause he could be a beautiful skater. Maybe not a World medalist but good nevertheless.

BUT then to Jason:

I appreciate that he pays attention to the performance which not all skater seem to do.

I wonder though if it's just me or has other people noticed this.

1) his posture is beyond weird. His butt looks too pushed out like he's a girl trying to take a selfie "belfie" and curves their back and so on.... i mean a good posture is great but his is just too much. It hurts my eyes.

2) i wish his gestures were a bit more subtle. Most of the time he finishes his movements but then most especially with his hands are too obvious and were they more subtle he'd look more mature.

3) i'd like to see more balletic arms. Maybe it's just me, but i like ballet and his hands are not.

Nothing against Jason and his ability to draw an audience but these are the things that have been bugging me for quite some time and with all the hype around him i wonder if anyone else thinks the same.

I posted this in the Jason Fan Fest Thread. Back in February, some posters on a ballet forum found Jason quite appealing, although another skater (perhaps Yuzu?) bows more like a dancer.


http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.p...nter-olympics/

 

[Meoima]

I posted this in the Jason Fan Fest Thread. Back in February, some posters on a ballet forum found Jason quite appealing, although another skater (perhaps Yuzu?) bows more like a dancer.
http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.p...nter-olympics/

Yuzuru has never taken ballet lessons and he is famous for bad posture (but not tedious maybe) so I don't know where "bow more like a dancer" comes from. What's in their mind to think Yuzuru bow like a dancer?

I think Jason's posture looks fine. there is nothing wrong with his posture. But the comment about his butt...

Btw the link is dead.

 

[dorispulaski]

Skating is not ballet, and for that matter, ballet is not only not skating, it is also not the only type of dancing in the world.

I love to see a variety of styles of movement in skating, not just stereotypical balletic movements. I would hate to see Jason skating to any of Riverdance, Prince, or MC Hammer, with ballet arms, because none of the styles of dance associated with those pieces of music look anything like ballet. Jason would have looked ridiculous in those programs if he had done ballet referential stylings.

Jason's best thing, after his obvious, contagious joy in what he is doing, is being able to hit all the beats in his music, even landing the jumps most of the time.

Adam is a nice, balletic style skater, and a very pleasant guy, but he does not grab my attention like Jason does, partially because the only unique thing he is doing is attempt a quad lutz.

 

[StitchMonkey]

1) his posture is beyond weird. His butt looks too pushed out like he's a girl trying to take a selfie "belfie" and curves their back and so on.... i mean a good posture is great but his is just too much. It hurts my eyes.

I don't know how much that is posture and how much that is the realities of figure skating. He actually did talk about in a podcast that the powers that be don't seem to want guys to over develop butt muscles, so there has to be a balance between bulking up to do the stuff, but still looking wrong. So he is already thinking about how it looks and how much it sticks out. . . I doubt he would enhance it. Some guy skaters. . . just get that rear.

As for your other comments. I am not sure I would call Jason "mature" and neither of his skates last year were really what I would call balletic, so for now he is doing what works for him. Grace does often come with age, so as he matures we may see more of the graceful subtlety. For now, I like his youthfulness and and exuberance.

 

[Meoima]

I don't know how much that is posture and how much that is the realities of figure skating. He actually did talk about in a podcast that the powers that be don't seem to want guys to over develop butt muscles, so there has to be a balance between bulking up to do the stuff, but still looking wrong. So he is already thinking about how it looks and how much it sticks out. . . I doubt he would enhance it. Some guy skaters. . . just get that rear.

I like this talk about the...rear! I think Jason looks fine, never care about that rear.

 

[el henry]

Yuzuru has never taken ballet lessons and he is famous for bad posture (but not tedious maybe) so I don't know where "bow more like a dancer" comes from. What's in their mind to think Yuzuru bow like a dancer?

I think Jason's posture looks fine. there is nothing wrong with his posture. But the comment about his butt...

Btw the link is dead.

Sorry about the link; maybe this will work.

http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/6015-winter-olympics/

I read in another thread about the benefits of developing "Boitano Butt" I think powerful glutes would be an asset (pun not intended!) to any skater.

 

[breathesgelatin]

Jason does seem to be the more popular skater among fans right now.

I have to say I love both Jason and Adam. But Adam has the potential to be one of my all-time faves. Unfortunately he's had trouble delivering when it counts. I think he DOES have an amazing performance quality. For example, I think he sells the hell out of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg1I0PrJyUw

I agree that Jason is probably better at performing out to an audience. He also excels in a different range of programs - more like contemporary music, soundtracks, etc. Adam is at his best with very classical ballet form. That is what speaks to me personally and the grace of Adam's lines... I just love him. And his body!! He really has the musculature of a ballet dancer I think.

I really don't want to choose between them. Mostly I just wish Adam could gain a few more ubers like me.

 

[dorispulaski]

I hope the other Adam ubers here will help breathesgelatin get the Adam Fan Fest thread underway.

Here's a link:
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?44079-Adam-Rippon

 

[GGoldberg]

To me, the 'moment of truth' opportunities will be when Jason has to go through what is inevitable. Struggles or disappointments. It is a fickle fan base that loves the relative newcomer, the 'happy ingenue' . Fans can be so disgustingly 'bandwagon hoppers' and fickle. Loyal and true fans for both/either are those who support them through thick and thin.

 

[Alba]

Skating is not ballet, and for that matter, ballet is not only not skating, it is also not the only type of dancing in the world.

I love to see a variety of styles of movement in skating, not just stereotypical balletic movements. I would hate to see Jason skating to any of Riverdance, Prince, or MC Hammer, with ballet arms, because none of the styles of dance associated with those pieces of music look anything like ballet. Jason would have looked ridiculous in those programs if he had done ballet referential stylings.

Jason's best thing, after his obvious, contagious joy in what he is doing, is being able to hit all the beats in his music, even landing the jumps most of the time.

Adam is a nice, balletic style skater, and a very pleasant guy, but he does not grab my attention like Jason does, partially because the only unique thing he is doing is attempt a quad lutz.

This. :thumbsup:

 

[karne]

He actually did talk about in a podcast that the powers that be don't seem to want guys to over develop butt muscles, so there has to be a balance between bulking up to do the stuff, but still looking wrong.

Really?! How else to the Powers That Be expect them to kick quad behind?

My immediate thought on this was "poor Max", because I swear his engine gets bigger each year. Not that I'm looking. Purely scientific observation. Oh gosh now I'm too embarrassed to continue. :

I like this talk about the...rear! I think Jason looks fine, never care about that rear.

Figure skaters are rear-engined vehicles. :yes:

To me, the 'moment of truth' opportunities will be when Jason has to go through what is inevitable. Struggles or disappointments. It is a fickle fan base that loves the relative newcomer, the 'happy ingenue' . Fans can be so disgustingly 'bandwagon hoppers' and fickle. Loyal and true fans for both/either are those who support them through thick and thin.

I do sometimes wonder how many of the FS fans who are now fans of Jason were also those who sneered at us that he would never land the triple Axel. David Lease was one of them, I know - he said on a couple of occasions that Jason would never land it and thus never make it, and yet now he fawns over him. And every time one of us protested that yes, he would, give him time, we were laughed at.

 

[Interspectator]

Yuzuru has never taken ballet lessons and he is famous for bad posture (but not tedious maybe) so I don't know where "bow more like a dancer" comes from. What's in their mind to think Yuzuru bow like a dancer?

I think Jason's posture looks fine. there is nothing wrong with his posture. But the comment about his butt...

Btw the link is dead.

I read the posts and I gave it a think and came to the conclusion that it must be Machida they were talking about. He does those really elaborate bows at the end of his programs and soaks up as much applause as he can. It makes me laugh but its so endearing.

On the subject of being a fan, isn't it possible to like a skater and then after a time not like a skater as much as before? It hasn't happened to me yet, but I think it is not unusual or bad. -just a change of taste.

 

[TMC]

Jason's best thing, after his obvious, contagious joy in what he is doing, is being able to hit all the beats in his music, even landing the jumps most of the time.

This is so true. He's like an ice dancer, the way he moves to the music and with the music. One of the biggest highlights in his Nationals Riverdance was the tano Lutz just exactly timed to the music.

Another thing that is different from most skaters is that even when he falls or makes a mistake, he never gives up or loses the joy. You never find yourself looking at his face after a fall, seeing that crushed expression that most skaters have, and feeling sorry for him. If he makes a mistake he gets up with a smile on his face (Olys team long, for example), and that is a great approach. Although when the programme is serious like T&I he may have to try to rein those smiles in a bit

Adam is a nice, balletic style skater, and a very pleasant guy, but he does not grab my attention like Jason does, partially because the only unique thing he is doing is attempt a quad lutz.

Don't forget the Rippon Lutz He may not do it all the time but still, it is his name that is associated with a unique and imo beautiful jumping position. To be fair, everyone is doing them these days so they're not his speciality anymore or anything...

 

[TMC]

I don't know how much that is posture and how much that is the realities of figure skating. He actually did talk about in a podcast that the powers that be don't seem to want guys to over develop butt muscles, so there has to be a balance between bulking up to do the stuff, but still looking wrong. So he is already thinking about how it looks and how much it sticks out. . . I doubt he would enhance it. Some guy skaters. . . just get that rear.

I listened to that podcast but I don't recall him talking about "powers that be" as such - I thought he was using the passive voice like "you don't want to get too bulky, you want the lines to look good" or "they appreciate good lines" referring to judges etc. So not exactly like USFSA bosses are running after skaters in hallways armed with measuring tapes in order to catch any stray rears that are starting to border on the excessive

 

[Meoima]

I read the posts and I gave it a think and came to the conclusion that it must be Machida they were talking about. He does those really elaborate bows at the end of his programs and soaks up as much applause as he can. It makes me laugh but its so endearing.

It's really hard to tell who they were talking about. maybe Dai?? I am not sure. And since both posts didn't mention the skater's name, I assume poster A and poster B can talk about 2 different people and they didn't even know that.

On the subject of being a fan, isn't it possible to like a skater and then after a time not like a skater as much as before? It hasn't happened to me yet, but I think it is not unusual or bad. -just a change of taste.

it's normal. People change, all the time.