Jason Brown

[StitchMonkey]

I know this is a fanfest for Jason, and I am a huuuuge fan, but just a question - why wouldn't they send Max to Skate American since he won last year? I don't understand the assignments apparently. Does it have to do with the rest of the field? Do they know the rest of the field when they make the GP assignments? Seems like a skater should be able to defend his title.

Go Jason though!

There was a lot of weirdness about who would get SA this year, and it looks like USFSA went with "National Champs" over "Defending SA Champs" Chock and Bates won gold last year, but H/D and the Shibs got SA this year, so Max is not alone. Similar S/K were the highest USA pair last year, but the reigning champs K/O got the pairs spot.

They only ever pick two skaters to start and I guess Max got the short end of the stick between Adam and Jason. They would not have wanted to put all three against eachother though as that is just making it harder for any of them to make the GPF and is not considered Strategic.

Gracie and Ashley were a weird situation that they pounced on i guess since they could due to the seed groups.

Why they went with Jason over Max... really is anyone's guess. It could have been that Max just got snagged by other GPs and it worked out this way, or it could be they thought that Jason being from the Chicago area would sell more tickets... again it is anyone's guess.

 

[noskates]

Thanks Stitch. That sort of explains it. I guess I wouldn't minimize the "being from the Chicago area" and ticket sales. It seems to me from past history that Skate America isn't exactly a sell-out every year.

 

[Ross74]

Tavi, thanks for the practice reports - on both threads! That was so much fun to read.

Good luck to Jason!

 

[Tavi...]

I know this is a fanfest for Jason, and I am a huuuuge fan, but just a question - why wouldn't they send Max to Skate American since he won last year? I don't understand the assignments apparently. Does it have to do with the rest of the field? Do they know the rest of the field when they make the GP assignments? Seems like a skater should be able to defend his title.

Go Jason though!

.

I think because Adam is national champion and Jason is from Chicago and will sell lots of tix. Also, I think Jason was only guaranteed 1 GP.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Thanks Stitch. That sort of explains it. I guess I wouldn't minimize the "being from the Chicago area" and ticket sales. It seems to me from past history that Skate America isn't exactly a sell-out every year.

I agree with it from a practical and marketing stand point. Like you said, it is not like SA sells out, and Jason said he has about 50 people just in his circle coming out... that is not a insignificant number for SA sadly. To be honest i wish assignments could be dealt out more based on strategy and skating than on popularity... but alas we are not Vulcans and the reality of feelings and emotions are a factor. Like you said... ticket sales should not be discounted.

At the same time... a part of me does think that sending Max over Jason might have been more "fair" from an idealistic sense of fairness point of view. In a perfect world where SA would sell out no matter what, i think i would say that sending the returning champ over the local might be more of the "right thing to do". At the same time they could not send both Chock and Bates and the Shibs due to seeding... so Max is not they only American to not get to defend his title... so really nothing is "fair"

At least Max, Jason, Adam (and Nathan for that matter) all have two spots... may they all do well enough to be personally satisfied with their skates!

 

[Tavi...]

Thanks so much for the report Tavi!

USFS posted a video of Jason doing (beautifully) a 3A-1/2Lo-3F in practice. (Thanks go to Jackie Wong for identifying the jumps.) Did Jason include the combo in his FS program run-through?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLyqNEcgLkq/

I'm wondering if he's going to use this combo when he does the 4S to minimize the risk of zayaking.

You may be right! I saw him do it, and it was quite impressive. I was really impressed with how much more height he gets in his jumps and how much faster he looks. He just looks stronger overall.

It's quite interesting for me to read other people's practice reports because some of them had very different impressions / favorites than I did.

 

[karne]

Why they went with Jason over Max... really is anyone's guess.

Because Jason's from Chicago and will fill half the arena with friends/relatives/fans?

Really, I was resigned to Max not getting SkAm from the moment he didn't win Nationals. Adam becoming a seeded skater just put the icing on the cake. Secretly of course I was hoping that they would choose Jason and Max, and that Joshua would take the TBA slot for his grand comeback, but... :sad21: Anyway I am happy that Max can now tick off all six GPs, and also happy that what he does well on this GP might actually get credit from others for being him, rather than "home cooking".

I am excited to hear all the reports about Jason and I LOVE that 3A-1Lo-3F combo. PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ

 

[StitchMonkey]

Because Jason's from Chicago and will fill half the arena with friends/relatives/fans?

Really, I was resigned to Max not getting SkAm from the moment he didn't win Nationals. Adam becoming a seeded skater just put the icing on the cake. Secretly of course I was hoping that they would choose Jason and Max, and that Joshua would take the TBA slot for his grand comeback, but... :sad21: Anyway I am happy that Max can now tick off all six GPs, and also happy that what he does well on this GP might actually get credit from others for being him, rather than "home cooking".

THAT actually is pretty awesome... and a great way to look at it!

I am excited to hear all the reports about Jason and I LOVE that 3A-1Lo-3F combo. PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ

I am torn on this as to what it might mean. I fear it means he is chasing the 4T+3T... which i think is not worth it vs a 4T+2T and keeping his awesome 3F+3T.

I see this combo and worry that he is looking at a layout of.

4T
4T+3T
3A+1/5Lo+3F
3A
3Z
3S
2A
3Lo

With a 2T slap on in the second half of one of the jumps because he can and it does not matter which jump it is tacked on to. I am not crazy about it as I would miss his awesome 3F+3T.

The layout I would like is

4T
4T+2T
3A+1/5Lo+3F
2A (with the awesome one foot entrance)
3Z
3S
3F+3T
3Lo

I think this would be a more comfortable program for Jason and more enjoyable to watch. Sadly i think the precious points that he would get by repeating the 3A over the 3F would be too tempting to pass up, and possibly needed. Which again, I think is sad, because I think seeing a 3F as the first jump and the last jump of a triple triple is awesome and shows skill. I think this layout would show more diversity and creativity than the first options, but alas the system rewards the first layout more. I think Jason not repeating the 3A would be scoffed at, so I suspect it would not happen, but I think it would be beautiful if he did this layout. I think the second option is better for Jason and really wish the system would make it more feasible.

 

[Arriba627]

We were right Tavi - that was a 3A, 1Lo, 3F! Jason looking very good today. It's hard to put into words, but he just has a different strength to his skating. Just overall better power and speed. And the program looks very polished - now if he can only land all those jumps just perfectly! I nominate him as one of our National Treasures!

 

[Hyena]

I forgot about that 3A-1Lo-3F! It was gorgeous. One of those moments during the practice where all eyes were on him for a moment. Tavi and Arriba are absolutely right that he has more power, speed, and a beautiful airiness to his jumps now that he didn't quite have when I saw him at Skate America two years ago.

 

[Arriba627]

I forgot about that 3A-1Lo-3F! It was gorgeous. One of those moments during the practice where all eyes were on him for a moment. Tavi and Arriba are absolutely right that he has more power, speed, and a beautiful airiness to his jumps now that he didn't quite have when I saw him at Skate America two years ago.

It's something I can't quite put my finger on -- better flow out of his jumps, his gliding looks more effortless, etc. I'll have to think about it more tomorrow! :scratch3:

 

[noskates]

All things considered, I guess there was strategy involved and I do understand sending a skater from the area. It's just too bad that Skate America doesn't draw the crowds that it should. I went to Skate Canada in 2006 in Victoria (glorious city, by the way...stayed at the Empress) and I remember it being well-attended. Some how though it seems like the defending champion should be there if still competing. But...I can also see the argument for not having all the top skaters in a discipline from one country competing against each other.

 

[karne]

It's something I can't quite put my finger on -- better flow out of his jumps, his gliding looks more effortless, etc. I'll have to think about it more tomorrow! :scratch3:

An increase in power and speed, probably due to the changes in his structure as he turned from boy to adult. And he definitely has an adult body now.

 

[Arriba627]

An increase in power and speed, probably due to the changes in his structure as he turned from boy to adult. And he definitely has an adult body now.

Yes. My friend and I were remarking on what a difference from when we saw him at 2014 Nats. Even then, his face was kind of kid-ish looking. Definitely more mature and manly looking now.

 

[karne]

Yes. My friend and I were remarking on what a difference from when we saw him at 2014 Nats. Even then, his face was kind of kid-ish looking. Definitely more mature and manly looking now.

I was looking at pictures of him and Josh the other day and reflecting that when I first started following them they were both gawky, gangly, awkward 15-year-olds, both skinny and tiny with long thin limbs. And now they're taller, stronger, nicely-built young men and I feel so old.

 

[el henry]

I don't care where he puts the 3A-1/2Lo-3F, just do it, that combo is so gorgeous!:luv17:

Landing a 4T would be icing on the cake, but I do love that combo....

And many many thanks for all the practice reports!

 

[Arriba627]

I don't care where he puts the 3A-1/2Lo-3F, just do it, that combo is so gorgeous!:luv17:

Landing a 4T would be icing on the cake, but I do love that combo....

And many many thanks for all the practice reports!

Love that combo, and it gets huge points, especially if in the second half. Too bad he can't do that 3 times and skip the quads!

 

[Tavi...]

Just a note from practice yesterday: Jason did his SP. He did not land the quad in his run through, but later in the session he did a beautiful 4T-3T that looked as easy and natural as his 3F-3T. He made multiple attempts at both 4S and 4T and fell on most of them. He was doing the 4S pretty much right in front me. I was sitting with the lovely Hyena (yay!) and she thought the 4S still looked < or <<. The 4T looked pretty close to me. He actually fell so much that he ran off the ice and came back with a pair of padded shorts over his leggings - I think to protect from further falls. It was pretty funny, but kudos to him for being smart enough to do that, even if it obscured his lines somewhat. He looked a bit less high energy overall yesterday, but aside from the fall the program is gorgeous! And after sitting through some of the other music choices for men women and pairs: believe me, Writings on the Wall is not a bad one!

As to his medal chances: I think he has a decent shot, most likely bronze, but Adam and others could definitely challenge. It was a bit tough to gauge because almost no one except Jason skated his program full out. Adam did his FS but left large chunks out, and I don't recall if he landed the 4T (how could I miss that). His SP yesterday looked solid and could score higher than Jason's depending on how Jason's 4T is called - tech panel for ladies / pairs was pretty strict. Shoma looks very smooth overall but fell on the 4F. Boyang has improved his presentation but did not do full programs, so it remains to be seen where he fits, but unless he has another TCC meltdown - and that seems unlikely, just in BV he will score high.

Tim's FS is lovely and I think it will appeal to Jason fans. He seemed much more comfortable and confident than he did on day 1, whether it's because of the program or he just relaxed.

Karne, not sure if you saw my last post in the practice session thread, so I'll just add here that Brendan looked a bit off in practice yesterday. He did land a lovely 3A but had trouble with quad. He did Singing in Rain. He has a really nice quality to his skating and I'm hoping for the best for him later today!

Cheers, all! I'm skipping practice this morning but will report back after SP. I thought some of the marks for the ladies were a bit off based on what I saw, so I'll let you know what I think as to men!

 

[StitchMonkey]

So, i want to be clear that I am a fan of Tim and Adam and them both, but of the American men Jason is the only one attempting a quad in the sp today. Interesting how times have changed.

 

[Sloopy]

An increase in power and speed, probably due to the changes in his structure as he turned from boy to adult. And he definitely has an adult body now.

I think this is the answer Karne. He most definitely has an adult physique now. I was really startled when I saw him on Thursday since I hadn't seen him in person since 2015 Nationals.