The most disappointing thing about that performance was that he gave up the fight before he even got out there. Instead of thinking about doing everything he could possibly try to win, he was thinking about how he could cling to third place. How can anyone skate with confidence with that mindset?
Jason Brown
- Thread starter Tavi...
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- Joined
- Jan 1, 2013
Absolutely heartbroken for Jason and then seeing him apologising on his social media this morning made me cry.
Some of his mistakes were just so uncharacteristic yesterday. Giving up on the 3A before he even took off. Screwing up his flying combination spin by messing up the upright spin and getting a V. I don't know how to feel. Is there something wrong? Is he hurt? Is something upsetting him?
Some of his mistakes were just so uncharacteristic yesterday. Giving up on the 3A before he even took off. Screwing up his flying combination spin by messing up the upright spin and getting a V. I don't know how to feel. Is there something wrong? Is he hurt? Is something upsetting him?
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
Actually, no. Whatever happened to him, he didn’t “give up the fight”; had he done so, he wouldn’t have improvised the 3L-1/2L-3S or 3Z-3T combos at the end of the program in an attempt to pick up points he lost by earlier mistakes.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2013
He gave up on the 3As. The second one in particular. The improv'd combos were great, but he did give those two axels up. And that alone has me extremely worried.
He was skating scared, and I have no idea why, and that scares me.
I think You have a point there.
It reminds me kind of myself often put by others as a 'leader' in many situations at work - while those people see that quality, pre-disposition in me from the 'outside' perspective, I'm not feeling it at all, or I feel not comfortable with it. Sure, that kind of assessment is flattering to hear, but not everyone can manage to cope with it well said aloud. I'm one of those weirdos who really cannot see myself put on the front, in the lead by others - the only circumstance I'd get it better, is the situation of making myself on that position out from individual preferrence. I'm following more of 'better steady following than unsure leading' philosophy.
Apologies for a lenghty beginning, but I feel too that the spotlight of 'the top leader of the pack' at NHK in Yuzuru's absence, voiced out by so many people, made Jason distracted and forced into position he is not yet comfortable with nor taught to handle with comfort and ease. It was really more about pressure 'pumped' from outside on him than the sole circumstances of competition or important things at stake, like Olympic spots at last Worlds. Those past events were difficult and on high pressure, but the spotlight was never focused only on Jason - actually, if we can take Helsinki, almost all focus/interest - and pressure - was laid on Nathan and we saw how it ended, combining it with boots problems. Jason strikes me as person who enjoy good, steady and motivational path of 'following' that should take him to more 'leading' one, but at the right place and time - moreover, his 'down-to-earth', openly positive attitude that got him this far with his skill and development of it seemed to be a second-guess today, instead of primarly lead feature. He did not only feel distracted, but also kind of unusually tense and constrained at places - I understand that some of young skaters may enjoy and feel flattered by being a highlight of the most anticipated event at NHK in front of one of the best audiences in the World, but this is not Jason's perspective to strive I feel, at least for now.
Paradox thought I have is that this kind of experience could make him even more sure about path he wants to follow and motivated to progress, challenge himself in that way. Maybe he needed this kind of difficult to take, but learning experience? I know it made his GPF chance bad, but I don't think that this will mess with his head worse than NHK experience. I hope there will be plenty chances of performing, trying and getting there towards Nationals. Skating and the quality of it won't go anywhere, it is only the matter to make it effective in right time, I know he's capable of that.
hugs to All
Good points!
A lot of this reminds me of his final junior season in 2013. It happened to be that he was finally trying to get the 3A. At JGP Courchavel he got beat badly by then an upstart Boyang Jin and he had all sort of errors -- and he didn't even try a 3A. He got an edge call on both his lutzs and FOUR URs. People were pretty sure this was an indicator that Jason wasn't going to go very far in seniors. People I think were expecting him to just blaze through this season since he had won a junior world medal the year before (and JGPF) and he was the "experienced junior." Thankfully he did get some clean 3As in and won another Jr. Worlds medal -- and set a FS record in junior men that took sometime to break. And we all know he did well the following year and got on the Olympic team.
The other thing is that he LOVES Japan and he SO wants to give his best. I feel like this is a bit of a preoccupation for him. Oddly enough, other than WTT, which I think is a competition that is more fun and relatively low pressure, he has never done well in Japan. His JGP in Japan back in 2011, he was in line to qualify for JGPF on his first year after getting silver at his first JGP, but then he dropped to sixth and had multiple URs in the FS. I'm sure JSF will keep inviting him back if they are able -- and that he'll be able to compete in the way he wants to honor the fans who love him so much!
I think he knows he's on the cusp of getting to the next level -- the judges are giving him 90+ PCS and +GOE on step sequences that only a handful of skaters get. His jumps were looking great. But it's SO scary to move up because you're not in that comfort level anymore. I agree with you, NNF, that resulted a FS where he was second-guessing himself and less that he gave up. There is a difference. If he had given up -- he would have given away FAR more than he did.
I think he'll figure it out. He has a good head on his shoulders and he has a great support in Kori & Rohene plus his family. Whether he'll figure it out in time to get a spot for the Olympics remains to be seen, but I'm confident this is just yet another bump in the road. He's gotten through a lot in his career, he'll survive this and be a lot stronger for it.
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- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
Okay I’ll take your word for it. To be honest, after the warmup I watched through my fingers. It was so weird. He seemed to be smiling his normal smile when he was introduced. He didn’t look tense to me. Then it looked like he started having trouble with the jumps. But I guess since they took out the 4T he must have been having trouble earlier? He’s usually so consistent and skates so well under pressure. It’s hard to process what happened without knowing why. Wishing him all the best.
ETA: Thanks Mrs P for your positive post.
I find it odd that people think this was an injury. As sad as this performance was, it was not as bad as his performance a year ago, when we know for sure that was injury related. There he was making mistakes all over and popping jumps.
All practice reports leading up to the competition, indicated he was doing fine.
The Eurosport people called it -- that first 3A, on any other occasion he would have pulled it off. Same with the 3F in the SP (he wouldn't have popped it into a 2T).
Also this FS program is challenging (as is the SP, but this one more so). The margin for error is relatively small. There's no resting breaks or anything -- he basically has to be on point...so even if he was a little off, that program is not forgiving. Even a bit of second guessing will cost.
All practice reports leading up to the competition, indicated he was doing fine.
The Eurosport people called it -- that first 3A, on any other occasion he would have pulled it off. Same with the 3F in the SP (he wouldn't have popped it into a 2T).
Also this FS program is challenging (as is the SP, but this one more so). The margin for error is relatively small. There's no resting breaks or anything -- he basically has to be on point...so even if he was a little off, that program is not forgiving. Even a bit of second guessing will cost.
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He changed his whole program around as a result of removing the 4A. That alone could certainly have thrown him off his rhythm.
Fall on the 4A if you must, but then get up and do the things that brought you to the dance in the first place.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
Just had a chance to watch Jason's FS now, although I knew his placement. :sad4: He didn't appear injured to me. Darn. Can't shake the feeling that a golden opportunity just slipped away... I know how much he loves Japan and his Japanese fans, but it seems that he does feel extra pressure when he skates there. He seemed very cool and confident at Sk Can. Hang in there Jason!
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2014
I didn't see him apologizing. Where was that posted?
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2014
As disappointed as I am for him, Jason is not the type of skater to just give up after a bad skate. I think he will be thinking about what happened here and use it to get stronger. It will motivate him. Maybe he needed a bad skate to get him to realize he can do great 3A's, he can do the quad? I think he will come to nationals ready to fight- not just trying to hang on.
You can do it Jason!
You can do it Jason!
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
You have to translate the Japanese part of his tweet saying “new day” or whatever.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2013
It was on both his Twitter and Instagram this morning. My Japanese is rusty but I've never forgotten the meaning of "gomenasai".
- Joined
- May 20, 2015
Honestly, I think if Jason if have issues with his elements - the worst thing to happen is that he makes the GPF and also skates horribly there as well.
His issues really started in the SP. Having your combo be a 3F-2T is really unacceptable at this point.
About his LP - I'm hoping that they mistakes in the spins were just what happened this time because the jumps didn't work. His 3As have had issues in the past. I hope he isn't injured and I think it's a tad too soon to speculate that he is having mental issues with competing - It's really his first really bad competition in awhile. His expectations can't be any higher than what they were after the 2014 or 2015 season. Plus - he has to have confidence from getting the sponsorships and media attention.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2014
Oh. Okay. Thank you.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
Yes and did quite well:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WUBV0cpG3M8
The new Goldenskate article has a fairly long quote from. Basically he says he was jittery and having trouble with a lot of elements, not just the quad, but he doesn’t know why. One interesting thing he says is that it’s still early in the season. Sounds like he’ll bounce back, thankfully.
https://goldenskate.com/2017/11/2017-nhk-trophy-men/
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2014
It was just heartbreaking to see Jason. Yeah, i dont want him to feel pressure like home. We just love HIS skating, character,,,just as he is. He's one of the kind. I hope his possibility of GPF wont be zero and his way to Olympics is widely opened. He deserves it...
