I'll pass the compliment along.
Consider it a backhanded compliment of Jason -- he makes his other jumps look so nice that people think "they're easy."
In all seriousness, I get why people like to repeat easy memes like that Jason doesn't jump well or whatever simply because he takes a longer time to master them. Jason's jump technique is actually pretty good when you set aside the fact he takes a while to get jumps. He improved the pop and spring of his jumps overall. The quads he did at Skate Canada looked good, it had good spring, height and it did not feel muscled through.
All that said, I'm not sure if quads are to blame for the declining popularity of the sport in the U.S. -- I think it's more that the marquee discipline, Ladies, is a bit lost right now -- while I think some people know who the Ladies are---they aren't these BIG personalities that Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen, etc. were. Not to mention we're not seeing the success, Ashley's silver world medal aside, that those ladies had back the last few decades.
Mr. P said another cool thing last night that he feels like the men has had a bit of a push/revival, relative to the ladies because you have these two strong competing philosophies. He felt that Nathan is leading the effort of big quads, high impact while Jason is the other extreme, quiet workmanship, strong charisma, polish, beauty. The rest of the men seem to be have elements of one or the other.
If you look at who USOC likes to promote -- they both appreciate the excitement Nathan brings with delivering lots of high-risk jumps but they also like someone like Jason, who draws fans in with his overall packaging and performance ability. I agree with my husband--I think both these philosophies can co-exist.
please pass my appreciation/compliment about being wise to Mr. P from me also
. I'll repeat myself again, but it's easy to appreciate things looking 'big' for the first view of them, things hyped, things easy to differentiate/distinguish, especially in numbers/quantity, BUT it seems to be a difficult work to get past numbers and see the quality of all those 'background' elements/parts of skating and to appreciate it accordingly. From my perspective to be honest, I am able to enjoy much more a performance created out of sublime skating skills and individual input with botched jumps than just a skate with barely there substance counting out jumps. I grew to appreciate BOTH philosophies in their respective sense and purpose - more technical/athletic one and this based more on honing skill, edge work and development over interpretation/quality of integration of movement, music and presence; especially that both of those directions can be thrilling to see, if done with conviction, mastery and confidence. And there is always a room to grow for each skater, each direction taken - it is often a matter to us giving it a chance and time, for me it was Adam Rippon's case of some sorts: I gave it attention, time and room to grow on me and he's now one of my favourite male skaters/performers out there, a figure I grew to appreciate due to what he represents/has, not because that he has not things possessed by others.
With Jason, it's similar - he came of strong with what he actually has from the very beginning, embracing his flexibility, musicality, quality of footwork/spins etc. to build a solid base for further development. And he grew so much in his own aesthetic, way of expression ALONG with growing on so many people - he did it by the qualities, approach he has, no by things he has not. He differentiated himself from the rest of the field and actually succeed in that path - for me, it's a way harder route to recognition/success in that strict, hermetic world of figure skating than just following the trends and tendencies that are giving other skaters benefits (not necessarily meaning that all skaters will benefit from it...). Spectators want to see instant effect in everything: instant inclusion of quads, instant 'artistry' (whatever it means), instant quality of every single aspect, but there is a very little effort shown to understand the variety of approaches and situation of those athletes. For me, it's enough that they are judged by panels, given often with confusing marks - so I am myself not so quick to judge anyone or to voice my opinion like it's God's truth.
Watching Jason gave me personally a new, fresh perspective to see figure skating through - maybe it's about having an authentic joy from the sole experience and being in the rink to gave something to people, not limiting it to jumps or high marks, always gold medals. He's a role model for me in embracing the difference out there, not defining himself through 'usual standards', he won so many people by his exuberance and staying himself no matter what music plays and costume he wears. US Men field is for me a treasure to have nowadays, because of that variety You/Mr. P mentioned: you can actually SEE it and CHOOSE from it by your liking, what will resonate with you the strongest way. And there is never a contradiction and wrong thing in responding strongly to different stuff. They co-exist and thank God they are, because they allow us to constantly educate ourselves and making our eyes more open for novelty.
Found this CBC commentary of Jason's FS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA5F4tAZhGA
Kurt Browning and Carol Lane pretty much are gushing the whole time. Kurt's totally all about the change of direction move he does before the StSq. It's pretty noteworthy considering that he made so many errors. They acknowledge that he needs the jumps, but that there's still a lot to appreciate.
I've actually watched this FS more than the SC one at this point, LOL.
I really get that statement - it's something about struggle that bring the stuff overall closer to the people watching I feel. The pristine clean stuff makes you smile from joy, applaud skater for the achievement, makes you happy about someone's success (me about Adam after NHK FS for example), but the flawed stuff presented in the way Jason did it went deeper in my opinion in emotional sense, since the struggle is more 'common' for most of people and can be related to easier. With Jason's FS at NHK, one has to put a way more self-work to get into that performance and look past imperfections - if the effort was made, the skating and performance really had power to carry, the sublime quality of little gestures and steps, while so many people are anticipating fireworks from start to finish. As I felt the happiness for Adam, I equally felt sadness over Jason - still, both performances were impactful in their respective overall quality, it really proves Jason's strength already established that is there no matter of jump's success. But again, it's me.
. The falls don't bother me, but the talk emphasizing only them does. A good commentator should help one enjoy all skaters, I think.
:clapper:
eace:
