Johnny Weir's 2003 US Nationals

[dlkksk8fan]

"He has a great future in pro skating"

Hi 2ndmark and welcome to GS. I total agree with the above statement about Michael Weiss. But as you can see his amateur career isn't to shabby.

Mike is ranked third in the world by the International Skating Union
2004 -- World Championships -- 6th
2004 -- U.S. National Championships -- 2nd
2003 -- Grand Prix Final -- 3rd
2003 -- International Figure Skating Challenge -- 3rd
2003 -- Cup of Russia -- 4th
2003 -- Trophee Lalique -- 3rd
2003 -- Skate America -- 1st
2003 -- Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic -- 3rd
2003 -- International Figure Skating Challenge -- 3rd
2003 -- World Championships -- 5th
2003 -- U.S. National Championships -- 1st
2002 -- Hallmark Skaters' Challenge -- 2nd
2002 -- Crest Whitestrips Challenge -- 2nd
2002 -- Trophee Lalique -- 1st
2002 -- Nation's Cup -- 4th
2002 -- Skate America -- 5th
2002 -- Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic -- 3rd
2002 World Championships -- 6th
2002 Winter Olympics -- 7th
2002 -- U.S. National Championships, 3rd
2001 -- Hershey's Figure Skating Challenge (team), 1st
2001 -- Eastern Sectionals, 1st
2001 -- The Sparkassen (Nations) Cup, 8th
2001 -- Skate America, 4th
2001 -- Goodwill Games, 2nd
2001-- Four Continents Championship, 3rd
2001 -- National Championships Senior, 4th
2000 -- National Championships Senior, 1st
2000 -- World Championships, 3rd
1999 -- National Championships Senior, 1st
1999 -- World Championships, 3rd

I want to see him skating strong and landing those quads.

 

[Vash01]

Especiall considering that Nats will be judge under the 6.0 system where the quad does sort of work, unless it's like last year Nats that none of them men show any quad at all.

I read Jhonny had the quad toe and quad salchow but every since he is injured, I don't know if he had land them again.

I do remember, however, that at one of the US nationals (can't remember the year but may have been 2000) Goebel landed 3 quads, Weiss landed none, but the judges gave the win to Weiss. It was argued that his skating was more artistic. In the 2002 Olympics, however, it was obvious that one could not stand on the podium without a quad (and even that was not enough for Weiss). If they are using the 6.0 system, I would give the edge to Tim if he lands 2 quads. Johnny will have to land at least one to beat him.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

My reason for finally joining your midst was Guinivere's wonderfully wicked "you never know when Weiss will slop his way to another gold" comment. After I finished tittering I felt obliged to respond. Michael has been a wonderful champion and ambassador for US Mens skating. But after several seasons of subpar (at best) performances one must wonder "how long is he going to put himself and us through this?" He has a great future in pro skating, but it would seem that serious eligible competition is in his past. (Of course, now watch him slop out a win at Skate America.)

First of all, welcome to Golden Skate. I hope he does slop out and win. I think Michael is the most bashed skater on GS with MK closely behind. I've seen the quad at practices. They are there. I've seen the misses at competitions. I've seen the landing cheats, the falls, the turn outs and sometimes the rotations aren't there. They are not quite there in competitions. And he is severely marked down for these errors. However, if all this bs about 'attempting' a jump is true under the CoP system, then Michael will score high even with a -3 if he doesn't land one clean. hwell:

And yes, Vash - Johnny will have to land one to win if Tim is up to his technical best. But who knows, about Michael without bashing him?

My money is on Johnny to repeat his win, but there is a better field this season so I'm betting him across the board. (that's race horse jargon for betting on a horse for win, place, and show.)

 

[guinevere]

My reason for finally joining your midst was Guinivere's wonderfully wicked "you never know when Weiss will slop his way to another gold" comment. After I finished tittering I felt obliged to respond. Michael has been a wonderful champion and ambassador for US Mens skating. But after several seasons of subpar (at best) performances one must wonder "how long is he going to put himself and us through this?" He has a great future in pro skating, but it would seem that serious eligible competition is in his past. (Of course, now watch him slop out a win at Skate America.)

Hi 2ndmark - welcome, and thanks for the shout out !

Lest anyone think I'm jumping recklessly on the Mikey Weiss Hater Bandwagon, I should say that I have a real fondness for him, despite the many (many!) ways in which he makes an easy target.

I thought it was absolutely the right decision when he announced at the '02 Olys that he was retiring, as his programs had seemed geared to the pro comp audience for a while, and I was quite :sheesh: when he changed his mind. His consistency in slopdom is very aggravating, as an audience member.

HOWEVER... I can't deny that Weiss has had the best international results of his career since the '02 Olys. There's certainly no incentive for him to go pro at this point. His 'sloppy' consistency has at times been a bright spot in US Men's skating over the past 2 years, and Weir's 5th place finish at Worlds has pretty much eclipsed Weiss' 6th place finish, which was not bad either. No matter what happens on the ice, I can't help but root for Mikey.

guinevere

 

[2ndmark]

Please note that I did state: "Michael has been a wonderful champion and ambassador for US Mens skating. " My intent was not gratuitous Michael bashing. I remember the first time I saw him skate the Santana program- very exciting. So young, handsome and full of promise- and yes, he lived up to much of that potential. I still think it's time to relinquish the eligible spotlight to the younger up and comers- like Weir and Lysacek. (And here's hoping that Tim builds on his "Cambell's comeback.")