Joshua Farris

[musicfan80]

Or a Max Aaron (2013)

Really? Max had to go through Regionals/Sectionals to get to 2013 Nationals? I thought he had gotten a competition bye.

Slightly off topic (but maybe related because they have some of the same coaches), but Angela Wang didn't get a GP assignment, either. But I bet she will get some Senior Bs.

Speaking of Senior Bs, wouldn't it be wild if Joshua got an assignment, and Lukas got to compete at it as well? Maybe Joe and Karina will be there too.

Honestly i don't think regionals/sectionals would be so bad for him. It would be a low pressure way to practice getting through a season uninjured.

Here's another silver lining: Joshua has the pressure off to be more ready by Champs Camp. I wish we had a generic update on how he is doing.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Here's another silver lining: Joshua has the pressure off to be more ready by Champs Camp. I wish we had a generic update on how he is doing.

well the silver lining i am thinking of is that i might actually get to go to sectionals this year. :dev3:

 

[ice coverage]

well the silver lining i am thinking of is that i might actually get to go to sectionals this year. :dev3:

---

Really? Max had to go through Regionals/Sectionals to get to 2013 Nationals? I thought he had gotten a competition bye. ...

To qualify for 2013 Nats, Max had to compete at Midwestern Sectionals (which he won).

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2013/12/23/66033094/13-for-13-top-headlines-from-past-year-run-gamut​

But I think Max had a bye allowing him to skip Regionals.

Before 2004 Nats, did Weir compete at Regionals as well as Sectionals?
His website doesn't mention Regionals.

http://johnnygweir.com/medals/​

In any case, I do recall that on at least one occasion during Weir's NBC commentary (I don't remember for which comp -- perhaps for 2013 Nats itself), he has noted (I'm paraphrasing) that Max was the first man since Johnny himself to win the U.S. title after needing to qualify for Nats.
I don't remember whether Weir mentioned just Sectionals or both Regionals and Sectionals.

 

[karne]

I am quite confident that Joshua will be first in line for that TBD at Skate America, especially now that Chen has two. It not being announced yet means nothing. I had no expectation at all of seeing his name on the list, but seeing Chen's has settled it in my mind.

Skate America, and another Senior B to get him out of sectionals/regionals, possibly Finlandia or some other Challenger event. It sounds like a nice launchpad in my mind. And even if not Skate America - well, as was pointed out above - Max launched his way to the crown from two dazzling Senior B performances, so I see no reason Josh could not!

 

[musicfan80]

I am quite confident that Joshua will be first in line for that TBD at Skate America, especially now that Chen has two. It not being announced yet means nothing. I had no expectation at all of seeing his name on the list, but seeing Chen's has settled it in my mind.

Skate America, and another Senior B to get him out of sectionals/regionals, possibly Finlandia or some other Challenger event. It sounds like a nice launchpad in my mind. And even if not Skate America - well, as was pointed out above - Max launched his way to the crown from two dazzling Senior B performances, so I see no reason Josh could not!

You're forgetting about Alex Johnson and Tim Dolensky. When do it is usually announced who gets the TBD spots for Skate America? Sometime in September? He would need to get in superb monitoring session shape by then to get any international assignments, anyway.

 

[cheerknithanson]

You're forgetting about Alex Johnson and Tim Dolensky. When do it is usually announced who gets the TBD spots for Skate America? Sometime in September? He would need to get in superb monitoring session shape by then to get any international assignments, anyway.

July or August is usually when host picks are announced.

 

[musicfan80]

July or August is usually when host picks are announced.

Thanks for the info. That's not good news for Joshua as far as Skate America goes. But maybe the Senior Bs were always the goal anyway.

Of course, we assuming that things are going positive in his recovery.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Omg, Karne is going to be devastated.

 

[musicfan80]

So sad about this news but not entirely surprised. Absolutely loved his skating. But health and knowing "when to stop" is so much more important.

I have wondered if the chance of another "whiplash" would happen every time he fell on a jump - especially with the forces that even a double or triple jump would have. Quad jumps would have been insane.

I'm very much looking forward to updates about his future in choreography and coaching.

 

[el henry]

So sad about this news but not entirely surprised. Absolutely loved his skating. But health and knowing "when to stop" is so much more important.

I have wondered if the chance of another "whiplash" would happen every time he fell on a jump - especially with the forces that even a double or triple jump would have. Quad jumps would have been insane.

I'm very much looking forward to updates about his future in choreography and coaching.

The article @Tavi posted in the arena highlights the difficulties Josh encountered; and his bravery in making this decision now.

We will always have his lovely performances to rewatch, and I can think of several skaters who I would *looove* to see Josh work with. Best of luck to Josh!

 

[ice coverage]

:sad4: :sad4: :sad4: :sad4: :sad4:

Sending a million hugs to dear Josh.
And a ton of respect . (For one thing, for speaking so openly in the IN article.)

I take some comfort in knowing that before his concussions last year, his musical talent already had brought him so much joy -- and that it has been integral to his recovery.
Also in knowing that via choreo, coaching, and officiating, Josh will continue to share his love of skating.

But today's news is heartbreaking :sad4: :sad4: :sad4: :sad4:.

 

[cheerknithanson]

I'm glad I got to see him skate once when I went to see a Stars on Ice show on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Don't really remember his performance as all of them went by like a blur.

 

[Lota]

I was expecting something like this, even though it is not what I wanted Joshua was my absolute favourite among the men in the field right now, he filled the hole Daisuke Takahashi left... Oh well... I guess I'm just gonna have to rewatch the same two programs of his for the rest of my life.

Oh Joshua! Gone (from competitive skating), but never forgotten!!! :sad21:

 

[bwayrose7]

I had a suspicion we might hear something like this, but what a shame, nonetheless. Josh's skating was always something so special to watch- for me, who lives in the world of theater, it always made me feel like I was watching a true performance, an expression of emotion and power and something very raw and real and yet elegant and lyrical at the same time.

Infinite respect for being so incredibly honest in that IN article, especially about the aftereffects both mental and physical. Depression and anxiety suck (I can tell you firsthand) and I'm so glad to hear he has found a support system and other activities that have helped. Thank you for your exquisite skating, Josh, and I hope we will continue to see your gift through your coaching and choreography. :sad21::gclap:

 

[musicfan80]

I'm still gutted about this. I do applaud Joshua for deciding to retire now and understanding what is really more important in life - his health and happiness.

Even though this was far from ideal, I would MUCH rather see this than Joshua make this decision than having something worse happen (already this seems pretty horrific) and, unfortunately we have seen this before with too many athletes, not knowing when to quit and watching his career continue and be too painful to watch.

Right now, some U.S. Olympic Trials are going on - men's gymnastics is completed; there are a couple of days left in swimming, track & field started today, and the women's gymnastics trials are (I think) next week. I have been very happy to cheer the awesome athletes that Team USA is sending to Rio next month.

But some of these athletes who aren't (in many cases it's not even close) making the team really should have retired after 2012......or even 2008. It's like they can't stop. Sometimes, I wonder if it's because they don't have anything else - education, another career, etc. I feel like if they had stopped years earlier, they could have found something GREAT and ended up being happier. I hope that I'm making sense here.

But thankfully, Joshua has plans (or is at least choosing from many great options). And he does have the support of his family and friends.

So thank you, Joshua, for your terrific skating and we will be excited to hear any updates about you in the future. I have no reason to think that he won't be an amazing coach or choreographer! :clapper:

------------------------------------------------------------------

On another (I apologize if this seems shallow right now) note, does anyone else really like how he looks with glasses? Ice Network: Long battle with concussions ends Farris' career

 

[Hyena]

I wish I was shocked by the news today, but despite everyone's optimism in this thread, I was pretty sure that no news was not going to be good news this time. I'm so sad we'll never see him on competitive ice again. I'm especially sad such an awful, difficult injury is what ended his career.

We'll always have 2015 Nationals and Four Continents.

 

[Tavi...]

This made me cry. In case you haven't seen it yet, here is what Jason wrote to Josh:

https://twitter.com/jasonbskates/status/748980633821589504

If you scroll down, you will see Josh's mom's response (Erin Farris-Dusabek).

 

[karne]

I haven't stopped crying from the moment I saw the tweet when I woke up.

I don't have words. Just tears.

 

[liv]

Sad to hear this news... but I understand everything he is going through as I had a concussion last year and still have post concussion symptoms too. Some people recover fully, others do not, and unfortunately he still suffers

To lose what he loves so well is heartbreaking, but I love that he is determined to remain in the sport as a coach and choreographer. I think he will do very well at both and look forward to seeing him at the boards in the future.

And as to the glasses... I love them on him.

 

[karne]

I've been trying to suppress this thought all day so that I don't break down again but

I never got to see him skate in person

and now I never will.


:sad4: :sad4: :sad4: