Max Aaron | Page 63 | Golden Skate

Max Aaron

dailytg20 said:
Thanks to this thread I'm getting some clarity over Max's mysterious costume violation. Personally though I still don't see it.

I mean the only time I thought a violation might be in order was when Boyang Jin's shirt rode up to his bra line in a camel spin, but no one who understands gravity and lives outside of a Nathaniel Hawthorne universe is going to penalize this stuff.

My more cynical side is starting to believe it is being used to punish certain body types for men and women. Unless it's a matter of supportive back braces or spring loaded boots, I think they really need to delete this nonsense.
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While I honestly don't think this is the ISU's intention, I do agree that at times this seems to be the practical effect.

The concept of a costume violation doesn't necessarily bother me but I think they have to be a lot more specific about what constitutes one, and the focus should be more on safety and truly gross immodesty. As things are now it's getting ridiculous.
 
To be fair, it may not be far off the mark that it's a body type punishment. IIRC, didn't Tim Dolensky or another of the US men suggest a couple of years ago that the USFS powers that be wanted the men to not have large engines?

I do think that things need to be more clearly spelled out and it would be nice for Max and/or Z to sit down with the ISU and say, "What is the actual definition of tights? Where does the line get drawn?" Unfortunately for Max, I don't think the problem lies in the actual style of the pants themselves, which are really no different to what a lot of other men wear; it's just that he fills them out more than most.

Oh god, I will never learn, will I? I just watched the NBC coverage. Why do I do this to myself? I want to punch both Weir and Lipinski's stupid faces in.
 
tulosai said:
While I honestly don't think this is the ISU's intention, I do agree that at times this seems to be the practical effect.

The concept of a costume violation doesn't necessarily bother me but I think they have to be a lot more specific about what constitutes one, and the focus should be more on safety and truly gross immodesty. As things are now it's getting ridiculous.
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Especially considering how much $$$$ these skaters are spending on costumes.

karne said:
Oh god, I will never learn, will I? I just watched the NBC coverage. Why do I do this to myself? I want to punch both Weir and Lipinski's stupid faces in.
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I am probably the only person on the boards who has this opinion, but I really think that NBC should have kept Scott Hamilton and paired him with Tara. I think the balance of older and younger Olympic Champions has worked really well in their gymnastics coverage (Tim Daggett & Nastia Liukin).

I understand that Scott Hamilton would get a little too excited in his commentary, but was it really that much more annoying than what Rowdy Gaines does in swimming?
 
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Scott Hamilton could be a bit of an idiot, but he was always genuinely excited when the performance gave him reason to be. I remember him yelling "GET ON YOUR FEET!" when Max hit the 3Lo right at the finish of WSS. Weir probably just would have snarked that the program was so empty...
 
dailytg20 said:
Thanks to this thread I'm getting some clarity over Max's mysterious costume violation. Personally though I still don't see it.

I mean the only time I thought a violation might be in order was when Boyang Jin's shirt rode up to his bra line in a camel spin, but no one who understands gravity and lives outside of a Nathaniel Hawthorne universe is going to penalize this stuff.

My more cynical side is starting to believe it is being used to punish certain body types for men and women. Unless it's a matter of supportive back braces or spring loaded boots, I think they really need to delete this nonsense.
Click to expand...

I completely missed what the violation was for exactly? Am catching up....
 
reneerose said:
I completely missed what the violation was for exactly? Am catching up....
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He didn't actually get the violation, he just had two judges press the button (you need more than half to actually receive the deduction). We're guessing it's his pants, which are really more like leggings, but still technically within the scope of the rules.
 
karne said:
He didn't actually get the violation, he just had two judges press the button (you need more than half to actually receive the deduction). We're guessing it's his pants, which are really more like leggings, but still technically within the scope of the rules.
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Oh I was reading more, and yeah I guess it was the leggings looking like tights which is prohibited in the costuming rules.
 
musicfan80 said:
Especially considering how much $$$$ these skaters are spending on costumes.

I am probably the only person on the boards who has this opinion, but I really think that NBC should have kept Scott Hamilton and paired him with Tara. I think the balance of older and younger Olympic Champions has worked really well in their gymnastics coverage (Tim Daggett & Nastia Liukin).

I understand that Scott Hamilton would get a little too excited in his commentary, but was it really that much more annoying than what Rowdy Gaines does in swimming?
Click to expand...

The problem with Scott was that he appears to be completely unwilling to learn the new scoring system. He far to late in IJS's life was still saying he did not get things and clearly was not a fan. Sorry, but your job is kinda to know this system and he had plenty of time to learn it. Hell I am not a skater and the bloody system mostly makes sense to me. Had Scott wanted to learn IJS, i might agree with you, but they needed someone who knows the "new" system.

Johnny is good when he actually says stuff of use. He does know IJS and often does say stuff that is both relevant and helpful in understanding the system. Really it is only when Johnny and Tara start being "Johnny and Tara" when things fall apart. They are both fine on their own. Though I do think that Johnny should have waited a few more years to comment on mens... too close to home.

What would be great I think is to send either Johnny or Tara to the events. Have one give on the spot comments, and the other give live commentary with... the third guy who is actually good but I forget his name right now Terry?

This way you could have both of them and get some "Johnny and Tara" but keep it out of the actual commentary. Let one comment, the other interview skaters then mix it up. That could be good but the budget is likely not there.
 
Max's "Bio Blast" video published by USFS today confirms that he now lives at the OTC :cool: (putting my earlier doubts to rest).
(Plus the video is a nice chance to revisit Black Swan :luv17:.)

Thanks to everyone for the posts and thoughts re :bmrk: CUP OF CHINA 2016 :bmrk:.

I have been meaning to post some odds and ends re China.
A few photos for starters:

With Patrick and Han on the sidelines at the gala -- at the time of the quad battle, it seems:

The men waving at the gala:

Team USA group photo at the closing banquet (courtesy of the Shibs):
 
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ice coverage said:
Max's "Bio Blast" video published by USFS today confirms that he now lives at the OTC :cool: (putting my earlier doubts to rest).
(Plus the video is a nice chance to revisit Black Swan :luv17:.)
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The video tormented me, because it showed so many beautiful parts of his flawless Black Swan...at US Nationals. The USFS using the video from the competition they robbed him blind at is a bit hard to swallow...

ice coverage said:
Team USA group photo at the closing banquet (courtesy of the Shibs):
[/INDENT]
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The look on his face :laugh2:
 
karne said:
... The look on his face :laugh2:
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At other times at the closing banquet, SnuggleBat gave some of his great smiles :), as seen in this video from Patrick's fan thread.

vivley said:
... here's a recording of the livestream at the COC banquet showing the skaters' arrivals and the party inside. ...

http://wb.yizhibo.com/l/vVjG44VsfxlOIAMQ.html?p_from=pRoom.AnchorReplay ...
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I think the first glimpse of Max is at approx. 5:25 ... when he is in the background before entering the banquet room.
Then when he walks in shortly thereafter, I believe he is with Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise. After Matteo goes by, Max kinda steps back to give a very nice smile and wave to the camera.
At approx. 12:13, the camera moves toward the Team USA table and then pans back and forth. Max is all smiles sitting btwn the lovely Ashley in the bright red pantsuit and Colin McManus.

ETA:

I wonder why the USFS bio video does not mention that Max is 2015 Skate America champion :bow:.
Seems like a much bigger feather in his cap than "two-time U.S. Collegiate medalist" (no offense to Collegiates).​

Off topic: Stasia Cannuscio wins my prize for Cutest Dress in the Team USA banquet photo. All the ladies are lovely, but she looks the most chic (to non-fashionista ;) :laugh: me).​
 
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Nice that fellow scholar/athletes :bow: Mirai and Max are supportive of each other :ghug:, per an article about Mirai today:

... Nagasu’s life doesn’t just revolve around skating. A student at University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, she took four courses this fall — business law, statistics, calculus and financial accounting — toward her goal of earning a business degree. Her midterms were held the week before Skate Canada.
“I cry through it — just kidding,” she said. “For the most part it’s skate, come home and study, go to school, and then repeat. (Training partner) Max Aaron and I struggle through it. I’m taking a full course load, which I’m really proud of, but somehow Max is taking 16 units and I’m only taking 12, so I don’t know how he balances it all.”
Tom Zakrajsek, who coaches Nagasu and U.S. silver medalist Aaron, thinks academics and skating are a good mix.
“Maybe a test didn’t go so well, maybe you weren’t happy with your grade on an assignment, but you have to go to the rink to skate,” Zakrajsek said. “And then if skating doesn’t go well that day, you have to get in your car, drive to class and get totally get engrossed in school. It forces compartmentalization, which is necessary and a great skill for figure skaters.”...

http://www.teamusa.org/News/2016/No...-Nagasu-Hopes-To-Rebound-At-Japans-NHK-Trophy (Nov 23)​

karne said:
... Tom Z provides us with not only a cute SnuggleBat picture but an absolutely adorable story of BabyBat wearing Lu Chen's Olympic medals :love:
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OMG, thank you, karne. I love :luv17: everything about this photo and story.

Lu Chen's comment about "my little friend Max" is so sweet too.

I can't stop smiling at the thought of BabyBat wearing her medals :).

karne said:
Hmm, that video was kinda creepy seeing all the fans stalking outside the banquet. A little across my personal line. ...
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Just my two cents, but the fans looked pretty tame to me. Didn't strike me as creepy or stalkerish.
To me, like waiting outside the stage door of a show. Didn't cross a line for me.
 
^Solid proof that the Shibsibs need more Max in their videos :)
 
Max is discussed to a small extent in the TSL interview with TZ about his book.
The interview was recorded on Oct 18 and published on Nov 30.

I'm mostly *paraphrasing* below. The only verbatim quotes are indicated with quotation marks.

About a five-minute chunk re Max's training plans starts at approx. 19:47.
Discussion of his work on quad jumps (esp. toe, and also axel, lutz, loop).  He is capable of a lot more [in terms of jumping] than he has shown, says TZ, who adds that Max's emphasis going into the GPs is spin levels and GOE -- also  performance, which is "top priority."  DL asks why Max prefers the quad sal. Quad-triple combination still a huge part of commitment day for Max.
At approx. 40:25, TZ's speaks again of Max's goals -- for spins and for being emotionally connected to his SP and FS music ... able to express the music with his body and also his face. "That's a huge thing we're working on."   Quad-triple too. 

Other Max-related bits:

Dave asks about TZ making Monday a "hard" day of training and whether it starts with the first session of the day. TZ mentions that Max  loves to hit hard on the first session  ["surprise, surprise ;)"].   (The discussion leading up to this mention starts at approx. 10:45.)

Within a discussion of the importance of hydration (starting at approx. 11:43), TZ mentions Max's fly-by water-bottle grab on practice sessions at comps.  He doesn't like to stop and stand around.  And after a swig, even as Max is moving, he'll place the bottle back on the barrier or hand it off to TZ.

Max is "in such impeccable shape (for other reasons)" that he doesn't really have to do double run-thrus.  Has done them within the last four years, but not maybe within the last two years.  (This part of the discussion of double run-thrus begins at approx. 18:44.)​

Great photo of Max at the Festival of Lights Parade in Colorado Springs.

:popcorn: Going out on a limb now, but .... I think(???) several signs are pointing in the direction of Max having a small role in "Ice," an independent feature film centered around figure skating, some of which is being shot at the South Suburban Ice Arena in Colorado. If(???) my hunch is correct, hoping for a fun experience for him and maybe something that we eventually will be able to see.
 
I just listened to the quad part and Z's explanation of Max's toe problems suddenly makes it all make sense for me why he has trouble with it.
 
:cool: "Stellar work" from Max at the overnight shoot of the indie feature film Ice, so seems my hunch was correct.
Two photos on set:

Don't know what Max's call time was, but at least for another cast member, the shoot was scheduled for 9 pm Sat to 2 am Sun. She was on Instagram again at 4 am; and the production crew was still working at 4:46 am .... :yawn:

A November article about another shoot for the film:
(No mention of Max in the article.)

The central characters in the film are two female figure skaters. The young versions of these characters are played by Phoebe Stubblefield, age 7, who is a Tom Z skater (with a very bright future as a skater, per his most recent TSL interview); and Elise Freezer, juvenile girl who IRL just won Pacific Coast Sectionals (former TZ skater who now trains in Dallas and whose family sponsored the first year of the Aerial Figure Skating Challenge).
Annabelle Schneider-Farris is another cast member.

Apparently hockey also is interwoven into the plot to some extent, so I wonder whether Max's cameo bridges both worlds??? :popcorn:

ETA, cross-posting news from the U.S men thread:

This just in:
Max Aaron will have a new "bullfighting" SP for 2017 Nats, per Tom Z's tweet (with 43 seconds of video attached).
Choreo by Phillip Mills. Music by Arturo Sandoval.

eta, TZ's Instagram has a different video of the new program:

So ... perhaps Max is getting a head start on his SP for the Olympic season??

Olé! Go, Max :yay: :dance2:.​
 
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ice coverage said:
This just in:
Max Aaron will have a new "bullfighting" SP for 2017 Nats, per Tom Z's tweet (with 43 seconds of video attached).
Choreo by Phillip Mills. Music by Arturo Sandoval.

eta, TZ's Instagram has a different video of the new program:

So ... perhaps Max is getting a head start on his SP for the Olympic season??

Olé! Go, Max :yay: :dance2:.​
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I hope so, especially if this new SP is successful at U.S. Nationals. I've never understood why so many skaters don't use short programs for more than one season, anyway. The goal with the SPs has always been mainly about hitting the required elements.

Plus, it must save them some $$$$. I know figure skating is expensive at the elite level, but I always felt for the ice dancers who HAVE to get TWO new programs each season. It must have been insane back when they had three new programs each season (compulsory, original, and free dances).
 
musicfan80 said:
It must have been insane back when they had three new programs each season (compulsory, original, and free dances).
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The compulsory dance was a pattern, though. No choreography required, it was the same pattern for everyone, just a lot of practice.

I woke up this morning all :disapp: because Monday morning and lack of sleep but this had me almost jumping out of my bed! Bullfighter Max! Oh, the idea is so perfect, I can hardly wait! AND SUDDENLY Z's caginess about the 4T going back in for Nationals MAKES SO MUCH SENSE OMG he must have known even then that this was the plan! I had been hoping and hoping that between CoC and Nationals they would make a new SP and they HAVE! AND IT LOOKS GREAT SO FAR

What will he wear? I think a splash of red this one for sure!

basically running around in circles shrieking with excitement right now. The Bullfighter and the Lion King!
 
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