2015-16 State of U.S. Men's Figure Skating | Golden Skate

2015-16 State of U.S. Men's Figure Skating

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Update, 11/7/2015: Senior B/GP/JGP scores (for Senior men at the National level)

Overall (SB)
1.) Max Aaron 258.95 (Skate America)
2.) Jason Brown 240.65 (Ice Challenge)
3.) Adam Rippon 239.69 (Skate Canada)
4.) Nathan Chen 236.76 (JGP USA)
5.) Grant Hochstein 222.74 (Cup of China)
6.) Richard Dornbush 217.26 (Cup of China)
---
7.) Timothy Dolensky 219.06 (Skate Canada)
8.) Ross Miner 215.11
9.) Vincent Zhou 211.96
10.) Sean Rabbit 201.27
11.) Alexander Johnson 196.32
12.) Jordan Moeller 178.21

Overall (average)
1.) Max Aaron 240.95
2.) Jason Brown 239.50
3.) Nathan Chen 236.57
4.) Adam Rippon 231.94
5.) Timothy Dolensky 212.89
6.) Ross Miner 212.52
---
7.) Grant Hochstein 208.81
8.) Vincent Zhou 206.41
9.) Richard Dornbush 204.14
10.) Sean Rabbit 201.27
11.) Alexander Johnson 196.32
12.) Jordan Moeller 178.21

SP Overall (SB)
1.) Max Aaron 86.67
2.) Jason Brown 85.29
3.) Adam Rippon 80.36
4.) Ross Miner 78.96
5.) Nathan Chen 77.94
6.) Grant Hochstein 74.27
7.) Richard Dornbush 70.21
8.) Timothy Dolensky 69.18
9.) Vincent Zhou 68.07
10.) Sean Rabbit 64.75
11.) Jordan Moeller 64.75
12.) Alexander Johnson 63.27

SP Overall (Average)
1.) Max Aaron 85.07
2.) Jason Brown 80.30
3.) Nathan Chen 77.54
4.) Ross Miner 76.81
5.) Adam Rippon 74.83
6.) Grant Hochstein 71.94
--
7.) Richard Dornbush 67.77
8.) Vincent Zhou 67.33
9) Timothy Dolensky 66.05
10.) Sean Rabbit 64.75
11.) Jordan Moeller 63.50
12. Alexander Johnson 63.27

SP TES (SB)
1.) Max Aaron 47.96
2.) Jason Brown 43.84
3.) Nathan Chen 42.48
4.) Ross Miner 41.99
5.) Adam Rippon 41.56
6.) Grant Hochstein 40.59
--
7.) Vincent Zhou 36.66
8.) Richard Dornbush 34.20
9.) Timothy Dolensky 34.08
10.) Alexander Johnson 32.62
11.) Sean Rabbit 32.20
12.) Jordan Moeller 31.90

SP TES (Average)
1.) Max Aaron 46.87
2.) Nathan Chen 42.34
3.) Grant Hochstein 39.51
4.) Ross Miner 39.15
5.) Jason Brown 38.93
6.) Adam Rippon 37.48
--
7.) Vincent Zhou 36.57
8.) Alexander Johnson 32.62
9.) Richard Dornbush 32.32
10.) Sean Rabbit 32.20
11.) Jordan Moeller 31.90
12.) Tim Dolensky 31.83


SP PCS (SB)
1.) Jason Brown 42.07
2.) Adam Rippon 39.80
3.) Max Aron 38.71
4.) Ross Miner 38.35
5.) Richard Dornbush 38.01
6.) Nathan Chen 34.93
--
7.) Timothy Dolensky 34.87

8.) Grant Hochstein 33.68
9.) Sean Rabbit 33.55
10.) Alexander Johnson 32.65
11.) Jordan Moeller 31.90
12.) Vincent Zhou 30.92

SP PCS (Average)
1.) Jason Brown 41.21
2.) Adam Rippon 38.35
3.) Max Aaron 38.20
4.) Ross Miner 37.66
5.) Richard Dornbush 36.41
6.) Nathan Chen 35.20
--
7.) Timothy Dolensky 33.56
8.) Sean Rabbit 33.55
9.) Grant Hochstein 32.93
10.) Alexander Johnson 32.65
11.) Jordan Moeller 31.60
12.) Vincent Zhou 30.52

FS Total (SB)
1.) Max Aaron 176.65
2.) Jason Brown 162.39
3.) Nathan Chen 159.63
4.) Adam Rippon 159.33
5.) Timothy Dolensky 156.60
6.) Grant Hochstein 148.47
--
7.) Richard Dornbush 147.05
8.) Vincent Zhou 145.37
9.) Sean Rabbit 136.95
10.) Ross Miner 136.16
11.) Alexander Johnson 133.05
12.) Jordan Moeller 114.71

FS Total (Average)
1.) Nathan Chen 159.03
2.) Jason Brown 158.89
3.) Max Aaron 158.07
4.) Adam Rippon 157.11
5.) Tim Dolensky 146.83
6.) Vincent Zhou 139.08
--
7.) Sean Rabbit 136.95

8.) Richard Dornbush 136.67
9.) Grant Hochstein 136.88
10.) Ross Miner 135.72
11.) Alexander Johnson 133.05
12.) Jordan Moeller 114.71

FS TES (SB)
1.) Max Aaron 90.98
2.) Nathan Chen 88.69
3.) Timothy Dolensky 83.98
4.) Adam Rippon 80.47
5.) Jason Brown 79.69
6.) Vincent Zhou 75.29
--
7.) Richard Dornbush 71.53
8.) Grant Hochstein 70.75
9.) Sean Rabbit 65.05
10.) Ross Miner 63.29
11.) Alexander Johnson 62.95
12.) Jordan Moeller 52.21

FS TES (Averages)
1.) Nathan Chen 87.28
2.) Max Aaron 78.73
3.) Adam Rippon 78.63
4.) Jason Brown 76.17
5.) Timothy Dolensky 76.09
6.) Vincent Zhou 71.22
--
7.) Grant Hochstein 66.34
8.) Sean Rabbit 65.05
9.) Richard Dornbush 63.66
10.) Alexander Johnson 62.95
11.) Ross Miner 62.48
12.) Jordan Moeller 52.21

FS PCS (SB)
1.) Jason Brown 85.36
2.) Max Aaron 81.30
3.) Adam Rippon 80.86
4.) Grant Hochstein 77.72
5.) Richard Dornbush 77.52
6.) Ross Miner 74.85
--
7.) Nathan Chen 73.56
8.) Sean Rabbit 72.90
9.) Timothy Dolensky 72.62
10.) Alexander Johnson 71.10
11.) Vincent Zhou 70.08
12.) Jordan Moeller 64.50

FS PCS (Average)
1.) Jason Brown 83.69
2.) Adam Rippon 78.83
3.) Max Aaron 77.15
4.) Richard Dornbush 74.71
5.) Ross Miner 74.23
6.) Sean Rabbit 72.90
--
7.) Nathan Chen 72.25
8.) Grant Hochstein 71.54
9.) Alexander Johnson 71.10
10.) Timothy Dolensky 70.74
11.) Vincent Zhou 68.36
12.) Jordan Moeller 64.50









UPDATE 8/3/15, Club Competition results

Glacier Falls is over, so update time!!

Glacier Falls results (via unseenskaters.wordpress.com:

Nathan Chen 253.71 1 1
Grant Hochstein 239.49 3 2
Tim Dolensky 222.03 2 3
Sean Rabbitt 201.23 6 6
Brendan Kerry (AUS) 194.96 10 5
Jason Brown 191.90 11 4
Scott Dyer 191.34 7 7
Daniel Samohin (ISR) 183.15 5 9
Daniel Kulenkamp 180.19 9 8
Jordan Moeller 170.92 8 10
WD: Richard Dornbush 4


So here's the summer comp round-up so far:

Overall:
Nathan Chen 253.71 (Glacier Falls)*
Grant Hochstein 239.49 (Glacier Falls)*
Timothy Dolensky 222.03 (Glacier Falls)*
Nathan Chen, 220.21 (Broadmoor Open)*
Richard Dornbush 220.21 (Skate Milwaukee)*
---
Sean Rabbit 203.75 (LA Open)*
Alexander Johnson 202.25 (Skate Detroit)*
Ross Miner 202.22 (Lake Placid)
Jason Brown, 201.58 (Broadmoor Open)*
Sean Rabbitt 201.23 (Glacier Falls)*
Timothy Dolensky 201.12 (Skate Detroit)*
Timothy Dolensky, 200.91 (Broadmoor Open)*
Jason Brown 191.90 (Glacier Falls)*
Vincent Zhou 191.41 (Broadmoor Open)
Scott Dyer 191.34 (Glacier Falls)
Patrick Rupp 187.07 (Broadmoor Open)
Philip Warren 185.67 (Skate Detroit)
Jordan Moeller 181.66* (Broadmoor Open)
Daniel Kulenkamp 180.19 (Glacier Falls)
Jordan Moeller 170.92 (Glacier Falls)*
Sebastien Payannet 135.83 (Broadmoor Open)
Ryan Santee 122.83 (Skate Detroit)



Short Program:
Chen 84.45 (Glacier Falls)
Dolensky 82.89 (Glacier Falls)
Hochstein 73.98 (Glacier Falls)
Chen 71.84 (Broadmoor Open)
Warren 71.83 (Skate Detroit)
---
Johnson 71.54 (Skate Detroit)
Dolensky 70.06 (Skate Detroit)
Richard Dornbush 69.64 (Glacier Falls, did SP only)
Brown 66.68 (Broadmoor Open, SP only event)
Rabbit 66.31 (Glacier Falls)
Johsnon 65.01 (Broadmoor Open)
Brown 64.09 (Broadmoor Open combined event)
Shotaro Omori 63.49 (Skate Detroit, did SP only)*
Dolensky 61.92 (Broadmoor Open)
Dyer 61.89 (Glacier Falls)
Rupp 61.81 (Broadmoor Open)
Moeller 61.34 (Glacier Falls)
Kulenkamp 60.67 (Glacier Falls)
Zhou 57.70 (Broadmoor Open)
Brown 55.66 (Glacier Falls)
Moeller 52.87 (Broadmoor Open, SP only event)
Moeller 52.74 (Broadmoor Open)
Payannet 49.83 (Broadmoor Open)
Santee 39.05 (Skate Detroit)


Free Skate:
Chen 169.26 (Glacier Falls)
Hochstein 165.51 (Glacier Falls)
Chen 148.37 (Broadmoor Open)
Dornbush 144.35 (Skate Milwaukee)
Miner 144.14 (Lake Placid)
---
Dolensky 139.14 (Glacier Falls)
Dolensky 138.99 (Broadmoor Open)
Rabbit 137.86 (LA Open)
Brown 137.49 (Broadmoor Open)
Brown 136.24 (Glacier Falls)
Rabbitt 134.92 (Glacier Falls)
Zhou 133.71 (Broadmoor Open)
Dolensky 131.06 (Skate Detroit)
Johnson 130.75 (Skate Detroit)
Dyer 129.45 (Glacier Falls)
Rupp 125.28 (Broadmoor Open)
Johnson 114.42 (Broadmoor Open)
Kulenkamp 119.52 (Glacier Falls)
Warren 113.84 (Skate Detroit)
Payannet 86.00 (Broadmoor Open)
Moeller 109.58 (Glacier Falls)

*Eligible for international competition selection

Top 10 men who have yet compete: Adam Rippon, Max Aaron, Jeremy Abbott (though he isn't on ISP anymore)

Quick comments:

1.) Battle for Skate America TBD: There are several candidates for this TBD. Among them, Ross Miner and Grant Hochstein have one GP already. With Chen planning to go to the JGP again, I believe Hochstein and Dolensky (who has no GPs at the moment have made strong cases for the spot. Dolensky, in particular, has been in summer competition mode, having already done four club competitions, by my estimate. His improving scores including an 80+ in Glacier Falls provides a good case. Hochstein made his case in the FS with a strong successful case. Miner competed at Lake Placid, with OK scores. So I will say the choice will between Miner, Dolensky and Hochstein.

2.) The National Champion is WHERE?! : The super low scores look pretty bad for Jason Brown. Jason hasn't scored that low in some time. However, Jason tends to peak later in the season and he's trying the quad in competition, which has been two-footed at best. Will this have political ramifications for our reigning champ? IMO, not really. I'm expecting to see more polish and better tech for whatever Senior B he ends up at. Still it likely is tough for him to see such low scores, I'd imagine.

3.) Why isn't Nathan Chen senior yet? : Nathan is all over the top of these score trackers making wonder why he's going back to JGP. Let's remember that Nathan is recovering or had to recover from injuries. Nathan is old enough for Worlds, so even if he does the JGP, he can still get a spot on the World team if he places in the top 3 at Nationals. Still, a great start for Nathan!



Original post
Well, it's the offseason, might as well start speculating and stuff now. :biggrin:

If you want a recap of most of last season, check out the State of U.S. Men's Figure Skating 2014-2015 thread.

You can check out my end-of-season roundup here. The post does not take account of WTT results, but not much would have changed except higher numbers of Jason in the SP SB and a switch in the rankings for SB FS.

To start off this thread, I give you my power five picks for this season, dark horses and young upstarts.

Power Five

Jason Brown - After a slow start, Jason really shone at the end of the season. He won the national title, placed 4th at Worlds and helped Team USA win gold at World Team Trophy with two personal best performances.
The question: Will he get that darn quad? Jason, for the first time, indicated plans to include at least one for both the SP and the FS during a Japanese fan meeting held after WTT. He even dared to say he wanted to eventually do two in the FS. Does that mean he's hitting it in practice better than pre-4CC (where he tried it and got a huge downgrade.)? Will he be able to take it from practice to competition?

Joshua Farris - If Jason had a slow start, Josh had a snail's start with what was arguably his worse international result to date at NHK Trophy. But he came back roaring at Nationals with a bronze medal and then a silver medal at 4CC. He struggled at Worlds but managed to pull up a few places to 11th overall.
The question: Can he keep injuries AND doubts of confidence at bay? Many, including USFSA officials believes he has it all, and he showed that at 4CC.

Max Aaron - Max has been on the outside looking in for World/Olympic teams two years in a road despite being one of the few U.S. men who get ratified quads. USFSA seemed to recognize this potential when they toss World Team Trophy to him. There, he introduced two new programs which has gotten positive reviews (for the most part).
The question: Can he conquer PCS demons and keep the quads intact? The second mark has plagued Max all last season. Max is turning to a new choreographer -- Phillip Mills -- in hopes of changing that. Can he handles Mills' choreography while maintaining his technical arsenal?

Adam Rippon - Adam also had a slow start at the beginning of last season and then came back at Nationals to win Silver and a spot on the 4CC and World teams. He struggled at 4CC. He also struggled at Worlds, but he managed to turn in a solid FS that helped him secure 3 spots for Team USA at 2016 Worlds and two GP spots for himself in the fall.
The question: Quad lutz. Adam has played big gambler putting in the Quad lutz at every competition. He has yet to get one ratified. Can he change that in the upcoming season?

Richard Dornbush - Richard looked stronger in the beginning of the season, hitting a SB that is 4th among the U.S. men, hitting a few quads and getting a GP medal. But then he fell apart at nationals placing 10th.
The question: Can the external factors end for Richard? He fared poorly at Trophee Eric Bompard due to eating bad fish. He fared poorly at Nationals partially due to blade issues. Can Richard be free of issues in the upcoming season?

Dark horses

Jeremy Abbott - Jeremy was going to retire after the 2014 season as well, but felt there was some unfinished business. Abbott got a string of 5th place finishes -- at Skate America, at NHK Trophy and finally at Nationals, which left him off the team.
The question: Is he retiring? We don't know. There are indicators that he's moving on but he hasn't made an announcement otherwise.

Ross Miner - Ross is always a sleeper pick. Many consider him boring (while fans praise his skating skills and musicality). After three podium finishes at Nationals from 2011-2013, he struggled with injuries, which left him in 8th in his hometown Nats in 2014. He fared slightly better at this year's nationals placing 6th.
The question: Can he return to the podium after a two-year hiatus?

Stephen Carriere - Stephen is one of the veterans, but he showed age is nothing but a number this season. His SP TES from Skate Canada remained the highest of all the men this season. Unfortunately he suffered injuries that forced him to withdraw from nationals.
The question: What's next? Stephen had originally planned to retire after the 2014 season, but decided to stick around after getting a few GP assignments, now that he knows what he is capable of, will he keep going. And if so, where could he end up? Could he get to go to his hometown worlds in Boston? (UPDATE 6/10/2015: Carriere has retired)

Grant Hochstein - Caroline Zhang's BF and training mate placed in the top 10 at nationals (9th), his best finish since placing 7th back in 2010. Grant had some highlights this season, including breaking 80+ TES at a senior B event last fall.
The question: How high can he place? His FS SB was 7th this season...so he can be in the mix with the other guys.

Douglas Razzano - At age 25, Doug is also a veteran. He placed 7th at Nationals, adding to a collection of several top 10 wins.
The question: His best Nationals finish is 5th. Can he somehow end up on the podium? (UPDATE 6/10/2015: Carriere has retired)

Gunning for Top 10
Sean Rabbit - A fan favorite among Japanese (Sean just returned from a nice visit there), Sean was always someone you rooted for knowing that he wasn't going to place high. However, Sean showed that he wasn't happy with just being a fan favorite. He finished 12th, his best Nationals ever, which earned him a spot on the International Selection Pool for the first time, which means Sean could be making his international debut this season!
The question: The obvious -- can he get in the top 10?

Alexander Johnson - Really strange to put him here, considering he placed 7th in 2013. However, injury kept him offline in 2013-2014 and it was clear this season he was still working to return to pre-injury form. However, his beautiful skating was definitely still in tact.
The question: Will we see a more fully-recovered skater this season?

Jordan Moeller - Jordan, who trains with Jason Brown, placed 13th at Nationals. He is still relatively inexperienced as a senior internationally, having been sent to just one Senior B (the U.S. International Classic) this past season. Moeller has a nice skating style that resonates well with judges.
The question: What will Jordan do to boost his technical scores? They are among the lowest out of all the U.S. men in the USFSA's International selection pool. His 3A is still a work in progress, though it has become more consistent as the season gone on. He states he's working on quads, but the status is unknown.

Rising Stars/Upstarts

Nathan Chen - He also fits in the "Dark Horse" status. He is already a top 10 National skater, having placed 8th at Nationals. He just finished outside the podium at Jr. Worlds. Still he seems like an upstart, similar to the likes of Josh and Jason back in 2013, given that he travels back and forth between junior and senior levels.
The question: Can he finally get over the injurie He was at his best in 2012, but then was struck with a number of injuries. The injuries kept him from doing a Triple Axel, though he has started to attempt quad top-loops.

Andrew Torgashev - He's the junior national champion. He had a strong top 10 finish at Jr. Worlds that included a 6th place finish. Time is on his side -- he's only 14.
The question: Will he move up to seniors nationally? Where will he rank in juniors internationally with several of his competitors (including Nathan Chen) moving up to the senior level internationally?

Okay let's chat. :)
 
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Interspectator

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
What a well thought-out post! I'm afraid this will only make my figure skating withdrawal worse and make me extremely impatient for the next season to start.

The case of Joshua Farris is the most mysterious for me. Which is it, his injuries or his competitive nerves that make him inconsistent in competition? Next season will tell.
 

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Country
Australia
Really hoping this is a huge year for Max and Joshua. They really need it.

Also, hoping that Lukas Kaugars makes US Nationals again now that he's recovered from his hip injury.
 

TMC

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 27, 2014
Excellent post (as always) Mrs P!

This season is going to be so interesting. I think right now I'm happiest about Sean Rabbit finally getting int'l assignments (and hoping he comes to Finlandia) :love: and most looking forward to seeing Max's new programmes develop.
 

charmblade

Final Flight
Joined
Jan 11, 2014
I can't wait to see how this next season plays out. Overall the US men had a pretty good season internationally (silver medal at 4CC, 4th place finish at Worlds, kept the 3 spots for next year). Hopefully next year will be even better! I really want to see at least one skater make it to the GPF (thinking Jason or Josh). And since I'll be at Worlds in Boston I'm super interested to see which 3 men will be representing the US there. Although I've seen pretty much all the top contenders skate live before (at Boston Nats) I can't wait to see them in an international competition.

And I totally agree that it will be great to see Sean Rabbit getting international assignments. He is fun to watch and seems like a total sweetheart.
 

andromache

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Thanks for overview of skaters!

I'm hesitant to anoint any man as the 2018 medal hope for the US (or even 2016 World medal hope) because I don't want to be disappointed should things just not come to fruition at the right times. I just want to keep enjoying their skating! Should any of the US men win major medals/titles next season, of course I will celebrate.

Josh and Jason are my favorites, but I don't understand why so many are quick to label Josh as the total package over Jason. Neither one is perfect, although I love them anyway. I hope Josh is able to figure things out after this up and down season and get in the right headspace/stay injury free to be successful. And as we know all too well, Jason needs a quad. I'm looking forward to seeing how both progress this season!

Meanwhile, Adam is a sentimental favorite and it was amazing to see him deliver at Nationals when so many had counted him out. I hope he proves it wasn't a fluke and does well next season! Although I'll honestly be surprised to see him on another Worlds team, as I think USFS would rather push the more youthful trifecta of Jason, Josh, and Max (with Nathan Chen potentially playing spoiler). I'm also looking forward to Nathan Chen in seniors if he can get over his injury and prove he's someone the other men ought to worry about. The competition among the high quality US men will hopefully make them all better!

ETA (since I thought of more things I wanted to say while I was in the shower lol): I think one of the keys for the US men this season is for at least one of them to have a really good Grand Prix series. Like, medaling at both events good. It will make them stand out amidst the rest of the US men and boost their scores at Nationals. Considering how tight the competition is going to be at Nationals, this is a way to go in with an advantage. Jason (our most consistent man who the international judges love) is most likely to have the best GP showing, but he's a late season peaker...

Another thing regarding Josh and his inconsistency: it's potentially promising that, at least this season, when he's skated a good short, he also skates a good long. When he skates a bad short, he also skates a bad long. This suggests that when he doesn't do well, it's more to do with physical condition (injury, illness, etc) than any insurmountable mental demons. If he was having trouble putting two clean programs together in one competition (a la Gracie Gold and Jeremy Abbot) I'd be more worried about him being a headcase.

Max has a nice SP this season. I think he can grow into his LP. I want him to do well this season and earn the high PCS from international judges. If he makes a case for them on the ice, I think he'll be rewarded. International judges had no problem giving them to Josh Farris at 4CC even after his dismal NHK showing. I'd also love to see more clean landings from him on all his jumps because if he delivers the TES, the PCS will get there. But the quad isn't the end-all-be-all of high TES.
 
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StitchMonkey

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
While i agree that "outside forces" are Dornbush's problem issues, it would still be more accurate to say that he started dealing with blade issues between COC and TEB that were still giving him issues by nationals He tweeted about a snapped blade in November. https://twitter.com/RichardDornbush/status/533398290574749696
and it seems it just never got fixed. I think they said he had two different blades on at Nationals, and it just looked like his heart was not in it.

At nationals he was dealing with his mother having Typhus and not able (or possibly not even allowed) to travel and see him. It is a different kind of stress when it is something weird that the doctors are not as familiar with. I mean how likely is it he found anyone who had dealt with someone having Typhus before and he could commiserate with? The first site I could find with any info said that only about 100 people in the USA get Typhus each year. If you asked him, i suspect he would have said that was a bigger issue for him than the blades.

It is kinda an always something case with Richard. Hell, even at COC he was on the ice for the collision. So even when he does well, there is a weird story to tell. He is a joy to watch and really has a nice blend of athletics and elegance, but maybe he is the type of person that should just pack his own food and not eat the airline food - cut down on the chance for stupid outside factors from creeping in.
 

StitchMonkey

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
ETA (since I thought of more things I wanted to say while I was in the shower lol): I think one of the keys for the US men this season is for at least one of them to have a really good Grand Prix series. Like, medaling at both events good. It will make them stand out amidst the rest of the US men and boost their scores at Nationals. Considering how tight the competition is going to be at Nationals, this is a way to go in with an advantage. Jason (our most consistent man who the international judges love) is most likely to have the best GP showing, but he's a late season peaker...


It is worth remembering that Jason was first alternate to the GPF this year even with his less than stellar performance at COR where he was dealing with mourning a death. And one of the men that beat him is now retired (Machida). Really he does not actually have to do that much better to have a damn good chance of making it. He has said it is a goal for him this season, and I suspect it is an achievable one - so long it is not a quad splatfest.
 

samm22

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 22, 2015
As much as I want Jeremy to achieve a world medal and retire happily, if he skates like he did at nationals and the rest of the season, I don't think he will be able to do that. :hopelessness: You never know though...it's so hard to predict anything in men's
 

StitchMonkey

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
As much as I want Jeremy to achieve a world medal and retire happily, if he skates like he did at nationals and the rest of the season, I don't think he will be able to do that. :hopelessness: You never know though...it's so hard to predict anything in men's

I think Jeremy is going to find that Olympic Medalist bye to nationals rule and abuse it. I suspect to see him at 2016 and 2017 and 2018 nationals. Not sure he will do well, but I suspect as long as he has a bye to nationals, he is going to take it.
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
I think Jeremy is going to find that Olympic Medalist bye to nationals rule and abuse it. I suspect to see him at 2016 and 2017 and 2018 nationals. Not sure he will do well, but I suspect as long as he has a bye to nationals, he is going to take it.

He already has a bye for 2016 due to finishing in the top 5 at nationals this year.
 

andromache

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
So is it confirmed that Jeremy is sticking around next season or is there still a chance he will retire?

I wish there was still a thriving pro scene for skaters like Jeremy who create very special moments on the ice and don't want to say goodbye to the sport, without the amateur-level competitive pressure.
 

samm22

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 22, 2015
I think Jeremy is going to find that Olympic Medalist bye to nationals rule and abuse it. I suspect to see him at 2016 and 2017 and 2018 nationals. Not sure he will do well, but I suspect as long as he has a bye to nationals, he is going to take it.

I hope he doesn't stay 'till 2018!!! He's already tired, and he will be 32 by the time Korea comes...that's why I hope he will achieve a world medal and back out on a high note, but as of now, I don't know if he will be able to do that
 

apgold

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Country
United-States
I think USFS would rather push the more youthful trifecta of Jason, Josh, and Max (with Nathan Chen potentially playing spoiler). I'm also looking forward to Nathan Chen in seniors if he can get over his injury and prove he's someone the other men ought to worry about.

I am hoping the top 3 will be Jason, Josh and Max (in any order) this season, although I like Nathan too, I think he has more time to develop. I'll put him as my #4.

I would like Jason to get the quad consistent and get it ratified in competition, I want Josh to get stronger mentally and physically b/c he does have the goods, and I want Max's PCS to get better and not just be known for his quads.

Adam is a sentimental favorite but he is unpredictable (as his the quad lutz), so I'll hold a place for him in my top 5.
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Unfamiliar with this. How does the bye work?

Generally, the top 5 at the senior level nationals get a bye straight to Nationals. Generally skaters with 2 GP will also get byes due to those comps conflicting with sectionals. The winner if sectionals (Jordan Moeller in 2015) will get a bye through regionals.
 

StitchMonkey

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
He already has a bye for 2016 due to finishing in the top 5 at nationals this year.

So at least it will not be the same bye each year, but good point.

Unfamiliar with this. How does the bye work?

More can be found here but to copy/paste the relevant portion - skaters can qualify for Nationals without going to regionals/sectionals in a few ways.


Placing in the top four at the current season's sectional championships
Placing in the top five in a senior event at the previous year's U.S. Championships
Winning a medal at the most recent Olympic Winter Games
Winning a medal at the previous year's World Championships
Advancing to the current season's Grand Prix Final or Junior Grand Final
Earning an "international bye" based on proximity of an international assignment in the current season to the sectional championships


I am ok with byes. Really I would rather them just let Jeremy show up than have him go through qualifying and take someone else's spot.


So is it confirmed that Jeremy is sticking around next season or is there still a chance he will retire?

I wish there was still a thriving pro scene for skaters like Jeremy who create very special moments on the ice and don't want to say goodbye to the sport, without the amateur-level competitive pressure.

And that is the problem. He still clearly has a passion for it, but competing is still his best outlet for it. Last I heard he was saying he was going to see if he could get enough fulfillment from choreographing before making a decision. . . I could see him skipping the grand prix and going to nationals still.

I would be fine with him showing up for his own sake, if he clearly loved it. Rachael Flatt seemed happy to just be there last year, but I don't know if Jeremy would be the same. Mostly he is one I just want to see happy and smiling.
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
I think Jeremy is going to find that Olympic Medalist bye to nationals rule and abuse it. ...

It's up to USFS to decide whether to include medalists in the team event under the Olympic bye.

If USFS decides to do so, and a team medalist (such as Jeremy) does use the bye, it would be a legitimate use, IMO. I would not see any abuse.

YMMV.
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
And that is the problem. He still clearly has a passion for it, but competing is still his best outlet for it. Last I heard he was saying he was going to see if he could get enough fulfillment from choreographing before making a decision. . . I could see him skipping the grand prix and going to nationals still.

I would be fine with him showing up for his own sake, if he clearly loved it. Rachael Flatt seemed happy to just be there last year, but I don't know if Jeremy would be the same. Mostly he is one I just want to see happy and smiling.

There are still pro-shows abroad he can do.

It's also a matter whether he wanted to end his career on a 5th place Nationals with a so-so finish.
 
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