I worked through US Nationals today, so I'll be home for the next two days. Unfortunately, I really seemed to miss a ton. The Short Dance was hot, there were necklaces on the ice (in the men's), Bradley hit a Quad+Triple AND a Triple Axel after a week of rough practices and Rippon and Mahbanoozadeh went down. The men's long program is going to keep us all on the edge of our seats.
Christine Brennan was the Queen of Skating Twitter tonight!
Ice Network isn't posting the archives in a timely fashion, so I had Frau Muller take copious notes about the men's short. Frau is a nice Midwestern boy of German heritage, who has yet to get in touch with his complete inner bitch. Please don't ridicule him if there are any typos, as he was trying to watch and take notes all at once (for the first time.)
1. Keegan Messing Huge Triple Axel (hand down), Triple Lutz+Triple Toe (nice flow), Triple Flip. Very solid skate to Robin Hood, nice fast spins, and much improved artistry. 69.79. 2. Adam Rippon Triple Axel (turn out), Triple Flip+Triple Toe, Rippon Lutz (UR and fall). Beautiful artistry as always but had an unfortunate fall. Looked a bit tense throughout from the pressure. Maybe this will be good motivation for the free. 66.26. 3. Brandon Mroz Quad Toe+Double Toe (fought for it), Triple Axel (pitch forward), Triple Lutz. Speed across the ice and extension still need improvement, but Bezic has noticeably improved his personality on the ice. He has pink skate guards. 71.61. 4. Jonathan Cassar Triple Lutz (slipped on the entrance, UR, fall), Double Axel, Triple Loop+Double Toe, beautiful step sequence and spins. Unfortunate fall on the lutz but a beautiful program with a lot of passion. Looking forward to Shindler’s List Sunday. Digging in his pants for a broken necklace following the program, and of course Frank was there to assist in any way he can. 55.98. 5. Jeremy Abbott Triple Flip+Triple Toe, Triple Axel, Triple Lutz (fought for it). Still has a lot of arm flailing, even Tonia noted the excessive arm movement. He seemed to look comfortable on the ice, it must have been the new cartilage piercing close up. 78.39. 6. Wesley Campbell Triple Lutz+Double Toe (leaning, crooked in the air), Triple Axel (turn out, UR?), Triple Flip. Better use of Metallica than the Metallica golden waltz earlier today. He fought through the program, but managed to stay vertical. Tonia announced that he is still looking for a pairs partner. Maybe Wes and Drew should just join together and form a partnership. 59.35. 7. Jason Brown Double Axel, Triple Lutz+Triple Toe, Triple Flip. He decided not to include the triple axel. The aspiring volleyball player performed a solid program and a good start at the senior level but he still needs work on skating skills. 64.32. 8. Douglas Razzano Triple Axel, nice Quad Toe with excellent flow, Triple Toe+Triple Toe. He looked very put together. Maybe his best program ever. Classic Razzano not relating to the audience; I don’t think he knew they were there. High technical score but needs to work on skating skills and transitions to improve PCS. 69.61. 9. Parker Pennington Triple Axel (fall), Triple Lutz+Double Toe, Triple Flip. How is he only 26?? Self-choreographed chocolate biting mime. 55.49. 10. Andrew Gonzales Triple Flip+Triple Toe, Double Axel (he popped it, but Tonia thought it was intentional), Double Lutz (fall). Improved speed but lacks personality. Frank was not happy with that program and didn’t look at Andrew at all following the program and told him him that “you gotta keep it together in the short.” 54.41. 11. Ross Miner Triple Axel, Triple Lutz+Triple Toe (fought), Triple Flip. Sophisticated, solid program. 67.99. 12. Grant Hochstein Triple Lutz+Triple Toe, Double Axel, Triple Loop. Great intensity throughout the program and a very fast final combination spin. 65.76. 13. Sean Rabbit Triple Lutz+Triple Toe (slight hand down), Triple Flip, Johnny Weir lunge into Double Axel (flip out), embarrassing fall on a dance move. He traded in the sick mask for black pleather from head to toe and the Michael Jackson signature white glove. A lot of “interesting” dancing throughout the program but his moves are nothing compared to Amodio. 51.42. 14. Scott Dyer Triple Lutz+Triple Toe (UR?), Double Axel, Triple Loop (fall). He is adorable with lots of potential and room for growth. 55.78. 15. Ryan Bradley Quad Toe+Triple Toe, Triple Axel, Triple Flip. His “comeback” so far is a success. Typical Ryan Bradley as a bugle boy playing the crowd with a huge ovation at the end. The ladies (well some of them) love him. 80.39. 16. Christopher Caluza Triple Lutz+Triple Loop, Triple Flip, Double Axel. Reserved and it looks like he is trying a bit too hard to push the choreography. 59.28. 17. Lloyd Ting Double Axel, Triple Lutz+Triple Toe (fall), Triple Flip (fought). Slow, reserved, slow spins, “no interpretation” via Tonia, and boring. 44.50. 18. Joshua Farris Triple Axel (fall), Triple Lutz+Triple Toe, Triple Flip. He seems to have lost artistry through Tom Z since his Junior National days. He has huge potential and needs find a coach to accentuate his strengths bring out his personality and artistry, and develop his skating skills. 60.91. 19. Jason Wong Triple Lutz+Double Toe, Triple Axel (flip out), Triple Loop. Seemed slow, with slow spins. He needs more excitement and personality. 62.20. 20. Richard Dornbush Triple Lutz+Triple Toe (fought), Triple Axel (fought), Triple Flip (flip out). Off and shaky throughout the program. He had to fight is way through. 67.71. 21. Armin Mahbanoozadeh Triple Axel, Triple Flip+Triple Toe, Triple Lutz (UR?). He looked very solid until the unfortunate fall. Can’t wait to see him come back with the Avatar program on Sunday. 66.77. 22. Alexander Johnson YAY MINNESOTA!! Triple Axel (fall), Triple Flip+Triple Toe, Triple Lutz (two-foot). Shaky, low jumps and little to no presentation. Becky Calvin liked his eye contact while she was wearing her red fringe get-up.
RYAN BRADLEY. I was never a fan, but I have to root for him. What a great guy with a nice comeback from injury. I can't believe Keegan Messing is in 4th! Ah, short programs are always unpredictable, you never know who will do well.
ReplyDeleteKeegan was very solid as was Ryan. I have to say the only one that really got a slightly lower score then I expected was douglas razzano, he should have been ahead of Messing but they were both very very close.
ReplyDeleteI called IceNetwork this morning and was a huge bitch about how the ladies short program wasn't up yet. I talked to three different people and none of them knew anything about skating or when the events would be archived. The first person I talked to didn't seem to even understand what I meant when I said "short program." Then one person said it should be up the next day, and the last person said it could take two weeks. Seriously, does anyone know who works over there? It was a complete farce.
ReplyDeleteAlso, can't U.S. figure skating rustle up ANYONE else besides Tonia Kwiatkowski?? I'd rather listen to Tim and Elfie talk about figure skating. Sheesh.
After reloading the damn page all day, I sent a bitchy tweet to IceNetwork tonight demanding to know when the pairs and ladies short programs would be up and they were like, "Uh, HERE THEY ARE," so clearly they put them up right after I asked.
ReplyDeleteRyan Bradley ... holy shit. He's not always my favorite skater, because he can be so mercurial, but he was lights out tonight. I couldn't keep the grin off my face. Abbott was clean, but Bradley was brilliant. Someone needs to swat Mroz off the podium, though. Please.
Icenetwork is annoying. If they would do the events Commentary-free and stop hiring Carruthers to do special segments, they'd save money and be able to lower their subscription price from 40 dollars, which a lot of people are not willing to pay.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Ryan Bradley is my hero tonight.
I'm sorry, but what is the USFSA putting Bradley in first? Let's not forget his performance at Worlds last year. If we're looking for three spots for the men's event, let's not hold up people who aren't going to help the cause. =/
ReplyDeletei suppose the internet blackout isn't just an egyptian anomaly. seriously, would it hurt us figure skating if coverage were more accessible to the general public?
ReplyDeleteBradley put himself in first not the USFSA. Are you suggesting they should manipulate the scores to match the results they/you want? ;)
ReplyDelete"I'm sorry, but what is the USFSA putting Bradley in first?"
ReplyDeleteIt would've been a crime for him to have been placed anywhere other than first after that performance. Even putting the impressive jump content aside (4T+3T, 3A, 3F), he interpreted the music well and gave a hell of a performance. He brought it in the purest sense of the idea. I say that fully acknowledging his flaws.
If you look at the protocol, you will see that he was given great marks in two categories: Performance/Execution and Interpretation; decent marks in Choreography and Skating Skills ; and acceptable, but relatively low marks for transitions. That's EXACTLY right based on what he displayed in his SP.
Adding to previous comment, I will point out that even the Skating Skills mark which is often Bradley's weakness was pretty right on comparatively speaking. Who scored higher than Bradley in that category? Abbott and Rippon. The judges recognized Rippon's superior skating skills even with the horrible program he had. Mroz was ranked below Bradley in that area but it's not like Mroz excels in SS. If I had to pick between Mroz and Bradley in terms of SS, I'd pick Bradley but there is room for debate there.
ReplyDeleteActually, scratch that. Rippon scored just slightly lower than Bradley in SS, but was still placed above every other skater in that category except for the top two. (Obviously his poor performance influenced their marks overall.) My mistake on that.
ReplyDeleteStill, in general, the point stands, and I stand by opinion that Bradley > Mroz, even in SS. And it's not like they gave Bradley higher PCS than Abbott (who also skated clean). Besides, other than Abbott and Rippon, US men do not have superb skating skills (except in ice dancing), so it's like picking the best of the worst in that category.
The judges did a pretty good job.
LOL at 'Rippon's superior skating skills' comment. Rippon is not Abbott, Oda, Kozuka, even Verner etc.
ReplyDeleteBradley had a great skate, but his SS were higher than they should have been. His PCS are never that high. I think he was held up a bit in hopes he would get the title, thereby helping his show skating career. Hasn't Mroz placed higher than Bradley at Worlds? Rippon also has done better.
ReplyDeleteDouglas was AWESOME, so underscored agree with the poster should have been above messing
ReplyDeleteThis was soooooo fun to watch cannot wait til tonight and tomorrow
Good work Frau. Doug was underscored, but I'm looking forward to Adam and Armin rebounding in the free!
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much, Frau! (one Midwesterner to another!)
ReplyDeleteA really nice first entry!
(but thank goodness for ZOOM on my browser! LOL)
Adam and Armin have no business going to worlds or being anywhere near the podium. They had their chance and they fucked it away. If they were at worlds, they would be in about 28th place. You can not take nutcases like that.
ReplyDeleteAdam placed 6th at Worlds last year with two strong skates. He actually skated cleaner than Abbott (and I thought he should have been higher than him overall too!). He is hardly a nutcase. Adam has come from behind before, so he isn't completely out of it yet, and I don't think Armin is either. It'll take excellent skates by both of them to make it on or near the podium, but it ain't over til it's over.
ReplyDeleteAll that wishful thinking reg Adam has been going on for years. Probably because he's such a cutie pie. The truth is, he's yet to master his crossovers.
ReplyDeleteJust saw Bradley and Abbott's SPs. Abbott is light years ahead of Bradley in every PCS category.
ReplyDeleteAnd what the hell was Bradley's costume? Here's a hint: your costume does not have to LITERALLY reflect the music. Gomer Pyle shiny and on ice is not cool.
Anon 1:27:
ReplyDeleteYeah, I just saw the two SPs tonight for the first time too - I have loved Ryan in the past, but I was baffled by the raves for this SP - his footwork has really regressed, was slow and lackluster (he must be practicing with Mroz). Bradley also looks a lot more out of shape than he was last year.
It is ridiculous that he scored better than Jeremy - makes me wonder what the US skating federation has against Abbott and makes me doubt they will put Abbott on the world team.
This was posted on the Datalounge board this morning:
ReplyDelete" I was at the Nationals this weekend and actually had an interesting discussion about that situation with a USFSA official. In '92 or '94, the USFSA skipped over Mark Mitchell, who'd medaled at Nationals, in order to send Todd Eldridge to the Olympics. Todd had sat out Nationals with a bad back, then went on to bomb at the Olys while Mitchell seethed at home. The hard feelings that scenario caused in the skating community are still remembered.
Flash forward to this year, when a good case could be made to send Jeremy Abbott to Worlds instead of Ross Miner, in order to have at least one somewhat internationally known and respected man on our team and perhaps increase our chances of hanging onto 3 Men's spots for next year's Worlds. But coincidentally Ross Miner, who'd be skipped over in that scenario, is coached by none other than the last guy it happened to, Mark Mitchell. So they stuck with their recent policy of just sending the top 3 finishers at Nationals."
Makes sense, Anon 8:15.
ReplyDeleteI was listening to the unofficial technical caller on Skate Radio in the arena; he called Jeremy's spins for underrotation in some positions/not getting a low enough sit (don't recall details and I didn't notice anything in real time). In fact JA lost levels on his spins. But it was the technical content that Ryan had, not higher GOE on what he did do.
Jeremy's total PCS was about +5.2 GOE points vs. +4.5 for Ryan (should have been a much greater difference).
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