YOUR JUNIOR GRAND PRIX FINALISTS~

[walover165]

Comments

[eaweek]

I'm just going to whinge a little that the US has THREE ladies in the JGPF, and we can't seem to get our shit together at the senior level enough even to get back the third spot for Worlds--let alone make the podium.

Ditto the men--two of the top three JGPF qualifiers, and our senior men are wiping up the ice with their bottoms. At this point I'm actively rooting for Josh to make the senior men's team for Worlds because I feel like he's one of the only guys who can stay on his feet through both a short and a long program and who has that "hungry competitive fire."

[walover165]

I feel like the permanent answer to the men's problem is just "send Josh and Jason, they'll fix it". I mean, even Jason with his UR 3A is a better bet than half the guys going around. He gets huge PCS and almost never falls.

I'd be more scared for Josh on the big stage at Worlds but he really seems to have turned a corner this year with his mental state. Like, in Slovenia, he fell on his opening 3A of the LP - and just fought back from there instead of going to pieces. It was quite fab.

[eaweek]

You need to be able to fight in this sport. You need to be able to fall and get back up again and not have it rattle you the rest of the program. You need to be able to get out there on the biggest stage and not falter. I love Jeremy Abbott, but he's blown how many big competitions now? I've lost count

[walover165]

Yeah, I can't see the USFSA backing Jeremy or Adam much longer (although I think that's an awful shame for Jeremy, such a beautiful skater but oh boy the head...). I don't honestly believe Evan is actually coming back and Johnny leaves me skeptical and cold after that non-performance in Finlandia. They're not Plushenko

[jedinic]

I don't honestly believe Evan is actually coming back and Johnny leaves me skeptical

I sadly agree with you. They're too old. :(

However, I am really impressed with Johnny for actually coming back like he said he would. I admire that.

I have high hopes for Jason but didn't realise he was still struggling with the 3A.

[walover165]

I don't think it's that they're too old - look at Plushenko. I just don't think they want it bad enough.

Yes, at least Johnny actually came back, as opposed to being injured. *remains skeptical*

He's not struggling so much with the actual jump part so much as the rotation part. He mentioned in an interview at Evening with Champions that he's pretty much got a 100% landing rate now, it's just that only about 30% of them are fully rotated. Still, there are still nearly two months til the JGPF...anything can happen, and that number of full rotations has increased dramatically since the summer.

[eaweek]

I think if Jason ever gets his full set of jumps in good working order (consistently landed; fully rotated), he will be a force to be reckoned with. He is so fluid on the ice and seems to have a profound, intuitive musicality--like he really feels every note. If he gets the jumps together, he could be unstoppable. It's a big if, but he's a young kid and he still has the time.

[walover165]

Oh, if Jason can get a full set of jumps fully rotated and consistent, he can be National Champion, World Champion, Olympic Champion, anything he wants to be. It's hard to remember he's not even 18 yet.

I guess what will be interesting will be to see what he chooses next year, when he graduates high school - whether he goes to college and skates at the same time, or defers college to skate full time. Last I heard he hadn't decided yet.

[eaweek]

Other than Meryl and Charlie, has there ever been anyone who has made skating and college really 'work'? One or the other always seems to suffer.

My feeling is the kids should skate now, study later. Your brain will always be there (LOL), but there are only so many years you can pound out triple Axels before your joints and ligaments fall apart.

I have a feeling Jason's results this season will determine in part his future plans, esp. with Sochi right around the corner. If I were him, I'd delay college to focus on making the Olympic team.

[eaweek]

LOL about the 'slashy moments

[jedinic]

I love your insights here. And yes, Abbott continues to break everyone's hearts.

[walover165]

Abbott's default setting seems to be "make fans excited...and...3,2,1...break hearts!"

I want to like Abbott but I don't want the emotional rollercoaster that goes with him. Sorry Jeremy.

[eaweek]

Aw, thanks! I spend way too much time thinking about skating and over-analyzing it to death. ; )

[walover165]

Of course. Slashy moments. They're in love, didn't you realise? At least, Jason definitely has a crush on Josh. *pathetic shipper alert

[eaweek]

RE: early season problems--I don't worry about them too much, unless they start becoming a consistent pattern. Usually we know by GPF how people are faring. At early events like Finlandia, programs are still very new