Nathan Chen is ever thus: calmer than a pool. And focused like a laser beam, although he doesn’t look it. He won his third consecutive world title with explosive point totals on Saturday. He had come to Stockholm, grateful to be there. He had shaken off his woolly lockdown curls, shrugged off a hiccup in […]
Jason Brown
“Keegs”
What a night. Keegan Messing finished third in the men’s short program at Skate America. But he won much more than a placing. About a month ago, his younger brother, Paxon, a father of three little ones, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Alaska. I heard the news by text in the waiting room […]
Jason Brown: His Light Falls on Toronto
Everyone needs a little dose of Jason Brown now and again. Feeling the blues? Brown will wrap you up in the little tornado of his personality and make you forget it all. Feeling lonely and alone? Brown will bounce off to the airport and pick you up, just because that’s what he does. Loving […]
Jun-Hwan Cha Comes of Age
OAKVILLE, Ont. This weekend Jun-Hwan Cha, he a dreamy child not so long ago, grew into something else. A dreamy-eyed young man with a presence. The 16-year-old South Korean skater has been around, for sure, the dark locks of his bob flying out in all directions on a spin. At first sight of a […]
Jason Brown: bouncing back
If Jason Brown ever found himself in the Hundred Acre Wood, he would be Tigger, hopping and bopping, swinging his arms around everybody with glee, smiling until tomorrow. “Tiggers are wonderful things,” the song goes. “Their tops are made out of rubber. Their bottoms are made out of springs.” The young American is irrepressibly positive, […]
To quad or not to quad: that is the question
His Four Continents experiment – putting the quad in the short program – was a learning experience that cost Canadian champion Nam Nguyen nothing but a few lumps. He took his lumps (11th overall at Four Continents) and will compete at his second world championship with an eye to the future. In other words, although […]
Day Three, Four Continents, men's final
Denis Ten knew he wasn’t in his best condition when he contested the Four Continents championship in Seoul on Valentine’s Day, exactly one year after his Sochi Olympic medal-winning effort. What’s he going to do when he is in top shape? The 21-year-old from Kazakhstan gave a drubbing to all competitors when he won the […]
Things are not always as they seem
So had people written off the smiley Jason Brown after he finished fifth at Cup of Russia (seventh in the short) with a host of bobbles? Not so consistent any more, some said. Not so easy with the mantle of the U.S. on his shoulders? Brown’s face when he finished his free skate told […]