1999 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Novice Men

Final Standings

        J1:  Marilyn Whelan
        J2:  Sharon Wiggins
        J3:  Roberta Parkinson
        J4:  Peggy Graham
        J5:  Sharon Watson
        J6:  Douglas Williams
        J7:  Roger Glenn
        J8:  Taffy Holliday
        J9:  Roger Glenn

Notes after the long program.

The novice men mixed things up in the free skating with the top four men from the short program changing places.  The most well rounded performance of the event came from Evan Lysacek who moved up from second in the short program to with the event.  He unquestionably was deserving of the championship.  He landed triple Salchow and two triple toe loops, one in a sequence leading to a double Salchow.  His presentation to Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" was the best of the group and displayed the greatest sophistication and maturity of the group.

Fourth in the long and second overall was Nicholas LaRoche who came as close to falling apart as one can without totally loosing it.  He rushed through his program and made numerous errors and when he missed his opening triple toe loop he threw in another despite having a second one already planned later in the program.  With three attempts at triple toe loop (two successful) and none in combination, and no combination or sequence in the program he had three serious violations of the rules.

Bradofrd Griffies, who was seventh in the short program, placed second in the long program to move up to third overall.  He landed a triple Salchow and a triple toe loop in combination with a double toe loop.  A second triple toe loop was cheated and stepped out of.  His connecting moves were well developed and he skated with strength.  Third in the long and third overall was Benjamin Miller.  He landed two triple toe loops, one in combination with a double toe loop that was cheated.  He also attempted a triple loop which may have been slightly cheated, but it was difficult to say for certain from my location.  His presentation was lively but far too cutsie for a novice man, and certainly for a junior should he be planning to move up.   Nevertheless, with the right program he shows promise.

Notes on the short program.

Nicholas LaRoche was the unanimous victor in the men's short program.  He has a strong double Axel and landed triple toe loop - double toe loop.  He made good use of the ice with good foot work which include a Russian split.  The men were not nearly as creative in their use of spins as the ladies, with many - including LaRoche - using the standard camel - sit - back-sit spin combination.  For the flying spin he use a deathdrop.  After first place there was a considerable diversity of opinion, with no skater earning a majority of seconds.  Second and third place were determined on a majority of thirds.

Evan Lysacek skated an energetic program with a nice presentation.  His double Axel, was not the best of the day, but was uniquely placed near the end of the program.   For the jump combination he landed triple toe loop - double toe loop and his spin combination was the most interesting of the group, consisting of a camel - sit - forward-split - back-camel - sit - forward split - upright combination.  Michael Villarreal skated a sophisticated program with touch of Stojko to it.  He landed a good double Axel but on his jump combination a good triple Salchow was followed by stepping out of a double toe loop.  On the double toe loop he used the arm overhead position.  His spins were fairly simple - flying camel and camel - sit - back-sit.

Free Skating

Short Program

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