A Question re Jeff Buttle (his age) and "The Quad"...

[tollerfan]

I'm just wondering whether people think that a male skater is too old to incorporate a consistent quad into his programs after he turns 20? It seems to me that most male skaters who are going to have (or already have) a consistent quad, have it as a teenager.

I'm one of Jeff's biggest fans...I love his skating. He was soooo happy last year...he just brimmed with enthusiasm and the love of skating. You could see it on his face every time he skated. I'd hate to see him lose that. I know you need a quad to be at the top, and I really hope he succeeds. There's nothing more I'd like than to see him on the podium at worlds. But I hated the way he looked after his long program at Skate Canada...he looked like every last little bit of delight in skating had been drained right out of him.

[Ellyn]

I can't say what will happen for Buttle. But it has been known for skaters to develop consistent quads in their 20s.

After years of two-footed attempts, Alexander Abt just started landing his cleanly last year at, what, 24 or 25?

Browning was 21 when he landed "the first quad" and kept it in his repertoire for a couple years after that. I don't know how consistent you would call it by today's standards, though.

[Smiley]

Jeff Buttle's quad is so close!! He hasn't landed it yet in practice but i'm sure he will soon! He works very hard on it and it will come.. he has only been working on it alot since worlds, so it hasn't even been a year!!!

[Artemis]

He's been a bit of a late bloomer too, at least when you compare him to guys like Tim, Takeshei, Alexei, and Plushy. So if you look at his jump development on a continuum, he's right on track.

He's also a very hard worker and extremely smart about his training and the timing of his events, so if anyone can do it, he can.

[professordeb]

Jeff is smart in more than one way. He is also a part-time University student taking Engineering, I believe. He's doing well at that so factor in being a part-time student in with all the training he's doing. This might be one reason why he's a bit of a late "bloomer" but then there's nothing wrong with that either. Some people bloom later at many things.
Keep going for it Jeff, plenty of us are behind you and pulling for you.

til later
Deb

[Mayra]

Possible Skate Canada Spoilers?



I think his ability to master the quad will depend a lot on his determination to land the jump. He actually reminds me a bit of Matt Savoie at this point.

Look at Todd Eldredge who started working on the quad a bit late but IMO, what was the most detrimental to him not being able to land the quad with any kind of consistancy, was his lack of determination to even attempt the jump. Article after article he talked about working on the quad and his hope to land it but when the lights went on, he would not go for it. Suddenly he shows up at the Olympics and attempts the quad, only to fall short.

I don't know how one can exepect to land the jump, if they never get it under their feet by attempting it at competitions. From reports of Skate Canada, Jeff wasn't landing the quad but it said a lot about his determination to master the jump because he just went all out in his attempt. Its a good start, and hopefully he won't let Skate Canada get him down and use this as an experience to build on.