Jason Brown Adds Triple Axel to his arsenal- Brown opens up about goals and changes ahead
By Colette House
Just days before defending Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Jason Brown left for his second trip to the Junior Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia he accomplished a long time goal.
Triple axel? “It’s landed”, said an excited Brown, “it just happened Wednesday.”
Integrating a landed and clean triple axel into his programs is something Brown has strived for for some time.
“We’re going with the theory that having it [the triple axel] in the program even in its imperfect state is better than not having it in at all. Now that we’ve done that the rest of the program doesn’t lose its integrity just because this one is landed.””
Training triple axels in their imperfect state seemed to pay off for Brown. He landed his first triple axel in competition during the short program at the Junior Grand Prix Final, which helped him earn 69.43 points during that portion of the competition.
Having just finished fourth at the Junior Grand Prix Final Brown is turning his attention to the US National Championships in Omaha, Nebraska this January.
“I’d definitely like to be in the top six at Nationals,” says Brown.
However, Brown is much more than a clean triple axel and top six finish, both on and off the ice.
Brown has several unique qualities going for him. Unlike many skaters he found his long time coach and training facility minutes from his home. A native of Highland Park Brown still trains close to home, mainly at Centennial Ice Arena and Highland Park and the Northbrook Ice Arena in Northbrook.
It’s not often that skaters train under the same coach for over ten years, as is the case with Brown and Ade. They’ve worked together since the beginning of his career. Their coaching relationship contributes largely to Brown’s international success.
“I’ve been with her for so long we’ve just gotten closer and closer. I feel very fortunate to have someone that I love to work with. I’m not intimidated by my coach which I think is really good. She knows me so well. She knows when to be hard on me or when to be loose ,” says Brown.
Ade adds that Brown always maintains respect for the relationship.
“What we do really well is respect each other. I’m all about putting the person first and that’s more important to me than the skater. Treating each other with respect is really what’s solidified it (the relationship),” says Ade.
Surrounding himself with the familiar helps keep things in perspective for Brown during the intense competition season, in which he could traveling nearly every month.
“I can always come back to this home base no matter what I do.I have a lot of grounding things here. I have my parents. I have school. I have my whole support staff here,” notes Brown.
Yet big changes are in store for this Highland Park High School senior. He is following Ade when she moves to Colorado in March.
“The nice thing about that environment is that Jason can have access to the OTC and he can be in high altitude. For me there’s a good support staff so if I travel with Jason or other athletes there are other people there that can cover lessons,” explains Ade.
They will split their training time between the World Arena in Colorado Springs and Colorado College.
A near cross country move isn’t the only change Brown will encounter. He will begin college in the fall.
“I’m really excited that we decided to continue school and keep the routine,” says Brown
Before moving West, Brown needs to finish off his season.
“The best thing that could happen would be going to junior worlds with two clean programs; two triple axels in the long and a triple axel in the shor.t That would be the best way to end the season,” says Brown.
Brown hopes to be selected for two senior Grand Prix events during the 2013-2014 season. He intends to be a strong force on the senior circuit. Based on his recent success, perspective on life, and positive attitude we’re betting that’s not going to be a problem.
- *This article first appeared on IceTalent Inc in 2012. See more at: http://www.icetalentinc.com/2012/12/18/jason-brown-adds-triple-axel-to-his-arsenal-brown-opens-up-about-his-goals-and-changes-ahead/#sthash.ez1XP0VD.dpuf- See more at: http://www.icetalentinc.com/2012/12/18/jason-brown-adds-triple-axel-to-his-arsenal-brown-opens-up-about-his-goals-and-changes-ahead/#sthash.ez1XP0VD.dpuf
