HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The quad jump wasn’t the only element that tripped up skaters during the men’s short program at Skate America on Saturday afternoon in suburban Chicago. Japanese skater Shoma Uno finished in first, with Americans Adam Rippon and Jason Brown coming in second and third, respectively, heading into Sunday’s long program.
Both Brown and Canadian Nam Nguyen, who is in fourth, failed to get credit for spins, usually an element with much lower risk. Brown would be in front of Rippon if it weren’t for his botched spin.
“I went to grab for the blade, and when I went to pull it up, my hand wasn’t fully on the blade,” Brown said.