Max Aaron features quad combo, takes first place at Skate America

MILWAUKEE — One-time U.S. champion Max Aaron took the lead of Skate America after the short program. Han Yan from China and Konstantin Nemshov of Russia are in second and third, with reigning U.S. champ Jason Brown in eighth place.

Aaron’s skate to “Nessun Dorma” featured a quad salchow and triple toe loop combination that earned him high marks. He was last the U.S. champion in 2013, but failed to make the Olympic team in 2014.

He said he finally feels like himself again after not making it to the Olympics.

“I didn’t have a sense of pressure. That was more just me skating my skate. I was saying earlier I felt like I got lost along the way after feeling the pressure of being under the lights and representing my country at a world level. I feel like now I’m getting back to myself,” Aaron said after his skate.

His skate earned him a score of 86.67, while Yan had 86.53 and Menshov had a 86.15. All three of the top men landed a quad jump during the short program. Saturday’s long program will break up the log jam at the top.

Brown did not attempt a quad in the short and singled a planned triple jump in a combination. The mistake was too big to overcome.

“That silly mistake on the triple-triple cost me a lot, but it was just awesome to get out there for another start of the season. Every time you get off that program, you get more experience. I look at it as a learning experience,” Brown said.

He is planning to attempt a quad during Saturday’s long program, and is hoping to incorporate that higher-scoring jump into his short program by the national championships in January.

In the ice dance competition, Americans and reigning world silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates led with a commanding score of 70.56 after the short.