JASON BROWN RISKY BUSINESS
He knew it was time for a change after not qualifying for a spot on the 2018 U.S. Olympic team, following a sixth-place finish at nationals in San Jose, California.
Jason Brown also knew he wanted to continue competing for another four years and if he really wanted to make a run at it, a new training environment was necessary heading into the next quadrennial.
“I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing for another four years. So that was the original thought — but where, I didn’t know,” said Brown, who spent five years training in Monument, Colorado, with longtime coach Kori Ade.
He tested a number of options but settled on the Toronto Cricket Club — and two coaches — Tracy Wilson and Brian Orser — who appreciated the artistic value he brought to his skating.
“Something that really drew me in was that Tracy and Brian really didn’t know me at all. I loved that because I felt like I was coming in with this blank canvas,” he recalled. “We could start, not from scratch by any means. I was so fortunate to have such a strong base coming in — and I owe that all to Kori and Rohene (Ward, his longtime choreographer) — and I liked the fact there weren’t any pre-conceived notions.
“I also loved the fact that Tracy and Brian value the artistic as well as the technical. I didn’t feel like I was
