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2004 Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic

Men's Highlights

October 2, 2004
Article by Kathleen Bangs
Full Gallery by Jay Adeff

It may not have been a complete shocker, but it was definitely a surprise to see Tim Goebel and Michelle Kwan lead the charge for the U.S. on October 1 at Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic in St. Paul, Minn., as the new skating season officially got underway.

Goebel said, "Going out and doing sort of a watered-down program against this field, at any other competition during the year, would not work but there's a little strategy to going out early in the season. I just wanted to come out after two years of really having problems and give a good solid performance - nothing spectacular - didn't want to set the world on fire, but wanted to go home to California with something I could be pleased with." Judging by the beaming smile on his face, and the check for $50,000 in his hand, he got it.

Out of a group of six competitors in the men's discipline, Goebel presented a forceful version of his Queen Symphony freeskate, proving that after last year's disappointing season he is back, and once again, a force to be reckoned with. America's quad king played it safe with a program packed with strong triples, solid spins, lively footwork, and a couple of cool hydroblading moves. Wearing all black with a flourish of red ruffles down the sleeves and shoulder, the 2002 Olympic bronze medalist reminded the crowd of 9,000 that he is still capable of being a champion, and no longer suffering the equipment problems that caused his withdrawal from last season's U.S. Nationals after an embarrassing tenth place finish in the short program.

The downside of the two-time World silver medalist's program was a lack of interesting elements and moves in the field compared to the other top guys, and a tendency towards over-telegraphing his jumps. Highpoints were his circular footwork and the successful final triple jump executed just as the music shifted into We Are The Champions, and when the 24-year-old crescendoed into a nice backscratch spin for the finale. The technical scores ranged from 5.5 to 5.7 and Goebel's presentation scores, normally the lower of his two marks, came close with a range of 5.4 to 5.7.

The 2002 Olympic bronze medalist, still eyeing the 2006 Olympics as his long-term goal, reassuringly stated that he's presently practicing his quad jumps, but that for this event just skating a clean program was his plan. Asked about longtime rival Evgeny Plushenko's recent announcement to drop out of the Grand Prix season completely, Goebel said, "I think it's smart. A lot of people will probably be quick to criticize, but they don't appreciate what skaters go through."

Expectations for France's Brian Joubert were somewhat reduced after last month's third-place finish in his home country's French Masters, with performances he called, "horrible, a complete disappointment." The 2004 World silver medalist, outfitted in a costume representing the sails and ropes of a sailing boat, took second place skating to music from the Christopher Columbus movie soundtrack 1492. Right out of the gate, the reigning European champion landed the only quad jump of the evening and said later that he still felt energized at the end of the program, leaving him confident he can insert at least one, or possibly even two more quad jumps into future competition freeskates.

Reminiscent of recent jump problems, Joubert did not fall, but stumbled on a number of landings. Skating with greater speed across the ice than last year, the two-time and reigning French champion credits his two months of demanding training over the summer with coaches Tatiana Tarasova and Alexei Yagudin for the noticeable increase. Also evident was their choreographic influence. The 20-year-old employed his now signature toe-picking move three times during the playful circular step sequence, whipping up the reserved crowd, which then clapped along wildly during the dramatic straight line steps.

"I'm very happy tonight because I did my job. It's not perfect, but it's the beginning of the season and I'm very happy. I'm sure," said Joubert, "I'll be even more ready for Skate America."

In third place, Canada's perennially unpredictable Emanuel Sandhu took the ice in an understated black and white costume with gorgeous blue accents running along one side from waist to ankle. Skating to a conservative piano concerto by Emil Von Sauer, this was not the Sandhu of screaming hot pink and techno music audiences have reluctantly become accustomed to. The three-time Canadian National champion was sending a message of sophistication and class to the skating world: I'm finally serious, so now take me seriously.

"I realize I can actually do this," said Sandhu. "I can be on top of the world. It's one thing to hear it from others, but it's another to actually believe it for yourself, and I think I'm getting there."

Giving the evening's most lyrical performance, Sandhu moved like a musician would skate: each intricate move - especially the ones that show off his incredible leg extension and flexibility - are done right to the beat and note of the music's rhythm. A number of popped jumps, ultra-slow jump entries, and a couple of sloppy spins marred an otherwise engaging performance.

The 2004 Four Continents silver medalist credits his dance career saying, "I was a classically trained ballet dancer, and danced at an elite level comparable to what I'm skating at now. Career-wise I really could have gone either way." Interested in defending his Grand Prix Final champion title, Sandhu said his focus has been mainly on his upcoming two Grand Prix events, starting with Skate Canada later this month. "With Plushenko and Lambiel dropping out, I'm hoping to get a third event, and Skate America or NHK would be my preference."

Last to skate and taking fourth place was reigning U.S. National champion Johnny Weir. In a striking costume reminiscent of last season's self-described "icicle on coke" outfit, Weir opened to the dramatic piano piece Otonal, in a palette of beautiful midnight blues, cream, and silver sparkles that he assisted in designing. After barely hanging onto his opening triple jump, Weir threw down a number of triples before popping one to a single. The much recently hyped skater, who finished fifth at last season's Dortmund Worlds, defined on-ice elegance with his picture-perfect posture, carriage, and graceful lines. The 20-year-old's lack of a consistent quad jump may hamper his mission for a major event medal, but he says he plans to use one in long programs later this season.

"I was just excited to make it through the program. I sprained my ankle, twisting it when I took a wrong step off a curb one week ago. I had a cortisone shot, but I've been in pain, and since it's my right foot - which is my takeoff one as I rotate clockwise - I worried it would affect my jumps."

In fifth place, skating for the U.S., was reigning and three-time World junior silver medalist Evan Lysacek. Opening the event as the first skater of the night, the 19-year-old performed a pleasant rendition of Gene Kelly's Singin' In the Rain. Beginning his jumps with a successful triple-double combination, the 2004 Four Continents bronze medalist performed interesting spin positions, packed his program with a variety of in-between moves, stayed upright on the jump landings and overall presented himself as a skater ready to challenge the senior ranks.

After an injury-plagued year spent training in Canada, this event marked Japan's Takeshi Honda return to elite eligible competition. The two-time World bronze medalist gave a lifeless, lackluster performance, devoid of his powerful speed, and tightly rotated jumps of the past. Although he managed significant height on one triple, garnering huge applause from a sympathetic audience, he fell to the ice on another. His slow spins, with especially poorly positioned and wobbly camel spins delivered right in front of the judges, sealed his fate for last place at this event. No smiles from Honda as he took his bows, looking tired and unhappy with what he knew to be an inferior performance to selections by Kodo.

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