Didn't Patrick or someone mentioned that he could easily do a quad flip? I think he's holding it for later on knowing that he doesn't really need it this season?
And about Aranjeuz, can the experts point out which parts of the program are considered very difficult, but Patrick makes them look easy? At National, Tracy Wilson point out one hop, she said it's very difficult. I was like, huh? Really? It looked simple to me. I don't skate, so I have no idea.
Last edited by jettasian; 01-29-2012 at 02:03 AM.
jettasian, this is Patrick's biggest problem with the proverbial "casual fans" - making the extremely difficult look easy, a fact even his biggest rivals, the best skaters in the world, acknowledge. His whole programs illustrate this fact. One thing impressing and confounding everybody is generating speed with seemingly nothing perceivable, as illustrated by the one foot sequence down the length of the rink faster than others stroking with two feet. A non expert like me keeps finding little gems to marvel at, such as his swift edgy turn around into his spin. Gah! Or, remember the footwork fall in TEB? Go look at his usual work when he is not weak with illness. It shows the power required for such a brief position that even the master needs to be healthy and careful to keep the precise balance.
eta. I see you were asking specifically about Aranjuez. Watch all his jump entries. And the immediate choreography right after the landing flow out. E.g. I don't know how he could do his little flamenco toe tapping right before a triple jump! Another obvious and easy to observe feat is the speed and scope of his last footwork sequence, breathtakingly fluid and fast over the whole rink. The audience could not help but be moved to applaud involuntarily, something uncommon outside the showy jumps and spins. Then there are all those split second moves that no others can do without falling over.
Last edited by SkateFiguring; 01-29-2012 at 12:11 PM.
The commnetator of Universal sports said the same thing about Patrick's lunge in Aranjuez, "it looks easy, but very difficult". Being a casual fan myself, I figure if he said it's hard, it must be hard. Especially Patrick excecutes it beautifully and weaves it with jumps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVeWi...ailpage#t=254s
Found this video on youtube. Patrick reminds him of himself. Starting 1:45.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py9-P...ailpage#t=106s
Last edited by Boeing787; 01-29-2012 at 01:11 PM.
In the past Patrick has been "criticized" (if that's the right word) for filling his programs with CoP point-getting tricks.Originally Posted by SkateFiguring
I don't think so. I think he does all those cool things just because (a) he can, and (b) he takes such delight in doing them.
Yeah, except most of those making such criticism don't even see the tricks! That shows what well integrated the moves are.
I think other skaters want to do the same thing to get points but they can't. Yesaterday Sandra Bezic said "these ladies tried to do too many things on ice and lose the strength to do jumps" when she commented the US National. I see the same thing happened to Javier Fenandez and Yuzuru Hanyu. In the end of the program, they were so tired that they couldn't do the last jump.
That's what makes Patrick stand out.
Patrick's energy frustrates even Takahashi!He concedes to being unable to not succumb to fatigue in the later half of the LP like Patrick.
Patrick pays a price for it though, postponing his university education to stay in high altitude training.
However, one can't conclude that's all it takes to have his kind of high energy. His rink mates can't compare or do a sustained high energy program like Aranjuez with no rest period choreographed in.
Actually I think it's wise to be single minded. Look at Flatt, what does she get by doing Stanford and Firgure skating the same time? It's a waste of money, time and energy.
I think Patrick is physically strong by nature. I remember PJ wrote of the then 16-years-old Patrick being "increditbly strong".
Last edited by Boeing787; 01-29-2012 at 01:41 PM.
He's obviously very naturally gifted when it comes to athletics and I'm sure he would do great in other sports as well, would love to see that (not anytime soon though!).
What I don't get is why not stack your program full of potential points (without taking away from the artistry that is) if you are able to do so??? What, he's just supposed to skate around without doing anything? I am constantly in awe when watching him for many reasons and love his energy little things here and there that are in his programs.
Part of Yuzuru's problem is that he suffers from asthma. As an asthma sufferer myself, it is frustrating to tire out and start gasping for breath while others are still easily running around the track.
That is one of my faves!!! He fell the first time on that one, and was shaky(?) the other time, so unable to really see it until the National. I really love the flamenco tap, then the jump, and right out and back to the flamenco post. That is just amazing and hit the music perfectly. I was like, wow, that's a very risky move. If he falls on that jump, or has shaky landing, that whole sequence will lose its effectiveness. So I hope he can repeat that whole sequence at World.
Patrick's energy frustrates even Takahashi!
Patrick pays a price for it though, postponing his university education to stay in high altitude training.
However, one can't conclude that's all it takes to have his kind of high energy. His rink mates can't compare or do a sustained high energy program like Aranjuez with no rest period choreographed in.
I think one thing that makes Patrick so appealing is that he combines natural talent with such a thorough work ethic and also such cool nerves. Often (most recently with Mirai Nagasu in U.S. Nationals) we encounter skaters who are just brimful of natural gifts, who either are head cases or don't work hard enough to achieve consistency. (Sometimes, alas, both.) Other times we see skaters whose talents are a good B+ or A- level but who work so hard that they are successful. How lovely to have a skater like Patrick, who has great physical gifts and also meticulous training from early years, but who also wrings every iota from this talent.
Patrick's off-ice training regimen is very impressive too. it doesn't seem like a lot of other skaters put the same amount of emphasis on things like nutrition or off-ice conditioning. He learns from successful athletes in other sports, and does every little thing he can to make himself into the best possible athlete. Other skaters sometimes criticize the scoring system or the judging for not rewarding their strengths enough, instead of working hard to fix their weaknesses. Patrick thinks he needs to work on his artistry, so he adds an hour a day of modern dance to his schedule.
Remember reading somewhere that he's good in golf.
Great reason to save it.
Me too.You have convinced me he might do two brand new porgrams next season. As long as I still have chance to see Aranjuez again, I am ok with he storing it for one year.
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