Can Takahashi Close The Gap On Patrick Chan?

**SkateFiguring** · 04-11-2012, 11:01 AM

We are indeed in an era of very exciting Men figure skating and it's just beginning, with so many young phenoms to still join the Senior rank. I really think Patrick set the bar and show how a program could combine quads and intricate choreography and there is no going back. It is just a normal standard now for the young ones.

The competition is exciting. What is the point if an excellent skater just gives up because there is someone seemingly unbeatable just in front of him? What is the fun if someone really is unbeatable and stop striving to improve? The skaters themselves know one another and never underestimate the best ones. Last season, despite Patrick's multiple falls in the first two competitions, all the contenders considered him the one to beat. Patrick, on his part, despite Daisuke's having one of his bad seasons, considered him the main competitor and used him to push himself for the World Championships. These champions are skaters' skaters and earned their respect.

Vive the competition and all the rivalries!

**pangtongfan** · 04-11-2012, 02:37 PM

The mens event is far and away the most boring and predictable event for years now. Currently it is nothing more than a Chan coronation (or bore-o-nation). Scary thing is it reached an even lower low with Evan Lysacek being crowned as World and Olympic Champion the two years prior to that. Thank goodness the pairs and dance are stronger than ever, and ladies is coming around again after hitting its all time high in Vancouver. I am glad for the mens event, it gives me and my friends a chance to go for meals or catch up on other things at events we attend, before the real skating resumes with the other 3 disciplines. For the glory days of mens skating there are wonderful videos of Boitano, Browning, Petrenko, Kulik, Yagudin, Plushenko, Takahashi (2007-2008 version), Lambiel, Fadeev, Hamilton, Urmanov, Stojko, Orser, Curry, Cranston, Cousins, always easily assessible.

**demarinis5** · 04-11-2012, 03:43 PM

I definitely don't find the current Men's skating boring at all, I think it is great. Different strokes for different folks.

**Becki** · 04-11-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by demarinis5

I definitely don't find the current Men's skating boring at all, I think it is great. Different strokes for different folks.

I find it super exciting!! My friends wonder why I am more interested in Men figure skating than the Ladies. There's more than 10 guys I would watch at the World Championships this year, compared to at most 6 from the Ladies.

**periperi** · 04-11-2012, 05:24 PM

Yeah, I agree, there are so many male skaters that I truly enjoy watching and following right now. I can't be bothered to follow the ladies - only my select few favorites - these days. I'm nowhere near as excited about certain junior ladies coming up next season as some people are, but maybe the higher technical content that we are expecting to see will liven things up.

**Olympia** · 04-11-2012, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by demarinis5

I definitely don't find the current Men's skating boring at all, I think it is great. Different strokes for different folks.

I agree. Even just looking at the Japanese skaters--gosh, even just looking at the guys the Japanese team had to leave at home!--makes for fascinating viewing. While there have certainly been great skaters in the past (the honor roll mentioned by pangtongfan), I think there are some incredibly dynamic guys out there now. I wish I felt that way about the ladies, but I have hopes for the future. And then there's ice dancing, a veritable treasure house right now.

**deedee1** · 04-11-2012, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by demarinis5

I definitely don't find the current Men's skating boring at all, I think it is great. Different strokes for different folks.

Me, too! I agree.
I love Mens discipline the best! So many talents and diversity in styles.

Sometimes the actual competition may not turn out as exciting as it seems prior to it, or as we wish/hope for prior to it. I am okay with it, because it is a competition; nerve-wrecking enough already. Plus such depth in Mens field, only to add more pressure on boys.

But whenever I watch an exciting (and nerve-wrecking!) competition and boys are able to bring their A game, just like the Free at Nice, I can fall in love with this sport once again!

**DianaSelene** · 04-12-2012, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by pangtongfan

The mens event is far and away the most boring and predictable event for years now. Currently it is nothing more than a Chan coronation (or bore-o-nation). Scary thing is it reached an even lower low with Evan Lysacek being crowned as World and Olympic Champion the two years prior to that. Thank goodness the pairs and dance are stronger than ever, and ladies is coming around again after hitting its all time high in Vancouver. I am glad for the mens event, it gives me and my friends a chance to go for meals or catch up on other things at events we attend, before the real skating resumes with the other 3 disciplines. For the glory days of mens skating there are wonderful videos of Boitano, Browning, Petrenko, Kulik, Yagudin, Plushenko, Takahashi (2007-2008 version), Lambiel, Fadeev, Hamilton, Urmanov, Stojko, Orser, Curry, Cranston, Cousins, always easily assessible.

My thoughts exactly. At this world championship, I stopped watching the men's event and found out the results only days later. I see no reason to watch Chan, I start falling asleep 20 seconds into his programs.

Except for Hanyu and Takahashi, I don't care to watch it at all.

**skatinginbc** · 04-20-2012, 08:51 AM

Dai beat Chan in both SP and LP at WTT.

**Boeing787** · 04-20-2012, 09:03 AM

Congrats to Dai! Let's not forget the jet lag effect on Patrick though. I still remember how Dai popped his 3A at 4CC.

**Macassar88** · 04-20-2012, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by skatinginbc

Dai beat Chan in both SP and LP at WTT.

He also won in Tech AND Program Components!!!

**Bluebonnet** · 04-23-2012, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by skatinginbc

Dai beat Chan in both SP and LP at WTT.

It has proved that Patrick fans and some other skater fans were correct all along from the beginning of this thread - Takahashi could beat Chan when Chan wasn't in his best but Takahashi was.