- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
I would say it's Hanyu's to lose, particularly with Chan not there. I think Kozuka might surprise, but it's more likely to be Machida/Yan/Fernandez all gunning for the bronze.
Denis Ten...He is real winner of 2013 world championship..(I love Chan, but it was not gold medal performance).
He also won the Olympic bronze medal throughout the injuries
He has a good skating skill, but compare to Chan and Hanyu, his PCS is very low....
Also Yan Han (low PCS) and Fernandez Javier, they both have a chance to shoot podium
Nobody would miss you, just like nobody will miss your beloved Sotnikova if she never skates again.
My name isn't nobody...
If Jeremy skates the way he did at Nationals, I guarantee he will be on the podium. If everyone skates clean, he still has a shot at the podium. Point being, he's podium worthy if he can reproduce two solid performances (with quads).
I would say the dark horses are Kozuka and Reynolds. I think Reynolds, if he executes all his jumps, will probably land on the podium given his popularity in Japan and past success skating in Japan (i.e. 2013 4CC, his PCs were pretty good at 80).
Btw, how come Verner changed his mind about retiring after Sochi?
That's the big 'IF'! The frustration a lot of people have (particularly Americans, I gather) is that Jeremy doesn't usually skate as well at Worlds as he does at Nationals.
And Reynolds can be inconsistent too, but it will be interesting to see how he handles being Canada's top man at Worlds for the first time. With Chan absent, the focus will be on him.
Btw, how come Verner changed his mind about retiring after Sochi?
If Abbott skates decently he has to medal in this field. I just hope he finally does that.
Lets be real though. The way the judges are scoring these days Abbotts performances from 2009 Skate Canada and the 2008 Grand Prix final would be given a score of around 270 total today. Reynolds may never skate or score any better than he did at Four Continents last year again, and even if he skates his best wont likely score any higher than that.
If he doesn't go for any quad, I don't see all of Hanyu, Fernandez and Machida skating bad enough for him to beat them.
although I agree with you about Max, some people believe that the ladies gold medalist just won based on her jumpsMax needs about 6 years of ballet and dance movement, divest himself of the herky jerky movements more associated with hockey than figure skating, better music than Carmen for his style of skating and a good choreographer. Jumps alone should not win a medal. I prefer a more well-rounded skater!!
But having met him I will say that he is a very, very nice young man. I hope he does better than I think he will because he's also a hard worker.
My impression was after the ladies event the low key controversy over the scoring in the other events (only not larger due to their being no hugely controversial final medals, despite some ridiculous scores and obvious signs of the pre Games fixed rumors) became larger after the ladies event. The dance event which was already talked about, became more talked about, and the scores of V&T for an imperfect LP, some of the bizarre Team Event scores. Then again maybe I am being misled by the atmosphere on this board and the focus is mostly on the ladies event as you say. Maybe I am thinking more along the lines of my own hopes which is that the focus in the post Sochi aftermath is not JUST on the ladies event, but on the entire figure skating competition as the whole competitions looks crooked to me in hindsight, and it was just fortunate and lucky the performances were such that no huge controversy blew up (although some small ones such as some thinking V&M should have won, some thinking P&B should have won bronze) despite the very skewed and somewhat unfair scores; until of course the ladies event. At the very least I would like to see the entire competition and anything that might have gone on behind the scenes investigated strongly, although I know in reality that probably wont happen.
It will be interesting to see how the Worlds start and how the first Russians are scored but even if they are scored fairly (and I hope they are) they would still get lower scores than Sochi, except for possibly V&T if they skate. Even I&K I dont think can expect the sky high scores they got in Sochi, despite that they are the ones I named as most immune to any anti Russian backlash. Even if the judges attempted to be fair I am sure the energy of the crowd exagerrated their performance in the judges minds. I would also love to see P&B end their careers with a World title so hope the scores of I&K are in line with reality, although even if they are if I&K skate like Sochi they will be hard to beat for the gold. If P&B can skate as well as Sochi, and I&K make even a small mistake though, it could be a gold finale for P&B.
I think it depends on Plushenko's tour being postponed/cancelled.
I don't think Kovtun has a good chance. He will face some backlash from Sochi Olymputin.
Lets be real though. The way the judges are scoring these days Abbotts performances from 2009 Skate Canada and the 2008 Grand Prix final would be given a score of around 270 total today. Reynolds may never skate or score any better than he did at Four Continents last year again, and even if he skates his best wont likely score any higher than that.
My true wish was both Brian and Daisuke to have two great skates and get on the world podium with BIG smiles, together and one last time before they close their wonderful competitive career, though I now know it won't happen...
Here goes MY picks :
-Takahiko winning the worlds title. finally. in front of his home fans! :yes:
I have been waiting and waiting the last TH-R-EEEE seasons for Taka to become the second Japanese World Champ after Dai. If you ever watch him skate LIVE, you can't deny that his blade touches to the ice are simply out of this world.
-Tomas and Jeremy on the world podium. finally!!
Such fabulous skaters they truly are, and just like Patrick and Dai, these two are the closest as most complete skaters, so to speak, currently competing, I believe. Thus should be a shame really, if they never get on the world podium during their competitive career which is soon coming to its end (sadly;;;; ). Hope they somehow can deal with their nerves this time, have two great skates and close their competitive career on high note.
-As for the likes of Yuzuru, Javi, Max, Kevin or Jason, there are some areas/rooms to be desired to improve, before being called as the complete skaters and/or becoming the worthy/deserving world champ, just yet. I don't want them to be criticized by some of skating fans, either. Besides, they are very young they can wait a year, until the next Olympic cycle begins next season.
I think I would not count Hanyu. If he skates clean he is untouchable for anyone except Patrick. If he falls 2-3 times, only Fernandez on top of his skill may fight with Yuzuru, but I don't see it. Hanyu on the short is way, way too far in front of anyone.
I think I would not count Hanyu. If he skates clean he is untouchable for anyone except Patrick. If he falls 2-3 times, only Fernandez on top of his skill may fight with Yuzuru, but I don't see it. Hanyu on the short is way, way too far in front of anyone.
I bet a silver for Fernandez. Would be great bronze for Abott, but this quad is not working for him. He is falling this quad in head and this is big problem