2016 Four Continents Mens SP

[silverfoxes]

Let's be honest though the top US skaters mihus Max are sitting at home injured with the exception of Adam. What other country has skaters like Jason, Josh, Nathan and Dornbush out with injuries? Most countries would kill to have that kind of talent as their first stringers but because of their injuries the 3rd spot is gone i'm sure.

Since when has Dornbush ever been a "first stringer"?

Glad I watched the Russian juniors instead of this...but congrats to Boyang!

 

[semosk8tfan]

Actually, that's not true for 4CC. Grant was always on the roster. It's Worlds where he got in as the alternate after Nathan's injury. Ross Miner was the alternate here for Adam.

Thanks for the correction, posted before coffee! My intent was that our leading skaters here weren't top 3 at Nationals.

 

[Sabrina]

I set my alarm to wake me up at 5 am, but I am so happy I decided to cancel it. Except for the last group it was like a tsunami, with a lot of casualties. Even last group was a bit shaken except the two kids plus Mura. Yan was nice, but not perfect...he lost a lot of points with that combination spin.

 

[nolangoh]

Why aren't we talking about Shoma's TES? It's so over scored. He pre-rotates jumps so much and has weak landing. Yet the judges showered him with GOE! What's fair?

Only his 4T had rough landing. While I agree that the GOE for his 3A was a bit high (+2.57) even though it was entered with a spread eagle, this and the combo were still executed well. And could you be specific on which jump he pre-rotated?

 

[luenatic]

I just don't enjoy Uno's performance. The elevator music is not helping either. I want to mute the music while he's skating. It is that distracting.

 

[da96103]

Free skate sequence is out.

Patrick's problems just increased. He is last skater after Boyang Jin.

 

[Danibellerika]

Good job to the top 4, Boyang and Shoma especially. Their programs flew by and are definitely improved from the beginning of the season. Shoma's SP is one of my favorites this season. I like the music. It's unique and seems challenging to skate to, but he does it quite well. Onto the free!

 

[Sydney Rose]

Well, the US and Canada both did very well in pairs and dance but not ladies or men (at least in the SPs), so maybe it was an exchange? I mean, all the dance medalists were American or Canadian, and 60% of the pairs top 5 was as well, so maybe it had to happen?

Or maybe they'll both slay the FS?

Since the North American pairs and dance did well, it doesn't sound like the ice is the problem for the single skaters.

I felt really bad for Max today. He looked as devastated as Gracie did in the K&C yesterday.

 

[Sydney Rose]

As someone who once defended Patrick Chan's costume choice for his SP, I have to say now that I was wrong.

It ages him terribly. He looked like he could be the father of some of the skaters he was competing against.

He really should change that for Worlds.

 

[deedee1]

WHAT'S wrong with the ice? I only watched 12 skaters on TV, but everyone skated with sloppy edges here and there and off balance everywhere, including Patrick Shoma and Han who actually do have nice edge control...

 

[solani]

I really enjoyed Jin and Mura. When Jin nails that 4Lz it's a joy to behold. And he got the audience going, I think that the judges were impressed by that, therefore the really good PCS.
And I would also like to know what's wrong with the ice. I don't think it's an anti Canadian type ice, although when you look at what happened to Reynolds ... :dev3:

 

[blue_idealist]

I just watched the videos and I feel really bad for Kevin, falling three times in his first SP back in international competition. And Liam wasn't much better. Probably still the best choice to send Liam to worlds though, after seeing this segment.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Everyone gets 3 spots at 4cc.

I have to admit hearing Patrick say 5th is fine in a competition he could win is somewhat amusing...

After a season with 80ish as his best SP score, that would be "fine" to him. No shame in being that far behind a guys with two quads including quad lutz.

Internationally, this was one of Chan's best SPs this season (he actually rotated the quad and had a decent axel attempt). Certainly wasn't a "bomb" as some are saying. Wondering if the 3-3 Zayak at the GPF spooked him into doing just a 3-2 but he got the combo in there and is in striking distance of the podium, and maybe even a win depending on how things go down in the FS. At least he didn't take himself out of it completely like at the GPF, so I'd say that's "fine".

 

[jenaj]

I was most impressed with Boyang. I agree that his PCS was a little high, but his technical content--wow! He definitely deserved a score above 95 and deserves to be in first place. Han Yan was also good, but I thought his PCS was a little high, too. He is not much of a performer, IMO.

 

[Sabrina]

I just watched the videos and I feel really bad for Kevin, falling three times in his first SP back in international competition. And Liam wasn't much better. Probably still the best choice to send Liam to worlds though, after seeing this segment.

I am not completely sure. Kevin is not very reliable, it is true, but Liam is constant in failing on the big jumps. At least Kevin could be very good sometimes...I wouldn't say it's easy to chose between the two. Let's see what they do tomorrow. Unfortunately, neither Chan is what he was at one time. I miss Nam...but he is may be just too young.

 

[Sackie]

I wonder if Chan had not come back this year if Skate Canada would have gone with Liam as the Can Champ. I just can't see it. Sending Liam to worlds with Chan as a cushion is one thing but sending Liam and Reynolds on their own would have been bad. I really think had Chan not been at Nationals we would have seen Nam place higher and get a ticket back to worlds. At this point Liam or Reynolds do not have a shot at top 10 at worlds but Nam on a good day would have an outside chance.

 

[Mathman]

At least he didn't take himself out of it completely like at the GPF, so I'd say that's "fine".

I would say, "That's fine," too.

But I am not a competitive athlete. I think what Mrs. P. was calling attention to was not the fact that Patrick is back in fifth place but rather that this seems to be all he is aiming at. You enter a competition to win, not to place fifth, excuses at the ready.

 

[zschultz1986]

Get ready for two spots for the American Men. Max is probably not gonna sniff ANYWHERE near the top 6. The only way he will is if he makes no mistakes at Worlds, and at least 2 ahead of him screw up.

Jin, Chan, Hanyu, Fernandez, Uno, and probably Yan and Kovtun will be ahead of him, and Bychenko and Brezina if they do their European shorts, will probably be right near him.

 

[Sabrina]

I also think Nam is better than Kevin and Liam. He had a growth spurt, but I really think, knowing him, right now he may be in a much better shape than he was at nationals. I also think Liam was over-scored at the nationals.

 

[Sorrento]

Watching the recap because I missed the final group. Really impressed with Han Yan, what a comeback to his old great self. Bravo! Fight in LP man!