Evan LYSACEK: Quad(s) will determine the winner

[iloveaxel]

Japanese media conducted a phone interview with Evan LYSACEK, who's still in LA. Evan LYSACEK claims that six to seven men have the ability to complete quad jumps, and whoever nails it will be the winner.

When asked about his rivalries such as Lambiel etc, Evan said he would only focus on his own performances, and not to be distracted by others.


Well, I certainly believe it's going down to the quad(s) in the end. The men's event is going to be very unpredictable, but I have a hunch Brian will not be able to claim the title. I now know Oda has a very ambitious long program with a 3A+3T+3L plus a quad planned. If he nails these ridiculous difficult jumps, he will win.

I don't want to make any prediction on men's discipline until hearing some last minute on-site practice reports, rumours...

 

[Oscilla]

I don't want to make any prediction on men's discipline until hearing some last minute on-site practice reports, rumours...

I've seen Takahashi nail a beautiful 4-3 combo and try for a quad flip (a bit underrotated, but not two-footed). He said he wants to go for a quad flip if it will be consistent enough in practices. His spins looked much better, too.

I've also seen a clip of Oda's new LP and it looks MUCH better than his Tchaikovsky one. Even though it was just a practice, he really got into the choreo. Step sequence (or at least the part they have shown) looked much improved, too. He landed a quad, but as they haven't shown his feet, I don't know whether it was underrotated or not. Crazy height, though. I hope he watches his knees, the last two times he started landing quads he injured his left knee and his jumps went a bit AWOL.

There was a cute interview with Jeffery Buttle. He tried to tell "Please cheer for me!" in Japanese, but just couldn't pronounce it. He looked in good spirits.

 

[Angelluv]

I think the winner will be the one who racks up the points and stays on his feet. All the top men this year are capable. It should be a great competition.

 

[iloveaxel]

I've also seen a clip of Oda's new LP and it looks MUCH better than his Tchaikovsky one. Even though it was just a practice, he really got into the choreo. Step sequence (or at least the part they have shown) looked much improved, too. He landed a quad, but as they haven't shown his feet, I don't know whether it was underrotated or not. Crazy height, though. I hope he watches his knees, the last two times he started landing quads he injured his left knee and his jumps went a bit AWOL.

There was a cute interview with Jeffery Buttle. He tried to tell "Please cheer for me!" in Japanese, but just couldn't pronounce it. He looked in good spirits.

do you have the youtube link? please provide if you know.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Not only who lands "it" but lands the most and the best. Brain can land th most, but it never seemes to be his night, and with the jajpense crown it's gonna be hard. Oda can win if he hits those 3/3/3 's and other hard combonations and makes them look easy the way that he always does. Somtimes he has mistakes though, and with a new program.. it's just that much more pressure. I reallt don't thinkn Evan can win now.. as much as i hate to say it. If he makes the podium he's lucky.

 

[Oscilla]

do you have the youtube link? please provide if you know.

Not for all the forementioned info, but for some, yes.

Here is a clip with: short clips of Oda learning the choreo of his LP, his very first attempts at quad in Canada, Daisuke expressing his belief that he can win, Jeff Buttle being cute and Arutunian laughing at him in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5oa1ingKh8

Here is a Daisuke & Miki fluff. At 4:49 Daisuke tries 4F (UR, 2-f here).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5oa1ingKh8

Intro to documentary on Oda. 3A-3T-3L in practice at 00:39:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6kA4kkcDhE

Oda landing 3A-3T-3L in Japanese local competition. He jumped his second 3A a bit too close to boards and stepped out of it, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1QJPB1rNW8

Oda's channeling Mao and trying for a 3A out of a difficult transition: spread-eagle in this case. He fell in the actual competition, but landed them in practices (as reported by Japanese fans on his fan board).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM8dLAA0X-Q

I don't think the clips with Daisuke's jumps (4-3 & better 4F) are on Youtube. I can upload them in my free time if anyone's willing to see them. Same with Oda and his new LP.

 

[iloveaxel]

Thanks

Thanks Oscilla! That's exactly the information I want to make a call. I remember learning the tidbits of Arakawa's practice before Olys, and I really felt she would win and she did!

In such close competition, it's really not what you did two or three months ago, it's about what you can or can not do at that particular moment. So every last minute tidbits will help us determine skaters' conditioning.

Please upload Oda's new LP!! That will be terrific!

BTW, I don't believe Oda will be able to land quad after reviewing those clips. 3A+3T+3L seems ready to go though!

 

[Oscilla]

Please upload Oda's new LP!! That will be terrific!

Oh, sadly I don't have the whole thing! Just clips. Sorry, I phrased myself wrong and made it sound as if I had.

BTW, I don't believe Oda will be able to land quad after reviewing those clips. 3A+3T+3L seems ready to go though!

Just to let you know, the NHK documentary was filmed somewhere between the NHK trophy and Japanese Nationals, and the clips with LP shortly after Oda's arrival to Canada.
To compare, he really couldn't get a 3A to save his life when he was training with his mother before Jr. Worlds 2005. He landed it for the very first time in practices in Kitchener just before the competition, then nailed it in LP. During his EX a Japanese commentator said he landed his first 3A-3T-3L combo in practices. Then she landed it in practices at Thornhill Summer Skate and at Skate Canada he landed 3A-3T-2L.
Of course, I'm not saying he WILL land it - just that he can be pretty unpredictable as far as jumps are concerned.

Personally I think he should give up on working on quad with his mother. She is a wonderful coach as far as basic skills are concerned, but it looks as she can't help him with his jumps - he is the first elite skater she ever coached after all. In the NHK documentary they shown Oda working on quad with Noriko, and it looked more like a torture session than anything else. He bombed every single attempt. Then he went to Barkell, and, If I am to believe the commentator, during the first week (or two? I forgot) he reached 30% of successful landings. The same thing happened when he was working on his 3A.

 

[iloveaxel]

Oh, sadly I don't have the whole thing! Just clips. Sorry, I phrased myself wrong and made it sound as if I had.

Evne clips would be great!

Personally I think he should give up on working on quad with his mother. She is a wonderful coach as far as basic skills are concerned, but it looks as she can't help him with his jumps -.

Interesting. Is his mother now a very famous coach?

 

[buminapark]

I don't think the clips with Daisuke's jumps (4-3 & better 4F) are on Youtube. I can upload them in my free time if anyone's willing to see them. Same with Oda and his new LP.

Please upload the clips of Takahashi's quads and Oda's new LP; I'd love to see them. I saw all the clips you posted already, but I don't think I've ever seen those.

 

[blue dog]

Sorry to be the party pooper, but we've had competitions that bill to be the most competitive, only to turn into a splatfest--and with the way the men are going for harder and harder jumps, this could turn into a splatfest (much like the 92 Olympic Ladies' competition).

 

[Oscilla]

Evne clips would be great!

I'll upload it as soon as I can figure out how to cut a mov file into pieces. It's too big for me to upload.

Interesting. Is his mother now a very famous coach?

Right now Nobunari is her only elite skater.
Noriko used to be a skater herself. After she got married she started working as a coach. All of her kids were forced to skate, perhaps because she could keep an eye on them while being in her place of work. They could pick figure skating or hockey. Nobunari's older sister picked figure skating, his older brother - hockey. Nobu was not very fond of figure skating at first - the practices were difficult, he had troubles learning anything (he could faceplant on a camel spin his balance was so bad) and he wanted to spend more time with his friends. He wasn't very serious about his practices until one day, when Noriko caught him slacking and... punched him in the head. After that he took his practices more seriously, because he was afraid...
She seems to be a great coach as far as basics are concerned, but with high level jumps it seems to be a process of trial and error. I think it would be better for Oda to practice the quad with Barkell only until he really gets it - and then polish it with Noriko. Jumping with a bad technique sounds like asking for an injury, IMHO.

Sorry to be the party pooper, but we've had competitions that bill to be the most competitive, only to turn into a splatfest--and with the way the men are going for harder and harder jumps, this could turn into a splatfest (...)

It certainly is possible, especially since many of the competitors will attempt things they haven't tried before (not only men, but also ladies). There's Joubert with recent foot injury, whose combos are often a bit on the wild side, Lambiel with doubtful 3A, Takahashi possibly challenging 3F and 4T-3T, Lysacek, who often has SP problems, Buttle, whose jumps seem to go AWOL when they are needed the most, and Oda, taking risks with new LP and elements he haven't tried before (or tried them just one time).

The Worlds might be spectacular, or spectacularly splatfestful, but they will certainly be exciting. And no matter what, the skaters deserve respect just for their fighting spirit and pushing the technical limits.

 

[slutskayafan21]

Sorry to be the party pooper, but we've had competitions that bill to be the most competitive, only to turn into a splatfest--and with the way the men are going for harder and harder jumps, this could turn into a splatfest (much like the 92 Olympic Ladies' competition).

Didnt Yamaguchi skate first in the final flight and win gold easily with a fall and another doubled jump that years Olympics?

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

Well, I think that it might be a little tough for both Oda and Lambiel considering both are coming into worlds with new programs that haven't been judged in any international competition.

Oda might have a shot a gold with that ridculous three jump combo but the fact that he is debuting a new free skate at worlds kind of puts him at a disadvantage considering it hasn't been judged to date.

Lambiel is coming after the poor performance at Skate Canada with TWO new programs which puts him at an even more disadvantage. He is going to be going to those worlds blind. God knows where he might end up. Although having the resume that he has could give you the benefit of the doubt. Though I don't see Lambiel being a contender this year.

 

[slutskayafan21]

I predict if Lambiel skates even adequately he will win atleast a medal. The judges will not let the 2-time defending Champion miss the medals unless he is pretty awful.

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

I predict if Lambiel skates even adequately he will win atleast a medal. The judges will not let the 2-time defending Champion miss the medals unless he is pretty awful.

Like I said, having being a 2-time defending World Champion will no doubt give him the benefit of the doubt. So we will have to wait and see

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Lambiel is coming after the poor performance at Skate Canada with TWO new programs which puts him at an even more disadvantage. He is going to be going to those worlds blind. God knows where he might end up. Although having the resume that he has could give you the benefit of the doubt. Though I don't see Lambiel being a contender this year.

One past poor performance is the key to Lambiel's poor skating forever. Am I correct?

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

One past poor performance is the key to Lambiel's poor skating forever. Am I correct?

That is not what I meant. I believe that Lambiel has a chance to medal just like evrybody else. It's just going to be hard for him this time around because he has picked up little to no experience this season.

 

[decker]

If I understand the statement correctly, I'm not sure I buy into the premise.

Given that 6 or so men (sometimes) have a quad, it's entirely possible that more than 1 will manage to rotate 4 times and land cleanly on 1 foot. At that point, other factors would come into play.

Susan

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

picked up little to no experience this season.

:scratch:

Does that include the correct flamenco body movments? While Joubert shoots his 007 gun again?