My 2 cents...
...Artistry is not PCS. And in my opinion artistry should not be PCS. That would limit creativity and make the sport more boring. I think that Joubert deserves about the same PCS Kozuka and Chan get. Small differences (like Joubert getting 0.4 points more than Chan) seem to be purely subjective.
Footwork
With the introduction of COP footwork gained importance - and at the same time lost some of its appeal. Morosov/Nichol footwork sections were seen everywhere, choreographed by everyone. Lambiel was the dazzling exception. But watching the footwork of the three leading men I was amazed by the creativity. There were no slow painful steps with no connection to the music, no senseless flailing, no trying to catch the mice on the ice.
All three men have different but equally creative footwork, that suits the music. With Joubert I couldn't really tell when a footwork section started, he was skating very well to the music and the movements of the inbetweens were related to the movements during the footwork sections, everything belonged together - he had some great footwork last season, and he has great footwork this season, but it's still different from last season.
So all men had very different footwork and very different programs; Joubert had the in-your-face showman footwork plus a very energetic crowd-pleasing performance, Chan had the interpretive footwork - he interpreted the Tango and moved well to the music. Kozuka has the surreal performance, where he doesn't really try to interpret the music (which is pretty complicated with this music anyway) but where the music, the skating, the skater and the expression of the skater come together to paint a picture, where the overall impression makes the program.
I loved those shorts. Amazing skating. Geez, I love the men.
Medusa, thank you so much! That was a fantastic post.
I couldn't watch the SP but this gives not only a clear picture of what happened but also some really interesting insights. In particular I think you made some excellent points about the footwork: there has been a sameness to it in recent years, and it's good to know that some of the guys (and their coaching/choreo teams) are thinking outside the box.
siberia82 said:
If Brian was truly a man of his word, he would've protested about the unfairness of Ryan being ranked behind him in the SP. Brian's silence seems somewhat hypocritical to me, that's all.
Well, maybe he was preoccupied? Something about being third in an event he really wants to win? And the quad problem?
I don't think Brian thought Jeff's non-quad stuff was that much superior to his. Personally, I thought the standings at Worlds were correct, but that Buttle was given some rather generous GOEs. Anyway, Brian's been going on about the quad for close to five years now - regardless of whether he won, or lost to someone who has a quad (Plush, Lambiel) or to someone without a quad (Buttle, Weir). He thinks it's important that people challenge themselves with the hardest stuff, just like he has challenged himself to improve his spins and presentation (e.g. much as I enjoyed his Untouchables program, in part due the non-hideous costume
, he's clearly made huge improvements in spins, footwork and presentation). He has stated in interviews that he likes how the judging system makes you work on everything but that the quad is undervalued. And you know, I believe there have been fewer quads attempted in recent years; last year at Worlds only Brian and Stephane went for 4-3s in the SP, and most guys were doing 3-3s.
But that does not mean Joubert should be expected to defend every guy with a quad, because
a. they should speak up for themselves if they wish and
b. some of them have issues other than the quad to work on.
Bennett said:
I don't know it's just me, but I thought Joubert has become cuter, although I had never gotten why he was considered hot before. His hairstyle changed?
I think Platov suggested he wear it longer. It does look cute. I can't think of him as hot on account of a surprising resemblance to my brother
.
and Morozov wants Rippon to straighten his curly hair. I guess the Russians believe in grooming their students for competition.
