It would be nice to see Malinin reduce some quads and really focus more on presentation, skating skills and artistry. I think with the right choreographer, choice of music and more time could make a heck of a difference.
I feel like Egadze has really improved on his artistry this season.
Siao Him Fa really rebounded in the FS, and I like this selection of music! I'm hoping this gives him confidence going into next event.
I loved watching Adam flying around the ice, expertly and efficiently slaying those jumps with greater control and confidence than we've seen since his injury struggles. His fp performance was so exciting and delightful, especially in his home country. Adam is so adorable.
Chris Howarth had said after Ilia's sp that Adam should check out how Ilia does not draw his picking leg back too far on the lutz, which helps to ensure more precise landings. I wonder if Adam heard about that advice and made those adjustments on his lutz in the fp.
Egadze has definitely improved. And I have heard others say what a sweet person he is, which allows me to warm up to his skating as he tries to bring out more of his personality to enhance his jump expertise.
I re-watched Adam's and Ilia's programs, and Mihhails's programs; Laurence & Guillame's FD in ice dance several times, along with another look at the rest of the top five FDs; and a few of the pairs teams. I suppose I should check out Ami Nakai again, too, but I didn't. I thought Isabeau Levito looked very good in both programs, despite her mistake in the fp keeping her off the podium. I also liked seeing Torgashev pull up from last. He wasn't horrible in the sp either. He held it together after the pop on his opening jump in the sp, but he lost too many points due to that crucial misstep.
I do not see a scenario in this sport where Ilia Malinin will be reducing his quads in programs. Especially not with the numbers values of quads and technical requirements of the men's field, as currently constituted. In any case, Malinin has been smart about pulling back on performing the quad-axel. It would be nice if the ISU branched out more into developing artistic-focused competitions where everyone is allowed to express their creativity rather than the usual over-focus on technical requirements, including having to spin a certain number of revolutions with strict changes-of-position. IMO, there needs to be more freedom of expression in free programs, rather than the cookie-cutter requirements that tend to make program layouts predictable, and often disconnected to the music.
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