Mens' LP

[oxade21]

K/S ARE adorable and Tamara did a great job! But that's a different thread ...
I read in a article a while ago TT talking about the Russian youngsters for single skating, how they have real potential and need to mature. I'm hoping she's right.
If only to have strong Russian skaters to take the North American hit from the French. But that's a different thread too

OHH, Sochi Olympics are going to be a bloodbath.
There are so many promising youngsters in Russia (especially female skaters) and Russian Federation has enough many to train them these days.

 

[viv]

And Takahashi did the same thing last year at worlds! What was wrong with those Japanese men?

Doesn't the Japanese language have a very complicated and confusing way of counting? Maybe that's the reason for it... (I'm just making fun, so please don't feel offended! )

 

[oxade21]

Doesn't the Japanese language have a very complicated and confusing way of counting? Maybe that's the reason for it... (I'm just making fun, so please don't feel offended! )

Yeah, they also can't drive. Not funny.

 

[Tinymavy15]

This was an amazing men's free. Brian had it until that double axel. I still have no doubt that he would have won if he had done a salchow instead as planed or a clean double axel. He knew it too.

Evan was amazing. I am so, so proud and happy for him, nobody deserves it more. Clean in both the short and the long. now that is what a champions skating should look like.

 

[viv]

QUOTE=oxade21;385164]Yeah, they also can't drive. Not funny.[/QUOTE]


Huhh??

 

[penguin girl]

The highlight for me is that I discovered my new favorate: Denis Ten!!! First time watching him skating and I'm a fan now! Digged out his SP first thing in the morning and loved him even more

I hope he'll get a quad soon! A real gem!

I've watched him for a couple of years and he is really impressive. But I just loved his emotion at the end and I'm so glad he did so well! Will be fun to watch as he grows up!

 

[Buzzz]

HOw is Arthur Gatchinski (sp) doing? Is he old enough for the senior worlds yet?

 

[museksk8r]

By the way, what happened to Mishin? Is the guy not good in skating politics? Lutai 60 points PCS? Seriously? I thought a Quad does some things to your PCS and Lutai landed a good Quad and like 7 Triples. And he has lovely skating skills. I admit, he needs some confidence, perhaps a bit more power... But he has even an American COP-choreographer, that should count for something!

Maybe the judges will be more impressed now, Top Ten at Worlds - and both at Worlds and at Europeans good long programs with Quad and 7 Triples.

But anyway, how about some huge lobbying for Lutai over the summer, Mishin? A 70 on PCS should be a lot more pleasant.

Lutai and Grigoriev for Russian Olympic Team!!!

 

[museksk8r]

Mishin should ask Moskvina how she did it, they train at the same rink, don't they? Because somehow K/S got the second highest PCS at Worlds, and I love their skating, I really do. They are adorable and so cute! But more PCS than Pang / Tong? Moskvina did a damn good job!

You have to admit though that Pang/Tong were nowhere even close to their best at this World Championship . . . so many unison problems on the elements, Pang's jump issues with popping and downgrades, and those sloppy spins. Those technical problems affect the PCS scores.

 

[Okami]

I'm watching the LP now and I think Oda was crying because he realized that he gave away a medal?Don't think theses are tears of joy. That nearly breaks my heart.

Yes, I think so too. Just after his program he thought that he had shot himself near the podium (at least), and then Morozov told him he went Zayak. I'm heartbroken too.

Actually, Nobu really cried because he was happy. At the end of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIhbTBctPkk
Nobu was interviewed just after he got out of K&C:

Interviewer: How do you feel about your long program?

Nobu: I've been really concentrating on the quad, I'm just so happy to land it at World Chamionships.

I: Landing a quad in this competition is a real boost in confidence, isn't it?

N: Ah, really. I haven't landed it in the 6 minutes practice, but my coach told me to stop worrying and go for it... And, somehow, I landed it..! It truly made me happy.

I: You made a victory pose at the end of your program, and then cried in the Kiss & Cry - please tell us about that.

N: Because I landed the quad... aah, and then I made a mistake with the jumps... but really, to land the quad, it made me very satisfied with myself.

I: How do you feel about the score?

N: Well, my coach told me that one of my jumping passes will not count, and when I noticed I was like "Oops, I did it again!". But, in spite of that, I think it was a good experience. Really, the fact that I landed the quad here is a great accomplishment for me.

I: It really was a great performance. Thank you very much!

N: Thank you very much.

And speaking of crying - here is a translated interview from before Nationals in which Nobu said that he would like to land a quad and skate a program good enough to cry afterwards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAexoryGrFI

And Takahashi did the same thing last year at worlds! What was wrong with those Japanese men? Someone must teach them how to count!

I don't think it's the issue of not knowing the rule/not knowing how to count... Nobunari changed his LP jump layout on the fly in every single competition he entered and his changes were CoP-smart. I think it's more the problem of handiling emotions... Many times in his interviews Nobu said in interviewsthat he has a tendency to "blank out" - to get so overwhelmed by nerves/emotions that he can barely hear his own music.
In this particular competition it looked to me as if he couldn't believe that he kanded 4-3 and went on as if it wasn't there - his jump layout was similar to that from NHK Trophy. At NHK not combo-ing the second 3A didn't hurt him, because he made up in GoEs what he lost in base value, and the 3 jump combo counted.
I found it amusing that Kurt and Tracy didn't realize he made a mistake, either - Tracy actually praised Nobu for thinking on his legs. Takeshi Honda, on the other hand, immedialtly went "This was a fourth combination! "

 

[Buttercup]

Okami, thank you for an informative post and the insight into Nobu's Zayak problems... Maybe next season he'll get his quad and have all his jumps counted - three times is two too many. But good for him for finding the positive in the situation.

 

[Medusa]

I found it amusing that Kurt and Tracy didn't realize he made a mistake, either - Tracy actually praised Nobu for thinking on his legs. Takeshi Honda, on the other hand, immedialtly went "This was a fourth combination! "

I noticed it too the second he did it. I actually yelled "No!" (in German of course) and threw my stuffed horsie at the computer screen.

But all three Japanese men have the goods, a 1-2-3 in Vancouver is still possible. I was quite disappointed in Kozuka though, he was so tentative, made so many small mistakes on his jumps. He needs more confidence next season, but I hope he keeps the SP, it's gorgeous.

 

[viv]

Actually, Nobu really cried because he was happy. At the end of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIhbTBctPkk
Nobu was interviewed just after he got out of K&C:



And speaking of crying - here is a translated interview from before Nationals in which Nobu said that he would like to land a quad and skate a program good enough to cry afterwards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAexoryGrFI



I don't think it's the issue of not knowing the rule/not knowing how to count... Nobunari changed his LP jump layout on the fly in every single competition he entered and his changes were CoP-smart. I think it's more the problem of handiling emotions... Many times in his interviews Nobu said in interviewsthat he has a tendency to "blank out" - to get so overwhelmed by nerves/emotions that he can barely hear his own music.
In this particular competition it looked to me as if he couldn't believe that he kanded 4-3 and went on as if it wasn't there - his jump layout was similar to that from NHK Trophy. At NHK not combo-ing the second 3A didn't hurt him, because he made up in GoEs what he lost in base value, and the 3 jump combo counted.
I found it amusing that Kurt and Tracy didn't realize he made a mistake, either - Tracy actually praised Nobu for thinking on his legs. Takeshi Honda, on the other hand, immedialtly went "This was a fourth combination! "

Okami, thank you for the information. I'm glad that he is seeing the positive of the situation. I hope he stays away from injuries and rocks next year at Olympics!!

British Eurosport guys didn't realize the Zayak either, but Hendryk Schamberger on German Eurosport was all like "Oh my god, what is he doing, he just gave away a podium place..."

 

[Jaana]

This was an amazing men's free. Brian had it until that double axel. I still have no doubt that he would have won if he had done a salchow instead as planed or a clean double axel. He knew it too.

It was not just the double axel, Joubert lost points also in 3axel and 3flip:

http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2009/wc09_Men_FS_Scores.pdf

Yes, the men´s free was amazing, really exciting...

 

[Mathman]

Many times in his interviews Nobu said in interviewsthat he has a tendency to "blank out" - to get so overwhelmed by nerves/emotions that he can barely hear his own music.

One of my all-time figure skating quotes was by Shizuka Arakawa: "Blanking out was a good thing, actually, because by the time I came to my senses I was already half-way through my program."

I noticed it too the second he did it. I actually yelled "No!" (in German of course)

Nobunari thought you said "nine!" so he threw in an extra jumping pass.

 

[viv]

Nobunari thought you said "nine!" so he threw in an extra jumping pass.

 

[indicatoto101]

Nobu was so bitterly undermaked for his component scores. Lysaceck scored 9 pts higher than him on PCS. 9!!! The ISU might as well replace these judges with monkeys who probably would have judged the event better.

 

[Tonichelle]

Maybe the eventual result will be that the boys will run the girls off the playground and figure skating, like basketball, will become a boys' sport again, as it was 100 years ago.

Fine by me the boys are more fun to watch (and are better to look at) anyway!

 

[Medusa]

Fine by me the boys are more fun to watch (and are better to look at) anyway!

I totally agree with that. But we have to keep pairs and dance, because their are some fine-looking men among those, too...

 

[Eevun]

Ok I found Joubert's next seaon's SP. He should skate to this same music and choreography! It really suit him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc_VeHa9Lws&feature=related

ITA.

2. It was very disappointing to see the mostly American-Canadians crowd push their skaters only. Almost being forced to cheer on the others. Too bad. I guess the popularity is declining. Or maybe the crowd was mostly grannies (as someone mentioned) and the needed to conserve their strength

4. Really missed Johnny and Stephan

2. Hardly their own skaters either. When Evan "Bring It" took the ice the crowd went bananas, but I was very surprised when Jeremy and Brandon skated, I could hardly tell from the noise that it was home sons skating. Sounded more like the when the rest skated (mostly Europeans).

4. Tell me about it... *sighs*

USA has 3 spots
Japan 3 spots
Canada 2 spots
France 2 spots
Czech 2 spots
Kazastan 2 spots
Italy 2 spots
Russia 2 spots

USA needs 6
Japan needs 4
France needs 4
Canada needs 4
Just my opinion

Sweden needs 2...



Just a general feeling after men's comp this year: The field was more equal. I can't remember when it was such a huge field of potential winners (I've just watched skating since 2002). E.g. I was very happy for Adrian Schultheiss' score, he did a good and clean program, but was surprised of the placement; he finished 18th. He did very good, but the other were better. The top men very equal (last year it was 10 points between Brian 2nd and Johnny 3rd, 23 points difference on the podium. This year the podium difference was little more than 8 points), and around place 10-15 it's not a huge gap in the score. It felt very hard to predict, and I enjoyed watching it very much (contrast to Evgeni's time. The excitement back then was to predict the silver...). But also surprisingly few really clean programs. Almost everyone had stumbles and step-outs. So, a quite even field, but maybe not harder/better level.