What will the 2011/2012 season bring us in the men?

[Krislite]

If the Russians are so good at politicking, Leonova, Kavaguti/Smirnov, and Bobrova/Soloviev all would have been on the podium at worlds this year. Yes there is the argument that Kavaguti/Smirnov are Russian #2 now and Russia did have Volosozhar/Trankov on the podium, but if politicking was really that successful now, B/S would have been on the podium as Russia's #1. Instead, they lost to the relative newbies to seniors, the Shibutanis, who had never been to Sr. Worlds, and Weaver and Poje, who came into the competition as Canada's #3 and weren't even at Worlds last year.

The Russians aren't the only ones politicking. There are other powerful federations pulling strings, so it's always a delicate and complicated matter. Besides, they wouldn't want to spend most of their political capital pushing poor medal contenders (e.g. Leonova) to the podium when that capital is much better spent backing other contenders in the future, especially as we get closer to 2014.

 

[Neda]

Rus fed relied on medals in pairs and ice dance. They didn't consider Artur as serious condender this year. His task was to be in top 10 and get two spots in men for the next season. So I doubt there was any politicking about him this time. But at Sochi of cause federation will do its best to support him.

 

[seniorita]

Wake up and smell the roses is an expression I have to learn to enrich my vocabulary?

 

[pangtongfan]

The Russians arent even that good at politiking now. Many other federations are better. Blue_Idealist is right.

 

[pangtongfan]

Say what?! Doubtful, especially if Plushenko is there.

Beating old man Plushenko if he is dumb enough to return will be easy for Gaschinsky by 2014. Beating Chan will be 10 times harder though.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

There is a big difference between the Soviet skater and the Russian skater. The latter is much more atuned to the mainstream of figure skating. Gachinsky who trains with Mishin is the exception, and he continues the Soviet style. Mishin needs a very natural talented young man to train his jumping technique. He is at a loss with a skater who has a flair for personal style like Lutai. Mishin knows the power of the audience with big jumping skills, and he plays that to the hilt. Even western judges are impressed with jumping skills and it adds points to other scoring skills, unfortunately. Watch for Gachinsky to rival Chan at Sochi time.

 

[Neda]

Beating old man Plushenko if he is dumb enough to return will be easy for Gaschinsky by 2014. Beating Chan will be 10 times harder though.

You are wrong. The only one who can prevent Artur from wining medal in Sochi is old man Plushenko even if he won't be on podium himself. Of cause, Chan is an extremely strong opponent. But Mishin's students consider themselves some sort of skating elite and don't fear tough rivalry. It will be rather exciting for Gachinski to fight with Chan. Artur already has in practice 4T, 4S, 4lo and 4F. He is cold-blooded and doing great under pressure of tribunes. I heard he is going to work with Lambiel on his choreography and spins. He will perform Olympic program at home. He is 3 years younger then Patrick and he may win gold if Plushenko doesn't stop him. Because Plushenko is not just a rival. He was elder brother, teacher and heartthrob of Artur for all his life. It may be mentally hard for Gachinski to compete with his idol. Chan, Kozuka, Takahashy and any other skater can not suppress Gachinski or put him to confusion but Plushenko can. Also there is Mishin who says about Gachinski: “He is my main project for Sochi” and about Plushenko: “He is more then son to me”. Feel the difference. If both will train and compete at the same time I don't bet on Artur.

 

[Spun Silver]

^ Wow. A legend has just been created, in one post!

Seniorita, to urge someone to "wake up and smell the roses" (or more often, "smell the coffee") is to recommend that he or she notice the obvious.

 

[seniorita]

^ thanx, i ll note it down!

He is at a loss with a skater who has a flair for personal style like Lutai. Mishin knows the power of the audience with big jumping skills, and he plays that to the hilt.

Plushenko - Yagudin didnt have a personal style? Cause like them or not, they dont look like anyone else.
I will disagree about Mishin ( of course I will) Mishin is a professor, he has studied biochemics of jumps and has applied his research to his students, has created magic vest etc, gives lectures around the world for it. There are coaches and coaches, Morozov for example maybe has the best packaging and thats why all skaters go to him this season like bees to the honey!
But I like Mishin even if he is old school. He approached what he teaches with research and study, has gone to the core of it. I doubt he has done all this because audience buys it.
I thought good technique in jumps prevents from injuries as much as it is possible, is essential to stay on your feet most of the time under pressure and jumps is a big part of singles skating, why deny it? And before CoP used to be even bigger part. If you have the best feet and edges but you cant jump a double axel you dont go to single skating. If you have the best jumps but not the best feet you may go to singles.

Beating old man Plushenko if he is dumb enough to return will be easy for Gaschinsky by 2014.

Do you really think you are more clever than Plushenko or any figure skater for that matter when it comes their sport and they dont know what they can do?

 

[wmsb]

Also there is Mishin who says about Gachinski: “He is my main project for Sochi” and about Plushenko: “He is more then son to me”. Feel the difference. If both will train and compete at the same time I don't bet on Artur.

to me it is like "let's depend on Gachinski in Sochi and let Plushenko stay home and watch TV"

What if Mishin had said "Plushenko is my main project for Sochi and Gachinski is more than a son"......souds a little bitter strange, right? so don't take it so seriously.

 

[let`s talk]

You are wrong. The only one who can prevent Artur from wining medal in Sochi is old man Plushenko even if he won't be on podium himself. Of cause, Chan is an extremely strong opponent. But Mishin's students consider themselves some sort of skating elite and don't fear tough rivalry. It will be rather exciting for Gachinski to fight with Chan. Artur already has in practice 4T, 4S, 4lo and 4F. He is cold-blooded and doing great under pressure of tribunes. I heard he is going to work with Lambiel on his choreography and spins. He will perform Olympic program at home. He is 3 years younger then Patrick and he may win gold if Plushenko doesn't stop him. Because Plushenko is not just a rival. He was elder brother, teacher and heartthrob of Artur for all his life. It may be mentally hard for Gachinski to compete with his idol. Chan, Kozuka, Takahashy and any other skater can not suppress Gachinski or put him to confusion but Plushenko can. Also there is Mishin who says about Gachinski: “He is my main project for Sochi” and about Plushenko: “He is more then son to me”. Feel the difference. If both will train and compete at the same time I don't bet on Artur.

Good news about Lambiel.

 

[Olympia]

But I like Mishin even if he is old school. He approached what he teaches with research and study, has gone to the core of it. I doubt he has done all this because audience buys it.
I thought good technique in jumps prevents from injuries as much as it is possible, is essential to stay on your feet most of the time under pressure and jumps is a big part of singles skating, why deny it? And before CoP used to be even bigger part. If you have the best feet and edges but you cant jump a double axel you dont go to single skating. If you have the best jumps but not the best feet you may go to singles.

I agree. Obviously Mishin teaches a very pure, strong jumping technique. No wonder, as Neda says, Mishin skaters think of themselves as a skating elite. They are. Mishin doesn't seem to leave anything to chance. I love the loyalty between Mishin and Plushy, by the way. Their relationship is like that between the great old ballet masters and their premier danseur star pupils, who might become the teachers of the next generation. There's something noble in the way Mishin and Plushenko look at skating. It isn't just a sport...it's a calling.

 

[seniorita]

Right after Vancouver I was a little pissed off that Mishin neglected to make a better CoP program for Evgeni for his comeback, then in the Mishin anniversary show this March, in a full arena with so many officials EVgeni kneed down in front of him and said that without you i would be nothing, and I thought if Evgeni himself havent ever charged Mishin for whatever happened in Olympics, when all coach-athlete relationships come to a test, why should I? That moment surpassed any second Oly gold.

 

[blue_idealist]

Say what you want, but I still don't think Gachinski will be the Sochi gold medalist. If it's not Chan, it'll be Takahiko Kozuka. I think even Brezina or Amodio have better chances of winning the Olympic gold in Sochi than Gachinski. His world bronze was flukeish.

 

[seniorita]

I dont think Arthur will be for gold also. But he is too young to tell. Maybe his bronze was by luck but he kept skating consistently whole season, having good placement at Euros also. He will be a considerable force, maybe not gold contender. But neither Amodio. He hasnt started yet the quads in competition even in Lp and he is not SO young. I dont find him close to the others. Brezina maybe, for now I m looking forward to his new lp.
I vote Hanyu and Kozuka for next season. Sochi is 3 seasons away...

 

[Neda]

But neither Amodio. He hasnt started yet the quads in competition even in Lp and he is not SO young. I dont find him close to the others.

But this year Florent Amodio became a champion on his debut euros. It's awesome result. And Patrick Chan showed to everyone how short may be the way from quadrophob to quadrophile

 

[Serious Business]

It's waaaaaaaaaay too early to predict who will win in Sochi. But if I have to, I'll go with Jason Brown for Gold. More of a hope than prediction, really, but it absolutely could happen.

 

[silverlake22]

But this year Florent Amodio became a champion on his debut euros. It's awesome result. And Patrick Chan showed to everyone how short may be the way from quadrophob to quadrophile

So true. Also doesn't Amodio do 4s in practice? I heard a lot about that last season at the Olympics. If he could get that out in competition next season and have decent programs, I can see him doing really well.

 

[seniorita]

^ you know, IF you repeat it 128 more times besides the already 128 you have, you might convice all.
------
I was listening to Amodio 's quad salcow since last season too, but I was afraid Morozov would keep him like Oda for many seasons, doing great quads in practice and thats all, prefering a clean skate. Now i just read he might switch to another coach, so my prediction is going to garbage anyway.

I know he won Euros and it was an awesome moment, I was thinking if he stands as a gold contender outside europe, for the moment at least and felt he doesnt. I certainly like him a lot. He should start adding the quad in the lp at least. Doesnt he have also a 4toe?

from quadrophob to quadrophile

these are the weirdest quad words I ve ever read

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I never take note of what skaters are doing in practice. In fact when I used to watch practice sessions at championships, I realized what you see in practice is not necessarily what you see in real competition. The time for any Quad is in the Competition, and those tricks are just a part of the total score.

Senorita - If there is any truth about Amodio leaving Morozov, I would be happy to hear that. His choreography for Men is non competitive, but strictly shobiz. Surely there is a choreographer in Paris that can give Florent a decent manly competitive program.