Patrick Chan | Page 8 | Golden Skate

Patrick Chan

Violet Bliss

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Patrick doesn't exactly call the media to announce his skating plan. He is one of the stars of the events, and last year, without Tessa and Scott, he was the sole headliner for the promotion of the event. A "show down" with Kevin Reynolds was hyped and a conference call with journalists was arranged with him and the quad question was asked and answered. I'm quite suer there would be some sort of media event before the competition and the new quad question will quite likely be posed to him then.

I wouldn't rule out him including a new quad. It depends on how well he will have trained since the GPF, possibly the longest stretch of training time he has had since last Worlds. Last year at this time he had just come off the GPF with clean programs with his 4T so everything was on track to include another 4T as planned. While last year's obstacles were mental, which he overcame by the GPF, this year's troubles have been more physical, with lack of training time as well as some health issues causing the subpar performances thus far. I think only Patrick and his team know for sure his readiness and the way he likes to stick to plans, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually goes ahead with adding a new quad. This year he is going to 4CC which involves no travelling for him so it's another practice opportunity before Worlds to put in the new quad if he doesn't do so at the Nationals.

The Nationals is really an ideal place to try something new and difficult because by then the program is familiar and the event offers no competitive stress. The home crowd support adds energy so why not go for it then?
 

callalily

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 11, 2005
Here are a couple of interesting Youtube finds - Jeff Buttle commenting on Patrick's Nationals skates. They are called Earphone Guides, with Jeff in conversation with someone I can't identify, during Patrick's live performances. There is no visual action so don't think there is something wrong like I did.

Earphone Guide by Jeff Buttle:

Patrick Chan / 2011 Canadian Nationals LP

Patrick Chan / 2010 Canadian Nationals LP

This is Skatebug audio commentary that someone has recorded and uploaded to Youtube. At national and international events in Canada you can buy a "Skatebug" radio receiver (an earphone, i guess you could call it) and listen to commentary that is provided during all the events, and sometimes practices as well.

On the 2011 clip you can hear two commentators talking to Jeff: Jamie McGrigor (an ISU technical specialist) and Ted Barton (he was part of the ISU team that developed the new judging system). They have guests like Jeff drop by and contribute to the Skatebug commentary from time to time. On the 2010 clip I just noticed Jamie and Jeff talking.
 

Violet Bliss

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Boeing, I find that write-up quite muddled and incongruous. I certainly don't find his Aranjuez frantic at all. The ending footwork sequence is particularly flowing and breathtaking. In the article he said he's not adding a new quad as his quads have regressed but at the GPF SP it was so gorgeous that he decided to tack on the 3T, unfortunately (and comically) ending up crashing into the board after the landing. In a Skate Buzz interview, he said his 3A has become so consistent after TEB that it's now his go to jump. It's hard to figure out where he's at.

It's probably a good thing for him to pace himself for the 2014 Olympics. He's established himself as a dominant competitor last season so this year is the right time to take a breather and map out a plan and trajectory up to Sochi.

He just did another PSA, this time for Sparks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21jOQ306bAs
 

spikydurian

Medalist
Joined
Jan 15, 2012
POTO???? :laugh: For a moment I was wondering what that means. I prefer Aranjuez to POTO too :agree: Particularly the footwork where he 'swirls and twirls' .. does remind me of ballroom dancing. Hopefully, he can skate clean. Worlds will be interesting with Plushenko back in competition.
 

skatinginbc

Medalist
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
"Patrick Chan is blowing up his pants in his hotel room."
I was more interested in the hotel room than his pants. The room looks "economical". He seems to be really living on a tight budget.
 

Violet Bliss

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
"Patrick Chan is blowing up his pants in his hotel room."
I was more interested in the hotel room than his pants. The room looks "economical". He seems to be really living on a tight budget.

Doesn't Skate Canada provide hotel rooms for competitors?

What about his luggage? Are you able to identify its contents? :)

eta: Welcome aboard, spikydurian. Aren't all durians spiky? ;) And yummy!
 
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Boeing787

On the Ice
Joined
Oct 21, 2011
Then Skate Canada is either cheap or on a tight budget.
how about both cheap and on a tight budget? :biggrin:

The hotel room doesn't seem fancy, but at least serves the purpose - Patrick can even blow up his pants on his bed. You should check up the hotel room he and Bryce shared in Italy during 2010 worlds. They slept on twin size beds, and the European twin size bed is 1/5 narrower than North American standard. Wonder how they could manage to stay on bed at night and not fall off.
 

Violet Bliss

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
I don't need to concern myself with those multimillionaires' problems. :p


SkateBuzz' A Minute With Patrick Chan.

I remember he went to that John Meyer concert with his girlfriend who had gone down to visit him. I wonder how the long distance relationship is going these days.

eta a lesser fluff and a good read: Chan's in high gear again or a little more in depth in Canadian star Patrick Chan hopes string of men’s skating success continues

I like it that he seems very relaxed in the videos and the pictures. Has anybody here watched his practice? Wonder if there is archived video.
 
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spikydurian

Medalist
Joined
Jan 15, 2012
Doesn't Skate Canada provide hotel rooms for competitors?

What about his luggage? Are you able to identify its contents? :)

eta: Welcome aboard, spikydurian. Aren't all durians spiky? ;) And yummy!

Thank you. Not everyone knows that durians are spiky and yummy. ;) Sounds like we have at least two similar favourites :yay: Hey, what do you all think about the coming Worlds? HOpe Patrick gets his jumps firmed up on time.
 

gkelly

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Doesn't Skate Canada provide hotel rooms for competitors?

Then Skate Canada is either cheap or on a tight budget.

I don't know how Skate Canada does things, but I would guess it's similar to how USFS does.

They reserve a block of rooms in an official host hotel, which competitors are encouraged to use. The competitors (or competitors' parents, in most cases) pay for their own rooms and other expenses. They also pay for their coaches' expenses. (And some coaches also want to be paid for all the lessons that they usually teach other skaters every week but will have to miss while they're out of town at the competition)

Nationals and other domestic qualifying competitions are huge expenses for competitive skaters -- big money losing opportunities.

There's no rule requiring competitors to stay in the official hotel. If they choose to save money by staying someplace cheaper, that's their option. It might be less convenient though.

Of course placing well at Nationals is exactly what leads to international assignments (that are paid for by the federation) and/or funding. But you have to spend money for the privilege of trying to earn those opportunities.

Of course a world champion, or even a national champion, receives funding from the federation that goes toward paying expenses. But the amount of direct funding would generally pale compared to the costs of achieving the results to qualify for it.
 

Bluebonnet

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Then Skate Canada is either cheap or on a tight budget.

The room looks very much like HolidayInn Express level. What do you think the athletes are? I think the room setting is good enough and serves the purpose well. Of course any skaters could choose living in a more luxury hotel and upgrade the room if they are willing to pay by themselves, like Lysacek has done in Vancouver Olympics.
 

gkelly

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
The point is, at Olympics the rooms are paid for by the organizers; athletes can choose to stay elsewhere if they want to pay for themselves.

Same for other international competitions, but then it's hotels and not a "village."

At nationals all costs are paid by the competitors, not by the federation.
 
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