Okay, it was difficult to watch some of top guys, or more like – difficult to find videos...but here we go (first part is posted probably on page 141 if anyone's interested
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Boyang – I think that this season is kind of 'transition season' for him, where he has to cope a bit with his body and still develop in both technical and presentation areas, but after the rocky start, he really found his feet on the ground, especially in terms of presentation. He really grown for me from a wonder kid with all this jumping ability to promising, engaging performer, skater with so much to offer, a skater who sure will find (or already found) his 'target' audience. I'd say that seeing him between Patrick or Yuzuru, or Shoma, he does not have the same 'complexity' or 'multitasking' in seamless merge of quality, skill and presentation, he may not have as deep edges or ice coverage, but yesterday's performance really highlighted his best qualities for me, instead of pointing out his lacks or things he does not yet have. He commanded music, the entertaining, easy feel of it adding so much personality and charisma in process, spicing whole performance with that spark of fun, like it should be. I felt a real joy and abandon oozing from him, as the tech side progressed nicely, he seemed to get more relaxed and 'courageous' in performing which was great to see. I do see a lot of potential in his development, a promise of creating that personal 'Boyang' signature over his skating, a style with much more than just big jumps. And personally I feel like he has that rare ability to feel out the crowd, to sense where to press harder, to express and tune amp up just perfectly in the program. He just has to be patient and give himself time to put it in a better use.
Nathan – personally, I'm glad that this big PR bubble around him, pumped for last few weeks finally broke, it is only for his best. Of course, it is always hard to see a fall, that interuption within performance from such poised, skilled skater with a soul of competitor, but somehow I felt like a big stone of pressure was taken from his back. I get his disappointment, but it should only fuel him up towards not only FS, but all seasons to follow. Performance and presentation-wise, it was not his prime for me, he seemed a bit too stiff and tensed and loosened up after the fall, paradoxically, giving much more 'fire' in that performance. I'm not convinced by this whole 'leaping balletic' PR stuff, but I do see the allure and right channelling his balletic skills in his skating – there is quite a harmony between his stance and way of presenting himself and his mad technical skills regarding jumps. Saying that, an entire other story is the way he presents programs and works in them and I believe that he'll find his way around this too, sooner than later. I totally get the appeal he creates, because for me he embodies fierceness and freshness of courage and being adventurous and yes, now his jumps, explosiveness of them is a focus point, but I trust him and his team to enrich it with much more. He fills his performance and programs with what he has, the overall impression for me is not as impactful as regarding others, but there will be that seeking balance and development process for him, similar to Boyang I feel. Fantastic thing for me about Nathan is that he truly lives up and lits up while competing, his passion and devotion for skating so strong after what he's been through quite recently. Without a doubt he'll chase perfection, but I do wish he would chase an optimum state for himself, a state where he would getting better and better just to prove himself, not necessarily the others, as there will be always someone in opposition.
To continue with US Men, as there will be a common point of summary about them below, Jason blew my mind with sheer force and impact of his presentation and interpretation. I get that a lot of people seem to be eager about an idea of quad qualification contest before actual competition/enjoy belittling and shaming skaters without quads (Jason in particular), like it is justified. But it is never justified to put a shame on skater just because he's not doing technical evoltions that others do. Every skater should do best they can, considering skills, abilities, health state – there is quite a difference between level of technical difficulty and level of quality of a performance as a whole for me, and I can appreciate skaters excelling in both these areas, making their performances special and unique. And if they can add a charisma, personality, incorporate musicality within the whole thing, it's only an advantage. Jason is an exquisite example of a competitor with confidence and sureness on his best assets and how to use them in best way possible, to get results and recognition. He capitalizes on superb quality of his movement, great musicality and interpretation/projection skills towards programs and music, an unique ability to 'click' with the crowd and make an impact on it by his whole skating package presented. His allure is much more complex and deeper than jumps as he translates skating as a multi-dimentional experience, like he did yesterday. Crispness, finishing of movement, attenion to detail, vivid but not overcooked) expression, crazy spins, fantastic glide, speed and power through who;e performance. I mean – when there's so much to cherish and appreciate, it takes a lot of personally-projected prejudicions towards Men's skating in general to deny Jason level he represents and scores he gets, if crystal clean. And above all said – he's got a spark, positivity and open attitude with no regrets, seen in every performance, successful or not, so rare to see. Wish people would understand that a competitive force can be actually taken from other things than jumps alone and no skater, even the best one, should not be reduced nor limited only by their jumping abilities.
And as andromache already pointed – some people need to make up their minds and ditch double standards or personal hypocricy (as applicable) as there is seething over Nathan's PCS boosted by his tech and sneering over quadless Jason getting his scores is PCS comparing to skaters with quads at the same time. It is indeed hard to be that divisive regarding Men's skating it seems, as the logic is getting away in the process...My take on that is quite simple (and naive for a lot) – both skaters are extremely different and capitalizes on their strenghts being placed in totally opposite areas, but both being same, fierce and valuable competitors at the same time.There is no point of denying value for neither of them as they performances/presentation abilities should be viewed separately and in context with actual skate produced. Nathan getting PCS he does is not blocking judges for rewarding Jason for qualities and skills he represents, same goes in opposite way. The competition is really not about skaters being compared between each other, who deserves what in light of others – if it would be that way, scoring had to be done after last skater would leave the ice and it would be extremely politicized or 'reputation'-inflicted. For me, competition is about producing individual performances and then assessing them on their own – after all, it is who was the best at that day, not who is the best on paper/who deserves what in paper.
As for Yuzuru – despite glitches and not crystal clean performance, he still managed to get me crazy about this program. I adore 'Rockstar Yuzuru' the most and I feel like this is only one of his versatile sides, abilities to embody different stuff in his own, unique way. Still dazzled by his speed, attack and glide towards every element, musicality so infectious and prominent in every movement, especially spins, great contact with audience, very expressive, yet not in over-the-top way. And I live for his 3As – in whole SP my favourite was his, period, there is just something in the way he attacks that jump, with very little set-up and the landing is so explosive, so attention-demanding...And on a general note, seeing him this season maybe not so foot-perfect like he got us used to, I think that his search for that optimal state, balance in his skating – even with some disappointments – is one of the most valuable things about Yuzuru. He wants to go beyond boundaries, pushing and expanding things and I think that at this point he's his most challengeing competitor and critic which could be best and worst at the same time. I just want to see him satisfied and engaged with all he does, in this crazy reality consisting of constant raising the bar and the pressure.
Now, two performances which moved me deeply – Shoma and Patrick. Both of them created a complex unity, controlled and with abandon at the same time, really compelling and captivating. And on paper, those are even not my favourite programs, which says a lot about power created by those performances...While the force that hit me was equal, I noticed a slight difference in structure of both programs and feel they gave me. Shoma really commanded the music by his movement, molding it like an instrument for his own use, expressing all highs and lows in the process and creating an aura around him; at the same time, Patrick again used his body as an instrument, his own vehicle to transport emotions and carry interpretation – the way he blended seamlessly into the music and created a liquid art of motion left me speechless. While Shoma gave me a feel of vividness, dramatic forte and edge, Patrick brought me peace and harmony, coloured with melancholy.
I felt like Shoma really put his heart on the sleeve for this skate an gave his all, especially from expression/interpretation side as he not only paced himself,focused and poised, but at the same time expressed that longing and sadness behind music. Yes, tech side was explosive, exciting and spectacular to see, but what caught within me the most was that perfect balance achieved between music, movement and emotion. The pacing, timing were so amazing, he really molded that music for his own use and rules. And that atmosphere around him – youthful excitement mixed with shyness, enormous talent and determintion, adding to that this 'transformation' ability when he steps on ice, going deep into character of the program and the music. Also, I noticed for the first time in this SP nice,little details between elements, especially hands work to accentuate violin. He could appear as not the tallest/most impactful skater by his appearance, but he definitely proved how explosive and moving is his skating.
Patrick really carried me somewhere else by his performance. I like that this season he went for something more 'current', bolder,proving himself not only being an exqusite lyricist, but also amazing 'modernist' in terms of style and interpretation. Everything just flew seamlessly, from jump to spin, to step...And somewhere in between I really lost track of elements and requirements he has to do, because skating became a bit of art in motion. The flow of that energy, relaxed, not rushed feel was so strong – Patrick really embodied a sense of melancholy and nostalgy hidden in music, adding his personality and that gentle smile and touch over whole performance to give it just enough spark. There is really no one else with skill Patrick has, skill to transform ordinary/difficult or minimal stuff into something truly special. It takes a hand of someone gifted to create a moment to remember like Patrick did, full of softness and power at the same time, yet so harmonious for every human sense.
And finally Javier...Once again he proved his worth as a valuable, strong and determined competitor, regardless of public voices. I have to say that I have a bit mixed feelings about that skate – on one side, it was a masteful display of his capability, skill and cool head, there was polish and quality over jumps in particular, and the program is very well-matched. It was continous, it was strong and resonated loudly. But at the same time the performance as a whole left me a bit indiferrent and cold, especially comparing it to other ones, but this is only my personal feel. And call me silly, but I don't think that all black costume is better – somehow, I feel like with that Matador costume with red colour the program and performance were much more expressive, lively and in character. I just can't shake a feel of too much coolness and 'sort of mechanical', calculated expression, lack of freedom and abandon I sensed watching Javier. Don't get me wrong – I do appreaciate a lot the way he focused and executed the program in a great way, with so much polish. But watching other guys I really wish he would be more 'out' there for the performance, that's just my impression.
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