2024 Finlandia Trophy: Men's Thoughts?

[gsk8]

Yuma Kagiyama reigns in Finland

2024 Finlandia Trophy | Men Yuma Kagiyama of Japan claimed the Men's title at 2024 Finlandia Trophy on Saturday afternoon in Helsinki. Kevin Aymoz of

www.goldenskate.com

Was really glad to see Aymoz do well again! I hope he keeps the momentum going as I look forward to the "Galindo-routines" in the K&C

I hope Tomono has more time to recover from his hip injury and takes it easy before nationals.

Cha...wish he wouldn't have withdrawn. It wasn't clear what the "injury" was, but I hope he quickly recovers.

I adore Kagiyama. I just want to dress him up and put him in my large handbag and carry him around with me so I can pinch his cheeks....

What are your thoughts on the men's event?

 

[Mathman]

Very interesting competition! Yuma Kagiyama was so far ahead after the short program that he won easily overall despite dropping to fifth in the LP.

 

[cailuj365]

Kevin's free skate program is my favorite for the men this year. Really nice build from beginning to end, and he matches the mood and intensity throughout.

Kagiyama looked a bit crushed after his FS, but everyone's entitled to a bad day and OK to do it here. Back-to-back weeks are hard, especially when there's pressure to be perfect all the time. I know the bull on the back of his shirt is already the "upgrade," but I think it needs another upgrade. All I see is a uterus with bloody fallopian tube tips.

 

[Arigato]

Pleased to see Kevin's state of mind at this event. He made mistakes but laughed it off and kept going. Major progress there. Sorry to see such a talented skater as Yuma come apart for the same reason. State of mind. It'll make or break you. Best of luck to both skaters as the season marches on.

 

[sadya]

Kevin's free skate program is my favorite for the men this year. Really nice build from beginning to end, and he matches the mood and intensity throughout.

Kagiyama looked a bit crushed after his FS, but everyone's entitled to a bad day and OK to do it here. Back-to-back weeks are hard, especially when there's pressure to be perfect all the time. I know the bull on the back of his shirt is already the "upgrade," but I think it needs another upgrade. All I see is a uterus with bloody fallopian tube tips.

Same! I thought it was just me! I saw ovaries and wondered how those played in the theme of the program, what was he saying about procreation? I was watching late, was sleepy and didn't have my glasses on. Only after rewatching the next day did I realise it was a bull for the Spanish theme. I'm so relieved someone else had the same thought! At least now I won't need a therapist about seeing ovaries on a skating costume actually representing a bull . . .

 

[noskates]

"I adore Kagiyama. I just want to dress him up and put him in my large handbag and carry him around with me so I can pinch his cheeks...."

It's raining and dreary here this morning but that sentence made me laugh out loud. And I can almost picture that scenario. I don't think he had the skate he wanted to but it was good enough. As usual I'm looking forward to Japanese Nationals and their outcome - both in the women and the men's singles.

Disappointed again in Camden.

 

[DonnaR]

It was so great to see Kevin skate so well after a difficult end to last season. So happy to see the joy back in his skating and it will be great to see him again at the Grand Prix Final! Very sad that Junhwan had to withdraw - I hope the injury is minor and won't affect the rest of his season.

 

[Jeanie19]

"I adore Kagiyama. I just want to dress him up and put him in my large handbag and carry him around with me so I can pinch his cheeks...."

It's raining and dreary here this morning but that sentence made me laugh out loud. And I can almost picture that scenario. I don't think he had the skate he wanted to but it was good enough. As usual I'm looking forward to Japanese Nationals and their outcome - both in the women and the men's singles.

Disappointed again in Camden.

Camden is working full time and going to the rink before and after work. It's a lot. I feel for him.

 

[elbkup]

As usual my favorites were in the first group of skaters, though I love Yuma. Enjoyed Camden, Selevko, Cha, and Vladimir..

 

[noskates]

I realize Camden is working, etc. but he hasn't improved much for awhile. Each year I hope he'll find some consistency because he's such a beautiful skater. I'm sure it's difficult to work full time, etc. but others do it.

 

[Joubabe]

I realize Camden is working, etc. but he hasn't improved much for awhile. Each year I hope he'll find some consistency because he's such a beautiful skater. I'm sure it's difficult to work full time, etc. but others do it.

What bums me out about Camden is that I thought after he graduated that he was going to work full time on skating to try to make the Olympic team. I understand making his career the priority, but it doesn't bode well for his skating future.

 

[TallyT]

What bums me out about Camden is that I thought after he graduated that he was going to work full time on skating to try to make the Olympic team.

The thing is. as always, can he afford to?

 

[noskates]

Who knows! He's been skating for years, I imagine he's had support from USFSA and Columbia ain't cheap. I, too, thought he was going to skate full time after graduation but maybe he had a job offer he couldn't refuse. In any case, I really wish he would get it together if possible because he is lovely to watch.

 

[Arigato]

“It was a tough week flying between Boston and Washington, D.C.,” Pulkinen said. “I am understanding the role and my responsibilities even more now, and I am learning even more about myself as a result. I feel grateful to have this opportunity.”


One of the reasons why Pulkinen accepted the role at Capital One was the flexibility that it offered, allowing the pursuit for an Olympic team berth. The company asks for two to three days in the office per week, with Mondays and Fridays as work from home days. This arrangement has allowed Pulkinen to craft a schedule that supports success not only in the professional world but in the rink as well.


“It’s a pretty flexible environment,” he said. “As long as I am communicating with my team and let them know what I am doing, when I am available, and make my meetings, they are flexible. I am completely transparent with everything that I have outside of the office, and I appreciate that Capital One sees beyond the employee because we are more than the identity of who we are at work.”


Despite the flexible work schedule that Capital One offers, Pulkinen has still had to make some adjustments to his training. For starters, he is unable to travel to Lakewood, California, to work with Rafael Arutunian as he had in previous seasons due to logistical reasons.

Pulkinen Tries New Balancing Act | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

He's not working with Raf any longer and that can easily have a major impact on his jumps. Having said that, I am never disappointed in his skating skills.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

I cheered when I saw that Kevin Aymoz wasn't giving up after that fall. This looked like it was a personal victory for him.

 

[el henry]

Camden worked with Raf for all of about six months total, maybe. Raf, like every other coach, gives the spiel that you need two years to adapt to his methods, Camden wasn't there long enough to adopt his methods.

Camden knows his problem is mental. He has worked on it, but way easier said than done. He is a gorgeous skater when he is "on". But we all know how variable that is.

 

[Arigato]

A. Selevko worked with Raf for the summer prior to 2024 Euros. Per Johnny Weir, it helped him immensely.

 

[el henry]

A. Selevko worked with Raf for the summer prior to 2024 Euros. Per Johnny Weir, it helped him immensely.

I am only quoting Raf himself about the two years. I saw no difference in Camden's jumps from when he was seeing Raf for a month in the summer and when he did not, but I am far from a jump maven.

 

[Arigato]

I am only quoting Raf himself about the two years. I saw no difference in Camden's jumps from when he was seeing Raf for a month in the summer and when he did not, but I am far from a jump maven.

I know Raf's quote re: 2 years and it was from when he was working with Nathan as a solo coach. He doesn't do that anymore nor does he care to, per Raf. That's why he currently works with a slew of skaters on a short-term basis, such as Selevko for a summer etc. People don't need two years to get a benefit from working with Raf, since they are not learning jumps from scratch. That's what his quote was referring to - teaching a jump from scratch and stabilizing it takes roughly two years. Camden doesn't need to learn new jumps from scratch at his age, he needs to stabilize what he has already learned. If he isn't on the ice enough, his jumps will suffer. Jumps aside, I'm glad he has his head on straight, and not in the clouds, by preparing for a future in finance after skating.