2024 NHK Trophy Men's Short Program | Page 15 | Golden Skate

2024 NHK Trophy Men's Short Program

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I'll probably miss the FS tomorrow, I have to go out...
 
I've only managed to watch Yuma, Kao and Matteo so far. Great skates! Yuma has upped his skills again? His spins were super fast. I hate, hate, hate his awful music, but the skate itself was soooo smooth. He's the best at the moment. Others might have more rare quads but he is pure quality.

Kao was also very impressive. Amazing speed, good choreo, the first combos was huge, he absolutely catapulted himself through the air.

I'm also happy that Matteo seems to be back on track, he alsoways looks so passionate, but he seemed still ab it slow and choppy on occasion.

Now, I somehow thought Daniel Grassl was still banned. I could have lived with never having to see him again for various reasons.
 
I wasn't willing to stay up last night, so I'm just catching the performances. A couple notes:

1. Andrew: What a dream season. He's actually having an impact on the GP and getting his name out there. I hope he can keep it up in the free.

2. Jason: I'm expecting him to have the jumps by Nationals. Once he does it will be very special. I love that he continues to challenge himself with his footwork and in betweens. That 3F is so satisfying.

3. Yuma: Having watched what Adam and Ilia are bringing this season, what Yuma is doing is completely next level to me. The flow, the steps and turns, and the landings are just gorgeous. He's doing some Jason-level steps with some of the most gorgeous jumps out there. If I were crowning the best all-around skater today it would easily be Yuma. So grateful that after the Olympics and his injury he took his time and took his skating to another level.
 
Yuma is almost a perfect skater. Amazing basic skating. Incredible jumps and his performance is growing. He still doesn't move me in the way that Shoma or Jason do. But, he will get there. There really isn't anything to criticize. He deserves more PCS separation from Kao.

Kao is often a hard watch for me. I find his basic skating a bit rough (although obviously fast) and he often has the bare basics when it comes to choreo. This program is an improvement. There is more choreo. But I really don't understand how he got only a point and half or so less in PCS than Yuma. The jumps are incredible, but the skating is just okay. I disagree with the judges here. I find Ilya and Kao roughly equal in PCS and neither should be above 37 if Yuma is getting 46.

Matteo's skating was wonderful outside of the jump mistake but the judges never seem to appreciate his edges as much as I do.

Andrew was incredible . I do hope he isn't too tired in the FS and can do better than last week. He is just quality.

I agree that Jason will be incredible by nationals. I heard he was having boot issues. Hopefully, he sorts that out soon. This SP is incredible.
 
Went to bed after group 1 last night and got up with fresh eyes to watch group 2. Yuma and Kao were exceptional - so much so for Kao, I knew this would be his first SP score over 100. It was. Great program for him done by Benoit. It really works for Kao's style. Onward to the Free!
 
Sooo many lame programs, I only managed to watch Yuma and Kao from beginning to end, I had to skip through the rest as soon as I heard their music and seen a few seconds. Jason's program got more interesting in the second half, but could still be better. I also don't love Yuma's program, but good skating is good skating.
 
I don't understand how the only thing that Kagiyama just doesn't get--performance--is the one thing his team just leaves alone, while working on the same glide and the same landings that are pretty good. He was bland, he is still bland, I've never seen him not bland or show some kind of engagement to his music choices. Good thing there was Miura who is always big emotions channeler and Torgashev who seized the opportunity offered to him and who didn't hose it with a fall in the flip, somehow managing to land. Awesome program for him, total fire within and without, wish it put him into 3rd. Sad for Rizzo. Hope they will all hold up in the free.
 
Tp be fair, none of the current top contenders is really an all-rounder as in the best of the best at everything. Malinin has the jumps, Kagiyama the skating skills, Brown and Siao Him Fa the artistry and Brown again and I guess Aymoz - when he's on, unbeatably - the performance. (Note, I'm not saying they all four, and Junhwan Cha and who have I forgotten? don't have the other qualities, but there's no one outstanding in every area). That's probably normal when you think on it.

Personally I think Yuma is the greatest make skater of the present time, though he probably won't win the medal haul he should and he is not at all my favourite.
 
Yuma is almost a perfect skater. Amazing basic skating. Incredible jumps and his performance is growing. He still doesn't move me in the way that Shoma or Jason do. But, he will get there. There really isn't anything to criticize. He deserves more PCS separation from Kao.

Kao is often a hard watch for me. I find his basic skating a bit rough (although obviously fast) and he often has the bare basics when it comes to choreo. This program is an improvement. There is more choreo. But I really don't understand how he got only a point and half or so less in PCS than Yuma. The jumps are incredible, but the skating is just okay. I disagree with the judges here. I find Ilya and Kao roughly equal in PCS and neither should be above 37 if Yuma is getting 46.

Matteo's skating was wonderful outside of the jump mistake but the judges never seem to appreciate his edges as much as I do.

Andrew was incredible . I do hope he isn't too tired in the FS and can do better than last week. He is just quality.

I agree that Jason will be incredible by nationals. I heard he was having boot issues. Hopefully, he sorts that out soon. This SP is incredible.
I didn't know that Jason was having boot issues. That might explain the jump issues.
 
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