2024 Skate Canada: Men - Thoughts?

[gsk8]

Malinin takes sixth Grand Prix gold in Halifax

2024 Skate Canada | Men Fresh off a win from last week at Skate America, USA's Ilia Malinin easily claimed the Skate Canada title on Sunday afternoon.

www.goldenskate.com

“It was very tough doing these two back-to-back Grand Prix,” admitted the 2024 Skate America champion. “Overall, I am pretty satisfied with my performance and how I was able to manage this today. You know, I’m a little bit bummed out with the loop, because I took the few days after Skate America to really make sure that this wouldn’t happen. But it is what it is. I just had to push it aside and continue the rest of the program.”

“The skater explained that he was a bit tired due to the new setup.

“Last year, I had the footwork in between the two sections for the jumping passes,” he explained. “This year, it’s more like an all-in-one continuous move. So, I think it’ll give me some time to adjust this.”

No surprise here! I liked his "Succession" program better, but I'm sure this will grow on me as he goes "deeper." Clever costume!

“I made some mistakes on my jumps which was disappointing,” said Sato. “On the other hand, I was very glad that I was able to land my quad flip. So, I think that this one was a good event that bodes well for my next event. For the short program I was able to do very well. I had a clean skate which was my goal coming in. In the free, my goal was to land the quad Lutz and the flip, and I couldn’t quite do that, so I’m aiming at my next competition, which is Cup of China, to land both the quad Lutz and quad flip.”

Another program I liked. Not sure about the SP, though?

“There were some mistakes, but I think in my condition right now, I think I did everything that I can do right now,” said Cha. “So yeah, I think those small mistakes and the quality is what I have to work on and improve for the next one. I think still I can make it better quality. So that’s what I’ve worked on.”

He's improved, but I'd like to see more expression in his programs.


I feel bad from Brown, but he didn't seem overly upset.

"This is obviously very early on in the season, and so we're going to keep collecting data, keep talking about it as we go," he said. "Then, at the end of the year, kind of take a look back at it, talk about what worked, what didn't, so we can best approach the Olympic season."

Thoughts overall on the men in this event? Which ones were your favorite programs?

 

[lariko]

Cool, cool, no end of cool in this event. Malinin, the magnificent brat is absolutely in control and knows what he is doing. He might not win every time, but his/his team's every decision so far has been right. The only disappointment was Gogolev's poor free skate, but at least he pulled off a clean free. I was afraid to mention anything about Litvintzev in the live forum, but he did so well save for the tumble. I hope his change in the coach will work well this season.

 

[noskates]

I love "magnificent brat!" I think Ilia's skates should put to rest that he's not on top. It will be interesting to see when he finally competes against Adam SHF - maybe in the GP finals? Right now I don't think anyone can beat him unless he has a bad skate. His rotation is something to behold. I was also impressed with the Japanese men.

 

[ElSoteroLoco]

Cool, cool, no end of cool in this event. Malinin, the magnificent brat is absolutely in control and knows what he is doing. He might not win every time, but his/his team's every decision so far has been right. The only disappointment was Gogolev's poor free skate, but at least he pulled off a clean free. I was afraid to mention anything about Litvintzev in the live forum, but he did so well save for the tumble. I hope his change in the coach will work well this season.

I'm lovin this!

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I of course love Jason's SP but his Free has yet to grow on me.

I liked Gogo's SP.

I cannot get into Ilia's programs for another year. IDK what it is, I just cannot, especially the SP. I wish he would get away from all the rap and rap metal. I don't have an issue with the genres I just don't think it works the way it should for him skating.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

I was afraid to mention anything about Litvintzev in the live forum, but he did so well save for the tumble. I hope his change in the coach will work well this season.

He's been with his coaching team for three years now, not sure what you are talking about.

 

[lariko]

He's been with his coaching team for three years now, not sure what you are talking about.

I'm well behind then. I kept hearing he had troubles accessing ice time.

 

[rabidline]

Much better effort from Ilia. I'm not gonna lie, I had to catch up with the skates and I watched Shun's SP back-to-back with Ilia's SP. Let's just say the comparison was not kind......... to Shun. I think in comparison to the younger non-Yuma Japanese top skaters (Shun, Kao) Ilia is keeping up quite well, and let's be real there are not that many veterans that have the big jumping firepower in the men these days.

I was more interested in the judging shenanigans than the actual skates when it comes to that Shun - Junhwan - Sota tier. Shun was way too nervous here for me to enjoy his performance improvements, Junhwan's FS program is shaping up nicely and I am happy Loco is seeing the light of day again (it's too unique of a Piazzolla piece to only be skated properly just once by one skater), and Sota showed a pretty good fight- unfortunate about the fall on the second half 4T. Also I think Sota improved his SP a lot, the last time I watched was back at Dreams on Ice, and I thought he looked too much like a Adam SHF 2.0 but the Japanese non-backflip version. Here he looks like Sota.

Jason's effort here just makes me think about how competing as an older skater comes with its own set of challenges. Jason (and Jason fans) are blessed that the US men is not as competitive as, per se, the Japanese men. So Jason has the privilege to have this off moments without it impacting his chances that much to make the Worlds and Olympic team.

Commiserations to anyone who is rooting for the Canadian men.

 

[saine]

Commiserations to anyone who is rooting for the Canadian men.

No need for commiserations. I like rooting for them for where they're at.

Aleksa improved his PB by over 10 points here after having had a disaster at his Skate Canada International debut last season. Maybe he missed a combo, but honestly, he was happy with how he did. That's more important.

Stephen is coming off a back injury and he did better than I thought he would. He isn't popping and he is prioritizing his health over quads. I wish people hadn't gone for thinking he could contend for a medal when he watered down his content. Roman had his own back injury, and his performance here does not reflect how he performed earlier in the season.

Are they challenging for top 10 at the Worlds at the moment? No. And that's fine. I can root for where they're at instead of wailing in despair every time they don't perform up to the expectations of people on the internet.

 

[cailuj365]

Ilia's SP here has to be the most relaxed I've ever seen him skate. Not sure I agree with his current LP jump layout these last two weeks, but I also get the sense that he's just playing around and challenging himself with whatever quads and combos he wants at this point just because he can. What a luxury.

I really enjoyed Gogolev's SP actually. Didn't know he was capable of that kind of choreography and expression. I was excited for Roman after Nebelhorn, so the withdrawal was disappointing. The field remains wide open in Canada, which makes it exciting in its own way.

I don't worry about Jason. I think he will be fine by Nationals. His skates weren't any worse than Naumov's effort at Skate America.

Shun-Sato-Jun are kind of slightly interchangeable to me in terms of style, but I like Jun the most, so I'm happy that he was able to get on the podium with a very nice 4T.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

I really appreciated Lori Nicol's choreography for Sota Yamamoto's free skate. And his performance of it.

The reaction from Shun Sato and his coach after the free skate results came in was a competition highlight.

Unlike Nathan Chen throughout the last Olympic cycle, it seems that Ilia Malinin is not untouchable. Which makes it much more interesting a spectator.

Jason Brown is as mesmerising as ever, even with the mistakes. I think Junhwan Cha looked really engaged with his free skate music, which added so much more to his performance (i think he can often look a bit detached).

 

[throw_triple_flip]

Aleksa improved his PB by over 10 points here after having had a disaster at his Skate Canada International debut last season. Maybe he missed a combo, but honestly, he was happy with how he did. That's more important.

While he wasn't going to be a contender for a medal, I think he has a better sensitivity to the music than many of the medal contenders here.

 

[Tutto]

The quality I most appreciate in skaters is good SS and for that reason I will never like Ilia and I will never agree with the judges on PCS linked to TES.

His presentation has I must admit improved somewhat but not enough to justify 87+ he got at SC vs Jun’s 83+.

Ilia reminds me more and more of Plushenko, same type of charisma, anyone else feels that way?

 

[DancingCactus]

If you mean the same way Plushenko faked musicality and was VERY convinced of his on own brilliance (rightly so, in terms of tech content, it has to be said) ..then yes.

Don't kill me.

 

[Tutto]

If you mean the same way Plushenko faked musicality and was VERY convinced of his on own brilliance (rightly so, in terms of tech content, it has to be said) ..then yes.

Don't kill me.

Yeah, that exactly what I meant and I am afraid now we are both in mortal peril as so many people are going to be offended for their fav ...

 

[reader3]

I love "magnificent brat!" I think Ilia's skates should put to rest that he's not on top. It will be interesting to see when he finally competes against Adam SHF - maybe in the GP finals? Right now I don't think anyone can beat him unless he has a bad skate. His rotation is something to behold. I was also impressed with the Japanese men.

I think Yuma Kagiyama is Ilia's toughest competitor.

 

[noskates]

I won't jump on anyone for their opinion but I see nothing at all when comparing Plushenko with Ilia. The only thing they have in common IMO is they both figure skate and they're both male!

 

[Arigato]

Ilia reminds me more and more of Plushenko, same type of charisma, anyone else feels that way?

No. Not even close. I'm not a fan of either one's skating, I'm just being direct.

 

[Lamente Ariane]

If you mean the same way Plushenko faked musicality and was VERY convinced of his on own brilliance (rightly so, in terms of tech content, it has to be said) ..then yes.

Don't kill me.

To quote some commentators in 2006 “But was there a program? No!”