Good News about Lambiel!

[amber68]

this is so cool. Joubert better watch out. even without the triple axel, lambiel has tow quads, and better spins footowork the joubert. His artistry and skating skills are also much greater.

While I agree about the artistry part, I don't think that Lambiel's skating skills are much greater . Joubert has improved a lot and his marks for skating skills should be in the same range as Lambiel's (for a "skater's skater", shouldn't Lambiel do something about his stroking?)
Joubert has considerably improved his footwork this year, it has much better flow. Also he is no longer a weak spinner.

 

[goodbyemylover]

Joubert had nice spins at World's last year too; he's been working with Lucinda about them, the same person Lambiel works with for his.

The thing with Joubert this year is, though while he's improved, he has only skated his program perfectly one time so far in international competition. The triple quads were completed at Cup of Russia; whereas at Europeans and the Grand Prix final only one or two of them were completed. He had slips and a fall or two in both the short and long programs at both of these events. If Joubert skates imperfectly again and Lambiel nails both of his, then I'm not sure he's a defininate gold.

Both skaters are at somewhat of a disadvantage; Joubert has his foot injury, and Lambiel hasn't been competiting for a great deal of the season. It's not easy to choose at the moment, especially with seeing so little of Lambiel.