Grand Prix Final Preview

[gsk8]

The Torino Palavela in Italy will take center stage once again as the premier place to watch world class figure skating from December 13- 15, 2007. It will be the first time that Torino plays host to the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating (GPF), which promises to be a memorable competition.

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[Mathman]

Great article by GS correspondent Elvin Walker. I thought his analysis of the ladies especially was spot on.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Great article by GS correspondent Elvin Walker. I thought his analysis of the ladies especially was spot on.

He's implying that if strategy is used, some skaters would do better, as I said 2 years ago and the responses, just said so what. Well we got Julia. No Amercians and Rochette. Well, Nakano got into the Final but Sarah didn't as well as Rochette.

The top Feds have the choice of selecting who they want at their GPs. The Feds have the right to offer a third GP to a sparsely entrants disciplines to one of it's skaters already completing two.

I believe the writer omits other information on the operation of the GP system.

Joe

 

[Brandi_DeLain]

Nice article. Thanks for the link. I hope his picks for the men are spot on, but I wouldn't write Lysacek off so easily. I think he has a better chance to podium than Lambiel.

 

[OldSkaterMom]

Nice article. Thanks for the link. I hope his picks for the men are spot on, but I wouldn't write Lysacek off so easily. I think he has a better chance to podium than Lambiel.

ITA Lambiel's FS is fantastic, but he is not going to have a 3A. Lysacek has a
3A and a 3A/3T in his FS as well as level 4 spins and great footwork. His SP has high difficulty as well. It is the quad combo that can make it or break it for him. And Evan always does well being the underdog. It gives him more of the fighting spirit and he surely knows how to do that.

 

[Tonichelle]

Men's is gonna rock GO TEAM USA!

 

[Mathman]

I agree that Lysacek has as good a shot as anyone. He is about 50-50 on his quad, the same as Takahashi. Lambiel missed all three of his quad attempts at Swiss Nationals last week. Weir will try to skate cleanly and elegantly and hope no one else is able to dleiver the goods technically.

I think Evan will be right in there -- and I'm not writing off Van der Perren, either. :yes:

 

[tilak]

I agree that (with the possible exception of Van der Perren) all the men have an equal chance for gold. This will be a very exciting Grand Prix final event for the men's competition.

 

[MKFSfan]

I hope Evan proves the author wrong. I like him, Weir, Lambiel and Takahashi and hope those 4 bring their game.

 

[temperboy28]

I hope Evan proves the author wrong. I like him, Weir, Lambiel and Takahashi and hope those 4 bring their game.

If Weir, Lambiel, Takahashi, and Evan all did bring their game Evan wont medal. So which do you really hope for, Evan to prove the author wrong or all those guys to bring their "game". The two dont go hand in hand.

 

[kittyjake5]

If Weir, Lambiel, Takahashi, and Evan all did bring their game Evan wont medal. So which do you really hope for, Evan to prove the author wrong or all those guys to bring their "game". The two dont go hand in hand.

I disagree I think it would be Johnny who will be left off the podium. Remember Johnny's win over Evan was not a large margin. If all of the men bring their so called "game" it is going to come down to jumps and if Johnny does not have a quad, sorry but he will be left off the podium. Of course this is all hypothetical and JMO.

 

[Brandi_DeLain]

Here are Johnny and Evan's GP scores . . .

Johnny
CoC - 231.78
CoR - 229.96

Evan
SA - 220.08
CoC - 229.36

Both of Johnny's totals are higher than Evan's. If Evan nails the quad, he has a great chance to podium and even win. But don't count Johnny out. He hasn't maxed out his TES (no 3rd combo/downgraded solo 3A in Russia) and still managed to top Evan's score twice. It will be interesting, and I'm happy that we have two talented men pushing each other to be better.

 

[kittyjake5]

Here are Johnny and Evan's GP scores . . .

Johnny
CoC - 231.78
CoR - 229.96

Evan
SA - 220.08
CoC - 229.36

Both of Johnny's totals are higher than Evan's. If Evan nails the quad, he has a great chance to podium and even win. But don't count Johnny out. He hasn't maxed out his TES (no 3rd combo/downgraded solo 3A in Russia) and still managed to top Evan's score twice. It will be interesting, and I'm happy that we have two talented men pushing each other to be better.

I would never count anyone out especially Johnny. I have been a fan of this sport to long for that.

 

[jennylovskt]

Great article! I can see which way the writer lean on.

The chance of everyman is on their game is so slim this time considering their performances in the GP events so far. I would say that Takahashi and Lysacek have 50-50 percent chance to do well (I didn't say Lysacek could get gold. He won't.) Weir and Chan have greater chance to do well. Lambiel has less chance to do well. Kevin Van der Perren will be more likely the last one. I will root for Lambiel and Weir.

 

[MKFSfan]

If Weir, Lambiel, Takahashi, and Evan all did bring their game Evan wont medal. So which do you really hope for, Evan to prove the author wrong or all those guys to bring their "game". The two dont go hand in hand.

I disagree. I believe if all bring their "A" game, Evan will be in the mix for a medal at the least. I don't make predictions, but I think Weir would be the one left off the podium.

But my point was-if Evan delivers, then he would prove the author wrong. It's not like if he is clean, he's the darkhorse for the podium, basically hoping for the 4th spot at best. At least, that is MHO!

Somehow, I very much doubt all 4 will be at their best. Maybe 2.

 

[bekalc]

If Weir, Lambiel, Takahashi, and Evan all did bring their game Evan wont medal. So which do you really hope for, Evan to prove the author wrong or all those guys to bring their "game". The two dont go hand in hand.

I disagree.. If all bring their A game, it's Weir that won't medal. Evan almost beat Johnny with a fall on the quad, and an underrotated triple axel.

 

[Bennett]

Here are Johnny and Evan's GP scores . . .

Johnny
CoC - 231.78
CoR - 229.96

Evan
SA - 220.08
CoC - 229.36

Both of Johnny's totals are higher than Evan's. If Evan nails the quad, he has a great chance to podium and even win. But don't count Johnny out. He hasn't maxed out his TES (no 3rd combo/downgraded solo 3A in Russia) and still managed to top Evan's score twice. It will be interesting, and I'm happy that we have two talented men pushing each other to be better.

Nice analyses:agree: Hope Johnny could max his score. I also feel that his PCSs could be higher

 

[Vodka Shot]

I'm so excited. I wish it would happen already!

I was so certain Lambiel would go home and get it down, but after hearing how rough he had it at the Swiss Nat's I'm not so sure I really want to see him skate his programs clean at least once, they're so well choreographed and his spins are so nice.

I can't wait to see Takahashi's hip-hop swan again.

And of course I'm hoping Johnny skates clean and perfect. No getting winded, no pops, no missed jumps, no falls-perfect. I mean no pressure or anything, lol.

I'm starting to get worried that someone will get injured or pull out because the mens event just seems too exciting to be real.

I think it will be Takahashi, Johnny, Lambiel, Lysacek, Chan, KVDP

I am worried though that by some miracle or rather since I hate the jump, by some curse all the men will land quads and Johnny won't even medal. However, if that happens he might then try for the quad more (not that I really want him to have to.)

 

[OldSkaterMom]

Lysacek has been 50/50 so far. I think his chances of landing the quad are pretty good. Takahashi missed his in NHK and stepped out of his 3A in the SP. He had two falls on jumps he should not have missed at SA. Weir won CoC over Lysacek by only two points. Even with a fall on the quad Evan could have won if he hadn't underrotated his 3A. Evan's lower score at SA was due to missing the quad in his SP. However, he landed it in the FS, and won the FS. He landed the quad combo in his SP at CoC, and won the SP.

Evan isn't about winning medals this year, although he would certainly like to. He is about training the quad in competition. However, eventually both quads in both programs will come together at the same time and you never know when that will happen. When it does, he can win it all because all of his other jumps are consistent.

Lambiel has a fantastic FS, but is really having trouble with his jumps. It is hard to say what is going to happen with him. The GPF will be very interesting indeed.

 

[psycho]

Evan isn't about winning medals this year, although he would certainly like to.

No, you're right. When it comes to Evan, it's all about the art. :chorus: