Men SP

[Mathman]

Did Scott Hamilton say Takahashi's short program was the great men's SP he had ever seen?

 

[GoldMedalist]

I believe he said Takahashi's SP is the best he's ever seen under CoP.

I loved it. Very unique program, excellent footwork, and strong jumps too. He just needs to work on the spins -- they are too slow.

 

[Mathman]

My impression of Takahashi's spins (especially in the LP) was that he was working so hard to get in all the changes of position than the speed, centering, and quality of the positions suffered.

 

[Hsuhs]

Evan's problem is not a quad but consistency, he is one of those skaters who will never be able to deliver two clean programs.

I tend to believe he might, some day. Why not? It could happen to any random skater.

 

[emma]

My impression of Takahashi's spins (especially in the LP) was that he was working so hard to get in all the changes of position than the speed, centering, and quality of the positions suffered.

I saw the centering issues more in the LP but speed in both. I think Scott might have just loved this SP and forgotten a lot of other great CoP programs. I loved it too...but admit I'm not liking what appears to be the Morosov forumula: the front loading of jumps then spin, then foot work....it just makes what is great and innovative feel like a check off list.

 

[emma]

I tend to believe he might, some day. Why not? It could happen to any random skater.

I'm not sure if Evan will be on the podium when others are clean...but I do beleive he works hard, has amazing jump skills given his height, and keeps pushing himself to steadily up the ante. That will bode well for him as the ice is slippery and few skate perfectly all the time.

 

[slutskayafan21]

He should be World Champ right now anyway; his Short Program at 2007 Worlds was great. But, I digress.

I thought so too. I thought they were overly harsh in marking my slightly ragged combo, and did not agree with all the points it cost him, but c'est la vie sometimes. hwell:

 

[GoldMedalist]

My impression of Takahashi's spins (especially in the LP) was that he was working so hard to get in all the changes of position than the speed, centering, and quality of the positions suffered.

I didn't notice problems with the changes of positions...I did notice how he was purposefully getting EXTREMELY low in his sit spins, though. I'm guessing that would be because of the new rule that cracks down on sit spins (which was needed...but, lol, Takahashi is reeeeaaalllllly making sure his sit spins are low enough).

 

[Jaana]

I think for this competition it was (short-sightedly) smart of Daisuke not to jump a quad-combo in short programme, because Evan failed in his. On the other hand, in the long run it was not quite so smart, as Daisuke needs that combo to compete e.g. against Jooubert, Lambiel, etc. at Worlds. GP´s are good competitions to practice quad, and in the long run Evan was more smart, in my opinion. Besides, the Olympics are approaching and a quad-combo is necessary for those that hope not to start from too far after the short programme and to stand on the podium at the end of the competition. The smart ones start putting a quad-combo into the short programme this season...

Evan's problem is not a quad but consistency, he is one of those skaters who will never be able to deliver two clean programs. That's why I think he is destined to end up being 2nd or 4th.

I´m not sure, but didn´t Evan have two clean programmes in 2007 US Nationals?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Takahashi's low sit spin is priceless. Getting up from that position on one leg has to be the most energy using muscles. Best used at the end of a program because it is very tiring for a big jump afterwards. I hope he starts a trend, and we start seeing more of great sitspins, and no more of that half sitz.

Front load jumping is not my cup of tea. It is getting all those jumps out-of-the-way with disregard for choreography. But they do make points from good or bad choreography.

Also I could do without the flailing arms. It's just plain arms for the sake of arms with no particular reason except to get a layman's attentionl.

Lutai is a good jumper but he did the front loading Mischin type of routine. He, Evan, Takahashi are in that 21 y.o. bracket along with Buttle, Weir, Joubert and Lambiel. Only 3 will make the Worlds podium for 2008 and 2009. Where will they be during and after the Olys in 2010? By then, Chan, Carriere and other talented newbies will no longer be new. Yes, indeed, the sport is now glowing in the Men's Division.

I think Takahashi will be fine.

Joe

 

[Ximena]

Does Takahashi really need a 4-3 in the SP? If you watch the ISU stadistics, Takahashi, after Plush, holds the highest score in a SP and he didn't have a quad back in NHK. Then again, truth is NHK, IMO had the Japanese skaters with very high scores. But I digress, as I was saying, according to ISU

From the ones competing this season we have
Takahahi 84.44
Joubert 83.64
Lambiel 80.60

And as I mentioned, Takahashi is the only without a quad. I think Takahashi will work on that, but his other jumps are so secure (when he is on, because truth is he is very unreliable sometimes) that he gets a lot of positive GOE, even whole points from it, so unless he is absolutely sure he is going to get it, I think he'll still leave out the quad from the SP, because if he mises it, he will miss the combo.

Isn't Jeff 25?