Men's Free Skate on TV

[Rgirl]

I AM IN LOVE!!!

Daisuke Takahashi is the most exciting new skater I've seen come on the scene since Ilia Kulik.

WOW! Talk about having the total package! Takahashi not only has all the thrills and chills (okay he had problems on one spin combo and his spins aren't his strong point) but he also skates with such passion!

Of course this is just one competition and we'll have to see how he does over time,, but it was just so exciting to see someone finally skate up to the level of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto.

An amazing international senior debut for Takahashi. He sure got my hormones hoppin'.

Rgirl

 

[nicole_l]

Takahashi rocked it, VDP didn't do so bad and I liked the POTC program, I really want to see Joubert skate that program clean sometime this season, Lysacek didn't impress me much, I'm so over Tim Goebel and I hope the US sends Weiss or Savoie to the Olympics instead.
Overall the competition was more exciting than the ladies.

 

[ks777]

I AM IN LOVE!!!

Daisuke Takahashi is the most exciting new skater I've seen come on the scene since Ilia Kulik.

WOW! Talk about having the total package! Takahashi not only has all the thrills and chills (okay he had problems on one spin combo and his spins aren't his strong point) but he also skates with such passion!

Of course this is just one competition and we'll have to see how he does over time,, but it was just so exciting to see someone finally skate up to the level of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto.

An amazing international senior debut for Takahashi. He sure got my hormones hoppin'.

Rgirl

actually Takahashi's been on the Seniour circuit since he won the worl jr title at the age of 16.

 

[Tonichelle]

Tim has depressed me, that program was soooooooooooooooooooooooo not worth his time.... and the costume


Kurt made it on my bad list tonight lol. He was overly critical of Van Der Perran who was not half as bad as he and Dick made him seem. The program is better choreographicly IMHO than Joubert's

Joubert is nothing special

Takahashi is very interesting...

Evan's program was much better this time around


and Peter Carruthers is beyond rude as an interviewer... what was with that question about Tim to Evan?????????????????? Peter, you are fired.

 

[Rgirl]

actually Takahashi's been on the Seniour circuit since he won the worl jr title at the age of 16.

Thanks for the correction Ks777. I'll change that to Daisuke Takahashi's senior debut for ME!

Rgirl

 

[Piel]

Toni ITA. I wanted to slap Peter! Evan handled it with class though I think. WTH is Peter thinking...how uncomfortable can I make this skater? He did the same thing to Sasha.

 

[SusanBeth]

Am I the only one that thought Elvis (Presley) impersonator on first seeing Joubert's costume.? It must be the collar. The program has potential and I thought he channeled Yagudin much less.

Takahashi was wonderful, but visions of Rachs past were going through my head.

Timmy - I liked his program and thought he that he made great strides in presentation, but he needs to skate clean.

Lysacek- I hate the music way too much to be fair.

 

[Vash01]

This is the first time I have seen Takahashi skate and I was thrilled. That piece of Rach music is associated with M&D's fabulous LP at the 94 Olympics, in my mind at least. Yet Takahashi could make me want to rewind the tape and watch it again. His spins need work, and some of the jump landings were not great, but overall the performance rocked. He was totally in tune with the music. I totally loved it. I hope he can prove that it was not just a flash in the pan.

I liked Joubert's program overall. Except for the footwork section, I saw less of Yagudin. I think he is going to be a serious contender for the OGM in Torino.

Evan certainly did better than at Campbells. It was a much more respectable performance. I like his long lines and somehow he reminds me of Robin Cousins. It must be the height and his long lines. I don't like the music or the program, but he seems to like it. That is important.

I felt awful for Tim. At Campbells he skated quite well, considering it was the first competition of the season. This performance was terrible. Even the spins and footwork did not look good. I hope he can find himself and skate well rest of the season.

I did not like Kevin Vander Perren's LP. I had liked him at the 2002 Olympics. I was expecting more, and was disapppointed with the way he did the jumps.

Overall I really enjoyed watching this competition. Can't wait for the next one.

Vash

 

[luvsasha]

i thought it was funny when Dick said Brian's footwork was like tapdancing because his music is from Lord of the Dance which is Irish Step. And irish step is very much like tap. I take irish and i thought his footwork was pretty good. his costume is awful.

 

[R.D.]

I haven't been watching this one (of course) but is Kat Witt commentating on this broadcast as well? Or is she just for ABC broadcasts?

 

[emma]

This is the first time I have seen Takahashi skate and I was thrilled. That piece of Rach music is associated with M&D's fabulous LP at the 94 Olympics, in my mind at least. Yet Takahashi could make me want to rewind the tape and watch it again. His spins need work, and some of the jump landings were not great, but overall the performance rocked. He was totally in tune with the music. I totally loved it. I hope he can prove that it was not just a flash in the pan.

I liked Joubert's program overall. Except for the footwork section, I saw less of Yagudin. I think he is going to be a serious contender for the OGM in Torino.

Evan certainly did better than at Campbells. It was a much more respectable performance. I like his long lines and somehow he reminds me of Robin Cousins. It must be the height and his long lines. I don't like the music or the program, but he seems to like it. That is important.

I felt awful for Tim. At Campbells he skated quite well, considering it was the first competition of the season. This performance was terrible. Even the spins and footwork did not look good. I hope he can find himself and skate well rest of the season.

I did not like Kevin Vander Perren's LP. I had liked him at the 2002 Olympics. I was expecting more, and was disapppointed with the way he did the jumps.

Overall I really enjoyed watching this competition. Can't wait for the next one.

Vash

Basically, I totally agree with everything you said...I think I saw Takahashi skate before, and I think I thought he had potential, but I wasn't wowed. Last night I was totally wowed....great skate (sure with flaws), but he had such energy, passion as Rgirl said, carriage, strength, flow, I loved it.

I think this could be a very good program for Joubert; and I liked the costume...let's see how this one unfolds; if he starts landing all the jumps, he'll be a serious contender.

I've never been a huge Tim fan, but i actually felt bad last night for him, especially because I noticed improvement in his skating, but without those jumps its a disaster.

On another note, I might be one of the few people that like the idea of showing the warm-up, sort of...BUT if the commentators are literally going to chit chat and babble then I would rather not have it; but if they used that time to really run down who has what record; who's been doing what in practice; and what WE should watch for, then I would think what an awesome idea and worth (sort of) showing fewer skates.

 

[Frau Muller]

Takahashi is a classic version of Weir (Weir without the overly-weird costume & music elements). Takahashi is the embodiment of what I've always been hoping that Weir would become.

Johnny WHO? Dai Takahashi -- the stage is yours!

 

[Ravyn Rant]

I loved, loved, LOVED Takahashi. I thought he interpreted the music beautifully, and I can't wait to see what this program looks like later in the season.
Evan was definitely better than at Campbell's, but if he's going to skate to "Grease", he needs to sell the character better. If I were to write a parody, I'd call it "A Little Less Barbarino, A Little More Zuko". And is it just me, or does he need to incorporate some hand jive into the straight line footwork sequence?
If Kevin VdP is going to skate to "Pirates of the Carribean", he needs to get into character. It's a good program, though, and I think he'll grow into it as the season progresses.
Brian. Didn't like the costume, wasn't all that impressed with the program. This seems to be my first impression every season with Joubert, though, so this criticism is meaningless. I'll get into it by Europeans, I promise.
As for Timmy, I think his best days are behind him. And that's sad.
All in all, it was a MUCH more interesting competition than the ladies.
xoxo,
Rave

 

[Piel]

Evan was definitely better than at Campbell's, but if he's going to skate to "Grease", he needs to sell the character better. If I were to write a parody, I'd call it "A Little Less Barbarino, A Little More Zuko". And is it just me, or does he need to incorporate some hand jive into the straight line footwork sequence?

ITA R&R. I am glad he lost the zebra print jacket. The only animal prints in Grease should be on Rizzo's undies . A little hand jive would be a great addition. Also, when he runs his hand through his hair it needs to be crisper, with more ATTITUDE. Evan just may be too nice a guy to be a T-Bird, LOL. I wonder if he will spice this up a little (or a lot) and use it for exhibitions too?

 

[Vash01]

By now I have watched Takahashi's LP 4 times. Even with some flaws it is wonderful to watch. I love the way he stretches his free leg when he lands a jump. There is such energy, confidence, and speed which I felt even watching him on TV! Plus he seems to respond to the music so well. I really hope he can improve and skate even better, and be a real contender for the Olympic podium in 2006.

Vash

 

[shine]

Am in total agreement. Daisuke Takahashi was absolutely unbelievable. What freedom and flow he skates with...yet with so much grace and control. That was probably the most engaging interpretation of Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto I've seen (yes, I liked it even more than M/D's version)..it's just the way I think this piece of music SHOULD be skated. The TT choreography itself wasn't that brilliant really, but Daisuke Takahashi (he deserves to have his full name mentioned over and over) totally made up for it with his beautiful skating. Really "beautiful" is the only word I can think of right now to describe that skate. I loved every second of the series of gestures that he did to the beginning of the piece, where the music always made my old piano teacher think of the tolling of ancient Russian bells from the motherland--the way he interpreted it, felt it, and breathed it was just SO amazing. This guy is not just musical, but felt music with a passion...I don't understand why I hadn't paid that much attention to him last season... He really skated the piece like I would have loved to play it. And omg, those edges!! Male or female, when was the last time we saw such amazing edges in their footwork from a SINGLES skater? Not to mention the ease he had doing those complex turns. I absolutely LOVED the circular steps sequence...it's so perfectly done to express the music and really made it come alive. What an amazingly gifted skater...and I just turned into a uber fan.
And I have to say, Weir...I don't think he even compares....

 

[Jaana]

I have now seen all men´s freeskate video clips that have been posted...

WOW, Takahashi is just amazing, what an interpretative talent! This is the second time I have seen his skating this season, and I felt as impressed as earlier... He has such a wonderful flow in his skating. BTW, it was posted on FSUniverse that Ilia Kulik has been seen working with Takahashi some weeks ago.

Also I liked Lysacek´s programme and skating very much indeed. About Goebel I would say that somebody has worked hard in the choreography trying to make him look interpretative. Goebel has improved, but I think that the music is way too dramatic for his interpretative level. Joubert´s and van der Perren´s freeskates I found rather boring.

 

[emma]

Am in total agreement. Daisuke Takahashi was absolutely unbelievable. What freedom and flow he skates with...yet with so much grace and control. That was probably the most engaging interpretation of Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto I've seen (yes, I liked it even more than M/D's version)..it's just the way I think this piece of music SHOULD be skated. The TT choreography itself wasn't that brilliant really, but Daisuke Takahashi (he deserves to have his full name mentioned over and over) totally made up for it with his beautiful skating. Really "beautiful" is the only word I can think of right now to describe that skate. I loved every second of the series of gestures that he did to the beginning of the piece, where the music always made my old piano teacher think of the tolling of ancient Russian bells from the motherland--the way he interpreted it, felt it, and breathed it was just SO amazing. This guy is not just musical, but felt music with a passion...I don't understand why I hadn't paid that much attention to him last season... He really skated the piece like I would have loved to play it. And omg, those edges!! Male or female, when was the last time we saw such amazing edges in their footwork from a SINGLES skater? Not to mention the ease he had doing those complex turns. I absolutely LOVED the circular steps sequence...it's so perfectly done to express the music and really made it come alive. What an amazingly gifted skater...and I just turned into a uber fan.
And I have to say, Weir...I don't think he even compares....

I totally with almost everything here. I too am certain I have seen him skate before and can't remember it...I can't imagine why. But boy oh boy what a beautiful skater.

SO...WEIR watch out!!!!! But I still think Weir is awesome...his technique, to me the non-expert, looks superb, his carriage is gorgeous; he flows and is so smooth and gentle, he fills up the ice...i don't know, I love the guy. IF Weir gets the quad, AND if he and Takahahi continue to skate past this season, I think they (and maybe a few others) will make for an incredibly beautiful skating rivarly to watch.

 

[Ravyn Rant]

ITA R&R. I am glad he lost the zebra print jacket. The only animal prints in Grease should be on Rizzo's undies . A little hand jive would be a great addition. Also, when he runs his hand through his hair it needs to be crisper, with more ATTITUDE. Evan just may be too nice a guy to be a T-Bird, LOL. I wonder if he will spice this up a little (or a lot) and use it for exhibitions too?

Too nice for a T-Bird...is that anything like "too pure to be Pink"?