Men's Long Program

[Hikaru]

Javi was great in the sp (seemingly inspired by Jeremy Abbott's new swing sp, suspenders and all). Javi was good but not great in the free program. It doesn't hurt here that his coach is Canadian.

Well, he was fifth last year at skate canada, now he's second. I think that is a good progression, canadian coach notwithstanding. I have seen improvement in Javi's skating over the years, and I think this is just the begining for him.

 

[Hikaru]

I don't think this competition will silence critics who maintain that Chan will win easily even if he falls x times.

lol the real question would be how many falls he has to take for second place lol

 

[skatinginbc]

Orser will definitely force him to work in his spins. However, I wonder if spins are even important in COP anymore (not that they had a big effect on scores in 6.0 either). Jumps are worth so much more than spins that pretty much as long as one has the jumps, they don't necessarily need the spins to succeed, and I think that's unfortunate.

If Javier had gotten the planned level for his spins in the short, he would have scored around 89, not far from the World record of 93 something, and he would have won the Gold.

 

[skatinginbc]

Must love Tak. Must love Tak. He's god and must love Tak. He's the best skater ever dawn in the land of planet earth. Must love Tak.

Now you are talking. I like you even more now, almost as much as you like Tak.

 

[jettasian]

Now you are talking. I like you even more now, almost as much as you like Tak.

Oh thanks for your love. I love you too, even more than Tak.

 

[jettasian]

lol the real question would be how many falls he has to take for second place lol

Well, in your opinion, who should have won then? This is not competition about "counting falls", fyi.

 

[skatinginbc]

Oh thanks for your love. I love you too, even more than Tak.

You are actually a funny guy, to tell the truth. I enjoy joking with you.

 

[burntBREAD]

If Javier had gotten the planned level for his spins in the short, he would have scored around 89, not far from the World record of 93 something, and he would have won the Gold.

Yes, but he got base values of 10.30, 10.10, and 8.50 from jumps. I believe the highest scoring spin (Level four CCoSp) only has a base value of 3.5. With full spin values Javi's tech score still would be ~70% from jumps. I know spins are what make the difference (i.e. last week in SA between Czisny and Kostner) when it's close but I'd like them to be rewarded more.

 

[chloepoco]

People have the right to like or dislike anyone. Must I like Kozuka and Dia just because others people do? Besides, I did NOT say I dislike them, I just find them overrated, esp Dai. I always find his expression over the top, it's like "look at me, I'm angry".

It's quite obvious that you don't like Kozuka or Takahashi. But my question was if there were any skaters besides Chan who you do like. I think your over the top fandom of Chan is preventing you from appreciating other skaters. You're missing out.

 

[OS]

That's one of the reasons why I think Dai's overrated with the talk like this.

I think you are quite wrong.

It is precisely because he inspire talk like this, people appreciate him all over the world regardless of nationality biases and makes him among the most appreciated skater around. Takahashi replenish the lack of 'art' in COP figure skating, and Patrick Chan still has much to catch up to do in that respect, which with this year's program he is beginning to get a feel and craving for it.

 

[tdnuva]

I am only catching up, so still not through the complete men's final. But may I interject that I dislike Chan's costume completely?? There MUST be something more flattering than this striped thing! I applaud him for his endurance in that free program though. Quote: "Wasn't easy!" I'll keep fingers crossed that he stabilizes his performance.

And it goes on with the stumbles in Takahashi's routine. What did they give the skaters for lunch?

With one eye I saw that there was a bit of Daisuke bashing going on today - I am still pleased by his lines and choreo quality. That's the main reason I watch skating (and not curling or downhill skiing) as winter sport.

Yeah it's a sport and nobody could ignore the athleticism necessary for jumps and other elements - but with skaters like Daisuke or Fernandez (or Verner or Buttle *sigh...) I still find joy aside from the jumpfests.

Oh - and it was wonderful to see Orser as great coach for Fernandez Who would have considered Spain as a competitor for the podium on world level a few years ago?

 

[Hikaru]

Well, in your opinion, who should have won then? This is not competition about "counting falls", fyi.

Dearest, I have no problem with who won the competition, as you can see I haven't complaint (but then again I haven't finished watching all videos so who knows if I'll change my mind). I was merely pointing to last season, when despite many falls Chan would still win and everyone was wondering just how many falls would it take for him not to win.

Funny, I just repeated my post!

 

[Hikaru]

I am only catching up, so still not through the complete men's final. But may I interject that I dislike Chan's costume completely?? There MUST be something more flattering than this striped thing! I applaud him for his endurance in that free program though. Quote: "Wasn't easy!" I'll keep fingers crossed that he stabilizes his performance.

And it goes on with the stumbles in Takahashi's routine. What did they give the skaters for lunch?

With one eye I saw that there was a bit of Daisuke bashing going on today - I am still pleased by his lines and choreo quality. That's the main reason I watch skating (and not curling or downhill skiing) as winter sport.

Yeah it's a sport and nobody could ignore the athleticism necessary for jumps and other elements - but with skaters like Daisuke or Fernandez (or Verner or Buttle *sigh...) I still find joy aside from the jumpfests.

Oh - and it was wonderful to see Orser as great coach for Fernandez Who would have considered Spain as a competitor for the podium on world level a few years ago?

I am going through the SP videos and I just love it that Brian always follows the choreography of his students (he did the same with Yuna), and there's a part where he's doing the shoulder movement with Javi, I thought it was just funny and cool how he gets so inmersed in his student's programs.

 

[chloepoco]

I am going through the SP videos and I just love it that Brian always follows the choreography of his students (he did the same with Yuna), and there's a part where he's doing the shoulder movement with Javi, I thought it was just funny and cool how he gets so inmersed in his student's programs.

I agree about Brian--it's fun watching him watch his skaters! I'm happy Javier did so well!

 

[Violet Bliss]

Three cheers for Fernandez and Spain! I think Orser is having a bit of trouble with his Spanishness thoguh! When he consulted with Fernandez' federation with some of his concerns about Fernandez' habits, he was just told "He (Fernandez) is Spanish." I guess Orser has to be a stern Dad and grab Javi's behind to get fit and to do the spins. Or Javi may be too pumped to need the push now.

So last night the Gold Medalist had two falls, the Silver Medalist had one and the Bronze Medalist had none. Nobody was clean or near perfect. But the GM had high tech content and PCS, the SM had high TES and lesser PCS while the BM did poorly tech wise but was stirring and beloved, reflected in PCS much higher than his TES. Should the numbers of falls determine the placements? Or at least the TES?

It's early in the season and the debut of the top three. Let's see them at it again later at the GPF and Worlds. I believe they have their eyes on those events too while SC was a gauging practice run.

 

[genki]

:agree:

Exactly.

Wait to see his EX.

 

[Buttercup]

Having now watched both Chan's and Fernandez's LPs, I feel both were overscored (I generally agree with this). In addition to the obvious mistakes, each had some wonky jumps. Javier has not made that big a leap in his presentation to warrant 8s on PCS, and Chan is getting credit for more transitions and skating skills than he's actually displaying; even he does crossovers, jump setups and some two-footed skating. Also, my friend and I were bored with Aranjuez and put some other music on instead, and let me tell you, the level of interpretation was about the same. Ten-fifteen points less for each of them would have been more appropriate, resulting in the same placement but more reasonable scores. Also Chan should get a costume deduction for crimes against fashion, while Fernandez should receive a bonus for exceptional use of a sombrero.

Haven't seen any of the others, so can't comment about Dai et al.

 

[evangeline]

Three cheers for Fernandez and Spain! I think Orser is having a bit of trouble with his Spanishness thoguh! When he consulted with Fernandez' federation with some of his concerns about Fernandez' habits, he was just told "He (Fernandez) is Spanish."

 

[wallylutz]

Three cheers for Fernandez and Spain! I think Orser is having a bit of trouble with his Spanishness thoguh! When he consulted with Fernandez' federation with some of his concerns about Fernandez' habits, he was just told "He (Fernandez) is Spanish."

Spanish from Spain usually do not eat dinner until about 10PM, sometimes 10:30PM. Even after they move to Canada, it's a habit that doesn't change. Naturally, if Orser is not previously exposed to this, he would be shocked and think his student has an unhealthy eating habit, which is not. Spaniards are generally very fit and lean, definitely much less obesity rate than many other countries. I don't personally know Javier, he may or may not have the habit of siesta as well, which can again impact the training schedule that Orser wants to set. Neither of these should be alarming however, not everyone should eat their dinner at 6PM and the napping habit of many Spaniards came from an adaptation of the generally hot climate in the Iberian penisula. Now that he is living in Toronto, I have a feeling the cold Canadian winter will shock Javier more than anything else.

I guess Orser has to be a stern Dad and grab Javi's behind to get fit and to do the spins. Or Javi may be too pumped to need the push now.

O.K., I don't think Orser is going to grab Javi's behind, I hope you didn't intend any pun. I first noticed Javier dusing the FS at the 2009 Worlds. He was the first to skate among the 24 who qualified and remember being very impressed with his ability to land Triple Axels. Never really seen any noticeable skater out of Spain before, he was a pleasant surprise. I wish him a lot of success in the coming season.

This has been a great competition for the Spaniard but as well as to Patrick Chan because if there is any thought that Chan was/is uncatchable, such thinking is now shattered. Fernandez came so close to Chan because he considerably upped the base value of his FS, an advantage that Chan held during the entire last season but no more. I knew several men had plans to significantly upping their technical content this season, that's why we are seeing all these Quads but it remained just a theory until it actually happened. It surprised me a little that it happened so early but the challenge is real, no longer just a theory. Be thankful this happened early so that Chan and his coaching team can react to it. Michelle Kwan was dethroned by Tara Lipinski at the 1997 U.S. Nationals in part because of the surprise factor. You don't want 5 or 6 guys showing up in Nice with all these arsenals of Quads, catching you totally off guard.

 

[prettykeys]

...while Fernandez should receive a bonus for exceptional use of a sombrero.

Hah!