Men's LP

[Medusa]

Ponsero has a bad technique on his Loop, he either doubles it consistently, or squeeze it out with a lot of difficulty like today. Does he have problems with the flip as well? He doubled it a few times, but now I could see he took it out??

On another note, our comentators here in Canada, said he has a sport psychologist to help him with his consistency, I would fire him and search for a new one, he didn't do a good job

The ugly truth is: Ponsero doesn't have a Triple Flip. And yes, that Loop is scary. The Lutz can't be that secure either, otherwise he would probably repeat it. He used to say that his Quads are a lot better than most of his Triples. I am quite sure that Ponsero is also capable of a Quad Salchow, not 100% sure though.

Fact is, that there is a lot of potential. His Triple Axels and his Quad give him often 30 points alone each long program. Just imagine a fully maxed out program with 8 Triples and 1 Quad - or 7 Triples and 2 Quads.

Beep-Beep: I hope that your mother is doing well.

 

[figuristka]

skating clips

Contesti http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_fr7n7q6M&feature=channel_page

Joubert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agvGMs-0xww&feature=channel_page

Van der perren http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8WKGBTCxA&feature=channel_page

 

[NatachaHatawa]

By the way, the podium is totally ancient - Joubert the youngest with 24, Contesti is 25 and KVDP 26. And two out of three guys already married...

What's interesting now is, who will the French Federation take to Worlds?

Let's say they take Préaubert, who in 3 international competitions this season has never fallen on a jump, has never popped a jump - that would be the way to secure the 3 spots for Vancouver. But Préaubert has practically zero chance for a podium placement, his jumps get mostly no positive GOEs, often a bit negative and his poor posture just keeps the judges from giving more on PCS. As I said - Préaubert is the safe choice.

Ponsero on the other hand could seriously bomb in SP or/and LP and then would place way outside the Top Ten - and there go the three spots for Vancouver. But Ponsero could also win the competition, he has in a best case scenario a chance to become World Champion. Préaubert doesn't have that chance (except of course in case everybody bombs - but I am quite sure that a Patrick Chan with 4 Triples would still win against a Préaubert with 8 Triples and 1 Quad, not that I think that would be right).

So with Ponsero they risk a lot - but also could win a lot, perhaps even a medal.

I personnaly think they should chose Alban. Granted Ponsero has the capacity to win a medal but, mentally, he's far too uncertain. As for the federation the aim is to get 3 spots for the olys, Alban is a surer bet. He won't get a medal but he's consistent enough to be in the top ten.
However, the fact that he got a pretty low grade compared to LP he skated might play against him.

 

[casken]

Joubert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agvGMs-0xww&feature=channel_page

Wow. Is Joubert serious with that program?

I wasn't in love with the Mohicans one, but this new one makes it look brilliant in comparison.

 

[Buttercup]

Seems like whenever Brian wins anything lately, he dosen't skate well. I wish that he would skate to deserve to title. I am happy for him, but winning dosen't seem so great when the 3rd and 4th place guys skater better LPs.

Well, Joubert skated to deserve the title on Thursday, and Yannick Ponsero did not. I would have had KvdP ahead on tech last night, which I believe he was, but behind on PCS, so I don't see anything wrong with the judges having Brian second in the LP. As Medusa noted earlier in this thread, Contesti did mostly easier triples than the other top guys so his marks were pretty fair. I do think Yannick Ponsero could have been scored a bit higher. But he was 20 points behind Brian on the SP, and I don't think he was 20 points better last night.

Wow. Is Joubert serious with that program?

I wasn't in love with the Mohicans one, but this new one makes it look brilliant in comparison.

Bear in mind that it is a very new program (two weeks accordign to news reports) and probably a work in progress. I think that barring medical problems, we'll see a more polished version of it in LA. It does suit his style better than LotM.

Natacha, I agree that Alban is more consistent but I think Yannick showed yesterday that he can leave a disappointing skate behind and rise to the occasion. Shouldn't that work in his favor? And he is the national champion...

 

[NatachaHatawa]

Natacha, I agree that Alban is more consistent but I think Yannick showed yesterday that he can leave a disappointing skate behind and rise to the occasion. Shouldn't that work in his favor? And he is the national champion...

Undeniably, had this been any other year I'd have definitly been for Yannick's selection, he really deserves it. It's just that seeing that the FFSG's aim at these worlds is to land 3 spots for next year's Olys, it may be more prudent for them to select Alban. He may not be a possible medal contender, but he's a far more regular skater. I agree with your annalysis on Yannick's ability to rise to the occasion, but what I fear is that if he goes to the worlds it'll be the other way around (great SP, dreadful LP) even more so because he'll have that extra pressure of having to secure that third spot.
Yannick would indeed deserve to go to the world champs this year, and I'd be glad for him. Plus one never knows, maybe he might do two fantastic programs or maybe Alban's will go pear-shaped.
Maybe the FFSG will avoid such a selection and send Amodio instead, but I seriously doubt it.

 

[lmarie086]

Just catching up on Euros!
I've only been able to find Brezina's LP (still looking for Ponsero's) and I'm really impressed with him for pulling up. Not perfect but considering that he's still regaining his strength after injury that was a good performance. Course I'm biased as a fan lol...I'm rooting for this guy he's really something.

Poor Verner though, his struggles seem to continue : (

 

[nolwenn]

You can find some men LP on youtube, look for yunakim0123

 

[Blades of Passion]

Ponsero was so much better than Van Der Perren in the LP. His spins, footwork, and entire skating ability is so far ahead. Ponsero actually skates with more speed than anyone else in the World, I think. And his jumping was good too!

 

[Medusa]

Ponsero was so much better than Van Der Perren in the LP. His spins, footwork, and entire skating ability is so far ahead. Ponsero actually skates with more speed than anyone else in the World, I think. And his jumping was good too!

Nobody said something else. At least I haven't read anything else. KVDP gets his points with his flawless jumping technique, his maxed-out jump content, his ability to jump 6 Triples in the second half of the program.

Ponsero gets his points with the jumps and with the rest. But Ponsero is actually doing a watered-down content, jump-wise. That's why he didn't score 160 in the LP. No Flip, just one Lutz, scratchy Loop...

 

[Blades of Passion]

Ponsero did a flawless Quad and a second Triple Axel. Van Der Perren only did one 3Axel. I don't think he deserved to score much higher than Ponsero on the jumps.

Van Der Perren's jump technique is not flawless either.

 

[figuristka]

Just remember Ponsero got 151.85 and 1st place in the Free and Van Der Perren got 143.56 and 4th place in the Free. So their Free programs were marked quite well.

 

[Trewyn]

And de Standaard is reporting.

I luuuuuurve Ponsero, I often said so - but I am so happy for KVDP. It's just, he looked in so much pain, considered withdrawing all the time - and won the Bronze. Plus Belgium is like a 2km walk from here. It's local patriotism.

Yeah! He was in a lot of pain! There was an interview on Belgian radio and he said after 1 minute he thought he couldn't go on anymore, but he did! I think it's wonderful he got the medal! But his performance was slow and stiff, but that might get better once he's no longer enduring excruciating pains .

EDIT: lovely picture of Kevin on de Standaard page .

 

[SXTN]

Can somebody please explain to me why Alban Preaubert receives so low PCS ? I just love that program.. Very entertaining and everything fits perfectly to the music....
KvdP might have the jumps, but that's it... When it comes to speed and power he is probably the "Caroline Zhang" in the men competition... and all that pauses and posing in between.. I really don't know...

 

[Jaana]

I thought the men´s freeskate competition was very enjoyable to watch and I especially loved the performances of Contesti, Ponsero and Preaubert, WOW. There was a great athmosphere in the areena and all skaters got the support of the audience.

 

[Buttercup]

Ponsero did a flawless Quad and a second Triple Axel. Van Der Perren only did one 3Axel. I don't think he deserved to score much higher than Ponsero on the jumps.

I don't think he scored higher than Ponsero on the jumps. But don't forget Kevin does a 3-3-3, and he does it in the second half of the program, which earns him the 10% bonus. On Thursday that combination got him over 15 points (14.85 base value). Base value for a quad is 9.8. I wonder why Yannick didn't do his quad in combination, it was so secure and gorgeous I'm sure he could've gotten another jump on the end.