Men's Preview

[dorispulaski]

I think that this is going to be an interesting competitition! I expect to see Tatsuki Machida or Artem Grigoriev or Artur Gachinski winning this. Other top 6 contenders would be Armin Mahbanoozedah, who finished 2nd in a rather weak field at Courchevel, Javier Fernandes, if he skates as well here before a home country crowd as he did at Jr. Worlds, and Nikolai Bondar of Ukraine, if he has improved just a little bit from Jr. Worlds.

However, I really like several of the lower tier skaters. I hope Eliot Hilton (GBR) skates as well as he did in the Belgian championships, which he won. I hope Patrick Wong skates as well as he did when he won Canadian Novices (his programs were charming, I think. Do check them out, below) And I find I love the skating of Matthew Precious of Australia. Don't miss seeing his video, below. Finally, as an American myself, I have to root for William Brewster, too.

Who are your favorites?

MEN

Tatsuki MACHIDA JPN
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 2 1 1 (177.20)
2007 International Counter Match 2 (Jr) 2 (Team)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 7 9 9 (149.51)
2007 World Junior Championships 17 9 9 (157.05)
2007 Japanese National Championships 7 14 13 (157.38)
2006 JGP Liberec 1 2 2 (163.29)
2006 JGP Mexico 5 3 4 (140.61)
2006 Junior Gardena Spring Trophy 6 3 5 (121.61)
2005 Gdansk Cup [JGP] 8 8 7 (136.75)
2005 JGP Tallinn 11 10 10 (120.47)
2005 Japanese Junior National Championships 8 8 7 (150.67)
2004 JGP Courchevel 11 7 7 (130.94)
2004 Japanese Junior National Championships 14 12 12
His Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy exhbition from 2007 Dreams on Ice show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve-Edu9hNcQ

Artem GRIGORIEV RUS
2008 Skate Moscow Competition 4 2 (162.84) 2nd overall
2008 Russian National Championships 9 9 8 (172.77)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 5 3 3 (169.72)
2007 JGP Lake Placid 1 6 3 (144.06)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 1 2 1 (154.71)
2006 Chinese Taipei Cup [JGP] 7 7 7 (136.71)
2006 JGP The Hague 4 9 7 (144.70)
2005 Croatia Cup [JGP] 5 8 7 (142.38)
His SP from Russian Nationals 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTzWMmq54fM
His LP from Russian Nationals 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2YEV4FP8Go
His Exhibition from Stars of 2014 (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTxmUapY-38
His Skate Moscow LP 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cncsDcBOYPw&feature=related
His Skate Moscow SP 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekNbVseYDhk

Armin MAHBANOOZADEH USA
2008 JGP Courchevel 2 3 2 (172.64)
2008 U.S. Junior National Championships 9 6 8 (167.76)
2008 Junior Grand Prix Final 4 3 3 (182.04)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 1 3 3 (171.21)
2007 JGP Lake Placid 2 1 1 (165.58)
2007 U.S. Novice National Championships 1 2 1 (138.77)
2007 U.S. Eastern Novice Sectionals 2 1 1 (141.30)
2007 U.S. South Atlantic Novice Regionals 4 2 2 (130.20)
2006 Novice North American Challenge Skate (Pittsburgh) 1 1 1 (123.70)
2006 U.S. Novice National Championships 6 7 7 (121.86)
2006 U.S. Eastern Novice Sectionals 3 3 3 (120.74)
2006 U.S. South Atlantic Novice Regionals 5 2 2
2005 Novice North American Challenge Skate - Kansas City 1 3 2 (105.21)
His LP from Courchevel 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gljE-IvtpI8

Artur GACHINSKI RUS
2008 Russian National Championships 12 8 9 (169.98)
2008 Junior Grand Prix Final 5 8 8 (152.09)
2007 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 1 1 1 (162.61)
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 3 5 4 (165.76)
2007 Tallinn Cup [JGP] 2 3 2 (170.83)
2007 Russian National Championships 18 11 14 (161.71)
2006 Novice Coupe Internationale de Nice 1 2 2 (119.24)
His LP from Russian Nationals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyGe7apO1mE
His SP from Russian Nationals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA3XFMVKJTM&feature=related

William BREWSTER USA
2008 U.S. Junior National Championships 7 8 9 (167.70)
2008 U.S. Midwestern Junior Sectionals 3 2 3 (163.64)
2008 U.S. Eastern Great Lakes Junior Regionals 2 2 2 (143.88)
2007 U.S. Junior National Championships 14 13 13 (132.75)
2007 U.S. Midwestern Junior Sectionals 5 4 4 (139.81)
2007 U.S. Eastern Great Lakes Junior Regionals 3 3 3 (105.71)
2006 U.S. Junior National Championships 14 15 14 (113.14)
2006 U.S. Midwestern Junior Sectionals 4 3 3 (135.33)
2006 U.S. Eastern Great Lakes Junior Regionals 3 3 3
2005 Junior Triglav Trophy 2 2 2
2005 U.S. Novice National Championships 2 4 3
2005 U.S. Midwestern Novice Sectionals 3 2 2
2005 U.S. Eastern Great Lakes Novice Regionals 2 2 2
2004 North American Challenge Skate - Waterloo (Nov) 1 1 1
2004 U.S. Novice National Championships 4 8 6
2004 U.S. Midwestern Novice Sectionals 2 4 3
2004 U.S. Eastern Great Lakes Novice Regionals 1 1 1
His SP at Skate Detroit 2007 (he finished 2nd)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOnqjEi_q4I
His LP at Skate Detroit 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZor8NzICuM

Mark VAILLANT FRA
2008 Coupe de Printemps 1 1 1 (153.03)
2008 French National Championships 5 4 5 (176.84)
2007 Crystal Skate of Romania 4 1 2 (171.12)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 13 7 8 (150.46)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 8 6 6 (139.32)
2007 French National Championships 7 5 5 (162.76)
2006 JGP The Hague 10 5 6 (146.77)
2006 Junior Masters de Patinage 2 6 5 (133.72)
2006 JGP Mexico 4 5 5 (134.86)
2006 U.S. Eastern Junior Sectionals 8 7 8 (118.88)
2006 U.S. North Atlantic Junior Regionals 5 4 5
2004 U.S. Eastern Novice Sectionals 9 12 11
2004 U.S. North Atlantic Novice Regionals 2 3 3
His 2007 LP (he was 5th in this segment) at French Nationals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x04FR0JitcU
A 2007 clip of him doing a triple axel in a public skating session
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr4G2ixsyu8&feature=related


Javier FERNANDEZ ESP
2008 Mexico Cup [JGP] 4 8 6 (147.35)
2008 World Championships 30 30 (FNR)
2008 World Junior Championships 14 11 13 (161.01)
2008 European Championships 16 17 17 (154.10)
2008 Spanish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (157.83)
2007 Golden Spin of Zagreb 12 12 13 (145.72)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 9 10 11 (147.63)
2007 Tallinn Cup [JGP] 9 9 9 (139.42)
2007 Junior Gardena Trophy 7 5 5 (131.74)
2007 World Championships 35 - 35 (FNR)
2007 European Championships 28 - 28 (FNR)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 4 3 4 (134.14)
2007 Spanish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (159.71)
2007 Andorran Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (116.63)
2006 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 8 4 5 (119.33)
2006 JGP The Hague 18 24 23 (88.84)
2006 Novice Triglav Trophy 2 4 4 (104.32)
2005 Novice Triglav Trophy 4 4 4
2005 Novice Copenhagen Trophy 4 4 4
2004 Novice Merano Cup 4 3 3
2003 Novice Merano Cup 5 3 3
His SP from 2008 Europeans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbk4KZnn8Vw
His LP from 2008 Jr. Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRuhkoVimJU

Nikolai BONDAR UKR
2008 World Junior Championships 12 17 14 (159.61)
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 6 6 5 (160.82)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 9 11 10 (144.43)
2007 Ukrainian National Championships 3
2006 Spin of Norway [JGP] 8 10 9 (132.14)
2006 JGP Courchevel 10 13 13 (103.11)
2005 Gdansk Cup [JGP] 12 13 15 (128.15)
2005 JGP Slovakia 12 10 10 (121.34)
2005 European Youth Olympic Festival 5 4 4
2005 Ukrainian National Championships 8 6 6
2004 Harghita Cup [JGP] 15 16 15 (102.20)
2004 Ukrainian Souvenir [JGP] 13 17 17 (106.55)
2003 Skate Bled - - W
2003 Skate Slovakia [JGP] 21 18 19

Daniel DOTZAUER GER
2008 Junior Bavarian Open - Junior Worlds Qualification 2 5 4 (131.79)
2008 German Junior National Championships 1 4 1 (133.76)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 15 17 15 (120.62)
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 8 16 12 (136.44)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 9 5 6 (115.70)
2007 German Junior National Championships 1 2 1 (137.02)
2006 Junior Warsaw Cup 3 4 4 (125.14)
2006 JGP Liberec 18 14 14 (123.24)
2006 Junior Bavarian Open 3 1 1 (114.22)
2006 German Junior National Championships 3 1 1 (120.98)
2005 German Novice National Championships 1 1 1
2004 Novice Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 1 2 2
2003 German Novice National Championships, Group A 6 7 7

Abzal RAKIMGALIEV KAZ
2008 JGP Merano 8 6 7 (138.41)
2008 World Championships 24 24 24 (149.92)
2008 Four Continents Championships 13 13 13 (138.88)
2007 Junior Golden Lynx 1 1 1 (141.90)
2007 Golden Spin of Zagreb 13 9 10 (150.20)
2007 Sofia Cup [JGP] 7 10 9 (145.73)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 15 14 15 (130.34)
2007 Junior Triglav Trophy 2 2 2 (133.54)
2007 Junior Gardena Trophy 6 6 7 (129.18)
2006 Spin of Norway [JGP] 18 9 12 (121.64)
2006 JGP Hungary 16 11 13 (109.99)
He is the second skater shown in this clip from the Merano JGP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY5bbasyXWk
Here is his Worlds LP 2008 (British Eurosport) 15 years old 24th place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fRW06deyX4

Elliot HILTON GBR
2008 World Championships 29 29 (FNR)
2008 World Junior Championships 33 34 (FNR)
2008 European Championships 25 26 (FNR)
2008 British National Championships 2 1 1 (149.72)
2008 Belgian National Championships 1 1 1 (173.32)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 6 11 9 (149.86)
2005 Gdansk Cup [JGP] 7 15 13 (129.87)
2005 Croatia Cup [JGP] 13 13 13 (112.05)
2005 World Junior Championships 19 14 16 (136.83)
2005 European Youth Olympic Festival 9 8 8
2005 British Junior National Championships 2 1 1
2004 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 23 21 23 (100.07)
2004 JGP Courchevel 9 9 9 (125.71)
2004 Gardena Spring Trophy 6 8 7
2004 British Junior National Championships 6 3 3
2003 Junior Merano Cup 3 2 2
2003 Novice Mladost Trophy 2 2 2
2002 Novice Mladost Trophy 3 5 4
His SP from Europeans 2008 (British Eurosport) Gets a 'very well done' from them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jCsGoWSIr8

Laurent ALVAREZ SUI
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 2 5 4 (140.37)
2008 Swiss National Championships 6 6 6 (149.22)
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 14 20 19 (124.57)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 14 20 18 (119.12)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 14 12 14 (94.45)
2007 Swiss National Championships 3 4 4 (150.15)
2006 JGP The Hague 23 18 20 (100.78)
2006 German Junior National Championships 11 - W
2006 Swiss National Championships 8 6 6 (112.50)
2005 Swiss Junior National Championships 1 1 1

Saverio GIACOMELLI ITA
2008 Novice Gardena Trophy 2 2 2 (113.67)
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 7 7 7 (124.86)
2008 Junior Bavarian Opene 5 2 3 (127.04)
2008 Italian Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (120.35)
His SP from Italian Junior Nationals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvT60C6BOu4
2007 Junior Warsaw Cup 6 7 6 (107.60)
2007 Junior Merano Cup 3 5 4 (98.44)
His LP from Junior Merano Cup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Txe5KAAbw
2007 Novice Gardena Trophy 2 2 3 (91.75)
2006 Novice Merano Cup - 2 2 (48.49)
2006 Novice Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 14 7 9 (57.28)

Patrick WONG CAN
2008 Canadian Junior National Championships 11 16 15 (117.78)
2008 Junior Western Challenge 2 3 3 (131.95)
2008 BC/Yukon Junior Sectionals 3 3 2 (124.28)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 12 13 14 (122.68)
2007 Canadian Junior National Championships 4 8 5 (131.25)
2007 Junior Western Challenge 5 6 6 (118.72)
2007 BC/Yukon Junior Sectionals 3 2 3 (122.58)
2006 JGP Mexico 6 6 6 (122.88)
2006 Junior North American Challenge Skate - Vancouver 8 7 7 (115.18)
2006 Canadian Novice National Championships 2 1 1 (105.99)
Here's his winning LP (Ragtime & Charlie Chaplin. A very cute program)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xxjm2K3iB8
And his SP, to Super Mario-ish music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RYuwXMrnUg&feature=related


Javier RAYA ESP
2008 Junior Triglav Trophy 3 1 1 (122.95)
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 6 4 5 (137.66)
2008 Spanish Junior National Championships 2 2 2 (128.34)
2007 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 5 3 4 (130.14)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 16 16 16 (117.22)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 18 18 19 (117.26)
2007 Junior Triglav Trophy 3 4 4 (115.05)
2007 Junior Gardena Trophy 8 8 8 (116.03)
2007 World Junior Championships 29 29 (FNR)
2007 Spanish Junior National Championships 2 2 2 (138.18)
2007 Andorran Junior National Championships 3 2 2 (95.50)
2006 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 11 10 10 (102.42)
2006 Junior Merano Cup 5 5 5 (102.67)
2006 Novice Triglav Trophy 4 5 5 (101.93)
2005 Novice Triglav Trophy 5 5 5
2004 Novice Merano Cup 2 1 1
2003 Novice Merano Cup 4 4 4
Coupe de Nice Gala
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoT2CzrmyAM&feature=related

Sebastian IWASAKI POL
2008 JGP Merano 11 8 9 (133.38)
2008 Junior Copenhagen Trophy 4 1 2 (105.60)
2008 Polish National Championships 6 5 6 (112.40)
2007 Junior NRW Trophy 4 4 4 (124.86)
2007 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 7 7 7 (110.30)
2007 Junior Warsaw Cup 2 2 2 (124.74)
2007 Sofia Cup [JGP] 18 17 18 (112.82)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 25 20 21 (102.62)
2007 Polish Junior National Championships 4 5 4 (106.43)
2006 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 16 14 17 (84.29)
2006 JGP Mexico 9 12 11 (104.54)
2006 JGP Hungary 22 16 19 (97.90)
2006 Polish Junior National Championships 3 3 3 (117.74)
2005 Gdansk Cup [JGP] 21 19 21 (102.60)
2005 JGP Tallinn 17 18 17 (94.39)
2005 Novice Copenhagen Trophy 3 3 3
He is the first skater on this clip from Merano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVOJttJJ40A

Matthew PRECIOUS AUS
2008-09 Australian Junior National Championships 2 1 1 (117.23)
2008 World Junior Championships 32 33 (FNR)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 21 25 22 (93.96)
2008 Australian Junior National Championships 1 2 1 (108.52)
2007 Australian Novice National Championships 1 2 1 (86.08)
2006 Australian Novice National Championships 6 5 5
His Carmen SP from the Western Australia state championships. I enjoyed this program!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PCtyyL-56o

Pierre-Luc GAGNON CAN
008 Eastern Junior Challenge 15 7 11 (104.46)
2008 Québec Junior Sectionals 8 3 4 (124.80)
2007 Novice Eastern Challenge 7 11 10 (79.03)
2007 Québec Novice Sectionals 4 2 3 (85.34)
2006 Novice Western Challenge 1 1 1 (93.84)
2006 BC/Yukon Novice Sectionals 1 2 2 (94.38)
2005 Novice North American Challenge Skate - Kansas City 2 7 5 (92.50)
2005 Novice Copenhagen Trophy 2 1 1
2005 Canadian Novice National Championships 4 5 4 (83.59)
2005 Novice Western Challenge 4 2 3 (90.55)
2005 BC/Yukon Novice Sectionals 4 2 2
There is a Pierre-Luc Gagnon who competes in skateboarding in the X-games. I wonder whether he is any relation?

Sebra YEN TPE
2008 Mexico Cup [JGP] 12 14 13 (88.33)
2008 U.S. South Atlantic Novice Regionals 11 11 11 (68.36)
A montage he made of his skating for his desktop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRyWXJLIQWM

Patrik TIMCAK CZE
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 23 24 24 (90.07)
His 2007/2008 LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL9YMoar4_Y
His 2007/2008 SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt8qAAf7HNs&feature=related

Marco ZAKOURIL CZE
2008 Mexico Cup [JGP] 11 11 11 (103.90)
2007 Junior Golden Bear 5 6 5 (102.78)
2007 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 10 8 8 (101.03)
His 2007 LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNmIypLU3lE&feature=related
His 2007 SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNX8ULKEsXg&feature=related

Otto-Eemeli LAAMANEN FIN
2008 JGP Merano 10 25 19 (111.20)
2008 Junior Nordic Championships 3 3 3 (104.90)
2008 Finnish Junior National Championships 2 3 3 (123.60)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 24 20 22 (97.80)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 26 22 25 (83.55)
2007 Junior Nordic Championships 7 9 8 (84.33)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 6 7 7 (114.31)
2007 Finnish Junior National Championships 2 2 2 (113.57)
2006 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 7 11 11 (101.46)
2006 Spin of Norway [JGP] 21 22 22 (85.67)
2006 Junior Nordic Championships 5 5 5 (96.45)
2006 Junior Dragon Trophy 7 - W
2006 Finnish Junior National Championships 3 4 3 (92.04)
He is second to skate on this clip from Merano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVOJttJJ40A

Chafik BESSEGHIER FRA
2008 Junior Gardena Trophy 7 5 7 (120.88)
2008 French National Championships 12 13 12 (124.34)
2007 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 6 5 6 (118.03)
2007 French National Championships 16 17 17 (109.16)
2006 Junior Masters de Patinage 14 8 10 (104.69)
A youtube of an ice show performance he ws in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC7HURcRKgU

Dennies TO HON-LAM HKG
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 26 25 25 (82.81)
2007 Sofia Cup [JGP] 23 23 23 (79.73)
2007 Junior Asian Trophy 3 3 3 (93.74)

Boyito MULDER NED
2008 JGP Merano 21 23 22 (105.78)
2008 Junior Coupe du Printemps 4 3 4 (98.86)
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 13 13 13 (87.93)
2008 World Junior Championships 44 45 (FNR)
2008 Junior Kempen Trophy 3 1 3 (94.49)
2008 Dutch Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (84.27)
2007 Novice Hellmut Seibt Memorial 3 3 (47.08)
2007 Novice Heiko Fischer Pokal 7 8 7 (57.46)
2007 Novice Coupe de Printemps Luxembourg 5 3 (78.24)
2007 Dutch Open Novice Championships 1 (73.10)
2007 Novice Kempen Trophy 3 3 3 (78.42)
2006 Novice Liberec Trophy 3 2 3 (56.93)
2006 Novice Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 12 14 13 (47.04)
2006 Dutch Novice National Championships 1 1 1 (59.40)
2005 Coppa Europa 3
2005 Minieme Cup Lommel 1
2005 Hamburg Michael Cup 1

Andrew HUERTAS PUR
ISU JGP Lake Placid 2007 Lake Placid NY 2007 14. J
ISU JGP J. Curry Memorial 2007 Sheffield 2007 18. J (105.84)

Oh-Reum CHA KOR
2007 Korean Junior National Championships 2 (103.30)
2005 SBC Cup [JGP] 16 16 16 (74.68)

Jakub STROBL SVK
2008 World Junior Championships 20 23 23 (134.45)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 19 17 17 (115.76)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 8 6 5 (116.22)
2007 Czech and Slovak Junior National Championships 3 3 3 (127.16)
2006 Spin of Norway [JGP] 10 6 7 (134.62)
2006 JGP Hungary 12 7 7 (127.42)
2006 Junior Gardena Spring Trophy 4 6 6 (111.14)
2005 JGP Tallinn 14 16 16 (98.74)
2005 JGP Slovakia 14 13 13 (107.01)
2004 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 21 19 20 (101.87)
2004 JGP Budapest 19 20 20 (85.94)
2002 International Novice Trophy 2 2 2


Aritz MAETSU ESP
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 8 11 11 (113.10)
2008 Spanish Junior National Championships 4 4 3 (97.93)
2007 Spanish Junior National Championships 6 6 6 (60.70)
2007 Andorran Junior National Championships 5 - W


Anton TRUVE SWE
2008 JGP Merano 30 22 26 (98.96)
2008 Junior Nordic Championships 2 1 1 (130.87)
2008 Swedish Junior National Championships 4 1 1 (115.91)
2007 Junior Nordic Championships 5 3 3 (109.61)
2007 Swedish Junior National Championships 2 2 2 (104.63)
2006 Swedish Junior National Championships 4 4 4 (85.15)

Noah SCHERER SUI
2008 JGP Courchevel 19 20 19 (97.72)
2008 Swiss Junior National Championships 4 3 4 (106.56)
2007 Junior Merano Cup 6 2 3 (102.13)
2006 Novice Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 10 4 5 (62.30)
2007 Merano Cup SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO9oi2aPnFw&feature=related
His 2007 Merano Cup LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yj8LDmrxyU


Dmitri KUZMENKO UKR
An exhibition he gave at a Kiev rink opening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwbEk9k1nVo

 

[chuckm]

I don't think that Courchevel was a "very weak field". Armin competed against Michal Brezina and Florent Amodio, and I would hardly call either of them weak. They both had 3As and Armin did not.

Machida is capable of performing very strongly, but his record shows a startling lack of consistency. When he is good, he is very, very good, but he is not always good. The same is true of both Grigoriev and Gachinsky.

I suppose it is possible for all three of these skaters to deliver PB performances, or close to it, in Madrid, but they would have to do that to shut Armin out of the medals, because the one thing Armin DOES show (internationally, at least) is consistent performance.

Just my two cents.

I also think Javier Fernandez, who scored 161 and change at JW, may have home ice advantage and skate well enough to sneak onto the podium.

 

[dorispulaski]

What I'm really thinking about Courchevel is not that Florent & Brezina were weak, but that quality of the field fell off strongly after that. I do agree that Armin seems to land what he tries, and does so consistently. I didn't say "very weak", I said "rather weak"

I hope Javier does medal. It will be so nice, both for him and the crowd, to really do well at home.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The three I found with lots of potential (from the videos (Thank you, Doris):

The two Russian boys: Gregoriev and Gachinski both have great potential., and both keep timing with the music. Gregorieve has the flow, and Gachinsky has the line. One or both may eke out a medal here.

I am not really familiar with Brewster but I can say from his 2007LP that he is not only very musical but also very emotional. I'm not used to seeing that in Jr. Men. btw, his back outside Attitude Spin is super with all those turns. Most Men do not do more than 2 turns.

Amin is fine with me but nothing extraordinary. If Javier relaxes he should get to l70 pts.

 

[fumie_fumie]

The skateboarder you were referring to is: http://www.pierrelucgagnon.com/

Luc is a very common quebecois male name and Gagnon was one of the first French families that settled in lower Canada (i.e. Gagnon, Theriault, etc.). So, you will see fair number of Gagnon's and Luc's in Eastern Canada.

 

[oleada]

I don't think that Courchevel was that weak, either. There was a 10 point dropoff after the top three, but when the scores are compared to other JGP events, at least score wise, it holds up quite well.

Compare:

Denis Ten scored 163.87 for a 4th place finish in Courchevel. That's higher than Ellaj Balde's second place performance in Mexico (162.16). It's less than two points off of Curran Oi's second place in Italy (165.38) and higher than Alexander Nikolaev's, who finished third (161.59). The skaters who finished 5th and 6th at Courchevel, Nan SONG (161.63) and Chao YANG (161.11) also had decent scores.

Anyway, I think that the scores of those who were in the middle to top range in Courchevel was higher or comparable to other events in the JGP series.

Off course, scoring varies according to the panel and comparing scores across competitions has its own issues, but I'd thought I would post it for what it's worth.

Mahbanoozadeh didn't have a bad score but Brezina, Johnson, Dornbush and Bariev have outscored him by quite some way.

1 192.48 Michal BREZINA CZE Italy
2 187.58 Alexander JOHNSON USA Czech Republic
3 187.47 Ivan BARIEV RUS Czech Republic
4 186.70 Richard DORNBUSH USA Mexico
5 172.64 Armin MAHBANOOZADEH USA France

I'm really impressed by Armin's consistency though. I think he's been clean or close to it in every event save US Nationals in the past couple of seasons.

 

[chuckm]

You also have to remember that Courchevel was the FIRST competition. Brezina scored much higher in his second. After almost a month, Armin should be even more comfortable with his programs.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

IMahbanoozadeh didn't have a bad score but Brezina, Johnson, Dornbush and Bariev have outscored him by quite some way.

1 192.48 Michal BREZINA CZE Italy
2 187.58 Alexander JOHNSON USA Czech Republic
3 187.47 Ivan BARIEV RUS Czech Republic
4 186.70 Richard DORNBUSH USA Mexico
5 172.64 Armin MAHBANOOZADEH USA France

I'm really impressed by Armin's consistency though. I think he's been clean or close to it in every event save US Nationals in the past couple of seasons.

The judges at Merano, Ostravo. Mexico City and Courcheval were all different. To me it is different strokes for different people. I just can't get into those points which were given out by different judges.

 

[Hiara80]

i really love Grigoriev and Gachinsky, do yu know which music they will skate?

 

[chuckm]

MEN SP RESULTS
1 Armin MAHBANOOZADEH USA 62.99 34.95 28.04 5.88 5.31 5.66 5.53 5.66 0.00 6
2 Tatsuki MACHIDA JPN 59.48 31.58 27.90 5.69 5.06 5.84 5.53 5.78 0.00 20
3 Chafik BESSEGHIER FRA 54.23 29.35 24.88 5.31 4.69 4.97 4.97 4.94 0.00 27
4 Mark VAILLANT FRA 52.12 28.83 23.29 4.91 4.50 4.91 4.41 4.56 0.00 18
5 Artur GACHINSKI RUS 51.57 26.16 26.41 5.44 4.72 5.44 5.31 5.50 1.00 16
6 Sebastian IWASAKI POL 48.75 28.22 20.53 4.47 3.81 4.19 4.00 4.06 0.00 19
7 Patrick WONG CAN 46.44 25.25 21.19 4.69 4.03 4.22 4.22 4.03 0.00 7
8 Daniel DOTZAUER GER 46.08 24.27 22.81 4.78 4.31 4.53 4.53 4.66 1.00 23
9 Nikolai BONDAR UKR 45.24 25.27 19.97 4.34 3.72 4.00 4.00 3.91 0.00 1
10 Javier FERNANDEZ ESP 45.20 23.65 21.55 4.38 3.91 4.38 4.25 4.63 0.00 3
11 Abzal RAKIMGALIEV KAZ 45.14 24.02 21.12 4.59 3.91 4.31 4.22 4.09 0.00 31
12 Dmitri KUZMENKO UKR 45.03 22.69 22.34 4.84 4.28 4.41 4.50 4.31 0.00 10
13 William BREWSTER USA 44.73 23.21 23.52 4.84 4.31 4.78 4.78 4.81 2.00 13
14 Pierre-Luc GAGNON CAN 44.28 23.31 20.97 4.56 4.06 4.13 4.19 4.03 0.00 11
15 Matthew PRECIOUS AUS 44.08 22.48 21.60 4.44 4.03 4.41 4.28 4.44 0.00 14
16 Javier RAYA ESP 43.40 21.71 21.69 4.19 4.03 4.53 4.50 4.44 0.00 24
17 Saverio GIACOMELLI ITA 43.26 23.57 19.69 4.06 3.75 4.00 3.88 4.00 0.00 21
18 Otto-Eemeli LAAMANEN FIN 41.85 22.78 20.07 4.22 3.63 3.97 4.16 4.09 1.00 5
19 Laurent ALVAREZ SUI 41.32 21.60 19.72 4.22 3.75 3.94 3.97 3.84 0.00 25
20 Artem GRIGORIEV RUS 39.53 18.34 21.19 4.63 4.03 4.19 4.34 4.00 0.00 4
21 Anton TRUVE SWE 38.77 22.59 16.18 3.59 3.00 3.34 3.16 3.09 0.00 17
22 Jakub STROBL SVK 38.69 19.98 19.71 4.34 3.81 3.72 4.00 3.84 1.00 29
23 Elliot HILTON GBR 37.02 16.21 20.81 4.44 3.81 4.06 4.28 4.22 0.00 12
24 Andrew HUERTAS PUR 36.78 17.35 19.43 3.81 3.56 4.06 4.09 3.91 0.00 15
25 Noah SCHERER SUI 34.62 15.93 18.69 4.06 3.47 3.69 3.88 3.59 0.00 28
26 Sebra YEN TPE 33.77 17.12 16.65 3.34 3.25 3.44 3.34 3.28 0.00 30
27 Oh-Reum CHA KOR 33.33 18.36 14.97 3.41 2.78 2.97 3.06 2.75 0.00 22
28 Marco ZAKOURIL CZE 32.13 15.54 16.59 3.50 3.22 3.31 3.34 3.22 0.00 26
29 Boyito MULDER NED 31.58 16.36 15.22 3.34 2.88 3.06 3.06 2.88 0.00 9
30 Aritz MAETSU ESP 31.14 15.26 15.88 3.31 2.94 3.16 3.28 3.19 0.00 2
31 Dennies TO HON-LAM HKG 30.21 14.86 15.35 3.41 2.75 3.09 3.19 2.91 0.00 8


Aha! My theory that Machida, Grigoriev and Gachinski wouldn't all skate lights out at the same time has been borne out. Grigoriev is pretty much out of it, in 20th place. Gachinski could still pull out a medal, but it's more likely to be bronze than silver or gold.

 

[dorispulaski]

I'm pleased to see the Japanese Polish guy doing so well (Iwasaki)! (being a Pulaski, of course)

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Placers 3, 4, and 5 will battle it out for bronze.

 

[sisinka]

i really love Grigoriev and Gachinsky, do yu know which music they will skate?

Don't know Artur's music because he didn't compete this season yet.
Artem uses Swan Lake by Tchaikovski for his long program and Tango in Harlem by Touch and Go for his short program.

 

[dorispulaski]

Thank you!