Vincent Zhou | Page 32 | Golden Skate

Vincent Zhou

Vincent's latest tweets:

Skate America has been a great experience from which I've learned a lot. I'm proud of how I skated and the improvement I showed from SLC to here. And I feel like it's important to thank YOU--the audience--for giving me an incredible response and more support than I could (1/3)

(2/3) have hoped for. I will also add that I've been working VERY hard on making my jumps clean, but with technical changes come physical and mental adjustments that take time to come together in competition. I cannot control whether or not that hard work is recognized+rewarded,

(3/3) but what I can control is the work I put in once I get home. I know I am very, very capable. Again, I am proud of my performances and grateful for the opportunity to represent the USA here and in Japan in a couple of weeks. I'll see you all soon; farewell for now!

This will force his coaching team to really address his jump technique. Even if his jumps were not UR, like Johnny, Tara, Jackie, Michael Weiss, all confirmed them to be, he is always running the risk of having extra critical judges giving him unfair scores. Kristy Krall, please do something about it. We'll see if this type of extra critical judging will be applied to other skaters in other competitions. But I have a feeling that they are purposefully targeting Vincent to showcase their new rules. He was kept off the podium for a reason.
 
sekhmets said:
Does Vincent really have so much of an UR problem? And if he does, what about his technique needs to be changed to fix it? I'm really gutted that UR calls are holding him down because he's such a wonderful skater.
Click to expand...

If you go back and watch the commentary from Tara & Johnny Weir and Michael Weiss from the video links I provided, they mentioned about his "lazy foot", making it look as if he UR'ed which does not show clearly in the slow-mo replay. If his coaching team cannot help him, he may need to seek outside help with his jumps such as Shoma and Satoko are doing.
 
FP video is up, with NBC commentary and Kiss & Cry:

Vincent ZHOU USA FS 2018 Skate America

The look on Vincent's face when the score was announced says it all.

Johnny: That is a bit of a shock! Vincent definitely outskated (Sergei).

[h=1][/h]
 
The judging for Vincent seemed very unfair :(

Regardless of the result, he skated two great programs, and clearly has put a lot of work into improving his skating and performance. Proud of him!
 
oatmella said:
The judging for Vincent seemed very unfair :(

Regardless of the result, he skated two great programs, and clearly has put a lot of work into improving his skating and performance. Proud of him!
Click to expand...

Thank you, oatmella. Vincent was satisfied and proud of his performances and that is what truly matters. He knew he gave it his best and showed the world his progression and growth as a skater. Michael Weiss had more to say in the Men's FP Wrap Up - Bridgestone Ice Desk, starting at 11:08.

From US Figure Skating Channel: Rinkside Reactions from 2018 Skate America Men's Free Skate, Vincent:
"I think I did a good job today. I made some improvements from my training. There were some free points that I gave away, unfortunately, but as the saying goes, ice is slippery and you never know what might happen. But I gave it my all and the rest isn't up to me."
 
As expected, another eloquent and poignant post from Vincent's Instagram:

Dear everyone,

What a week it's been. In fact, what a month it's been. I've had more than my fair share of highs and lows, frustrations and successes. I feel like I've traversed the tallest peaks to the darkest depths in a short period of time, and it's not over yet. Skate America has been quite the learning experience, and I feel so much love and support from you guys, a truly amazing audience, which I sincerely thank you for. Obviously, some questionable things that were out of my control happened, but I have been working VERY hard on making my jumps clean. However, technical changes result in mental and physical adjustments that take time to manifest in consistent results. Regardless, I am proud of my performances and the improvement I've made--and I'll have you know I'm not even close to being satisfied. It's time to go back home and continue refining my skills and progressing towards the result I know I am capable of obtaining. This week has only been fuel on the fire.

See you soon.

-Vincent
Click to expand...

"Fuel on the fire" - what an admirable and mature attitude in facing the challenges that are thrown at him. So proud of you, Vincent! You are a true champion at heart and in spirit, for not playing the victim and putting the blame on anyone else, and taking full responsibility of what you can accomplish. We know you will only improve with your determination and hard work. Take good care and get prepared for NHK! Your Japanese fans will all be rooting for you.
 
All Grown Up: Side by side group pictures of Vincent, Jimmy and Nathan (posted separately before)


Quotes from Michael Weiss on the judging controversy regarding Vincent's low scores
Video: Mid-day Wrap-Up | Bridgestone Ice Desk from 2018 Skate America

12:11 He skated 2 great programs to the naked eye & then they go and watch it on 1 video camera! They get 1 video camera when there are 5 cameras for NBC. Why don't they have access to that! It doesn't make sense to me. It's mind blowing that they are determining whether this young man has the opportunity to not only win a medal here but win prize money and put himself in position to be a World medalist (and Grand Prix Finalist) potentially at the end of the year, all of these things are on the line and you've got (just) 1 camera.

12:37 Like why don't they just put a sketch artist next to him and go, "sketch the landing" and then you guys determine whether the jump was fine. It's just not fair to the athletes.

12:55 Somebody has to have a voice for them and I feel like maybe that's a position for someone like me. I'm not in the sport, nobody can hurt me if I say something about it.

13:02 I feel like this needs to be relooked at and they need to stop being so demanding on these elements as to whether it's a quarter turn, or it's this way, or this way (motioning with hand)

13:25 I also have the problem when I see the technical specialists and controllers watching the monitor, when I'm watching the monitor with them. ...The frame by frame is like, they (skaters) are up in the air, then they're here, well, where did their foot actually touch the ice. I can't really see that! So I'm going to determine somebody's future based on not really knowing?
 
I think Zhou has really beautiful programs this season! He has improved his interpreting music and expression. Beautiful moves and flow!

Feeling really sad I´m hoping very much that he understands that those UR´s are not his fault, but the fault of his coaching team. Instead of concentrating on quantity they should have concentrated on quality = him learning to do one or two fully rotated quad jumps first. After that had been reached, other quads could have followed.

This technical panel was harsh, but it needs to be. Otherwise it would not be fair towards ALL competitors. And I´d believe that he´ll meet other harsh technical panels in future, too. It was sooo sad that he lost almost 20 TES points..... Hopefully his coaching team can fix this fault and quickly, too!

Unfortunately he seems to have gotten the reputation of not rotating jumps. The only way to get rid of that reputation is to start rotating them fully.
 
UR calls appear to be very detrimental under the new system so Vincent's team would do well to rethink their strategy. There are things Vincent can do to address his UR problems and to some extent I believe they'll get better as his body matures, but that's not going to happen overnight. But for the time being it looks like he can still be very competitive with just 2 clean quads. Vincent has his flaws but he also has tremendous strengths. I feel his team could be doing a lot more to highlight those strengths and camouflage his weaknesses.
 
Zenchio63 said:
Just heard what Johnny said about ISU wanting to promote someone artistic like Matteo to be their poster child and pumping him up, while harshly judging someone with quad skills like Vincent. Thus the high scores. Absolutely unfair!
#JusticeForVincent
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That would be quite a ridiculous conspiracy theory, especially given the fact that Matteo Rizzo wasn't exactly showered with neither an overly generous PCS, nor abnormally high GOE.
Johnny did not say that ISU pumps up Matteo, he said they want to push their new rules or the idea behind it.

He offered his thoughts on why Matteo's score was so close to Vincent's, even though Vincent's program was technically more demanding.
(Which actually, even with the 25 % reduction due to several URs, was still reflected in their BVs, with Matteo being some 10 points behind Vincent. Only after GOE was applied, did Matteo's TES move up several points, but still remained behind Vincent's)

Johnny's point was, that with the new rules ISU wants to promote quality on elements vs. quantity/rewarding difficult elements, that are badly or sloppily executed, because skaters can't actually do them (or not as consistently).

Also, no one used the term 'harsh judging', you could at the most say that it was implied.
 
We'll see if the same stringent standards and scrutinizing, nitpicking reviews will be applied to everyone else in future competitions. If every skater is judged with the same consistent rules and criteria, then nobody has the right to complain.

Looks like Vincent is going to be in the gala exhibition along with Julian and Jimmy.
 
^^^^1111bm, I am free to interpret information and express my opinions and views, just like you are free to do so. Nobody is trying to convince you of any false theories or wrong views. You choose how you want to interpret them.
 
"Take On Me" from Skate America Gala Exhibition

Vincent sporting a new look with leather jacket and blue T-shirt.
Good to see him smiling and enjoying himself, despite the disappointing finish. A definite improvement not just in costume but in performance and audience interaction, compared to the last SOI showing. :thumbsup:
 
Zenchio63 said:
"Take On Me" from Skate America Gala Exhibition

Vincent sporting a new look with leather jacket and blue T-shirt.
Good to see him smiling and enjoying himself, despite the disappointing finish. A definite improvement not just in costume but in performance and audience interaction, compared to the last SOI showing. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

This should be his short program! It's great. :thumbsup:
 
Finally got to watch the FS, still in love with the music choice but actually felt like Vincent sold it more at his previous event. Shame about the URs but his tweets says everything about him and I know he will continue to work hard and I already look forward to seeing him again.

Does anyone know if he's completely healed? (@Zenchio63 maybe?) I watched without commentary so not sure if it was discussed during broadcast or what.

(Sorry if this is aganst guidelines on speculating:no:)
 
Jeanie19 said:
This should be his short program! It's great. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Glad you like his exhibition number, Jeanie19! It does show a fun side of Vincent but the program is not robust enough for competition. Plus it would take someone with a huge personality like Jimmy Ma to pull this type of program off as a competitive number. But it makes for a great ex with the buoyant spirit and cantilever. :)
 
Fool said:
Finally got to watch the FS, still in love with the music choice but actually felt like Vincent sold it more at his previous event. Shame about the URs but his tweets says everything about him and I know he will continue to work hard and I already look forward to seeing him again.

Does anyone know if he's completely healed? (@Zenchio63 maybe?) I watched without commentary so not sure if it was discussed during broadcast or what.

(Sorry if this is aganst guidelines on speculating:no:)
Click to expand...

Hi, Fool,

I can see how you felt the FS performance from US International Classic was more engaging but considering the shock he went through (or as Michael Weiss described it, being punched in the gut) with his SP scores, it's understandable why he was more cautious with the FS, thus popping one of his jumps.

The commentaries did mention he had a back injury but nothing specific about him being completely healed. Only the October 9th article by Bev Smith mentioned about the injury "being behind him" and that "he has finally got back to full or near strength".
 
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