Vincent Zhou is competing again as of May 2015 | Golden Skate

Vincent Zhou is competing again as of May 2015

shiroKJ

Back to the forest you go.
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
That's good to hear, I thought he was going to retire :slink: Didn't he have injuries?
 

Skater Boy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
That's awesome. What an accomplishment. Who is Vincent Zhou? for those of us not as knowledgeable.
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
... Who is Vincent Zhou? ....

Young Vincent was rising steadily through the ranks of U.S. men's skating -- until being sidelined in Sep 2013 by a knee problem requiring surgery.

2013 U.S. junior champion (at age twelve)
2012 U.S. novice champion
2011 U.S. intermediate champion


Vincent Zhou takes men’s junior title at 2013 US Nationals
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Vincent won both the SP and FS for Senior Men at the Santa Fe comp.

He has posted off-ice photos from Santa Fe:

Santa Fe SkateFest & Funfest
I competed in Santa Fe last weekend. It was a small competition, but I am glad that I skated two clean programs. It was a great experience with my new coach team.
https://govincentzhou.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/santa-fe-skatefest-funfest/ (May 20)​

His new coaching team is Tom Z, Becky Calvin, and Drew Meekins.​
ETA, clarifying what appeared on VZ's blog: per the photo caption within the Jun 1 IN article posted below, Drew Meekins is not a primary coach of VZ, although Drew coaches at BSC.​

On-ice photo from Santa Fe Skating Club:
 
Last edited:

shmay

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 12, 2014
His skating skills really were (are?) strong given his age and I hope he can stay healthy and continue to mature.

Does anyone know what his jump layout was at this last minor event?
 

nam57

Rinkside
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Hopefully this team is better at managing injury! Tammy G student section are always injured.
 

noskates

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Wow - Vincent has really matured from the little impish boy he was at 2012 Nats. He's very tiny. I'm not surprised he's sustained injuries but glad to see him back on the ice. He and his mother sat behind us for a few days at 2012 Nats.
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Zhou on comeback trail after injury, academic break
Former U.S. junior champion to compete on JGP, U.S. senior circuit

Posted 6/1/15 by Sarah. S Brannen
http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2015/06/01/127901186

Excerpt:

Yuka Sato choreographed Zhou's short program, to "Crystallize" by Lindsey Stirling. Justin Dillon created his new Godfather free skate.
[Mrs. P has posted Vincent's program music in the Programs thread.]​

Zhou began his return to competition with a couple of clean programs at the Santa Fe Skatefest in May. He didn't attempt a triple axel or a quadruple jump, but he said it was a good experience.

"I'm glad I didn't lose my clean program streak at competitions," Zhou said. "I skated two junior-level programs with an extra step sequence for senior, and my score was over 200. Competing again felt good, although it was a bit nerve-racking because I hadn't competed in a while."

Next up for Zhou will be the Broadmoor Open at the end of June.
 
Last edited:

burntBREAD

Medalist
Joined
Mar 27, 2010
As if his skating wasn't impressive enough (over 200 at age 14 after almost two years completely off the ice?!), the fact that he's also skipped two grades and took AP Calculus (usually a senior or junior class) at age 14 is pretty mind boggling. Genius!
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Vincent's winning scores for both segments of the Santa Fe SkateFest:

Senior Men (6)
FP Name Points SP
1 Vincent Zhou, All Year FSC 65.62 1
2 Jamie Wright, Foreign skater 60.67 2
3 Lukas Kaugars, Broadmoor SC 59.97 3
4 Chase Belmontes, Broadmoor SC 55.85 4

Senior Men (30)
FP Name Points FS
1 Vincent Zhou, All Year FSC 137.46 1
2 Chase Belmontes, Broadmoor SC 112.12 2

http://santafeskatingclub.org/Downloads/2015 SkateFest-IJS results.pdf
 

matmuh

what are levels anyway
Record Breaker
Joined
May 2, 2014
i havent heard of him until this thread was started but i am really interested to see him next season, its getting thougher and tougher each day :hopelessness: junior circuit is becoming as competetive as seniors, if not more :slink:
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Jul 5 update to Vincent's blog, re "Broadmoor Open and ISP Singles Camp:"

I placed fourth at Broadmoor Open. Two spins in the short program were called invalid, and I am glad the error was caught early on. I attempted a quadruple salchow in my freeskate and finished with the second highest technical element score in the FS.

I attended the ISP (International Selection Pool) Singles Camp right after Broadmoor. It was very motivational and I miss my teammates already.


https://govincentzhou.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/broadmoor-open-and-isp-camp/ (photos attached)​

Vincent's FS at the Broadmoor Open was as enjoyable as Jason Brown's -- in the opinion of Alokya Perera, whose recaps of the event are on TSL's site and who is a Jason fan:

Vincent Zhou – I am developing a love affair for this guy. He is so small, yet already quite powerful. No, he does not have a quad yet, but he seems so earnest that I am sure he will develop it soon. But what I truly love about him is his musicality – I really, really enjoyed his “God Father” program just as much as I enjoyed Jason Brown. As you’ll see in a few paragraphs, that is saying a lot. And besides Jason’s program, his was the most memorable, at least for me. His line and extension are absolutely gorgeous. I am so excited to see him develop over the next few years. I regret not taking video of his program.
http://www.theskatinglesson.com/broadmoor-open-2015-recap-senior-mens-free-skate-by-alokya-p-perera/
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
From Vincent Zhou's blog:
I competed at Colorado Championships and won. My spins were all called level 4. I also got 9s and 9.5s in components from a judge in the free skate!
https://govincentzhou.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/quadruple-salchow-colorado-championships/ (Aug 9 blog entry)​

Same blog entry has the recent video of his first quad salchow in training (which previously had been posted on Instagram).

On Instagram on Aug 7, VZ said that he landed ten quads "today." (Posted vids of three of them. Two vids showed quads in combination.)

Vincent received the new USA team jacket in the mail today -- video shows the front and back:
https://instagram.com/p/6QPAA1uuGT/ (Aug 11) (LOL, not that my opinion matters, but I'm not crazy about the design of the USA logo on the back.)​

Adorable photo of VZ trying on a suit to wear for the formal dinner at the JGP:
 
Top