2013 World Figure Skating Championships - Men Free Report | Golden Skate

2013 World Figure Skating Championships - Men Free Report

Joined
Jan 22, 2004
2013 World Figure Skating Championships
Men – Free Skating

Detailed Classification
Judges Scores
Final Result


Disclaimer: The GOE values listed next to the elements are the ones, I'd award if I was a judge, to give you a general impression of how well it was executed. I try to describe each of the elements but there's not always time to be as detailed as I would like and those numbers can sometimes say a thousand words. So if you see positive GOE, it means an element was executed to a high standard (and yes, I am generally being very nitpicky ).

Any questions, comments, criticisms and discussion are very welcome.

1. Justus STRID /DEN/
Where Do I Fit In by Nicola Piovanni

3axel – underrotated over a quarter, fall [-3]
steps towards 3lutz [-3] – fall, was off-axis in the air
3flip [-1] – over the toe
3salchow(weak landing)/2toe/2toe [-1]
flying sit var to pancake(slow) [-1]
circular step sequence – a lot of fun and character but he stumbled at one point and his upper body movement is extremely stiff [-1]
3toe/2toe [0]
3toe [1] – good height, solid landing
2flip(messy overrottation)/2toe [-2]
2axel [-3] – heavy step out
camel/sit broken leg/change sit arms behind(travelled a lot)/up cross-foot [-2] - slow
up L to up butt out(poor extension) to up [-1] - slow, poorly extended positions
choroegraphic straight line step sequence [1]

Because he's so voidy and entertaining, he manages to take the attention away from the fact that his posture is poor (he skated with visibly rounded shoulders) and his back is very stiff. Fun but really awkward movements. Not a lot of character outside of step sequences, he could have played out the goofiness more throughout.

2. Maxim KOVTUN /RUS/
Casablanca (soundtrack) by Max Steiner

4toe(slightly over the toe)/2toe(went for triple but opened up) [-1]
4toe [0]
3lutz/3toe [0] – not a lot of flow out
camel/sit var/up butt out/change camel/sit var/up catch(very fast rotation but off-centred) [0]
circular step sequence [0] – could use more flow, don't see how it was supposed to relate to the music
3axel/2toe [1]
3axel [-1] – slight step out
3lip – off an outside edge, underrotated over a quarter, fall [-3]
2salchow [0]
scratch butterflies to flying upright leg to the side/up cross-foot(off-centred a lot) [-1]
choreographic straight line step sequence [0]
1axel – weak [-1]
sit/change sit holding foot to forward tuck [-1] – decent rotation speed but off-centered throughout

Hardly any connection to the music, generic choreography.

3. Viktor ROMANENKOV /EST/
Prince of Egypt (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer

3axel [0] – high but not a lot of speed out
3axel(good height but not much flow out)/2toe [0]
3toe [0]
scratch butterfly to flying camel/up holding foot/change sit var/up cross-foot [0] – could use some more speed
circular step sequence [-1] – lacked speed and flow
steps towards 3lutz [-3] – heavily overrotated
3loop [0] – could use some more flow out, entry quite long
sit cannonball to var to forward tuck [0]
footwork towards 3lutz [-3] – messy fall
3salchow(over the toe)/2toe [-1]
2axel (over the toe, poor flow out) [-1]
camel to catch upward twist/up/change sit/up butt out [-1] – poorly extended positions, not a lot of speed
choreographic sequence [-1] – lacked speed, going through the motions

Poor posture, choppy basic skating. He really needs to work on his kneebend, he'd be generating much more speed and flow if his knees weren't so stiff. His movement was off-time and there was pretty much no relation between the music and his skating.

He generates good height on his jumps but struggled a little with the axis of rotation tonight.
He's a competent jumper but needs to work on the quality of the other aspects of his skating.

Levandi looking very stylish again in skinny pants, high black boots and a loose black top with white horizontal stripes. Really sharp geometric haircut as well.

4. Jorik HENDRICKX /BEL/
Violin Concerto by Max Bruch

3axel/2toe [1] – high, solid landings
3axel [-1] – turnout, entry a little tentative
steps towards 3lutz/3toe [1] – high and solid
circular step sequence [1] – good flow
scratch butterflies to flying camel to upward twist coe to donut [1] – good rotation speed
three-turns into 3loop/2toe [0]
steps towards 2lutz [0] – timing was late on take-off
3flip [0]
3salchow [1] – quite good height and flow out
sit holding foot/jump to change sit/forward bend [1] – good rotation speed
choreographic straight line step sequence [2] – very good flow, quite expressive
into 2axel [-2] – overrotated
camel to catch/sit var/up/change camel/sit broken leg(a little slow)/up(off-centred) [-1] – decent speed at the start but lost it at the end

Quite elegant. Strong basic skating. Good speed and the program flowed over the ice beautifully. Good overall quality but the choroegraphy could have used some higlights and light and shade.

5. Viktor PFEIFER /AUT/
Breath by Audiomachine
Piano by Michael Orteta
Guardians at the Gate by Audiomachine

3lutz with arm above [2] – dead straight in the air, soft and solid landing
3flip [1]
2lutz with arm above/3toe(cheated over a quarter, weak landing) [-1]
camel free leg raised/change camel coe to catch [1] – quite good rotation speed, well centred
3loop [2] – very solid, soft landing with good flow out
2axel [-1] – landing a little weak
circular step sequence [1] – good use of upper body, flowed quite well
3salchow/3toe(could use some more flow out) [0]
3salchow/2toe/2toe [1]
2axel [-1] – landing a little weak
camel/sit var(very original position)/up leg to the side/change camel var/sit var/up holding foot [1] – original, well extended positions, decent rotation speed
choreographic straight line sequence [1] – hydroblade to some steps, good speed
flying sit holding foot to forward bend(slow) [-1]

Excellent posture and lines. A lot of attention to detail in the program, with him reacting to the music throughout with busy and sophisticated upper body movement. Decent kneebend, giving him quite good flow throughout.

Pfeifer has now left Priscilla Hill and is training with Irina Romanova who has been his choreographer for a while now. It's a little surprising because she's a former ice dancer (and a European bronze medallist) and the presentation aspect is already working very well for him. He needs a strong technical coach to sort out his jumps and teach him a quad or a triple axel.

6. Yakov GODOROZHA /UKR/
Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgski

3axel [-2] – overrotated
3lutz/3toe [1] – high
3axel [-3] – heavily overrotated
3lip/2toe/2loop [0] – solid but flip off an outside edge
scratch butterflies to flying camel(shaky landing) to catch upward twist to upward catch [0]
straight line step sequence [0]
3lutz [1] – very solid landing
2axel [-2] – overrotated
3loop [-3] – underrotataed over a quarter, fall
3salchow [0]
sit leg behind to coe/change sit/jump to sit to forward tuck(slow) [0] – good rotation speed at the start but slow at the end
choreographic circular step sequence [0]
camel to upward twist/sit/up cross-foot/change sit holding foot/up L [1] – quite good flow and rotation speed

Really basic choreography. In the first part of the program he just skated from one end of the rink into another, planting jumps and it didn't get much better later on.

He did however seem to pay more attention to his posture and lines and showed a little more kneebend than in the past however. His basics are a little weak but he was trying his best.

7. Alexander MAJOROV /SWE/
Life Begins Again by Afro Celt Sound System

4toe – fall [-3]
3lutz(landing a little bit shaky)/3toe(strong) [1] – a lot of height on both jumps
three-turns into 3loop [0] – good height but landing a little scratchy
flying camel/jump to sit/change camel to catch/up [0] – could use some more speed
circular step sequence [0]
3lip/3toe [0] – good height and decent landings but clearly off an outside edge
3axel [0]
3lip/2toe/2toe [-1] – again, jumps executed quite well but no doubt flip was off an outside edge
camel/sit holding foot/up butt out/change camel/jump to sit/up [0]
3salchow [-1] – over the toe, no speed out
2axel [1] – high and solid
choroegraphic straight line step sequence [1] – good speed and energy, long hydroblade at the end
flying sit var to forward bend [-1] – quite slow

A lot of energy throughout. Great music choice for him. He's hardly the most balletic skater but this kind of upbeat, staccato music complemented his skating perfectly and he moved in time with it.

I don't understand why he repeats the flip when he's consistently getting edge calls on it. It's not worth it.

Fashion police note: It's the World Championships so he really could have styled his hair. He looked like he just got out of bed.

8. Ross MINER /USA/
Captain Blood by Erich Korngold

4salchow [-3] – slightly off-axis, underrorated over a quarter and then overrotated on the landing with hand down
3axel [-3] – underrotated over a quarter, fall
3axel/2toe [1] – high and solid
flying sit pancake to forward bend side twist [1] – good rotation speed
3lutz/3toe [1] – both jumps very high
circular step sequence [0] – flow not bad but his upper body movement was really weak and unextended, he was just going through the motions
3lutz/half-loop/3salchow [1] – high and solid, good flow throughout
camel/sit forward bend/up holding foot/change camel/sit holding foot to coe [1] – quite good positions and rotation speed
3loop [0]
3lip [-3] – heavily overrotated with hand down, near fall, off an outside edge as well
choreographic straight line step sequence [0] – going through the motions
spread eagle to 2axel [1]
to flying camel/sit/jump to sit var/up cannonball/up cross-foot(fast but off-centred) [0]

Quite good edges and speed throughout. But he really needs to work on his lines. All of his movements are unextended and look very messy.

He landed a solid 4salchow in the warm-up.

9. Peter LIEBERS /GER/
Resistance by Muse performed by Two Cellos
Hurt by Muse performed by Two Cellos

3flip [0] – high and solid but off an outside edge
3axel/3toe [0] – decent height but a telegraphed entry and had to fight for the landings a little bit
3lutz [0] – good height but slightly over the toe, not a lot of flow out
circular step sequence [1] – quite good flow
3axel [2] – very high and solid
flying sit holding foot to var [1] – good flow and rotation speed
3lutz/2toe/2toe [0]
3loop [0]
3salchow [0]
flying camel to upward catch/jump to sit leg behind/up var(a little off-centred) [-1] – could use more speed, positions not extended very well
2axel/2toe [1] – high and solid
choreographic straight line step sequence [1] – good energy and flow
camel to donut/change camel/jump to sit var to forward bend/up [-1] – a little slow

This was probably the most impassioned performance he has ever given. He's not naturally expressive and he skated with a focused facial expression, not carrying any emotions across - as usual - but he was really comitted to his choreography and all of his movements. Everything looked clean, neat and composed and he flowed over the ice well.

10. Tomas VERNER /CZE/
It Ain't Mean a Thing If It Has No Swing by Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong
La Vie En Rose
Sing, Sing, Sing

3toe [2] – high and solid with room to spare (surely meant to be a quad)
3lip [-1] – off a clear outside edge, ok otherwise
1axel [-1] – a little wild in the air
circular step sequence [2] – good speed and flow, nice upper body movement
flying upright cannonball to cross-foot [1] – quite good rotation speed
some steps towards 2axel [1] – high and solid (but surely meant to be a triple)
1loop [0]
2lip [-2] – off a strong outside edge
3lip [0] – strong but off an outside edge
1loop [0]
camel/sit/change sit/up cross-foot [1] – good rotation speed
choreographic straight line step sequence [1] – good speed and energy
sit to sideways twist/change sit holding foot coe to forward bend [2] – very good rotation speed

A very well choreographed program that reflected the playful character of the music brilliantly. He didn't let the disaster on the jumps affect his performance. Light basic skating, a lot of freedom and character in his movement.

Lori with him in the Kiss & Cry ('Keep smiling' she told him). She seemed very supportive. I would have done a runner after this kind of performance. ;) Well no, on a more serious note, despite the jumps not working at all, he did skate the program well and did Nichol's choreography justice.

11. Andrei ROGOZINE /CAN/
Inception (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer

4toe [-1] – landing a little tight, poor flow out
spread eagle to 3axel/3toe/2toe [1] – high and solid
3salchow [1]
3lutz [-1] – weak landing with half a turn out
flying sit holding foot to broken leg [1] – quite good rotation speed
circular step sequence [1] – fast footwork
spread eagle to 3axel/3toe(tight landing) [0]
3loop [1] – solid
3flip [0] – not much flow out
2axel into 2axel [1] – high and solid
camel to upward twist/jump to sit forward bend [0]
choreographic sequence [1] – a lot of speed and power
flying camel catch/change sit/up cross-foot(travelled a little) [0] – quite good rotation speed

A lot of speed, power and attack throughout and an extremely impressive display of jumping ability. The kind of performance which gives you goose bumps. He was really in the zone and skated outside of the box.

Once you cool the emotions down, however, and break all down, there was also a number of things about that performance that weren't very good. His posture and lines are poor and he really doesn't know how to move. A lot of the time he was just skating with his arms hanging down, shoulders rounded, looking down. Get him a dance coach, please. His basic skating is not the strongest either.

12. Misha GE /UZB/
Charlie Chaplin selection
Charlie Chaplin remix

3axel [-3] – cheated over a quarter, two-footed
3lip/2toe with arms above [1] – high and solid but off an outside edge
3lutz/2toe/2loop [1] – high, good flow throughout
3lutz [1] – high and solid
3loop [1] – solid, good flow out
camel to upside twist/jump to change camel to catch [1] – quite good rotation speed
3lip [-1] – ok but off an outside edge
3salchow/3toe [1] – solid
2axel [1] – high and solid
camel/up var/change up butt out/sit var [1] – good positions and decent rotation speed
circular step sequence [1] – very good character
flying sit holding foot/forward bend [0]
choroegraphic straight line step sequence [2] – great attack and expression

A lot of character and expression throughout (although sVerner's playful program was much more detailed). The program flowed over the ice quite well. He is a real showman and you can imagine him having a successful pro career after he retires.

What was very unexpected was the quality of his jumps tonight. Triple axel aside, they were high and had really solid landings with good speed and flow out.

I don't understand why he is using music with lyrics (at the end, during his choreographic sequence) when it's the World Championships and Olympic spots are at stake as well. Why throw a point down the drain? It's also funny how two judges thought that the music didn't have lyrics. They must have turn their hearing aids up, clearly.

13. HANYU Yuzuru /JPN/
Notre Dame de Paris by Richard Cocciante

4toe [-1] – high and covered a lot of distance but cheated slightly and landing a little tight as a result
4salchow [-3] – cheated just over a quarter, turnout with foot down
3lip [-2] – over the toe, off an outside edge
to flying camel to donut/sit var/up biellmann [1]
circular step sequence [1] – good flow
3axel(high and solid)/3toe(slightly over the toe, not much flow out) [0]
3axel/2toe with arms above [2] – very difficult axel entry off a counter
3loop [1] – high and solid
3lutz/2toe/2toe [1]
spread eagle towards 3lutz [1]
choreographic step sequence [1] – lovely ina bauer, some footwork
scratch butterflies to camel coe/up var/change sit/up cross-foot [0] – could use a little more speed
flying sit holding foot/change sit forward bend [1] – quite good positions, rotation speed not bad
as the program ends, he falls down on the ice and struggles to catch his breath, it's incredible he manages to perform all this technical content given his asthma

Smooth basic skating and a lot of speed but he did not present the program as well as he's capable of. He seemed a little tense and he could have extended his movements better and shown more attack.

14. Florent AMODIO /FRA/
Jumpin' Jack by Sebastien Damiani
Broken Sorrow by Nuttin' But Stringz arranged by Sebastien Damiani
To Build a Home by Cinematic Orchestra arranged by Sebastien Damani

3salchow [2] – high and solid with good speed out but meant to be a quad surely
skated around the rink into another 4salchow [-3] – underrorated slightly, fall
and skated around the rink again into 3axel [-1] – weak landing
flying camel upward twist to catch [0] – rotation speed not bad but positions not extended very well
circular step sequence [2] - good edges and flow, very busy upper body movement
3axel [-1] – turnout, no combination
3lip [-1] – high and solid but off a clear outside edge
3lutz [0] – a little over the toe on the landing
3salchow/2toe(after a little hesitation) – high and solid [1]
sit/jump to sit/change sit leg behind to forward bend [1] – quite good positions and rotation speed although slowed down at the end
choreographic straight line step sequence [2] – fast footwork, good energy and attack
camel/sit/up var/change camel/sit leg behind/up cross-foot to scratch(off-centred very slightly) [0]

Poor choreography. He just skated around the rink, planting jumps near the boards. Not a very sophisticated element layout. He reacted to the music during the step sequences but mostly skated through it otherwise. Not a lot of content in between the technical elements.

It's a real shame because Amodio has really lovely soft and smooth basic skating and great posture and lines. He has very good basics and deserves much better programs.

15. Javier FERNANDEZ /ESP/
Charlie Chaplin Medley

4toe [1] – good height, landing a little scratchy but had good speed out
2salchow(a little messy in the air)/2toe [-1]
3axel – very high, near perfect secure landing [2]
sit/jump to sit to cannonball [0]
circular step sequence [1]
4salchow [1] – solid, soft landing
1lutz/2toe [-1]
spread eagle towards 3loop [0] – a little over the toe on the landing
steps to 3flip/half-loop/3salchow [1] – solid on both jumps, good flow throughout
scratch butterflies to camel/up cross-foot/change sit broken leg/up butt out [0] – could use more speed
choreographic straight line sequence [-1] – stumbled at one point, a little tense
3salchow [1]
camel coe/up var/change sit leg behind to cross-foot [1] – decent rotation speed

He did react to the changes in the music appropriately but the program could have used some more character and played out the Chaplin playfulness more. I wish he would push a bit more on all of his movements, extended and sold them a little better. His basics aren't bad but he's not yet at the level of some of the other top skaters.

He should work with a sport psychologist on maintaining his focus throughout. It was very frustrating to see him land a quad without any problems only to pop the next jump.

16. SONG Nan /CHN/
Symphony No. 4 by Peter I. Tchaikovski
Romeo and Juliet Overture by Peter I. Tchaikovski

3toe [1] – high and solid (meant to be a quad surely)
3axel(high and secure landing)/2toe [1]
3axel [1] – very good height
circular step sequence [1] – flow not bad, quite expressive
flying camel to upward twist/sit var/change up butt out [0]
3lutz/3toe [0] – landings not perfect but clean
3lip [-1] – high and solid but off a clear outside edge
steps to 3loop [-1] – weak landing
flying sit/change sit broken leg to forward bend [1] – quite good positions and rotation speed
2axel [-1] – over the toe, no flow out
choreographic circular step sequence [1] – fast footwork
2salchow/2toe [0]
camel/change sit holding foot/up cross-foot [0]
he was out of breath and almost fell down at the end (must have been out of steam on the salchow)

There was quite a lot of upper body movement throughout, the problem is, he was just going through the motions and wasn't comitted to his choreography at all. There was no expression, no emotion carried across. I don't think this was the best music choice for him, as he is neither balletic or emotive.

17. Max AARON /USA/
Westside Story by Leonard Bernstein

4salchow(two-footed)/2toe [-2]
2salchow [0]
flying camel/jump to sit holding foot/up cross-foot [1] – quite good rotation speed
circular step sequence [-1] – busy upper body movement but weak and scratchy edges, lack of flow
camel/up var/change up butt out/sit forward bend [1] – quite good rotation speed
3axel/2toe [1] – very good height and distance on the axel but toe a little rushed (probably because of being close to the board)
3lutz [1] – high
3axel [1] – high and solid
skated into the boards
flying sit/jump to sit/change sit broken leg [0] – a little slow
3flip/half-loop/3salchow [2] – both jumps high with secure landings, good flow throughout
3flip [0] – high and solid but off a slight outside edge
choreographic straight line step sequence [0]
3loop [1] – high and secure with good flow out (right at the end of the program as well)

An extremely impressive display of jumping ability. Really high jumps, most of which had very secure landings as well. The presentation, however, left a lot to be desired. He was hunched and his movements were messy and unextended. His movement lacked style and character.

18. MURA Takahito /JPN/
Shogun

4toe [-3] – slightly underrotated, overrotated on the landing
3lutz/3toe [1] – high and solid, could have used a little more speed out though
3axel [2] – very high with room to spare, secure landing
camel coe/change camel upward twist [1] – very good rotation speed and quite well extended positions but travelled after change of foot
3loop [1] – high and secure but could have held the landing a bit longer
3axel/2toe [1] – again, extremely impressive height and distance on the axel
circular step sequence [1] – decent flow
3salchow/2toe [1]
camel catch/sit/change up butt out/up [0] – could use more speed
3lutz [1] – good height and distance
3lip [-2] – ok but off a deep outside edge
flying sit holding foot to broken leg to forward tuck [0] – could use more speed
straight line choreographic step sequence [1] – good speed and energy
an akward unextended hungarian spiral to end the program

Good kneebend and speed. Quite soft basic skating. He did seem to mostly skate in time to the music but he showed no emotions, no expression and the program lacked light and shade and interesting movements. He has good basics but needs style and character in his routines and a good performance skills coach.

19. TAKAHASHI Daisuke /JPN/
Pagliacca from "I Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Intermezzo from "I Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Prelude from "I Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Si Puo Signore Signori from "I Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo

4toe [-3] – cheated over a quarter, two-footed
3toe [1]
3axel [1] – solid
flying sit holding foot/change camel to catch/up cross-foot [1]
circular step sequence [2] – fast footwork, good flow, very good upper body movement
sideways to layback to coe [0] – quite good rotation speed but travelled a little at the end
3axel [-3] – underrotated over a quarter, fall
3loop [-1] – hand down
transitions towards 3salchow [1] – solid
3lutz/2toe/2loop [1] – good height and solid landings on all the jumps, good flow throughout
3flip [1] – solid
choroegraphic straight line step sequence [2] – very good speed and flow
camel to upward twist/jump to change sit to upward bend/up cross-foot(fast but a little bit off-centred) [0] – could use some more speed

Good flow throughout, very deep kneebend. He moves beautifully and the program featured some nice connecting elements throughout. Presentation-wise he is in a different league to everybody else. Nobody moves with such ease and flow and reflects the music using their whole body in the same way (Chan edges him out on the SS though).

His spins are a little weak for a skater of this standard.

20. Michal BREZINA /CZE/
The Untouchables (soundtrack) by Ennio Morricone (new arrangement)

4salchow [-3] – fall
3axel [2] – very high and solid
around the rink into 4salchow [-3] – underrorated slightly, two-footed, fall, same entry as the first one
flying sit holding foot coe to forward bend [1]
circular step sequence [1] – good flow
2axel/2toe [1] – high and solid but meant to be a triple
3flip [2] – very high and solid
3loop [1] – high, secure landing with good speed out
3lutz [1]
3axel [-3] – underrotated over a quarter, step out with hands down, near fall
camel/jump to sit to var/up raised leg/change camel/sit/up var [1] – decent rotation speed
choreographic straight line step sequence [1] – good speed, busy footwork
sit/jump to sit broken leg(position poorly extended, very slow) [-2]

Decent basics but quite generic choreography.

I'm not really surprised that Camerlengo isn't sitting him him in the Kiss & Cry. My guess is that Brezina's team has taken most of the original choreography out.

21. Patrick CHAN /CAN/
La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini

4toe/3toe [2] – solid, a lot of speed out
4toe [3] – perfect landing, a lot of speed out
3lutz [-3] – fall, very short entry, hardly any preparation
circular step sequence [2] – very strong edges, good speed and flow
camel/change camel to upward twist coe [0] – could use a little more speed, the variation wasn't extended well
3axel [-3] – underrotated over a quarter, fall (timing late just like in the short, didn't get enough height)
3loop [1] – solid, good flow out
3flip(landing not very strong)/half-loop/3salchow(step out with hand down) [-3]
flying sit side twist to broken leg [1] – good rotation speed
2lutz/2toe [0]
choreographic straight line step sequence [1] – great edges and flow but he wasn't fully comitting to it
2axel [0] – landing a little weak
camel/jump to sit/up cannonball to sideways/jump to change upright cross-foot(off-centered) [0] – good rotation speed

Incredible speed and basic skating. Choroegraphy was a little flat however or maybe it's just because of the quality of this performance. He was tense and wasn't fully comimtted to presenting his program, a lot of it looked like he was going through the motions.

This was extremely surreal. Both of the opening quads were near perfect and he seemed to be really in the zone. But then the focus suddenly went off.

22. Brian JOUBERT /FRA/
Gladiator (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer

4toe [1] – good height
3salchow [1] – high and solid with room to spare
3axel [-2] – cheated over a quarter, weak landing
sit/jump to sit/change sit side twist/forward tuck [0] – could use a little more speed, positions not extended very well
4toe(cheater over a quarter, not a lot of flow out)/1toe [-2]
3lip/2toe [-1] – high and secure but off a clear outside edge
circular step sequence [1] – quite good speed
camel/sit pancake coe/jump to sit/up var [1] – good rotation speed
3lutz [1] – very high, flow out could have been a little better though
3salchow/2toe [1]
3lip [0] – high, secure landing but off an outside edge (no value because he has already repeated the 4toe and the 3salchow)
flying sit var/up L to bent knee [1] – quite good rotation speed
choreographic straight line step sequence [1] – quite fast footwork

Very strong basic skating, deep, smooth, clean edges. Impressive height on his jumps. Quite good energy throughout. Not much else to praise about this program, however. It was a generic 90s warhorse program where hardly anything happened in between the jumps.

And his technical content isn't up to scratch with what his rivals are performing today. He lacked a three jump combination and only had one triple axel. He didn't have a triple-triple combination either. The program was quite frontloaded as well two of his jumps got the bonus. Even if he skates well, it's just not possible for him to earn a lot of points. Here he also got Zayaked.

Fashion police note: Another tacky see through costume with one sleeve made of illusion fabric not matching his skin tone at all.

23. Denis TEN /KAZ/
Happy Ending (from "The Artist" soundtrack) by Ludovic Bource
George Valentin (from "The Artist" soundtrack) by Ludovic Bource
Happy Ending (from "The Artist" soundtrack) by Ludovic Bource
My Suicide (from "The Artist" soundtrack) by Ludovic Bource
Peppy and George (from "The Artist" soundtrack) by Ludovic Bource

4toe [2] – very solid, good speed out
3axel/3toe [1] – strong landings
3axel [2] – with room to spare, very secure landing
circular step sequence [2] – light over the ice, quite fast footwork, good expression
camel upward twist coe/jump to camel donut [1] – very well extended positions, decent rotation speed
3lutz/2toe/2toe [1]
2flip/2toe [0]
turns into 3salchow [1] – secure landing with good flow out, short entry
3loop [0] – a little over the toe
flying sit (camel position in the air) side twist to forward tuck [0] – good speed to start with but a little slow at the end
2axel [1] – very high
choreographic straight line step sequence
camel/jump to sit/change sit var/up var/up [1] – good rotation speed
totally overcome with emotion at the end, in tears as he comes off the ice

Quite light over the ice. Good flow throughout but the choreography was generic and the program featured a lot of cross-overs. He didn't extend his movements very well either. They could have brought out the playful character of the music more.

As far as the scoring controversy goes, mistakes on the jumps aside, Chan was tense and did not present him program very well. On the other hand, Ten's program was nowhere near as complex as Chan's (as far as contruction, layout, transitions, etc. go). I wanted to see Ten win but I also understand that Chan has some exceptional qualities and he did land what was probably the best quad ever executed (and two quads in total).

In the end, it was very close between them and Ten did win the FS so I don't really see the reason to complain about the scoring in this part of the event. Having said that, I did believe that Chan was overscored in the short program. Had his SP scores been a little lower, he would have lost the gold.

However if you really wanted to nitpick at the scores, you'd probably have to end up marking Ten down on some of the PCS as well (TR and CH definitely). So who knows. It's not as clear cut and obvious as Ten being better just because he didn't fall.

Ten already looked really panicked in the warm-up and had a fall on a quad so this kind of performance was the last thing anybody could have expected!

24. Kevin REYNOLDS /CAN/
Concerto No. 4 in E minor for Piano and Orchestra by Andre Mathieu

4salchow [-3] – cheated slightly, two-footed, turnout
4toe(cheated over a quarter)/3toe [0] – strong landings, underrotation aside
3axel(cheated over a quarter, two-footed)/3toe [-3]
circular step sequence [1] – quite good flow
camel upward twist coe/jump to change camel to catch [1] – good flow throughout
4toe(cheated over a quarter, hand down, not a lot of flow out) [-3]
2axel [1]
3lip/2toe/2loop [0] – good flow throughout, all landings solid but flip off a slight outside edge
3lutz [-1] – slightly cheated
3salchow [0] – not a lot of flow out (possibly cheated as well)
choreographic straight line step sequence [1] – good energy, quite fast footwork
camel/up var to var/change sit leg behind to cross-foot [1] – decent rotation speed
flying sit var/change camel(slow, travelled a little bit)/up cross-foot(fast) [0]

A decently choroegraphed program. He was really committed to presenting it throughout. His shoulders were slightly rounded, however, and his pack a little stiff. Quite soft arm movements, though, and a lot of them throughout. He's clearly worked on those.

His basic skating is not yet at the level of most of the other top skaters. He needs more speed and power.
 

marcolee925

Rinkside
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
As predicted Fernandez and Hanyu would come back big time.

I pretty much agree with the podium. The scores were a little crazy but the order was right. Chan still had a much harder program and I wouldn't have Ten receve 8s yet for PCS or at least not high 8s.

I think by far the worst decision at these Worlds was not Russia not sending Kotvun, but China not sending Yan Han.
 

moon

On the Ice
Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Thankyou Ziggy. Your closing comments for each skater are objective and insightful. It is nice to see a skating fan being able to understand what they are looking at without bias.
 
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