ISU Grand Prix: Rostelecom Cup Mens Short Program

1) Ivan Tretiakov (Russia)
   Music: Valse Trise

• His jumps seem like he is landing them a little low to the ground and lack height
• Overall it was a clean skate, but not an inspired skate
• He seemed to lack confidence while he was skating and if he can work on that, it will drastically improve his skating
• SP Score: 36.43 (TES) + 29.18 (PCS) = 65.61
• **TES stands for Technical Elements Score, PCS stands for Program Components Score

2) Konstantin Menshov (Russia)
   Music: Silver Guitar

• This is a theatrical skater
• Amazing height on his opening jump
• The second jump, the combination, is equally as high
• He doubled the third jump and seemed to two-foot it; looked like he rushed the timing on the takeoff
• SP Score: 36.27 (TES) + 31.07 (PCS) = 67.34

3) Anton Kovalevski (Ukraine) **
   Music: Stop Time Rag

• Here comes my fantasy skating group C pick whom I've never seem skate, lets see what he can do
• He really lacked speed going into jump number one and fell on it
• Two-footed the second jump of the combination
• Even his clean landings look really low
• I think this may be a case of the nerves
• Overall this is going to be a disappointing short for him; lets hope he can clean it up in the long
• SP Score: 31.01 (TES) + 30.04 (PCS) -1.00 (deduction)= 60.05

4) Tatsuki Machida (Japan)
   Music: Dark Eyes

• Wow he almost fell onto his face on that triple axel
• The second jump of the combination looked under-rotated
• Hand down on the third jump
• He has a lot of intensity in this footwork
• Normally women perform this music but he managed to do it without making it look too feminine
• Wow those stands are empty for this event
• SP Score: 26.76 (TES) + 30.61 (PCS) - 1.00 (deduction)= 56.37

5) Yuzuru Hanyu (Japan)
   Music: White Legend

• 
  
• SP Score: 37.86 (TES) + 32.38 (PCS) = 70.24

6) Javier Fernandez (Spain) **
   Music: Histoire d un amor

• SP Score: 34.07 (TES) + 32.39 (PCS) = 66.46

**Group 2 six minute warm up**


7) Artur Gachinski (Russia)
   Music: Selections by Pink Floyd

• Mini Plushenko
• That opening quad was very solid
• He definitely has Plushenko's confidence and flair
• SP Score: 38.95 (TES) + 33.46 (PCS) = 72.41

8) Alban Preaubert (France) **
   Music: Turtle Shoes

• A very strong triple axel
• He has a quad in his arsenal but we'll have to wait until tomorrow for the long program to see if he tries it
• SP Score: 36.21 (TES) + 34.29 (PCS) = 70.50

9) Samuel Contesti (Italy)
   Music: Hungarian March

• SP Score: 31.12 (TES) + 34.57 (PCS) =65.69

10) Tomas Verner (Czech Republic)
   Music: Singing In The Rain

• 
  
• SP Score: 36.95 (TES) + 37.15 (PCS) = 74.10

11) Jeremy Abbott (USA)
   Music: Viejos Aires

• He is on in this short program!
• Very strong and very clean
• He was totally in command of that program today
• I loved his presence on the ice and his footwork sequence especially
• I think Yuka Sato's choice to have him play characters was very effective
• SP Score: 39.07 (TES) + 38.54 (PCS) = 77.61

12) Patrick Chan (Canada) **
   Music: Take Five

• Well here comes Patrick Chan, the question with him is always, will he or will he not implode
• He is so young, and has so much talent for his age
• Opening jump pass looks very solid
• And then a fall on the triple axel, really Patrick?
• When Patrick falls, he falls hard too
• I thought Abbott was more committed to the performance
• The question is, where does this put Patrick in the standings?
• Don't count him out yet, as per Skate Canada, we know he can come from behind
• Nevermind coming from behind, Patrick is leading
• His components are always so high, and I'm guessing the 3A was fully  rotated before he fell
• SP Score: 42.54 (TES) + 40.42 (PCS) - 1.00 (deduction) = 81.96

Current Leaderboard:

1) Chan (Canada)                    81.96

2) Abbott (USA)                        77.61
3) Verner (CZE)                        74.10
4) Gachinski (Russia)               72.41

5) Preaubert (France)              70.50

6) Hanyu (Japan)                     70.24
7) Menshov (Russia)                 67.34

8) Fernandez (Spain)               66.46

9) Contesti (Italy)                      65.69
10) Tretiakov (Russia)              65.61

11) Kovalevski (Ukraine)          60.05

12) Machida (Japan)                 56.37