2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Mens Free Skate Commentary

1) Tomas Verner (CZE)                              
     Music: Sing Sing Sing, La Vie En Rose

• He is looking like a totally different skater out there today
• When he is on, he reminds me so much if Ilia Kulike
• I like this program on him a lot, it reminds me of his Singin in the Rain
• That was a horrifying fall on the triple axel, landing in a split position
• I'm surprised he can continue after that fall
• I'm not surprised he doubled his triple axel
• Oh wow we're taking the suspenders down for the footwork
• Oh no, another footwork fall
• What a shame because it was a great 1st half of the program
• This will be a hit by Europeans and Worlds if he can clean it up

FS Score: 63.89 (TES) + 71.78 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 133.67
Total Score: 62.96 (SP) + 133.67 (FS) =196.63

2) Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)
     Music: Kill Bill

• Good glide out of the triple lutz
• Nice glide out of the triple axel into steps
• I like this music a lot, I can see it being a hit by Nationals
• He does a good job of using his whole body in the footwork
• I like the intensity and variation in the music, but his performance is lacking spark
• He needs to find a way of connecting with the music
• Straighten your leg and point your foot in the sit position please
• Unfortunate fall halfway through, and he was going so strong!
• Still needs work, but a huge improvement from Skate America!

FS Score: 61.12 (TES) + 61.94 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 122.06
Total Score: 63.52 (SP) + 122.06 (FS) = 185.58

3) Samuel Contesti (ITA)
     Music: La Vie En Rose, Ca Gaze

• This was a great program at Skate America
• He is such a tall skater that it's hard for him to not look hunched when he tries to get deep into the ice
• Really high triple axel
• Suspenders are the accessory of the season
• He uses his performance skills to his advantage by always doing character programs
• Both of these pieces of music work together so well
• He has such a love for the sport and that shows out on the ice
• Not too many other people make their 3axel their 3-jump combination
• He's really playing to the crowd in this step sequence
• He's a little stiff in his upper body, I'd like to see him relax there a bit
• He music really speeds up at the end, but unfortunately his final spin can't match the speed

FS Score: 74.52 (TES) + 71.34 (PCS) = 145.86
Total Score: 63.83 (SP) + 145.86 (FS) = 209.69

4) Ross Miner (USA)
     Music: The Untouchables

• This was a strong skate at Skate Canada
• His hair looks a little messy today
• He has great body lines
• Beautiful triple axel into a pirouetting move
• Another nice triple axel
• I love that he becomes a character in this story
• Step out of the triple lutz, a little too much speed going in
• I love the headless variation of the scratch spin
• He is carrying a ton of speed
• He looks a little stiff on his jump landings
• I'd love to see deeper knees in his landings
• This is a very complete program, very majestic
• Very nice outing for him
• He fought for a few landings, but that builds character
• He's quite happy with this skate!

FS Score: 74.22 (TES) + 67.02 (PCS) = 141.24
Total Score: 71.12 (SP) + 141.24 (FS) = 212.36

5) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
     Music: Don Quixote

• He is so small and sprightly!
• He SAVED that jump!
• He's a very  nice skater with great expression
• Pops the axel
• The jumps aren't all there and most will probably receive negative GOE's but that doesnt detract from the fact that this is a nice program
• He could use a lot more speed in this step sequence
• Nice ending pose

FS Score: 54.57 (TES) + 68.62 (PCS) = 123.19
Total Score: 72.26 (SP) + 123.19 (FS) = 195.45

6) Konstantin Menshov (RUS)
     Music: The Race, Kill Bill

• This is interesting sound design to say the least
• His jumps are huge, but really ugly in the air
• This program is so Russian
• Hard fall to the hip, slid off the landing edge
• Another hard fall to the hip
• These jumps are so big he can't maintain control
• He has not 1 ounce of expression on his face
• Very slow spins 
• That flexed foot is so ugly
• Well this is a string of huge jumps and that's about it

FS Score: 58.57 (TES) + 64.64 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 121.21
Total Score: 74.67 (SP) + 121.21 (FS) = 195.88

7) Brandon Mroz (USA)
     Music: Carmen

• Very tilted in the air on the Quad Lutz, falls
• Hand down on the triple axel
• I hate to say it, but jumps are all he has
• He can't fall back on PCS when he misses jumps
• He needs to point the feet on the sit spin
• He has no expression on his face
• His disappointment over the jumps is ruining this program
• Singles the axel, this program is really going nowhere fast
• If you're using overdone music you need to make it fresh, and this is not
• Another popped axel
• Has all the focus on the Quad lutz distracted him from the rest of his skating?
• Yet another popped jump, this is painful to watch, I feel for him
• I'd love to know how coaches inspire their athletes after meltdowns like that

FS Score: 45.44 (TES) + 65.56 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 110.00
Total Score: 74.83 (SP) + 110.00 (FS) = 184.83

8) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
     Music: The Valley of the Wind

• I love that back pat that Sato gives Taka
• I'd love to see him in a more modern costume
• His expression has improved so much this season
• Two-foots the Quad Toe
• Good triple axel on a really deep leg
• His improvement from Skate America to NHK is amazing!
• This home crowd has really helped him to regain his confidence
• That was a gigantic triple axel! 3-jump combo
• I really like this choreography
• Ends a little before the music
• It wasn't perfect, but it was such an improvement

FS Score: 76.67 (TES) + 78.56 (PCS) = 155.25
Total Score: 79.77 (SP) + 155.25 (FS) = 235.02

9) Daisuke Takahshi (JPN)
     Music: Blues for Klook

• Goes for the Quad Flip, falls
• Amazing triple axel
• I don't love all of his spin positions
• All of his "in betweens" are the highlights of his programs
• If there was ever a case for solo ice dance, it's Takahashi
• His jumps are always a little questionable, but he's solid today
• He just has the crowd in the palm of his hand
• If he didn't have to do jumps and could just get credit for like 10 step sequences it would be a dream come true
• He is overcome with the emotion of this crowd

FS Score: 80.04 (TES) + 90.28 (PCS)  -1.00 (DED) = 169.32
Total Score: 90.43 (SP) + 169.32 (FS) = 259.75