Skate Canada: Mens Free Skate LIVE BLOG!

1) Liam Firus (CAN)
 Music: The Resistance

• For the sake of my fantasy team, this best be good!
• Crushed velvet is always a good sign
• Oh no you didn't just trip on a crossover boyfriend
• No you didn't just fall on your opening jump!
• There we go, good one
• He has a lovely lyrical quality to his skating, yes he does
• He seems unsure of himself, just needs some more seasoning to mature
• Liam honey, let's hold it together
• Give me some expression on that face, don't just go through the motions
• A great deal of traveling on that combination spin to end, and a funky ending pose
• He has potential and he's nice to look at
• 49.51 (TES) + 60.66 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 109.17
• 60.50 (SP) + 109.17 (FS) = 169.67

2) Takahito Mura (JPN)
 Music: Shogun

• Jumps look very "on" from the beginning
• I love this whole Samurai thing we have going on
• He has the huge jumps, but he is also very expressive for such a strong athlete
• The first popped jump is usually a warning sign of a break in concentration
• He lands these jump so low, yet always manages to stand them up; incredible
• This program is starting to lose me halfway through, it's a very "one note" performance for me
• I'd take that program back to the drawing board and revamp the choreo
• 72.00 (TES) + 66.64 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 137.64
• 62.10 (SP) + 137.64 (FS) = 199.74

3) Ross Miner (USA)
 Music: Captain Blood

• Huge jumps!
• This music suits him well and that shirt makes him look like a modern Todd Eldredge or Paul Wylie
• His jumps look so solid, he looks very sure of himself
• He knows he is going to hit all of these elements when he goes into them
• This is a solid program for him, this could be his year at US Nationals
• 73.91 (TES) + 70.28 (PCS) = 144.19
• 69.41 (SP) + 144.19 (FS) = 213.60

4) Artur Gachinski (RUS)
 Music:

• What does that spider web tuxedo have to do with anything?
• This is an oddly lyrical piece of music for him; we're used to Stravinski and anything dissonant
• He totally failed to finish that spin position, whey is he just going through the motions
• For a jumper, he is landing too many of them on his hands
• I forgot the mention the 2 Quads, I mean that's like old hat for him
• Every program of his has that moment where he clenches his fists and seems to shout "aha"
• Please straighten out your free leg when you land your jumps dear; Sincerely, the dancer in me
• I wonder if Mishin will tell Artur to lose weight to land the jumps?
• 63.40 (TES) + 67.44 (PCS) = 129.84
• 69.74 (SP) + 129.84 (FS) = 199.58

5) Elladj Balde (CAN)
 Music: Moonlight Sonata Remix & Animal Rights

• Is this hair really necessary?
• He is like the love child of Surya Bonaly and Philipe Candeloro
• Beethoven is rolling over in his grave right now
• He should only skate to Michael Jackson, nothing else
• The odd musical selection and choreography are distracting from the skating, which is actually quite good tonight
• Oddly enough, this won't be the strangest program we see tonight, our good buddy Florent is on the way
• 61.56 (TES) + 65.92 (PCS) = 127.48
• 72.46 (SP) + 127.48 (FS) = 199.94

6) Florent Amodio (JPN)
 Music: Jumpin Jack, Nothing but Sorrow, & To build a home

• Oh heaven help us, what are we about to witness
• Very fast rotation in the jumps, little stumbles on landings
• Very fast and smooth so far, good ice coverage
• Just when I think we'll see a nice, normal program we get something techno with a downbeat that sounds like Nadia's theme
• This boy is the king of standing still and posing
• He would be right at home in the 90s
• Losing that combination will hurt his base value
• Why do I feel like he has no concern for scores and just goes out to do whatever he feels like?
• 69.41 (TES) + 74.70 (PCS) = 144.11
• 74.61 (SP) + 144.11 (FS) = 218.72

7) Denis Ten (KAZ)
 Music: The Artist

• This music is gorgeous
• Falls on both Quads, A for effort though!
• When he hits his jumps, they are textbook
• I love this program for him, those little jazzy interludes are fun and they show off personality that I've never seen from him
• I like the program, the execution just isn't there today
• The sad thing is that we know he can do the jumps, we've seen them before
• 58.74 (TES) + 72.70 (PCS) -3.00 (DED) = 128.44
• 75.26 (SP) + 128.44 (FS) = 201.70

8) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
 Music: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

• I love how catlike he is on those landings, he has the softest knees around
• I missed this from him last season; loving the huge jumps!
• He looks extremely thin, that's probably how he's jumping so high
• Yay, this is lovely, this is what we want from him
• Oo, not a butt spin, never a butt spin
• Yay Nobu, very good
• 78.48 (TES) + 77.72 (PCS) = 156.20
• 82.14 (SP) + 156.20 (FS) = 238.34

9) Patrick Chan (CAN)
 Music: La Boheme

• Patrick looks so fast today
• Very slick opening combo
• Hands down on our 2nd quad of the day
• I actually like this program for him, it's very regal so it suits his posture and his rigid upper body
• He is showing us a new side, it's a little playful which is endearing
• Crash on the triple axel, that's his nemesis; I can see how that would've been lovely choreographically with the music
• He is always messy at Skate Canada, I feel like that's part of his process, how he builds up over the season
• You could never accuse him of peaking too early
• I love the use of levels in this last step sequence
• He must be a very well trained athlete because he doesn't seem to lose speed throughout the program
• Ends slightly after the music
• 75.13 (TES) + 86.78 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 160.91
• 82.52 (SP) + 160.91 (FS) = 241.43

10) Javier Fernandez (ESP)
 Music: Charlie Chaplin

• Wow, how charming
• I want him to be my boyfriend
• Oy that was one hard fall on the first quad, all the weight on the hands
• Very tight 2nd Quad
• Not one ounce of this music is wasted, ever nuance is accented
• He doesn't look fully comfortable yet, this program is sure to be stellar by Worlds
• Now he is getting into the program, findin his rhythm
• He should receive great PCS for this program; 'should' being the operative word
• I think he should win it; that was a gorgeous experience for the audience
• 85.15 (TES) + 83.92 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 168.07
• 85.87 (SP) + 168.07 (FS) = 253.94

Skate Canada: Mens Preview

If (and that's a big if) we happen to get a feed for this event, I will be live blogging all of the Skate Canada events this weekend!

Competition Schedule:
Friday October 26th at 7:30 pm-Short Program
Saturday October 27th at 7:10 pm-Free Skate



Hi, anybody who knows anything knows that Patrick Chan (CAN) is going to win this event. He is at home, he is the love child of IJS and the judging panels. He is working with a new coaching team this year because he fired the people who created him so we'll see if that takes a toll on his emotional status. It's a big year for P-Chiddy because he has two, count 'em two, new programs this year. Good times! In all seriousness, this guy can skate and it's great to see the quads, but let's hope he holds back some of the goods to make it a fair fight for the rest of the field.

Javier Fernandez (ESP) is my new skating boyfriend. I am just smitten with him! He is a lovely performer and I love how he was hot on Chan's heels at last year's skate Canada. I cannot wait to see his Zorro short program and especially his Charlie Chaplin free skate. Both should be endearing and jam-packed technically. I really want him to win, but it will take a lot to beat Chan on home ice.

Ross Miner (USA) has a chance to make the podium on the Grand Prix this season, but until he gets the quad nobody will take him seriously. He is usually pretty consistent so considering that the first 2 or 3 Grand Prix events are a hot mess, he has a really good shot at the podium.

Speaking of hot messes, Florent Amodio (FRA) has been all over the place in the past two years. I no longer take him seriously as a competitor, but I do look forward to seeing the costumes that he borrows from the disco animals in Lady Gaga's bathhouse. I'm looking at his free skate music, which looks like a hot disaster on blades, and I couldn't be more excited about it!.

Our dear Artur Gachinski (RUS) is a hot mess of an entirely different variety. We love that he is Evgeni's mini-me and how he flails about like Boy George in 1980s London, but it really has no place on the ice in 2012 under IJS. Perhaps he should've been born in another generation so he could pit his "style" against the likes of Rudy Galindo and Philipe Candeloro. He does have a World medal under his belt, but he has not risen to the occasion since he accomplished that feat in 2010.

Our dear little Nobunari Oda (JPN) is a sad case. Ever since he became a father his career has gone down hill. 2011-2012 was a disaster for him and this is a do or die year. Takahashi is still fabulous, Hanyu and Kozuka are world medalists, and Machida is on his way up the ranks. If Oda does not prove this season that he can still do it, I say the Japanese federation washes their hands of him as they did with Fumie Suguri.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Patrick Chan
Silver: Javier Fernandez
Bronze: Ross Miner

The Rest of the Field:
Elladj Balde (CAN)
Liam Firus (CAN)
Takahito Mura (JPN)
Denis Ten (KAZ)

2012 European Figure Skating Championships vs. Four Continents: Top Men's Scores

These are comparisons between the two ISU Championships that lead into the World Championships in March. A few of these skaters, namely Evgeni Plushenko and Ross Miner, won't be competing in Nice and we'll see notables Jeremy Abbott, Takahiko Kozuka, and Yuzuru Hanyu added to the field, but could these standings be similar to what we'll see at Worlds?

1) Patrick Chan (CAN) 273.94

2) Evgeni Plushenko (RUS) 261.23

3) Artur Gachinski (RUS) 246.27

4) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) 244.33

5) Florent Amodio (FRA) 134.18

6) Michal Brezina (CZE) 229.30

7) Tomas Verner (CZE) 225.36

8) Ross Miner (USA) 223.23

9) Javier Fernandez (ESP) 222.26

10) Adam Rippon (USA) 221.55

11) Takahito Mura (JPN) 217.16

12) Samuel Contesti (ITA) 212.32

13) Denis Ten (KAZ) 210.03

14) Tatsuki Machida (JPN) 208.04

15) Brian Joubert (FRA) 207.83

16) Jorik Hendrickx (BEL) 204.63

17) Kevin Reynolds (CAN) 203.26

18) Misha Ge (UZB) 196.53

19) Jinlin Guan (CHN) 196.53

20) Sergei Voronov (RUS) 195.89  

2012 European Figure Skating Championships: Men's Short Program Results

Plushenko's Short Program

Qual.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Q	Artur GACHINSKI	RUS	84.80	45.91		38.89	7.86	7.50	7.82	7.75	7.96	0.00	#25
2	Q	Evgeni PLUSHENKO	RUS	84.71	42.21		42.50	8.64	7.86	8.71	8.43	8.86	0.00	#4
3	Q	Tomas VERNER	CZE	81.14	42.39		38.75	8.00	7.43	7.75	7.68	7.89	0.00	#21
4	Q	Javier FERNANDEZ	ESP	80.11	40.83		39.28	7.89	7.64	7.93	7.82	8.00	0.00	#20
5	Q	Florent AMODIO	FRA	78.48	39.87		38.61	7.86	7.50	7.82	7.61	7.82	0.00	#23
6	Q	Michal BREZINA	CZE	76.13	37.91		39.22	7.89	7.54	7.82	7.93	8.04	1.00	#18
7	Q	Kevin VAN DER PERREN	BEL	71.05	37.50		34.55	7.04	6.57	7.04	6.86	7.04	1.00	#28
8	Q	Jorik HENDRICKX	BEL	68.98	36.73		32.25	6.64	6.18	6.50	6.36	6.57	0.00	#24
9	Q	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	68.33	36.29		32.04	6.54	6.11	6.46	6.32	6.61	0.00	#27
10	Q	Brian JOUBERT	FRA	67.92	31.07		38.85	7.96	7.39	7.82	7.75	7.93	2.00	#22
11	Q	Samuel CONTESTI	ITA	66.86	31.36		36.50	7.50	7.07	7.18	7.36	7.39	1.00	#26
12	Q	Chafik BESSEGHIER	FRA	63.12	35.97		28.15	5.75	5.36	5.79	5.54	5.71	1.00	#16
13	Q	Peter LIEBERS	GER	61.08	29.40		31.68	6.36	6.21	6.32	6.36	6.43	0.00	#19
14	Q	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	60.88	30.74		30.14	6.25	5.61	6.21	5.93	6.14	0.00	#17
15	Q	Zoltan KELEMEN	ROU	60.12	34.94		26.18	5.50	4.89	5.32	5.11	5.36	1.00	#8
16	Q	Kim LUCINE	MON	57.64	30.91		26.73	5.29	5.11	5.54	5.29	5.50	0.00	#15
17	Q	Paolo BACCHINI	ITA	55.77	26.20		30.57	6.21	5.89	6.04	6.14	6.29	1.00	#29
18	Q	Justus STRID	DEN	54.71	29.09		25.62	5.18	4.75	5.29	5.04	5.36	0.00	#10
19	Q	Alexei BYCHENKO	ISR	54.69	28.76		25.93	5.29	4.89	5.32	5.14	5.29	0.00	#9
20	Q	Maciej CIEPLUCHA	POL	54.17	29.41		24.76	5.07	4.61	5.11	4.86	5.11	0.00	#6
21	Q	Viktor PFEIFER	AUT	53.58	27.83		26.75	5.57	5.04	5.46	5.25	5.43	1.00	#11
22	Q	Viktor ROMANENKOV	EST	52.24	28.63		23.61	5.04	4.46	4.79	4.68	4.64	0.00	#14
23	Q	Paul FENTZ	GER	51.74	26.64		25.10	5.25	4.82	4.96	4.96	5.11	0.00	#7
24	Q	Dmitri IGNATENKO	UKR	51.61	29.04		22.57	4.71	4.14	4.54	4.64	4.54	0.00	#5
25		Jason THOMPSON	GBR	51.42	29.67		21.75	4.57	4.07	4.43	4.36	4.32	0.00	#1
26		Pavel KASKA	CZE	51.34	24.99		26.35	5.39	5.00	5.46	5.18	5.32	0.00	#13
27		Vitali LUCHANOK	BLR	48.32	24.31		24.01	5.11	4.54	4.82	4.79	4.75	0.00	#12
28		Slavik HAYRAPETYAN	ARM	45.75	23.40		22.35	4.54	4.21	4.64	4.39	4.57	0.00	#2
29		Ali DEMIRBOGA	TUR	45.54	24.08		21.46	4.46	4.04	4.25	4.32	4.39	0.00	#3

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Mens Free Skate LIVE BLOG

1) Chafik Besseghier (FRA)
     Music: Massive Attack, Children, Safrio Duo

• Two foots that opening jump
• This is very cool music, but I don't know that the costume matches
• Really good power into that triple axel, stumble out
• Please give us some face!!
• This softer section in the middle is very nice musically
• I know this music from somewhere but I can't think of where
• It's interesting because he's landing all the jumps but none of them are pretty, none of them have a nice glide out
• He must be nervous because everything looks stiffled, even in this footwork everything looks small and constricted, he isn't going all out
• He needs to point that foot!

FS Score: 58.58 (TES) + 55.38 (PCS) - (DED) = 113.96
Total Score: 46.43 (SP) + 113.96 (FS) = 160.39

2) Romain Ponsart (FRA)
     Music: Romeo and Juliet

• He is a beauty of a skater, its a shame about that first fall
• I love his look on the ice and this romantic music suits him well
• He is quite expressive
• I love his posture and carriage
• He has a very fast clean rotation on his jumps
• He has all the goods if he could build some consistency, perhaps the 2nd coming of Joubert
• A few mistakes, but he shows nice promise and is young for a male skater

FS Score: 54.94 (TES) +56.48  (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 110.42
Total Score: 50.03 (SP) + 110.42 (FS) = 160.45

3) Alexandre Majorov (SWE)
     Music: Flamenco Bolero

• Please no! He's much too young and not artistic enough for Bolero
• That weird hip roll was just bizarre
• He needs to lift his head up to the audience
• That mesh shirted costume is more Boy George than Bolero
• This footwork is doing nothing for me, its slow and it lacks a flamenco flair
• He rotates very quickly, sometimes he goes in with too much speed and can't control it
• Nothing about his skating is much too pretty but he does attack those jumps nonetheless
• He is attacking the 2nd step sequence much harder, I appreciate the commitment to the piece, at least at the end
• Ends a bit before the music
• The whole thing was a little wild and sloppy for my taste, but the strongest free thus far

FS Score: 65.78 (TES) + 62.70 (PCS) - (DED) = 128.48
Total Score: 62.12 (SP) + 128.48 (FS) = 190.60

4) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
     Music: Umbrellas of Cherbourg

• I like this new softer approach for him, but I miss the gigantic jumps
• 3A-2t-1t combo, count those combos Nobu!
• Oh Goodness, we're losing the jumps
• Oh now, a fall on footwork and it takes him a long time to get back into the movements
• This is so unfortunate that he's not up to his best this season
• Unless there are major major issues at the top, this will likely leave him off the podium
• Goodness me, two more falls on the next two jumping passes, what is happening to him today?
• The jumps are his big strength, he must be either sick or injured for them to have left him in this way
• He has completely left performance mode as well, this is so sad to see him breakdown like this

FS Score: 46.63 (TES) + 60.62 (PCS) - 3.00 (DED) = 104.25
Total Score: 62.95 (SP) + 104.25 (FS) = 167.20

5) Kevin Rynolds (CAN)
     Music: Chrono Trigger

• Withdrew from the Free Skate

FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 65.56 (SP) + (FS) =

6) Florent Amodio (FRA)
     Music: Besamo Much, Rio

• He is self-destructing circa Skate America with bailed jumps and falls
• He stops mid-program to pose more than anybody I know
• This is the weirdest program, I feel like nothing happens, exactly like his program last year
• I feel like this is not even a program, there is just no through line to it

FS Score: 60.48 (TES) + 70.44 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 129.92
Total Score: 71.42 (SP) + 129.92 (FS) = 201.34

7) Adam Rippon (JPN)
     Music: Air, Toccata and Fugue

• This is such a beautiful, elegant piece
• Two footed and landed with the chest down, but that was the Quad Lutz
• Spread eagle into triple axel, landed really low, bt landed
• Very clean flow out of the triple sal
• I love that floating arm on the twist sit spin variation
• He makes every moment mean something
• Could there be a bigger contrast from Amodio to Rippon?
• I love the placement of that 2nd triple axel right as Toccata begins
• He's landed his big elements now if he can just stay clean
• A little funny off of the triple lutz, but landed in combination
• Great Rippon lutz right on a musical shift
• I LOVE that toe point on the sit spin
• The arrangement of this music is fantastic
• Good job, fist pump!

FS Score: 70.05 (TES) + 74.88 (PCS) = 144.93
Total Score: 72.96 (SP) + 144.93 (FS) = 217.89

8) Michal Brezina (CZE)
     Music: The Untouchables

• Will we actually see a program unlike the splatfest that was Skate America?
• Huge 3A
• Huge 4t-3t, stumble out
• He is coming out so much more aggressive here than at Skate America, which is nice to see
• I don't like the techno arrangement of this piece
• Very clean jumping today from Brezina
• Stumble out of 2nd triple axel
• This program as a whole does nothing for me other than jumping, the spins are weak and he does not "perform it"

FS Score: 67.72 (TES) + 76.56 (PCS) = 144.28
Total Score: 74.32 (SP) + 144.28 (FS) = 218.60

9) Nan Song (CHN)
     Music: Hungarian Rhapsody

• That is one very shiny vest
• Get ready for some jumps
• Turn out of the 4t, ugly air position
• HUGE 4t-3t
• This is not much more than a string of big jumps with some arm movements
• Solid 3a
• He actually does a decent job of pointing the foot on the sit spin and turning out the leg
• Nearly into the boards on the 2nd 3A
• All these air positions are ugly, but he straightens them out on the landings, amazing athleticism
• I hate that ugly upside down spin

FS Score: 79.93 (TES) + 67.64 (PCS) = 147.57
Total Score: 76.53 (SP) + 147.57 (FS) = 224.10


10) Patrick Chan (CAN)
      Music: Concierto de Aranjuez

• Very clean Quad Toe, I love the immediately outstretched arms to check the landing
• 4t-3t
• Bail out of the 3A, into a 2A
• This first footwork sequence is very nice, oops, caught an edge and puts hands down, not sure if that was a fall or not
• You can't deny that he is a rare talent, even with falls and silly mistakes, he performs to he max and makes it all look beautiful
• Stumble, hands down again
• He always starts the season a little rough like this
• His spins seem to have gotten faster this season
• Another stumble out of, what looked to be a bail to a double
• This simply won't do later in the season, but for now it should be good enough

FS Score: 72.30 (TES) + 85.14 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 156.44
Total Score: 84.16 (SP) + 156.44 (FS) = 240.60

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Patrick CHAN	CAN	240.60	1	1
2	Nan SONG	CHN	224.10	2	2
3	Michal BREZINA	CZE	218.60	3	4
4	Adam RIPPON	USA	217.89	4	3
5	Florent AMODIO	FRA	201.34	5	5
6	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	190.60	8	6
7	Nobunari ODA	JPN	167.20	7	9
8	Romain PONSART	FRA	160.45	9	8
9	Chafik BESSEGHIER	FRA	160.39	10	7

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Patrick CHAN	CAN	156.44	72.30		85.14	8.82	8.36	8.21	8.64	8.54	1.00	#10
2	Nan SONG	CHN	147.57	79.93		67.64	7.00	6.14	6.96	6.93	6.79	0.00	#9
3	Adam RIPPON	USA	144.93	70.05		74.88	7.57	7.11	7.54	7.54	7.68	0.00	#7
4	Michal BREZINA	CZE	144.28	67.72		76.56	7.89	7.14	7.82	7.61	7.82	0.00	#8
5	Florent AMODIO	FRA	129.92	60.48		70.44	7.14	6.50	7.29	7.04	7.25	1.00	#6
6	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	128.48	65.78		62.70	6.39	6.00	6.39	6.21	6.36	0.00	#3
7	Chafik BESSEGHIER	FRA	113.96	58.58		55.38	5.79	5.29	5.57	5.50	5.54	0.00	#1
8	Romain PONSART	FRA	110.42	54.94		56.48	5.93	5.14	5.71	5.75	5.71	1.00	#2
9	Nobunari ODA	JPN	104.25	46.63		60.62	6.86	5.71	5.46	6.57	5.71	3.00	#4
WD	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN											#5

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Men's Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Romain Ponsart (FRA)
     Music:

• This is my first time seeing Romain and I'm excited!
• Very nice 4t!
• Stumble out of the triple axel, hands down, very splayed out on the ice
• Popped the 3rd jump to a single, he didn't do a combination unless I missed it on the 1st jump
• He is a very theatrical skater and this music suits him so well
• He is so expressive and so passionate, especially in this step sequence
• Even with those jumping errors, he is a joy to watch
• I'd like to see him relax his upper body a little more to move more fluidly through some of his positions
• Very abrupt ending, if you've been reading me  you know I hate that

SP Score: 23.36 (TES) + 27.67 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 50.03

2) Chafik Besseghier (FRA)
     Music: Artsakh

• He reminds me of a mini Florent, both in looks and in style
• Took the first jump to the knee, but almost made it look intentional rather than like a fall
• Huge height and power in the triple axel, but again hand down and almost to the knee
• And we have a pop, these young Frenchmen are struggling to jump today
• He has so much energy and power through this program, but I would love to see more expression on his face

SP Score: 19.14 (TES) + 27.29 (PCS) = 46.43

3) Nan Song (CHN)
     Music: Requiem for a Dream

• This program was amazing at Cup of China, let's see if he's carried that momentum here
• 4t-3t, looked so easy for him
• He has that catlike ability to land almost anything, even if it looks awful in the air
• Huge triple axel
• Everything he does on the ice is huge
• Really low landing on the triple lutz
• He is really throwing everything he has in him into this footwork
• If he does this in the free, he may be up on the podium again!
• I hate that "butt out" spin position 
• What a short program, he laid down the gauntlet for the 2nd group of men
• He is a special talent, if he worked with a dance teacher and a top choreographer, her could really contend for medals

SP Score: 44.92 (TES) + 31.61 (PCS) = 76.53

4) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
     Music: Chambermaid Swing

• Kevin is a little more stylish this year
• Both jumps of that opening 4s-3t looked two-footed to me
• He struggled on that axel, was that even a triple?
• I loved those steps into that triple lutz
• This choreography is a bit strange for me, I get that he's trying to show he can perform and not just jump, but this is just a bit odd for me
• Good short program outing for him overall

SP Score: 32.57 (TES) + 32.99 (PCS) = 65.56

5) Alexander Majorov (SWE)
     Music: Soul Bossa Nova

• Oh Austin Powers
• Triple axel, hand down
• This costume is very bizarre, but it fits the music at least
• I missed the jump but saw the fall, I think that was a triple axel?
• His programs still look very junior-ish to me
• That was a very abrupt ending in the music and in the choreography
• He has a lot of maturing to do

SP Score: 32.45 (TES) + 30.67 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 62.12

6) Florent Amodio (FRA)
     Music: Summertime, Jumpin Jack

• Big 3a
• He looks really comfortable over his legs today, opposite of Skate America
• Could those pants get any tighter
• Mr. Gershwin would roll over in his grave if he heard his music in combination with Jumpin Jack
• I hate that in every program, he stands at the end of the rink and gestures wildly before going into his footwork, it is the equivalent of a runner starting a spring from the blocks
• A little tight on some of the jumps, but he'll be happy with that home performance

SP Score: 36.11 (TES) + 35.31 (PCS) = 71.42

7) Adam Rippon (USA)
     Music: Korobushko by Bond

• In this costume I feel he should be skating to Trepak from Nutcracker
• Rippon lutz! I miss that at every competition he's not in
• Very low landing on the triple axel, needed more flow in the exit edge
• Very stiffled 3F-3t
• He is landing the jumps, but they look rushed today,  two-foots here and there
• He didnt' have the technical package of Song, but that was a more complete program with stronger spins, more elaborate footwork, and better performance quality

SP Score: 36.42 (TES) + 36.54 (PCS) = 72.96

8) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
     Music: Memphis Soul Stew

• What happened to Nobu's jumps? No Quad, falling out, where has he gone?
• That shirt looks like a piece of art taken off the wall at MOMA
• He usually has such long gliding edges out of his jumps but everything looks so stiffled today
• He still has the softest knees in figure skating
• I love his sit spin variation!
• There was just no life to that program

SP Score: 27.52 (TES) + 36.43 (PCS) -1.00 (DED)= 62.95

9) Michal Brezina (CZE)
     Music: Best of Kodo

• I'm not a fan of re-using programs, I find it to be cheating
• Big 4t-but only a double toe
• Nice jumping overall today
• This choreography brings out the subtle nuances of the music quite well
• Very good execution of this short, but that tends to be easier when you are using last year's short
• His spins are quite slow, probably the weakest aspect of his skating

SP Score: 36.51 (TES) + 37.81 (PCS) = 74.32

10) Patrick Chan (CAN)
      Music: Take Five

• Again with last year's program, we've seen this program now like how many times?
•  Fall on the opening Quad toe, how do you botch a program you've been doing forever? Undertraining?
• Beautiful exit from the triple axel, he could have sat on that edge for a minute and not run out of speed
• Steps into 3F-3T, equally beautiful
• I like this music because it is in a difficult time signature and it forces the skater to really listen and skate into the music rather than over it
• He has such gorgeous swing on his free leg
• I hate that its recycled, but that's how you do a complete program

SP Score: 41.20 (TES) + 43.96 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 84.16

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Patrick CHAN	CAN	84.16	1
2	Nan SONG	CHN	76.53	2
3	Michal BREZINA	CZE	74.32	3
4	Adam RIPPON	USA	72.96	4
5	Florent AMODIO	FRA	71.42	5
6	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN	65.56	6
7	Nobunari ODA	JPN	62.95	7
8	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	62.12	8
9	Romain PONSART	FRA	50.03	9
10	Chafik BESSEGHIER	FRA	46.43	10

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Patrick CHAN	CAN	84.16	41.20		43.96	8.96	8.64	8.61	8.93	8.82	1.00	#10
2	Nan SONG	CHN	76.53	44.92		31.61	6.54	5.86	6.57	6.32	6.32	0.00	#3
3	Michal BREZINA	CZE	74.32	36.51		37.81	7.64	7.18	7.71	7.64	7.64	0.00	#9
4	Adam RIPPON	USA	72.96	36.42		36.54	7.36	7.00	7.43	7.32	7.43	0.00	#7
5	Florent AMODIO	FRA	71.42	36.11		35.31	7.18	6.46	7.25	7.21	7.21	0.00	#6
6	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN	65.56	32.57		32.99	6.57	6.39	6.64	6.64	6.75	0.00	#4
7	Nobunari ODA	JPN	62.95	27.52		36.43	7.75	7.04	7.21	7.25	7.18	1.00	#8
8	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	62.12	32.45		30.67	6.14	5.82	6.18	6.21	6.32	1.00	#5
9	Romain PONSART	FRA	50.03	23.36		27.67	5.96	4.96	5.57	5.50	5.68	1.00	#1
10	Chafik BESSEGHIER	FRA	46.43	19.14		27.29	5.68	5.11	5.46	5.61	5.43	0.00	#2

2011 Trophee Eric Bompard: Men's Preview

We've reached the final continent of the 2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, Europe, for Trophee Eric Bompard. This Men's field has been talked about as being one of the finest assembled for a single Grand Prix in recent years. I'd like to say that these outstanding skaters will not disappoint, but even if they do, there will be other guys just as good ready to jump onto the podium. For those of us in the US, it's a blessing that we won't have to watch the events in the middle of the night. The men skate their short at 9:00 a.m. EST on Friday November 18th and their free skate at 7:30 a.m. EST on Saturday November 19th. I'll be LIVE BLOGGING all the events on my site so come back and visit and I'll talk to you then!

In this field of greats, reigning World Champion Patrick Chan (CAN) is the clear front-runner, especially after the withdrawal of Evan Lysacek. In true Chan fashion, he took gold at Skate Canada even with mistakes. His ability to pull points in GOE and PCS, even with falls, makes him a great bet to take the title here. Nobunari Oda (JPN) was quadless at Cup of China, but still took Silver, even with an array of small mistakes. He'll be on the podium if he doesn't beat himself off of it. Adam Rippon (USA) has the 10th highest score of the season, and the 4th highest of this field, even though he made his fair share of errors at Skate Canada. With his great artistry and technique, he could  even take Silver if he can land his Quad Lutz and skate two clean sets. Let's see who to discuss next, oh yes, Nan Song (CHN) this surprise Bronze medalist at his home Grand Prix. This guy is a technical machine and he capitalized on the mistakes of some contenders to grab a medal and will certainly factor into this competition with his huge Quad Toe and positive GOEs across the board on jumps. Michal Brezina (CZE) won Skate America but his score is not among the top ten this season, so what does that tell you? He skated a phenomenal short but absolutely fell apart in the free. He does have Quads if he chooses to show them, so he has major scoring potential if he can go clean, though that rarely happens. Florent Amodio (FRA) is a glorified hot mess in my opinion, who happens to rack up some major points when he is clean, which he was not at Skate America. Even if he skates without major mistakes, it is my opinion that he is outclassed in this field of men, many of whom have a real sense of artistry and not coach Morozov's brand of sequin-clad flitting and flailing.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Patrick Chan (CAN)
2) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
3) Adam Rippon (USA)


Competitive History: 


Florent Amodio (FRA)-9th at 2011 Skate America, 7th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 6th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 2nd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard 3rd place 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 229.68 at 2011 Worlds


Chafik Besseghier (FRA)-2nd at 2011 Cup of Nice, 11th at 2011 O Nepela, 6th at 2011 Triglav Trophy, 5th at 2011 Winter Universiade, 5th at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard; PB: 185.69 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard

Michal Brezina (CZE)-1st at 2011 Skate America, 2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 4th 2011 Worlds, 8th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Bavarian Open, 2nd 2010 Golden Spin of Zagreb, 7th 201 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 236.06 at 2010 Worlds 

Patrick Chan (CAN)-1st at 2011 Skate Canada, 1st at 2011 Worlds, 1st at 2011 Grand Prix Final, 2nd at 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 1st at 2010 Skate Canada; PB 280.98 at 2011 Worlds 


Alexander Majorov (SWE)-9th at 2011 Skate Canada, 4th 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 28th at 2011 Worlds, 1st at 2011 Nordics, 1st at 2010 NRW Trophy, 1st at 2010 Ice Challenge; PB: 195.71 at 2011 Worlds


Nobunari Oda (JPN)-2nd at 2011 Cup of China, 6th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Winter Universiade, 2nd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 2nd 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 Skate Canada; 244.56 at 2006 NHK Trophy


Kevin Reynolds (CAN)-7th at 2011 Cup of China, 7th at 2011 Skate America, 20th 2011 Worlds, 11th 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 4th 2010 Skate Canada; PB: 218.62 at 2010 Skate Canada

Adam Rippon (USA)-4th at 2011 Skate Canada, 4th at 2010 America, 3rd at 2010 Skate Canada; PB: 233.04 at 2010 Skate Canada 


Nan Song (CHN)-3rd at 2011 Cup of China, 22nd 2011 Worlds, 9th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2011 Asian Winter Games, 6th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 10th 2010 Skate America; PB: 226.75 at 2011 Cup of China

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Mens Free Skate [LIVE BLOG]

Here we are, our first free skate of the season! After some uncharacteristically rough free skates, some of the top skaters will be in the first group. Some nice shots of of the Ricky Dornbush fan club in the crowd. I'm loving Florent's costume! I'm just obsessed with him, I just love him to pieces! PS...can Tonia please shut her mouth already? This event is all about the deep V-neck.

1) Samuel Contesti (ITA)
     Music: La Vie En Rose

• Come on Samuel, let's see a solid program
• Looks like this will be a character piece, hello Edith Piaf
• Very nice Triple axel, great posture
• Good triple flip, he seems very settled unlike last night
• Very wild exit from that triple lutz, not sure if it's because he was close to the wall or not
• His spins are very slow compared to other top men
• I like this program, very well choreographed to the theme, I'm feeling the Parisian street performer vibe
• Huge height on that triple axel, it looked like it may may have been landed a little short
• He is so tall and has lovely posture, but I'd like to see him get deeper into his knees and use the upper body more
• He saves a lot of his jumps, including the 3-jump sequence for the second half
• Solid effort for his first major event of the season, this program will surely grow all season
• I want him to work with Lambiel on his spinning

FS Score: 68.32 (TES) + 66.36 (PCS)  = 134.68
Total Score: 55.52 (SP) + 134.68 (FS) = 190.20

2) Douglass Razzano (USA)
     Music: Adios Noninos, Oblivion, Obertura

• This was a great free skate for him at Finlandia Tropy
• Huge triple axel with great flow out of it, that's what I like to see
• He seems much more invested in the performance today than last night
• Second triple axel, a bit tilted in the air but landed well, tacks on a 2T
• He is a very nice spinner, his positions are not only intricate, but beautiful
• I love the low sit and twist variations
• He uses his upper body and his head quite well
• He is rapidly losing speed through this step sequence, that will be an improvement he can make going toward Nationals
• No triple-triples so far, perhaps later in the program?
• This is a very well choreographed piece, none of the elements stick out, they just grow from the program
• I love this music, even though we've heard it a thousand times
• He should be happy with this clean free skate; it's a good piece for him because it's already good but it has a lot of room to grow
• He is a rather reserved kind of guy, but I can tell he's pleased

FS Score: 69.84 (TES) + 62.42 (PCS) = 132.26
Total Score: 60.69 (SP) + 132.26 (FS) = 192.95

3) Florent Amodio (FRA)
     Music: Besame Mucho, Mambo No. 5, Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White

• This is certain to be a wild program
• Triple salchow, it was planned to be a Quad
• He rotates very fast on that 3A
• Big death drop, but loses a lot of speed on the sit spin
• Do these syllables count as lyrics?
• And now I'm watching the 2nd half of the program on NBC, with the Scott Hamilton commentary
• Florent Amodio basically just directed the audience to clap along with him in the footwork
• He is really running out of gas; the program is so fast paced and it has to be a struggle early in the season to carry through

FS Score: 56.86 (TES) + 68.28 (PCS) - (DED) = 125.14
Total Score: 62.46 (SP) + 125.14 (FS) = 187.60

4) Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)
     Music: Kill Bill

• Quad toe was short on the landing and he takes a fall
• Nice triple axel, with a double toe
• He looks tentative, I want him to really go after it
• Popped his triple lutz
• Armin you are no good for my fantasy team right now
• I like this music, but it requires more aggression and he seems like he can't get his feet under him
• Fall on triple axel, super tilted in the air
• Hand down, he just does not seem like himself today at all
• Another fallout, this is a Johnny Weir-esque meltdown that is happening here

FS Score: 56.87 (TES) + 59.86 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 114.53
Total Score: 64.54 (SP) + 114.53 (FS) = 179.07

5) Denis Ten (KAZ)
     Music: Adios Nonino by Astor Piazolla

• Wow, Quad toe for Denis, Frank must be jumping for joy
• Solid triple axel, this is a different Denis than we saw last season
• That 3-3 was gorgeous, and he has really grown artistically
• Let's hope that Mirai has had the growth that Denis had this season
• Being around Evan Lysacek has had quite an effect on Denis's musicality and performance quality
• He is starting to crumble a little bit, running out of gas
• Though it won't go down as a perfect program, this is still a huge step in the right direction for Denis

FS Score: 64.38 (TES) + 67.22 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 130.60
Total Score: 67.38 (SP) + 130.60 (FS) = 197.98

6) Richard Dornbush (USA)
     Music: A Fistful of Dollars, Ecstasy of Gold, The Lone Ranger

• Here's my boy Ricky, let's hope he can rise to the occasion
• Very stylish right from the beginning
• Landed the quad, in a deep squat nonetheless, but it looked rotated to me
• Great triple lutz, that quad has to give him a lot of confidence
• Triple axel looked good, but hand down and he'll get some negative GOEs
• He is very good at playing the role, he reminds me of a a young Kurt Browning
• Opened up out of that triple axel
• Beautiful 3-3, but followed by another triple turned into a double
• I love this program so much, but he stumbled out of his last jump right in front of the judges
• I hope he can get full credit for that Quad Toe
• I hope that levels in footwork and spins can hold him up

FS Score: 64.44 (TES) + 68.80 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 132.24
Total Score: 70.03 (SP) + 132.24 (FS) = 202.27

7) Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL)
     Music: The Man in the Iron Mask

• HUGE Quad toe from Kevin
• This is a risky music choice as it's so closely tied to Alexei Yagudin
• Stumble on the triple axel
• Kevin is a skater who needs the jumps, he doesn't have great footwork levels or PCS to fall back on
• I'd love to see him get more into the knees and use his head more
• I love the speed of rotation on his jumps and the dancer in me loves to see him spot
• He has been around so long he's been through 3 judging systems
• This costume is a little much for me
• He always has this tendency to run out of gas toward the end of the program
• His spins are really what is lacking

FS Score: 74.61 (TES) + 67.78 (PCS) - (DED) = 142.39
Total Score: 70.09 (SP) + 142.39 (FS) = 212.48

8) Daisuke Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Gladiator

• Here is another Frank Carroll skater
• Triple lutz, doubles the toe
• That triple axel was huge
• We are seeing a lot of falls here
• Double footed the second triple axel
• He is improved in his artistry here, but he needs to keep upping up ante

FS Score: 57.35 (TES) + 66.30 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 122.65
Total Score: 70.67 (SP) + 122.65 (FS) = 193.42

9) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
     Music: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

• I love you Taka, let's get this Quad
• Fall on the Quad toe, short on the landing too and probably won't get the rotation either
• Gorgeous triple axel
• That high-collared blousy shirt is very Todd Eldredge circa 1998
• Two falls so far, he hasn't seemed like himself this week and he pretty much needed to skate clean to have a hope at winning
• I love Taka for the quality of his skating, even down to the basics
• He really saved that triple axel
• This is not the Taka who won two Grand Prix Gold medals, he just looks dejected at this point
• I like this program a lot, and can't wait to see it grow
• I wanted a better skate from him, but it was courageous to keep going after such a tough opening and a tough week in general

FS Score: 68.54 (TES) + 74.86 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 141.40
Total Score: 70.69 (SP) + 141.40 (FS) = 212.09


10) Michal Brezina (CZE)
      Music: The Untouchables

• Brezina has a pretty easy win here if he can just stay on his feet
• That flying sit is a little weak, could use a lot more speed
• I'm not a fan of this footwork, it needs a lot more level variation and upper body and head usage
• Triple axel-double toe
• I really don't understand this costume
• He has very long lines and he looks great when he jumps cleanly
• He is completely unraveling, he tried to water down and it's blowing up in his face
• We've had a fall, a few pops, a few singles
• This is going to be close, what a talented guy who seems to fall apart when it matters most

FS Score: 64.50 (TES) + 73.42 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 136.92
Total Score: 79.08 (SP) + 126.92 (FS) = 216.00