Cup of China: Mens Free Skate LIVE BLOG

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Tatsuki MACHIDA	JPN	236.92	2	1
2	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN	231.75	1	2
3	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	217.61	3	3
4	Adam RIPPON	USA	205.48	4	4
5	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN	198.24	6	6
6	Yi WANG	CHN	188.27	8	5
7	Jinlin GUAN	CHN	171.04	9	7

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tatsuki MACHIDA	JPN	153.44	76.66		77.78	7.75	7.39	7.89	7.86	8.00	1.00	#8
2	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN	146.96	65.30		82.66	8.39	8.04	8.04	8.32	8.54	1.00	#9
3	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	144.03	73.59		70.44	7.32	6.54	7.21	7.04	7.11	0.00	#7
4	Adam RIPPON	USA	133.67	61.81		71.86	7.29	6.89	7.11	7.32	7.32	0.00	#6
5	Yi WANG	CHN	131.02	68.52		63.50	6.57	6.07	6.43	6.36	6.32	1.00	#2
6	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN	128.37	62.17		67.20	6.82	6.64	6.64	6.64	6.86	1.00	#4
7	Jinlin GUAN	CHN	115.07	55.57		60.50	6.25	5.79	6.14	6.07	6.00	1.00	#1
WD	Nan SONG	CHN											#5
WD	Brian JOUBERT	FRA											#3

1) Jinlin Guan (CHN)
  Music: Percussion Carmen

• Oh geez, how does this costume go with Carmen?
• I don't understand what's happening here
• I actually like this step sequence
• This sounds weird but he has a sloppy head, he doesn't hold it up strong
• That was just meh, nothing behind his skating
• He looks gassed!
• 55.57 (TES) + 60.50 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 115.07
• 55.97 (SP) + 115.07 (FS) = 171.04

2) Yi Want (CHN)
  Music: Nothing Else Matters & One

• Nice smooth start
• This sounds like my Vitamin String Quartet, rock on!
• He is a very expressive skater with his upper body, I want him to look up and out instead of down at the ice
• This is actually a fairly interesting program, but he needs to show more on his face
• The potential is definitely there
• 68.52 (TES) + 63.50 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 131.02
• 57.25 (SP) + 131.02 (FS) = 188.27

3) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
  Music: Concerto No. 4 in E Minor by Mathieu

• Yay, hit the first jump, that should be a good sign
• Doubling jumps, not a good sign
• I desperately want him to take some dance classes to loosen up his upper body
• Straighten that foot in the camel
• This kid has to way 100 pounds soaking wet
• Why are his jumps deceiving him? This guy was the 1st to land 2 different quads in the short
• I don't understand what has happened to his jumping technique
• This was an odd program, I just don't feel like it went anywhere
• 62.17 (TES) + 67.20 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 128.37
• 69.87 (SP) + 128.37 (FS) = 198.24

4) Adam Rippon (USA)
  Music: The Incredibles

• So after bumping heads with Song, I hope Adam is okay! Please be okay and please concentrate!
• Nice opening pose, I like that he's giving us face
• He looks so much more mature now!
• Feed froze, but I think he doubled his planned 3A
• I kind of like this new side to him, very jazzy and masculine
• Decent second 3A, probably two-footed, but good approach
• I like that 3-jump combo with the tano variation on both jumps
• He seems very at home in this style, he seems to be enjoying himself
• That was decent, no crashes, but he definitely gave away a lot of precious points popping jumps, not hitting 3-3 combos, etc
• I'm so torn, I liked that, but I really miss his balletic style
• 61.81 (TES) + 71.86 (PCS) = 133.67
• 71.81 (SP) + 133.67 (FS) = 205.48

5) Sergei Voronov (RUS)
  Music: Romeo & Juliet

• I don't get this meshy top for Romeo & Juliet
• He is doing work on these jumps
• He is Plushenko-like in that he goes up in the air and the jump looks wild, but he lands it like a cat
• This step sequence is an utter atrocity
• I don't understand, in what world do you wear a mesh top and gloves?
• Wow, this is the program of a lifetime today for him
• And we had to ruin it with the butt spin
• Honey, if you want to do a catch foot spin, please straighten the leg
• 73.59 (TES) + 70.44 (PCS) = 144.03
• 73.58 (SP) + 144.03 (FS) = 217.61

6) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
  Music: Firebird

• This little peanut is trying to put us under his spell like Hanyu did last year
• He reminds me of a more stylish Oda because he is so cat-like an landing the jumps
• I love the little footwork flutters
• And the arm flutter I like as well
• This is a very stylish program, I'm glad to see that when Daisuke retires, we'll still have plenty of great Japanese men to watch
• Fall on the quad, but this should still be enough to make the podium
• 76.66 (TES) + 77.78 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 153.44
• 83.48 (SP) + 153.44 (FS) = 236.92

7) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
  Music: I Pagliacci

• Did we 2-foot that quad Dai?
• I want so badly to see him come back and win Olympic gold in 2014, just hang in there!
• He never does a program that's not interesting to watch, he is like Fred Astaire on ice
• Oh no Dai, why did you have to fall?
• With his PCS, he can handle one fall since Tatsu also fell
• I like this program on him, very dramatic
• His edge work is incredible, he would've been amazing at figures
• He was kind of on another planet today, seemed like he was out in space
• 65.30 (TES) + 82.66 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 146.96
• 84.9 (SP) + 146.96 (FS) = 231.75

Cup of China: Men's Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Yi Wang (CHN)
  Music: Peer Gynt Suite

• My feed started a little late
• He looks a little reckless, flailing a lot
• I don't think he's conditioned enough to keep up with the music
• Very good effort though in trying to keep up with the music
• That was a pretty rough program, not going to even lie at all
• 29.40 (TES) + 28.85 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 57.25

2) Sergei Voronov (RUS)
  Music: Yablochko

• These Russian guys are all over the place, this should be interesting
• This music is much more intense and heavy than I though; I was expecting something whimsical
• Ooo we have our first Quad combo!
• 3a wild in the air, but catlike on the landing
• This music in the footwork section is wild and his movements match...but not in a good way I'm afraid
• Very bent leg on that last spin, don't do the catch foot if you can't straighten the knee 
• 39.44 (TES) + 34.14 (PCS) = 73.58

3) Jinlin Guan (CHN)
  Music: Danse Macabre

• I already like how theatrical this is from the start
• I love his asymmetrical hair cut already
• Unfortunate fall right away, I was getting interested in this program
• Big time 3A, he really uses the music well
• I like the choreography and composition of the program
• He has some nice qualities to his skating, but the jumps aren't happening today for him
• He seems to be concentrating really hard, he needs to let himself go
• Some of these movements are very Weir-esque
• 25.86 (TES) + 31.11 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 55.97

4) Nan Song (CHN)
  Music: The Middle East Side

• I like this choice of music for him, very nuanced
• Unfortunate fall from such a skilled jumper
• Huge 3A to recover, very tight rotation
• His spins have improved, still on the wild side, but better
• He's losing me in the footwork, I liked the music at the beginning, but now it's not holding my interest
• 39.53 (TES) + 32.22 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 70.86

5) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
  Music: Chambermaid Swing

• He fell hard on that opening jump
• For somebody so skilled at landing Quads, he's struggled a lot the last 2 seasons
• Very wobbly 3A
• I still don't like this choreography, even after a 2nd year
• Advertisements came up in the middle of my feed, so I missed the 2nd half 
• 36.48 (TES) + 34.39 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 68.87

6) Brian Joubert (FRA)
  Music: Genesis & Aerodynamic

• Yay, please do great!
• He looks stunning in that all black number with the sheer and metallic accents
• He makes it look so easy, he's been doing this for so long
• I love this program, it's classic Brian
• The speed and smoothness is wonderful
• He reminds me so much of Yagudin, even more so now that he's older
• This program has too many throw away moments for IJS, but the step sequence is thrilling 
• 27.20 (TES) + 36.07 (PCS) = 63.27

7) Adam Rippon (USA)
  Music: Nessun Dorma

• Yay Adam, please be awesome!
• This costume is very simple, let's see if it works
• That is a very Todd Eldredge opening pose
• I love that we start with that beautiful laid out camel
• I see we borrowed the Denney/Coughlin Nessun Dorma remix
• Oh man, rough splayed out fall on the 3A, and it looked so solid going up!
• Very tight combo, good air positions
• He excels at the in-between moments
• His strength is in putting a full, complete program out there for us
• Very hard lean on the landing of the Rippon lutz, but he held it up
• This version works for him because he keeps it simple so it doesn't go to the Punk Rock Prom Queen place that Caydee Denney took it too
• Regardless of that fall on the 3A this should still score well due to the program composition, steps, and spins
• Not sure I love that ending, it was a little abrupt and could stand to be smoothed out
•  (TES) + (PCS) =

8) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
  Music: F. U. Y. A.

•  (TES) + (PCS) =

9) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
  Music: Rock n' Roll Medley

•  (TES) + (PCS) =

Cup of China: Mens Preview

This is a tough event to call. Other than Takahashi, nobody stands out as a true podium favorite so it will certainly be an exciting one to watch! I will be in school during the short program, but I'll be up in the middle of the night to call the free skate!

Former World Champion Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) is the clear favorite to take Gold here. I live for his originality and performance quality. He is getting up there in years and before long he won't be able to jump the way he used to. Let's enjoy him in competition while it lasts and then he can ride off into the sunset, hopefully after winning Gold in 2014. They may be a romantic idea, but this is my blog so what I say goes! I cannot wait to see his new programs, especially the rock and roll short.

I'm going to choose with my heart here and say Adam Rippon (USA) can win the silver. He's changed coaches yet again, so let's pray that he's finally found what he's looking for with Rafael Arutunian. The short to Nessun Dorma is a very typical program choice for Adam, but The Incredibles as a free skate should be an interesting break. I want him to find the mental toughness to match the beauty that he has on the ice in time for Sochi in 2014. This is a critical year for him.

Nan Song (CHN) was the breakout star of the 2011-2012 season and Cup of China is where he reached his first podium of the season. I foresee that happening again here. He is such an athlete but his free is to Romeo and Juliet, so perhaps he's working on bringing out a softer side.

Brian Joubert (FRA) is another interesting case. He withdrew from the GP last season due to injury, but he did place 4th at Worlds and 1st at a small International this season. He has been around for so long and I know that deep down he's holding out for his Olympic medal in 2014, but I just don't know if it will happen. This is a crucial year for him. What I'm most excited for....did he hang onto The Matrix?

My Podium Prediction:
Gold: Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
Silver: Adam Rippon (USA)
Bronze: Nan Song (CHN)

The Rest of the Field:
Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
Jinlin Guan (CHN)
Yi Wang (CHN)
Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
Sergei Voronov (RUS)

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Mens Qualifying Round Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	FS
1	Nan SONG	CHN	130.75	1
2	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	128.47	2
3	Maciej CIEPLUCHA	POL	126.50	3
4	Misha GE	UZB	124.41	4
5	Kim LUCINE	MON	122.58	5
6	Viktor PFEIFER	AUT	120.48	6
7	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	115.78	7
8	Christopher CALUZA	PHI	112.08	8
9	Javier RAYA	ESP	111.66	9
10	Justus STRID	DEN	110.45	10
11	Min-Seok KIM	KOR	110.24	11
12	Alexei BYCHENKO	ISR	108.51	12
13	Ari-Pekka NURMENKARI	FIN	100.16	13
14	Zoltan KELEMEN	ROU	97.75	14
15	Brendan KERRY	AUS	95.40	15
16	Laurent ALVAREZ	SUI	93.24	16
17	Damjan OSTOJIC	BIH	93.11	17
18	Slavik HAYRAPETYAN	ARM	92.84	18
19	Luke CHILCOTT	GBR	91.92	19
20	Jordan JU	TPE	89.56	20
21	Marton MARKO	HUN	86.08	21
22	Ali DEMIRBOGA	TUR	84.34	22
23	Vitali LUCHANOK	BLR	83.97	23
24	Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS	LTU	82.40	24
25	Taras RAJEC	SVK	81.81	25
26	Manol ATANASSOV	BUL	79.14	26
27	Harry Hau Yin LEE	HKG	66.56	27

Pl.	Qual.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Q	Nan SONG	CHN	130.75	68.33		64.42	6.71	6.08	6.54	6.46	6.42	2.00	#26
2	Q	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	128.47	66.73		61.74	6.50	5.54	6.54	6.08	6.21	0.00	#20
3	Q	Maciej CIEPLUCHA	POL	126.50	67.64		59.86	6.17	5.75	6.13	5.92	5.96	1.00	#25
4	Q	Misha GE	UZB	124.41	60.81		64.60	6.50	5.88	6.75	6.46	6.71	1.00	#23
5	Q	Kim LUCINE	MON	122.58	60.48		62.10	6.04	5.67	6.46	6.50	6.38	0.00	#18
6	Q	Viktor PFEIFER	AUT	120.48	59.20		61.28	6.25	5.88	6.17	6.17	6.17	0.00	#17
7	Q	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	115.78	56.96		58.82	6.08	5.67	6.00	5.83	5.83	0.00	#24
8	Q	Christopher CALUZA	PHI	112.08	53.40		59.68	6.13	5.92	6.04	5.79	5.96	1.00	#19
9	Q	Javier RAYA	ESP	111.66	52.22		59.44	5.92	5.71	5.92	6.17	6.00	0.00	#21
10	Q	Justus STRID	DEN	110.45	57.19		55.26	5.54	5.17	5.67	5.71	5.54	2.00	#22
11	Q	Min-Seok KIM	KOR	110.24	53.66		57.58	6.08	5.33	5.96	5.79	5.63	1.00	#27
12	Q	Alexei BYCHENKO	ISR	108.51	57.99		50.52	5.38	4.79	5.25	4.92	4.92	0.00	#13
13		Ari-Pekka NURMENKARI	FIN	100.16	47.16		53.00	5.25	4.96	5.33	5.54	5.42	0.00	#10
14		Zoltan KELEMEN	ROU	97.75	44.13		55.62	5.88	5.38	5.42	5.63	5.50	2.00	#28
15		Brendan KERRY	AUS	95.40	50.74		44.66	4.71	4.25	4.54	4.50	4.33	0.00	#16
16		Laurent ALVAREZ	SUI	93.24	46.38		46.86	5.00	4.38	4.71	4.67	4.67	0.00	#12
17		Damjan OSTOJIC	BIH	93.11	52.61		41.50	4.50	3.83	4.25	4.04	4.13	1.00	#5
18		Slavik HAYRAPETYAN	ARM	92.84	46.92		47.92	5.04	4.29	4.92	4.83	4.88	2.00	#14
19		Luke CHILCOTT	GBR	91.92	45.74		47.18	4.92	4.50	4.75	4.67	4.75	1.00	#4
20		Jordan JU	TPE	89.56	46.88		42.68	4.63	4.13	4.25	4.25	4.08	0.00	#11
21		Marton MARKO	HUN	86.08	50.16		36.92	3.79	3.54	3.67	3.71	3.75	1.00	#8
22		Ali DEMIRBOGA	TUR	84.34	46.68		39.66	4.00	3.71	4.04	4.00	4.08	2.00	#7
23		Vitali LUCHANOK	BLR	83.97	42.55		42.42	4.54	3.96	4.33	4.25	4.13	1.00	#9
24		Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS	LTU	82.40	40.22		44.18	4.63	4.25	4.46	4.33	4.42	2.00	#3
25		Taras RAJEC	SVK	81.81	43.81		40.00	4.21	3.75	4.00	4.08	3.96	2.00	#2
26		Manol ATANASSOV	BUL	79.14	41.22		40.92	4.33	3.88	4.13	4.04	4.08	3.00	#6
27		Harry Hau Yin LEE	HKG	66.56	34.88		33.68	3.71	3.08	3.38	3.42	3.25	2.00	#1
WD		Kevin ALVES	BRA											#15

2012 Four Continents Championships: Men's Short Program

Thursday February 9th, 2012 8:45 PM EST

1) Nicholas Fernandez (AUS)
2) Maverick Eguia (PHI)
3) Alex Kang Chan Kam (KOR)
4) Harry Hau Yin Lee (HKG)
5) Hwan-Jin Kim (KOR)
6) Wun-Chang Shih (TPE)
7) Luiz Manella (BRA)
8) Jordan Ju (TPE)
9) Kevin Alves (BRA)
10) Min-Seok Kim (KOR)
11) Brendan Kerry (AUS)
12) Jeremy Ten (CAN)
13) Christopher Caluza (PHI)
14) Mark Webster (AUS)
15) Jinlin Guan (CHN)
16) Misha Ge (UZB)
17) Adam Rippon (USA)
18) Ross Miner (USA)
19) Nan Song (CHN)
20) Patrick Chan (CAN)
21) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
22) Richard Dornbush (USA)
23) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
24) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
25) Jialiang Wu (CHN)
26) Denis Ten (KAZ)
27) Takahito Mura (JPN)
28) Abzal Rakimgaliev (KAZ)

2012 Four Continents Championships: Men's Preview

Podium Predictions:
1) Patrick Chan (CAN)
2) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
3) Adam Rippon (USA)

At this point, betting against Patrick Chan (CAN) is like betting against the Yankees, it's just not a smart idea most of the time. Kudos to he and his coach for figuring out the system (IJS) and working it to their advantage. It make not be pretty or exciting all the time, but they know where to squeeze out those points. The subversive part of me likes skaters who buck the system, but it's just not a smart idea if you actually want to win. Chan winning has become the biggest constant in skating these days. My one criticism of him is that he reuses programs too often. If we're going to see him at all the big events as the headliner, I want two new programs each season. But back to this event, he should have it in the bag aside from a 4+ fall meltdown. His 3 Quads and PCS will get him the Gold, despite my love for Takahashi. He's also competing in his home arena, so it will feel like practice.

My love for Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) runs deep, but even I don't think he has it in him to beat Chan anymore. His dance and performance abilities are otherworldly, but his jumps are not what they used to be and he's showing his age. If he could get ever get that Quad flip, he'd be in the ballgame, but without it, he'll play second fiddle to Chan. He is first in my heart, but unfortunately he'll probably be second on the ice.

Nan Song (CHN) was the surprise of the Grand Prix for me this season, grabbing some medals and almost making the Final. He plans 3 quads across his programs and they're pretty spectacular. He's not an artist by any means, so that aspect of his skating suffers, but he tries at least! He'll be a great up and comer, and he reminds me a little of Javier Fernandez at this time last year. Both burst onto the scene because of their ability to  do Quads, but now Fernandez has found an artistic side as well.

Adam Rippon (USA) is finally looking like himself again with a recent 2nd place finish at the US Championships. However, he lost tot Jeremy Abbot by a large margin. Because he does not have the Quad, he'll have to maximize GOE marks on all of his other elements to have comparable scores to Song and company. He usually gets the edge in PCS marks because of his great quality of skating overall. Winning a medal here is a chance to make a mini splash pre-Worlds and set up for a good showing in Nice.

Of the rest of the American contingent, Ricky Dornbush and Ross Miner each has an outside shot at this podium if they can stay clean and like the top guys make mistakes. Ross won at bronze at NHK trophy by doing just that. Ricky was disastrous in the short at US Nationals and Ross made a few silly mistakes in the free so this is their chance to end the season on a high note after failing to make the World team.

The rest of Canada's team is a bit spotty as well. Kevin Reynolds is known for his ability to do Quads with ease, but the rest of his programs normally go to the wayside under competition pressure. Jeremy Ten is a wonderful skater, but he's missed over a season with serious injury so this will be our first time seeing him in forever, so nobody knows what to expect. 

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