Skate America: Mens Preview

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) is the lovechild of Daisuke Takahashi & Johnny Weir and this is going to be his breakout season. He is really the only person on the scene who has the big technical elements and actual unique artistry. I hope he sweeps every event this year.

Jeremy Abbott (USA) is one of my great loves of figure skating but he makes me too nervous when he competes. I want so badly for him not to be scared anymore and to light it up on the ice. He should do us all a favor and let his inner diva shine because that Patrick Chan-esque attempt at keeping all the emotion inside ain't working for me.

I had such high hopes for Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) after his World medal in 2011. His confidence took a nosedive last season, but maybe now that Hanyu is coming into his own as on one of the favorites, maybe Taka won't feel so much pressure. I love his clean style and I hope he makes a comeback.

Michal Brezina (CZE) is an oddball whom I've never particularly enjoyed. I'm sure he is a lovely young man, but I don't particularly enjoy his skating. He always looks rushed and never finishes his movements. I'd like to see some attempt at style before I give him my "Barbie Seal of Approval."

Douglas Razzano (USA) could be the surprise medalist of the bunch. He is a beautiful lyrical skater who also has a good quad. If he does his best, I sincerely believe he will be on the podium. I believe that he has a beautiful spirit and I am pulling for him to have a breakout season.

Podium Predictions:
Gold: Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
Silver: Jeremy Abbott (USA)
Bronze: Douglas Razzano (USA)

The Rest of the Field:
Tomas Verner (CZE)
Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
Konstantin Menshov (RUS)
Alexander Majorov (SWE)
Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)

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

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Men's Short Program Commentary

1) Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)
    Music: Kashmir

• I'm praying for a much improved skate for him over what he did at Skate America
• Very aggressive start to the program
• Triple axel looked great in the air, landed it a little low and had to step out
• I like his donut spin, but the hand movements are a bit excessive for my taste
• That split jump really needs much more height and stretch if he is going to do it
• He is looking a little flaily and wild in this footwork
• He seems unsettled on the ice this season whereas last year he looked so calm and polished

SP Score: 33.60 (TES) + 29.92 (PCS) = 63.52

2) Konstantin Menshov (RUS)
     Music: Dead Silence, Worms Lounge, Worms in Black

• Well that was a gigantic triple axel, and the height and speed were Plushenko-esque
• He is cat-like in his ability to find his feet on jumps that look atrocious in the air, Plushenko and Gachinski have the same gift
• I have no idea what this crazy music is
• That ugly flexed foot in the sit spin is driving me crazy, on all the spins for that matter
• That was a very abrupt ending
• What is with the fetus on his costume?

SP Score: 42.24 (TES) + 32.43 (PCS) = 74.67

3) Ross Miner (JPN)
     Music: Para Ti

• I love the opening of this program, it's very dancey
• Huge knee bend into that triple axel, very clean jump
• Triple lutz-triple toe, slightly stifle on the landings
• I love that change of edge spread eagle, goes well on the music
• Really fought to land the triple flip, the kid is indeed a fighter
• He looks a little rushed out there today, nothing is flowing as smoothly as it usually does for him
• A little frantic in places, but a solid program for Ross

SP Score: 38.87 (TES) + 32.25 (PCS) = 71.12

4) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
     Music: Dark Eyes

• Though very popular for women, this is a different music choice for a man
• That design work on the right hip and thigh is a very bold choice for a man, but I appreciate that he is going to that place
• I like him a lot, he is an elegant sort of skater
• I'm not sure how young he is, but he reminds me of a less experienced, less polished Kozuka
• Great jumping passes, and then a stumble going into the spin, he clearly caught an edge and will lose credit for the spin, quite a shame
• He is really attacking this footwork with a great flair, I appreciate the effort

SP Score: 38.73 (TES) + 34.53 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 72.26

5) Brandon Mroz (USA)
     Music: Mack the Knife

• Brandon's attempts at artistry unfortunately look the same in about every program
• Long entry into that 4lutz but what a great moment to land it in an official ISU competition
• Really fast rotation on the triple axel, very deep landing
• His spins look very elementary and they lack speed
• I don't know what it is about Tom Zakrajsek's students, but they are almost all quite slow on the ice
• Though I wouldn't call it by artistic by any stretch of the imagination, this program does suit him better than I've seen in the past of his programs
• For a jumper, his axel and combination were a little messy, which could be a side effect of focusing so much on the 4lz

SP Score: 40.76 (TES) + 34.07 (PCS) = 74.83

6) Tomas Verner (CZE)
     Music: Carmina Burana

• I love Tomas, but he is such an up and down skater it's hard to really invest in him
• This is one of my favorite pieces of music, I had the pleasure of singing it with a professional choir once
• Hand down on the 1st jump, looked unsteady over his legs
• Wild swing out of the tirple axel
• Traveled a few feet on the combination spin and couldn't hold on, had to bail early
• Now we're getting into a techno version of the music, it's very strange
• 3-2 combination, I expect it was to be a 3-3
• He looks very unsettled out there, his legs look very shaky
• This footwork is very slow, on wow he just face plants in the step sequence, got way to far over on the edge

SP Score: 29.10 (TES) + 34.86 (PCS) 1.00 (DED) = 62.96

7) Samuel Contesti (ITA)
     Music: Hungarian March, 1812 Overture

• In it's second season now, this program is really wearing on me
• I love him as a performer, but whole "miming the conductor" thing reminds me of Ryan Bradley's 2009-2011 Free Skate which I hated
• Steps out on the combination and the triple axel, he like Verner looks shaky on his legs
• He is such a tall skater that I presume it's much harder for him to rotate his jumps cleanly
• He performs it well, but this just isn't a world class short program, if he changed it before Europeans & Worlds he may show much better

SP Score: 30.22 (TES) + 34.61 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 63.83

8) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
     Music: Inner Urge

• Taka gets a little back pat from Sato, so cute!
• If anybody watches gymnastics, Taka reminds me a little of World Champion Kohei Uchimura
• He looks so much better prepared and much more confident here that at Skate America
• I never really took notice, but Taka is a very fast skater
• I didn't like this program at Skate America but I think it suits him really well now and is bringing out a new side of him as a performer
• That death drop into the sit spin is one of the best in the business
• I really love this footwork sequence, it is so quick and fits the musical nuances well
• I hope he can make it to the Grand Prix Final as I look forward to seeing this great program again

SP Score: 40.88 (TES) + 38.89 (PCS) = 79.77

9) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
      Music: In the Garden of Souls

• Here comes the headliner, a huge celebrity in Japan
• The crowd is going crazy!
• Such an artist, he has more emotion in one hand gesture than many skaters have in their whole program
• Very good lift on that 3-3 combination, very quick rotation
• This choreography is to die for, just exquisite
• I love his bluesy free, but this would be good short program music as well
• I love that donut position, very nice flexibility in the back
• I love that this crowd recognizes his artistry and cheers for the great moments in the choreography, not just the jumps
• The one flaw I saw was a slight bend at the knee in the sit spin
• The turn out of his free leg in the spins is to die, kudos to Lambiel who revamped his spinning technique

SP Score: 46.14 (TES) + 44.29 (PCS) = 90.43

2011 NHK Trophy: Men's Preview

This is always a great event, simply because Japan has great men's talent, never mind the rest of the field. The men's competition is the headlining event in Japan, which is unfortunately the middle of the night here in the US. We'll see the short program Saturday November 12th at 2:30 a.m. EST and the free skate at 10:55 p.m. EST the same day.

Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) is the reigning champion in this event and has quite a good chance of repeating. Both of his programs are stylish and innovative, specifically his bluesy free skate. His TES & PCS in both programs from Skate Canada this year outscore those of his biggest competitor Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) from Skate America. Neither man put together two clean programs in his first Grand Prix, but Takahashi's programs seem to have more potential, especially in program components. Brandon Mroz (USA) can be a podium threat if he lands his now famous Quad Lutz cleanly. He is a strong jumper and needs to pull really high GOE marks to make up for the higher PCS marks some of the other competitors will pull in. His personal best score came last season in his first Grand Prix, so he has a good shot at debuting strong again this season. Tomas Verner (CZE) was all over the place last season, from exquisitely entertaining to downright sloppy.  If we get "Good Tomas" he is almost guaranteed the podium, but if not, he could finished near the bottom. Ross Miner (USA) is a fighter and after finishing 9/10 in the short program at Skate Canada, he came back with a strong 5th in the free skate. He has a lovely long program this season and though he does not have a Quad, he almost always receives positive GOEs on his triples as well as level 4 spins. Tatsuki Machida (JPN), Konstantin Menshov (RUS), Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA), Samuel Contesti (ITA) were all up and down last season and each has podium potential if they can skate both programs to the best of their ability and hope for mistakes from the top contenders. We'll call this "pulling a Van Der Perren" in reference to his surprise silver at Skate America this season.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
2) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
3) Brandon Mroz (USA)


Competitive History: 


Samuel Contesti (ITA)-3rd 2011 O Nepela, 18th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 4th 2010 NRW Trophy, 4th 2010 Cup of Russia, 4th 2010 Cup of China, 3rd 2010 Finlandia Trophy; PB: 226.97 at 2009 Worlds


Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)-3rd at 2011 Skate America, 2nd 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Cup of China; PB: 258.41 at 2011 Worlds


Tatsuki Machida (JPN)-1st 2011 Triglav Trophy, 4th 2011 Asian Winter Games, 11th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 5th 2010 Cup of China, 1st 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 217.48 at 2010 Four Continents

Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)-10th at 2011 Skate America, 7th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 4th Nebelhorn Trophy; 211.17 at 2010 Skate America


Konstantin Menshov (RUS)-7th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 7th 2011 Europeans, 10th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd 2010 Coup de Nice, 6th 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 2nd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 202.62 at 2011 Europeans

Ross Miner (USA)-6th at 2011 Skate Canada, 11th at 2011 Worlds, 7th at 2010 Cup of China, 9th at 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 217.93 at 2011 Worlds

Brandon Mroz (USA)-3rd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 2nd 2010 Cup of China; PB: 216.80 at 2010 Cup of China


Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)-3rd at 2011 Skate Canada, 5th at 2011 Worlds, 1st at 2011 Four Continents, 4th at 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st at 2010 Skate America, 1st at 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 264.41 at 2008 Four Continents


Tomas Verner (CZE)-12th 2011 Worlds, 3rd 2011 Europeans, 5th 2010 Grand Prix Final,

1st 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 3rd 2010 Cup of China; PB: 232.67 at 2008 Europeans

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Mens Short Program

1) Viktor Pfeifer (AUT)

   Music: The Mask

• Here we go, worlds is underway!!
• I love his coach Priscilla Hill
• Viktor is so theatrical
• Triple lutz with her arm over his head landed in a nice arabesque positions
• A very awkward fall on his last jump, that looks like it could've hurt
• He has such long legs and he hits some really great positions but also some awkward ones
• The costume change is very cool

   SP Score: 29.01 (TES) + 28.67 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 56.68 

2) Min-Seok Kim (KOR)

   Music: Bolero (Moulin Rouge)

• Oh heeeeeey Moulin Rouge
• This is a very Johnny Weir-esque costume
• Nice triple axel to start, very tentative, but landed nonetheless
• Nice donut position on the spin, but he lacks speed coming out of it
• This is very passionate music and I would like to see more commitment to the performance from him
• He seems to be really losing speed toward the end

   SP Score: 31.33 (TES) + 24.86 (PCS) - (DED) = 56.19 

3) Richard Dornbush (USA)
     Music: Elena by Brian Setzer

• Come on Richard, get it!
• Good speed to open
• Wild landing on triple triple, but good speed and height nonetheless
• Same story on triple axel, he really attacked it but couldn't control the landing completely
• Nice job Ricky, landed that triple flip
• He has some really unique spin positions
• He is very much committing himself to this performance and what a great effort for her first senior Worlds
• I like that he is bringing back the hydroblade, what a nice move
• He is very proud of himself as he should be

   SP Score: 38.25 (TES) + 32.29 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.54 

4) Nan Song (CHN)

   Music: Requiem for a Dream

• He looks very tentative, but you can't be when skating to this music, you need to attack it
• His jumps are huge, but his landings could be much more crisp
• I'm starting to see some more fire in him now that he's entered this footwork sequence
• He could stretch out his spin positions much more

   SP Score: 35.56 (TES) + 28.22 (PCS) - (DED) = 63.78 

5) Denis Ten (KAZ)

   Music: Primavera Portento

• First time seeing Frank Carol at this year's Worlds
• Denis is a very talented skater but he lacks self-confidence, at least that has been the story all season
• A very nice clean axel to start
• That triple triple combo wasn't the prettiest, but he definitely fought for it
• This is very dynamic music and I would like to really see  him commit to it and bring out some flavor
• Well that was a really nice effort from Denis

   SP Score: 39.23 (TES) + 31.77 (PCS) - (DED) = 71.00

6) Ross Miner 

   Music: Para Ti by Jorge Gomez

• Come on Ross, get it!
• I love his commitment to the flavor of the piece right off the bat
• He really attacked that triple axel
• Good solid triple lutz-triple toe
• Good clean skate for Ross, its so great to see these young Americans rising to the occasion like this!
• Nice fast spins and elegant positions

   SP Score: 38.02 (TES) + 32.28 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.40 

7) Joey Russell (CAN) 

   Music: 1812 Overture

• Joey Russell is just precious
• Shaky first landing
• Stumble and hand down on the second jump
• This will not be the short program that Joey Russell saw in his dreams
• He fought to land that combo and did so with sheer will
• I like him overall, a very elegant skater, but he couldn't seem to get his legs under him today
• Joey is not pleased with that, he knows he made silly mistakes

   SP Score: 30.90 (TES) + 30.79 (PCS) - (DED) = 61.69 

8) Paolo Bacchini (ITA) 

   Music: Pinocchio

• That axel was very tilted in the air from the beginning, it was not a surprise that he fell
• Both jumps of his combination are very very tilted in the air but he eeeked them out
• Even his solo triple flip is very tilted but he lands it, its not pretty though
• I don't really understand this costume, even though it is Pinocchio
• Definitely not the skate Paolo was looking for
• That was a very "Italian" program, stylistically speaking

   SP Score: 30.77 (TES) + 29.19 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 58.96 

9) Maxim Shipov (ISR) 

   Music: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

• Almost no speed going into that opening axel; very awkward fall
• Hand down on his lutz
• This music is this year's "requiem"
• I appreciate how he is attacking everything, but he is a bit wild and lacks polish

   SP Score: 26.64 (TES) + 24.46 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 50.10

10) Peter Liebers 

   Music: Blues Deluxe

• Right off the bat, he is really committing to the character and feel of the piece
• He has a lot of speed going into that triple lutz-triple toe 
• I love him in this program; very smooth and suave
• Very solid triple axel
• Good lutz, he should put up a very respectable score here
• He could use a little more stretch in his camel, but I'm really only getting that specific because that was such a good program

   SP Score: 36.51 (TES) + 31.22 (PCS) - (DED) = 67.73 

11) Misha Ge (UZB)

   Music: Capone

• Wow that costume is certainly a burst of color in the morning
• He was the final qualifier from the Q round to make it to the short
• He looks so small out there on the ice and I'd really like to see him stretch out his body
• This is very jazzy and he is such a little performer
• Aside from the fall out of the flip, he has been pretty good
• You definitely cannot say that he doesn't have enthusiasm!

   SP Score: 22.80 (TES) + 26.81 (PCS) - (DED) = 49.61

12) Jorik Hendrickx (BEL)

   Music: Feeling Good

• Get it Jorik! Get every fraction of a point that you can muster to get into this free skate
• Nice triple lutz, but the triple toe looked two-footed to me
• Nice speed across the ice
• Stumble out of the loop from footwork; couldn't tell if it was under-rotated or not
• Good low positions in the sit spin
• Good axel, only a double but landed nonetheless
• I really like his footwork
• I picked Jorik for my Fantasy C pick at Europeans and he did an awesome job so I stuck with him here for Worlds
• Jorik's donut spin looks great from that overhead camera angle
• He just made such a crazy face in his last pose; this guy has so much heart

   SP Score: 31.96 (TES) + 28.78 (PCS) - (DED) = 60.74 

13) Ryan Bradley (USA)

   Music: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

• I'm so nervous! Get it Ryan! Do it like US Nationals!
• The quad was landed a little bit low, so he added a double toe instead of a triple
• Get it triple axel!!!
• Come on Ryan give us some personality now that the tough jumps are over
• His camel spin is looking slow; he seems to be skating really slowly across the ice
• Nice triple flip
• Let's hope he gets full credit for his quad
• Here we go, he is really bringing the personality in the footwork
• Good job for Ryan of staying on his feet, I would've liked more speed but that program should keep him in the running

   SP Score: 38.84 (TES) + 31.61 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.45 

14) Kim Lucine (MON)

   Music: Phantom of the Opera

• Hard fall on opening jump
• I love the way he used the glove as a mask
• This techno arrangement of Phantom is truly heinous
• This is nit-picky but I don't like the way that his cummerbund separates from his pants; I'd go with out it personally
• This sounds like a jock jams remix of Phantom
• This program really is doing nothing for me overall
• The use of the prop (glove/mask) is interesting nonetheless

   SP Score: 31.81 (TES) + 28.00 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 

15) Anton Kovalevski (UKR)

   Music: Stop Time Rag

   SP Score: 34.23 (TES) + 30.93 (PCS) - (DED) = 

16) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)

   Music: Moanin/Drum Thunder Suite

   SP Score: 34.00 (TES) + 31.36 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 

17) Alexander Majorov (SWE)

   Music: Austin Powers

   SP Score: 23.27 (TES) + 30.97 (PCS) - (DED) = 

18) Javier Fernandez (ESP) 

   Music: Histoir de un Amor/Hu Pogodi

   SP Score: 35.77 (TES) +33.39 (PCS) - (DED) = 69.19

19) Florent Amodio (FRA) 

   Music: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

• He seemed tentative going into the triple axel, but the landing was solid enough
• Solid triple lutz-triple toe, his arms were a little wild
• Nice triple flip
• Clean and focused so far
• I love his upturned chest in that camel spin
• Could that costume be any tighter
• I love the use of his head during the footwork, it reminds me very much of Evan Lysacek
• I really love this short program, and that was great execution

   SP Score: 40.46 (TES) + 37.18 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.64 

20) Brian Joubert (FRA) 

   Music: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

• Nice back to back programs with the same music
• I like Brian's choreography better
• Brian lands the quad toe but steps out of it
• Brian's choreography is fantastic; no movements are thrown away
• Great triple axel
• Amazing height and speed
• Great triple toe
• Everything here is completely 100% solid minus that step out of the quad
• Florent threw it down, and then Brian Joubert answered with (in my opinion) an even better program
• Oh wait, I just realized he didn't do a combination, ooops
• He'll be severely penalized for no combination

   SP Score: 34.36 (TES) + 36.92 (PCS) - (DED) = 71.29 

21) Adrian Schultheiss (SWE)

   Music: Nuclear Warhead

• He has struggled this season and even contemplated retiring; I'd love to see him do well here
• Wow he took falls on a jump and in his footwork
• At this point, he is in danger of not qualifying for the free skate
• He is upset with his performance and rightly so 

   SP Score: 29.63 (TES) + 30.78 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 58.41 

22) Patrick Chan (CAN) 

   Music: Take Five

• Alright it's time for Chiddy! Get it Patrick!
• I just love that smile!
• He seems so relaxed from the first movement
• Quad toe-triple toe is as solid as can be
• He is just so smooth in his skating and every movement means something
• A little ice flying off of the triple axel but very solid
• Now this is the way you put a great performance together with great choreography
• Great stretch through his limbs on spins and connecting movements
• Nice easy triple flip
• This piece is a work of art and will give him great confidence going into the free skate

   SP Score: 51.48 (TES) + 41.54 (PCS) - (DED) = 93.02

23) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) 

   Music: Soul Medley

• Get it Kozuka (that will be a tough act to follow)
• He has definitely improved as a performer throughout the season on this program
• Low landings on the quad toe-triple toe, but landed nonetheless
• Hands down on the triple axel but no deduction
• I always think of him as being so young, when really he is older than Patrick Chan
• This choreography is just so-so, there are a lot of throw away moments

   SP Score: 39.83 (TES) + 37.79 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.62

24) Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL) 

   Music: Art of War

• Fall on opening quad jump
• When a skater like this can't land his jumps, he is in trouble, because he doesn't do much in terms of performance and has to rely on those jumps to hold him up
• Not a great effort from Kevin today
• If that quad was rotated, the fall will only cost him a point and then the negative GOE

   SP Score: 35.73 (TES) + 33.61 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 68.34 

25) Michal Brezina (CZE)

   Music: Japanese Kodo Drums

• Very good height on opening triple axel
• He is looking very calm and focused
• I hate the way those pants bunch at his ankles, they look very child-like
• I really like this music, it is very interesting
• Nice program overall

   SP Score: 41.10 (TES) + 36.40 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.50 

26) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)

   Music: Historia de un Amor

• Wow does Takahashi know how to work the crowd
• Very solid triple-triple
• Every movement he makes means something
• That triple axel was textbook and his landing was on a great musical climax
• This is probably my favorite short program of the whole season, especially choreographically
• Patrick Chan threw it down and now Takahashi is answering that in the best way he can
• This footwork is phenomenal and his performance is spectacular
• This is exactly what a reigning world champ looks like
• Simply amazing

   SP Score: 39.33 (TES) + 40.92 (PCS) - (DED) = 80.25 

27) Tomas Verner (CZE)

   Music: Singing in the Rain

• Fall on opening quad toe attempt; lets see if that affects the rest of the program
• He is holding onto these jump landings, but they are shaky, and just barely there
• I love the theatricality of the program and he remained committed to the performance

   SP Score: 39.62 (TES) + 37.32 (PCS) - (DED) = 75.94 

28) Artur Gachinski (RUS) 

   Music: Selections by Pink Floyd

• This choreography is signature Plushenko with all the hand gestures
• Quad toe-triple toe into a hand gesture, again signature Plushenko
• Triple axel
• All of his landings look frazzled, just like Plushy
• Wow what was that on the triple loop, he caught the back of his blade and almost ate it, i still really don't get what happened there
• I want this kid to find his own identity as a skater but I feel like they are trying to force him to become a mini Plushenko

   SP Score: 42.45 (TES) + 35.89 (PCS) - (DED) = 78.34

29) Samuel Contesti (ITA)

   Music: Hungarian March

• I love that he takes the ice in character
• This music is not doing much for me, but he looks great in tails
• He has had some funky landings on his jumps, not incredibly polished
• His spins are lovely
• He has such an elegance and a regal quality on the ice
• I'd like a straighter leg on the signature Patrick Chan kick

   SP Score: 28.62 (TES) + 35.97 (PCS) - (DED) = 64.59

30) Nobunari Oda (JPN)

   Music: Storm

• I love this program and wish his free skate were more like it
• Stumble out of the quad toe for Nobu
• He has such incredible speed
• Nice triple axel
• I love that he exits a jump with the same speed he goes in with
• Nice triple triple combination
• His speed is just crazy and I bet its even more amazing to see in person
• Stumble in the footwork, he had perhaps a little too much energy going in

   SP Score: 43.37 (TES) + 38.44 (PCS) - (DED) = 81.81 

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Mens Short Program Skate Order

Thirty of the best male figure skaters in the world will take the ice tomorrow at 5:30 am EST for their short program. The top twenty-four after the short program will move on to Thursday's Free Skate beginning at 5:00 am EST. The skate order for the short program is as follows.

Here is my preview of the Mens event: http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2011/04/2011-world-figure-skating-championships_16.html

StN.	Name	Nation
	Warm-Up Group 1
1	Viktor PFEIFER	AUT
2	Min-Seok KIM	KOR
3	Richard DORNBUSH	USA
4	Nan SONG	CHN
5	Denis TEN	KAZ
6	Ross MINER	USA
	Warm-Up Group 2
7	Joey RUSSELL	CAN
8	Paolo BACCHINI	ITA
9	Maxim SHIPOV	ISR
10	Peter LIEBERS	GER
11	Misha GE	UZB
12	Jorik HENDRICKX	BEL
	Warm-Up Group 3
13	Ryan BRADLEY	USA
14	Kim LUCINE	MON
15	Anton KOVALEVSKI	UKR
16	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN
17	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE
18	Javier FERNANDEZ	ESP
	Warm-Up Group 4
19	Florent AMODIO	FRA
20	Brian JOUBERT	FRA
21	Adrian SCHULTHEISS	SWE
22	Patrick CHAN	CAN
23	Takahiko KOZUKA	JPN
24	Kevin VAN DER PERREN	BEL
	Warm-Up Group 5
25	Michal BREZINA	CZE
26	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN
27	Tomas VERNER	CZE
28	Artur GACHINSKI	RUS
29	Samuel CONTESTI	ITA
30	Nobunari ODA	JPN

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Mens Preview

Because of the preliminary round, the men are actually the first to take the ice in this year's World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia. Preliminaries begin Monday April 25th at 6:00am EST with the short program on Wednesday April 27th at 5:30am and the free skate Thursday April 28th at 5:00am. This is a tough event to call because a lot of the men who put up the big scores have also been volatile and self-destructive this season. The quad(s) will play a big role in this competition and give a huge advantage to the men who land them. Many questions will be answered when this event concludes, not limited to the following.... Can the Japanese men sweep the podium? Will Patrick Chan finally live up to his potential? Is Brian Joubert still relevant? Did the US make the right decision in sending men with limited international experience? Can Artur Gachinski live up to the hype as "the next Plushenko"?
The Contenders

Patrick Chan of Canada is a sentimental favorite for me because he has so much talent but rarely skates to his full potential. My heart goes out to him every time he falls because I know that he has it in him to win each time he steps onto the ice. His free program at Canadian Nationals was out of this world and if he performs that way in Moscow, he'll take the gold easily. Nobody tells a story through their programs like Patrick does, and being a person of the theatre, the storytelling is the most important part of the program for me. I would never put money on Patrick because he is still not know for his consistency, but something tells me this is his year. The world title is there and its his if he just has the courage to seize it.

One of the people who can stop Chan from realizing his golden potential is someone who has done it before, reigning  world champion Daisuke Takahashi of Japan. Daisuke started off the season with a solid win at NHK and followed up with another win at Skate America, though in a rather messy fashion. Japanese nationals was a splat-fest for all of the top men, but Daisuke finally pulled it together again with an impressive win at Four Continents. If he can get his quad under control he will be a real threat for gold. Patrick and Daisuke are both phenomenal performers, but if Patrick lands both quads, he'll have the technical edge. There is talk of Takahashi retiring after this season so I'd like to see him go out with another world medal.

Takahiko Kozuka, the youngest of the top Japanese men has arguably been the most consistent of the bunch this season. With two Grand Prix wins, he was the top qualifier for the Final and took home a bronze. If he can improve on his confidence and performance skills he'll be able to fill the shoes of Takahashi when he retires. Kozuka has a good shot at the podium of he goes clean in both programs which he did twice this season on the Grand Prix and can certainly do again.

Nobunari Oda is probably the most volatile of the Japanese men. He has some of the biggest jumps in the world, especially for a smaller guy, but when he is not "on" he programs can get really rough really fast. He is primarily a technical skater so when the jumps aren't happening, he can't rely on high components scores like Chan or Takahashi. Nobu had such a bad short program last year at worlds that he failed to qualify for the free skate and he has been known to change his programs on the fly and add illegal jump combinations that take away precious points. But he has had a strong season so far with two Grand Prix silver medals and a silver at the final. If he lands all of his jumps and doesn't do any funny business with combinations, he could find himself on the podium.

One of the questions on the minds of figure skating fans everywhere is, can Brian Joubert come back? He has been one of the top men in the world for at least six or seven seasons but never won an Olympic medal. He had a disastrous Grand Prix this season but came back to win French Nationals and the silver at Europeans. If he can maintain his technical level and keep doing the quads, I'd love to see him stay in through 2014 and go for an Olympic medal in Sochi. He performance at Worlds this year will be a good test of how relevant he is against the younger up and coming men. If he skates clean, the judges will probably give him the scores necessary to stand on the podium, but he'll have to do his part and land his jumps.

It pains me to say that Florent Amodio is one of the top contenders' in men's figure skating, but nonetheless the judges like him. Not only does he not have the quad, but in my opinion there is not much substance at all in his programs. His short program is good when he lands his jumps (note that Alissa Czisny outscored him in the short program at the Grand Prix Final) but his free skate is what my people call a hot tranny mess. Not only are the musical cuts between the four songs horrendous, but he does more gyrating in place than actual skating. I understand he is trying to channel Michael  Jackson, but the late great Michael had content in his performances, not just fluff. Though I know I won't agree with it, Amodio has top five potential.

Tomas Verner has my favorite mens short program of the season because it is so stylized and his so committed to his character in Singin In The Rain down to his use of the "prop" umbrella throughout the program. I like his Michael Jackson free skate better than Amodio's and I think he is a stronger skater overall. He beat Patrick Chan at Cup of Russia which shows that he can capitalize on others' mistakes, which could be the key to a good placement at Worlds. He also won bronze at Europeans this year so he has great momentum going into Moscow. He, however, cannot afford to  make mistakes like some men can and will need two clean programs. I don't see him landing on the podium this year but he could have a top five finish.
In The Hunt

Oh Ryan Bradley, what to do with you? He is one of the biggest wildcards in this field. We've seen him finish as low as 18th in previous years, but he also has the potential to finish on the podium if he lands his quad in the short program and his two quads in the free skate. His program components are also up in the air because many think he doesn't have the best skating skills or edges. He is known to be quite a showman, but one never can tell how judges will interpret his performance style. If he keeps his head about him, his technical score can be one of the highest in the mens event. He will be attempting 3 quads total, the same as Patrick Chan, his current training mate. It seems that working alongside Chan has boosted Bradley's competitive edge and confidence and I wish him the best of luck in Moscow.

Richard Dornbush was the surprise of US Nationals this season when he put together two solid programs to secure a silver medal and a berth on the World team. His success shouldn't have been a shock as he dominated the Junior Grand Prix circuit and won the final, posting one of the highest total scores of the entire season. He seems very confident and he really has nothing to lose by going all out in Moscow next week. Reports from practice state that he has been looking extremely solid and consistent. Other men in the competition have been extremely volatile this season and if Richard keeps it together, he could sneak into that final group.
Kevin Van Der Perren of Belgium is one of the oldest skaters in the competition. He actually tried to retire last season but his federation convinced him to stay in for one year. He is an amazing jumper and you can always count on him for a quad, but his artistry is lacking. Anywhere in the top ten would be a great finish for Kevin.
Kevin Reynolds of Canada is similar to Van Der Perren in that he is known for his jumping ability and not his presentation. He became the first man to do two quads in a short program this season and if he can do that  in Moscow, the TES alone should place him very high after the short. The long program will be the real test for him.
Michal Brezina placed just off the podium in 4th at last year's Worlds, but missed this season's Grand Prix due to injury. The delay of Worlds may have been just what Michal needed in order to fully recover and return to he shape he was in at last year's Worlds.
Samuel Contesti of Italy is another dark horse because his results can vary greatly from competition to competition. He finished 18th at the 2010 Olympics, but then came back to finish 7th at Worlds. His best finishes this season were 4th at Cup of Russia, and 6th at both Cup of China and Europeans.
Artur Gachinski has been touted as Russia's heir apparent to Evgeni Plushenko and he has shown signs of future success, but still is not considered among the top men in the world. He has been improving all season, placing 7th at Skate Canada, 6th at Cup of Russia, and 5th at Europeans. If he continues this steady climb he could place well at Worlds, especially on home ice. Though it would take a huge upset for him to medal, he can help Russia by securing a spots for 2 Russian men at next year's Worlds.
Spain's Javier Fernandez has one of my favorite free skates of the season, set to Pirates of the Caribbean, but he has had highs and lows this year. He placed an impressive 5th at Skate Canada but fell to 9th at Cup of Russia and Europeans. The quad is a huge factor for Javier because it sets the tone for his free skate. He also needs a respectable short program so he is in the top two groups going into the free.
Ross Miner of the US a true wildcard because he placed 9th at NHK Trophy this year and 7th at Cup of China, but pulled out two perfect programs to win bronze at the US championships over some of the top men in the world. I hope he goes into this competition with no expectations, as he did at US Nationals, and he may just sneak toward the top if the other men crumble.
The Rest of the Field
Sarkis Hayrapetyan (ARM): 42nd at 2010 Worlds; 2nd Junior at 2011 Nestle Kangus Cup; 5th Junior at 2011 Dragon Cup
Mark Webster (AUS): 39th at 2010 Worlds; 16th at 2011 Four Continents
Viktor Pfeifer (AUT): 21st at 2010 Olympics; 20th at 2010 Worlds; 18th at 2011 Europeans; 13th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 5th at 2010 Nepala Memorial Trophy; 12th at 2010 Skate America
Vitali Buchanok (BLR): 3rd at 2010 Junior Worlds; 23rd at 2011 Four Continents; 11th at 2010 JGP Brasov Cup; 1st Junior at 2010 Tirnavia Ice Cup; 1st Junior at 2010 Warsaw Cup
Jorik Hendrickx (BEL): 13th at 2011 Junior Worlds; 16th at 2011  Four Continents; 7th at 2010 JGP Austria; 6th at 2010 JGP Austria; 5th at 2010 NRW Trophy Singles Pairs
Georgi Kenchadze (BUL): 40th at 2010 Worlds; 20th at 2011 Europeans; 21st at 2010 Coup de Nice; 13th at 2010 Merano Cup
Joey Russell (CAN): 14th at 2011 Four Continents; 6th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy
Nan Song (CHN): 9th at 2011 Four Continents; 10th at 2010 Skate America; 6th at 2010 Grand Prix Paris; 3rd at 2011 Asian Winter Games
Stephen Li-Chung Kuo (TPE): 37th at 2010 Worlds; 20th at 2011 Four Continents
Justus Strid (DEN): 28th at 2011 Europeans; 6th at 2010 O Nepala Memorial; 16th at 2010 Coup de Nice; 7th at 2011 Nordics Copenhagen; 4th at 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy
Bela Papp (FIN): 22nd at 2011 Junior Worlds; 14th at 2010 JGP Brasov; 16th at 2010 JGP Dresden; 8th at 2011 The Nordics
Peter Liebers (GER): 15th at 2010 Worlds; 11th at 2011 Europeans; 3rd at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 4th at 2010 Coup de Nice; 9th at 2010 Cup of China; 7th at 2010 Grand Prix Paris
David Richardson (GBR): 12th at 2011 Europeans; 7th at 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; 8th at 2010 O Nepala Trophy; 7th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz
Harry Hau Yin Lee (HKG): 20th at 2010 Junior Worlds; 22nd at 2010 JGP Karuizawa; 11 at 2011 Asian Winter Games
Tigran Vardanjan (HUN): 41st at 2010 Worlds; 14th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 9th at 2010 Golden Spin
Maxim Shipov (ISR): 43rd at 2010 Worlds; 23rd at 2011 Europeans; 11th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 10th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 7th at 2010 Golden Spin Zagreb; 5th at 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy
Paolo Bacchini (ITA): 20th at 2010 Olympics; 12th at 2011 Europeans; 8th at 2010 Finlandia Trophy; 12th at 2010 Skate Canada; 2nd at 2010 Merano Cup; 7th at 2011 Winter Universiade
Denis Ten (KAZ): 11th at 2010 Olympics; 13th at 2010 Worlds; 12th at 2010 NHK Trophy; 11th at 2010 Skate America; 1st Junior at 2010 Nestle Kangus Cup; 1st at 2011 Asian Winter Games
Kim Lucine (MON): 17th at 2011 Europeans; 2nd at 2010 O Nepala Memorial; 4th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 7th at 2010 Merano Cup
Min-Seok Kim (KOR): 23rd at 2010 Worlds; 15th at 2011 Four Continents; 11th at 2010 JGP Austria; 12th at 2010 JGP Dresden; 9th at 2011 Asian Winter Games
Alexander Majorov (SWE):  3rd at 2011 Four Continents; 3rd at 2011 Junior Worlds; 2nd at 2010 Triglav Trophy; 5th at 2010 JGP Karuizawak; 3rd at 2010 JGP Czech; 1st at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 1st at 2010 NRW Trophy Singles Pairs; 1st at 2011 The Nordics
Adrian Schultheiss (SWE): 15th at 2010 Olympics; 9th at 2010 Worlds; 13th at 2011 Europeans; 4th at 2010 O Nepala Memorial; 10th at 2010 NHK Trophy; 7th at 2010 Skate America; 2nd at 2011 The Nordics; 2nd at 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy
Mikael Redin (SUI): 6th at 2010 Month Blanc Trophy; 6th at 2010 Triglav Trophy; 7th at O Nepala Memorial; 3rd at 2010 Crystal Skate; 5th at 2011 Bavarian Open
Kutay Eryoldas (TUR): 31st at 2010 Worlds; 13th at 2010 Triglav Trophy; 23rd at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 4th at 2010 Crystal Skate; 18th at 2011 Winter Universiade
Anton Kovalevski (UKR): 24th at 2010 Olympics; 16th at 2010 Worlds; 15th at 2011 Europeans; 3rd at 2010 O Nepala Memorial; 12th at 2010 Cup of Russia; 8th at 2010 Grand Prix Paris; 3rd at 2010 Golden Spin Zagreb
Misha Ge (UZB): 12th at 2011 Four Continents; 6th at 2011 Asian Winter Games