Thursday, April 28, 2011

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Mens Free Skate Live Blog

1) Paolo Bacchini (ITA)
 Music: Cirque du Soleil
  • I love the commitment to the character of the piece right off the bat
  • A little slow in the entry to the axel, slightly shaky landing
  • Very tilted in the air, pops his combination
  • He looks anxious and unsettled out there, he needs to calm down and find his timing
  • I'd like him to use more of his torso in this footwork sequence, not just his arms and legs
  • I like the arrangement of this music, it has good lulls and climaxes, very high drama
  • His jumps are still tilted in the air; he has doubled quite a few of his triples
  • Its a shame he wasn't able to relax into this program and find his groove
  • He seems very proud of this effort so I'm happy for him
 FS Score: 64.87 (TES) + 59.30 (PCS) - (DED) = 124.17
 Total Event Score: 58.96 (SP) + 124.17 (FS) = 183.13

2) Kim Lucine (MON)
 Music: Singin In The Rain
  • Fall on opening triple axle attempt
  • He is very in character for this piece, though I don't know that he'll compare to Verner in my mind
  • His footwork is very whimsical and true to the theme, but I'd like to see more intricacy and speed to up the level
  • After that fall, he looks very settled and has done some nice combinations and triples, including 3F-3T and a nice 3Z
  • This costume is very drab for me, I'd like a splash of color since this is such a theatrical piece of music
  • I'm glad to see him doing a hydroblade move, that is often a forgotten move
  • He has good speed on his spins and has kept up his energy throughout the entire program
  • A clean program after that initial fall
 FS Score: 58.56 (TES) + 55.56 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 113.12
 Total Event Score: 58.81 (SP) + 113.12 (FS) = 171.93

3) Nan Song (CHN)
 Music: Yellow River Concerto
  • Song has some huge jumps so get ready for that
  • Right off the top, he's showing some nice speed
  • Popped his opening 4t attempt
  • Turned out of the 3a
  • Hand down
  • This program could be choreographed much better; a lot of the musical nuances are not being used
  • I'd love to see him be more expressive in the soft, lyrical section of the music
  • Very tilted in the air, couldn't control the landing after getting huge height on that triple
  • He could really benefit from some dance and acting training because I can tell he is trying to be expressive, and I respect that, but he just needs to learn how
  • He is having some highs and lows in this programs, but he is really a fighter
  • I would love to see a much lower position in the final sit spin; it also seemed to travel a lot, at least from my angle
 FS Score: 58.81 (TES) + 54.40 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 112.31
 Total Event Score: 63.78 (SP) + 112.31 (FS) = 176.09

4) Jorik Hendrickx (BEL)
 Music: Flamenco/Tango
  • Very solid opening triple-triple
  • He just does a 2a, which I'm happy to see clean over a messy 3a
  • He has very good speed and energy, I hope he has the stamina to maintain it throughout the program
  • Very nice speed in this footwork sequence, I'd like to see him get a bit deeper into his knees for more level variation
  • He does a nice job of using his arms and upper body for expression
  • Nice triple loop with a double toe (Rippon-style) tacked on
  • He has some very nice spins with good deep low positions
  • So far the energy and speed have stayed high
  • His concentration and focus seem to really be on today
  • Another Rippon-style toe tacked onto a three-jump combination
  • If he would use his head a little more, his step sequence would be even better
  • The broken camel position was a bit awkward entering into the final donut spin
  • Very strong, very clean program from Jorik, very happy for him
 FS Score: 68.06 (TES) + 59.42 (PCS) - (DED) = 127.50
 Total Event Score: 60.74 (SP) + 127.50 (FS) = 188.24

5) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
 Music: Johann Strauss Medley
  • Fall on opening 4s; he seems to struggle a lot with consistency this season
  • Fall on 4t
  • Wow poor Kevin is really struggling so far with 2 falls and hands down on the 3a
  • This music does not suit him at all in my opinion
  • A clean 3l; that will hopefully get him back on track
  • I have to wonder if Kevin is sick or injured because he does not seem himself at all
 FS Score: 63.65 (TES) + 62.22 (PCS) - 3.00 (DED) = 122.87
 Total Event Score: 64.36 (SP) + 122.87 (FS) = 187.23 

6) Joey Russell (CAN)
 Music: Don Juan de Marco
  • He has great speed 
  • That 3z attempt never really got of the ground; missed the combination
  • He has lost a great deal of speed after that fall 
  • He is really starting to run out of steam mid-way through
  • I was really hoping he could rise to the occasion after Reynolds' poor free skate
  • He has some very nice attack on the step sequence, good incorporation of his upper body and good overall choreography
 FS Score: 50.62 (TES) + 58.42 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 107.04
 Total Event Score: 61.69 (SP) + 107.04 (FS) = 168.73 

7) Javier Fernandez (ESP)
 Music: Pirates of the Caribbean
  • I love this program so I hope he'll do it well today
  • Huge 4T, 4S and 3A in the opening section, very high and clean
  • I love that he uses his whole body in this footwork and it fits the character of the piece
  • This is the best program I've ever seen to this music (in my opinion)
  • Sad down on the second jump of that 3-3 combo
  • His jumps are very close to the boards, scary close
  • That sash hanging across my body would annoy the crap out of me
  • If he put the quad in his short program, he could be in the later groups 
  • Great effort from Javier, but finished after the music
 FS Score: 84.32 (TES) + 65.78 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 149.10
 Total Event Score: 69.19 (SP) + 149.10 (FS) = 218.26

8) Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL)
 Music: Reflections of Earth
  • I like that he knows his style and what he'll do well so he always chooses these strong, very masculine pieces of music
  • Huge 4T to open
  • I love watching him jump because he spots the way that dancers spot pirouettes
  • Popped open his second quad, no idea why because it was very strong
  • There was a clean 3A
  • That spiral position was very weak, no idea why it was even in the program
  • He just popped the opening of his three jump combination
  • I have no idea why somebody so strong in jumping would pop them
  • He botches that flying spin a bit and really loses speed
  • I'd like to see him hang onto that hydroblade position and ride the curve a little longer
  • Not the skate he wanted for his last worlds
 FS Score: 67.34 (TES) + 61.42 (PCS) - (DED) = 128.76
 Total Event Score: 68.34 (SP) + 128.76 (FS) = 197.10

9) Anton Kovalevski (UKR)
 Music: Stazione di Palermo
  • He has some very fast spins and some really unique variations, particularly in arm positions
  • He looks very focused, I can see the concentration on his face
  • He has that Plushenko-esque flailing thing going on
  • This is a good example of sacrificing the beauty of a spin in order to achieve a higher level with position variation
 FS Score: 69.48 (TES) + 67.00 (PCS) - (DED) = 136.48
 Total Event Score: 65.16 (SP) + 136.48 (FS) = 201.64

10) Peter Liebers (GER)
 Music: Sherlock Holmes
  • I'm glad he and Dornbush aren't in the same group, both with Sherlock Holmes Free SKates
  • Good opening combo, second jump a little shaky, but landed nonetheless
  • Nice big triple axel
  • I love the wally jump entrance into triples, I think that is an underused choreographic choice
  • So far, this is not at what the level of what we'll see from Dornbush
  • The jumps are clean, but I'm not seeing much in the way of artistic interpretation or expression
  • This is a very flat program for me
 FS Score: 73.94 (TES) + 63.92 (PCS) - (DED) = 137.86
 Total Event Score: 67.73 (SP) + 137.86 (FS) = 205.59

11) Ross Miner (USA)
 Music: As Time Goes By
  • This was gorgeous at US Nationals and let's hope he can do that again
  • I love that he starts with his footwork sequence as opposed to a jump just to get his feet under him and his timing correct
  • Huge 3a combo from Ross 
  • What a great start
  • 3z-3t combo is equally strong and on a great musical climax
  • I really enjoy the choreography of this program
  • Another giant triple axel from Ross
  • The hardest part of this program is done, now he just needs to keep going in the same way
  • He reminds me of a Todd Eldredge style skater
  • What he lacks in the quad, he should make up for in positive GOE on his triples
  • This program has a great elegance to it
  • Nice three jump combination
  • This is going to be an amazing experience for Ross and I expect that it will give him confidence and we'll start seeing him medal at Grand Prix events next season
  • This is the best skate Ross could have asked for in his first trip to senior worlds!
 FS Score: 78.75 (TES) + 68.78 (PCS) - (DED) = 147.53
 Total Event Score: 70.40 (SP) + 147.53 (FS) = 217.93

12) Samuel Contesti (ITA)
 Music: Sikuriadas/Wara Bolivian/Cacharapaya
  • Clean start so far
  • I am not loving this music, and the costume is too over the top and distracting
  • He is very tall for a skater, which unfortunately makes it more noticeable when his jumps are titlted in the air
  • He is landing these jumps, but they are not pretty
 FS Score: 63.53 (TES) + 68.28 (PCS) - (DED) = 131.81
 Total Event Score: 64.59 (SP) + 131.81 (FS) = 196.40

13) Brian Joubert (FRA)
 Music: Symphony No. 9
  • 4T right off the bat, beautifully landed
  • His connecting elements are just that, a way of connecting the dots between elements
  • Nice 3A combination
  • His footwork looks very simple to me
  • I feel like he is just going through the motions and not committing to the style
  • He was always better, in my opinion when he chose stronger pieces of music like The Matrix, etc as opposed to this softer, more lyrical style
  • I hate how he virtually stopped before going into his straight line step sequence
  • He finished way before his music and just showboated the last 10 seconds
 FS Score: 80.80 (TES) + 75.58 (PCS) - (DED) = 156.38
 Total Event Score: 71.29 (SP) + 156.38 (FS) = 227.67

14) Tomas Verner (CZE)
 Music: Michael Jackson Medley
  • Fall on opening jump; he's been struggling here
  • This costume has changed about 4 times this season
  • Off-beat clapping from the audience has to be a distraction
  • I like this Michael Jackson program much more than Amodio's
  • The "smile" section is very beautiful
  • Two-footed and under-rotated triple axel
  • These are definitely not the programs he wanted for worlds
 FS Score: 65.85 (TES) + 76.08 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 140.93
 Total Event Score: 75.94 (SP) + 140.93 (FS) = 216.87

15) Richard Dornbush (USA)
 Music: Sherlock Holmes
  • This choreography is fantastic
  • Get it Ricky!
  • Nice 3F to start off
  • Very low landing on the 3A but landed nonetheless
  • Nice 3z
  • He almost lost it on that camel spin, but saved it
  • This is looking a little unpolished, but it actually kind of fits the character of the piece
  • Much better 3A this time, and this one in combination
  • Nice 3-jump combination with a Rippon tacked onto the end
  • This is a very solid performance for him; he is a good interpreter of this music
  • This footwork sequence is where he really lights it up
  • He is going to be a force to be reckoned with once he gets that quad up to par
 FS Score: 78.24 (TES) + 73.64 (PCS) - (DED) = 151.88
 Total Event Score: 70.74 (SP) + 151.88 (FS) = 222.42

16) Michal Brezina (CZE)
 Music: An American In Paris
  • Nice 3A and quad
  • I love the energy of this program; very whimsical and lighthearted
  • He has an odd way of really turning it on in the big competitions
  • Oops one fall there
  • Another fall, he is kind of letting this slip through his fingers
  • I hope I didnt jinx him by saying he is a clutch player
 FS Score: 83.19 (TES) + 74.92 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 156.11
 Total Event Score: 77.50 (SP) + 156.11 (FS) = 233.61

17) Ryan Bradley (USA)
 Music: Amadeus
  • I'm more nervous for him than anyone
  • Nice 4T to open
  • He needs to build up some more speed
  • Didn't have enough glide out of the 4T, tacked on what looked like a 1T
  • He really needs to work on his speed going into these jumps
  • Triple axel
  • I like some of his sit spin variations
  • Let's see how the judges like this comic routine
  • Nice 3z
  • Landing was a little forward on the second 3a
  • He is landing everything, but a lot of these jumps aren't pretty
  • I can't get a read on him, he looks somewhat pleased
 FS Score: 72.74 (TES) + 69.52 (PCS) - (DED) = 142.26
 Total Event Score: 70.45 (SP) + 142.26 (FS) = 212.71

18) Denis Ten (KAZ)
 Music: Totentanz
  • Fall on the opening 3a
  • I wasn't confident that he could match his short program with a great free
  • I can see Frank Carroll's work has already helped him to improve by a lot
  • Fall on second triple axel, this jump seems to be his biggest demon
  • I do appreciate the lyrical quality of his skating and his lovely flow across the ice
  • I like the almost upside down variation on the camel spin
 FS Score:69.94 71.05 (TES) +  (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 138.99
 Total Event Score: 71.00 (SP) + 138.99 (FS) = 209.99

19) Patrick Chan (CAN)
 Music: Phantasia
  • He looks calm off the bat
  • Nice 4T to open 
  • 4T-3T and he makes it look as easy as pie
  • 3z
  • This is really just a phenomenal program and I'll be sad to see it go after this season
  • I love that hitch kick at the beginning of the program and then the repeat later on
  • This program is just so easy to watch
  • Step out of the 3A but no hands down or anything of that nature
  • I love that he does the wally
  • The spread eagle when that music picks back up is just such a beautiful moment
  • And I'm now in tears, damn it Patrick
  • Love the second hitch kick
  • Final combination spin, and he has to know he has won it
 FS Score: 96.44 (TES) + 91.52 (PCS) - (DED) = 187.96
 Total Event Score: 93.02 (SP) + 187.96 (FS) = 280.98

20) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
 Music: Piano Concerto 1&2 by Grieg
  • Huge jumps from Oda, I hope he counts his combinations
  • I wish he had a free skat that he could attack more and show off his athleticism
  • He is doing a remarkable job for what he had to follow
  • I would very much like to see him win a medal
  • This is the best I've seen him do this free skate all season
 FS Score: 72.75 (TES) + 78.44 (PCS) - (DED) = 150.69
 Total Event Score: 81.81 (SP) + 150.69 (FS) = 232.50

21) Artur Gachinski (RUS)
 Music: The Bolt

 FS Score: (TES) + (PCS) - (DED) =
 Total Event Score: 78.34 (SP) + (FS) = 

22) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
 Music: Invierno Portento

 FS Score: (TES) + (PCS) - (DED) =
 Total Event Score: 80.25 (SP) + (FS) = 

23) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
 Music: Piano Concerto No. 1 by Liszt

 FS Score: (TES) + (PCS) - (DED) =
 Total Event Score: 77.62 (SP) + (FS) = 

24) Florent Amodio (FRA)
 Music: Broken/Apologize/Imma Be/Gonna Be Startin Something

 FS Score: (TES) + (PCS) - (DED) =
 Total Event Score: 77.64 (SP) + (FS) = 

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