VINTAGE CHAN BLOWS AWAY THE OPPOSITION; MINOR IN HEAVEN ABOUT BRONZE; RIPPON FOURTH

1.  Overall 273.94; 1.FS 185.99 (95.83+90.16); 1.SP; Patrick Chan, skating 21^st of the 24 allowed to FS, to the Adagio from Concerto de Aranjuez, was not perfect but he was brilliant. He looked far happier than he had the previous day when he collapsed on the landing of a quad causing an enormous controversy over whether his error should have been penalized as a fall.

He said, “It was excellent compared to how it went yesterday. I just put that behind me. It didn’t feel perfect in practice today but I stuck to the plan. You just have to feel it and I was feeling it. It came together very well today. My plan from the beginning was two quads, but if it didn’t go well, I just trust my training. You just have to trust yourself.”

His whole bearing just appeared more relaxed. Dressed in a red top with short diagonal red strips down the outside of his black trousers, he rocketed through his quad toe to triple toe. (Two of the nine judges were moved to punch in maximum +3) and that gave him a huge total of 16.54 points.) That was immediately followed by his second quad toe, for which he banked 12.16. He explained, “I’ve been doing two quads in my Free for a while now, so I’m never pleased if they don’t come off.”

His triple Axel is the jump which generally gives him most trouble, but not on this day. His reward was 9.93. That total of just the first three elements meant he banked 38.63 and could relax and have fun with his circular steps which earned the maximum Level 4 with an excellent +1.50 panel GoE value.

But his next element, the flying change foot combination spin was only Level 3 so you can be sure his “team” will be checking on what he didn’t do to get the maximum 4 for this nor for his combination spin which closed the routine. When the bonus marks clicked in, he executed a triple Lutz to single loop to triple Salcow but struggled a little on the landing of the third jump. Only one judge picked up on that error, which was clearly visible, and punched in -1. One judge, who must have looked down before the combo ended, even punched in +2! (Three others gave 0 which is supposed to be for satisfactory in every aspect, while four gave +1 for “superior”.)

He continued his spectacular performance with triple loop and triple flip, although the flip was scheduled to have a double toe attached to it. Then came the Level 4 change foot sit spin. Just to keep him humble the gods above looked down and sent bad vibes on his triple Lutz and he was forced to turn out instead of holding and riding out the landing edge.  He received two +3s for his final jump, a double Axel and three +3s and the rest +2 for his final “Choreographed Steps” for which only the basic Level 1 is given to all competitors. (The still level for this element is judged only by its GoEs.) His final spin also gained a +3.

The medalists were asked to comment on the relatively low turnout of spectators for this Friday evening event at the World Arena. Chan said, “It was a shock in the short program. Daisuke (Takahashi) and I just came from our nationals where there were full houses every night. (US nationals were also not sold out.) It’s odd to be at an event to not have audience to pump you up this late at night. For the long program, it was familiar territory (because they’d seen what happened in the SP). But we’re such good athletes that we get on the ice and do not pay so much attention to the audience. It was weird but it was good to be exposed (to something different).”

Many of the skaters felt the draining effect of the altitude. Since Chan trains here, he should have felt fully adjusted, but he said that wasn’t so. “I can say that training here is different than actually competing here. I didn’t feel I have an advantage of training here. I hit the wall at a point going into the last spin before the last triple Lutz. I was quite dead. I had to stay on my feet and not get too big (i.e. great height and length) because that’s when you lose your balance. For Daisuke and I, going to Worlds, it gives us confidence that it will be easier. I told myself going into my last spin that this is going to be the hardest of them all.” Chan’s overall score bettered his season’s best by 12.32 points.

“Today I actually felt pretty nervous going into the long, more nervous than I’ve been in a long time. I was very happy. I stayed focused after a rough practice this morning. I took the time to rest and I did the elements really well. I learned a lot this week. He has not competed in this event, although he won gold in the event in 2009. “I didn’t go last year because it was so far away (in Taipei) and disturbing to my schedule. I like to think about competition as part of my training. That helps me put 100 percent into my training every day. I take it seriously and I want to be on my toes. I feel intimidated by the others. It’s all about developing as an athlete, getting better. Every skater has something to bring to the table.”

2.  Overall 244.33; 2.FS 161.74 (76.88+84.86); 3.SP; Daisuke Takahashi skated immediately prior to Chan to Blues for Klook by Eddy Louis, dressed in black. The first Japanese man to win a world figure skating title, which he did in 2010, got off to a bad start, landing his opening quad toe on two feet, which lost him two full points from the jump’s base value of 10.30. Then he singled his planned triple Axel, which gave him a total of 0.06 points trying a move which could have earned him 8.5 points or more.

However, he seemed to settle down with a superior triple Salchow, a Level 3 change foot camel spin, Level 4 circular steps, which earned four +3s and five +2s from the panel of nine judges, and a Level 4 flying change foot combination spin. He got an arrow for a slightly under-rotated first jump in his triple Axel to triple toe loop set for when the bonus marks click in, and lost -0.86 from its base value plus 10% of 11.11. After a successful triple flip to double toe and a triple loop, he lost -0.40 on his triple Lutz to double toe to double loop combo in which the third jump was landed scratchily. His final jump was a triple flip. He got the audience and judges excited about his last two moves. The officials gave him three +3s for his choreographed steps and two of these maximum GoEs for his final Level 4 combination spin. 

The 25-year-old readily admitted, “My performance was not so good. I missed two jumps. But the audience helped me and I enjoyed tonight a lot. Between nationals and Worlds there is a lot of time so I’m glad to compete here in between. (The world championships are unusually in March but this year they are in April.)

“There was a big gap between me and Patrick which gives me motivation to work harder. I am still happy but I have many points to improve on. I just need to continue to practice and work hard. I need to improve consistency of quad jump. I practiced harder here because of the altitude which I think is good going into Worlds. I thought the altitude was going to be worse. After my performance, I was still okay. I was surprised, my energy was still okay. The popularity in skating in Japan is very high right now. I’m used to skating.in a full house. I was a little surprised in the beginning, but once I stared to skate, I felt the audience was really cheering for me, so that gave me energy. They gave me the power to skate.”

3.  Overall 223.23; 4.FS 146.34 (73.04+74.30-1); 6.SP; Ross Minor, who skated his Free, set to The Untouchables, last, could hardly believe he had pulled up from sixth to win bronze, especially since he placed “only” fourth in the FS. The 21-year-old said, “The goal for me coming in was for a new season’s best (which he earned). This was just the cherry on the top, the icing on the cake. It wasn’t actually my best performance, but my poor practice run-through and my coach running around and trying to murder me obviously paid off.”

Dressed in blue, Miner opened with a +1.57 triple Axel followed by a second triple Axel combined with a double toe which earned him 10.80. He got a tenth of a point deducted from his combination of triple Lutz to triple toe for the slight struggle on his second landing. His flying change foot combination spin was Level 4 and his circular steps were Level 3. He received +1.10 for his triple Salchow to two double toes set when the bonus marks click in. But then he fell on his triple Lutz and a loop was only doubled. His change foot sit spin got Level 4 but his double Axel got -0.14 and his final jump, a triple flip was saddled with an “e” from wrong edge take-off. After his choreographed steps, he earned a full point over the base value of his final move, a Level 2 change foot combination spin which ended in a difficult cross-foot, head-back position.   

He said, “Today was pretty unexpected result-wise. To skate last meant I had a long wait. When I got on the ice, I felt cold. The whole performance felt a little off. Then the results came up and I was surprised. Whoa! That’s cool! I didn’t expect that. It’s weird to not have as many people in the stands. But the fans that were there vocal and supportive. It really does help us get through our programs and enjoy our time out there.

“For the U.S. skaters, it was hard because we just came off nationals. We competed two Sundays ago. The altitude definitely affects the end of the program. You get to a point where it’s, ‘Just do it. You can rest when it’s over.’ I was glad I did heavy training between the nationals and Four Continents because it made me mentally strong to get the end of the program.”

4.  Overall 221.55; 3.FS 146.63 (73.41+74.22-1); 7.SP; Adam Rippon, skating to Bach’s Air, and Troccata & Fugue, attired in a blush top and brown pants, skated so much better than he had in the SP and he was smiling at the end. The 22-year-old began a little uncertainly collapsing sitting on both feet on his quad Salchow, which was given two arrows for under-rotation. But he followed that with a triple Axel to double toe which earned +0.43 over its base value and a +0.80 triple loop.

His change foot sit spin and circular steps were both Level 3 with plus 0.57 and 0.93. But then he singled his triple Axel. He recovered with a +1.10 triple flip to triple toe. Rippon said, “I had a lot of struggle with (this combination) in the Grand Prix. I tried to change my technique a bit in working with Yuka (Sato) and Jason (Dungjen). At the Grand Prixs, there was always one triple-triple that was getting under rotations, so I’ve addressed that with them and worked a lot on the technique. When it comes to crunch time, it’s really paid off.”

That was followed by a +0.60 triple Lutz to loop to triple Salchow and a +0.90 triple Lutz in which he put both arms above his head during the rotation. One judge rewarded him with +3 while another judge thought it was merely “satisfactory in all aspects” and gave the basic zero. The zero seems absolutely amazing. In a jump skaters do not get Levels so it is very important for the judges to reward originality in their GoE. It seems unlikely the “zero” judge did not notice this incredibly difficult variation. So what gives? The routine finished with a +0.93 Level 4 change foot combination spin, the choreographed steps, a +0.21 double Axel and a +0.79 Level 4 flying camel.

Rippon said when asked how hard it was to come here after nationals, “I told myself that I was well-trained and I worked really hard for nationals and I just really wanted to keep that momentum going. This wasn’t as strong, but I don’t really think I showed much weakness or letdown from nationals. The choreography gets a little stronger at the end. It’s something that I’m working on with Pasquale (Camerlengo). When I get home, I have to get the same feeling at the beginning.” Asked how he was able to recover from his opening jump fall, he said, “I really turned my mind off and did what I needed to do.”

5.  Overall 217.16; 6.FS 133.72 (62.16+71.56); 2.SP Takahito Mura skating to Four Seasons Tango Takahito Mura, Japan, dropped from second to fifth. His first element turned into a double toe although the second was a good +0.50 triple Lutz to triple toe. His first triple Axel got -1.71 removed from its base value but the second one, combined with a double toe, got 1.14 added. He predented a good triple Lutz which got +0.90 but his Salchow and Flip were doubled.

He said, “Because my placement after the short program was unbelievable, I felt a lot of pressure for today. I never felt this much pressure ever, so I did not know how to handle it. I learned from this experience and I need to gather my confidence and I have to do both the short program and the free skate cleanly.”

6.  Overall 210.03; 7.FS 132.30 (63.22+70.08-1); 5.SP Denis Ten skating to Adios Nonino Tango by Astor Piazzola messed up, doubling an intended quad toe and then fell on a second attempt.

7.  Overall 208.04; 10.FS 125.67 (56.91+69.76-1); 4.SP Tatsuki Machida skated to Don Quixote by Leon Minkus in a very elaborate costume with lots of embroidery. He fell on opening quad toe and then singled his first triple Axel attempt. His triple loop was Ok and his second triple Axel was nice as was a triple Lutz to double toe to double loop. But he got an “e” call for his flip which turned into a double, and his second triple Lutz was a double. He said, “Especially at the end of the half I felt tired. Maybe it was because the altitude affected me. I was trying to keep attacking but I had so many mistakes so I am not so happy about my performance.”

8.  Overall 203.26; 5.FS 135.04 (66.74+69.30-1); 9.SP. Kevin Reynolds performed in intense black Chrono Trigger by Yasunori Mistuda. He began well with a quad Salchow but the following toe loop was a double. He presented a triple Axel but had -0.57 removed from its base value. Then he doubled the loop. After Level 3 circular steps, he did a Level 4 combination spin but that was followed by a double instead of flip. Then he presented a double Axel to triple toe to double toe followed by a triple Lutz which was saddled with an “e”. A triple Salchow combined with a triple toe earned +0.30. The choreographed steps earned +0.90, a Level 4 upright spin received +0.57 and the final Level 3 combination spin got +0.86.

He said, “I was glad I got the quad out because it was called as under rotated yesterday. I lost my focus on the toe. I was overthinking it because I missed it in the warm up. The Axel was a bit shaky but I got it done. The program became difficult when I tweaked my ankle again. It was the one I sprained in practice on the triple flip. From there it was really hard to get the program back. It was disappointing and frustrating, not what I wanted coming into this week. Refocus, take some rest and get ready for the World Championships.”

9.  Overall 196.53; 8.FS 132.04 (63.04+69.00); 11.SP Misha Ge, from Uzbekistan skated to War and Peace by Invincible dressed in a many-colored top. He had lots of energy in steps at end and the audience really took him to heart. He had begun with a double arrow under-rotated triple Axel followed by a good triple flip. But the second jump of his triple Lutz to triple toe got an arrow for slight under-rotation. His second triple Lutz was OK. That was followed by a Level 2 flying sit. His triple flip to double toe got an “e” for wrong edge take-off.

However, everything else got positives: a triple loop, triple Salchow to double toe, double Axel, Level 3 Change foot camel, Level 3 circular steps done with an unbelievable output of energy, a Level 4 combination spin and he finished with the choreographed steps. He was really affected by the applause and cheers. “I am overwhelmed by emotion right now. I have worked for so many years and this is only my second year of international competition. Today I fulfilled my dream that the audience enjoyed my performance. Maybe it wasn't perfect technically but I pushed through to the very end. I did not expect to earn a standing ovation. This is a great joy for me.

“I am just a beginner. I have watched the other higher ranked competitors. They have a lot of experience and I can learn a lot from them, for example how they act at competitions. Now I want to continue to work hard in order to improve for the World Championships.”

10.  Overall 196.53; 9.FS 100.43 (49.21+52.22-1); 10.SP Jinlin Guan, from China, performed to Percussion Carmen by Rodion Shchedrin.

11.  Overall 190.51; 11.FS 121.17 (59.37+62.80-1) 8.SP; Wearing  a strange outfit with blue and silver on one side and black on the other, Nan Song, China, skated immediately following the ice resurface to Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.2. He fell on his first move, a quad toe, and stepped out of his second attempt at this move, which was called as a single. He did accomplish a triple Axel to double toe but singled his second attempt at a triple Axel and got an “e” call for a triple flip.   

12.  Overall 172.60; 12. FS 114.58 (52.78+61.80); 14.SP. Christopher Caluza trains at the All Year Club in California. He was born and bred in the US, but represents the Philippines.  Caluza skated to Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor.   The 21-year old said, “It was one of the best free skates I have done. I have never gotten the crowd going like that before. I’ve never seen a crowd so energetic and cheering for me the way they were. I never thought I could do this at my first Four Continents Championships. I was in Oberstdorf (Germany) last week so it’s been a tiring two weeks. I’m glad I got over it and was able to do my best. (on his goals) I wanted to earn respect for myself and my country. I would like to thank everyone especially U.S. Figure Skating, my coaches, my parents and the Philippine Skating Association.

13. Overall 164.29; 14. FS 102.95 (41.49+62.46 -1); 13.SP Richard Dornbush skated to A Fistful of Dollars, Ecstasy of Gold along with the William Tell Overture. Right from the start, when his opening attempted quad toe didn’t have the necessary height and on landing he slid into the barrier, it was obvious this was going to be a showing best forgotten. He put his foot down on his second move, a triple Lutz, and both triple Axels plus a triple flip and triple loop were singled.

He said, “It was extremely difficult to prepare not only physically but mentally. It was a short time to regroup after U.S. Championships, I guess it wasn’t quite enough. I’m going to take a couple weeks and come back stronger than ever. I want to focus on getting my physical abilities and athleticism higher so that I can train my programs the way I like to.”

14. Overall 159.22; 18.FS 97.85 (37.13+63.72-3); 12.SP Jeremy Ten, the Canadian bronze medalist, skating to music from The Postman by John Bayles, which is about a future recovering from a world catastrophe, must have channeled the feeling from this movie. He had a terrible showing. In a half white and half peach top, he fell triple Axel which got an arrow. Then he doubled his Lutz and fell on a triple toe. Later he fell on a triple loop which got an arrow.

Ten who skated last of the third warm-up group of six, said, “I think it was hard with the long wait. I think after the Axel I just stiffened up and kind of panicked. And then it was mistake after mistake -- mistakes that I don’t usually make, that I’ve never made. I think there was a lot going on in my head and I should have just gotten back in to  focus. After analyzing this and getting rid of the negatives, from the overall process I’m going to be proud of myself for coming back after a huge break in skating and getting myself to this point. This was a bonus for me. Although I would have loved to have skated better tonight, I’m just proud that I’ve brought myself back to the international stage.