Javier Fernandez |
1. Javier Fernandez jumped from the first warmup group to take the lead in the Men's Short Program. He opened with a dazzling quad toe loop which earned five GoEs of +2 and one +3 (and one knuckleheaded mark of 0). He followed with a strong triple Lutz - triple toe loop combination and beautiful triple Axel, both elements receiving GoEs of +1 and +2. His straight line step sequence was well executed to the music, "I Love Paris" and "Petit Fleur." His only negative element was a flying upright spin, called at level 2, and his change foot combination spin, while completed was only level 1. His strong elements gave him the highest element score of the group. His component scores, however, where only third best, averaging 7.8. Skating in a bright yellow shirt and gray trousers his performance was clean secure and enthusiastic. Fernandez had improved considerably since his World Championship 10th place finish in Moscow last April. 2. The 2010 World Champion, Daisuke Takahashi, on the comeback trail this season, placed second in the Short Program, skating last among the group of ten men. He did not attempt a quad, executing for his jumps triple flip - triple toe loop, triple Axel and a solo triple Lutz. His elements were clean and strong except for a flawed change foot camel spin that was called level 1 and received two GoEs of -1. All three jump elements received GoEs of +1 and +2. His performance to "In the Garden of Souls," was strongly executed with very good expression and finely developed interpretation. His component marks averaged 8.5, with one judge (we assume to be the Japanese judge) having all five components 9.0 or higher. Both his TES and PCS were second best of the group, and he now lies 0.05 points behind Fernandez. 3. Patrick Chan, the reigning World Champion got off to a troubled start, but kept his composure to salvage a third place finish in the short, 1.43 points behind the leader. Chan stumbled in the opening setup to his first element, a planned quad toe loop - triple toe loop combination, which caused a cascade of errors. On the quad he put a hand down and stepped out, though the jump was all the way around, but he was forced to leave off the triple toe loop. On his subsequent triple Axel attempt he opened up and completed a double. Fourth element, a planned triple Lutz, Chan added the triple toe loop left off the first element to salvage the four points. After the second element, the program to "Take Five" was very well skated and received component marks averaging 8.6 slightly ahead of Takahashi's. Overall Chan was third in TES but first in PCS, leaving him in easy striking distance to still win the event. 4. The highest placing U.S. man in the short was Adam Rippon, who currently lies fourth, 11.82 points back. Rippon has been working quad Lutz this year, but did not attempt it in the short. All his jump elements were a bit off, with two scored negative by the judges. His opening triple Lutz was clean, but with GoEs ranging from -2 to +2, its scoring was most odd. On his subsequent triple Axel he had a two-footed landing and a step out, and the following triple flip - triple toe loop combination was called under-rotated on the toe loop. His performance to "Korobushko" was well done, with component scores averaging 7.25. He skate with god speed and nicely executed spins. 5. Denis Ten, the skater from Kazakhstan who formerly trained in Russia, but now trains in southern California had a decent skate to "Elergie," except for the first element He overpowered his opening triple Axel and fell, the only element scored negative in the performance. He had been nailing the jump in practice and the warmup, with a true clean forward takeoff and fully rotated landing. But he pressed too hard here and crashed. The remainder of the program was cleanly executed and well skated with spins all called level 4 and his step sequence level 3. His components averaged 6.7, which is were he really needs to bing up his game. 6. Andrei Rogozine, fresh meat from Canada on the Grand Prix circuit (he is not even mentioned in the Canadian media guide) skated reasonably well to "Broken Sorrow" and " Fanfare" by Black Violin. His jumps were fairly strong, a triple flip - triple toe loop combination, triple Axel, and triple Lutz. The Axel landing was a little off, but only one judge gave it a negative GoE. The main limitation to his elements were the spins and step sequence which were called level 1 and 2, with the closing change foot combination spin level one and scored negative in GoE. His component marks averaged 6.3. 7. Skating to the "Austin Powers" soundtrack, Swede Alexander Majorov gave a performance with a reasonable developed character with only one significant error, a step out on a solo triple flip. His combination owas only a triple-double and his spins and step sequence were called levels 2 and 3. It was an adequate performance for which he received adequate marks, with components averaging near 6.4. 8. On his opening triple Axel attempt Kevin van der Perrin popped the jump to a double, but then completed the six other elements cleanly, including triple Flip - triple toe loop and solo triple Lutz. His expression, however, was mediocre, and he was slow, sloow, oh so sloooow, particularly in the spins. 9. The second U.S. man here, Ross Minor, had a mediocre skate. He singled his opening Axel, but then landed triple Lutz - triple toe loop, and solo triple flip cleanly. Skating to "Para Ti" it was a flat performance that received an average component score of 6.3. It was a disappointing effort from a skater who is capable of better. 10. Closing out the group was Canadian Eladj Balde. On his opening triple flip - triple toe loop combination he stepped out of the toe loop. He subsequently fell on triple Axel. His solo triple Lutz was clean. His spins were called level three and the step sequence level two. Four of five judges went negative on his closing change foot combination spin. He skated with nice energy and expression to "Malaguena," "Montana Skies," and "Futuro Flamenco." He clearly enjoys performing but he was sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. His component scores averaged only 5.6. |
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Free Skating
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1. Patrick Chan needed to make up 1.43 points from the short program to take the gold medal. He did that and more, despite two falls in his free skate. Chan has his program set to start with two quad toe loops, with a triple toe on one or the other. The combination is nominally the first jump, but if something goes wrong he can reverse the order and put the toe loop on the second element. This time he fell on the opening quad toe loop, receiving mostly -3s but also two -1s. On the subsequent attempt he landed a strong quad-triple combination and the judges responded with six +2s and three +1s. It was the only (semi) planned combination he landed, however. A triple Lutz to triple Salchow three jump combination went bad mid-program with just the Lutz weakly executed, and a triple Flip - double toe loop combination also went bad, with the toe loop not attempted. Chan tacked a double toe loop onto his second triple Lutz, to avoid the penalty of repeating a triple outside of a combination. The King of the components did not let the errors in the elements shake his performance and the judges responded the high scores he is noted for. Skating to "Concierto de Aranjues" Chan inhabited the music and displayed his superior skating skills. He racked up just over 9 for Skating skills and near 9 for choreography. His performance and Execution score was the lowest of the five reflecting the several technical errors during the performance, including a second fall between elements mid-program. 2. Javier Fernandez dropped to second in the Free Skate and second overall, but demonstrated that he has moved up into the elite ranks of Men's skating this season, and will be a medal contender at Worlds this year. He opened up with a solo quad toe loop followed by a solo quad Salchow. On the toe loop he had a slight touch down with his hand that cost him 0.71 points, with six judges going to -1 for the GoE. The Salchow was deceptively effortless with eight judges at +2 and one at +1. He next fell on triple Axel, which led to his putting a planned triple toe loop on his second triple axel later in the program. That combination was superb with GoEs from +1 through +3, with seven +2s, and was followed with a clean triple Lutz - triple toe loop combination (perhaps landed a bit on the toe, with one judge going to -1). A triple Salchow had a weak landing and his planned three jump combination had a weak second jump, with the third left off. Fernandez attempted a program with a higher base value and ended up with the highest TES of the group. While on a par with all the men in terms of elements, His component scores, while very good, show some weaknesses. Skating to a medley of opera favorites, his skating skills and performing skills are not up to Chan or Takahashi. In working to execute the elements, there are noticeable holes in the choreography where transitions are lacking. His Transitions marks average a half point below his other components and nearly a point below Chan or Takahashi. Overall his PCS was 6.5 points behind Chan and was third best of the group. 3. Daisuke Takahashi staked much of his fate here on an opening attempt at quad flip, which was thoroughly cheated, qualifying as not even close. With downgrade and the resulting -3 GoEs the element earned less points that any triple jump. This attempt is a great object less for the need to only attempt quads if they are fully rotated. A fully rotated quad, even with a fall, earns as many points as a clean substitute triple, so the downside of attempting it is minimal. But an downgraded quad (and worse yet, one with a fall) does not earn the points of a clean substitute triple and has significant down side risk. Following the flip attempt, Takahashi landed a more or less clean triple Axel, with four judges going to -1. The following triple Salchow had a hand down and was punished with eight -1s and a -2. Mid-program he attempted a triple Axel - double toe loop combination, falling on the triple Axel, whihc was called under-rotated. Having previously executed a solo triple Axel this triggered the jump repetition rule that tok 20% off the base value of the triple Axel. The logic of having the combination on the second planned Axel (according to the planned program content form) escapes us, since an error on the later combination puts the skater at risk of this penalty, whereas attempting the combination first allows a second chance at it if the initial attempt goes bad on the first jump. Takahashi's spins and step sequences were all outstanding and greatly enhanced the artistic expression of the program, skated to " Blues for Klook." All the spins were called level 4 and his circular step sequence level 3. His component scores averaged near 8.4 and he had the second highest PCS after Chan. His few errors pulled down his Performance mark a little, and a few holes in the transitions between the jump elements also cost him in Transitions. 4. Adam Rippon was another skater who put his placement hopes in the uber-quad basket, attempting a quad Lutz which also was not even close, and downgraded. Like Takahashi, this element did not earn the points of an alternate substitute triple jump. We have observed Rippon working this jump all season, and it has never been close -- not even reaching under-rotation territory, and given his result here have to wonder if this has been the best training strategy this season. He also had a step out of a solo triple Axel and fell on a later solo triple Axel (which also received the 20% base value penalty). He did land six other triples cleanly, including a fine triple flip - triple toe loop combination. Skating music by J.S. Bach it was a fluid performance with a big finish, and we particularly enjoyed the way he uses whole body movements. His components averaged 7.1, with Transitions down a bit and Interpretation up. Given how futile the quad Lutz seems at this points, we wonder if he would not have been better served by using the time he spent working quad Lutz on getting two solid triple Axels, and on taking his components to the next level (8s) which seem more achievable than the Lutz. 5. After a ninth place finish in the Short Program, Ross Minor came back from the dead (somewhat) to finish fifth in the Free Skate and sixth overall. He had a bit of a rough start. After landing a nice opening triple Axel he stepped out of with a step out of the landing of the following triple Axel that was combined with a double toe loop. Then, on the subsequent triple Lutz he landed a bit on the toe, though only one judge went to -1. After the first three elements, the program gained in strength and he landed four additional triple jumps. His four spins were called level 4 and the step sequence level 3. His performance to "The Untouchables" was nicely done, with the strongest mark Performance and Execution. His PCS was only sixth best, however, with an average component score near 6.6, compared with a third best TES. Minor's homework from this competition is pretty clear. Land the triple Axel in the Short Program and work the component scores into the 7s. 6. Denis Ten dropped to sixth in the Free Skate but held fifth overall. It was a passionate skate to "Adios Nonino" and a season best score, though marred by several small errors, with four elements scored negative. His opening quad toe loop had a bit of a step out on the landing, with four judges going to -1 but two also at +1. He then landed a nice triple Axel and triple Lutz - triple toe loop. Mid-program he had a clean double Axel with two double tow loops, though the Axel was planned to be a triple. And then the jumps really fell apart. He had a reach on triple flip which killed the combination attempt, he double a triple Lutz attempt, fell on triple loop, and was also scored slightly negative on his last jump element, triple Salchow. His three spins were called level 4, and the step sequence level 3. The flying sit spin and circular step sequence were particularly effective in presentation. His main problem appears to be getting through a complete long program. After element five or six he generally tends to struggle, as was the case at this competition. His component scores averaged just under 7, and his PCS was fifth best. 7. Andrei Rogozine dropped to seventh in the long to finish seventh overall. He skated a nearly clean program with only a downgrade and two-foot on triple Axel. His performance was fast and energetic and we enjoyed it. More so than the judges apparently, who gave component scores that averaged 6.1 8. Kevin van der Perrin's performance as a mass of inconsistencies which left him in eighth place. He attempted an energetic performance to "The Man in the Iron Mask" but his stamina was not up to it. He opened with a clean quad toe loop but fooled by opening up on an Axel which he singled. He landed triple Lutz and also a double Salchow - triple toe loop - triple toe loop combination. He doubled a flup in combination but then landed a solo triple flip. On his next jump element he doubled a lopp but followed with a clean triple Salchow. Two of his spins were only level 2 as was his step sequence, while his flying spin was called level 3. His final change foot combination spin received eight -1s and a -2 due to a brief loss of control. In addition to the inconsistent elements, his lack of stamina degraded the quality of the performance. Except for Skating SKill scored at 6.21, his components were otherwise in the low to mid fives. 9. Swede Alexander Majorov struggled though his performance, with five elements scored negative. Only two jump elements were clean, his opening triple Axel - double toe loop combination and a single Lutz, popped from an attempted triple. Throughout the performance he was working hard to develop a flamenco interpretation to his music, with only limited success. It was a sloppy perforance with poor control. His components averaged 5.5. 10. Canadian Eladj Balde gave an entertaining performance to a Michael Jackson medley, but he displayed little control in his elements or the quality of his skating. Six elements were scored negative, Only one jump element was clean, a triple flip - triple toe loop combination. He also managed to repeat three triple jumps, resulting in his second triple toe loop (a solo attempt in element 9) being nullified for zero points. His components averaged just below 5.4. |
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2011 Skate Canada Men's Medalists
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