Very nice text, from not very nice journalists
- I am "amazed"
http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/...n-report-cards/11.11.2009., Jennifer KirkSkating’s quarter-season report cardsLast week, the 2009 Grand Prix series officially hit the halfway mark. At this point, besides reigning world silver medalist Patrick Chan and two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel, we‘ve seen performances from the most likely contenders for Olympic medals. For some skaters, the first four Grand Prix events have been filled with excitement, surprise medals, and satisfaction. But for others, the start of the season hasn’t gone as planned. Here’s how things currently look in the men’s and ladies’ events as we inch closer to the Games.
MENThe biggest story in the men’s event has been the victorious return of 2006 Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko. Plushenko was terrific at his season opener three weeks ago in Moscow. Picking up exactly where he left off before his retirement four years ago, Plushenko currently holds the highest total score of any man this season.
Although Plushenko was amazing in Moscow, he was only slotted for one event so we won’t see him in December’s Grand Prix final. Because Plushenko has a few months before his next competition, he should use this time to focus on keeping up the momentum from his first event and working on the few areas of his skating that need improvement, namely the speed and position of his spins....
... Outside of Plushenko, Joubert has the most solid quad and speed of any of the men....
For skaters like Oda, Plushenko, and Ando, the next few weeks are about resting and keeping their energy up for the rest of the season....
And the most important thing for all skaters – particularly Oda and Kim – to remember:
This season is a marathon, not a sprint.
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http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp...2&vkey=ice_news14.11.2009. by Lynn Rutherford, special to icenetwork.comPlushenko's back, now deal with it
U.S. men respect, but don't fear, mighty RussianEvgeni Plushenko's dominating win at the Rostelecom Cup made him an early favorite for Olympic gold.Evgeni Plushenko served notice at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow that he's willing and able to defend his Olympic title in Vancouver, but it doesn't follow that his U.S. competitors are intimidated by the Russian's outsize personality and consistent quad toe combinations.
"Plushenko looked good to me,"
Frank Carroll, Evan Lysacek's coach, said. "Strong in jumps, and jumps, and jumps."
(sour grapes? )Carroll handicapped a few of the other contenders.
"[Brian] Joubert is a dark horse, he's so hot and cold. I don't know if his artistry will be up to level. To me, Patrick Chan would be a big rival. And don't forget [Stéphane] Lambiel will be back, he's a great artist on the ice. Sometimes he struggles with elements, but he's a real artist."
Evan Lysacek himself doesn't see a clear favorite.
"I don't think you can say anyone is the one to beat," he said after his winning short last night. "It's wide open and I think it's the most anticipated event."
Once again, the world champion was asked if he needed a quad to take home gold.
"I feel like I'm barely back into training," he said. "[During the] off season I spent tons of time preparing choreography and building up strength in my [left] foot [injured before worlds last season].
"A few weeks ago, I started [training] the quad again, and then I practiced this week in between Cup of China and Skate America. Hopefully by Vancouver I'll feel confident enough to put it into my program under the Olympic spotlight."
Carroll also hopes for the quad, but stressed it wasn't necessarily the most important factor.
"I feel like [Evan] has to be steady and bring himself to a high artistic level," Carroll said. "I would like to see him do a quad at the Olympics. It's not ready right now but I hope it will be."
(... as Lysack has a "particulary" good artistry )U.S. silver medalist
Brandon Mroz, who competed against Plushenko at the Rostelecom Cup (he placed seventh), looks forward to his next encounter with the Russian.
"For me he's a great athlete, he pushed the men's field and made a lot of guys put out the quad," Mroz said. "When it comes down to it, he's a skater, just the same as I am. We have the same ammunition."
Asked if his youth -- 19, to Plushenko's 27 -- was an advantage, Mroz laughed.
"Maybe," he said. "Maybe my knees can bend more easily. It's good to have youth on my side."
Ryan Bradley, who trains alongside Mroz in Colorado Springs, has worked the quad consistently into his programs over the past few seasons. He views Plushenko as inspiration.
"He definitely turned a lot of heads at the Rostelecom Cup," Bradley said. "He went out, didn't necessarily have the very highest levels or the best transitions, but hit the tough jumps. I think of that as kind of my style. [His comeback] is good for the sport and definitely helps push me in my skating.
"I don't think the top guys are looking at him and getting scared. I think they look upon him as another competitor."
(All in all - they planty encourage themselves )--------------------------------------------------------
"Associated" with post from 2 page:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=54&start=10#p2312 http://www.thestar.com/sports/figureskatin...at-skate-canadaSat Nov 21 2009 By Rosie DiManno....
KITCHENER, ONT. – It will come as
ego-plumping news to Evgeny Plushenko, that Patrick Chan uses the Russian's quad as a gold medal standard.
(yes, him was needed just Chan, to raise his "ego" )Literally, via a software program that lays Chan's four-turn jump – never seen in competition – over top of the Olympic champion's, seen tons but not lately.
"The quad I compare to Plushenko a lot,'' 18-year-old Chan, who's not yet learned to self-edit, was saying here on Saturday evening, after finishing a throwback-sixth at Skate Canada. "Actually, only Plushenko, I keep watching him over and over. It's helped a lot. He's a great mentor.''
Oh dear, the Toronto figure skating whiz is all but sleeping with the enemy here, metaphorically, with such compliments – however accurate they may be. The magisterial Plushenko, teed up for a comeback after barely skating at all since winning the laurels in '06 Turin, clearly still considers him No. 1 Male on the Planet and untouchable, a declaration reinforced during his triumph at the Grand Prix Russian stop last month, the blond stallion
throwing his finger in the air to indicate he was still Mr. Uno.
A diva gesture but, at least, showing showbiz-style and personality,
qualities in short supply 'round the figure skating world these days.
It is not a memorable era for men.
Despite the result here – Chan's first-time out competitively since rehabbing a torn left calf muscle – the world silver medallist is well in the mix for gold in Vancouver three months hence. Realistically, there are only a half-dozen champion prospects for those Games: Plushenko, Chan, veterans Brian Joubert of France and Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, American Evan Lysacek and Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, who won the free skate here but finished silver behind Jeremy Abbott of the U.S. overall.
So Chan studies Plushenko's quad, all skating enthusiasts wondering whether he'll have the nerve to include it, game unworn, come Vancouver....