#sci2019

The flower crown!

Stayed up to (groggily) watch the Pair’s and Men’s practice at 3-something AM here. I really enjoyed the commentary and it’s always nice to see the skaters going through things without as much pressure. It was interesting to hear Ted and Jaime discussing stuff and pointing out good things each skater do. Little things like how some male partners set down their lady partner really abruptly from a lift, and some have a very soft way of doing it. Or saying that pops are a muscle twitch and how it’s a coach’s nightmare when one of their skaters has become subconsciously used to popping - “do you get angry? Give encouragement? Talk technique?”Jaime then mentioning how one of the first, basic things he learned coaching is “do something, you can’t just stand there staring.”

And of course, when Yuzu got on the ice in the second warm-up group, Ted going all breathless and saying: “I’m never ready for Yuzu’s skating” describing it as “ethereal and vaguely impossible” and both agreeing that when you’re commentating, that the “smorgasbord of words” they use as commentators isn’t enough. Ted praising the manner in which Yuzu uses momentum to move, adding that there’s never been a skater that looks so effortless.

I managed to wake up in time to catch the Men’s SP this morning but missed nearly the entire first group because of stream issues... I noted down wonky jumps as usual, but things that stood out:

Brendan Kerry. I heard the sesame street music in the practice, but it’s another thing to see it being performed for points. I’m going to have that song stuck in my head all day long now. It wasn’t... the best skate. I felt like his movements weren’t sharp enough? Or not...directed? Polished? Maybe as a result of losing energy from the failed jumps. Kudos to him for pulling through it all. Hoping he comes back with a vengeance in the Free.

I will probably never get over Keiji’s shirt this season. It’s oh-so-very patternful. Amazing. It seemed he was missing a bit of fire, but I still enjoyed his skate. He moved well and I love how sharp his program ending is. There was that 4S-->3S pop and 3Lz3T-->3Lz2T pop, but I’m just glad he’s well enough to skate. Nam’s jumps were landed, so I’m thankful for that, but man. The axis on that 4S3T was strange and the 3A free leg almost looked as if he touched the ground. After his jumps he really started selling the program. It was nice to see him smiling out there. I should’ve gotten used to it by now, but every time I see him I still can’t help noticing how tall he’s grown. He was (trying to) flirt(?) with the audience and that was amusing. Camden went clean! His skating was quite emotive. One of my favorite moments was actually the Kiss&Cry. It was so heartening to see how overjoyed they all were when he received his scores. It was funny how he had his mouth hanging open for so long that his coach(?) put a hand over his mouth and they burst into more laughter.

Yuzu’s program was amazing. For some skaters, the SP feels like it takes a while to get through, but with Yuzu, it always passes in a blink. He starts, he does his jumps, he has that final flurry rush of steps and emotion, and then boom it’s over. It’s so good you don’t realize how quickly time passes. As Brian said: “a good start.” His 4S flew across the ice and that exit was incredible. Such a deep outside edge with a surreal amount of exiting speed, but he held it without batting a lash. And his 3A was so impossibly light and easy. It looked like no big deal, like he jumps 3As in his sleep, like it was child’s play. I had a split-second moment after he landed it, where I was struck by something recent. The best way I can describe what it felt like seeing that was like when you work and work and work on a difficult passage of a piece so often that one practice session you pick up your instrument and play that difficult part by memory - and it flows like water, clear and accurate. A bit of a lean on the 4T in his 4T3T combo, with a bit of a spread eagle save, but not jarring. I love how happy he was in the StSq, he was smiling wide and that little hop-jump looked like he was filled with joy having fun playing on the ice. Seeing Brian, Yuzu, and Ghislain laughing and giggling in the K&C over his StSq was amusing.  When it replayed on the screen, they all made a noise of recognition and Brian was like "yeah, that cluster there" and “but you stayed on one foot!"

Matteo..... Oh his jumps... the protocols have the numbers, but yeah. He didn’t fall on the 4T, but it was an underrotated two-foot thing. His 3A was nice. And then he fell on his 3Lz and lost the chance for a combo. And it put him off the music by half a beat or so, so he ended half a second past the music. On the bright side, he didn’t quit on the performance! AND he’s the only guy to get a StSq4 here, so there’s that.

Deniss had a good skate. His opening 3F3T was kind of crazy because it almost looked like he could have crashed into the camera, but he didn’t, so that’s what counts. 3A was nice and his final 3Lz was held. Of course, his spins are great and that flying sit spin was so fast and centered in that cool position he usually uses. He really got into the music during the StSq and I love how he was singing along to it at some points.

Skate Canada 2019

SCI 2019 Gala PW