Grand Prix of Helsinki 2018 - Men Final - Victory Is Hard Work
The men's short programme was without a doubt the most thrilling in Helsinki. Not only did we watch top skaters compete against each other, but we also saw how easy the leader can change at this level. It all culminated of course with Yuzuru Hanyu being first at a very comfortable distance from Michal Brezina, who is on second with also quite a gap between himself and Boyang Jin, who is third. I'm sure the final will provide some equally exciting action.
We're not off to a good start, I'm afraid. Philip Harris doubles out of the 3Toeloop, Flip and Loop, puts a hand down on the second 3Axel and falls on the 3Toeloop. The song he skates to, Coldplay's Fix You, is one we've often seen in figure skating lately. Score: 123.67 -> 182.66.
Valtter Virtanen is a slight improvement both from the Brit and from his own performance yesterday. He steps out of the 4Toeloop and singles the 3Axel. Choreography-wise, I really like the storytelling approach to La Strada and the use of invisible props. Score: 106.58 -> 154.74.
Keiji Tanaka starts with a fall on the 4Salchow, then singles the 3Axel, doubles out of the 4Toeloop, steps out of the 3Lutz and finally doubles out of the 3Toeloop. His disappointment is not at all concealed at the end of the routine. I really like his costume though - I don't know if his vest is actually made of brocade or just mimics it, but it's fabulous either way. Score: 126.22 -> 206.82.
The parade of small errors continues as Alexei Bychenko doubles out of the 3Toeloop, Axel, Loop, Lutz, Salchow and Flip. He also steps out of another 3Axel and loses a level on the Flying Camel spin. Great intense glare to interpret the soundtrack of Dracula though. Score: 128.89 -> 202.33.
Alexei Krasnozhon taps into his Russian roots to pull off a good Korobushka. The only thing I believe would have made it more authentic is a Russian costume instead of a sparkly black shirt paired with simple black pants. He makes no notable errors though. Score: 136.98 -> 211.03.
Junhwan Cha starts the group of fire with a really good performance of Romeo and Juliet. His only mistake is falling on the 4Salchow. His spins are fast and really well-synced with the music. You can see how disappointed he is with that fall, but he doesn't let it affect his other elements, which shows more mental strength than a lot of older skaters. Score: 160.37 -> 243.19.
I didn't expect Andrei Lazukin's free skate music to almost give me a headache. If you didn't see his long programme, imagine someone angrily playing the piano, but in a very slow manner. The pace of said piano was slightly ahead of Andrei during the step sequence, so maybe that's something he needs to revisit. He doubles out of the first 4Toeloop and the 3Salchow, as well as over-rotates both 3Axels. Score: 135.68 -> 218.22.
As the first notes of the Carmen Suite start, I make a mental note to watch Mikhail Kolyada and Alina Zagitova's free skates back to back. It's a cool coincidence that two of Russia's bests both decided to use the same music in the long programme this season. Unfortunately, Mikhail's performance is lacking as he falls on both quads, doubles out of a 3Salchow and then stumbles twice during the step sequence. Score: 157.03 -> 238.79.
This is probably the worst free skate I've seen Boyang Jin do, which is a real shame. He falls on the 4Salchow and Toeloop, as well as the 3Axel. He doubles out of a 3Toeloop and steps out of the second 3Axel too. The choreography for Hable con ella is alright, although there are too many moments when his arms are flying around with no purpose, in my opinion. Smashing choreographic sequence though! Score: 141.31 -> 227.28.
As soon as Yuzuru Hanyu finishes his free skate, I want to go and watch it again and again. It's not perfect - over-rotated 4Loop and a step out of the 3Axel - but he lands a 4Toeloop-3Axel combination. The crowd goes wilder than they did even for their own skaters. I'm constantly amazed by this guy. Score: 190.43 -> 297.12.
Michal Brezina is given the difficult task to follow up the Japanese's brilliant act, but he is more than up to it. The atmosphere turns really crazy in the arena and by the time we get to the step sequence, I'm not sure whether we're at a figure skating competition or a concert. He does fall on the 3Axel though. Score: 164.67 -> 257.98.
I am incredibly happy right now. Not only did Yuzuru Hanyu blow everyone out of the water again, not only did Michal Brezina continue his streak of phenomenal skating, but so did Junhwan Cha. The Czech and Korean are on the same steps of the podium they found themselves at Skate America, while the Japanese takes the gold by around 40 points. Great ending to this Grand Prix.
Quote of the competition:
We're not off to a good start, I'm afraid. Philip Harris doubles out of the 3Toeloop, Flip and Loop, puts a hand down on the second 3Axel and falls on the 3Toeloop. The song he skates to, Coldplay's Fix You, is one we've often seen in figure skating lately. Score: 123.67 -> 182.66.
Valtter Virtanen is a slight improvement both from the Brit and from his own performance yesterday. He steps out of the 4Toeloop and singles the 3Axel. Choreography-wise, I really like the storytelling approach to La Strada and the use of invisible props. Score: 106.58 -> 154.74.
Keiji Tanaka starts with a fall on the 4Salchow, then singles the 3Axel, doubles out of the 4Toeloop, steps out of the 3Lutz and finally doubles out of the 3Toeloop. His disappointment is not at all concealed at the end of the routine. I really like his costume though - I don't know if his vest is actually made of brocade or just mimics it, but it's fabulous either way. Score: 126.22 -> 206.82.
The parade of small errors continues as Alexei Bychenko doubles out of the 3Toeloop, Axel, Loop, Lutz, Salchow and Flip. He also steps out of another 3Axel and loses a level on the Flying Camel spin. Great intense glare to interpret the soundtrack of Dracula though. Score: 128.89 -> 202.33.
Alexei Krasnozhon taps into his Russian roots to pull off a good Korobushka. The only thing I believe would have made it more authentic is a Russian costume instead of a sparkly black shirt paired with simple black pants. He makes no notable errors though. Score: 136.98 -> 211.03.
Junhwan Cha starts the group of fire with a really good performance of Romeo and Juliet. His only mistake is falling on the 4Salchow. His spins are fast and really well-synced with the music. You can see how disappointed he is with that fall, but he doesn't let it affect his other elements, which shows more mental strength than a lot of older skaters. Score: 160.37 -> 243.19.
I didn't expect Andrei Lazukin's free skate music to almost give me a headache. If you didn't see his long programme, imagine someone angrily playing the piano, but in a very slow manner. The pace of said piano was slightly ahead of Andrei during the step sequence, so maybe that's something he needs to revisit. He doubles out of the first 4Toeloop and the 3Salchow, as well as over-rotates both 3Axels. Score: 135.68 -> 218.22.
As the first notes of the Carmen Suite start, I make a mental note to watch Mikhail Kolyada and Alina Zagitova's free skates back to back. It's a cool coincidence that two of Russia's bests both decided to use the same music in the long programme this season. Unfortunately, Mikhail's performance is lacking as he falls on both quads, doubles out of a 3Salchow and then stumbles twice during the step sequence. Score: 157.03 -> 238.79.
This is probably the worst free skate I've seen Boyang Jin do, which is a real shame. He falls on the 4Salchow and Toeloop, as well as the 3Axel. He doubles out of a 3Toeloop and steps out of the second 3Axel too. The choreography for Hable con ella is alright, although there are too many moments when his arms are flying around with no purpose, in my opinion. Smashing choreographic sequence though! Score: 141.31 -> 227.28.
As soon as Yuzuru Hanyu finishes his free skate, I want to go and watch it again and again. It's not perfect - over-rotated 4Loop and a step out of the 3Axel - but he lands a 4Toeloop-3Axel combination. The crowd goes wilder than they did even for their own skaters. I'm constantly amazed by this guy. Score: 190.43 -> 297.12.
Michal Brezina is given the difficult task to follow up the Japanese's brilliant act, but he is more than up to it. The atmosphere turns really crazy in the arena and by the time we get to the step sequence, I'm not sure whether we're at a figure skating competition or a concert. He does fall on the 3Axel though. Score: 164.67 -> 257.98.
I am incredibly happy right now. Not only did Yuzuru Hanyu blow everyone out of the water again, not only did Michal Brezina continue his streak of phenomenal skating, but so did Junhwan Cha. The Czech and Korean are on the same steps of the podium they found themselves at Skate America, while the Japanese takes the gold by around 40 points. Great ending to this Grand Prix.
Quote of the competition:
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