Skate America 2015 - The Age of the Underdogs (Men's SP)

Victory somehow seems sweeter when the winner is an underdog. That being said, the power of a superstar should never be underestimated. The fact that these two rules co-exist in figure skating, only makes the sport more thrilling. Who will take the lead in the men's short programme?

 Max Aaron is having a particularly great start of the season. He's completely pulling off the tragedy of Nessun Dorma and acing every single element. He may not be the most graceful of skaters, but I don't see that as a problem. Everyone has their own style, and I appreciate his efforts to improve his artistry. His score: 86.67.

The white top and black pants
are becoming Max Aaron's trademark style
Photograph: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
North America
Russia's male skaters are struggling to catch up to the ladies' fame and ability right now. Aidan Pitkeev is no different. He is good, even flawless technically at times, but he's just not feeling the music. His camel spin is shaky. He gets 79.90 points.

Classy guy, Han Yan, is back with a classy song: Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima. This is a trademark programme for him: lots of gags, strong elements, but not enough smiles. He needs to get just a bit sillier, and he'll be an expert at this type of routines. His score: 86.53.

Shoma Uno's first outing on the adults' ice-rink doesn't go as smoothly as he had planned, I'm sure. He falls on the quad Toeloop, but it doesn't affect his performance, which shows great potential and a strong will. He gets 80.78 points.

It's way too early to say this, but I'm pretty sure Denis Ten's Miss Tango is the most tragic music of the season. Unfortunately, the Kazakh is back to his strategy of under-performing in the Grand Prix competitions. He's not doing it on purpose, of course, but he does fall on the quad Toeloop and loses his balance during a spin. His score: 79.02.

As Max Aaron finishes on first place, the small victory belongs to the underdog tonight. If he manages to keep Han Yan and Konstantin Menshov at a distance, triumph might truly be his.

More coverage of the event here: http://crystalskate.blogspot.co.uk/

Comments

  1. Pee24 October 2015 at 19:52

    I really enjoyed Shoma Uno's SP, and his FS is even better. I will look to see him on the podium along with the new-and-improved Max Aaron.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous24 October 2015 at 23:42

    It was plain bizarre. That's all what I have to say. 3 missed spins in the men's event??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Daiana Damacus24 October 2015 at 23:43

      Yeah, it was quite a shaky start of the season.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous24 October 2015 at 23:44

    Happy Grand Prix Season everyone.

    ReplyDelete

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