Europeans 2017 - Almost Europeans 2016 2.0 (Men's FS)
The men's final promises to be a repeat performance of last season's Europeans if we're to judge it merely by the top three men after the short programme - the same top three men as in Bratislava. Will Javier Fernandez, Maxim Kovtun and Alexei Bychenko all manage to keep their medals from last season?
I'll start with Moris Kvitelashvili, who has three quads in his routine, but steps out of the Toeloop one. He also steps out of the Loop, and struggles to match his transitions to the pace of the music. That being said, he's got an amazing jumping technique. His score: 161.35. Overall: 238.20.
I always look forward to Chafik Besseghier's routines because he's able to express a wide range of genres. It's epic music today and no mistakes, although he has to save a couple of jumps. Some of his spins are not that great - a bit of travelling, a bit of bent knee. He gets 151.40 points. Overall: 227.59.
Paul Fentz has quite a bit to be proud of. He steps out of both quad Toeloops, but otherwise displays a strong skating style. He looks a bit clumsy when he attempts some graceful transitions; I much more prefer his somewhat aggressive arm movements during the step sequence. His score: 153.17. Overall: 225.85.
The crowd tries to get behind their best man, Michal Brezina, but it doesn't seem to help. He puts a hand down on the quad Salchow, steps out of both triple Axels, falls on the triple Flip and triple Salchow, and finally doubles out of the last two triples. He gets 136.91 points. Overall: 215.52.
I finally get to see Alexander Samarin, and I can tell his results at Russian Nationals were likely due to Kovtun's errors. He falls on the triple Axel and puts a hand down on the quad Toeloop. The focus of the choreography seems to be following the elongated words of Maybe I, Maybe You, but there's not much more than that. His score: 153.61. Overall: 230.87.
Alexander Majorov goes from one extreme to the other with his costumes most of the times - he either does too much or too little. His James Bond/Peter Gunn costume is of the latter variety. He doubles out of the quad Toeloop, singles out of the triple Flip, steps out of the triple Axel and puts a hand down on the double Loop. He gets 139.11 points. Overall: 217.98.
Deniss Vasiljevs has an elegant way of presenting his jumps right before going into them. He also has a fabulous last spin with at least three original positions and a super low transition. The only mistake is singling out of the triple Axel. His score: 155.33. Overall: 235.20.
I think Mikhail Kolyada's trademark style is circus music; that's how I can best define it. It goes well with the Charlie Chaplin-esque footwork from the step sequence. That's why his presentation always makes me smile. Unfortunately, his mistakes don't - he falls on the quad Lutz, steps out of the quad Toeloop and singles out of the triple Axel. He gets 166.22 points. Overall: 250.18.
Jorik Hendrickx keeps a sombre, almsot heroic attitude throughout his epic programme, set against Gods and Demons and Voca Me. His only error is over-rotating the triple Axel. Love how his triple Salchow is almost like an entrance into his first spin. His score: 160.06. Overall: 242.56.
Javier Fernandez has more mistakes than usually - he over-rotates the quad Toeloop, actually falls on the Salchow, also over-rotates the triple Axel and puts a hand down on the triple Loop. Presentation-wise, he puts on a very Elvis Presley, almost arrogant charm. He gets 190.59 points. Overall: 294.84.
Maxim Kovtun's transitions are detailed; love how he uses gestures to emphasize the spoken words during the speech part of his music. Unfortunately, he doubles out of the triple Lutz. The song he skates to is Iron Sky by Paolo Nutini. His score: 172.27. Overall: 266.80.
Alexei Bychenko's artistry is nowhere as sophisticated as that of his rivals. He also doubles out of the triple Toeloop, puts a hand down on the quad Toeloop, over-rotates the triple Axel and tops it all off with a fall. This will cost him his medal. He gets 152.56 points. Overall: 239.24.
So, is this Europeans 2016 2.0? I'm afraid not. Javier Fernandez does manage to win and join the short list of European champions to win the title five times, and Maxim Kovtun gets the silver medal, but the third place is occupied by Mikhail Kolyada. Congratulations to all of them.
I'll start with Moris Kvitelashvili, who has three quads in his routine, but steps out of the Toeloop one. He also steps out of the Loop, and struggles to match his transitions to the pace of the music. That being said, he's got an amazing jumping technique. His score: 161.35. Overall: 238.20.
I always look forward to Chafik Besseghier's routines because he's able to express a wide range of genres. It's epic music today and no mistakes, although he has to save a couple of jumps. Some of his spins are not that great - a bit of travelling, a bit of bent knee. He gets 151.40 points. Overall: 227.59.
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| The host's Michal Brezina doesn't manage to reach expectations |
The crowd tries to get behind their best man, Michal Brezina, but it doesn't seem to help. He puts a hand down on the quad Salchow, steps out of both triple Axels, falls on the triple Flip and triple Salchow, and finally doubles out of the last two triples. He gets 136.91 points. Overall: 215.52.
I finally get to see Alexander Samarin, and I can tell his results at Russian Nationals were likely due to Kovtun's errors. He falls on the triple Axel and puts a hand down on the quad Toeloop. The focus of the choreography seems to be following the elongated words of Maybe I, Maybe You, but there's not much more than that. His score: 153.61. Overall: 230.87.
Alexander Majorov goes from one extreme to the other with his costumes most of the times - he either does too much or too little. His James Bond/Peter Gunn costume is of the latter variety. He doubles out of the quad Toeloop, singles out of the triple Flip, steps out of the triple Axel and puts a hand down on the double Loop. He gets 139.11 points. Overall: 217.98.
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| Mikhail Kolyada barely manages to get on the podium |
I think Mikhail Kolyada's trademark style is circus music; that's how I can best define it. It goes well with the Charlie Chaplin-esque footwork from the step sequence. That's why his presentation always makes me smile. Unfortunately, his mistakes don't - he falls on the quad Lutz, steps out of the quad Toeloop and singles out of the triple Axel. He gets 166.22 points. Overall: 250.18.
Jorik Hendrickx keeps a sombre, almsot heroic attitude throughout his epic programme, set against Gods and Demons and Voca Me. His only error is over-rotating the triple Axel. Love how his triple Salchow is almost like an entrance into his first spin. His score: 160.06. Overall: 242.56.
Javier Fernandez has more mistakes than usually - he over-rotates the quad Toeloop, actually falls on the Salchow, also over-rotates the triple Axel and puts a hand down on the triple Loop. Presentation-wise, he puts on a very Elvis Presley, almost arrogant charm. He gets 190.59 points. Overall: 294.84.
Maxim Kovtun's transitions are detailed; love how he uses gestures to emphasize the spoken words during the speech part of his music. Unfortunately, he doubles out of the triple Lutz. The song he skates to is Iron Sky by Paolo Nutini. His score: 172.27. Overall: 266.80.
Alexei Bychenko's artistry is nowhere as sophisticated as that of his rivals. He also doubles out of the triple Toeloop, puts a hand down on the quad Toeloop, over-rotates the triple Axel and tops it all off with a fall. This will cost him his medal. He gets 152.56 points. Overall: 239.24.
So, is this Europeans 2016 2.0? I'm afraid not. Javier Fernandez does manage to win and join the short list of European champions to win the title five times, and Maxim Kovtun gets the silver medal, but the third place is occupied by Mikhail Kolyada. Congratulations to all of them.
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