Skate Canada International 2018 - Men Final

Skate Canada International 2018 - Men Final - Doing Your Best

October 27, 2018

Determined to win - Japan's Shoma Uno

The men's short programme left us all in awe. The host's Keegan Messing defeated Japan's super star, Shoma Uno, who is exactly 0.01 points ahead of South Korea's newbie, Junhwan Cha. Hold onto your hats. This final is by no means already settled.

Jason Brown is first to skate with a medley from Simon and Garfunkel. He still doesn't land a quad, as he doubles out of the Salchow. I have to say, and this is just personal opinion, I don't feel his new programmes are as spectacular as some of his old routines. Score: 158.51 -> 234.97.

Kevin Aymoz's expression stays the same throughout the routine, but it's a testament of his fabulous presentation skills. Very expansive, open movements and lots of displays of flexibility. Making no mistakes sure helps. Score: 151.26 -> 230.09.

Roman Sadosky steps out of the 4Toeloop and 3Toeloop, falls on the 3Axel and double-foots the 2Axel. Some of his spin positions are not as tight as some other skaters', but then others are really good. It could just be a matter of focus. Score: 142.88 -> 210.60.

Nam Nguyen hasn't skated so well in quite some time. He makes no mistakes and charms everyone with his interpretation of La La Land. He truly deserves the standing ovation he gets. You know he's committed when he actually looks up 'at the stars' while Ryan Gosling sings about the 'city of stars' during the step sequence. Score: 158.72 -> 240.94.

Kazuki Tomono's performance gets a bit better after the quads, and their consecutive falls, are out of the way. He also falls on the 3Axel, but he really does so well not to let his mistakes affect him and keep an Irish-like smile on his face all the time. Score: 139.20 -> 220.83.

Brendan Kerry finishes behind his music, after stepping out of the 4Toeloop, singling out of the 3Loop, doubling out of the 3Lutz and falling on the 3Axel. Said music is the soundtrack of Grease. Score: 139.09 -> 220.08.

Sweden's Alexander Majorov made an impression with his costume

Alexander Majorov's costume is full of surprises - first of all, his shirt is an optical illusion, then his tie changes after his sit spin 😲. It's all part of the comical act. Unfortunately, the technical lets him down; he steps out of the 3Axel, doubles out of the 3Lutz then Toeloop, and singles out of the 2Toeloop. Score: 135.66 -> 220.30.

The moment The Greatest Showman comes to the ice is here. It belongs to Alexander Samarin. I bet this music pumps you up as a skater because it's getting even me really energised. He has a hand down on the 4Lutz, but he lands it alright, then falls on the 4Toeloop and doubles out of the 3Salchow. Watch his spins - there's always a little detail that makes them just a little bit different. Score: 160.72 -> 248.78.

Daniel Samohin cannot repeat his great performance from yesterday. He falls twice, on the 4Salchow and 3Loop, doubles out of the 4Toeloop and I think double-foots the 3Axel. Artistically, this routine has potential, even though some might question all the arm-flying happening in the step sequence. Score: 140.99 -> 225.89.

Do you know that super intense part of the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack - the one that makes it sound like the end of the world is upon us? Junhwan Cha used it for the first jump-packed section of the programme - I have never been more nervous for a skater 😅. That being said, great cut of the music! The only mistake is falling on the 4Toeloop. Score: 165.91 -> 254.77.

That moment when you're annoyed the arena isn't standing up to cheer Shoma Uno, but then realise you can't see them standing up because they've been up all along. Anyway, he lands four beautiful quads, then falls on the 3Flip and 3Toeloop, which shows you how much these elements take out of you. Score: 188.38 -> 277.25.

Keegan Messing knows he can't win the gold anymore, but that doesn't take anything away from his performance. He does a great job as Charlie Chaplin; you can almost see the invisible props he uses - the cane, the hat, all of it. He triples out of the 4Lutz and falls on the 4Toeloop. Score: 170.12 -> 265.17.

Wow, this final really didn't disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat several times throughout, which says a lot about the quality of the skaters in Lanval. Shoma Uno wins back his gold medal, but Keegan Messing is in no way the loser as he takes the silver medal. Finally, a big congrats to Junhwan Cha, who was the revelation of the event.

Quote of the competition: