Jan. 10
Senior Men Free Program
On this afternoon, I was assigned to the middle of the row and not the ends, where I had been previously at other events throughout the week. I was eager to be at the men's free program and into cheering for each guy as it would be my last taste of the Nationals week. I was glued to my seat the whole afternoon. Then, I discovered my enthusiasm might have irritated some people sitting to one side of me when I asked if I could go out that direction (to get closer to the location of the medal podium) after the competition had ended. I had to go out on the other side when my request was verbally denied, and they stood there and talked to friends. And, so the rudeness goes on at each skating competition.
The notes are not indicative of all the moves in each program.
Michael Villarreal
triple flip-double jump combination
single axel
triple lutz
camel to sit change foot sit to scratch spin
double salchow
sit spin
double jump
camel spin - to inside edge camel
double loop
triple flip
final spin
He could improve his posturing by holding his shoulders lower and not so tight.
3.6 - 3.8
Mauro Bruni
triple lutz-double jump
double salchow-double jump
triple loop
camel spin
camel spin
spiral
fell on triple lutz - lean in the air
camel to sit to crossed foot sit spin
straight line footwork - had some flair
triple jump
split jumps
double axel
double flip
He had nice, fluid arm movements in his skating.
3.9 - 4.5
Jordan Wilson
triple axel-double jump combination
triple flip - stepped out of the landing
triple lutz - hung on to the landing
spread eagle - formed a big circle, changed edge during the eagle
camel to sit change foot sit spin - smooth exit
soft part of the choreography included a lunge
triple loop
flying sit spin - his position could be lower
triple axel
ina bauer
triple flip
sit spin
straight line footwork - could have more variation
triple loop - two footed landing
He seemed to enjoy jumping and had an energetic way of entering the jumps.
3.7 - 4.6
Daniel Lee
selections by Rachmaninov - included Concerto No. 2 and All By Myself instrumental
double axel
double lutz
triple lutz
sit spin
spread eagle
fell on loop jump
spread eagle
camel to inside edge camel spin
double lutz
triple salchow
fell on a jump - right in front of the judges' section
circular footwork - faster than the previous skaters
sit spin
triple salchow-double jump combination
straight line footwork - he fell after a trip in the middle of the sequence
combination spin
He bowed first to the side opposite the judges and then the judges' side.
3.7 - 4.3
Benjamin Miller
He took quite a bit of time to settle into his starting pose.
clown music
fell on the first jump
triple flip-triple jump combination
sit spin
fell on lutz jump
camel change foot camel spin - done with his hands behind his back
straight line footwork
triple loop
fall
sit spin
ina bauer
spread eagle
camel to sit to pancake to scratch spin
Most of his falls were from landing with his legs crossed instead of with an extended free leg.
3.5 - 4.0
It was announced over the sound system: 'Ladies and gentleman. We regret to inform you that Parker Pennington and Timothy Goebel have withdrawn from the competition.'
Rohene Ward
skated to Glory movie soundtrack
triple axel
fell on quad jump
camel spin
fell on triple axel
double salchow
double lutz- triple jump combination
ina bauer and moves in the field
camel to layback to sit spin - are there other men doing laybacks?
double loop
combination spin
spiral
camel to sit to scratch spin
I admire his individuality and style. He had nice back extension, especially on the layback spins and spirals. He looked dissatisfied as the cameras panned close ups of him waiting for his marks in Kiss & Cry. Oh my! What a gorgeous guy!
3.6 - 4.6
Dennis Phan
triple lutz
triple axel - stepped out of the landing
triple flip
camel to sit spin
triple loop-triple jump - stepped out of the landing on the second jump
double lutz - touched a hand down on the landing
camel to sit to camel to sit spin
triple flip
camel spin
triple jump
spread eagle, steps into another spread eagle
split jumps - nice and high
triple jump
4.3 - 4.8
Nicholas LaRoche
triple-triple jump combination
triple loop
fell on triple
triple jump
combination spin
split jumps
combination spin
jump in the corner
low to the ice shoot the duck move
His jump rotations were very fast.
4.3 - 4.9
Justin Dillon
twisted layback spin - interesting positions with a sideways lean
triple lutz-triple jump combination
triple jump
combination spin
triple jump
camel spin - intense facial expressions, in front of the judges' row
double jump
triple lutz - touched a hand down on the landing
split jumps - high, drew some ah's from the audience
triple jump
He showed energetic facial expression throughout. He was happy and pumping his fists at the end of the program.
4.2 - 5.0
Matthew Lind
tango music
triple lutz-triple jump
triple axel - two footed landing
triple lutz to two half loops to a triple jump
camel spin
triple loop - swung around on the landing
hip swaying and leg kicks
triple lutz - swung around on the landing
triple salchow
sit spin - done with curved arms
ina bauer
spread eagle to besti squat to spread eagle
He displayed a mixed reaction to his skating at the end of the program. He put his hand over his face then gave slight fist pumps. In Kiss & Cry, he held up a rubber chicken he had received and made a face like a chicken to entertain.
4.1 - 4.9
Braden Overett
triple axel -double jump combination
triple jump
camel to sit to scratch spin
triple jump
triple axel - two footed landing
jump
camel to sit change foot sit spin
flying sit spin
circular footwork - fast
split jumps into a jump
sit spin
jump
double jump
spread eagle - nice, powerful arm movements
spin
He pumped his fist at the end of the performance and received big applause.
4.9 - 5.3
Scott Smith
triple axel-triple jump combination
popped flip jump
triple salchow - touched a hand down on the landing
combination spin
double lutz
dancing into the straight line footwork
triple loop
camel spin
triple axel - touched a hand down on the landing
ina bauer
triple
flying sit spin
spread eagle that wove in and out into a jump
combination spin
4.3 - 5.2
Derrick Delmore
techno music, sounds like some James Bond
triple flip
triple loop-triple jump combination
camel spin
slow part of the music
triple axel - he barely stuck a one foot landing
camel spin with upturned positions
triple lutz
double axel
straight line footwork - good variety of turns
combination spin
triple jump
triple loop
triple-double jump combination
He pumped his fist after the performance. He waved a teddy bear he had received in Kiss & Cry.
4.5 - 5.3
Jordan Brauninger
whistling, military music
triple lutz-triple jump combination
triple loop
fell on triple axel
sit spin
triple loop
combination spin
music became noticeably louder
circular footwork - staccato and brisk
camel spin
triple jump
triple lutz-double jump combination
split jumps
combination spin that included sit and scratch positions
4.3 - 5.3
It was announced that the final group would be on the live television broadcast. In the warm up group, Johnny Weir hit all of his jumps and jumping passes. Michael Weiss did not attempt very many jumps. I didn't see Matthew Savoie try many jumps on the warm up. Ryan Bradley fell a few times on the jumps.
Evan Lysacek
Rachmaninov Concerto No. 2
fell on triple axel
triple axel
triple loop
camel spin - done with hands behind his back
choreography turns
triple lutz-triple jump combination
sit change foot sit spin
camel to sit to camel to pancake spin (pancake with arms dangling down)
triple jump
spread eagle into sit to eggbeater spin
triple lutz
straight line footwork - high leg kicks and turns
5.3 - 5.7
Matthew Savoie
combination spin
triple axel - swung around the landing
triple jump
straight line footwork - audience clapped to the beat of the music
triple jump
sit spin
slow part to Chopin's Prelude in A Major
spiral - nice forward lean
spread eagle
triple axel - stepped out of the landing
triple loop
camel spin
triple flip-triple jump combination
triple lutz
camel to sit change foot sit to cannonball sit to eggbeater to scratch spin
5.4 - 5.8
Ryan Bradley
effective farm boy clothes
single axel
triple axel - he has wild air rotations on his axels
flying sit spin
circular footwork - he really captured the country feel
double lutz-triple jump
Elvis' An American Trilogy instrumental began
spiral, lunge, backward spiral
triple loop
camel spin
triple into triple jump
lively, banjo music began
straight line footwork and back
popped lutz
triple jump
camel change foot camel to sit spin
This program provided a nice change of pace after several similarly styled previous programs. He really rallied the audience into involvement. The highlight of his performance was the fast footwork done on par with the speed and flavor of the music. Others in the area labeled him a showman and a crowd-pleaser.
5.0 - 5.6
Ryan Jahnke
triple axel - great save on the landing
triple jump
sit spin - angled
triple lutz-triple jump combination - second jump had a swung out landing
camel to sit change foot sit to crossed leg scratch spin
triple axel-double jump combination
spread eagle
triple lutz - was a tano lutz, with one hand above the head
triple jump
split jumps into triple jump
combination spin
fast footwork
double axel
final spin
He received a partial standing ovation. He made two bears that he had received kiss each other while he sat in the Kiss & Cry area.
5.3 - 5.9
Michael Weiss
Patriotic medley
triple lutz
triple jump
triple axel-triple jump combination
triple loop
camel spin - with arms in a salute position
walley into triple jump - nice save as it had a low landing
triple jump
triple lutz-double jump combination
camel to sit spin
shoot the duck into a triple jump
final spin
He received a partial standing ovation.
5.6 - 5.9
Johnny Weir
Dr. Zhivago soundtrack
triple axel-triple jump combination
triple jump
triple axel
inside edge camel spin
triple lutz-triple jump combination
sit spin
triple jump
circular dance steps
camel spin
triple loop
straight line footwork
final spin
He received a unanimous standing ovation. It was like a choir director orchestrating his choir to stand up together and on cue at the end of Johnny's performance. It was without hesitation. Johnny bent down and slapped the ice surface in excitement and joy after he had finished.
5.7 - 6.0
Is it possible to like both Weiss and Weir? Because I do. I was glad that Michael Weiss was able to come back from a not so great short program and fight in the long program like that. The concern I did have with his program layout is that it has multiple slow parts. Now, each program should have a change of tempo and almost every competitor's program has a slow part for choreographic reflection. Michael is capable of skating fast throughout most of a program. Notwithstanding, his Nationals performance was the best I had seen him skate the patriotic medley all season. And, it seems in the U.S. is the ideal place to do it. Actually, the audience was very supportive of Weiss in the loud cheering throughout the event, including both the short and long programs. As long as Weiss comes close to landing a quad and skates with the aggressiveness that he has, he can still contend with the top placements at Nationals.
It was just a joy to see Johnny Weir as he pulled it all together for both the short and long program and virtually every chance I saw him - practice sessions, warm up groups included. He has gained in focus. He was just on. I enjoy his dance posturing and stylistic skating. The ballet turns and quickness that he has in some of the footwork sequences showed qualities of few in the competition. It gave a feeling of him just floating across the ice. Also, his jumping power and capabilities became clear. He can do jump combinations with ease. He skated with a seamless quality of a complete program over an element to element program. The Dr. Zhivago piece was artistically telling as well as technically sound. The crowd was really quite into the skating and his performance. And, he looked happy and pleased.
The men's competition seemed to be the opposite of the pairs' competition. Several of the top men of the afternoon rose to the challenge and were determined skaters, so that the winner would have to be one who skated his very best. And, so, the viewing of the competition was very pleasant, and the crowd was positive.
The one concern I have surrounds the increased technical aspect of the quad. Several of the top European and Asian men have them and do them in competition, and no quads were seen at the U.S. Nationals competition this particular afternoon. On a World level, these men could do well. But, quads come into play at some point.
Medal Ceremony:
Johnny Weir entered first and bowed to center ice then took his position on the podium. Michael Weiss came out next and bowed and took the second tier on the podium. He turned to Johnny and gave him a handshake. Matthew Savoie also shook Johnny's hand after taking his rung of the podium.
Weiss' children were sitting with some relatives in the stands near the podium. They were looking very excited. His daughter called out, "I love you, Daddy!" and caught his attention.
There was the distribution of flowers, trophies and medals. After the victory lap of the four champions, Weir got caught giving hugs and signing autographs. The other three men were standing in front of what used to be the judges' section for the additional photographers as per usual. Johnny was called to come join them for photos. Johnny held up two fingers, as in he would be there in two seconds, as he tried to entertain the gathering with finishing autograph signing.
After pictures by what used to be the judges' section and more autograph signing and posing for the crowd, several men were still on the ice. An announcement was made over the loudspeaker, 'We ask all personnel to leave the ice.' It was surmised that personnel meant the cameramen and accredited staff. The announcer clarified, '...including the champions. We're sorry, but preparations must be made for the next competition.' The ladies free skate was coming up later.
Nothing will beat the Worlds experience. Just the variety of skaters and skating styles from a potpourri of countries present changes the scene. In addition, the skaters are so happy to be at the competition that is the pinnacle of the year. However, Nationals was still fun in that there were so many new young skaters, and there were performances that provide hope for the present and future in U.S. skating.
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