To Quad Or Not To Quad, Part 2

NBC hasn't broadcast the men's long yet, although from tweets it appears Jeremy Abbott is already skating as I type.

Also as I type the quad hype continues. Since Tuesday the media has created an epic storyline of Plushenko's athleticism vs. Evan Lysacek's artistry. Evan Lysacek as an artist? That's another debate. Plushy is still lambasting those without a quad while commentators like Paul Wylie are quick to point out the difference in Evgeny's and Evan's component scores.

I thought the most interesting voice in the dialogue is Tom Zakrajsek's on his blog. Zakrajsek is coaching in his first Olympics with Rachel Flatt and has a few skaters practicing and completing quads. He seems to share the thoughts that skating is moving backward with fewer people attempting quads,

"Last I checked the Olympic motto was faster, higher, stronger....not risk-freeer, safer, lesser. When you add the suffix "er" to a word it means "more." If a man wins the Olympic figure skating title without a quad will our sport be advancing in the spirit of the Olympics?"

 Now, Zakrajsek is NOT slamming those who did not attempt a quad. He's a brilliant coach and is advancing the sport with his leadership and professionalism alone. He is merely expressing his opinion on the difficulty of completing a quad and how it could be rewarded in the judging.

However, it made me think the real tragedy in the quad debate is that few men seem to be seriously practicing the quad throughout the season. With so much risk to be penalized in the quad attempt and more opportunities to earn points on other components, I think we're seeing fewer quads due to a lack of focusing on them. It takes some pain to get a consistent quad and then it takes additional energy to complete one during the 4:30 min free skate.

Evan has faced injuries from training the quad and did not attempt one in competition until January. He said all season long he was building to put one in during the Olympics. However, as he laid out solid performances on the Grand Prix circuit, he didn't get the practice in of attempting a quad under pressure. I don't think he's mentally prepared for throwing down a quad much less physically prepared.

Evgeny, on the other hand, consistently practices quads and has put them in his programs in the few competitions he's entered this season. After three years away to come out with the quad took some serious blood and sweat that allows him to be mentally ready for the demands of completing a quadruple jump in competition. I expect to see it tonight and if he wins, I'm confident the rest of the field will take the time to practice a quad to get it competition ready and then start breaking them out next season.

Vancouver Men's Short

I'm so not going to be able to sleep tonight and tomorrow's my day to get up early and skate. What a night of skating. The hype for the men's event was worth it.

The broadcast started with fluff on Evgeny Plushenko interviewing him while driving through St. Petersburg with shots of old Lenin statues throughout. He said he bought a fast car just to have some risk in his life and now he wants to be like Dick Button y winning back to back gold. I would love to see Evgeny Plushenko live into his 80s as a commentator as well. Plushenko is a bit of a modern day Muhammad Ali with his smack-talk.

Plushenko looked a bit nervous and stiff tonight. He hit the quad-combo, triple Axel and triple Lutz. I've seen stronger landings from him before, but what cajones land those three jumps at the Olympics after being retired for 3 years! 90.85 points put him into the lead and he held on the rest of the night.

Daisuke Takahashi WOW! Triple flip + Triple toe, triple Axel, triple Lutz. Fantastic footwork to tango rhythms. 90.25

Stephane Lambiel has always had difficulty with triple Axels, so he only planned a double. He's generally solid with his quad, but he stepped out in the combination. The footwork and spins were classic Lambiel. Always impressed with how centered his spins are. 84.63

Nobunari Oda skated and I didn't find anything really memorable about it. I like his long better, this was very business-like and earned a solid 84.85. I did get a slight sense he was imitating Lysacek with big arm movements and leg extensions. Lysacek does those moves because he's tall and they didn't fit the compact Oda.

Brian Joubert came out with an opportunity as Lambiel missed the quad and Takahashi didn't do one. Oooh, he steps out! Swivels hips. Triple Axel easy! Triple Lutz... he's down. He went through the motions the rest of the skate. He picked up the energy a bit in the straight line sequence realizing he would need to earn some points... he earning all of 68 points. He put so much pressure on himself to do well at the Olympics, awful to watch his dream fade away.

Takahiko Kozuka makes it 3 for 3 for Japan. They make skating at the Olympics look easy. 79.59

Patrick Chan stepped to plate next to the roar of the Canadian crowd. He stepped out of his triple Axel but then executed a triple combo and triple Lutz. Sweet to see a circular footwork sequence go in the opposite (clockwise) direction, then a weird step on the straight line sequence where he nearly tripped. Finally, he ended the program after the music so it ran 2:51. One point time deduction and earns 81.12.

Johnny Weir skated to I Love You, I Hate You but the audience was all about the love. He earned much love from the crowd with triple Lutz + triple toe, triple Axel, triple flip. Playful program after the jumps were through. They played Lady Gaga's Poker Face while he sat in the Kiss'n'Cry, but then seemingly low scores popped up prompting boos from the crowd. He received a negative grade of execution on the flip so I'm guessing a wrong-edge takeoff was called there. 82.10

Watched the OT of the UK-Mississippi State game and missed Kevin van der Perren. I don't think I missed much other than his costume. Several tweets it would glow in the dark. 72.90

UK also took precedence over Tomas Verner. He doubled his planned quad and finished behind Joubert. 65.32

Evan Lysacek is back to the Edward Featherhands look and his program took off! Bad writing, I know, sorry. Textbook landings on his triple flip, triple Lutz + triple toe, triple Axel. Besides the jumps he commanded the ice with his deep edges and speed. Spins second best to Lambiel with speed and centering. So proud of him to be able to focus and perform while making it look natural. I thought it would be close between him and Plushenko and Lysacek might pull ahead. My mind tried to remember how many times Evan has been in the lead after the short in a major international competition, I think he does better as an underdog in the free. He'll be the best an underdog can be with 90.30 points right behind Plushenko's 90.85.

Jeremy Abbott skated next and I don't want to type about it. Crushing. Jeremy you're free sings and pigs can fly, Thursday's free skate is another day. 69.40

Good Night, try to go to bed!

Anticipation for the 2009-2010 season

With the Nebelhorn Trophy under way, here are the people and events I'm most looking forward too this season:

Who will have the most Micheal Jordan-like comeback ala coming back to play basketball for Bulls comeback after playing baseball versus coming back to play for the Wizards after a first retirement.

The 2006 Olympic men's champ, Evengy Plushenko, will be competing again after four years of touring in Russia, dabbling in Russian politics, getting divorced and married again. Will he still have the jumps, especially the quad? Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov worked with him on his programs.

Stephane Lambiel, the silver medalist in 2006, is also coming back. He is coming out of his 2nd retirement since the last Olympics. Plushy's last competition was the Olympics. Lambiel followed his silver by winning the world title after the games. He was entered in a few Grand Prix events the following season. Mid-season he said his heart wasn't in it anymore and retired. He found some passion later and ended up with a couple more medals at worlds, but no titles. Last year, he retired after some injuries were not healing as quickly as he would of liked. His biggest obstacle comes this week in working to gain Switzerland a spot for a man in the Olympic competition at the Nebelhorn. If he assists in earning that spot, I'll be interested to see if he keeps his interest in competing.

Sasha Cohen, the ladies silver medalist in 2006, has decided to return to competition as well after attempting an acting career in between touring with Stars on Ice. Looking forward to seeing the spins and spirals she's known for in competitive programs. I hope see found some consistency and focus through having to perform almost nightly on tour for stretches at a time.

Isabel Delobel and her partner Olivier Schoenfelder will have a comeback of sorts. Isabel is due to deliver her first child soon. This working mom will be a skater, I love it!

Beyond comebacks I'm looking forward too:

Watching and comparing the seasons of Belbin & Agosto and Davis & White before the US Nationals. Then seeing the battle for first at Nationals. I have a feeling Davis & White could overtake Belbin & Agosto this year in a head to head match up.

Johnny Weir's programs choreographed by David Wilson.

The ladies competition at Nationals with two spots to the O's and worlds.

Seeing how skaters who changed coaches in the off season fare:

Mirai Nagasu and Carolina Kostner to Frank Carroll, should give them some confidence and better preparation.

Jeremy Abbott with Yuka Sato after parting with his coach of many years, Tom Zakarasjc.

Caroline Zhang after swtiching coaches and then going back.

Brian Joubert made a change over the summer in his quest for Olympic gold and gaining 2nd last year at worlds.

Finally, I'll be interested to see the continuing saga/answer of that burning question, "to quad or not to quad?" Particulary in the case of Brian Joubert.