2024 Grand Prix Final - Men SP: “While My Quadster Gently Weeps”

[genevieve]

So happy that Shaidorov was able to compete here!

Gutted for the falls from Kevin, Sato and (especially) Kagiyama

Ilia's costume is such an improvement to the airbrushed hoodie I also appreciate his nod to this season's Bingo games with the tiny cutout.

What I honestly do not get, are Ilia's PCS. Others more knowledgeable about SS can weigh in on that, but his presentation skill to me are comparable to Shaidorov - quite good, but nothing like Kagiyama or even Sato.

I laughed at Mark and Ted's snark about the NA audiences being a bit .... older. OTOH, the gushing about Ilia's youth and game changing artistry were so OTT it felt like they were told they had to make a case for how Ilia will bring young people to skating fandom in droves. OK, sure.

Also, Ilia isn't 16. He's 20. He's less than a year younger than the next youngest competitor at GPF. They talk about him like he's still the wonderkid jumping bean.

Was that SP for Grassl new? I thought I had seen his SP on the GP but I don't remember this. The lyrics are a bit cringe but he clearly connects to the music. I want to dislike him more than I do after the whole last season.

 

[Rukia]

Was that SP for Grassl new? I thought I had seen his SP on the GP but I don't remember this. The lyrics are a bit cringe but he clearly connects to the music. I want to dislike him more than I do after the whole last season.

It was new. The music was written just for him according to Mark.

 

[Private Citizen]

What I honestly do not get, are Ilia's PCS. Others more knowledgeable about SS can weigh in on that, but his presentation skill to me are comparable to Shaidorov - quite good, but nothing like Kagiyama or even Sato.

Malinin has better basics than Shaidorov, who was slower and scratchier in person, and also much better constructed programs.

Sato is a fluid skater, but tends to skate small and with zero expression.

Kagiyama deserves better marks for skating skills, but he has succumbed to the typical jump-jump-jump choreography without a whole lot in between. I'm not a huge fan of either program this year. I'd have given Malinin the highest PCS in the short program (though not the highest SS).

 

[Karen-W]

Malinin has better basics than Shaidorov, who was slower and scratchier in person, and also much better constructed programs.

Sato is a fluid skater, but tends to skate small and with zero expression.

Kagiyama deserves better marks for skating skills, but he has succumbed to the typical jump-jump-jump choreography without a whole lot in between. I'm not a huge fan of either program this year. I'd have given Malinin the highest PCS in the short program (though not the highest SS).

But, but, but... I thought Skating Skills were the ONLY thing that matters for PCS... At least, that seems to be the narrative driving every PCS conversation in recent years.

 

[genevieve]

Malinin has better basics than Shaidorov, who was slower and scratchier in person, and also much better constructed programs.

Sato is a fluid skater, but tends to skate small and with zero expression.

Kagiyama deserves better marks for skating skills, but he has succumbed to the typical jump-jump-jump choreography without a whole lot in between. I'm not a huge fan of either program this year. I'd have given Malinin the highest PCS in the short program (though not the highest SS).

Thanks for the response.

I watched the FS with these things in mind.