The Essential 15: 2013 Four Continents Championships

Han Yan CHNFour Continents short program (2nd SP, 5th FS, bronze overall)WATCH: Han Yan short programIt was quite a debut.  For me, World junior champion Han Yan was the one who stole the show in the men's short program.  It was his first major senior international event, and he didn't look intimidated at all.  The confidence was there and so were the gorgeous, effortless jumps. Mao Asada JPNFour Continents short program (1st SP, 1st FS, gold overall)WATCH: Mao Asada short programShe owned this competition.  What has been great to see the past few years has been the light and airy Mao Asada who seemed to have disappeared during a few seasons of ponderous, heavy music.What was also back?  The triple axel.  She hasn't attempted it all season, and this short program was the first time she had gone for it in competition.  And it was clean.  Looking ahead to the World Championships, the reemergence of her triple axel really helps her chances at winning a third World title.Kevin Reynolds CANFour Continents free skate (6th SP, 1st FS, gold overall)WATCH: Reynolds free skateThree clean quads, yup!  Canadian silver medalist Kevin Reynolds had the competition of his career, winning the surprise gold ahead of some great skaters.  His improvements in musicality and artistry were certainly on display.  Enjoy.View the list »
Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN), Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA), Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) at the 2013 Four Continents Championships

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The 2013 Four Continents Championships last weekend provided a glimpse into what the competition will be like at the World Championships next month. Combine Four Continents with the European Championships last month, and you get a pretty solid picture of the competitors at Worlds, though a few names of note - in particular, Patrick Chan, Yuna Kim, and Ashley Wagner - decided to train and prepare for Worlds instead.

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Related: The Essential 15: Europeans

Other names of note - Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat, Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje, and Caydee Denney/John Coughlin - were sidelined with injury but are expected to be at Worlds. Neverthless, the competition at both events was very strong, with some surprise results.

In a final look at Four Continents, let's revisit The Essential 15 (in no particular order) from the competition.

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  • Kevin Reynolds CANFour Continents free skate (6th SP, 1st FS, gold overall)WATCH: Reynolds free skateThree clean quads, yup!  Canadian silver medalist Kevin Reynolds had the competition of his career, winning the surprise gold ahead of some great skaters.  His improvements in musicality and artistry were certainly on display.  Enjoy.
  • Mao Asada JPNFour Continents short program (1st SP, 1st FS, gold overall)WATCH: Mao Asada short programShe owned this competition.  What has been great to see the past few years has been the light and airy Mao Asada who seemed to have disappeared during a few seasons of ponderous, heavy music.What was also back?  The triple axel.  She hasn't attempted it all season, and this short program was the first time she had gone for it in competition.  And it was clean.  Looking ahead to the World Championships, the reemergence of her triple axel really helps her chances at winning a third World title.
  • Han Yan CHNFour Continents short program (2nd SP, 5th FS, bronze overall)WATCH: Han Yan short programIt was quite a debut.  For me, World junior champion Han Yan was the one who stole the show in the men's short program.  It was his first major senior international event, and he didn't look intimidated at all.  The confidence was there and so were the gorgeous, effortless jumps. 
  • Zijun Li CHNFour Continents free skate (10th SP, 4st FS, 5th overall)WATCH: Zijun Li free skateThree-time Chinese champion Zijun Li is a skater to keep your eye on.  Why?  She is the first skater China has had on the ladies' side who has both the technical content and the artistic ability to challenge for the top since the great Chen Lu.  In the 90s, Lu was the first breakthrough skater for China, but it took over a decade since her retirement for another skater like her to come along.
  • Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford CANFour Continents short program (1st SP, 2nd FS, gold overall)WATCH: Duhamel/Radford short programTheir rise continues.  Having just won their second Canadian title last month, Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford conquered their short program at Four Continents, joining a very exclusive club of pairs who have broke 70 points in the short program.
  • Meryl Davis/Charlie White USAFour Continents free dance (2nd SD, 1st FD, gold overall)WATCH: Davis/White free danceDavis/White roared back after finishing second in the short dance with this passionate free dance to win the gold.  It's really a piece of work.
  • Max Aaron USAFour Continents free skate (10th SP, 2nd FS, 4th overall)WATCH: Aaron free skateFrom tenth to fourth, U.S. champion Max Aaron once again had quite a free skate to make a free skate comeback.  Two clean quad salchows allowed him to take advantage of mistakes from the top guys to finish second in the free skate and fourth overall in his first major international competition.
  • Madison Chock/Evan Bates USAFour Continents short dance (3rd SD, 5th FD, bronze overall)WATCH: Chock/Bates short danceNew U.S. silver medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates certainly have momentum heading into Worlds.  Not only did they defeat Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani at Nationals to take the silver, but they did it again at Four Continents, bolstered by the strength of this whimsical short dance.
  • Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch CANFour Continents free skate (2nd SP, 1st FS, silver overall)WATCH: Moore-Towers/Moscovitch free skateCanadian silver medalists Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch are really coming on strong in the second half of this season.  They were a clean throw loop away from the title, but nevertheless, this is a tremendous free skate. 
  • Daisuke Takahashi JPNFour Continents short program (4th SP, 8th FS, 7th overall)WATCH: Takahashi short programIt wasn't so much about the performance, as Four Continents was a competition that Daisuke Takahashi would rather forget.  What was significant, however, was his late-season short program switch.  After skating to an upbeat piece for the entire season, Takahashi has opted for Moonlight Sonata to close out his season.
  • Christina Gao USAFour Continents free skate (4th SP, 5th FS, 4th overall)WATCH: Gao free skateThe highest finishing American in the ladies' competition, Christina Gao has looked very strong this season.  She has had this free skate for two seasons now, and she certainly has grown more comfortable with the musicality of it this season.
  • Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir CANFour Continents short dance (1st SD, 2nd FD, silver overall)WATCH: Virtue/Moir short danceVintage Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir was on display here in their Four Continents short dance.  They have certainly gotten more and more comfortable with the polka rhythm this season.  They were precise and intricate in this performance, which helped them edge out rivals Meryl Davis/Charlie White by just under half a point.
  • Felicia Zhang/Nathan Bartholomay USAFour Continents free skate (4th SP, 4th FS, 4th overall)WATCH: Zhang/Bartholomay free skateThe unheralded pair from the U.S., Felicia Zhang/Nathan Bartholomay did themselves very well in their first big international event.  After all, their only other international appearance was at U.S. Classic earlier this season.  
  • Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier CANFour Continents free dance (5th SD, 3rd FD, 5th overall)WATCH: Gilles/Poirier free danceForgive me for the short dance picture, but that's all I've got.  Canadian silver medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier almost made a comeback of their own after recording the third-best free dance score of the competition.  The deficit was too big to make up, but this program is one to watch.
  • Akiko Suzuki JPNFour Continents short program (2nd SP, 2nd FS, silver overall)WATCH: Suzuki short programAfter a disappointing fourth at the Japan Championships, Akiko Suzuki came back and showed her resilience with a clean short program.  If you haven't seen this program already, you'll certainly be surprised at the risks she has taken in music and style with this program.
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, Figure Skating Examiner

Jackie Wong covers all things figure skating and provides the latest results and analysis throughout the season, with plenty of live coverage and commentary all season! He is a former U.S. Figure Skating judge. Contact Jackie with your comments and questions.

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