RSS
Home
NHK win a step in the right direction for Joubert, Weir second
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Brian Joubert (FRA) is back on track to
Vancouver with a strong effort in his win
at the NHK Trophy.
Photo: AP/Koji Sasahara
After an uneven season debut at Trophee Eric Bompard three weeks ago, 2007 World champion Brian Joubert came back with a much-needed confidence booster this week as he took the gold medal at the NHK Trophy over a talented men’s field. Similarly, 2008 World bronze medalist Johnny Weir recovered from his poor showing at Rostelecom Cup by winning the silver. But the big surprise was young Czech Michal Brezina, who had a clean skate to stand on the podium.
Though still with some mistakes, Joubert was much stronger and more at ease in his free skate this week in Nagano, showcasing his trademark quadruple toe. He fell out of his triple axel but was otherwise clean with six other triples successfully completed. His total overall score of 232.70 is the fourth best this season, behind the scores that Nobunari Oda and Evgeni Plushenko set in earlier competitions.
Determined to regain his form after his fourth place showing at Rostelecom Cup, three-time U.S. champion Weir found his triple axel again, going two for two in his free skate. His only major mistake was a slip off the edge on his triple loop attempt that turned it into a single. But it was obvious immediately after his program that he felt a sense of redemption and satisfaction, which will surely boost his confidence going into the second half of the season. He still has room for improvement, earning a 139.35 that put him in second place overall with a total score of 217.70.
World junior silver medalist Brezina was clean in his six-triple effort in the lively free skate to An American In Paris. NHK Trophy was his Grand Prix series debut, and he made the most out of his underdog status by leapfrogging over more accomplished skaters to finish with the bronze medal. He scored a 146.68 with his free skate, which is in the top ten of all free skates this season. In addition, his short program, free skate, and overall scores this week were all personal bests.
2007 World silver medalist Daisuke Takahashi was not as strong in his free skate effort as he was in his season debut at Finlandia Trophy. He had multiple mistakes on his jumping passes, including downgrades on his opening quad toe and two triple jumps. Two back-to-back jarring falls also hurt his chances for the podium, and he finished in fourth with a total score of 214.29.
After skating a strong short, U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott made a number of mistakes, including three falls, that took him off the podium in his Grand Prix debut this season. Still, he landed five clean triples, earning him a 125.45 in the free skate and a 208.45 overall. But his fifth place overall finish puts his chances at defending his Grand Prix Final title in jeopardy.
Two-time World junior champion Adam Rippon had a good free skate with a few errors After a fall on his triple axel in the short program cost him valuable points, he was successful in the first of his two attempts in the free skate. But the fall on his second attempt, along with an underrotated Tano lutz, held down his free skate score. Still, it was strong enough to pull him up from eighth to sixth overall.
Reigning Grand Prix Final silver medalist Takahiko Kozuka will not be making a return trip to the Final after a labored free skate that was marred by two falls and four underrotation downgrades on his jumps. He finished in seventh place.
MEN (final standings)
1. Brian Joubert FRA – 232.70
2. Johnny Weir USA – 217.70
3. Michal Brezina CZE – 217.48
4. Daisuke Takahashi JPN – 214.29
5. Jeremy Abbott USA – 208.45
6. Adam Rippon USA – 197.61
7. Takahiko Kozuka JPN – 186.00
8. Artem Borodulin RUS – 181.62
9. Daisuke Murakami JPN – 181.04
10. Jeremy Ten CAN – 178.87
11. Vaughn Chipeur CAN – 176.36
12. Kristoffer Berntsson SWE – 176.01
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
