2016 Trophee de France: Men & Ice Dance Preview
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As we move into the second half of the Grand Prix series, many top skaters will be competing at their second events and fighting to secure a spot at the Grand Prix Final. Here’s our preview of the men’s and ice dance fields at Trophee de France!
MEN
Headlining an exciting men’s field will be two-time World Champion and recently crowned 2016 Rostelecom Cup Champion Javier Fernandez, who looks poised to take the title here and make his way to the Grand Prix Final. Nathan Chen, the teenage American prodigy who has been sending shockwaves through the skating world with every new quad added to his arsenal, will be making his senior Grand Prix debut, while seasoned countryman Adam Rippon is also in the hunt for a medal. Takahito Mura and Denis Ten, both unpredictable skaters who could potentially win a medal if they’re on, will also hope to deliver solid performances to boost their confidence. With at least five men fighting for a spot on the podium and dark horses ready to challenge if any of them slip up, this men’s event is sure to be an unpredictable nail-biter of a competition.
JAVIER FERNANDEZ
Representing: Spain
Age: 25
ISU personal bests: SP 102.54, FS 216.41, total 314.93
Notable titles: 2016 & 2015 World Champion, 2-time World Bronze Medalist, 4-time European Champion, 2-time Grand Prix Final Silver Medalist
Programs: SP - Malaguena; FS - Elvis Presley Medley
Coming off of a strong win at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup, reigning and two-time World Champion Javier Fernandez (“Javi” to fans) looks to cement his place at the Grand Prix Final with another title here. In Moscow, Javi wowed fans with his quality quadruple jumps and charismatic free skate set to an Elvis Presley medley, proving exactly why he is the World Champion. Javi appears to be in strong shape to once again challenge for titles at major competitions throughout the season. However, with only one week between Rostelecom Cup and Trophee de France, Javi will have to push through and rely on his training to produce strong performances in Paris. As the favorite to win, all Javi needs to do is repeat his magic from Russia and skate relatively clean programs to win the gold and ultimately clinch his spot in the Grand Prix Final.
NATHAN CHEN
Representing: USA
Age: 17
ISU personal bests: SP 87.50, FS 168.94, total 256.44
Notable titles: 2015 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion, 2014 Junior World Bronze Medalist, 2013 Junior Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist, 2016 US National Bronze Medalist
Programs: SP - Le Corsaire; FS - Polovtsian Dances
Hailed as a skating prodigy ever since he was a little kid, Nathan Chen is akin to a maelstrom in the world of figure skating - his list of jaw-dropping technical accomplishments is overwhelming, and his ability to put pressure on the top skaters in the world even more so. Dominating the junior circuit in the 2015-16 season, Nathan’s past two seasons were nevertheless hindered by injuries despite his historical achievements. At the 2016 US Nationals, Nathan became the first man to land four clean quads in a free skate and was named to both the 2016 Junior World and senior World teams. However, the stress on his body from the immense technical feats he had performed (and a history of chronic injuries) resulted in Nathan injuring himself during a jump attempt in the US Nationals gala. He was forced to withdraw from the rest of his competitions that season and undergo hip surgery. Beginning his 2016-17 season at the 2016 Finlandia Trophy, Nathan shocked skating fans around the world with his senior debut performances. Attempting seven quads in total, Nathan’s jump layouts for both the short program and the free skate were the hardest layouts anyone has ever attempted. He unleashed both a quad lutz and quad flip - which, alongside his quad toeloop and quad salchow, means that Nathan has a record total of four different types of quads in his arsenal, something no one else in the world currently has. Even though he was far from clean at Finlandia, Nathan’s massive base value won him the gold medal over Patrick Chan.
Nathan is now primarily known for his technical prowess over his artistry - which has somewhat diminished with his recent focus on quads - but his complex choreography and attention to music during his junior days captivated fans, and he has solid basic skills to build on. Standing at the very forefront of a new age that requires both difficult technical content and high levels of artistry, Nathan is the poster child for what might be the future of men’s figure skating. Nathan will make his senior Grand Prix debut at Trophee de France. Should he even attempt his extremely ambitious program layouts, his base value alone could get him onto the podium - but to pose a serious threat to the status quo, and specifically, Javier Fernandez, Nathan will have to pull out everything he’s got and produce pristine performances to surprise for the title. With so many quads planned, Nathan’s chance of error is very high - which could cost him.
Nathan (popularly known as #slaythan, thanks @realdetective) is infamous among fans for his lack of chill, unpredictability, and intense competitive bloodlust. He is a proud member of sQUAD, along with fellow young quadsters Boyang Jin and Shoma Uno. Nathan did gymnastics and ballet as a child, and also plays hockey, guitar, and piano. He is currently training with his choreographer, Marina Zueva, alongside his new “brother”, 3-time World Champion Patrick Chan.
ADAM RIPPON
Representing: USA
Age: 26
ISU personal bests: SP 87.86, FS 178.72, total 264.44
Notable titles: 2016 US National Champion, 2015 US National Silver Medalist, 2010 4CC Champion
Programs: SP - Let Me Think About It; FS - O (by Coldplay)
The bronze medalist at 2016 Skate America, veteran Adam Rippon enters Trophee de France as a medal contender once again. Despite having easier technical content compared to other men in this field, his high grades of execution, strong musicality, performance ability, and general consistency is capable of garnering him solid scores. At Skate America, he captivated the audience with his unorthodox but charismatic performances, despite the disapproval of some of the judges. If he repeats the performances from his last competition here in Paris, Adam could certainly make it onto the podium - but due to his slight technical disadvantage, his placement will ultimately depend on how others skate. Facing off against domestic rival (and former training partner) Nathan Chen, Adam will want to produce solid skates to keep himself in the running for US Nationals. A silver medal at Trophee de France could give him an outside shot at qualifying for the Grand Prix Final.
DENIS TEN
Representing: Kazakhstan
Age: 23
ISU personal bests: SP 97.61, FS 191.85, total 289.46
Notable titles: 2014 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2013 World Silver Medalist, 2015 World Bronze Medalist, 2015 Four Continents Champion
Programs: SP - Romeo & Juliet (Prokofiev); FS - Tosca
One of the most highly decorated skaters in this men’s field, Denis is nevertheless not an instant favorite to win (or even medal).When he’s on, Denis’s musicality and strong technical skills can propel him onto major podiums - he most notably peaked at the 2013 Worlds and the 2014 Olympics to take surprise medals there, and his winning performances at 2015 Four Continents earned some of the highest scores recorded in men’s skating. However, he is constantly plagued by injuries and inconsistency, and even when he does perform well, it’s almost always in the second half of the season. He tends to be either amazing or a disaster, with little in between. Although he was slated to compete at the Ondrej Nepela Memorial in the early fall season, he withdrew at the last minute, and he also withdrew from his first Grand Prix event, Skate America. News about him has been scarce lately, so it’s hard to say how he might perform at Trophee de France. A good rule of thumb with Denis is to never count him out, but never rely on him either.
Denis is ethnically Korean and a national hero in his native Kazakhstan. The character of Otabek Altin from Yuri on Ice was based on him. He trains with famous coach Frank Carroll alongside US National Champion Gracie Gold, and enjoys photography.
TAKAHITO MURA
Representing: Japan
Age: 25
ISU personal bests: SP 89.08, FS 179.35, total 268.43
Notable titles: 2014 Four Continents Champion, 2-time Japanese National Bronze Medalist
Programs: SP - Flamenco Medley; FS - Piano Concerto No.2 (Rachmaninoff)
Starting his Grand Prix season at the 2016 Skate Canada, Takahito looked ready to take a medal after placing 2nd in the short program - however, an unexpected injury before the free skate resulted in a disastrous 9th-place finish in that segment, landing him in 8th place overall. It is not clear whether Takahito has fully recovered from his injury, and his physical condition, coupled with inconsistency, places a question mark above him heading into Trophee de France. Having won this event in a surprise victory in 2012, Takahito certainly has the goods to contend for the podium - his experience, big jumps, and technical skills are on par with the rest of the field, and if he has returned to top form, a medal is within his grasp. However, with the unpredictability of his current state, it’s hard to say how well Takahito will do here.
Other skaters to watch:
Misha Ge (UZB): 2016 Autumn Classic International Silver Medalist. Finished an impressive 6th at the 2015 World Championships. Placed 6th at Skate Canada this season after the most inspired free skate performance of the night. A fan favorite and engaging performer who has choreographed programs for other top skaters, most notably Anna Pogorilaya. Could surprise for high placement here depending on how others skate.
Chafik Besseghier (FRA): 2016 French National Champion. Skating at home, Chafik has the potential to place well here should he perform his best. Well known for once stripping off his shirt in the kiss n’ cry.
ICE DANCE
The spotlight this week will be on Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, the reigning two-time World Champions, who will start off their Grand Prix season at home in France and give us the first real look at their new programs. The gold medals are Papadakis and Cizeron’s to lose, but they will need strong performances here to prove they are ready to defend their World titles in a now-crowded field full of high-level contenders. Recent 2016 Skate Canada Bronze Medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier and 2016 Skate America Silver Medalists Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue will also fight for medals here in order to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. Also in the running are Elena Ilinykh/Ruslan Zhiganshin of Russia, who are looking to redeem themselves after they faltered to 5th place at Skate America. With a good number of top-level teams here, the performances in Paris will give us a preview of what’s to come later in the season.
GABRIELLA PAPADAKIS / GUILLAUME CIZERON
Representing: France
Age: 21/21
ISU personal bests: SD 76.29, FD 118.17, total 194.46
Notable titles: 2015 & 2016 World Champions, 2015 & 2016 European Champions, 2014 Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalists
Programs: SD - Bittersweet/Diga Diga Doo; FD - Stillness/Oddudua/Happiness Does Not Wait
Breaking out onto the ice dance scene two seasons ago, Gabriella and Guillaume have made a huge splash in the world of figure skating during their meteoric rise to the top. In a golden streak (only broken by their bronze medal at the 2014 Grand Prix Final), Gabriella and Guillaume won almost everything possible on the senior level during their debut in the 2014-15 season, most notably the titles of 2015 European & World Champions. Having sat out the beginning of the 2015-16 season due to Gabriella’s concussion, they rallied back at the 2016 European Championships to claim the gold there. At the 2016 World Championships, Gabriella and Guillaume skated two crowd-rousing performances, setting a world record score in the free program and a personal best overall score to repeat their World title. Gabriella and Guillaume are known for their fluid movement across the ice, as well as their spellbinding, modern programs. Guillaume, in particular, is known for his excellent skating skills, as well as his flexibility and fashion sense (having designed some of the team’s costumes). They kicked off their season at the domestic French Masters competition, easily winning the gold medal - however, limited coverage of the event meant that fans have yet to see their programs in whole. Beginning their Grand Prix season at home, Gabriella and Guillaume will have to match their strong artistry with relatively solid technical skills to win the title. Although the gold is theirs to lose, Gabriella and Guillaume will want good performances here to set them up for the rest of the season in a deep ice dance field, especially as they try to win the Grand Prix Final, the only major non-Olympic title still missing from their collection. With the battle against high-level teams such as 2010 Olympic Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir looming ahead of them, Trophee de France will serve as a stepping point for Gabriella and Guillaume as they move forwards into the new season.
PIPER GILLES / PAUL POIRIER
Representing: Canada
Age: 24/24
ISU personal bests: SD 72.12, FD 110.45, total 182.57
Notable titles: 2014 Four Continents Silver Medalists, 4-time Canadian National Medalists
Programs: SD - Oh What a Night for Dancing/Disco Inferno; FD - Con Buena Onda
At Skate Canada, Piper and Paul gave strong performances to set personal best scores in the short dance, free dance, and combined total score, winning the bronze medal in a crowded field. Their tango free dance, a new look and style for them, was a hit with judges and fans. Known for their inventive and unique style on ice, Piper and Paul could potentially make the Trophee de France podium as well with two strong performances. With a bronze medal already under their belts, they will need at least a silver here to have a chance at qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. As they only had two weeks to switch gears from Canada to France, Piper and Paul will have to rely on their training to maintain their momentum and solidify their spot as a top ice dance team.
MADISON HUBBELL / ZACHARY DONOHUE
Representing: USA
Ages: 25/25
ISU personal bests: SD 69.36, FD 108.37, total 176.81
Notable titles: 2014 Four Continents Champions, 3-time US National Bronze Medalists
Programs: SD - Feeling Good/Hip Hop Medley, FD - I Wanna Dance with Somebody/Can’t Help Falling in Love/Earned It
Winning the silver medal at 2016 Skate America with energetic performances, Madi and Zach proved their ability to run among the top dogs, setting themselves up to qualify for the Grand Prix Final for the second year in a row. At Trophee de France, a medal is definitely within reach for Madi and Zach if they repeat their performances from Skate America and avoid major errors, but they will have to give stellar performances to take silver. A bronze medal here could give them a shot at the Final, but the final outcome would depend on the performances of other teams.
ELENA ILINYKH / RUSLAN ZHIGANSHIN
Representing: Russia
Ages: 22/24
ISU personal bests: SD 70.12, FD 106.58, total 176.70
Notable titles: 2015 Russian National Champions
Programs: SD - Big, Bad Love/Sing Sing Sing; FD - Slumdog Millionaire/Ang Laga De
Major technical errors at Skate America left Elena and Ruslan in a disappointing fifth place, despite their talent and potential. With multiple ice dance teams in Russia contending for the top spots at Nationals, Elena and Ruslan are looking to redeem themselves here with strong performances to avoid being knocked farther down the pecking order. Should they come back with the fire and fight of their top form, Elena and Ruslan could potentially take a spot on the podium - but ultimately, their placement depends on the performances of other teams.
Other skaters to watch:
Isabella Tobias/Ilia Tkachenko (ISR): 2015 Tallinn Trophy Champions, 2016 Finlandia Trophy & Mordovian Ornament Silver Medalists. Teamed up in 2014 and sat out the 2014-15 season due to ISU regulations. This season is their first together on the Grand Prix Circuit. They placed a respectable 6th at 2016 Skate America. Ilia used to compete for Russia and was a 3-time Russian National medalist and Grand Prix medalist with former partner Ekaterina Riazanova.
Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac (FRA): 2016 French National Junior Champions. They began their season with a gold medal at 2016 Cup of Nice. Trained by the same coaching team as Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, Marie-Jade and Romain could capitalize on the energy of the home crowd to place well at their senior Grand Prix debut. They were married last year so that Marie-Jade, a Canadian, could gain French citizenship ahead of the next Winter Olympics.