US International Figure Skating Challenge Men's Free Skate

Michael Christian Martinez, PHI: 61.05 TES + 62.34 PCS = 123.39  Total: 183.04

• Opening up with a big triple axel + double toe
• He has such long legs but I'm not sure he quite knows what to do with them yet and some transitions seem a bit unbalanced and awkward but he does have a lot of potential
• Another nice triple axel
• A bit slow headed into the triple lutz + double toe
• Really nice camel spin into a nice low broken let sit variation
• Step sequence seems a bit slow and labored and not as into the ice as he could be--he also seemed to be slightly ahead of his music
• Really nice spiral into a triple toe
• Doubled the lutz
• Spiral into a single flip
• Ina Bauer into a triple loop with a flip out
• Flying entry to a sit spin but slow through the 2nd variation
• He doesn't seem to be really connecting with this program and there isn't an attempt to sell it
• Hydroblade into triple salchow--he does have some interesting entries into his jumps which add to his GOE score
• Nice upright catch foot spin into a gorgeous Biellman in his final combination spin

Christopher Caluza, PHI: 61.70 TES + 61.84 PCS = 123.54 Total: 185.33 and into 1st place

• Triple loop two footed the landing--not enough height to get the quad
• Triple salchow + triple toe a little iffy on the landing
• Nice triple lutz
• Not a lot of transitions between the first few passes and not many variations on the entries and exits
• He seems to slightly lean forward in this step sequence and is on top of his edges a bit but he has nice speed and flow across the ice
• Losing speed through his sit spin position changes
• Great position in his camel spin into a nice catch foot and staying centered through the change of foot
• I like the elegance in these transitions and he seems to be settling in more
• Triple loop + double toe + double loop a little tight
• Triple flip out of a lunge stepping up into a double axel
• Triple lutz + double toe--could have a bit more height on the 2nd jump but he did the Tano variation
• Double axel
• Losing his position a bit on the camel spin and a bit of trouble in the flying change of position to the sit spin but ending with a nice upright catchfoot

Stanislav Samohin, ISR: 50.69 TES + 57.18 PCS -1.00 = 106.87  Total: 163.71 and into 3rd place

• I love his quality of movement and intensity at the top of the program
• Triple axel hands down on the ice
• Triple lutz hand down + double toe
• Single axel
• Triple loop
• Nice camel spin into a stretched out sit spin--lost his center and a bit bobble on the change of foot
• He has a lot going for him in terms of his performance quality and the enjoyability of his skates but the jumps just don't seem there yet
• Triple toe + triple toe and barely hangs on
• Triple lutz hands down and then a fall
• Spread eagle into a double axel two footed landing
• Good variations in his combination spin but it seems a bit slow
• A little bobbly in some of the one foot sections of his footwork but he's really working with his music
• Triple salchow
• He could be lower in these sit positions 

Charles Pao, TPE: 24.72 TES + 38.84 PCS -3.00 = 60.56 Total: 95.18 and into 4th place

• Hard fall on his opening triple lutz
• Triple salchow turn out + double toe
• Single flip
• He could use more flexibility through his catchfoot camel position
• A little off balance in places in the step sequence and really shallow on his edges with lots of ice spray
• Triple salchow
• Big telegraph into his triple loop and he landed in almost a criss cross position
• Broken leg sit spin and needs to be much lower in all his sit positions
• I can't tell if he accidentally left his practice gloves on or it that is part of the costume
• Popped jump
• Single axel with no height
• Triple axel fall
• He really needs to work on his knees and edges and that will make everything in this program a lot easier for him
• No speed in his sit spin and he needs more stretch through the free leg
• No connection with the music or performance quality--he also seems to be staring at the ice and not out at the audience which also could be affecting his jumps

Andrei Rogozine, CAN: 50.01 TES + 60.52 PCS = 110.53 Total: 168.92 and into 3rd place

• Two footed opening quad toe with nice speed on the rotation
• Spread eagle into a triple axel with a bit of a step out on the landing
• Triple salchow
• Double lutz
• Flying camel spin into a catch foot position with some good flexibility
• Good speed in his step sequence but I'd like to see him really finish off the moves and stretch through his free leg more
• Spread eagle into triple axel with a step out
• Single loop
• Triple flip
• He could have a lower sit spin position and seems to be traveling slightly throughout the spin
• Some nice movement in his choreographic step sequence but also some moves that seem awkward
• Not a lot of speed in his closing spin

Oleksii Bychenko, ISR: 44.36 TES + 56.16 PCS = 100.52  Total: 162.71 and into 5th place

• Nice speed and rotation on the triple axel but messy on the landing
• Triple axel step out + single toe
• Triple loop
• Could be a bit lower in the sit spin but nice speed
• Step sequence seems a bit frantic in places but it's nice to see him going for the choreography
• Triple salchow
• The flamenco choreography is all there but I'd like to see him put a bit more spark behind it and really execute it and get his PCS levels up
• Double flip + double toe
• Single lutz
• Traveling a lot on his camel spin and trouble after his flying change of foot
• Double axel + double toe--seemed tired going in but pulled it off
• Double flip
• Choreographed step sequence seemed rushed and he didn't seem to have enough time to really do all the steps

Max Aaron, USA: 81.88 TES + 75.84 PCS = 157.72 Total: 239.21 and into 1st

• Doubled his opening quad toe attempt
• Quad salchow forward on the landing + single toe loop
• Triple loop right on the music
• Traveling a bit on the flying change of foot in his first spin
• Nice use of his whole body in this step sequence and good connection with the music
• Good broken leg sit variation with an interesting exit--but seemed to come out a few seconds too early
• Quad salchow flip out
• Triple axel + double toe very nicely done
• Triple lutz + half loop + triple salchow
• There is a definite improvement in the quality of his movement and expression this season
• Triple axel right on the music
• Great choreographic step sequence but I'd like to see him open up to the audience a bit more
• Very nice triple flip
• Good final sit spin

Grant Hochstein, USA: 60.94 TES + 69.68 PCS -2.00 =128.62  Total: 191.91 and into 2nd place

• Quad toe fall
• Quad toe fall but much closer to being landed
• Double axel
• Interesting entry to the camel spin with a nice catch foot variation but he could use a bit more speed
• Nice flow and edgework in his step sequence 
• Triple lutz
• Flying sit spin with nice stretch through his free leg into a back tuck variation
• Triple flip
• Triple loop seemed a bit off in the air but landed nicely
• Nice inside edge spread eagle and great quality of movement through these transitions
• Triple lutz + double toe
• Triple toe + half loop + double salchow
• Possible hand down on his final combination spin with some really nice position variations 

Stephen Carriere, USA: 76.88 TES + 73.18 PCS -2.00 = 148.06  Total: 225.54 and into 2nd place

• Fall on his opening quad toe
• Triple axel + double toe
• Fall on the triple axel
• His upper body seems a bit stiff in the step sequence but he has good flow across the ice
• Good camel position into a sit position with good speed
• Triple salchow + double toe + double toe with arms overhead
• Difficult one foot entry into the triple lutz + triple toe and forward on the landing
• Triple flip
• Good twisted sit position with nice speed
• Triple lutz
• Camel spin into a sit spin, it would be nice to see him hold the headless spin a bit longer, no speed in the camel spin after the change of foot

Joshua Farris, USA: 57.37 TES + 78.34 PCS -1.00 = 134.71 Total: 206.56 and into 3rd place

• Triple toe (intended quad)
• Triple salchow
• Huge ice coverage on the triple axel but sat down on the landing
• Great sit spin position with nice stretch and toe point and a very low position
• He choreographs his programs and it's evident in his execution and commitment to the movement
• Nice subtle quality to his step sequence with great edges, interesting movement and nice flow through his whole body
• Triple axel + single toe
• Triple flip + single toe--first jump was gorgeous not sure what happened
• Triple lutz + double toe
• Lost his foot on the camel spin 
• He trains in Colorado Spring so altitude is not an issue for him, so I think he's just dealing with nerves
• This is a gorgeous program and I think he's got a real shot when the jumps are all there
• Double loop
• Camel spin into a nice sit and ending with an upright spin

Place	Start No.	Name	Short Program		Free Skate		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	7	Max Aaron, USA	1	81.49	1	157.72	239.21
2	9	Stephen Carriere, USA	2	77.48	2	148.06	225.54
3	10	Joshua Farris, USA	3	71.85	3	134.71	206.56
4	8	Grant Hochstein, USA	4	63.29	4	128.62	191.91
5	2	Christopher Caluza, PHI	6	61.79	5	123.54	185.33
6	1	Michael Christian Martinez, PHI	7	59.65	6	123.39	183.04
7	5	Andrei Rogozine, CAN	8	58.39	7	110.53	168.92
8	3	Stanislav Samohin, ISR	9	56.84	8	106.87	163.71
9	6	Oleksii Bychenko, ISR	5	62.19	9	100.52	162.71
10	4	Charles Pao, TPE	10	34.62	10	60.56	95.18
WD		Misha Ge, UZB