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Okay, maybe not quite that much (my sympathies to Nan Song and the entire Chinese team who seemed completely overwhelmed by the altitude!). Still, after being available for nearly every minute of the US Nationals, it felt oh-so-wrong to miss so much of the Four Continents action.

Thankfully, Icenetwork had my back with on-demand coverage, so I caught up in no time!

I’ll have a set of vlog recaps up this week breaking down each event further. But for now, before we get too far removed and focused on Worlds, I’ll leave you with my greatest impressions — and boy, were there some big ones! I can quite honestly say, there were moments that left me “breathless.” (Betcha haven’t heard that one yet, right?!)

Okay. Where to begin …

The men’s event was relatively predictable. And yet, it filled in several empty blanks. How is that possible? Just go with it, I’m not sure myself.

What We Learned

• Patrick Chan may make mistakes more often than we’d like, but when he’s good, he’s really good. That said, he’s no where near the 300+ scores he pulled in at Canadian Nationals. Not that that’s a ton of comfort, because he still beat Daisuke Takahashi by nearly 30 points.
• Speaking of Daisuke … he is, perhaps, the most introspective, organic artist in all of the skating world. It’s hard to compare the styles between Chan and Takahashi because they’re so different. One is big and bold, the other is intricate and riveting. Both are beautiful. Both are worthy of praise. (And World medals …)
• Ross Miner is the future of men’s skating in the US. Bold statement? Sure. But what I saw in Colorado Springs was rock-solid technique, backed by a clear understanding of his place and his path in the sport. And his triple axel is to die for.
• Misha Ge is immune to altitude! What a joy he was to watch, no? The energy, passion and expression in his skating, while reminiscent of on Johnny Weir, sets him apart in a diverse field. I found him quite refreshing.

What I Felt

• Heartbroken for Richard Dornbush. You’ll get ‘em next season, kid.
• Thrilled for Ross Miner. That’s how you end a season, regardless of the event!
• Hopeful for Adam Rippon. He’s improving. Perhaps his peak will be perfectly in time for Worlds.
• Impressed beyond words by the top two. Simply put, they are phenominal.

The Pairs event had its share of surprises, too. I’ll admit, I didn’t think China’s Wenjing Sui & Cong Han had it in them to put out back-to-back clean performances here. Sure, they’ve done it before. But they’ve also been very sloppy before. But that wasn’t the only surprise.

What We Learned

• Sometimes, even the hottest team slips a little. Canada’s Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford seemed destined for a Four Continents win on their way to Nice. But after a steady climb all season, they fell flat. Little errors in the Short kept them out of medal contention. And yet, they continued to fight.
• Big tricks get bonus points simply for being, well, big. Yes, Sui & Han performed a throw quadruple salchow and a split quadruple twist. And their massive scores reflected that. Trouble is, they only  almost completed them. The twist was underrotated, the throw was obviously two-footed. Kudos to them for putting them out there, but I want to see them clean.
• The American Pairs teams are on the hunt. For the first time in a long time, people were discussing a real possibility of both American teams finishing in the top ten at Worlds. Would that be an upset? Oh yeah. Have stranger things happened? You know it.

What I Felt

• Proud of the competitiveness of the US teams. Weak field or no, medals are medals.
• Disappointed for Duhamel and Radford. I’d have loved to see them win.

Oh, the ladies. What an event this turned out to be. It wasn’t that long ago that if Mao Asada was competing, she was nearly guaranteed gold. Now, though, not so fast.

What We Learned

• Ashley Wagner is the real deal. I have to apologize … I didn’t think even a clean Ashley had the good to keep up with Mao. Then she through a triple-triple combo in the Short, and a squeaky clean and passionate Long. Her improvement is simply marvelous.
• Caroline Zhang is back. She proved where her head is by skating another clean event full of the beauty that made us fall for her in the first place.
• Mao Asada still has the triple axel. It still scares me. But it’s there. The one in warm up was lovely.

What I Felt

• Confident in Ashley. She’s rubbing off on all of us!
• Moved to tears by Caroline. What a brilliant comeback! Look out, Sochi.
• Optimistic about the American ladies at Worlds. A medal is well within reach.

I challenge someone to find me a more compelling story line than ice dance in skating right now. Really, we got the best show. Only one of the likely top-five teams in the World was absent, and two of the best rivalries in all of sports were at the forefront. While the scoring was a head scratcher, the skating was spectacular nonetheless.

What We Learned

• Meryl Davis and Charlie White must be sure of their levels by Worlds. That was essentially the only thing separating the top two teams. If they want to repeat as World Champs, they have got to get level fours on the step sequences and twizzles.
• Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are hungry. They are on the prowl. They had just about enough of this Silver business.
• No one — not a single team — shows more passion and genuine emotion than Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje. They are, perhaps, this season’s most improved technically as well.
• Alex Shibutani is super human. Altitude? No problem. Viral infection? Don’t mention it. No, they didn’t medal. But they sure impressed a lot of people with their effort.

What I Felt

• Anxious! When it’s anyone’s game, it’s hard on our hearts!
• Confused by the scoring. Not just for one team, or one dance, but overall. Talk about a tough crowd … this panel was brutal!
• Excited for Worlds. It is SO on.

Colorado Springs may have been a tough place to skate. But, it was a good test for what is yet to come. As we look towards Worlds with new questions and new expectations, let’s not be hasty to dismiss the accomplishments here. I know I won’t, at least not until I can skate at 6,035 feet above sea level and do any better!

Keep an eye out for those individual event vlogs. I have so many thoughts to share!

Despite not having the chance to see a pre-Worlds Chan/Takahashi/Abbott showdown, the event in Colorado Springs is no exception. White the top two appear evident, we’ve seen stranger things happen. And with a field stacked with skaters ready to have the skate of their season, we’re bound to have some fireworks somewhere along the line.

The question is, whose “fireworks” turn into medals?

At this point, it's Chan's title to lose ... much like every title he's vying for!

Gold: Patrick Chan

Much like Meryl Davis and Charlie White, I just can’t bet against Chan, especially skating where he trains every day.

After all the flack for his GP performances (falls equaling medals) I would love to see him repeat his Nationals performances in front of an international panel, just so we have a realistic idea of the kind of scores he’s likely to receive, should he go clean at Worlds.

Of course, having three quads in your back pocket helps when your top competitor could have two. It’s a nice advantage to have, especially considering the PCS scores he’s accustom to receiving.

While no one is unbeatable, betting against this kid at this stage of the game simply isn’t wise.

Silver: Daisuke Takahashi

If medals were awarded for program composition, Takahashi would be unbeaten this year. I’m in love with the details throughout both of his programs, as well as the way he presents it. While Chan takes the audience on a larger-than-life, sweeping adventure, Takahashi brings you in to his world and shares his intimate connection to every last note of music. It’s marvelous.

But, he has to back it up with the technical content a Chan or even a Fernandez is capable of throwing down.

Here, though, I don’t see that being a problem.

Bronze: Adam Rippon

This choice isn’t quite as clear-cut. While in past years it would be a no-brainer, this year, the American silver medalist has Nan Song to contend with.

While Song had the superior GP season, Rippon has one very important thing going for him — he finally kissed the Nationals demons goodbye. His silver medal at the US Championships wasn’t close to disputable, and while he still wasn’t flawless, he was more than strong enough.

Artistically, he is among the best in the world. Sometimes, though, I feel he gets in his own head and doubts his technique (much like his friend and roommate Alissa Czisny does). Perhaps the national success (his first ever Nationals medal!) will reinforce his potential and give him confidence going into this event. Plus, he wants to help earn back a third spot for the US men at Worlds — he could really use a strong performance here to boost that confidence even further.

Adam has more than one quad jump in his arsenal — he started the season attempting a quad lutz in his long. But, the lack of success with it in competition has him back to talking about the quad salchow (which he doubled in his Nationals free skate). It would be a tremendous achievement to complete that element in Colorado Springs, and to medal behind the world’s top two.

China’s Nan Song might have something big to say about that, though … in the form of a few quad jumps of his own. Much like Spain’s Javier Fernandez, Song has been a delightful surprise this season, winning the first GP medals of his career (including a silver medal at Trophee Eric Bompard where Adam Rippon finished fourth).

However, as we saw with Fernandez at Europeans, maintaining that momentum is harder than it sounds. Song’s Nationals scores were his lowest of the season, so he’ll be looking to rebound in Colorado Springs. He’ll challenge Rippon, but one of the two should be your bronze medalist.

The best of the rest

Keep and eye on the other two American men here — Ross Miner and Richard Dornbush. While Dornbush is coming off of an extremely disappointing Nationals, he has a chance to redeem himself here. Miner, on the other hand, has one more chance to end his season with the best skate of the year.

I love where he is right now mentally as much as anything. He’s comfortable with his improvement, but always looking for how to make himself better. He takes everything in stride, and that says much for his maturity.

Kevin Reynolds would love a strong performance here, as well. The kid comes armed with a handful of quad jumps, but only a hint of consistency or competitive edge. Internationally, he has always struggled, never living up to the hype those massive jumps provide. This would be a great time to chance that, although it is a lot to ask.

How do you think Jeremy Abbott would have ranked here? Will Chan be able to repeat his Nationals performances?

Because those two are in the competition, we can all safely assume that the battle among the other teams is for the bronze medal. For some of those other teams, that may not be their favorite thing ever. But, there’s no doubt that the Canadian and American champs have elevated the sport for everyone within it.

Still, there will be plenty of drama unfolding … it is ice dance, after all! But, only the select few will claim the hardware.

They make the MOST difficult things look so easy.

Gold: Meryl Davis and Charlie White

You’d think at some point we’d get tired of predicting gold for these two. But, you’d be wrong. They continue to elevate their skating to new heights, in attempts to fend off their friends and arch-rivals, Virtue and Moir.

There has been significant discussion this season as to which team has the better free dance. I’ve stood by Davis and White’s waltz all season, for one simple reason — it shows them off at the very best, in every way. it’s not their character portrayal that makes this strong. It’s their dance. Their lines, their flow, their ease of movement, their transitions, their edge quality, their control, their closeness … all things Virtue and Moir do as well, but in this instance, Davis and White seem to do more confidently.

We have yet to see how clean short dances compare, but with a few minor changes for Davis and White, they could still hold the advantage. In fact, they’ll need to hold that advantage to win the event.

Silver: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

There’s no doubt these two are hungry to once again top the podium. But, the late-season changes to both programs have them “behind the eight ball,” so to speak, in their level of comfort — and, thus, quality — throughout. That said, they’re pros. They know how to push when they need to push. And they’ll need to do just that to take advantage of any wiggle room Davis and White leave.

To clarify, it’s not that I don’t like their “Funny Face” free dance. I simply don’t think it highlights their flow, line, grace, elegance, etc. like past programs have. Their character portrayal is first rate. Scott owns this dance. It just sells them short, in my opinion. Ultimately, it’s just that — an opinion. What matters is how they incorporate the latest changes to squeeze every last point out of the dance.

It will be, as others have said, splitting hairs between the two. And if there’s ever a place to take back the momentum for the Canadians, it’s here. If only it were that easy.

Bronze: Weaver and Poje

This one is hard for me. Weaver and Poje have been on a slow climb all season, hitting a peak at Nationals (but not one they can’t surpass). The spark in their short dance is electric. The passion in their free dance is as deep as anyone in the world. They are, perhaps, the most seasoned this year, having competed in three GP events before heading to the Final.

They tend to be underscored internationally. But, they are brilliantly confident in every moment of both programs, and their scores reflect that. If they skate up to par, they are among the top five in the world.

But, it won’t be easy. They’ve traded placements with American silver medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani this year, who will be pushing for that third spot in Colorado Springs.

Prior to Nationals, I would have given the nod to the Canadians without hesitation. However, after a lack of success in the short dance portion through the GP series, Maia and Alex went back to the drawing board and created a stunningly improved version of their samba. That portion of the event had been their undoing. But, the revamped version may very well live up to Weaver and Poje’s  dance. If it does, they have a strong chances at taking bronze. If not, it will be an uphill battle.

I’ve gone back and forth in my own arguments for who wins this match up, and depending on the moment, I may not be entirely confident in it. But, for now, I feel Kaitlyn and Andrew are due. Maia and Alex, with more miles on that SD, make make a stronger push come Worlds.

The best of the rest

Don’t forget about the newly crowned US bronze medalists here. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue may earn the “most improved” badge for the progress they made since their season debut at Skate America. Topping Madison Chock and Evan Bates (who, admittedly, lacked a little “spark” at Nationals in my eyes) was no small feat. And for such a new partnership, they show enormous promise. But, they need to polish it up so they look like an elite, international team. That said, Madison couldn’t have done better than partnering with Zachary. He is phenomenal.

What do you love most about the rivalries at the top? Who stands out to you?

The openness provides exciting and intense competition, but it also makes predictions even harder than usual! That said, without a dramatic shake up, the top three seem fairly clear here.

If Asada skates as "free" as she has all season, she'll head to Nice the 4CC champ.

Gold: Mao Asada

No, she still isn’t back to 2009-2010 form. But, she’s making great strides, and perhaps more importantly, she’s happy. When Mao is happy, she is relaxed. When she is relaxed, everything comes more easily. After retooling her technique, the majority of her jumps are secure and smooth. Her footwork is better than ever. And her program composition is among the best in the world. If she skates anywhere close to her potential, she’ll win handily.

Silver: Ashley Wagner

Wagner would like to consider herself a gold-medal contender here. And, if Asada struggles, it’s possible. But, even Ashley herself was realistic in knowing she has to up the ante to compete on the world stage. Losing the proverbial “monkey on her back” by winning a national title just over a week ago will help her skate confidently. But, as the National Champ, the pressure is on.

Fortunately for Ashley, it’s a position I expect her to handle well. Even in her Nationals exhibition, she was already skating with a new heir — one that says she is ready for the next challenge.

If she can match or exceed her Nationals performances, she will easily take the silver. 

Bronze: Kanako Murakami

This could be an interesting battle. Because none of the rest of the field competes consistently, it’s anyone’s game. However, Murakami has the advantage of skating in the ever-powerful Japanese ladies system. Last year, she was a phenom. This year, she’s struggled to live up to her own expectations. Finishing sixth and fourth in her GPs wasn’t ideal. But, she still has the scores to make her the bronze medal favorite.

That said, it will be a battle, namely with Agnes Zawadzki.

Young Agnes — who contemplated leaving the sport after last season — shocked the skating world with a stunning US Nationals Short Program that vaulted her into the lead. However, we all know what happened next. Skating last, with all the pressure, trying to live up to expectations and seize the moment … it was all simply too much.

But, that unfortunate free skate that dropped her to third overall made her angry. And anger, often times, translates to great rebound performances. That, coupled with the fact that she’s skating at home, might give her an edge, should Murakami leave the door open.

The best of the rest

Zhang surprised us all with the comeback-skates of the US Nationals, putting herself back in "the mix."

Who knows, at this point, what Caroline Zhang could do here. After her brilliant short program at US Nationals, she reminded us all why she was the heir-apparent to the Michelle Kwan thrown. Now, her appalling jump technique that she’s spent two full season reworking showed itself ever so slightly in her free skate. But, she’s made steady progress throughout the year and — much like Asada — is happy again. When she is on, there are few young skaters with more grace or better line. But, it’s always going to be a matter of hitting the jumps (and getting full credit on the rotation.)

Another interesting story line here is the head-to-head between Amelie Lacoste and Cynthina Phaneuf. Lacoste is coming off Nationals with her first title. Phaneuf is coming off of Nationals angry. It was supposed to be her title to win, and she isn’t ready to let someone else earn the lone Worlds spot for Canada. Both girls will have to skate the best programs of their season (neither has been clean all year) to leave the best impression possible in the eyes of the Canadian federation. It will be intense, even if they’re not in the medal mix.

The ladies always bring the drama, and I expect nothing less this weekend. For the top ladies, this is an absolutely necessary tune up on the way to Worlds (which leads to a discussion on why Alissa Czisny isn’t there, but that’s for another time!). A strong event here could be just the right boost for a peak performance in Nice.

Who has the most to gain (or lose!) in Colorado Springs?

But it’s not just that simple. There are also three talented American teams, and two more Canadian duos.

It gets a little convoluted when you rank them on paper — the young Chinese team has the highest GP score. The American and Canadian champs are coming off of their best competitions yet. Nationals scores don’t really count in international comparisons, but Marley and Brubaker clearly showed they have the talent to compete here. Evora and Ladwig have the experience and, now, the motivation to prove themselves. Dube and Wolfe showed themselves a new team at Canadian nationals — one with skill, elegance, poise and determination.

But, we really don’t know how any of those “intangibles” translate into scores. So, when the numbers settle, who will head to Worlds with a 4 Continents medal?

They're on a roll, and as motivated as ever. Look out, world!

Gold: Duhamel and Radford

Sure, they have had their moments of weakness this season. But, beyond the elements, the throws, the side-by-side triple lutzes, and the majestic choreography, they have something above any other team — grit.

All season I’ve been impressed with their goal development (and achievement!) from competition to competition. You can hear them in the Kiss and Cry saying ” Oh, good. We got (fill in the blank) for PCS this time. That’s much better,” or — like at Nationals — “Nope, we didn’t get the lift. Not with that score, because we got (fill in the blank) for TES at the Final.”

They’re knowledgeable, but they’re also entirely capable of translating that knowledge into goals, and thus, into results. They want to win this title to check one more thing off their season’s list, and I fully believe they can do that here.

Silver: Denney and Coughlin

A stretch here? Maybe. Sure, Sui and Han are the anointed heirs to the Chinese pairs thrown. But, Caydee and John improve every time they get out on competition ice. Plus, being at home will add to their comfort and growing confidence. These two may have been criticized at the start of their partnership, but even the toughest critics can’t ignore their immense talent and fast-developing bond. They make a great team, and obviously have the talent to make a splash on the internationals stage.

Call it a “gut feeling,” but I think their Nationals performance is just the start of what they have to offer. While their choreography isn’t particularly detailed or challenging, their elements are big enough to compete with the best.

Two clean skates will earn them a medal here, for sure.

My only request? That Caydee loses the barbie doll blue eye shadow. Pronto. 

Bronze: Sui and Han

They may be considered favorites to compete for the title. And, in all honesty, they may do just that. However, they once again competed on both the junior and senior circuits this year and are nearing the end of a very long season. They haven’t been as untouchable this year, despite having hit 180+ in their Skate Canada performance to start their senior GP season.

Program composition for them is not necessarily in their favor — their short is significantly stronger, but their free skate is as “junior-ish” as ever. It doesn’t make fans — or judges (who are also fans) see them in the same light as the Duhamel/Radfords or the Denney/Coughlins. Then, when they fail to hit their extremely ambitious routines, their lack of polish is even more evident.

They’re in a stage of “growing pains,” and it’s not quite their time. Still, their talent will keep them in the hunt.

The best of the rest

I see this as a three-way battle between the other two American teams and the rising Canadian team of Dube and Wolfe.

Evora and Ladwig have stunningly elegant and mature programs, filled with challenging details. Their lifts — as I always say — are among the best in the world. Their throws, when landed, are marvelous. But those silly side-by-side jumps will make or break them. At this point, it could go one of two ways — they have nothing to lose, so why fret going into the jumps? Or, they have yet to hit that element this season, so how can they be confident with it now?

If the American rookies can match *this* program and better their long, they will be in the mix.

We all know what Rockne Brubaker brings to the sport. But, what we now know is how much he brings to a partnership — with his help, commitment and encouragement, Mary Beth Marley is a legitimate pairs skater, with the same kind of grit Meagan Duhamel has. Their Nationals performances — even with the flaws in the free skate — showed how far they have come and undoubtedly boosted their confidence. But, they’re both fierce competitors, certainly not satisfied with slipping to second after their phenomenal short.

We can’t eliminate Dube and Wolfe from this conversation, though at the start of the season they wouldn’t have been more than an afterthought. I was stunned with their transformation at the Canadian championships. Sure, they have a ways to go to be back to the level Jessica is used to. But, much like Mary Beth, Sebastien is in a whole new league as he tries to skate up to her level. After the GP, they went back to the drawing board and put in a massive amount of work to get where they are, and it paid off. Look out for them, if the teams at the top struggle.

The best part of a wide-open event like this is, well, the element of surprise! Any of these teams on any given day could be medal-worthy. They question is, who has what it takes to lay it all on the line?

Let me know who YOU expect “bring it!”

Congrats to the medalists!

Find COMPLETE results here: usfigureskating.org