Is the Triple Axel Becoming Irrelevant?


Is the Triple Axel Becoming Irrelevant?

Originally published MAY/JUN 2017 PS Magazine



Watching Nathan Chens 2017 U.S. Championship Free Skate live and in person was one of the craziest things I had ever witnessed.

The first time that 5 quads in one program was completed in competition. Looking at the protocol on the icenetwork app was equally mind blowing. The base value of the jumping passes alone - 91.96!

1.      Quad Lutz + Triple Toeloop                                       17.90

2.      Quad Toeloop + Double Toeloop + Double Loop      13.40

3.      Quad Flip                                                                    12.30

4.      Quad Salchow                                                            11.55*

5.      Triple Flip + Triple Toeloop                                        10.56*

6.      Quad Toeloop                                                             10.30

7.      Triple Axel                                                                  9.35*

8.      Triple Lutz                                                                  6.60*



*In the bonus

And the rest of the program? A base value of 14.2 for two step sequences and three spins. Nathan won by over 55 points! He could have done a single Axel and Lutz, executing everything else the same and still had room to spare. It was the craziest thing and he deserved every point.

By adding the 5th quad and eventually a 6th, not only the triple axel (although required) becomes irrelevant but so does the program components as currently factored. Two quads and a perfect PC score of 100 cannot beat 5 quads.

Of course this is a simplistic evaluation of the facts. The triple Axel is a must and the grades of execution and the program components are hard to predict with a diverse judging panel.

Without a rule change regarding the factors for the program components, the max is 100 points. Last year’s World Champion was Javier Fernandez and Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu have PC scores in the upper 90’s with little room to grow, while Chen for all intent and purposes is chasing stationary targets. The step sequences and spins too are reaching the max. Without a major mistake those elements will not be a determining factor. It will come down to the performance of the program, the quads executed, and the second half bonus.

A good example was the 2017 Four Continents. Hanyu and Shoma Uno from Japan, each landed four Quads and Chen once again did five. Hanyu beat Chen in the free skate by only two points. They both maxed out their spins and steps. However, Hanyu was six points better in the program components and performed 5 jump passes in the bonus, including two quads. Nathan, while executing 5 quads did four jump passes in the bonus of which only one was a quad. Nathan also had trouble on several landings that did affect the GOE and the outcome of the free skate. Uno who finished 3rd, fell on two triple Axel attempts, finished the free skate 16.57 points behind Chen.

Moving forward, will the triple Axel remain relevant? What will happen to the program components as factored? Will spins and step sequences will be minimalized?

I predict that the next Olympic men’s champion will attempt at least 6 quads. I wouldn’t be surprised if 3 or 4 of the competitors will attempt 6. Program components, spins, and step sequence will become something to be checked off as completed. Gone are the days when someone wins without a quad. Reality is that two quads will not be enough. I can’t believe I just wrote that…


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