Korean figure skater Cha Jun-hwan (22, Korea University) ranked second in the 31st Nephela Memorial Short Program, an International Skating Union (ISU) Challenger Series competition. The disappointment in jumps and spins was what held me back.
Cha Jun-hwan recorded a technical score (TES) of 42.08 points and artistic score (PCS) of 41.83 points in the men’s single short program held in Bratislava, Slovakia on the 30th (Korean time), for a total of 83.91 points. Cha Jun-hwan ranked second after Nika Egaje (Georgia, 84.11 points).
Cha Jun-hwan perfectly performed his first jumping task, a quadruple salchow-triple toe loop combination jump with a basic score of 13.90 points, winning a score of execution (GOE) of 2.72 points.
However, he did not perform the second jump, the quadruple toe loop jump, properly, resulting in 2 rotations, which was judged to be an unnecessary jump and was given only 0 points. In the short program, solo two-turn jumps are not recognized as points, except for double axels (two turns and a half).
Cha Jun-hwan treated the following flying camel spin to level 4 and then cleanly performed the difficult triple axel (three turns) attempted in the extra point section, earning a GOE of 1.60 points and raising the mood.
However, Cha Jun-hwan, who made one mistake in the fourth round jump, also left regrets in the remaining spin tasks. Cha Jun-hwan received a level 3 in the change foot sit spin, but the subsequent change foot combination spin only got a level 2, resulting in a loss of points. The last task, step sequence, received level 4.
The Nepela Memorial is a challenger competition that is one level lower than the Grand Prix series, and Cha Jun-hwan participated in this competition for practical experience ahead of participating in the 2nd and 5th competitions of this season’s Senior Grand Prix. However, he swallowed his disappointment as his record fell far short of his ISU short program highest score (101.33 points). 안전놀이터
Meanwhile, Kim Hyeon-gyeom (17, Han Kwang High School), who also competed, ranked 8th in the short program with 75.24 points (TES 40.95 points, PCS 33.32 points).