Patrick Chan won't back down to anyone

“Joubert, he's always complaining about it. He never has anything else to say. Honestly,” Chan said Monday at the world figure skating championships, exasperation in his voice. “Yes, OK, our men are doing worse, according to him. All right then, if you're going to say, 'Let's all do quads,' then he better have three quads in a program and nail them good or else he has nothing to say. He just says that because he wants to have an excuse.

“It's the total package: the spins, the footwork,” Chan added. “And obviously he needs to be focused on other things other than just the jumps. I think he can do better in his performance, his footwork, his spins. It just really frustrates me when he just constantly says that.”

The quad-no quad debate has been around for as long as guys have been doing the four-revolution jump, but skating's new judging system has given it an additional twist. Every element now has a specific value, and skaters also get a grade for how well they do each element. Do the quad, and you get huge bonus points. Do it and crash or do it and do it poorly, and you get knocked way down.

Unlike a few years ago, when everyone from the best in the world to the guys in the first warmup were doing quads (Tim Goebel once had three in his long program), they're far more rare these days because many skaters see it as too big of a risk.

Jeremy Abbott won the U.S. title without doing one, and Chan racked up the highest score in the world this year without ever trying one.

And then there's Jeffrey Buttle.

The Olympic bronze medalist beat out Joubert for the world title last year despite not trying a quad in either the short or long programs. Buttle, since retired, was always one of the most exquisite skaters with mesmerizing footwork, fine edge quality and a gift for artistry, and that package — coupled with well-done triple jumps — was enough to beat Joubert and his quads.

That didn't sit well with the Frenchman, who said afterward, “Right after the results, I was very disappointed. And I am still disappointed because Jeffrey did the perfect competition, he made no mistakes, but he didn't try the quad jump.”

Joubert's criticism didn't bother Buttle, but it rankled his fellow Canadians.

Which brings us back to Chan.

Like Buttle, Chan is a gorgeous skater. Though he's barely 18 — his birthday is Dec. 31 — he has a presence on the ice that is captivating. His footwork is spellbinding, and he has a smoothness to his skating that would make any coach burst with pride. Got a pretty good resume, too, winning both of his Grand Prix events, including topping Joubert at Trophee Eric Bompard.

What he doesn't have is a quad. At least, not yet.

“Now I know why people keep postponing the quad in their program, because now I know it's not that easy. Having two triple axels is hard enough,” said Chan, who does plan to add it for next season. “And the quad, I've realized it's not really necessary to win a medal. You can win a medal, a gold medal, with just two clean programs, like last year at worlds with Jeff. That's a perfect example of not really needing it.”

Reminded that the last three Olympic champions have done quads and then of Joubert's criticism, Chan bristled. He insisted he's not trying to pick a fight with Joubert or start a rivalry. But he believes there's more to skating than a single jump, and he doesn't want to see it reduced to that.

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