7. Nathan Chen USA
2017 Four Continents short program
I’d imagine there are a lot of people out there who thought my pick for Nathan Chen’s program would be his free skate. Yes, five clean quads is ridiculous, but this short program was really where he demonstrated that he is absolutely not just an incredible jumper, but also an incredible all-around skater.
And lest you forget, this is the most difficult short program ever done and no one can match it right now.
Frankly, it was a bit tough to choose between this version of the program and the Four Continents version of it, so hey - there's a bonus video below.
This program is Chen at his best in interpretation. For those who only look at his jumps, pay attention to the way he creates form and uses space, and pay particular attention to his step sequence. Footwork is probably his most underrated quality - his movement and agility are superb.
After two programs last season that were nods to more traditional skating music, you wonder if next season will bring a different, perhaps more contemporary side of Chen’s skating. We’ve seen in exhibition that he’s more than capable of it.
Bonus: 2017 U.S. Championships short program
Bonus #2: Wanna see how Chen grew in artistry over the season? Watch his SP at Finlandia vs at Four Continents. At Four Continents, he holds form stronger, is more in sync with the music, and has improved carriage throughout.