Chan focuses on his own game at the worlds

Competing against high-flying young skaters, Canadian champion expects to be in the mix

HELSINKI — Out on the practice ice at Hartwell Arena, figure skater Patrick Chan tries to stay in his own head space, avoiding the sideways glances at young stars such as Nathan Chen.

It’s not easy, as Chen reels off quadruple jumps with the ease that comes with unencumbered youth.

Chan competes at the world championships this week in a men’s event that has suddenly and irrevocably become all about the quad jump. The 26-year-old from Toronto can only hope his own brand of skating, which is as much about the other elements such as spins and skating skills, is enough against the high flyers like Chen.

The 17-year-old American became the first skater in history to land seven quad jumps in competition — two in the short program, five in the long. Chen, who is making his world championship debut after his meteoric rise, did it twice. He’s landed an incredible 18 consecutive quads.

Chan has three quads in his long program, but has yet to land all three. Because he scores so highly on elements, the Canadian knows a clean program would put him in the mix.

“I would be within reaching distance. But it’s hard to believe that, right?” Chan said after a practice session at Hartwell Arena. “Because it does sometimes feel like they are getting ahead. And I’m trying so hard to keep up and they keep getting further and further, because they add quads like it’s nothing. Mid-season. They’re like ‘I feel like doing another quad, so I’m going to do another one.’

“They just keep pushing the limits. I think that’s the greatness of being young, they don’t put too much thought into anything really.”

Among other challengers for gold are Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, who won gold at the Sochi Olympics and has since upped his quad attempts to five in the long program, Spain’s Javier Fernandez, Japan’s Shoma Uno, and Chinese quad specialist Boyang Jin.