Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*
2014.02.08
Source: Kahoku Shimpo
~The Sharpening Skill That Supports an Ace~
Figure skater Hanyu Yuzuru and Yoshida, a craftsman from Sendai - Meticulous adjustments to skate blades, down to the millimeter
On February 6 (February 7, Japan time), during the figure skating team event, which made its debut at the Sochi Olympics, Yuzuru Hanyu (19; representing ANA, a graduate of Tohoku High School in Miyagi, and currently at Waseda University), delivered a flawless short program, giving Japan a strong start.
Supporting this ace from the ground up is Toshinobu Yoshida, 41, who runs a skating equipment shop in Izumi Ward, Sendai, Hanyu’s hometown, and specializes in sharpening skate blades. Having watched Hanyu develop since his junior high school days, Yoshida has helped propel him onto the world stage through skills he acquired through self-study.
Yoshida opened his shop about six years ago. He had previously worked for an electrical and telecommunications company, but decided to help his wife (41), a figure skating coach, by sharpening the skates of her students. Hanyu was one of her students.
Figure skating boots have a curved groove along the bottom of the blade (edge), which comes into contact with the ice. Skaters glide by alternating between the blade’s outer and inner edges. According to Yoshida, there are only a handful of specialists in Japan who maintain blades according to each skater’s habits and preferences. As a result, coaches often do the sharpening themselves.
Yoshida studied specialized books in English and honed his skills by sharpening rental skates at the rink, practicing on every single pair available. His expertise is now so highly regarded that he receives requests from all over the country.
Skates are the only piece of equipment a figure skater uses. Hanyu is exceptionally meticulous about his, often making numerous specific requests. As Yoshida explains, “That just shows how deeply committed he is to skating.”
Yoshida dedicates one of his sharpening machines exclusively to Hanyu and accommodates his requests down to the millimeter. However, concerned about the risk of injury, he has sometimes made adjustments on his own initiative.
Shortly before Hanyu became the world junior champion in 2010, there was a period when Hanyu repeatedly asked Yoshida to “make the groove deeper so I can jump more easily.” Concerned that a deeper groove would put too much strain on Hanyu’s knees and feet, Yoshida secretly made it a little shallower each time he sharpened the blades. When Hanyu eventually discovered what he had done, he thanked Yoshida, saying, “You managed it well.”
Even after moving his training base to Canada in the spring of 2012, Hanyu continued to have Yoshida sharpen his skates, either bringing them with him when he returned to Japan or sending them by parcel. “When I had a craftsman in Canada sharpen them, I found I couldn’t jump at all. That really made me realize just how well Yoshida had been able to adjust them to my exact preferences,” he said.
Hanyu entered the team event determined to compete “with the pride of representing Japan.” Yoshida offered words of encouragement: “If Yuzu just performs the way he knows he can, the results will follow.”
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