liv

That's not fair. There are many types of fanyus. While I do believe there are many fanyus who are just fans of Yuzu (with some being bad in terms of treatment of other competitors or overzealous in their Yuzu adoration), or maybe they just watch men's skating, I think there are far more fans who either came to be fans because of him and stayed because the sport is enjoyable and entertaining etc., or they were fans long before Yuzu came along and became his fans because of the kind of skater he is.

I don't see a problem if it's done during/after a practice. Despite his cultural heritage, he's been around the international scene long enough to know that people want to celebrate this *for him.* I would think he knows that this might happen during a big competition, he has been feted before at GPF on his birthday, so would see it as the kind gesture it is meant to be, even if he may not love it and might be a bit embarrassed. And since he's in a sport where you are the centre of attention, and he admittedly loves that, then I"m sure he'd be fine with it, as long as there was no disruption to his fellow competitors. i remember the crowd sang Happy Birthday to Yagudin at World's in Vancouver in 2001 during a practice... (I think he even sat on the boards and just enjoyed it), and he was really loved in Canada, so it would not be an unusual thing for an affectionate crowd to do this sort of thing.

To be honest, when the arena went absolutely silent when his score came out I was shocked at the audience reaction. Considering one jumping pass was missing, which on a good day would've added 20 points to the tech score, it was actually pretty good. Yuzu seemed ok with his performance... and you could see he wasn't overly happy with the score, but I think the crowd reaction caught him by surprise as well. It would not surprise me at all if he felt that he let the crowd down, even without Jmedia bringing it up. I think that just made it more concrete in his mind that he let them down. And adding: in no way do I think the audience was disappointed with him, just let me make that clear! I am not being critical of them at all. We all know how well loved he is and how nothing he does would make people be disappointed in HIM! I think it was just a reaction of wanting better scores for that program.

It's not the best looking 3A either. Very scratchy. Not high and floaty like Alena's, or Rika's... but if she has it consistent enough to use in sp, then away goes any advantage Rika or Alena have from that stage.

Yes, it will be almost strange to see Yuzu at J Nats... it's been so long. I am sure he wants to be there after all this time too. And then he can be home for the holidays too.

Lol. going back and watching that performance and seeing how upset he was in the KnC.. my goodness he was a sullen and sulky looking teenager after that skate, lol!! That's all part of what makes Yuzuru, Yuzuru.

The way I see it, this is for the club to deal with... not skating fans.

You know what I would love to see, just for fun? At any competition, you have your regular panel of judges/controllers etc.. and then a panel there made up entirely of former skaters and coaches... like international championships medal caliber skaters, and see how they would score the using the same system etc.. I would love to see the difference that the skating group would give in terms of GOE and skating skills etc... because I bet there would be one...

Probably one of his programs from this past summer. He probably thinks they wouldn't be as well received in Canada... which may be true to some extent, but there are so many songs in other languages that people skate to that he shouldn't have this worry. How will people become familiar with more contemporary Japanese music if no one skates to it? I know that I don't know anything about it, at all.

I was so excited when someone up thread said it was unblocked, only to be disappointed...

Wow, Yuzu. Good for him to say what he's feeling... and if it opens up some more eyes then great... and if he gets a backlash from it, well, we know he hit a nerve... I am now even more glad he received such good PCS marks... he really must have been feeling as if he was training so hard for naught.. I hope they continue to reward him and this wasn't just a one off deal to keep him motivated etc... As for the 4lz... I wondered what he might think about these tiny girls landing it when he had trouble, (and not just him, but Kolyada etc... ) but he would do well to remember that their body shapes are also totally different. These young girls are totally straight and Yuzu (while very thin) has broader shoulders and more of a definable waist/figure than they do, allowing them to rotate like tornadoes while he has to have a bit more air time... but we know Yuzu is probably analyzing this stuff like crazy....

I was paying through the nose to keep my cable so that I could watch figure skating on tv... but now I"m thinking ditch the cable and upgrade my internet... I"m hopeful that CBC doesn't cut a deal so that I can get the youtube channel... we already know we'll get skate canada on tv here... the only thing is, I feel badly for some older or less tech savvy viewers who just like to watch it on tv. now it will not be easy for them to access and they might not be bothered to ask someone to show them how to get to youtube...

I"m deliberately not watching their programs so that I only see them once the GP series starts. From what I read it sounds like they've become quite pretentious and I want to see the programs a bit more polished before I form an opinion.

I need evidence of an insane waist....

Oh dear. I am getting older and grumpier by the day in this early skating season... After watching the lovely 3A by Akatieva.... yes, great for her, finally we see one of the young ones have good enough technique to get a 3A... It seems every week another little girl lands a quad, or 4... I know i"m supposed to be impressed by all these pre pubescent girls getting quads and 3As.. but I find I am not as impressed as I should be. I"ll be more impressed when these young girls keep those jumps once they're fully grown.... and when they have skating skills to match those quads.

Figure skating isn't that popular in the US anymore, but I think it has more to do with that country not having a top female skater for so many years. I think figure skating popularity in the US has always rested heavily on the female figure skaters. They beyond adored Michelle Kwan...she still walks on water, even after all these years and any tour she was on was pretty much sold out. I think after she left is when the down turn began...there was no one like her anymore, with big charisma, always gave a performance, and was usually tough under pressure... people turned away from the sport and now it's been so long that it's no longer something people pay attention to. Alysa Liu... well, if she continues to improve then that might go a way towards bringing back some of the public. I think we'll continue to see a definite push for her from judges...

Mai... I was deading that news since it is only weeks away. I wonder if her whole year is now done.... and this after she was so happy to have choreo by lori nichol etc.. just like Mao. I dread the thought that she might even be forced to quit entirely.... with her disease you never know. My hope is that she can recover and have another Cinderella like year one day...

Oh no! My favourite Japanese lady... things must be bad if she won't even appear there... i just hope she can get healthy again...

Oh dear. So now (potentially) it is much loved Nobu and well supported and successful coach Hamada.. Guess we wait and see if more will be revealed. I know she has a reputation, but .... just, wow.

What a big old mess. Poor Nobu. I always thought (not having any insight etc into JSF politics or J society in general) that Nobu was well liked and respected since he seems to be everywhere on tv as a commentator/in shows etc.. I guess that doesn't matter if you are not one of the chosen favourites. I hope he finds welcome somewhere for his talents and skills, immune to behind the scenes machinations. I"m glad we have an English message, then it's out there for the rest of us to read and interpret on our own. I agree, that was smart on his part. This sort of thing makes me glad Yuzu has found a bat cave on the other side of the ocean in order to retreat when needed.

You know what's funny: Everyone here talks about cheering every time Yuzu landed a jump, or skated by, or took off his costume. i was the exact opposite at ACI. I was more silent so that I could appreciate what I was seeing in front of me. I remember back in the 80s or 90s, commentators would say that someone skated so well that people didn't make noise because they were so enthralled. That is how I react as well.

Obviously the 3A are the story, with Trusova on top. If she lands those jumps no one will beat her despite her obvious flaws elsewhere. Scherbakova, if she is consistent with her lutz, might make a run for it too, and her pcs should be better than Trusova's. As for Kostornaia... she has the best pcs, and should on goe, but that doesn't make up ground because the other 2 do the same intricate choreo and spins that she does so still get good marks. The problem is she does it all so much better... kind of like a Jason Brown situation, but without the rewards. And that has always been a problem, properly rewarding goe and pcs. Non Eteri coached Russians will have troubles even before they step on the ice... reputation mark disadvantage. Tursynbaeva... to me that was a one shot medal. Kihira. If she skates cleanly she is a contender, but her program was a disappointment to me. Sakamoto, miyahara... they need bigger tricks now. Mihara, with illness and no bigger tricks.... I will just enjoy watching them and their ease and flow in just skating. I hope everyone just continues to work hard and they don't get discouraged, only motivated. It is a long journey to the Olympics. So many things can happen. I worry especially for young bodies pounding away on quads. I was chatting with a coach at ACI who said * she's crazy* with the risks she was taking with young bodies. Time will tell.

Dai trying ice dancing... well, why not? He has the charisma and showmanship a dancer needs to start with anyway... and, wow, whatever happens, it will certainly raise the ice dance profile in a country of singles skating... it can only be a good thing, I think. It will at least increase interest, no matter what the actual results will be. Somewhere, some talented skaters who aren't as talented jumping wise will think ice dancing is cool now and something that Japanese skaters can do. I know that I will look forward to it, so I wish them the best.

OMG. Waaay too young. Poor Keegan... and the rest of the Messing family. Oh dear.

Yes, if so many get UR calls, then should they not be even MORE strict? I would rather the skaters who actually have proper technique and ability win competitions. You know, the best ones win? ETA: You wouldn't give a diver with bent knees the best mark. And the argument that so many divers have bent knees so we'll let them all have bent knees would never fly...