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I think I'll be done with figure skating if/when they divide it into technical and artistic portions. Too much like pro competitions of the past and lots of room to play around with scores etc.. I find myself less interested in skating right now, particularly the ladies portion. Of course we have to wait and see how it plays out on the GP circuit, but the trend we've seen so far this season is just disappointing to me. Jumps aren't the only thing. I don't think we've ever seen such a difference in skating skills and jumping prowess before, so this is the difficult part for me...I mean, Midori had her huge jumps, but she had great skating skills, amazing footwork, transitions and spins as well...

I like the slightly more yippy Yuzu. Just putting some comments, thoughts out into the universe...

?? I presume this is just for a short visit since ACI was just held here. I read that Sara Honda is moving to Raf too, so the Honda sisters will be in California together...and Sara was with Hamada until now too, right? Interesting.

Now that Barkell is on his own he doesn't have to consider who does or doesn't fit at TCC with all of the skaters they have there. So, with Satoko being there I wonder if Shoma might eventually consider that an option as well, after all, he did coach Nobu.

Satoko training with Lee Barkell... didnt see that coming. Guess his move to Granite club kind of frees up space for him to accept more top skaters. Hope it works out.

I love the Origin costume too...my imagination tells me how it could improve, but he tends to More bling, not less. I"m not into Otonal v.2.0 yet.... As for repeating his programs... well, I though Otonal was pretty much delivered perfectly in Russia, but I guess he didn't perform it perfectly at World's so that bothers him.. I hope this doesn't backfire on him. Showing these programs to perfection as a tribute to his idols means a lot of extra pressure and a lot more regret when he can't do it. What if he still can't do them as he wishes? A 3rd try?

Looking forward to seeing what those choreographers can do for T/M... maybe we are in for some worthy programs by these amazing skaters...

I am really looking forward to seeing Mai at Skate Canada... I hope she can recover her skills (now that she is on the ice and regaining her weight) well enough that she can be happy with herself and what she has had to overcome in order to do what she loves, yet again.

I hate the idea. I hated that concept in pro skating and hate it now.

That boy is so going to have a cat, or two in the future... you can tell he *gets* them...

I am sad that none of this surprises me anymore. I"ve read skating books that state/allude to things, you hear rumours, you see things on tv that look wrong... but you think you must be wrong, this can't actually happen to this athlete or that athlete, and by THAT person... and then you come back to reality and of course many of those things are actually true... pretty sad. I"m glad people are out there at least talking about it and naming names rather than just keeping things totally secret. I think there are many more culprits out there and hopefully more of these people will be exposed.

Watched Rika's fp and Marin's fp: Rika's program looks like it was made for Satoko, with arm movements, choreo etc., that remind of what Satoko has done in the past. It struck me from the very first few seconds. At this point it could be Satoko out there, apart from the jumps, of course. Marin's program was very Marin, and her charm is obvious as usual. If I could just watch the skating and not care about the jumps, I'd rather watch Marin move across the ice. She's just so smooth on her edges compared to Rika, and loose on the ice, but that's just imho. And kaori's sp is very different to the above 2 programs. Kaori is bringing her own style, as she should, and in no way resembles anyone else out there.

Hmmm, haven't checked in for a while... so the thoughts are that he's going to recycle his programs... Well, I would be somewhat disappointed, tbh. Like others, I was no big fan of his skating tribute programs in the first place, but I was fine with it since it would be just one year and he deserved the opportunity to do something important to him, personally... but, really, to me he did Otonal to its very best, and of the two that is the one I'd want to see again. Being selfish, however, I want new material from him all the time, as much as I can get... but knowing how much he always regrets things when he can't perform as he wishes it wouldn't surprise me to see those programs back... so that he can really feel as if he's pleased his idols. The problem is that I"m not sure how much the judges will be pleased.... I wish he'd get back to doing a *cool* competitive program rather than recycled stuff... he's already at somewhat of a disadvantage with the judges ( we 've see how his PCS advantage withered away this season and this coming year it will probably be even closer) and if the competition brings out fresh material, well, you never know how the judges will react and who will have the momentum, no matter if Yuzu brings new 4s... But those things are for him to decide and worry about. He who always calculates everything. For me, life is simple. I have tickets to ACI. I"m just going to enjoy seeing him in person again and that truly is the best gift.

What about the original Origin from ACI? He had a few leaps in there that he took out... and be it from the front or the back entry, it's still a leap that looks similar to me.

At the part near the beginning, before she goes down on her knees. Obviously, this leap is like a baby hop and nowhere near Yuzu's but the concept/attempted position is similar.

Even in that short clip of Med's program you can see a leap similar to what was in Yuzu's program last year.... so in just one example we see similar stuff from Shae. I didnt like that.

Just *force* yourself to watch, over and over, and over... because I have no trouble telling the difference. I guess you have homework. More Yuzu watching... too bad....

Can't see yuzu doing shanghai trophy. Flying to the other side of the world for something like that would be unusual for him based on history. ACI is more appealing since it is literally just a short drive down the road, but who knows. Jeff, johnny and Plush retiring from shows would be kind of the end to their era, but personally that is fine with me. I dont really enjoy shows much anymore unless it is group numbers and newer stars like yuzu. They each have other roles in the skating world to devote their energies towards so their influence will be felt for years to come.

What a day! Yuzu is finally a man!! Lol.

Honestly, I like a good bloodbath... as long as judging is fair and rep points do not make the difference...

Oh geez... I was hoping Mai would get SC... but I was hoping, like last year, that it would be an easier competition....grrr... she always gets the stacked ones.... But we also get Yuzu... and my 2 favourite Russian pairs, esp B/K....

Yuzu SC? YES!!!

Love the anticipation and debating after we know, lol. Yuzu can handle any field, at any event, so it is not a big deal who he competes against and it becomes more of a *how much footage will we get* kind of thing.... so in that vein, hoping selfishly against NHK:) and hoping for SC where they are usually very accessible. Interested to know where the 3A will be unleashed and who has to face them first.... And I am really hoping Mai gets good assignments for a change... with her scores last year she would have won SC, so I hope the skate gods are with her this year....hmmm, SC might be good since we def have no big names of our own (unless gabby is recovered)....

I hope Yuzu has a few days at home before jumping on that plane to Toronto. But, it wouldn't surprise me if he gets on the plane already today so he can start working even harder...

Ok, shows are done. GP series assignment announcement is up next. Do we know the date? In my mind I see something about/around June 21 or 22, but that might be something else I am supposed to remember, lol....