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I think it's a smart strategy to stick with the quad toe and do what he is comfortable with because you never know what else can happen... I really want him to have clean skates at the Olympics so he can feel happy with himself and be proud of that. I want him to be Patrick Chan and do what that guy does best.

Everyone says Marin is cute, and she is, but I actually think Mai is more beautiful. A different kind of pretty.

I just love him more in glasses.... and I love him more without... and with...and without....

They would not even need that clue, honestly. Yeah, I was surprised they left It too, but he wasn't *Yuzuru HANYU!! * back then. Doubt they expected people would travel there and try to find him.

I'm so glad Yuzu is under the radar and there are no new statements from him or his people or anything else. He's the mystery right now that no one has seen (javi doesn't count) and trying to figure out how to compete against an invisible mystery can be difficult in many different ways, including psychologically. I, for one, certainly hopes he makes none of his normal statements when he arrives at an airport for competition ie. "i'm in perfect condition." Maintain the mystery and that works on the psyche of others... and at the Olympics it can often be a mind game. All eyes will be on him in practice. No surprise about fans finding out his bus route to TCC in Toronto, it doesn't have throngs of people everywhere other than the usual places and times...but I bet he still has his anonymity when doing other things beyond the rink.... although I do think as the years go by that he is noticed more and more... ie. the airport pics this year The article was fine. For people starting to get interested in the Olympics who want to know the major players, I thought it did a good job of hitting the major points of his history and global impact on the sport. I would definitely think, hmm, who is this interesting fellow? and he would stick in my mind as I was anticipating the men's competition in PC.

I know... exactly one month until practice. Wow. I wonder what he's feeling... calm and in control, nervous about his current state and the little time left... (I think the last part is definitely me) Just yesterday we could say, no worries, it's next year.. now it's like 1MONTH!!

Nah, not everybody even knows what the Seimei star is... I certainly didn't for a while, so i doubt she is "into it" that much. She is probably just saying everyone was a star today. And who knows what a clean program means in Yuzu's case anyway at this exact moment.... just doubles? only triples?

We can only hope.... ah, the scraps we feast on...

Just seeing the term 'Japan's ace' made me smile since we don't usually use the term ace to describe the champion.... and it made me smile because while that makes Shoma Japan's ace, it must mean Yuzu is their wild joker card... capable of anything, unpredictable, and able to turn everything on its head. I like that

I was really surprised with the 1 camera thing, as well as it being beside the judges. No wonder so many obvious URs are missed. I think it is awful when so many closeups are available from pro cameras and the world can see them clearly. And ita about arm variations. If you have trained that way all your life, it is technique. Yuzu and Mai adding them now, for example, and for just 1 jump is something extra. I remember when Boitano started it... it was so effective!! They have to fix the tunnel pcs scoring.... it IS possible to score differently in each category, judges should learn to use it properly. Just because you have tons of transitions does not mean your choreography, performance or interpretation is great... I find it can be the exact opposite, and vice versa.

Still over 5 hours until my New Year's.... With the new year comes a month of figure skating... although our planet will remain without its dear overlord a while longer... US Nats this week, Canadians the next, then I think Euros the week after that and then rounding out January with 4CC.. and then the BIG ONE. May all those events distract us and keep us busy while we await "The Return."

Thanks, Its no big deal. Any excuse for a winter escape!!

I love New Year's Eve Day. Every hour someone else welcomes in the New Year. I haven't even had my lunch yet Enjoy the festivities everyone!! Be happy and stay safe and warm wherever you are! It is very cold here... usually we get this cold closer to the end of January and February... not December. I can't even go south to the Caribbean because I"m awaiting surgery and don't want something to happen while out of country.... but when it's done,. I think I'll head to a nice beach!!

Yes, the cold does seem to keep germs away...I like the bitter cold as long as it is DRY. The only thing I dislike is driving in winter. If I didnt have to drive to work, winter would be fine for me... I would rather dress in layers to warm up than be so hot I cannot take more layers off... Yuzu did say his favourite season was winter, so I hope he has been enjoying how beautiful it has been with all the snow... Christmas Eve was gorgeous, like a postcard!!!

It IS colder than usual, earlier than usual, but I havent been sick this winter yet which is unusual, nor has my workplace suffered any outbreaks ( and they usually get sick before anyone else), so flu season hasnt been that bad.... as for the asthma, well, I guess he knows what to do by now yet will still suffer attacks as we know.... knock on wood that the plane he takes to Asia isnt filled with sick people!!

I love how no one feels sympathy for the -25C part...not counting windchill... better than too hot, though... Getting close to New Year's for some of you, so HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Old or new? If new, wow, Its -25C out this morning... thats dedication...

What did yuzu do at Sochi? Did he go train with J Team alone? He and the team are stronger now so I can't see them separating for long, especially in the current situation... athletes can move in to the village fairly early, right? So, maybe that time will be enough.

Personally I hope he has no contractual obligation to return to Japan for promos or any other reason... or if he does, I hope they send a camera to Toronto instead ...They need him to be prepared and ready to compete, imho, so if that means being in Toronto right up until the last week before competition, that's what it means. I can last.. if he can stay off the ice for weeks to get better, I can survive too.

Aww, now it is kind of boring. Just average hair without a twist. I could have given him that cut... without the fancy credentials and cost....

If they did that age guessing thingy on him, i wonder what his age would be... 10? Yuzu is always younger than he is (even female, lol), i'm sure shoma is here too!!

OH Brian. I can understand the not wanting to watch the Calgary long program but he won both the short and long programs in Sarajevo and should be proud of those.... but, yes, when you are a perfectionist and expect so much of yourself.. and you're so close... his success to others felt like a failure to himself... the 2 are very similar in many (not all) ways re: how they approached skating, which is yet another reason why Brian is the coach for Yuzu.

Poor souls have no new material... the Olympic runup will kill them!! (Not really, but you know)

I would love that. It would be the most extra/awesome thing!!

At this point, none of the other top contenders, are showing any kind of form that lets the world know they are front runners. Recent events show them all to be off form, although we haven't seen Boyang or Patrick recently... and only last week did we even hear that Patrick is feeling motivated again. No one is stepping up to be the front runner in this horse race right now... they all seem to be highly strung and not performing, building, or biding their time, so Yuzu with his own situation is perfectly in the mix. It's basically 6/7 weeks until go time. Good luck.