Étudeesque

Anyone got the link to the Orser interview? Seems like it was great

You and me both

I really wonder what the state of Yuzuru's 4Lz is... Was it Max that said 60% awhile ago? I don't think that was in a layout though, so it could perhaps be very low when in a layout and one of the reasons why he is not thinking of putting it in. In some of his comments it sounds like he is not considering it at all and in other, like the one below, it seems more plausible (don't remember the source of the quote sorry!) Could the situation be that he is going the clean consistency route through the GP series and if that doesn't work he will train the 4Lz like crazy for Olympics? Can I ask what you guys think - isn't it risky going the clean consistency route since it may(?) result in peaking waaay too early? Kinda feels like the injury last year and late start almost helped Yuzuru peak at the right time. He has peaked quite often at GPF hasn't he? Though it is hard to say given his injuries 14-15 and 15-16... Sorry now I'm just babbling

I'm coming around to using Seimei again (it is great, and best of all, a truly creative program), slightly worried as always about the layout. While I didn't quite dare to believe that he was going to add a 4Lz the single 3A worries me a little... Also feels it should be kept in mind when counting quads amongst the competitors that, at least as far as I know, Uno, Chen and Jim are all doing two 3As. So Yuzuru is basically a 3A behind Uno and one quad + one 3A behind Chen and Jin. Since Uno is starting to get similar PCS and GOEs as Yuzuru it all worries me a bit. Chen and Jin both seem quite consistent with their jumps (though with easier layouts PCS-skill wise), but during Olympics PCS do seem to come a bit more easily (if clean especially). Jin does seem in clips to have improved his skating skills quite a bit though. Good for him, but Yuzuru's consistency plan worries me, since his mistakes seems less to do with difficulty and more with his mentality (focusing too hard on being prefect) - of course though a new jump would make it harder mentally as well. While the 4T-3T (rippon) looked great I don't think it would suit Chopin very well

Thank you so much! Was a bit worried I was going to be a bit blasted but people are so nice on here, even when I'm being pessimistic and worried I do actually feel a lot better now

Yeah, I hope you are right. I didn't think Seimei was very reactive actually, more Chopin (given his comments on SPs after Worlds and comments now) but nevertheless I have no real problem with him repeating both programs. Looking forward to new Chopin a lot actually. The reactionary part seemed to me be the 3A as a back up and 4TLo3S, given his earlier comments on always doing two 3As, I hope he didn't change his mind cause he felt pressured to add a quad simply for the reason of having another (if judges love the quads). Then again I find it hard to think Yuzuru would do anything else then he wants... so it is probably fine.

Fans are allowed to be critical and worried. It does not mean people are being entitled. It would be uncomfortable if people were just positive all the time. Blind love/hero-worship is really scary in fandom. I'm glad people here are allowed to love and worry and question, even Yuzuru's decisions. That does of course not mean people should be mean and pressure Yuzuru. I'm fine with him doing Seimei again (sure bit sad he is repeating two programs that he already to me has perfected), but a bit worried for his nerves with all the talk of 3A as a back-up and the 4TLo3S combo which seems more risk than it is worth. Then again, he and his team have surely thought this through and he is apparently in great shape and the layout is probably what he is most comfortable with.

I agree with this, though I slightly prefer H&L (that step sequence ). Seimei is great sure but H&L just felt like a development to me. Tiny BV addition. Since Yuzuru wants to win I get the clean program approach. If he is going for clean programs consistently then I would actually prefer he kept the same layout like last season. This change does not feel like any real commitment to development and honestly the 4TLo3S combo (even here) to me looks heavy and awkward. I doubt it will get similar GOE as the 3ALo3S combo nor fit as well into the program as a whole (sorry if I'm being harsh). Also if he makes a mistake and falls on some of the earlier quads I think it just becomes riskier - better with two 3A combos late in the program in such a case.

So pretty 3As

Not gonna lie, I'm a bit sad and very frustrated... Little bit cause he is repeating two programs, but mainly cause it all (reading his interviews and so) feels so reactionary. I don't like the 4TLo3S combo at all, it sticks out from his otherwise beautiful jumps and why??? To be able to have the 3A as a back-up? The BV change is so small and I honestly (sorry ) don't believe that the combo is ever going to get more than 2 GOE (probably just around 1). Sure some commentators will approve since everyone just seems to be counting quads these days () and ignore developments in construction of program and the skating quality in between jumps. Semei is a great program, better than anything the other guys have put out there but H&L was, at least to me, a great improvement in terms of Yuzuru's use of his skating skills. It was definitely more intricate (the step sequence, more steps overall and more steps later in the program), the construction/placement of elements was more difficult (and rewarding I think). This all seems like a step back, and sure it's the Olympic Season and I understand and support the decision to do something Yuzuru feels comfortable with so I can live with that. But I don't think we are going to see 4Lz (sorry again). He is not going to improvise and add a new jump unless he loses going almost clean before PC or for some other reason he feels he needs to change things (the reason is going to have to be pretty drastic - he is stubborn and adding a new jump is a huge step). He has never added a new jump on the fly has he? He is going to go for trying to go clean consistently and better his GOEs (didn't he imply as much at the beginning of the summer?). I don't think the 4TLo3S combo + having 3A as a backup is a good idea at all. If he makes a mistake and does the 3A, yes he can save points by doing it (BV) and doing it well (GOE) but any kind of mistake (pop/fall) is going to do real damage PCS wise. I'm sure he is not going to get more than 95 if he makes a mistake, so that's about 3-4 points lost as well. The combo is more risk prone. On a brighter side though, if he says he's comfortable with this layout he is probably already close to mastering it. So perhaps the plan is the best going forward. I can't help mourning the second 3A though and wish that he was doing something new (program/jump/music cut/*choreographic sequence/step sequence/anything). *I would actually love if he changed something in his choreographic sequence I really hope he reworks the step sequence so it more often gets a level 4. Honestly I'm a bit worried that Yuzuru is in such a mind space that he wants to have a 3A as a back up plan. I'm really starting to dislike the quad craze (not the quads themselves but the bonus that seems to go with) and Olympic Season. I want my pessimism to be wrong so feel free to disagree, sorry if I am being a bummer I just really like Yuzuru's skating and I get frustrated by the huge and singular focus in the sport on Olympics

Pretty cool how often Yuzuru got StepSequence4 and full GOE-credit. Must say I love H&L stepsequence Best execution of it perhaps? WTT?

Can't really understand why Yuzuru's 4S and 4T in the FS at Worlds didn't get +3GOE, same with his 4S3T at WTT - it was amazing. Also, the judges are way too focused on performance as a whole. I think if you make a mistake early they will be harsher on the rest of the elements, which obviously they should't be since that is not one of the rules - that you must go clean/nearly clean to get high GOEs Hopefully I'm overreacting/paranoid and wrong

I also included Worlds15 here beneath where you can see how he does steps + spins (in Worlds16 he does steps+jump) at the same moment in the music. I think it is interesting to compare:

Maybe I'm a bit harsh on the combination, I do love the turn he does at 2.20 with the music so. The entrance of the spin is absolutely beautiful, I completely agree . Thing is though with the first two spins especially, it is not that I think that he is not acknowledging the music - he is - but the rise in the 'theme' of the music, the building of intensity is, in my mind, not emphasized nearly enough. If you look at Worlds16, he is doing steps and transitions at this point and he increases the intensity of the steps first (1.41) and then he is increasing in speed, which matches the rising of intensity of the music. In Chopin 3.0 he exhibits the increasing intensity in the second spin by increasing the speed and also by doing a sit spin. Similar to in Chopin 2.0 the first spin is calmer (but in that program it is placed in a place where the music in kinda decreasing in intensity) and the second is put where it is building. This can work in Chopin 3.0 since the timing in music of the first spin is calmer, but it is still building which I think needs to be emphasized more. The second spin also needs some tweaking but it is very minor to just emphasize more as well, and looking at Yuzuru doing that spin in other programs I'm sure he will do just that. I just don't think the rise and fall of intensity works nearly as good as it does in Chopin 2.0 - right now. It is still early days though, and it is already a lot better

It was really nice to see it clean. Regarding choreo and transitions I'm sure he will add a lot of things (hasn't had time to work with Jeff yet right?), also the ice rink seems quite small to me? Which I'm sure makes it harder to do more transitions. Agree with the spin though, it still feels awkward to the music and honestly - unpopular opinion - but I'm not completely sold on the combination timing-wise. Yes it is absolutely beautiful with the landing of the second jump + arm movements to the music but leading up to it and when he takes off - I dunno but I don't really think it worked with the music. Hopefully though, it will get better I'm all for him doing Chopin again, I just don't want him to compromise on it artistically for the sake of getting the jump order to work... But this is Yuzuru and I think all his programs have been great when it comes to the connection between skating and music so I'm going to stay positive even though I find the program a bit jarring at this stage, probably due to it being very difficult not to compare it with Worlds16, GPF15 and NHK15, gotta have faith I guess. The 3A was beautiful! Hoping his spread-eagle-4Lo-spread-eagle will become at least as good as the one at worlds