Xen

With Jason and Cha pulling them in? More likely a dance battle, to see who can do the dorkiest dance in the team.

The best part of Jason going to TCC is someone else there who can speak Japanese with Yuzu! He may get to speak japanese at training now. =D I actually wonder if Jason is going to be partnered up with Boyang- such a contrast, and Boyang could learn a lot by emulating Jason's posture, lines, SS and artistry. =) And the way Brian told Jason about Boyang....at the time they decided on Jason, they knew they would take on Boyang. Maybe that was the winning argument from Tracy- to balance things out @KatjaThera As for TCC, like you said @KatjaThera , it's not a bad move to safeguard the school's reputation. If Yuzu decides to not go to Beijing, they have Boyang, Cha, and possibly Gogolev (depending on age requirement). If Yuzu decides to go to Beijing, well they asked him and he's probably consented and decided it's okay for now at least. He's gone through 2 olympic cycles where a teammate was a rival for a medal, I think he knows himself and how much direct competition he can handle by now. I also checked some Chinese websites and places regarding Boyang's move, and it's interesting-a lot of posters supported it because they think it's good for Boyang to move to a more competitive environment. The view is he isn't always able to move into competition mindset, and might be a bit behind in dealing with competitive pressure (Milan as example) because there is no direct competition in China. At TCC, he has guys above him (Yuzu), and guys nipping at his heels (Cha, Gogolev, Orzel)- this is a situation he has to adapt to and learn to handle going into Beijing, which realistically is true (too true). But oh my gawds, I want to be a fly on the ceiling rafters of TCC. T_T Also, best of luck to Jason. I've never understood why he couldn't get a 4T. He has decent height and distance on his jumps, and the 4T in some practices looked okay, or close. And KatjaThera, I'm also on the train for Javi to co-coach someone from TCC, maybe he could start with Gogolev and Shingo, since JGP series has lots of stops in Europe?

BOrser memes are going to be collecting up at some point. What will we do about the TCC team memes? We know that all the new guys can troll, since they kept silent for so long (Jason contacted right after USNats). And at some point, there might be a koi dance on ice number, since Yuzu can definitely persuade Jason and Boyang to indulge him.

Well Liubov and Dylan retired, so that actually freed up 2 spots for Barkell. And as Brian mentioned, shuffling skaters around to fit Jason, I think coach shuffling within TCC might have happened. I'm also not sure why Tracy is not a main coach for anyone yet. And some of the coaches that they are mentioning now, such as Preston, are coaches we've yet to hear of. So it's possible there are more coaches in the pipeline who will be moving up to more visible positions now. There may be, more coaches than we originally thought of in TCC too. Edit: on a serious note, I'm looking at all those photos Yuzu and Boyang took together at PC, and wonder....did they already know?! Also, I looked up Karen Preston- she finished 8th at 1992 olympics, not too shabby. Interesting if she's going to be Jason's primary coach.

I'm curious why people think Lizbet will leave. She had a pretty bad season yes, but the issue was more her injury. Also, where do you guys think she'll go? I don't think Eteri, so where else? Raf? Ravi?

I find it interesting that Tracy pushed for taking in Jason. First time I've heard of her rooting for a skater to join. But guys, Liubov and Dylan's coach was also Lee Barkell, so since they retired, Lee does technically have an open slot. I'm also going out on a limb and say that likely BOrser will not be Boyang's primary coach-it may very well be some combination of Tracy or even Lori Nichol (whom people tend to forget also worked as a coach before). The number of skating rinks in Toronto is also pretty good, so it's possible that one or 2 of these new skaters will train primarily on a non-TCC rink. Edit: oh guys, Yuzu +boyang+Jason= possibility of Koi dance group number on ice? O_O

TCC fans: Think we should be concerned for Brian's hair.... BOrser: you guys seriously *think* I'm concerned with my hair when I can become the most powerful anime sensei of all time?

Well the english sounds like a coaching change. Unless you think there is a possibility that the chinese coach joins TCC, which I find a bit harder to believe.

Wait for the season to start. If CSA doesn't go out and deny it publicly, it's pretty much a confirmation. CSA usually doesn't say anything, like W/L in Montreal I don't think was even announced in China. Pretty much that statement that Zhao made at the start, laid out CSA's plans. If it happens then just take that 1 statement as Zhao giving us confirmation.

Well isn't he *extra*....

It is, but he also changes from his skating leg in the hydroblade to the right leg for the loop take off. Mind you, it's still bloody taxing and difficult. And....for all the love of jumps, it's amusing that US media kind of forgot the existence of Timothy Goebel when we talk about quads these days. o_O

Guys, properly done, low sitting hydroblades are *hard*, and the cross-footed one that Yuzu does is among the hardest variation. It's not just a leg strength issue-edge control is also important, because how you use your edge, your balance can determine how much leg strength is needed (I can't do a shoot the duck, but I can hydroblade). Yuzu can go so low on his hydroblade, with so much speed, hold it for so long, and not need his hands...is pretty darn amazing. And if anyone thinks it is easy...um, I'll offer this-next time let's meet at a competition together, bring our skates and head to a different ice rink, and I'll try to teach you how to hydroblade. =D Curious ones can check out this video (https://youtu.be/JwgQwPnqKDc) As for hydroblade into a jump-uh no, that's too taxing on the skating leg. I think going into a back spiral, or even transitioning it to a spin entry would be more doable. As for what other moves Yuzu could try...I honestly want to see him do a really nice extended outside SE sequence. He already has nice SE from jump exits with minimum speed, I want to see what it could look like when he gets good speed going. Something like a giant SE that changes edges midway so it zigzags across the rink in an S shape, flowing inside to outside and so. And then go from that to an Ina Bauer. The SE sequence to end all SE sequences.

Korea....the magic land, where every single arrangement with TCC happens. IMO, I think the setup for Boyang's move was already decided almost immediately after the Olys. Going back to interview they had with Zhao, he did keep on saying that Yuzu had the "best" professionals of everything, and that Yuzu's competitive mentality is the most intriguing aspect of him. So it was going to happen at some point-it seems Zhao is determined to see if some of Yuzu's mentality magic would rub off. So the Fantasia on Ice was mostly for TCC team to decide how Boyang works with other skaters from TCC. Also, Boyang didn't update his Weibo since mid/late April. There were also reports in Chinese sports sites that sounded very sure that Boyang is heading to Canada in early June, after he rests up in Beijing and gets new gear ready. But nothing in those reports indicate long term, so I didn't want to bring them up. Just the tone sounded so definitive, and CSA didn't say anything publicly to contradict that. As for people worried about rivalries and so on. I'll just say this, the CSA would rather send skaters to locations which has skaters the CSA wants their skaters to "aspire to." For Boyang, it's clearly Yuzu. And no, Chinese sports world probably does not see Boyang and Yuzu as rivals to a degree, because rivals indicates a level of equality in skills which we do not believe exists yet with Yuzu and Boyang, we're not US media okay. Boyang's "rivals" are Shoma and Nathan, possibly Kolyada and Aliev. It also indicates that to a degree, Cha and Gogolev are not viewed as direct rivals in a sense, which might come back and bite us in the butt, but maybe CSA also figured, it's a type of rivalry that will help push Boyang. China doesn't have that many top men now, so finding a good environment which would motivate Boyang, is also a priority. If China can't provide that, then overseas it will be. @SparkleSalad: hmm...I think China wants to get on the podium first and foremost, because China does not view itself as having the quality and depth in the men's field as other countries. So I don't think China's goal, at least CSA's, is gold in men's individual. Especially if Yuzu is still skating at Beijing. If Yuzu still goes to Beijing in top form, and skates clean, then yes, it can settle for Boyang taking silver next to Yuzu, because that is one skater we do not doubt. We don't view him and Boyang as "rivals" since there is some implied consensus that Yuzu is superior in all aspects. Now, if we go to Nathan, Zhou and Shoma, that's a different situation, in which case CSA will aim for the gold (and this is where the move to TCC originates). So moving Boyang on a long term basis to TCC is a good move to safeguard against most possibile scenarios heading into Beijing.

re: Misha and other relationships that Yuzu has... Well, I've never understood why it should matter that much, frankly he could go date cacti- so long as he's happy. No, I think the issue is that some fans, possibly newer fans, are mixing his status as a star of figure skating with idol status in pop-culture. Pop/idol culture does tend to sell the idea that somehow this idol/star is married to everyone, with almost next to no privacy, since it's image selling all the time. =/ It's pretty sad, but much as I hate this since Yuzu did ask people not to think of him as an idol, a significant part of the fan population *does* do that. The scarier part is, this subset of fans are into him enough that they will follow him, but not so much into him or his skating that they'll probably find his interviews where he says not to think of him as an idol. A subset that is between a general FS fan and a diehard Yuzu fan- will stalk instagram/twitter/sns, but not really enter forums like PH, follow FS blogs etc to find out more depth. At least, that's my theory, and why it's so hard to keep that portion under control. =/ And it's sad that such a portion does shape people's perception of what Hanyu fans are like. =(

In case anyone wants to translate...something about 3A's in here?

1) Bielman requires more flexibility in arms and shoulders- this was Johnny Weir I think. 2) Yes, we tried to pull ourselves into bielman position once for fun, no spinning though. We helped each other into position by holding/pushing up knees etc, and I managed to get into it easily enough. But holding it was another matter- it required a lot more butt, back and thigh strength than expected, and that directly effected how much strain was on my shoulder/arms. Edit: since we're on the topic of Zu's spins, I tend to like his spins, they're gorgeous. But if I had to choose, I'd also choose sit spins for Zu, since he does have a knack of picking up speed, and is very low even on a back sit spin (which many skaters tend to hold at just or slightly more than 90 degrees-Zu sits pretty low on it), his broken leg is also amazing. But other spins: 1) A-spin: also known affectionately as the "butt spin." I really don't like this spin in general, because it usually invovles a very pointy tiny butt sticking up in the air in a really awkward position. Yes, we all know skaters have amazing glutes, but having focus drawn to it in a spin is a bit...ehem, ungraceful. Yuzu's recent conversion to a wider free leg, a slightly flatter butt curvature overall, makes it a bit more tolerable. 2) After a weekend of watching disaster camel spins at practice, I must say, Yuzu has beautiful camel spins-he has his shoulder and hips level (leg is actually high for a guy), and stretched out, fully extended. His speed on camel spins is also good- which is interesting because camel spins are one type of spins where it's not possible to gather more speed in the spin, you just rely on the entry.

If he did that? The sun would be rising from the west. >_>

I'm seriously worried he may have lurked in our music threads, I mean, some of my predictions were jokes....

Great, so can he and Javi do a closing number to "Under the Sea" next?

I love Yuzu, but I can't love his fashion choices at times. Starting with ill-fitting suits and now this!

Imagine Javi or Misha in red, then they can sing "Under the Sea, under the sea" If he made it more yellow, we even have Flounder!

*sighs* Okay guys, I've got defense squad banners ready to go and hand out, who's with me to defend them against the tabloids? It's kind of amazing fans are already not concerned, but tabloids still are all over it? I still don't get why it matters?

Well I would have bought 60% recovery, but it seems he recovered less and slower than I had thought (even in a close to worst case scenario).

There are times when I'm thankful for excel sheet work to distract me from the information pouring out of this thread. (I'm somewhat glad we as fans didn't know the full extent of it until afterwards- we'd probably have fainting cases if we did know)

Dude, Tao bao, Baidu, where the heck are you guys? We need to balance this NBC purchase power.....