Xen

The problem is this, some of these writers are people who are "armchair commentators and journalists"-and usually don't understand the technical aspects of figure skating. Minus Angelo and Max (our favorite Italian uncles), most of these commentator/journalist mix guys really don't understand at times (if they don't have an FS background), nor comment on the technical aspects of figure skating. And whether it's because they don't understand it, or they have the words edited out, most journalists tend to not comment on the quality of the jumps. So to a degree, I do *personally* view many other journalists on the sport as "mercenary"- out for clicks and what would get sold quickly in their target audience. Sadly for some, it is catering to the US media-and sadly some of that catering is against Yuzu (because he isn't the underdog narrative that US media likes as a good story). For example, in the article it's never mentioned what Yuzu's jump quality is. They casually forget to mention that despite easier jumps, Yuzuru has hands down, the highest GOE marks of the men. And that it's partially due to his giant PCS and GOE advantage that many younger guys are just tacking on quads, attempting to use the brute force of BV in the hopes that a "imperfect" Yuzu can be beaten. However, Yuzu skated a clean short, with +3 GOEs on plenty of jumps, and still received that for jumps even in the long. Ugh, I really want to re-write this article. >_<

Well I think throughout the article, there are just some subtle undermining of stuff said by the coaches. Also, look at the opening: See, if I were a fan, I can still go neutral, but put it a bit differently: "The Japanese star has always longed to be on the cutting edge of figure skating, and is considered by many coaches and commentators alike, to be one of the leaders of the quadruple jump revolution that swept the sport during the four years following his first Olympic gold medal in 2014. " There is a bit of a tonal difference. Quite often, the FS media from ice network when writing about Yuzu, sounds like speech you'd get from diplomats, trying to be very very diplomatic and round-about in telling you why you are wrong and "we" are royally pissed off. Edit: One of these days, I need to start a side project where I re-write articles and actually make them complimentary and neutral at the same time. Ugh...positive diplo-speech to put it mildly.

No, the mixed signals is that I think Phil is just very perfunctory in his praises. Either he has been edited, or he writes a certain way to appear balanced, even if he likes or dislikes Yuzu personally, he has to appear to maintain neutrality. So his article, while praising Yuzu, a lot of the praises are just more common, routine compliments and descriptions by now. Not a whole lot of it is really something you'd get from an actual heartfelt fan.

Oh dear. Hello Dear Brian Orser, if you ever ever lurk here. Um, it was just a newspaper clipping, and while true many many of Boyang's fans, and the FS community in China will generally be very glad if you ever take Boyang under TCC wings, even for just a month. There is no pressure meant. We know our media is crazy too. Oh...it's not the first time tbh. Last year they skated in May at my local rink, doing a show for the rink's re-opening. According to rinkmates, all the days they did they show, the entire Chinese national team ran behind schedule because they were just signing stuff left and right, something about a very very long line. And there were probably less fans than at Ice Fantasia. Still though, Boyang's team will need to come up with a good fan/media strategy going forward. His popularity will be probably more than his team expects. =)

Join the ranks then. Resistence is futile.

But doesn't Yuzu and his "shu-pah" and "ton-ton-shu" make you just want to....leap off for an axel?

Dooo iitttt.....join the illustrious ranks of Doh' M's for skating.

Wait wait wait-how is it my fault? It's not like I interviewed Zhao and stuff. The newspaper article already existed, it was just a matter of time before someone translated it (and actually people on twitter beat me to it too!). I feel falsely accused...I need a pooh now.

...That is kind of creepy. O_O

In the end, what skaters do with their instagrams is their own business. Yuzu and Zhenya's lives are dramatic enough as it is. We don't need to go around speculating and stirring up more stuff. I mean c'mon, we're a freaking fan forum, not a weekly tabloid!

But he *is* an artist. His weibo name is/was "人间艺术家” or was it "人民艺术家“- but anyways it translates as "People's artist" or "artiste among the commoners" type of title!

He mouthed "that's nice." And while Tessa kept her poker face on, you can tell Scott was getting into the program, since his expression changed a lot more. You can tell who had the neater notes to hand in from this pair.

Yeah, and it's nice that right now most people are more or less eyeing it as short term arrangement. Honestly people in Chinese FS boards are all going "OMG OMG, even if it's just 1 month we don't mind, it's so nice he finally gets to train with his idol!"

I think KSF and CSA could come to peace terms. But SC is a different matter, and that kind of hinges on how Orzel shapes up. I've heard elsewhere that he might be only part time in TCC, part time in Raf's camp? There are 2 other possibilities- get Boyang to TCC for 2 years to get his SS up (since BOrser says it takes 1.5 years avg), but get him out before Beijing. Or, one I mentioned before if he goes long term-have Lori as his primary coach, but have TCC and BOrser as a secondary coach and training place. This would allow his SS to stabilize, but avoids the potential clash with the feds in TCC. Then there's also the Granite club too, where Patrick trained. He has more training locations in Toronto than just TCC. But realistically, they're probably going to just have TCC as a secondary training spot and split his training between Canada and China.

Why just 2D printing, why not 3D printing of Yuzu? o_O If you must do it, do it all the way-it's the extraness that the Lord of Extra deserves.

I'm learning outside loops. Today, I managed one, and got so surprised I promptly fell on my next attempt. Total number of falls this week alone, when practicing footwork, has exceed the total falls I've had doing jumps for the past 3 months. Insides loops feel so much easier (just feels like a twisty bracket). Outside loops are evil! Evil!

He might be fine with listening and reading-he has to do that anyways for skating. And then he's gone overseas to work with Lori before. Writing and speaking are the issues-and I think that's somewhat the same for Yuzu. That's why I think it's short term for now- they're just testing waters to see how he adapts. Plus, with all the attention that may come his way, he has to get used to it and CSA needs to figure out their media strategy. I think last season he did fine with his media interviews, but the media attention post Olympics is more, and will be more heading into Beijing. He's not quite at the level of Sui/Han yet in ability to handle the media. Furthermore, I saw that in the criticism of Zhao's interview post PC (the one I translated), some people were also saying Zhao wants the media to stop hyping up skaters-so a part of me wonders if they are also moving him overseas during the off-season to decrease and shield him from too much media. I mean, yes Chinese media can potentially try to get interviews overseas, but skating is not so popular that they'd fly people over and stalk him-and he's far from having the attention Yuzu gets. Honestly, if Chinese media show up in TCC, ten bucks that as soon as Yuzu shows up, all cameras will point towards him (even if they were interviewing Boyang to begin with). As for the potential "media wars"- I'm actually more neutral about it. See, in Chinese FS media, Yuzu is kind of god-tier level. Then there is Javi and Patrick at saints-level. And down in the common plebs level we've got Shoma, Boyang and Nathan. Vincent Zhou is everyone's favorite adorable nephew. So as far as Chinese media is concerned, Boyang and Yuzu are not the same level, and the direct rivals are Shoma and Nathan. And it's not nice to go after a training mate (for some reason Chinese media generally refrains from going after training mates, even if said person is a rival of a Chinese favorite), so I think if anything, they'd actually go after Shoma and Nathan, and in some weird way, Yuzu would get defended in Chinese media as a comrade in arms with Boyang. o_O

Or maaaybe you guys were speaking in a foreign language around him and he's a lost and confused puppy? Oh, that reminds me of something. People were wondering what Boyang is like in training- well I have some clips rinkmates took when the Chinese national team came to my city last year and performed at one of the local chain rinks affiliated with CSA now. Boyang was there, and well...he's very quiet and focused when he trains, barely pauses. If you imagine someone who's running or skating with earphones on, in their own little world not really paying attention to anyone/anything, that's Boyang. A bit like Zu, minus the intensity. Very very "my pace"- just doing his own stuff, which is probably why he's been able to handle pressure well. A more active, and alert version of Shoma perhaps.

@Lilona: That's what I heard from rinkmates too, that Boyang is MUCH cuter in real life than in photos, and he's very cheerful. Also, a bit of a pushover for fans (so long as you don't overdo it), so if he goes to TCC, he's likely to be the one pushed around by Zu and the others.

is swan lake now a rite of passage for ladies?

o_O is this his or a copycat?

Which do you think will win in the end, the heart or the hair? Psst, if Yuzu is involved, is the hair ever capable of winning?

Well if we ever meet face to face in a comp, I'll allow you to squeeze my hand when he skates (just go gently please). Next, I'll teach you how to do a death glare, so you won't ever have to fight. =D @WSYZ: Here ya go, courtesy of @Sportymags, full description and photos of the event https://sportymags.wordpress.com/2017/09/27/yuzuru-hanyu-the-case-of-the-2-right-handed-gloves/

I wonder where he gets it from. Like I have a death glare learned from my grandparents, but I wonder if Yuzu's is actually learned from his mom, and if yes, has mom actually used one before on him? That's the best way to learn.

But about the issue of Boyang, also raises another issue-that is media created rivalry between all the TCC boys, Yuzu, Cha, Gogolev etc, that may occur going forward. I pray, that it won't happen. But man if it does, us fans will have our work cut out to avoid and block negativity going forward-we have to bring some positvity and sportsmanship to everything. Now onto normal programming----I got billed for my Sendai shirts. Yay!