Xen

It opens with an axel jump for a reason....

Depending on how GOE is awarded, this drives towards an emphasis on GOE, since almost all the top guys have fairly similar quads variety. In terms of GOE, it actually favors Yuzu, Shoma, Javi, and a lesser degree Boyang- guys who already put up decent to great GOE next to their BVs. Shoma: 4F, 4T, 4S, 4Lo, 3As (can be repeated) Boyang: 4Lz, 4T, 4S, 4Lo (haven't seen it much though), 3As (can repeat it even in combo) Yuzu: 4T, 4S, 4Lo, 4Lz, 3As (can repeat in combo) Nate on the other hand- I don't think he's an edge jumper, and he hasn't brought out the 4Lo yet. Also, for the last 2 competitions (OG and WC), was 4S the one quad that always messed him up? I'm actually curious how Jason Brown would do under the new GOE system. He's probably the best among the "no quads" skaters in terms of GOE and PCS points. Though who knows- he should be capable of a 4T.

Nah, Brian can be very strict, don't be fooled by him. Remember how pissed he was about Javi being late, and Tracy needing to talk him down from imploding? And he could turn people around on habits-case in point being Javi. But I also think that skaters who suit him more, are ones like Wakaba, Kaori and even Satton-skaters whom he needs to help out on regarding efficiency of training, not necessarily practice time put in. I'm more curious why Marin moved from Mie Hamada. It can't really be because she wants a stricter coach only, since Mie is plenty strict herself. I also don't see as much media attention on her as before.

Nah, it's more like- Yuzu: World domination? Nah, I'm not reaaaalllyy into it, but if you must insist....

The actual simpler solution would be to train judges on how to use a system that allows them to just press bullets for each element, and let the system do the calculations. But no, let judges do more maths in their head, or go by "impressions" for each positive or negative GOE type. Eeeehhhh.

Okay, well it's the weekend, how many hypos do we need to calculate? I think I had one where BVs went down by 10%. But the problem with tying % to BV, is this: I checked, and after factoring in GOEs, the value between jumps is something about 1.25 the original difference of the BV. Aka, if the BV diff between 4Loop and 4Flip was already 1 pt, after GOE calculations (say +5 GOE for each jump), the difference is now 1.25 pts. The difference between quads and triples will magnify.

Is it as ridiculous as we feared?! Which of my hypos will end up being our reality?

All the iterations of Ballade have been brilliant. After all 3 versions, I have to say, I can't see another skater skate to Chopin. Like Seimei, Chopin is Yuzu's music. Maybe in the future, he'll skate to more Chopin pieces of music, but for now, it is time to say goodbye to Fred.

It happens in all fandoms honestly. I've had my fair share at times with Yuzu fans-and have had interesting conversations with some in real life (some of whom had doubts about my fan badge status since I started off by gushing on other skaters). But so long as we can all agree to disagree, don't really see a huge problem. And also, we can be a bit sensitive at times too (Dick Button anyone?). But I also think that us on this forum, are pretty sheltered. I made the mistake of going to a chinese baidu bar for Yuzu, and some of the comments I saw and dislike/hate of skaters (even skaters like Javi whom Yuzu likes) was astounding. We're ignoring that due to his fanbase being that gigantic, there will inevitably be a small subset of fans who like Yuzu and truly dislike other skaters. And sadly, that will be remembered far more than all the truly awesome fans who are nice to other skaters, or even the technically minded ones who can hold their own in a debate. Then there is the fact that Yuzu has a fanbase that includes enough technically minded ones who can hold their own in a debate- that alone is enough to garner dislike, and any debate will be turned into "hate on X skater" easily, since that's the nature of discourse (someone will be right someone will be wrong). If you add in the perspective that many viewers see PCS=artistry, a subjective element, any normal debate, no matter how nice can be easily construed to be an argument/attack. There are even people offended by Max's video and explination of the jumps for Eurosport IT. Sometimes I do wonder...just how much does he lurk?! ( oh hai der lurker Zu if you ever stumble in here!) That entire section though, it did look as if he was working very very hard to be super diplomatic and nice about the answer-how to appear confident but not arrogant or putting others down. A hard task. I feel pretty bad for him at times since being the "standard" means needing the PR skills of a diplomat negotiating a peace treaty all the time (which btw, is not natural at all).

Hope for the best for Marin. IMO, if TAT still coached, I might have preferred TAT and Marin. Strict but good at pushing what each skater excels at. But oh well, cannot dwell on what would not exist.

@gladi thank you again for the awesome translations! Yuzu certainly doesn't dissappoint in the interview department. But correct me if I'm wrong, I'm starting to be able to decipher when he gets annoyed by questions-that look he had when he got asked the Nathan clean SP question was noticeable.

So, considering the ratio of rumors becoming true, high chance of Wakaba to camp BOrser?

Um, I actually did casually mention in the music suggestions thread that it would be *neat* to see older Yuzu doing an SP to "sing sing sing" and what type of crazy footwork stsq we'd get. For reference on music cut, go check out Jeff Buttle's version of "Sing Sing Sing", which he skated to at Olys. =) I think Jeff would have fun choreographing it for Yuzu, should they actually decide to skate to it.

Ah okay, so maybe the poohs actually vary in their roles depending on what the tone is that day. They spot the judges who will lowball, when the rest of the judges are scoring okay; or kiss the judges who may score him well when the judges have a tendency to lowball.

But that photo was a male judge, was the US judge a female judge? Maybe the guy who got hit was a judge who actually scored him well. And the pooh noticed and went in for a flying kiss.

Hmm...my theory: the poohs are actually good luck charms. A soft, plush fluff toy is actually a great way to help relieve stress, which admittedly judges all need after a long day of competitiong, listening to Warhorse XXX for the nth time. So whenver it's Yuzu's turn to get scores, the Poohs detect that some judges will automatically lowball him a bit, but also whether any judge who may score him well is starting to nod off to sleepy land. Hence when the poohs are tossed onto the ice by fans, unbeknownst to the fans, the poohs will automatically zoom in on which nice judges are not alert enough, and hence land on said judge to give a quick emergency hug. A bit of a plea of "wake up, please, we love you." Okay. I'm off my rockers. @kaerb: sometimes I wonder, if satellites here put our talents together, we can write a pretty good series of articles on skaters. There's quite a number of us who are decently knowledgeable about skating, and happen to like skaters other than just Hanyu.

well, they could invite zu to SA, but I do not.think they will, it is just hard to organize the guys this time, Zu either butts heads with Nate, Shoma or Mikhail, no way to avoid that.

same, boy is being king of efficiency if he is back in toronto. Did have a fanyu rinkmate say he got spotted at haneda last week, so if that is true, okay maybe he is back in toronto, touch base with Jeff, David and Shae-Lynn, then Brian, and fly back for show. Water the cacti in the process.

I ran out of places to put nathan. If not that then, NHK gets Zu and Shoma.

Did you? I imagine that Jeff and Todd are giggling seeing that reply.

Well if it's recent, I'm just happy that he's healing and stuff. Must say though, nice timing of the posting. Just when fans start to get depressed, and the haters stir up talk about him being gone, we get a post by the guy who has seen the 4A in Harness, come out with Yuzu and the caption "quad king." Cacti are now blooming.

Hmm.... Well I'm reading around places, so there are guys I won't dump into the GP pool: Ge, Bychenko, Rippon, Aaron. Others I won't factor in, because they could go anywhere: Brezina, Majorov, Voronov My guesses are SA: Nathan, Tomono, Aliev, Boyang, SC: Messing, Shoma, Jason Brown, Yuzu, CoC: Boyang, Kolyada, Vincent Zhou, Keiji Tanaka NHK: Shoma, Jason Brown, Tomono, Dennis V., CoR: Kolyada, Samarin, Vincent Zhou, Aliev, IdF: Yuzu, Nathan, Dennis V, Aliev (either this or CoR) This looks scary.

Yep, I think SC and COR is more likely for Yuzu if he doesn't get NHK. Timing wise it works well for him, and he's well liked in Russia. Since Mikhail will likely get CoR, that blocks Nathan, Shoma from going. It does leave open the possibility of Boyang also to COR, since Russia/China travel distance isn't that great. As for SC: I guess Keegan will get the pick for SC, but since he's not top 3, any of the top 3 could end up at SC. Or JSF could get crafty and have Shoma and Yuzu both at SC and NHK? It might mean JPN men go 1-2 each competition and secure 2 slots for GPF. o_O For the men, SC might just be the wildcard GP, where anyone could show up. For ladies, I think COR will probably have both Evegnia and Alina, plus another 3rd lady (Tsurskaya?), and just lockdown the first 3 places. I agree with the other ones you picked. Kostner: SC/SA+IdF Tennell: SA+whichever competition USFed thinks she has a shot of placing top 4? Alina: SA/CoC+CoR/NHK/IdF Evgenia: CoR+NHK Daleman: SA+ CoR/NHK

Plot twist: After the rumor of french fed's offer gets spread out: CoR makes an offer to JSF, and they conspire to have Med and Yuzu at CoR, meanwhile JSF gets to have Med and Tarasova/Morozov at NHK, and any pick of a Russian dance team (cause non medaled) Chinese fed decides this is too insulting, and in exchange for Yuzu at CoC, offers Sui/Han and Boyang to NHK Meanwhile Skate Canada is fuming, and in exchange for getting Yuzu at SC, tempts JSF with Daleman, Wea/Po and Gilles/Poirier (a 3-hit combo) JSF looks back at French fed and asks what else can be offered?

Who knows, before that happens can we get Peizerat as French fed president? Pretty please?