Xen

Guys, more stuff to blackmail BOrser. -Quad Toe jump off, and Brian says Yuzu is competitive. -On a serious note, BOrser's and Jozef's quads look better than some of the current skaters.

I'm kind of amazed there is so much fierce criticism. You might not have him as your fave, but at least technically you can't deny that he is great. It's not easy to make figure skating look light and airy, but he does it time and again. IMO, that's how figure skating should be, and that's how great technique should be- giving off the impression of absolute effortlessness. Anyways, mind a former debate team captain joining the ranks of the Yuzu defense squad? I can't do cuteness, but uh, I can make sure no one will want to argue any further.

There are so many people who should join the planet as honorary members: this guy, and pedobird.

Well, that means either the ankle is okay, or we really do need to commence the android pooh operation.

@fireovertheice: Thank you for the video link! Love Max and Angelo's analysis. Now they're making me want to learn Italian just so I won't need to wait for translations. T_T And romance languages are ones I generally have a weird mental block for. If I'm not wrong, they were also gushing a bit about the technique of Boyang's lutz? With all those arrows and stuff. @Eclair: Thank you for the compliment. =) It was actually a bit harder than I thought initially to translate, and now reading it over again, I think I might have to reword some sections. hmm...I wouldn't be that pessimistic. Actually what Zhao is doing is completely changing the entire system of figure skating in China. I know it seems weird, but the schooling system in China is pretty bad for supporting athletes. Actually it's pretty bad if your focus is not on becoming a scientist or engineer. Essentially, home schooling is not really an option, so many skaters if they want to go pro, essentially drop out of the education system from elementary school onwards. So many professional athletes before end up essentially "flipping burgers at McDonald's" after they retire. Maybe you know already, since you understand Chinese, but for those who don't know, below is probably more a background of the environment that Zhao is working under. Placed the reply under spoiler since it's long.

No, it's a legitimate concern. =) However, there were guys who did jump harder jumps when they were much older, and even today, we have uncles like Voronov and Bychenko still jumping quads. Then there were also guys like Todd Eldredge who only started landing quads in their late 20's. Nobu is also late 20's, around 30, and started playing around with 4Lz for fun. T_T So it depends, but above all though, Yuzu does need to stay healthy. And it is fully up to him, will support him in his decisions.

2022 was the battle between the Yuzu fanboys to begin with in the men's, possibly a battle between the fangirls in the ladies. He just needs to charm the future pairs and ice dance teams for 2022 and it'll be an all-around battle between his fanboys/girls in each discipline. Hey, he could do that....

Ah okay, I didn't listen to it since it was in Japanese. I guess within this week we'll get some confirmation about it in China, or not since it may stir up nationalists sentiments (some would protest the need to enlist a japanese athlete to increase popularity for 2022). I'd be ecstatic if he continues, provided it is in good health conditions, but the number of men who last 3 olympics isn't that many either.

o_O I haven't checked chinese media in a while, but we need to check if its official channels or just rumors. But anyways, despite animosities between China and Japan politically, China and FS fans in China really do love this guy (actually know a couple non FS fans who like him too).

But....there are still poohs in disney stores in China. Wouldn't worry too much, since it's not actually being followed. I think it's just that in the media, you can't associate the pres with the bear.

Any local skating clubs have people selling used skates? My first pair of skates were a really nice pair of SP Teri that were being sold, because the girl's feet outgrew her boots in 2-3 months. They were shoes that were slightly broken in, since she was practicing doubles, but were just stiff enough for my single jumps for half a year.

Then you might want to try on risports, and if your feet measurements are correct, you should be about 250-255, since I think risports size should be about 0.8 cm longer than your actual feet. However, I'd recommend that you go to a pro shop to measure feet too. When I measured my own feet, they were about 22.3, so I first got 230s. Only when I went to the shop, they measured my feet to be under 22.0 cm. Also, that site I linked, you want to check what they say about the various brands. Because some brands will have naturally a narrower heel. The pro shop I go to, the technician initially wanted me to try Edeas, but they didn't work out. The edeas do work better for my heels btw, but the height in the toe-box is too low for me, only risports (and possibly SP Teri) work for me, so I went with Risports.

Hmm, the boots should definitely feel form-fitting, but not tight to the degree it kills you. I was told that it is a bit like buying dress shoes/heels. For example, I wear risports, and my feet measure to about 21.6 cm, my shoes are 225 and fit just about right, though slightly looser on my left (cause that feet is narrower). Have you guys had a chance to check out this site? https://www.kinziescloset.com/skate-comparison-guide.html You do need to factor in weight, but it helps as a rough guide.

To think last year we were all freaking out over 4A thinking, oh no not yet. But this year, with all the interviews, we're actually thinking that 4A is mild, and is okay, and is the least evil of all the possible jumps he's mentioned.

Um guys, let's take the music suggestions to the music thread? This main thread is getting really cluttered.

....La La land, Roxaaaannne.... On a serious note, if he has to skate to R&J, I hope he chooses a non-traditional version. If he has to skate to a warhorse, I'm open to swan lake variations, concerto de aranjuez or Adagio in G minor. Wait...what if he does bollywood >_>

...don't crush my hopes and dreams....I was hoping for taiko drumming with shakuhachi.

To the music thread we go. Off season is coming soon and we should brainstorm for cool programs (which he probably won't follow but oh well-amuse ourselves).

Please drag him to a doctor, please, he needs to get checked, checked! And maybe a bucket of ice water dumped on him to just chill...

Wow, nice hidden issue on that medal....

Nah, research will indicate that you need to eat his diet, jump 3A from counter, and land 14 quads per day on ice to get his skin. Though that metabolism that can burn anything...damn, can I get some of that?

Hmm...I would say that based on a general reading of Zhao's interview, and what he is doing with the Chinese skating feds, the bet seems to be that the sport is still going for balance. You need to have difficulty, but you still need to have artistry, which is why the chinese fed is spending all this effort to up the artistic sensibility of its athletes. I would argue that instead, the 4 years up to PC was a build up of momentum, a build up of the era that Yuzuru represents, which was somewhat cemented with Helsinki, and fully cemented with the olympics gold. And this does kind of sit with the general cycle of the sport- first technicals increase, then technicals level out as everyone gets the new difficulty, so then we swing back to artistry, GOE and balance and consistency. So Boyang brought in the 4Lz into conversation, but the real change was 2016/2017 when technicals increase with the arrival of Nathan Chen and his variety of quads. But that was short lived, and in 2017/18 season, the vaunted 4Lz was attempted and landed by so many guys, so judges were just not as impressed by it anymore-it's still rare, but not quite as rare as 2016/2017. As such, pure difficulty was no longer such a focus point, and we swung back to the issue of artistry, balance and consistency. Due to Olys, consistency was more important. And will be for a while, but the change in rules does mean that technicals might come back to be more important, but it may not, especially if Yuzu goes and brings back the 4Loop and the 4Lutz, the technicals are now even. What is surprising is that this increase of technicals, and the leveling out of technicals happened very fast-like 2, 3 seasons. Probably due to better technology, skaters being younger and drilling quads since young, etc. But I think that unless something extreme happens, even if we consider quints, that TES cap will be hit sooner than later. So then, the artistry and balance will still take more importance. Especially if the cut in the BV of jumps also gets passed.

Poor Yuzu, being forced to be in technical coach mode. Wait, should we take this to a separate event thread instead of filling up the gen thread?

Rice...so asian Yuzu, so asian. Yep, rice sale will soar! Dude...don't give him 5A Ideas! Think of our hair!

Hi guys I'm done translating the entire 53 min interview. Zhao is a talker! About scoring-if I had to be objective, Yuzu would score in the 9.25-9.75 range for me on average. I still consider him the strongest among the men's for the blend of artistry and skills. It's when things start dipping below 9 without a major fault from him, that i start thinking about underscoring. But the issue is again, how other guys score relative to him. Going back to the interview, I think with the 2nd Oly gold, Hanyu era (defined as where Yuzu's combination of top technique plus high artistry is the gold standard) has started. Even with the changes in the GOEs coming, that might still not change. So hopefully, we'll get more guys focused on polishing for the next quad. =)