Yatagarasu

Some gifs from Boyang's SP video ... that I still cannot find. http://eggplantgifs.tumblr.com/post/176625764538/boyang-jin-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps-2018

Hey, you never know. Maybe we should have placed bets on it, to pass the time. If anyone is willing, please say ACI itself so that we counter-jinx it, since so many of us already talked about next week I do hope you're not right Ral as I don't think I can take that. Goodness.

My brain broke a little, don't do that to me!

Jinx. Now watch it be in September. All the alcohol is on you, if that happens, just so you know. (for the record, I am joking. Honestly. I still think there's a chance for next week but we won't know ahead by more than maybe a day)

I forgot about that one but yes, it's really apt here, isn't it? And who knows, they played darts and hit outside of the board? By a few miles?

I only know because I went looking recently It would be but ... torture. It's torture time for Zu fans. Sigh. Apart from Zu's programs, and Jason's FS, I think we know all of it, and we've seen quite a few. So yes. Please.

I just watched that yesterday and kept sighing how he can do soft so well as he just flows over that ice and how I would not mind that at all. @airi yes, it is too soft for Shoma and I don't think he's connecting to the music at all. I think wanting to challenge him is fine but at the same time, the challenge shouldn't be too far out of the skater's reach and right now at least, I don't think this is for him.

*shifty eyes* Shh. Shhhhh. I'll share. Shhh. @KatjaThera ahh but it was our, Western, 4th when we got the news. It was pure luck, considering how it leaked, and I don't think we can be lucky twice in a row

BTW today is the 4th, and last year, we got info about Media day on the 4th. So I'm not holding my breath as we lucked out there but .... *commences intense foot tapping*

Well, Zu has massive cachet now, with his two OGMs so that is definitely a security of a sorts. Still, I've always sort of thought, if he goes clean, the judges will give it to him but it's not just throw candy at him, as it's been with some others. I mean realistically, if anyone had skated that SP for the Olys as he did, would it really have been 111 or would we have seen a new WR? This season with the rules change is going to be something as all sorts of things can be justified with 'we're getting used to it'. I mean the weird-o scoring at Asian Trophy today where we have gaps like IN ranging from 5.5 to 9 isn't because they suddenly forgot to score but because they're already jockeying for position. If that is a +4/9.0 there, then somewhere else, that'll be a certain skater's +4/9.0 again later in the season while objectively, we know that those last two, +4 and a +5/9.0+ should be for the top of the line only. Etc etc etc. So in terms of Dai at Nationals I don't think he can outscore Zu but he sure can be close in terms of PCS and internationally, for all the others, who the heck knows. Lombardia here we come and that'll be the first headache as scores there and scores at ACI...

Yes, for the most part the PCS progression was steady for skaters then for Nathan everything went haywire but Shoma climbed pretty quickly too. If you want fun facts about PCS, Yuzuru never equaled, never mind surpassed PCS that Dai used to get at Nationals. Yes, I mean even after Dai retired, never went as high. It is always hilarious to me considering his, well, everything, but there you go. It's going to be really interesting come this season because I wonder what they'll end up doing this time around.

Nope, that's it.

It's mostly why I will wait though I think Shoma's are what they are. It's what I expected anyway. But Alina's music cut needs changing.

You never know I guess? Maybe they mean dedicated it to the dog. For some reason.

Masaru is Alina Zagitova's dog, that she got post-Olympics, the Akita.

Quick reminder that the very first Challenger event of the season for the Seniors starts today! It's a small event but still! Hopefully some good skating and fun

Of course he does. He smiles so sweetly but on the inside he's cackling like mad.

Yay for going! Ok so for practices, the thing is you cannot attend practices just like that. Some competitions have what we call open practices and those are the ones that the public can watch. Some competitions have no open ones (like in Japan, that's a no go without even asking). I honestly have no idea if 4CC this season has some of the practices marked as open, so that you could go (and if you need tickets for that too, which sometimes you do). I tried looking but I cannot find it, so maybe it's a little early. I would try following this thread, where others who are going are posting and you can ask there too! As the event draws near, we'll know more!

With the new season on the way, the designated thread is now up!

Red sleeves!! Gimme! Gimme!!! Full body shot, gimme!!!

@WinForPooh maybe or may have secured the idea of going for a safe bet even more so. Guh, please Yuzuru, put us out of our misery.

If he did Bowie, we'd all die. (yes, please) (with make up)

100% true but at least it would get us through those 24 hours. Which is a big something at this point. It is true we had a lovely ice shows season. No doubt about that. The thing is - I miss competitions!!!! It just isn't the same, shows and that rush of adrenaline when I wake up at 4 am and can feel my hair going grey and yet there is that something that just makes me so excited. Even when it's a first pancake. So knowing the programs, when we know for everyone else, and have seen some of them ( - __ - ) ( (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ ) would make me sigh with delight.

Should be, yes. It's different music cuts anyway, which might actually give it a fresh feel now that it's shorter, and he is very good at fiddling with those. 20, 30 times if that is what it takes ....

@rockstaryuzu Before I forget, in re to the FS and a warhorse - the principal reason why I find this highly likely is due to the rule change. It isn't a bad idea to stay in the safe zone while fiddling with them and trying to see what works and what doesn't. This season in general will be a giant adjustment in terms of scoring, for both skaters and judges and it's not unreasonable to play safe and position himself on the top from the start. The SP though can still be a 'play' zone for him, if he so chooses. In general, I think he would ease himself into choosing perhaps more out of the box choices. We'll see, we'll see. Or hear, that is. Soon hopefully. Skating gods, please.