Yatagarasu

No, he said he was retiring way back during US Nationals. We were just waiting for an official statement. He isn't stopping fully either, he'll still be doing some work with Juniors.

Tony Lu's insta posts are gold. Gold I tell you. You should check them out

Believe me, I had to go look it up too. The media day is quite fresh in my memory as troll Zu is my fave but I was drawing a blank on how we got to that point too. Only remembered after I saw the date. There was that taping of an NHK show and folks attended when the presenter said the date, and so they tweeted, only to realize it might not be for public consumption so they deleted the tweets (of course, by then, we had all seen it anyway). So yes, definitely doesn't make it easier as we're just basically waiting for it to happen. Which could be any time in the next month really though I guess if everything is in order, knock on wood, traditionally it's probably that week that starts on the 6th.

Aug 4th for the day itself, Aug 8th but there was that mess of should be public, oh oops, no, delete the tweets. So I am not sure.

Aleix Gabara from Argentina working on his 4S and 3A in a harness. He's heavy but heck, hope he manages to make it work. We have some Argentinians at the JGP again and it's always so fab to see. Aleix was in Javi's summer camp, the Borser one from this off season.

Mhm I saw. But yes, at least that's done now, and we can only cross everything for Dasha now. It's curious really, I never would have thought this is where we'd end up, little Bet being Eteri's #2 Senior. But next season it'll be completely different anyway, what with the quad babies coming up, so I suppose this is transitional for her. We'll see who is left in a year or two.

Oh yes, I sometimes go back to that CoC FS as well. I think that it is 'easier' in the sense that it was an on the spot accident, he went out anyway and in terms of the potential impact on his career it wasn't so gut-wrenching, while Boston was prolonged and overall so unfortunate that I simply cannot. Plus, I've had so many arguments about that CoC FS that it holds a special place in my heart these days

I still watch that SP quite regularly because these days I see it as a testament of who Yuzuru is, in both the good and bad ways, but I think it's worth seeing. The Gala too. I've never re-watched the FS, I cannot as going through that merry go round when it was happening and everything after was more than enough! Knock on wood, things are different now (though all the grey hairs remain).

*cracks knuckles* Ahem. I'm hoping he'll pick the week that starts on the 6th but yes, it is possible he'll postpone for later. I suppose it depends on how much he wants to show. We have seen all the triples apart from the Lz, and the T & Sal are back for the quads so he could technically go for the early date and use showing nothing else as a fab excuse to keep his cards close to the chest in terms of what he's actually going to do, come ACI. I'm sort of betting on that in my desperation as frankly I am so ready (but yes, to be serious for a second, it could easily be postponed for recovery reasons)

Yeah, pretty much. I mean more or less we've heard about at least one of the two for most of the big names, if not both. I think if we're lucky, he's going to go for the second week of August for media day, so from 6-12th one, but who knows at this point. I'm just going to hope that is it.

From what little I had the chance to look at yesterday, one was an ISU judge, one an international judge. That was it. But even with that, the scoring was way, way too wild. I mean someone had a laugh and counted, and overall GOE for ... someone .... was -4 for one judge, and a +20 for another. For the same skater. That cannot be excused with oh just the one ISU judge thing, or as I've seen attempts, judges are individuals. Not for that difference. It's a mess and will remain a mess. +4s are the new candy.

Ah thank you! Well, the flowers have officially arrived so now we wait. Fingers crossed for her because being at CSKA even if not with Buyanova is probably the best she can do right now and then see after the two GPs. Sigh.

Yes, it definitely is sure which is what is making me extra excited. I guess the added flavor comes from the whole he'll do what he wants, even if gradually, so what, what, what?! Gimme! I am not really expecting anything wild but on the other hand, I'd love for at least one of the two to be something different from the usual. More likely the SP, while the FS has all the changes, so going for a safe bet there musically is probably even wise at this point.

I would say we are overcooked by now so please Zu, have mercy on us

You know what I'd love to know? I'd love to know if Kosto's 3A is stable enough for a combo. If so, will Eteri think of having it in the short? Because talk about a massive advantage then.

So did we get final info where Dasha ended up? I kept hearing CSKA but not Buyanova group, and then I totally lost touch.

Huh I have so much to catch up on! Satoko using Abel is brilliant, there are so many of his that are usable for skating. Great stuff. Am not into the FS music choice as much tbh. That's a very interesting choice for Boyang, I will be curious to see it. It will be a step forward that's for sure if he can pull it off. I don't like anything of Nathan's which is a load off my shoulders, as I loved Nemesis and well, that didn't turn out so great. Hmm, I have questions about J/C and Uninvited but I guess we'll see. Oh right, Zhenya! Yes, I am actually enthusiastic about the FS choice. She likes to act her way through programs but for that music choice, she's not really going to be able to do that. It'll challenge her. I also loved hearing the news Sandra Bezic helped out on the SP, that should make it all the better. I'm sure I'm missing a bunch but when the season properly starts ... there's time. (come on Zu, we're ready! Overcooked even)

*sings while wondering if we'll crash land the planet*

Pretty much. I mean it is possible she has spent some time now with Bet there too, and with Anna S and her quads as well, to go along with Sasha and Alenka, and has simply calculated that even if late, it is better to switch now than leave it for a year from now, after having to spend an entire season training with those quadsters right there at the same rink. I mean who knows, maybe Bet is going for one again, too. So it could be something as simple as that and escaping all that pressure that is bound to just keep building and building as time passes but yes, in any case, I hope for the best for all of them.

The thing is, well, remember when Zhenya's rumors were all over the place and we had that date, as the last possible one for announcements because the Russians have it as a deadline for coaching changes? So Panenkova is beyond that date, by miles (so was Tarakanova while we're at it). And on GS they said she's in need of money so her mother is renting out a room in their flat. Basically though not confirmed, if true, whatever her reasoning for this is, it's in her mind good enough to go through all this now. I don't get it either as being #2 at Eteri's was also good, at least for one season while she picks up some cred as a starting Senior and she could have switched then, once the current Junior crop moved up. But

Yes, Gubanova has switched to Buyanova as well so there're five of them.

Ok, not a health issue. Interview with Charlie, they were stagnating, he didn't see how they could improve, they remain on good terms.

At this point?

Check out the coaching changes thread