WinForPooh

huh what? I expect it would be very tough to point toes in skates. I've never heard of this? Pointing the toes is a way of extending your line gracefully in dance, and having graceful lines is part of artistic movement in figure skating, too, but I've never actually heard of anybody expecting skaters to point their toes while wearing those boots. And it's not like men have long spirals, blades are usually on the ice most of the time, so... I don't know? What skaters actually point their toes? Or is this about the toe pick in toe jumps? I've never heard any criticism of Yuzu's toe pick position in jumps, he never uses the whole blade, and he only very rarely uses more than the toe pick. No idea what this is about.

That's not the kind of alien I thought he was.

I get what you mean. Yuzu sought to be the best at what he does, chase perfection in what he does. He sought to be the GOAT at figure skating, I have no doubts about that, he has always aimed to be the very best, compete against his idols and win. But all the rest that came from it - the adoration and the merch and everything else - is stuff he never went looking for. Some of what he gets as such a phenomenon is good, and I'm sure he's glad for it like when you unexpectedly get something great. Some of it is terrible, and I'm sure he feels sad about that. But he owes gratitude only to all the people who have helped him become the skater and person he is, and those are the people close to him. His popularity does help him because he gets sponsors and skating is very expensive, but then he earned that popularity by being as good as he is. Even arrogant super athletes who are not nice to fans get sponsors. It's nice and sweet of him to say thanks and acknowledge the support, it says a lot about the person he is, but he doesn't owe us that. He's not like an idol who depends on fans' spending power to stay relevant, for them part of their job is making sure they're popular. Yuzu's obligation is/was to be the best skater he could be, and boy he's fulfilled that many times over already. All the rest - the sincere thank yous and the parades and everything - they're extra, because he is the person he is. I'm glad for it and love him for it but we're not entitled to it.

You were more articulate than I would've been.

I'm very happy for you! He should get all the thanks. Only fair.

I had to go and watch NDP after seeing that.

Ah, we're still all fluffy here, I love it.

A warehouse under a skating rink with many Yuzu cardboard cutouts. Maybe next time he can't make it to something, they can do a 3D print.

Pun appreciated nonetheless.

Here's some more. It doesn't have the ears, but still.

I'd appreciate that, it's very disheartening to hear 'Aww honey, it's okay, it'll be fine' when really you just want to headbutt somebody.

I'm kind of jealous of the folks who can really go into Yuzu-kuyashii mode after a bad competition. Or game or whatever. I lose control over tear ducts when stress levels exceed a certain point (and for me Yuzu keeps it pretty close to that point just by existing, apparently). It's very unfortunate because I really would fight anybody while crying, but people rarely want to fight a small crying idjit. Of course that does give me the element of surprise when I kick them, but still. It's annoying to never be intimidating. I really envy Yuzu's cinnamon roll-murder stare transformation abilities, too.

Fair enough, but... (under spoiler because this might be a bit upsetting for some satellites!) The far less negative part: But when I said they should be given every opportunity to improve, I didn't mean it in quite the idealistic way it came out. I meant that every skater should be free to reach out to whatever coaching team without backlash from fans or bad publicity (or worry that somehow them getting better is going to make Yuzu look bad or drive Yuzu mad with quadlust, which is where most of the worrying was headed). I didn't mean everybody's entitled to go to TCC, I meant I'm not in the least afraid of Boyang (or anybody else) becoming the best skater he can possibly be, at TCC (if after due consideration all parties agree they can work with it) or wherever. Their chance to improve shouldn't come at the cost of Yuzu's training getting derailed in any way, it's not like TCC has limitless resources.

There's a very good reason why bashing other skaters, or even saying mean and unsubstantiated things under the guise of 'criticism', is forbidden here. We should know better because Yuzu has been at the receiving end of that. So have Yuzu's fans. That's part of why we try very hard to be positive about Yuzu and not negative about anybody else. No young skater should have to deal with that, no matter what kind of politicking their feds do and how judges score them. We wish them the best, and have faith that Yuzu is better, because he has proven time and time again that he is. We drown the hate with positivity. And we take the high road sometimes, when it comes to other forums. After all, the high road led to Planet Hanyu, in the end. It's not so bad.

I dunno which of them to feel bad for, Wakababy for being so scared or Zhenya for having her hand squeezed that hard!

Basically, I'll throw all toys out of my pram and then set the world on fire if Yuzu is beaten because of dodgy judging. If he's beaten because he bombs or because somebody actually surpasses him in time - well, I'll always love Yuzu best, and Yuzu will still be GOAT because we should compare athletes at their peaks, but I will also accept it and applaud them. Probably while crying a lot. But then I cry a lot when Yuzu wins, too. This boy is responsible for my dehydrated state.

I'm smh in disappointment. Yuzu likes being pushed. He's never been one for looking around and constantly watching his back. He's always competed against himself, reaching for his ideal for himself. He pushes himself more than anybody else. Of course he's aware of how things are changing, and he's adapted to it throughout his career, even pushing some of those changes himself, but he's always been going for his own perfection. He knows his perfection will get him his wins. If anybody else does improve to the extent that they begin to genuinely become his competition when they both do their best, becoming his equal, then they deserve to be called a real rival. I could never wish for them to not fulfil their potential. If Boyang has the potential to one day beat Yuzu even on his best day, then so be it. Though I think the only way Yuzu could be beaten in the next quad is if his body cannot keep up with his ambitions. That's why I'm glad he has fulfilled most of his big goals. He won't have regrets now, when he looks back one day. Or so I hope. But my hope is that all of the skaters who are challenging him are given every opportunity to improve themselves in every way they choose. If one of them chooses to work as hard as Yuzu has done and one day truly surpass him in quality, then I'll have no complaints about it. I doubt it will happen because Yuzu is simply too good to be beaten as long as his health allows him to be at his best.

Wow, so many new satellites! Welcome, everybody! Let's all faint together during the parade! It was so much fun dying together last Sunday. I'm training by watching Helsinki H&L, my eyes, they're leaking.

Welcome, to new satellites! Please do ask if you need anything, or if you get confused because of old jokes.

Y'all don't know what you're getting into.

I couldn't find them when I was looking two days ago. Damn.

... I remember that. So Habi learns the no-chill from Yuzu, not the other way round.

Do you think he understands the concept of a real break? Learn some chill from Habi!

How much do you think Brian's hairline receded today? Mr. Hanyu, you're supposed to be resting, at least for a given value of rest! And how do you know which jumps you can jump right now because rest and rehab! Yuzu's version of resting: I'm not doing loop or lutz or flip, it's practically bed rest!