MagicFS

Nothing figure skating-related in the schedule for 18–19 October... I guess it is going to affect all of Europe... Thank you so much for bringing it our attention. I was planning on subscribing for Eurosport Player in time for next week's competitions... And now I have no idea where I will be watching figure skating this GP season...

I am really glad Shoma is moving on. I fell in love with his skating in the Loco season. Then I was mildly disappointed with Turandot. I was extremely disappointed with Moonlight Sonata. I hope whoever he goes to will give him better choreography! And will help him improve his technique, obviously... But, please, no more of those crossover fests accentuated by dramatic fist clenching.

I am so sorry this came off that way! I am super angry at the ISU, not you or any of the fans. I didn't mean that you were doing anything wrong. I am just beyond giving the ISU and its judges the benefit of the doubt. They are the ones that utilize no logic or math unless they are trying to prop up someone. You're probably right. But something about this statement still sits so wrong with me. It sounds like it's putting some of the blame for losing on Yuzu. When he once again gave it his all under the circumstances, did his best (and more)... He deserved better from the ISU! I still have some doubts about who would have won because the judging has been that shady, but I guess that's okay--to disagree, I mean. I am really sorry I made you feel bad, though! Thank you for doing the math and going with logic in this highly emotional situation! Especially now that Nathan is a two-time world champion and has amazing reputation of consistency under pressure... I just had a very unpleasant thought that they will have to switch the PCS advantage in Nathan's favor, so that Nate would have a chance to win against higher-BV Yuzu... Nathan will suddenly become more "understandably" artistic than Yuzu with his "flat" music probably... About the 4t-3a, I love it so much! It's huuuuge, gorgeous, and looks effortless. I wish he could keep it because it's so impressive. But I'll understand if he has to give it up to get more points. It's still my favorite jumping pass!

His quad flip was underrotated AND he had an obviously weak landing on it. Yet, he got no UR call and +2 GOE on it. Which gave him an overall 13 points on this element vs. 7 points on Yuzu's quad sal with the same magnitude of mistakes. Both had scratchy landings here and there, indeed. No obvious Nate advantage even jumping-wise. And yes, the BV is not exactly the same but it's sooo close. Yet, Nathan won. BY. 10. POINTS. My whole point is that it is a nice consolation prize for Yuzu's fans to be able to do the math and calculate that a perfect Yuzu should have won in theory. The same theory (and logic) that would inevitably conclude that given what they did on the ice, Yuzu should have won the free skate in Saitama. Yet, he didn't. My whole point is that with the actual judging so unfair and biased the judges might have found a way to give the gold to Nate even if Yuzu had not made the mistakes on the Sal's... And I continue to think it's perfectly concievable for clean Yuzu vs. clean Nate to end in Nate's favor now, unless Yuzu has a significant BV advantage... It's not really about math. It's about how many shortcomings of one you can ignore while punishing the other for every minor misstep.

Matched BV + Almost identical technical mistakes = Nathan wins by 10 points in the free skate. I don't think Yuzu is exactly delusional to think he could not have won against Nathan no matter what he did. For if the above is true, then: Perfect Yuzu vs. Perfect Nathan would most likely have resulted in Nathan winning, too... Maybe perfect Yuzu might have beaten a slightly imperfect Nathan, but those are not the odds Yuzu strives for. Besides, it seems that his best when somewhat injured is not good enough any more. Anyway, I don't think it's strictly math that drives Yuzu's team to make the choices they make. I've loved and adored the resulting programs so far. And I really don't want Yuzu to feel that he has to compromise his artistic vision to win... He spoke at length about how he had always been forced to make the choices that would allow him to win up until PC and how he wanted to be freer in his music selection, and skating choices, and aesthetics from then on. I know he's realized that he wants to win it all now. But I hope he'll keep some of that higher-art, extra-Yuzu attitude going forward still--even if it results in programs that are not 100% optimized points-wise.

My favorite figure skating program of all time is Notte Stellata. Closely followed by Hope and Legacy. H&L is obviously my favorite competitive program of all time. I loved it even before Worlds 2017--it's lyrical and beautiful and just my type of program. But of course, the perfection of H&L at Worlds was extra special. My favorite Notte Stellata is the Olympic version. These two are my go-to's when I want to believe in the beauty of this world and cry over how beautiful it really can be. I think I would rank Otonal third. It's such a wonderful program. I got totally addicted to watching it after Rostelecom Cup. I think I've seen every single fancam of it youtube found for me. It's perfect, as well. And I love the music. Johnny Weir's Otonal was once my favorite competitive program in figure skating. Yuzu surpassed that! Then comes Olympic Seimei. It's such an emotional rendition of such a meaningful program. I appreciate the technical perfection of GPF (and NHK) Seimei, but the program was just not lyrical enough for me to truly appreciated it back then. Add the Olympic emotions to it, however, and it becomes a moving masterpiece. Also, the Japanese culture aspect on the biggest stage... Yuzu is the best ambassador! Fifth is Origin. I'm so happy we have the Worlds version to watch over and over again. It's not perfect, but it's sooo good. I love the music. I agree the Media Day version probably had some unexplored potential (and addictive power), but I am satisfied with this version we got in Saitama. I would rank Haru Yo Koi sixth, especially the Worlds version (although I have a soft spot for that Japanese-TV version of the GP Helsinki skate, too). And I'll stop there because I cannot pick and choose among LGC, PW, Requiem, Ballade, R&J 1.0, POTO... How lucky are we to have all of these programs to watch and love and be inspired and touched by forever and ever!

Wait a second! Here is the comparison of what Yuzu and Nate did in the free skate: Yuzu did 4 quads and 2 triple axels. He had 1 UR and 1 obviously weak landing (on the same jump). Yuzu did the insanely difficult and IMPRESSIVE 4t-3a+SEQ--that should count at least towards his PCS if the base value awarded for it is so absurdly low. Nate did 4 quads, 1 triple axel. He also had 1 UR (not called). He has higher-base-value quads than Yuzu--so I'd say the 4t-3a+SEQ advantage is matched. Cool. Yuzu has far superior skating skills, transitions, composition, and interpretation of the music. His spins and stsq are better. Yuzu lost in that particular event by 10 points. How are people saying that a clean Yuzu would have won? A squeaky clean Yuzu would not have won the free skate with that scoring. And that's completely ridiculous! Losing in this competition was NOT Yuzuru's fault! Stop making it sound as if he somehow failed. Btw, I could have lived happily with Yuzu's loss in the overall competition if he had won the free skate. But the fact that he didn't win the free skate with what he showed in the free skate is completely unfair and wrong, and very, very worrying when it comes to his future ability to beat Nate (without the technical content upgrades he is planning).

Thank you @makebelieveup and @KatjaThera for putting my whole emotional journey and thoughts of the last few days into words! I am really scared of what the future may hold for our champion, especially with injuries. I have no doubt he will reign supreme and unchallenged once more. I don't expect him to give up on any performance qualities, either--despite the very logical suggestions that he should drop some of his gorgeous in-between elements work... He will reach heights unimaginable for anyone else. And that's utterly terrifying. But worry and fear could never make me give up on him. (And neither can competition results he would consider unsatisfying. I am here for his beautiful skating, and I will forever be, regardless of technical content.) There is this little facet I'd like to add to this sad but hopeful but also terrifying story. Like @makebelieveup I could only feel crushed and dead inside after Nathan's results were announced and after the talk of "catching up" and tech content upgrades (and injuries ) began. I will never stop rioting inside whenever the results of this competition are mentioned. I'll never forgive ISU for what they did to Yuzu! But reading his last interviews, I feel much better about the future, even though if it were my choice, I'd rather he did not risk injuries even if it means immediate retirement, even if it means we would never see him skate in a competition again. However, when he said he had been directionless after the Olympics, but is very motivated now that he has a clearly defined goal--this I understand all too well. I used to have a goal, a lofty hard-to-reach thing I worked on for years and years. It was supposed to be my future, to give me everything I ever wanted. Then, I achieved that goal. And life went on. The "future" is too broad and multicolored, and apparently achieving your biggest goal of over ten years does not magically simplify it and become your source of eternal happiness, even when that big goal had been the ideal university education that gives me knowledge and skills and other advantages (prestige?) that I'll be able to avail by for the rest of my life, or cements Yuzu's place in history and gives him everything he needs to build a successful post-competitive career in the long run. I had to spend many years directionless and depressed until I found other lofty pursuits that bring me happiness and satisfaction far superior to anything I've felt before. That's why if Yuzu has found a happy thing that motivates him and gives him purpose, I'll support him no matter how painful his new pursuit will be. I will never forgive ISU for every cut and bruise and injury he'll have to endure on the way. Every drop of blood and every moment of pain is on them now! But as long as Yuzuru Hanyu is happy and makes well-thought out and mature choices about his career, his future, and about what is worth all this pain and sacrifice to him, I'll support him and be forever grateful for his skating. Yuzu makes the world a more beautiful place for all of us. Which is good because he deserves to live in the most beautiful world we could help build for him!

I am posting this here because I don't want to rain on people's parade celebrating Kovtun's return. But it's also applicable to many other skaters in many other competitions, so I guess it properly belongs here... Yuzu said that artistry is the result of great technique. But what we are seeing is people getting high components scores without even trying to learn/practice/demonstrate the technique that is supposed to constitute artistry. Eteri's team did sort of teach the judges what transitions are, in the ladies' competitions. Brian tries to talk about the importance of skating skills. A number of skaters are very good at musical interpretation. And we even have some amazing performers. However, it seems that only a few exceptions, especially few in men, are even trying to be good at all of the components. Yet, everyone who can successfully land their jumps gets high PCS across the board. This makes me so sad because I know what Yuzu is doing is superhumanly hard, but even he is oftentimes not properly rewarded for his efforts, and the scores do not encourage the others to follow in his footsteps. How is he not the example to be emulated? What are we going to do without him? The judges are ruining his legacy. He achieved that perfect technique that translates into "artistry" only for them to discourage everyone from ever trying to attain it (in men singles at least). I know this is overly dramatic and pessimistic. But how many would go after Yuzuru components-artistry, when empty programs with quads get over 90 PCS?

Wait what?! How is this even possible? (Picking Jun for all possible predictions probably helped. ) And fourth overall is not too bad at all. But I'm going for that podium next season! Thank you so much, @Joey for organizing the game! It was tons of fun and actually helped me enjoy the GP season even more.

By deleting videos, they are basically deleting figure skating history. How are new fans or casual viewers supposed to watch the iconic performances from the past? It's not like there is an online archive with paid subscription. I mean, what's the point of deleting the videos even?!

19. The way he allows us to witness and share his emotions at the end of his performances. That raw openness which makes us feel that we are part of his story too. 20. How he weaves on the ice stories and emotions so beautiful that he literally makes us cry. To the tips of his fingers, inside and out, everything about Yuzuru is so beautiful--in such pure, overwhelming, and inspiring way.

If it wasn't for Yuzu, I wouldn't be such a gigantic fan of figure skating now. I would just watch it whenever I had the time and Eurosport decided to show it on TV. I would like some skaters more than others, but I probably wouldn't care too much. I wouldn't have my whole legion of favorites I adore. I probably wouldn't care much for ladies, as they never were my favorite discipline before, and I really like them now. Yuzu brought me back to figure skating, reintroduced me to it's beauty, made me a crying mess at his emotional performances, and in the process allowed me to start caring about so many other skaters. I don't know why it works this way, but when I have an absolute favorite I adore, I start liking everyone else far more--maybe because i watch them far more. I don't know. All I know is Yuzu helped me love a lot of skaters I would only casually like if it wasn't for him. And he rekindled and magnified my passion for this sport-art that usually makes my life brighter, happier, and more exciting. Thank you, Yuzu!!! 💖 None of this would be true without you, you amazing magic being!

Yes!!! I've seen skaters compete on sprained ankles before. But I don't think I've ever seen anyone give a glorious performance on a sprained ankle before. Yuzuru is unreal! That being said, I don't want this type of performances to become the norm, to be expected of athletes, to be expected of Yuzuru... He made a decision to skate, and it was probably the right one for him. I support him, I understand, but excessive praise by media makes me uncomfortable. No one should be pressured to risk it all the way Yuzu does--including Yuzu, although I refuse to believe he'll ever have to face such choices again.. So I don't really know how to talk about this performance. "It was amazing, but, please, PLEASE, don't do it again!"? I want him to be proud of and happy with it, but I don't want him or anyone else to ever attempt something like that again. How do you convey such a message?

Same! I thought I'd be better at the podium predictions after watching so many competitions this season... But nope. I just randomly chose one of the Russian brothers (??) for second in ice dance, so I don't expect a much better result this time around. Unless Yuzu skates perfectly and totally breaks the new judging system like I've predicted. Go Yuzu!!!!