rockstaryuzu

@Xen oh I agree with you totally. One of the weirder, creepier aspects of my encounter with the stalker-fan was that I got the distinct impression she was trying to make everyone else go away, even if they were just standing there quietly to see him pass, so that she could have Yuzu to herself if he happened to walk by. Which felt so extremely wrong to me that I had to get away from her. It's as you said, it was all about her with no thought to what he might think. And I really wondered what she might do if someone happened to get in her way. Anyway, it all just means that the rest of us should behave with care towards/ around Yuzu so as not to cause problems.

You know, there's another aspect to this which is the fact that ultimately the behaviour of Yuzu's fans ends up reflecting on him and affecting him. So my thinking is that it would be great if all of his fans adopted the kind of behaviour he would show to others in any situation: ie, courtesy, respect, and kindness. I think it would instantly resolve the issue if that were to happen.

True that.

Until we have to be kuyashii, in any case....😃

Cripes, where do you skate? Do I even want to know?

Funnily, enough, although I was feeling very overwhelmed before he came out for that Thursday practice, the first time he skated by my side of the arena I thought the same as you. It really helped me calm down.

Dude, I hope that's not me you're referring to.🤣🤣🤣🤣 I have my moments but I'm a sensible person as a rule.

Well, the reality is that as an athlete, he has a job to do at competitions that doesn't involve interacting with fans. It's not like he's an idol or entertainer who's whole purpose of existence is basically to attract fans. So it would be great if that aspect could be in the forefront of everyone's minds when they go to watch him...but it's unrealistic to expect all fans to do this. Which is why I can see the day coming when he actually will have to have some kind of constant security presence, and that'll be a sad day when it happens. But I simply can't get over how gracious he is about it all and how he doesn't let it affect his concentration while competing. It's practically his superpower.

Oh, I feel for him! Half the audience got up and left as soon as Chadwick's performance started because Yuzu wasn't there anymore. As a mere spectator, I found it rude... I can't imagine how bad it must have felt being on the ice and seeing that.

Which would be a shame, because there's lots of other good competitors who go there too.

My thoughts also.

Be careful what you wish for...he's enough of a troll that he might just do it....

I think that would be a shame if it had to happen. Bad enough that he clearly can't go out freely in Japan because of the groupies...

Ah. I see. Well, the truth is, I think it's difficult for competition organizers to keep everyone out of the skater areas no matter how hard they try. A lot of times the arenas are still being used by other users at the same time. Like in Oakville, all the community recreation programs were still going on, even with the competition there.

But why were you in the restricted area? Do you volunteer at competitions or something? I'm just genuinely curious, sorry. For myself, all I was hoping for was one last glimpse of Yuzu in the distance as he walked out...pretty harmless...but after my experience I don't think I'll bother trying for that again.

Ah, she meant at other competitions. Now I get it. Well, I had a really weird encounter with a stalker-type chick myself at ACI....not going to go into details, just to say that my conversation with her started out fairly normal and then took a nosedive into her delusions that left me shook, to say the least. She was trying to maneuver me around so that I wouldn't be able to get a glimpse of the Yuzu news conference but she wasn't there in any official capacity herself... very very weird, left a bad taste in my mouth, and as soon as she glommed onto one of the other skaters while he was walking out, I made a break for it and left. And basically hid so she couldn't find me again. I hope, whoever she is, that she gets the mental help she needs...

Oh, God. The poor guy! But how did anyone stalk him to his hotel, when the competition was held in the same city where he lives full time? I mean, presumably he wouldn't have stayed in a hotel but at home. Is this another one of those 'lost in translation' things?

@fyere0 OT, but I love the way his hands are in this shot, all graceful in those sexy gloves. They totally kill me.

Not so much cultural bias, but maybe a lack of familiarity? I know almost nothing about Japanese mythology, so a three-legged crow god would be totally new to me.

This comment made me spray a tea rainbow...

You could always hold it up during one of the open practices while he's on the ice. That way, he has time to see it and take it in without it throwing him off right before competing. Also, if you sit across from where he comes in and the coaches sit during practice, it'll give Brian, Tracy, and Ghislain a laugh, too.

About this: I was a Stojko fan back then, and he actually worked too hard. Towards the end of his career it became obvious that he had burnt himself out and aggravated too many injuries. I hope Ghislain is able to use that experience to prevent the same thing happening to Yuzuru.

In my case, it's PTSD after watching last season. That injury nearly finished me. Now I'm just happy he's still on the ice. And gold is gold, kuyashii or not. To me, the most important things about Yuzu's score in any competition is that he scores the highest overall. The rest simply doesn't matter to me. The judges could give him an overall score of 50 points and as long as they give everyone else 49.9 or less, I'll be happy with it.

They took really good care of security at ACI, I thought. Which was just as well. Most people were very cool and laid back, but some of the fanyus were definitely giving off scary stalker vibes.

Learning self-awareness is all part of growing up. Our boy is becoming a man...a ridiculously competitive, impossible athlete of a man. On another note: I got home from ACI and showed my mother some of the videos I took of Yuzu's practices at ACI. She was instantly intrigued and shocked by his jumps. She wanted to know how he could keep on skating after each jump "because you'd be so dizzy after leaping up and spinning around in the air that fast. You 'd have to take a moment to recover." You should have seen her face when I explained what Nessie is. Chalk up another Yuzu fan, even if she did pronounce his name 'Yazari Hanaru'.