barbara

Yuzu is not on the list of expected skaters. Neither is Shoma.

Otonal for me, too - though I , too, think Gemini's should have two. Maybe this and LGC. But I'm happy with this - I have a 5X7 of Yuzu's upper half in his opening stance next to my bed. And the step sequence is one of my favorites. Wait - I love them all.

Is there no prize for simply achieving a plank? Maybe if I can achieve four versions?

The only shot I'd have, ever, of even qualifying for this is they divided it into age groups. I'll go with the "very senior" division.

His hair. And if I wear a Citizen watch, will I look half as beautiful?

Handsome is as handsome does.

The Challenger Series is still on - but not considered a "series". A couple of been cancelled and a couple have been postponed (such as ACI). Who knows if all of them will end up being cancelled. JSF said a while ago that none of their skaters would compete in the Challenger Series (BOO!). We live in strange and uncertain times.

I think the funniest thing about this video is how quickly Kevin adopts his "selfie face".

"On his way to becoming a global star..." He already was a global star before he got his second OGM. He just wasn't noticed by the American press until then.

P&G Thank You Mom made me cry. And I think it's the most genuine Yuzu because he really does know how much his mother has done for him and appreciates it.

Not that it'll make any difference here, but we are being told now that we only need to quarantine for 10 days after testing positive, so maybe the 14 days number will be changing.

Plushenko has Sasha training on one -

4CC will either have to change it's date or location. The chances of Australia being open to foreigners by early February are slim to none.

https://this.kiji.is/663187045258364001?c=39550187727945729 Tomorrow's news - English translation (not mine): 　"It was revealed on the 4th that six Grand Prix (GP) series tournaments that will start in October in figure skating will be held as scheduled, according to interviews with related parties. The International Skating Union (ISU) confirmed the policy of the decision at an online board meeting held on the 3rd." So, I don't know how they can hold Skate America. We can't even get through a couple of fan-free baseball games without dozen of players and staff getting sick. And I'm curious how SCI can be held if only 50 people are allowed in the rink. Maybe a lottery? Since this is an Aug 4 Kyodo article, maybe SC have an extra day to think about it. And who could come to skate anyway if the border is still closed?

I remember reading an article (ostensibly about dancers spinning) about spinning and brain changes but just found it. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/scicurious-brain/practice-spinning-tiny-dancer/ Skaters also have a slightly different way to train the dizziness response away that is slightly different than dancers. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-don-t-figure-skaters-get-dizzy-when-they-spin/ You don't have to read all of both articles to get some scientific info on how skaters can spin without getting dizzy and losing balance. Think of how many years Yuzu (and Shoma) have been practicing spins. If you had a 6 yr old do the same number of fast revolutions than a skater with years of experience does, they'd fall over. It's practice. Start with one spin and train from there.

It would be SO much better if there were English subtitles....

It is a given that there will never be any official information about Yuzu's whereabouts given out by his coaches, JSF or himself. Ever. His privacy is respected. Based on all manner of sources, it's safe to presume he is in Sendai, has been in Sendai since shortly after TCC closed and will remain there until he returns to Canada. And that won't be confirmed, either. We'll just have to wait for photo evidence of him appearing at TCC.

Rika could increase her stamina at high elevation because there is less oxygen and the body produces more red blood cells; lung capacity is increased. When she skates at a lower altitude, her muscles would be getting more oxygen than they are used to and this would be an advantage. Jump height would only be affected by increased strength - gravity isn't that much different at high altitude. But, any advantage from high altitude training for a few weeks is not going to last for a very long time. And Champery isn't any higher up than Calgary. And thousands of feet lower than Colorado Springs. I would think she is going for the coaching only.

Neither Jun or Yuzu would be traveling via the United States. I totally understand the US/Canadian border closures but won't people (perhaps with letters from their federation) be allowed to arrive in Canadian cities on direct flights from countries that have the virus totally under control (like Japan and So Korea)? Of course, they would have to quarantine, but I think I'm unclear if Canada is closed to ALL international travelers, regardless of origin. What if, for instance, someone from New Zealand needed to travel to Toronto? Landing at a major international airport, an Asian citizen wouldn't, I would hope, face the same sort of prejudice one might find at a US border. And, wow, that's sad - this is what happens when misinformation is rampant and prejudices come out, as if any one nationality is somehow responsible for this virus. In the states, we can thank our bigoted president who still calls it the Chinese Flu.

I think she was planning on TCC at the end of July, so she's probably just waiting (and training there) until she can fly to Canada. Where is Shoma?

Pre-rotation evidently is worth extra GOE. Maddening.

Shouldn't be a violation - though the sock color is all wrong, and he is wearing something underneath, which is not traditional, but they'd have definitely gotten a violation for that. It's also too short. A kilt should end at mid-kneecap. But I'm just being picky. Love a man in a kilt. (Sure beats wearing a half Nazi/half concentration camp costume -that one should have been disallowed.)

His mother would have been there, too. Had to have been gut-wrenching. Truly, after seeing that collision (over and over and over), I wonder why there aren't more collisions. They must have some developed sixth sense for shifting ice position in the nick of time. There has to be so much consciousness of what is happening on the entire rink. When one skater has his music playing for a run through, the other skaters tend to almost hug the boards, or at least know where not to be. But when it's in those first minutes of practice I am surprised there aren't collisions regularly.

Which one is the "despondent" emoji?

Well, Australia closed. I am going to try and not slide into complete FS and Yuzu deprivation mode- at least until actual news of all competitions are announced. How long can the ISU hold off announcing cancellation of the entire season?