memae

Watched Nathan's interview with Scott Hamilton today. It's quite long - they basically walked through his career from the start at 3 years of age up until now and looking towards Beijing. There's some chat about Yuzu towards the end. Nathan had lots of nice things to say about him. He was also humble as usual and gave a pretty insightful look at his Olympics experience - he described how he felt as 'terrified', which I think would get anyone in the feels regardless of whether they're a fan of him or not. There's also an interview with Brian and Tracy.

I was talking only the base value because that isn't subjective like GOE or PCS. By simply changing the base value, let alone all the other things, they change the capacity to compare scores from before and after the change. You can still compare, but it isn't a fair comparison. They should start the records over again. Nathan Chen's exact skate with the exact GOE and PCS from both Saitama and Torino (both WR scores at the time) are now worth less simply because of the base value of the jumps. With more ways for scoring to be affected because of the q rule, it becomes even more of a false comparison. I don't see how a score in the coming season can compare to a score from last season, even just for lower level international skaters just chasing personal bests. As for underrotation and prerotation, they need to allow the cameras and slow-mo review or there's no point in the rule. If they're going to get that precise in the scoring, they need to ensure that the judges have all the means to be that precise in the judging.

I've been thinking over these rule changes and I don't see how it's fair to keep records as they are when the value of elements is changing. Yuzu's records from the +/-3 system are historical records, but how can it be fair for anyone to try to break any current records when the elements in those programs were possibly worth more then than now? What I really thought about was how close Yuzuru was at Skate Canada to the record Nathan set in Saitama. He was about a point off the overall score. Factor in the 4Lo, now worth an extra .5 in base value, and the 2 4Lz Nathan did across two programs (and each did a 3Lz so they cancel each other on the change there, however much it was), if the base values had been this way from the start then Yuzu possibly might have held the total score record once again for a couple of months. Forget the q nonsense (I don't see the point since they made changes with rules about edge calls and rotations before and didn't follow through on any of it), I'm just looking solely at base value of elements. Even Nathan is going to have to work hard to try to break his own record with the 4Lz value dropping. That's a whole point if he does 2 4lz. Good for Yuzu if he goes back to 4Lo in both programs - but Nathan might be compelled to bring his 4Lo back now, even if he hates it. As for the Lakernik talk. That man should be banned from this sport. He shouldn't even be allowed to watch skating on television with all the damage he's done.

Nope. I got Alina's tiger suit. Surely Nathan's egg shirt is there somewhere.

I think part of Nathan's attitude is something that grew from what happened with his Olympic experience. The pressure was too much for him and at the time his entire identity was pinned on skating. When his SP fell to pieces and he finished off the podium that everyone back home had been expecting him to be on top of, he needed to be able to find something other than skating that makes him the Nathan Chen the world sees. I know we're all sick of every commentator ever harping on about him going to Yale, and they do overdo it, but I think for him on a personal level it's been something that's helped take the pressure off his skating - perhaps part of why he's been so consistent is because he's in a better place mentally because he can approach each competition with the confidence of knowing that he is not just going to be measured by his success in skating. It's different for Yuzuru. He lives for skating. He thrives under pressure - we know that he loves it. But even if he wasn't competing - even when he isn't competing, say at shows, etc - he is all about skating and what he can do on the ice in terms of performance and skill, beyond whatever the ISU judging criteria is. Yuzu has a connection to skating that transcends competition and his success as an athlete. There's a drive to master the art and skill of it - Tracy said 'he's truly a student of the sport'. It's almost like he has a curiosity of simply finding out what is actually possible when it comes to skating. I think he's comfortable with who he is and how the world sees him so long as he's pushing forwards. He has never been complacent. He has never recognised room for improvement (even when no one else could see it) and not gone ahead and truly worked on improving, even when he was worlds ahead of the others.

I think I recall Nam saying something about how now that he pays for his training he appreciates it more or he takes it more seriously or something. I think he might have goofed/slacked off a bit at some point and that also led to him leaving TCC because it just wasn't worth it if he wasn't really valuing it. Whatever the case, he's grown from it and he seems to have a healthy attitude. Vincent Zhou's mother is the parent I feel like I always hear about when it comes to being in control of her kid's skating career.

It's in LGC too. He sure knows exactly what he's doing.

Raf would possibly be a good fit for her. Look how consistent Nathan has gotten with his jumps. Plus, his style of coaching is probably familiar enough to Sasha. I think it's good for her to leave Eteri and go somewhere she can get more attention and not have to constantly look over her shoulder to see which girls are waiting to take her place but I don't know about Plushenko. To me he seems to make lots of decisions to deliberately attract attention and I'm also a bit wary of how he trains his son. As much as little Sasha apparently enjoys skating and performing, well.. little kids are not elite athletes. Not mentally, not physically, not developmentally, not emotionally. (My teacher brain is ticking away too much over it). One thing that might truly come of this though is that Sasha T might last longer than she would have with Eteri. Her career might even survive her teen years. But now watch out for the bloodbath when Kamila steps up into that extra senior ladies spot at Sambo. 3 girls with a couple of big jumps each, musicality, and skating skills.

Okay but imagine him with a cute little wallaby

Our boy looking after us

The step sequence was like watching ice dance. His timing is so incredible.

The crossovers are so weird! And the toe steps! They reminded me of bambi or some other gangly baby animal. The music sounds like creepy circus music in some parts. And the commentator sounds like he's speaking Simlish lol.

Not even Yuzu ever did perfectly in competition. No one else could do this program. The steps is one thing but factor in the 4Lo and then there's like 4 other skaters who could even do the jumps. Then narrow down from that to who can do 4Lo as well as the transitions like Yuzu's signature back-counter 3A with the high kick and there's no one.

That's quite enlightening and interesting to read. He seems to be very mindful of his approach to food, especially in regards to keeping his attitude towards it healthy as an athlete. I think he's also a bit fussy, which makes it all a bit more difficult to have a healthy attitude towards food as an athlete - particularly an athlete in a sport like skating where weight makes everything a bit finicky.

To be fair, Yuzu only uses warhorses or makes his own. One one hand we've got POTO, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet and on the other there's H&L, Chopin, and Seimei - we've already seen a few inspired programs and costumes in the juniors and below. Origin and Otonal are well on their way to being warhorses now that he's done them and he was inspired to do so because of other big names in skating history. I would love to see him skate to something from home (in whatever that means to him) that he connects with. H&L does not come across as what anyone in the west typically expects when they think of Japanese (or even Asian in very broad terms) but if you have knowledge of music or even just listen to a lot of music from different places, Japan obviously included, it is very noticeably Japanese. It's especially obvious when you listen to the full pieces of music that Yuzu snipped from. That said, he seems to connect with Ballade in a way that is beyond even his usual (and incredible) musicality - Yuzu has said/alluded that it's the purity of a single instrument and the wait at the start that helps with that and I think that there is a purity to his Ballade programs (all its incarnations) that is emphasised by the music and emphasises it in return. Ballade makes me think of fresh snow and like a cool freshwater stream. That said I would love to see him skate to Meditation from Thais (which was my favourite ever exam piece). You just know he'd do something exquisite with those harmonics. I adored playing Faure's Sicilienne when I was a kid too but it's much nicer on cello than violin - I don't know that it suits Yuzu so much but I think Jason Brown could do a beautiful program to it.

He looks so chill and relaxed too. Nice to see

Kaitlyn Weaver has such a soothing voice. I think I would enjoy if she did commentary of events.

Brian talking about how proud he was of Yuzu at Pyeongchang in that interview. And that smile when the clip of Javi and Yuzu on the Olympic podium was up. I say it all the time but Brian Orser is such a dad. It's so nice hearing him talk about all his 'kids'. So positive. Also, he was so gracious and nice about Yagudin. It takes a very good heart to have kind things to say about someone who is openly homophobic and rags on one of your students for fun.

I've been continuing my Olympics rewatching by going back to Sochi FS. Just watched Denis Ten's. Now I'm sad. Maybe too sad to be able to skip ahead and watch Yuzu fall over even though I know he still wins. Oh my heart </3 Denis was such a beautiful skater. That Frank Carroll magic. As for talk that maybe Yuzuru isn't able to practise or that he no longer skates at Sendai rink - I think it's more likely that either he's being very discreet about skating at the moment or he's trying to set a good example as a public figure. If he was seen going to and from the rink while there are such heavy restrictions on the general public it would be a bad look for him - even if he's not breaking any rules. I just don't think it would be perceived well even if it could be explained and justified.

True, but I think by that time in the season, Yuzu perhaps not feeling like he was connecting wtih the programs in a way that felt genuine or whatever to him might be something he considered to be reflected in his scores. Or that the the potential results of those programs weren't worth how he felt skating them. So while they're two different things there is every possibility that to Yuzu, they impacted one another and were and are, perhaps, inseparable from one another. Please note the heavy modality. I don't want to be putting words in anyone's mouth, but I am okay with talking about what might be.

The thing with me with Patrick Chan is there is something about his manner in interviews and all that I find a bit grating. It might be the cockiness that came with being the best for so long (although Denis Ten should have won that world championship and we all know it) and feeling like he didn't have a rival. When I hear his name mentioned in skating talk I don't think about his skating first - I get like a vague, negative feeling of like distaste or something. I don't think he's that bad. It's just a reaction. I do also think he became much more gracious and likeable after Sochi. I do have to wonder if his complacency from all that judging candy and not taking rivals like Denis Ten and rising star Yuzuru seriously also had its part in Yuzu getting that Sochi gold. I think Yuzu winning 2013 GPF must have made Patrick Chan panic and that he was too unsettled about Yuzu to skate clean at the Olympics. Idk, I just always found that he didn't quite have the humility and quiet kind of confidence I like to see - Yuzu and Nathan are great examples of it. They know they're good, they admit to it, but they never take their success for granted and they are encouraging of each other and their fellow competitors. Men's FS is in a nice place as far as sportsmanship goes right now.

I did think of Notte Stellata but I didn't mention it because I thought that Patrick managed that in a competitive program made it quite special. I do sincerely think that Yuzu wouldn't be scored fairly if he did a step sequence like Patrick's instead of his usual fast footwork, no matter how beautifully he did it so I don't think it would be worth the risk for him to do such a program for competition.

Watching Pyeongchang FS. I always forget how lovely Patrick Chan's skating was to watch until I'm watching it. There's something about how he's able to do such a slow moving program and really just have every moment so beautifully stretched out. Yuzu's skating skills are where my heart's at, but he always brings some sort of fire or electricity to his competitive programs. I don't for a second think he's not capable of skating a program like Chan's Hallelujah but there's something very enchanting about how fluid, serene, and something Chan's skating is in a way that we don't get to see from Yuzu very often - at least not for a whole program. I also don't think Yuzu could get away with it in the way Patrick could in terms of levels and GOE. I think if he went for a less-is-more kind of elegance the judges and/or tech panel would make it unfairly cost him (like with the backwards crossrolls). Anyway, his turn now! Goodness knows how many times I've seen Olympic Seimei by now but no matter, there's always room for one more.

All the talk on the Top 5 Programs thread led me to rewatch the final group of the men's SP from 2018 Olympics today. I skipped Nathan's because it's heartbreaking to watch (I think that program going the way it did for him at the Olympics had a big positive impact on his attitude and headspace and is part of his success (on a personal level, not talking GOE and candies) and consistency now). I'd forgotten how great Shoma's was even though he had some moments he really had to fight for. I hadn't watched the interviews before. I really felt for Nathan giving his interview - unpleasant questions to have to answer before he was ready about what was probably one of the toughest days of his life. And then Yuzu. So pale. Our poor boy did not look well at all. Those painkillers must have been strong. But he seemed so relieved and happy (in such a serene way) that he was able to skate as well as he ever had. Now for FS.

I just it watched again to understand the 'murder face' description. lol, I'd forgotten about it but I know exactly what you mean now that I'm refreshed on NHK 2015 Chopin.