Fay

Kolyada gets a decent choreography and beats Javi at Europeans

Patrick wears Yuzuru-style costumes.

Maxim Kovtun lands all his jumps...

You grossly overestimate their generosity.

Julia's interview http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3126-yuliya-lipnitskaya-stranitsa-perevernuta-u-menya-novaya-zhizn-i-novye-plany.html

Well, he had perfect quality triples as opposed to underrotated and messed up quads by the others. If the choice comes to that - the system allows that already. But then Jason already beat the likes of Kevin Reynolds, Maxim Kovtun and Mikhail Kolyada, so why mess up with something that produced those results? ETA: it might be a better idea to continue this conversation in the skating thread... as it's being discussed there already.

I think if he needed to do it, he could well make that effort and socialize, but it would involve considerable energy expenditure - no matter whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, socializing in a foreign language you don't speak well is hard work. No wonder he prefers to save up his energy and do something he wants to do. Being a picky eater is another factor adding up to the problem. So... yeah, we'd like him to practise his English, but come on, we can put up with his English as it is. It's incredibly cute.

Yeah, introverts of the world, unite!

Misha's tribute to Javi?

Oh dear, that didn't feel like a coherent program. Misha, you're such a gorgeous skater, but your loyalties let you down...

Yeah, the whole world will just be closing their eyes tight not to see that final move... that's the only way to deal with it. I still wish she covered more ice...

As Russian forums comment it, the libretto is out - Zhenya gave an interview telling what her programs mean. So that last move is actually her body getting her soul back. Zhenya's breath features just at that moment. Someone, please, please, please, get across to her Chopin doesn't need any story - let alone a story so cheesy. The music is a story on its own... And I've a sneaking feeling Averblah is trying hard to surpass Schindler's List. Sorry for being so offensive towards Ilya, but I just can't take it any longer. She is a lovely skater, why does she have to have such ghastly ideas year in year out?

A couple of pictures from the test skates https://mrsport.ria.ru/photo/20170909/1125476711.html#PhotoSwipe1505042756531

Morozombie's already out with the test skates description http://morozombie.blogspot.ru/2017/09/2017-russian-test-skates-day-one-ladies.html#more

@gladi thank you so much! It's a joy and a relief to learn Yuzu and Brian have learnt to communicate really effectively - and that Yuzu definitely has a say. Hope Brian and Tracy hold the boy back when he wants to push a bit too hard. Staying at TCC a lot more helped, no more going back to being a long- distance student please...

It's supposed to be a soul's journey during a clinical death... Ye Gods! Is Averbukh making fun of Zhenya or is he serious? Zhenya also recorded the sound of her own breath and inserted it here. Thank you another Yuzu tribute, Zhenya...

Hmmm, there's just one tiny complaint I had with Med's program as I watched it in that first video - she mostly stays around the middle of rink and makes a couple of forays into one end of the rink and just one - for her 3F3T - into the opposite end. Otherwise, the pantomime devil seems to have been exorcised... for good, I hope. On the whole, I'm afraid I like it more when the jumps are distributed throughout the program, but it's totally understandable why she did what she did.

Julia has officially retired. http://fsrussia.ru/intervyu/3116-figuristka-yuliya-lipnitskaya-ofitsialno-zavershila-karery.html

As an introvert getting bored at such social outings, I kinda relate to avoiding them...

Yeah, something of the kind. I'm just wondering what it translates into on the ice... she also said her programs aren't that much of a departure from what she has been doing until now.

Zhenya gave an interview which sorta baffled me. But I hope for no mimeography.... or excess of it.

what the list says now: Zagi, Tuk, Sotskova, Radio and Med. Let's hope Pogo's name is just overlooked. No news about her withdrawal.

Because she isn't listed among the girls performing tomorrow. But let's hope it's just a mistake... that's her at the practice

Kovtun certainly. Haven't heard about Pogo - ok, off to research it now... Leonova's off for health reasons. Haven't found anything about POGO - there were some pictures of hers doing the practice SK are off. Injuries, I guess.