General Yuzuru Chat

[Anni]

3 hours ago, Henni147 said:

Congrats to LMEY for surpassing the winning free skate in Stockholm by more than 2 Mio. views on the Sportschau.

#SorryNotSorry

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

That's great 

 

It would be nice if we could maybe see LMEY again as gala program.

 

Credit: @emergencyquad on twitter

 

[Yuzuwinnie]

On 08/09/2021 at 19:32, Henni147 said:

 

Je pense que c'est les deux. Surtout maintenant avec l'entraînement 4A et les grands changements de son corps, il a sûrement besoin de quelqu'un pour le surveiller. De nombreux dommages à votre corps ne sont pas visibles lorsque vous vous entraînez, que seuls les spécialistes peuvent identifier et prendre les contre-mesures appropriées à temps. Avoir accès à un kiné est définitivement recommandé dans son cas.

 

 

 

Sujet totalement différent. Voici une enquête que j'avais envie de faire il y a longtemps :

 

Selon vous, quels sont les 3 meilleurs programmes Yuzu ou performances uniques dans les 5 composantes différentes du programme (habiletés de patinage, transitions, performance, composition et interprétation) et pourquoi ?

 

I am particularly interested in reasoning for skating skills and composition. You don't have to list everything, just what comes to mind that really stands out for you. I would be very grateful for answers with detailed reasoning 

 

 

OK, so I'll start, but I'm not good at details and I'm not as "strong and expressive" as you ALL and ALL of you and generally the programs that make me WOOOO come from the heart  : sorry 

 

My 1st is his FS Monde 2017 and which includes all the components that you wrote, because it is without any addicts and his look at the end says it all ...  and since he had nothing to lose seen his delay on his SP, he gave everything and here is THE result and the LOUD BRAVO from the French commentator and the costume that goes with it 

 

My 2nd is his FS World 2012 : young Yuzu / senior debut and, again, everything you marked is present and at one point, he screams (it can be seen in the image) and we feel that he is puts all his soul and his strength and at the end, where he sheds a tear and his emotion LIVE and the tears of Nanami 

 

My 3rd (we had to make a choice) : LMEY, rock and softness and its skating   and its sometimes "teasing" look which fits well with the music and a limit a crobatic jump in the World 2021 

 

But of course I love them ALL   

[Henni147]

If I got it right, the entries for the Asian Open Trophy must be submitted until today 10th September, 20:00 Beijing time. That means in 10 minutes 

They will probably be announced on the event page within the next few hours. Do you think, a certain someone will go? 

[lajoitko]

16 minutes ago, Henni147 said:

If I got it right, the entries for the Asian Open Trophy must be submitted until today 10th September, 20:00 Beijing time. That means in 10 minutes 

They will probably be announced on the event page within the next few hours. Do you think, a certain someone will go? 

It usually takes couple of days before they release entry lists. And for your question, I have no idea. 

[lajoitko]

One more possibility

 

 

[Henni147]

11 minutes ago, lajoitko said:

One more possibility

 

I heard that instead of the usual Carnival on Ice show the skaters will present their SPs in a "competition-like" setting.

 

Would be very Yuzu-ish actually to pick an event where he can wait with the SP announcement until the very last second 

[Pammi]

5 hours ago, amylance1215 said:

I love this energy! True art will always prevails 

......as do those trashbag pants! 

[barbara]

3 hours ago, Henni147 said:

If I got it right, the entries for the Asian Open Trophy must be submitted until today 10th September, 20:00 Beijing time. That means in 10 minutes 

They will probably be announced on the event page within the next few hours. Do you think, a certain someone will go? 

If they have to announce entries and are a week after Finlandia, why hasn't Finlandia announced entries yet?  That's the one I thought Yuzu would go to, if any, because it works into his schedule and it isn't an Olympic rest event (what "test event" means.....)

[lynnidolz]

In my opinion Yuzu will not attend any competitions until NHK because i think he is still taking Covid safety precaution seriously like reducing travelling especially overseas. Besides that he is also so busy focusing on practicing the quad axel and since Olympic Beijing is not on his mind i dont think he feels the need to go to any challengers or asian open(eventhough its an olympic test event).As for Japan Open i dont think he will attend also.When was the last time he attends one?and how about the sp.The last time we heard the choreography has not even begin yet.Usually skaters from Kinoshita group will join the JO since they are one of the sponsors.So my bet for the remaining skaters will be Koshiro and the other skater will be Yuma as he is supposed to be the new up and coming stars from Japan and JSF will do their best to promote him as much as possible before the olympics.

[micaelis]

I think I may have said this before but it sometimes pays to repeat oneself.  Regarding Yuzu's short program, I wish he'd make it Masquerade, his best-choreographed, most passionate program ever (even more than POTO).  The ultimate scenario would be that in Beijing he'd alter what he has been showing previously this season and when he makes that first jump where his landing is exactly timed to match a sudden, thundering crash in the music, instead of the 3A he's been doing, he unveils Nessie in all her quadruple glory.  Followed by the rest of his program he'd really set the challenge for Nathan, because even at his best Nathan can hardly even begin to match Yuzu's skating as far as showing the emotions are concerned.  Nathan's an expressionless robot next to Yuzu's highly human persona.  I think Yuzu would probably pull almost all 10s on the PCS side of the scoring and it would be very difficult for the judges not to rate his technical score low after that 4A.  All this, of course, is almost certainly mere daydreaming on my part but I'm not going to dismiss it simply because it is.  Masquerade is the best program Yuzu's ever done and it really doesn't deserve to be buried in the past even though I know that it seems to totally drain Yuzu after every performance of it.

 

Slightly off-topic - The Nathan camp must be starting to get nervous because Yuzu seems to be showing absolutely no evidence he wants that gold in Beijing.  That doesn't work very well when the Americans are doing everything they can to frame the story next February as the showdown between Yuzu and Nathan.  It's hard to do that when one half of the rivalry couldn't give a damn.  That's on top of the fact that all the other nations' commentators will be seeing the major story, not only in figure-skating but also of the total Olympics, as Yuzu's pursuit of a third straight gold, something that hasn't happened in almost a century.  The Americans will be shouting 'Nathan-Yuzu' when everyone else will be shouting 'Yuzu-3d gold'.  

[EisElle]

On 9/8/2021 at 7:32 PM, Henni147 said:

Totally different topic. This is a survey that I wanted to do a long time ago:

 

What would you say are the top 3 Yuzu programs or single performances in the 5 different program components (skating skills, transitions, performance, composition and interpretation) and why?

 

I am especially interested in the reasoning for skating skills and composition. You don't have to list up everything, just what comes to your mind and really stands out for you. I would be very grateful for responses with detailed reasonings 

ehhhh top3 for every component? Hard to say, so I'm not gonna do an actual top 3 but just top whatever Competition skates only!

disclaimer 1: the more I reread the keypoints the more it's hard to find a Yuzu program that doens't excel in them

disclaimer2: I'm a Ballade stan first and human second, so even when I don't mention Ballade specifically, please add it that to the other picks

Let's go!

• Skating skills: since Yuzuru usually has more energy in the SP (because he can go all out and doesn't have to spare energy for... a whole Origin, for example), I'd say that his skating skills are usually best displayed there (though he has excellent SS all around). So....BALLADE!!!!! (and especially 4CC20) starting from the opening with the big-ass mega bracket, he truly shows off the best for every single keypoint for SS! flow, multidirecitonal, one-footed skating, change in speed, soft knees...  Also, LGC for the super crazy accel/decel!
• transitions: this gotta be LGC/Ballade again XD I mean, remember the LGC transitions into 3A into sidelunge into illusion entry into spin with fistpumps on the note into stsq? also, H&L for the perfect flow of movements.  I'd have Otonal too if it weren't for those few secs before the 4Tcombo that still don't feel supersmooth to me. Also Origin for the longest chsq (because it starts with the  combo and had a counter3Acombo as last jumping pass and that's insane).  I feel like I'm disrespecting SEIMEI&TenChi but well, what can I do? Yuzuru has too many good programs! (probably, I'm also disrespecting RJ2 and its SEcounter3A)
• Performance ahhhhhhhhhh how to chose? Cruel angel's thesis joking! I gotta go for SEIMEI especially OWG, if one wants to see "emotional&intellectual involvement, personality, Variety and contrast of movements and energy" that's as good as it can get... another mandatory pick also being RJ1 in Nice (he lost something in carriage/clarity but overcompensated for then in individuality, projection, emotional involvement). PyeongChang Ballade and the GPF14 Ballade too! (GPF14 is sooo good, it has a more languid/jpyous feeling, and that fall doesn't ruin a thing! Which is why I still dislike the default caps on PCS) and since I'm also a TenChi stan gonna say TenChi (WTT!!!!!!!!!!!! while waiting for more!)
• Composition: H&L because distribution of elements is so exceptionally well balanced and fitting music and choreo truly towards all the sides of the rink   and up there I'd say TenChi too: "purpose, phase and form, originality, ice coverage etc etc". and SEIMEI. Those 3 programs are the holy trinity of Free Skating, and maybe it isn't surprising that Yuzuru played quite a role in defining the concept of the programs. I'll also add Etude, because Yuzuru at 17yo was just that good (and congrats to Nanami & russian coaches for building that program!). Of all the Ballades I I think I prefer the OWG one as elements distribution. And finally special mention for JNats Otonal (because I like it better with that layout!) and media day/ACI18 Origin because the first verison was indeed very very original as elements distribution and used an even wider variety of moves (and I mourn the loss, despite me being maybe among the few who though that changing ChSq into IB+hydro was a good choice)
• Interpretation: all of them? if I must make choice, then it must be Blinding Lights he's feeling himself so much joking! More seriously: H&L (a fave of mine is NHK16 that also has the stsq and chsq camerawork we deserved and didn't got at WC), TenChi because as I said I'm a TenChi stan too and and also "timing, Expression of the music’s character/feeling & Use of finesse to reflect the details and nuances of the music" are exactly what Zu does with TenChi (ok pretending WC TenChi didn't happen I haven't rewatched that enough to see how he was doing there sorrynotsorry it's still painful) and... PW. I must choose PW or Pari-san won't forgive me that I'm not mentioning even once the program that made me a fan Tbh all the SPs are up there: LMEY for example isn't among my fave Yuzu SPs but oh boy if he didn't throw himself into it even despite the rather weak ass shake! You can especially notice the big upgrade in WC and WTT compared to Nats were his IN was a bit weaker (he was playing the rockstar there, rather than being it).

usually with Yuzuru's programs I tend to like his more recent programs/version more. In part it could be some recency bias but also, Yuzuru became an even better skater, so PE and IN always get up a notch with him, even when I still have in my hearth his precious previous versions that could have been skated only by younger Yuzu.

 

 

10 hours ago, Henni147 said:

Congrats to LMEY for surpassing the winning free skate in Stockholm by more than 2 Mio. views on the Sportschau.

#SorryNotSorry

 

  Hide contents

 

I love this! it's what the most undescored LMEY deserves!

(still can't believe it got less than the WTT illusion 3A despite jumps all spanning from mor ethan decent to mindblowing and no invalid elements)

 

6 hours ago, Henni147 said:

If I got it right, the entries for the Asian Open Trophy must be submitted until today 10th September, 20:00 Beijing time. That means in 10 minutes 

They will probably be announced on the event page within the next few hours. Do you think, a certain someone will go? 

it's kinda been my secret wish since it was designated as oly test event, but if China doens't weaken the restrictions upon entering (and Japan doens't find a way to make their vaccinated skaters train decently even when isolating upon return) then no, he won't be able to go even if he wished so

and tbh with CoC happening later being cancelled, I don't see why China should be less strict with what is in theory a much less important comp...

 

 

4 hours ago, lajoitko said:

One more possibility

 

 

while I'd find it amusing if Yuzu got his first JO partecipation of his career the same year he came back to DOI and SOI, and while it would certainly drive even mor einterest (and gain for sponsors) idk tbh. I expect Yuma to absolutely join. Maybe Koshiro who is Kinoshita skater? (guessing Kinoshita still the sponsor?)

As for ladies, I expected Rika too but maybe if she's busy in Canada now they'll call for Waka instead (I had no doubt they'd call Rino, they're pushing her for Olys partecipation so hard)

 

 

late to comment on Yuzu and Canada, but while I'm sad that he's not at TCC right now, there are at least as many cons to being in TCC as pros.

I don't really want Yuzu to go there is he still has to quarantine upon return, especially not during GP series, not with his schedule that is semidecent only if he's based in Japan, and even then Japan must decide what to do with its quarantine mandate). If he had gotten SC like Rika, it could make more sense, but well... he got RC instead.

I honestly don't see Yuzuru going to Canada for a few weeks, then back to Japan again (and possibly quarantining). He used to do some back and forth once, but then he preferred to minimize travelling between different training bases even before a whole pandemic screwed things up.

Maybe he'll be able to go to TCC after JNats and prepare there for Beijng (if he feels he needs in person coaching) but right now I kinda think that the hassle of renting an apartment and travelling there (with or without his mum and with all connected risks because even vaccines can't protect 100%) for a mere month isn't worth it, if he thinks he has an acceptable arrangement in Sendai. Maybe one year ago he would have considered going back to TCC as soon as possible, but in hte meanwhile he's been able to find some balance on his own (however hard it can be)

For sure yep, I hope that wherever he is he's getting his physio with a professional.

[YuzuSkating_IsTheTruth]

On 9/6/2021 at 5:40 AM, Figure_Frenzy said:

This has been weighing my heart for a while, and I feel like I have to let it out sooner or later — while I agree with the sentiment that we should be happy with whatever Yuzu wants to achieve from each of his performances (eg. meeting his own standards in jumps, steps, choreo etc.) no matter the judging situation, I couldn't help but feel annoyed (and wrathful tbh) whenever I think of how the judges would shamelessly underscore him in the coming competition, especially when he faces off the favored, star-spangled skater™.

 

I could still kinda hope that the judges wouldn't be as egregious in other comps, where he wouldn't face him, but where he'd face him? Forget about it. As long as he doesn't fall the judges would be showering all the points on him, and I hate the thought that Yuzu could only win against him only when he is not skating cleanly (because remember that Yuzu is clearly the superior skater whenever they both skate cleanly :v).

I am having similar experience. I must first apologise for the lengthy reponse. But I need to get it off my chest. The way I see it - all this preferential AND underscoring (2-pronged approach by ISU) of the top two skaters is part of the bigger plan to boost PCS scoring of Nate to be on par with Yuzu before Beijing 2022. Going into PyeongChang 2018, there was little/no consideration to his PCS scores as they believed he could win with a high TES simply by jumping the most number of quads in his programs. Despite him coming back with a strong Free skate after faltering unexpectedly in his short program, he was unable to be on the podium, let alone beat Yuzu.  They realised his PCS scores were not in the range to help him secure a medal, specifically the gold one. Ouch, how it must have hurt their ego and pride! It has been a long drought for the US since Evan Lysacek won the 2009 World Championship and became the Olympic gold medalist in Vancouver 2010. Nate must end the drought in 2022 (in case he decides to retire after the Olympics) and ISU is not taking any chances after what happened in PyeongChang.

Looking at past Olympic games, I'm under the impression that whenever a skater from the strong US/Russian Fed was a contender for a gold medal, he/she would eventually become the Oly champ, with the scoring tilting towards his/her strength - athletic or artistic. So depending on the inclination of their favoured skaters, we have artistry winning over athleticism and other times, athleticism winning over artistry. Come Beijing 2022 Olympic, no doubt it's athleticism over artistry. Their favored champ already announced it's athleticism for him. To me, Yuzu is just as athletic as him. In fact, he's beyond any skaters the way he uses his high level of technical skills as tools to making music on ice.

 

The preferential and underscoring strategy adopted by ISU explained why Yuzu was systematically judged through microscopic lens, being picked on imagined/nitty-gritty mistakes and underscored (think ACI 2019 to GPF Torino 2019 to Nat 2020). He was quick to realise what was happening - the scoring was favoring athleticism (landing jumps consistently). I see such prolonged treatment from ISU as a form of emotional/psychological abuse towards one of its worldclass athlete while boosting the confidence of the favoured one with each successive win . When self-doubts set in where Yuzu questioned himself if he was heading towards the right direction ie retaining artistry in his programs. He knew he needed to skate clean/perfect and more quads to win competitions. I am sure having to deal with injuries, added stress from ISU bias judging (not forgetting the mounting frustration and helplessness in improving his situation), self-imposed pressure to perform well takes a toll on him. These come on top of the constant pressure and expectations from a nation. Tokyo 2022 put a spotlight on the mental health of elite athletes. It was a miracle he didn't fall into depression or develop other mental health issues. 

 

Should we stay hopeful for the future of the sport now that ISU adopts IOC Athletes' Rights and Responsibilities Declaration in April 2021 (under Athletes’ Rights) to promote the ability and opportunity of athletes to (among others):  

1         Practise sport and compete without being subject to discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other immutable status.

2     Be part of a transparent, fair and clean sporting environment, particularly one that fights against doping and competition manipulation, and provides for transparent judging/refereeing, selection  and qualification processes, and appropriate competition schedules, including training schedules at such competitions.

For full list and more details, https://olympics.com/athlete365/who-we-are/athletes-declaration/

Meanwhile, Yuzu was faulted for recycling his programs, inconsistencies in his jumps among other reasons, to help explain away his underscoring and judges were labelled incompetent. On the contrary, I think they are highly competent because ISU achieves its goal of raising Nate's PCS to be on par with Yuzu's by 2019.

 

At the 2018 US Figure Skating Championship, Nate’s scored SP 104.45, FS 210.78, Total 315.23. During Yuzu’s absence from 2018 World Championship, he earned SP 101.94, FS 219.46, Overall 321.40 and at 2018 Vancouver GPF, his SP 92.99, FS 189.42, Total 282.42. Winning these two coveted titles provided ISU the chance to catapult his scoring to surpass Yuzu’s level at 2019 US Championship where Nate earned SP 113.42, FS 228.80, Total 342.22. This launched the start of record-breaking phase of his competitive career.

 

It is in line with their narrative that this is the Nathan-era and have his name dominating WRs,

List of highest scores in Figure Skating, winning GPF and WC championships titles, emulating Yuzu’s previous achievements. Contrary to the reasons given by ISU, I’ve come to conclude the new scoring system was introduced to make way for a clean start (Yuzu’s past WRs became historical), provided more room for manipulation to quickly close the gap in scores between them and having Nate setting WRs.

 

Checklist – According to Wikipedia, Nate holds the highest scores for the following quadruple jumps: 4Lz (16.26), 4F (15.40), 4S (14.83), 4F+3T (20.23) and the second highest scores for the following quadruple jumps: 4T (13.71), 4T+3T (18.46), 4T+1Eu+3S (17.01), 4T+1Eu+3F (19.14). He also holds the highest and a perfect ChSq1 score of 5.50 and the highest StSq4 score of 5.73 among male and female singles skaters under the new scoring system. With this, he has established himself as a top skate with high PCS scores assured.

 

He became the WR holder for both Combined Total and Free Skate, set at 2019 Torino GPF. The WR Short program is set by Yuzu who also held all historical WRs for Combined, Free and Short. I imagined it wouldn’t be too difficult to break the current Short WR given the momentum ISU has been slaying Yuzu and rewarding Nate. He has overtaken Yuzu as three-time World champion and is a three-time GPF champion, possibly on par with Yuzu as a four-time champ this upcoming season).

 

I couldn’t help but felt there was just too much coincidence of chance happenings to Yuzu at both important/major competitions - 2019 Torino GPF and 2021 World Championships. At Torino GPF, of all participating athletes, it had to be Yuzu’s coach who lost his passport, hence he was left to be on his own heading into his short program. If it was part of a plan to prevent him from making history ie becoming a five-time GPF champion, I wondered if someone was inspired by Shoma Uno sitting alone at the Kiss and Cry area at 2019 Internationaux de France.

At 2021 World Championships, Yuzu was looking healthier and stronger than before and he was leading after the Short program, hence the argument of the asthma attack was triggered by him stressing over Nate did not stand for me. The possibility of sabotaging is not too far-fetched. If Yuzu wins both the 2019 GPF and 2021 World Championships, he will be a three-time World Champions champion and five-time GPF champion, furthering the gap between him and Nate (not forgetting the two-time Olympic champion titles). If Nathan wins, he will be a three-time World Championships champion, three-time GPF champion, closing the gap between Yuzu and him. As ego and pride stand, the scenario of Yuzu winning both titles cannot be tolerated. In fact, it was an opportunity to suppress Yuzu’s scores at the Torino GPF so that Nate will be in a stronger position going into World Championships.

 

Now, the narrative continues with Yuzu regressing in his technicalities when another young skater, his compatriot Yuma Kagiyama beating him to a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships while Yuzu settled for a bronze medal. Nate has been successfully crafted as the untouchable one. Hence, anything that might jeopardize such outcome have been taken care of in advance. These include changing BV of 4A to a lower value of 12.50 (in case someone successfully jumps it at Beijing Olympics?) and delaying the implementation of full BVs of jump sequences after 2022 Beijing.

 

It is important all these are to be achieved before the next Olympic. The ISU has taken great pains in the making of a (US) legend post 2018 PyeongChang. So comes Beijing 2022, there will  be no surprise/scandal when the American becomes the Olympic champion. 

 

It makes me fuming with anger the more I think of it. No doubt, Nate is talented in technicalities but it is far from the truth (based on TES and PCS scores) to suggest he is a more well-rounded/complete skater than Yuzu. I am praying fervently for Yuzu’s happiness and good (physical and mental) health. May all the forces of the universe be with him, all the stars are aligned for him to reach his biggest dream of landing 4A.

 

I like the fact that he’s the only active competitive skater eligible for being the only other skater besides Gillis Grafström with three consecutive Olympics titles if he’s on the podium next year. or turning his attention full on chasing elusive title such as the only man in Figure Skating history to do two different quadruple jumps. It would definitely upstage the Olympic champion (unless it’s him) and everything else. It would be the perfect ending to his illustrious competitive career.

[Dreamer]

30 minutes ago, YuzuSkating_IsTheTruth said:

I am having similar experience. I must first apologise for the lengthy reponse. But I need to get it off my chest. The way I see it - all this preferential AND underscoring (2-pronged approach by ISU) of the top two skaters is part of the bigger plan to boost PCS scoring of Nate to be on par with Yuzu before Beijing 2022. Going into PyeongChang 2018, there was little/no consideration to his PCS scores as they believed he could win with a high TES simply by jumping the most number of quads in his programs. Despite him coming back with a strong Free skate after faltering unexpectedly in his short program, he was unable to be on the podium, let alone beat Yuzu.  They realised his PCS scores were not in the range to help him secure a medal, specifically the gold one. Ouch, how it must have hurt their ego and pride! It has been a long drought for the US since Evan Lysacek won the 2009 World Championship and became the Olympic gold medalist in Vancouver 2010. Nate must end the drought in 2022 (in case he decides to retire after the Olympics) and ISU is not taking any chances after what happened in PyeongChang.

 

Looking at past Olympic games, I'm under the impression that whenever a skater from the strong US/Russian Fed was a contender for a gold medal, he/she would eventually become the Oly champ, with the scoring tilting towards his/her strength - athletic or artistic. So depending on the inclination of their favoured skaters, we have artistry winning over athleticism and other times, athleticism winning over artistry. Come Beijing 2022 Olympic, no doubt it's athleticism over artistry. Their favored champ already announced it's athleticism for him. To me, Yuzu is just as athletic as him. In fact, he's beyond any skaters the way he uses his high level of technical skills as tools to making music on ice.

 

 

 

The preferential and underscoring strategy adopted by ISU explained why Yuzu was systematically judged through microscopic lens, being picked on imagined/nitty-gritty mistakes and underscored (think ACI 2019 to GPF Torino 2019 to Nat 2020). He was quick to realise what was happening - the scoring was favoring athleticism (landing jumps consistently). I see such prolonged treatment from ISU as a form of emotional/psychological abuse towards one of its worldclass athlete while boosting the confidence of the favoured one with each successive win . When self-doubts set in where Yuzu questioned himself if he was heading towards the right direction ie retaining artistry in his programs. He knew he needed to skate clean/perfect and more quads to win competitions. I am sure having to deal with injuries, added stress from ISU bias judging (not forgetting the mounting frustration and helplessness in improving his situation), self-imposed pressure to perform well takes a toll on him. These come on top of the constant pressure and expectations from a nation. Tokyo 2022 put a spotlight on the mental health of elite athletes. It was a miracle he didn't fall into depression or develop other mental health issues. 

 

 

 

Should we stay hopeful for the future of the sport now that ISU adopts IOC Athletes' Rights and Responsibilities Declaration in April 2021 (under Athletes’ Rights) to promote the ability and opportunity of athletes to (among others):  

 

1         Practise sport and compete without being subject to discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other immutable status.

2     Be part of a transparent, fair and clean sporting environment, particularly one that fights against doping and competition manipulation, and provides for transparent judging/refereeing, selection  and qualification processes, and appropriate competition schedules, including training schedules at such competitions.

 

For full list and more details, https://olympics.com/athlete365/who-we-are/athletes-declaration/

 

 

Meanwhile, Yuzu was faulted for recycling his programs, inconsistencies in his jumps among other reasons, to help explain away his underscoring and judges were labelled incompetent. On the contrary, I think they are highly competent because ISU achieves its goal of raising Nate's PCS to be on par with Yuzu's by 2019.

 

 

 

At the 2018 US Figure Skating Championship, Nate’s scored SP 104.45, FS 210.78, Total 315.23. During Yuzu’s absence from 2018 World Championship, he earned SP 101.94, FS 219.46, Overall 321.40 and at 2018 Vancouver GPF, his SP 92.99, FS 189.42, Total 282.42. Winning these two coveted titles provided ISU the chance to catapult his scoring to surpass Yuzu’s level at 2019 US Championship where Nate earned SP 113.42, FS 228.80, Total 342.22. This launched the start of record-breaking phase of his competitive career.

 

 

 

It is in line with their narrative that this is the Nathan-era and have his name dominating WRs,

 

List of highest scores in Figure Skating, winning GPF and WC championships titles, emulating Yuzu’s previous achievements. Contrary to the reasons given by ISU, I’ve come to conclude the new scoring system was introduced to make way for a clean start (Yuzu’s past WRs became historical), provided more room for manipulation to quickly close the gap in scores between them and having Nate setting WRs.

 

 

 

Checklist – According to Wikipedia, Nate holds the highest scores for the following quadruple jumps: 4Lz (16.26), 4F (15.40), 4S (14.83), 4F+3T (20.23) and the second highest scores for the following quadruple jumps: 4T (13.71), 4T+3T (18.46), 4T+1Eu+3S (17.01), 4T+1Eu+3F (19.14). He also holds the highest and a perfect ChSq1 score of 5.50 and the highest StSq4 score of 5.73 among male and female singles skaters under the new scoring system. With this, he has established himself as a top skate with high PCS scores assured.

 

 

 

He became the WR holder for both Combined Total and Free Skate, set at 2019 Torino GPF. The WR Short program is set by Yuzu who also held all historical WRs for Combined, Free and Short. I imagined it wouldn’t be too difficult to break the current Short WR given the momentum ISU has been slaying Yuzu and rewarding Nate. He has overtaken Yuzu as three-time World champion and is a three-time GPF champion, possibly on par with Yuzu as a four-time champ this upcoming season).

 

 

 

I couldn’t help but felt there was just too much coincidence of chance happenings to Yuzu at both important/major competitions - 2019 Torino GPF and 2021 World Championships. At Torino GPF, of all participating athletes, it had to be Yuzu’s coach who lost his passport, hence he was left to be on his own heading into his short program. If it was part of a plan to prevent him from making history ie becoming a five-time GPF champion, I wondered if someone was inspired by Shoma Uno sitting alone at the Kiss and Cry area at 2019 Internationaux de France.

 

 

At 2021 World Championships, Yuzu was looking healthier and stronger than before and he was leading after the Short program, hence the argument of the asthma attack was triggered by him stressing over Nate did not stand for me. The possibility of sabotaging is not too far-fetched. If Yuzu wins both the 2019 GPF and 2021 World Championships, he will be a three-time World Champions champion and five-time GPF champion, furthering the gap between him and Nate (not forgetting the two-time Olympic champion titles). If Nathan wins, he will be a three-time World Championships champion, three-time GPF champion, closing the gap between Yuzu and him. As ego and pride stand, the scenario of Yuzu winning both titles cannot be tolerated. In fact, it was an opportunity to suppress Yuzu’s scores at the Torino GPF so that Nate will be in a stronger position going into World Championships.

 

 

 

Now, the narrative continues with Yuzu regressing in his technicalities when another young skater, his compatriot Yuma Kagiyama beating him to a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships while Yuzu settled for a bronze medal. Nate has been successfully crafted as the untouchable one. Hence, anything that might jeopardize such outcome have been taken care of in advance. These include changing BV of 4A to a lower value of 12.50 (in case someone successfully jumps it at Beijing Olympics?) and delaying the implementation of full BVs of jump sequences after 2022 Beijing.

 

 

 

It is important all these are to be achieved before the next Olympic. The ISU has taken great pains in the making of a (US) legend post 2018 PyeongChang. So comes Beijing 2022, there will  be no surprise/scandal when the American becomes the Olympic champion. 

 

 

 

It makes me fuming with anger the more I think of it. No doubt, Nate is talented in technicalities but it is far from the truth (based on TES and PCS scores) to suggest he is a more well-rounded/complete skater than Yuzu. I am praying fervently for Yuzu’s happiness and good (physical and mental) health. May all the forces of the universe be with him, all the stars are aligned for him to reach his biggest dream of landing 4A.

 

 

 

I like the fact that he’s the only active competitive skater eligible for being the only other skater besides Gillis Grafström with three consecutive Olympics titles if he’s on the podium next year. or turning his attention full on chasing elusive title such as the only man in Figure Skating history to do two different quadruple jumps. It would definitely upstage the Olympic champion (unless it’s him) and everything else. It would be the perfect ending to his illustrious competitive career.

 

 

' I couldn't help but feel annoyed (and wrathful tbh) whenever I think of how the judges would shamelessly underscore him in the coming competition, especially when he faces off the favored, star-spangled skater™.'

 

Agree

[Melodie]

5 hours ago, LadyLou said:

ehhhh top3 for every component? Hard to say, so I'm not gonna do an actual top 3 but just top whatever Competition skates only!

disclaimer 1: the more I reread the keypoints the more it's hard to find a Yuzu program that doens't excel in them

disclaimer2: I'm a Ballade stan first and human second, so even when I don't mention Ballade specifically, please add it that to the other picks

Let's go!

• Skating skills: since Yuzuru usually has more energy in the SP (because he can go all out and doesn't have to spare energy for... a whole Origin, for example), I'd say that his skating skills are usually best displayed there (though he has excellent SS all around). So....BALLADE!!!!! (and especially 4CC20) starting from the opening with the big-ass mega bracket, he truly shows off the best for every single keypoint for SS! flow, multidirecitonal, one-footed skating, change in speed, soft knees...  Also, LGC for the super crazy accel/decel!
• transitions: this gotta be LGC/Ballade again XD I mean, remember the LGC transitions into 3A into sidelunge into illusion entry into spin with fistpumps on the note into stsq? also, H&L for the perfect flow of movements.  I'd have Otonal too if it weren't for those few secs before the 4Tcombo that still don't feel supersmooth to me. Also Origin for the longest chsq (because it starts with the  combo and had a counter3Acombo as last jumping pass and that's insane).  I feel like I'm disrespecting SEIMEI&TenChi but well, what can I do? Yuzuru has too many good programs! (probably, I'm also disrespecting RJ2 and its SEcounter3A)
• Performance ahhhhhhhhhh how to chose? Cruel angel's thesis joking! I gotta go for SEIMEI especially OWG, if one wants to see "emotional&intellectual involvement, personality, Variety and contrast of movements and energy" that's as good as it can get... another mandatory pick also being RJ1 in Nice (he lost something in carriage/clarity but overcompensated for then in individuality, projection, emotional involvement). PyeongChang Ballade and the GPF14 Ballade too! (GPF14 is sooo good, it has a more languid/jpyous feeling, and that fall doesn't ruin a thing! Which is why I still dislike the default caps on PCS) and since I'm also a TenChi stan gonna say TenChi (WTT!!!!!!!!!!!! while waiting for more!)
• Composition: H&L because distribution of elements is so exceptionally well balanced and fitting music and choreo truly towards all the sides of the rink   and up there I'd say TenChi too: "purpose, phase and form, originality, ice coverage etc etc". and SEIMEI. Those 3 programs are the holy trinity of Free Skating, and maybe it isn't surprising that Yuzuru played quite a role in defining the concept of the programs. I'll also add Etude, because Yuzuru at 17yo was just that good (and congrats to Nanami & russian coaches for building that program!). Of all the Ballades I I think I prefer the OWG one as elements distribution. And finally special mention for JNats Otonal (because I like it better with that layout!) and media day/ACI18 Origin because the first verison was indeed very very original as elements distribution and used an even wider variety of moves (and I mourn the loss, despite me being maybe among the few who though that changing ChSq into IB+hydro was a good choice)
• Interpretation: all of them? if I must make choice, then it must be Blinding Lights he's feeling himself so much joking! More seriously: H&L (a fave of mine is NHK16 that also has the stsq and chsq camerawork we deserved and didn't got at WC), TenChi because as I said I'm a TenChi stan too and and also "timing, Expression of the music’s character/feeling & Use of finesse to reflect the details and nuances of the music" are exactly what Zu does with TenChi (ok pretending WC TenChi didn't happen I haven't rewatched that enough to see how he was doing there sorrynotsorry it's still painful) and... PW. I must choose PW or Pari-san won't forgive me that I'm not mentioning even once the program that made me a fan Tbh all the SPs are up there: LMEY for example isn't among my fave Yuzu SPs but oh boy if he didn't throw himself into it even despite the rather weak ass shake! You can especially notice the big upgrade in WC and WTT compared to Nats were his IN was a bit weaker (he was playing the rockstar there, rather than being it).

usually with Yuzuru's programs I tend to like his more recent programs/version more. In part it could be some recency bias but also, Yuzuru became an even better skater, so PE and IN always get up a notch with him, even when I still have in my hearth his precious previous versions that could have been skated only by younger Yuzu.

 

 

I love this! it's what the most undescored LMEY deserves!

(still can't believe it got less than the WTT illusion 3A despite jumps all spanning from mor ethan decent to mindblowing and no invalid elements)

 

it's kinda been my secret wish since it was designated as oly test event, but if China doens't weaken the restrictions upon entering (and Japan doens't find a way to make their vaccinated skaters train decently even when isolating upon return) then no, he won't be able to go even if he wished so

and tbh with CoC happening later being cancelled, I don't see why China should be less strict with what is in theory a much less important comp...

 

 

while I'd find it amusing if Yuzu got his first JO partecipation of his career the same year he came back to DOI and SOI, and while it would certainly drive even mor einterest (and gain for sponsors) idk tbh. I expect Yuma to absolutely join. Maybe Koshiro who is Kinoshita skater? (guessing Kinoshita still the sponsor?)

As for ladies, I expected Rika too but maybe if she's busy in Canada now they'll call for Waka instead (I had no doubt they'd call Rino, they're pushing her for Olys partecipation so hard)

 

 

late to comment on Yuzu and Canada, but while I'm sad that he's not at TCC right now, there are at least as many cons to being in TCC as pros.

I don't really want Yuzu to go there is he still has to quarantine upon return, especially not during GP series, not with his schedule that is semidecent only if he's based in Japan, and even then Japan must decide what to do with its quarantine mandate). If he had gotten SC like Rika, it could make more sense, but well... he got RC instead.

I honestly don't see Yuzuru going to Canada for a few weeks, then back to Japan again (and possibly quarantining). He used to do some back and forth once, but then he preferred to minimize travelling between different training bases even before a whole pandemic screwed things up.

Maybe he'll be able to go to TCC after JNats and prepare there for Beijng (if he feels he needs in person coaching) but right now I kinda think that the hassle of renting an apartment and travelling there (with or without his mum and with all connected risks because even vaccines can't protect 100%) for a mere month isn't worth it, if he thinks he has an acceptable arrangement in Sendai. Maybe one year ago he would have considered going back to TCC as soon as possible, but in hte meanwhile he's been able to find some balance on his own (however hard it can be)

For sure yep, I hope that wherever he is he's getting his physio with a professional.

I don't think he will go back to TCC now TBH. Like you said, he has figured out the balance in training. Plus, travelling back and forth from Canada will turn him and his schedule into a mess, aka the 2019/20 season. He won't make the same mistake again. Boy is good at learning.

[rockstaryuzu]

11 hours ago, Pammi said:

......as do those trashbag pants! 

excuse you, they are the Gleaming Pants of Ascension....because fanyus ascend to Heaven upon seeing them grace our boy's beautiful leg lines...

 

@Henni147 again with the tough to answer questions! Rather than pick a program for each one, I'm just going to go with the one that I think is the best all-arounder on all those points, and that's LGC. Notwithstanding that Yuzu never quite did it clean in competition, it's still the best designed and probably most difficult program he's ever attempted. The step sequence alone is insane.I think if he revisited it now, with the added ability all his training for 4A has given him, not even a judging-bias-boosted certain other someone could possibly touch it in terms of excellence. if he ran it with 4A as the starting jump...just imagine.

 

but in terms of a skate that was perfectly performed by Yuzu in every way, and was everything skating should be, it's Worlds 2017 H&L, and then 20204CC Ballade.