General Yuzuru Chat

[shanshani]

21 hours ago, yuzuangel said:

A slight aside: does anyone feel like judges become slightly more reasonable during olympic seasons (or, to put it differently, they're less willing to score one single skater to the moon)...because they want to create a bit more tension/drama?

 

This doesn't seem to be happening with Valieva, maybe because no one has been touching her in terms of quads + consistency. Last time they really drummed up Alina's score to match Zhenya's and didn't crazily overscore Zhenya (so much so that Alina actually won)...despite giving Zhenya a 160+ PB the season before. And of course the same happened with Patrick and Yuzu in 2014. If you skate well at the Olys you could get a huge personal best even if you've never had a record of it (a la Sotnikova) whereas if you're used to get extremely overscored, suddenly judges can...just score you fairly.

 

Hmm, just throwing that out there....

I wondered for whether they deflated Nathan's scores a bit for the same reason--preordained winners are extremely boring, and Olys is the big chance to gain more viewers, so you don't want to give that up by having a pre-ordained winner. Wonder if Yuma is a factor here as well. They probably want to set him up as an up-and-comer who could challenge the established top of the field, but that's a pipe dream unless Nathan's scores come back down from the stratosphere. It's still quite unlikely even if Nathan continues to be scored as he was at Skate Canada, but it does at least make possible the scenario where Nathan makes a mistake or two and Yuma upgrades his layout, has the skate of his life, smashes his PB and beats him.

 

Spoiler

Tbh I think that Yuma should be able to challenge Nathan if the scoring were fair. Yuma's jumps are bigger, more effortless, and less stiffly landed, and he has way better skating skills (which IMO should actually be worth more than they currently are under IJS), so that ought to make up for some of the shortfall in terms of quads. Granted, Yuma also issues with his lutz edge and has excessive prerotation on the lutz and flip, so Nathan is technically cleaner. Neither are particularly anything to write home about in terms of interpretation. Nathan's better at that when he tries, but he doesn't really try until the jumps are over, whereas Yuma does sometimes seem to remember the program exists between the jumps but isn't particularly good at expressing the music. It would actually be kind of an interesting question in a world with fair judging (of course, in that world both would be fighting for second).

 

edit: Upon reviewing Yuma's free I find myself more convinced by his interpretation and performance. Maybe I just hate the SP lol

edit2: Upon reviewing Nathan's free I find that I have somehow overestimated his artistic skills in my memory 

 

Although it doesn't particularly bode well for Yuzu either if they're trying to set up Yuma--but JNats does indicate that Yuzu does have JSF's backing for this season, so that's good at least.

 

Could also be that because Nathan had such a disaster at Skate America it impacted the judges' perception of him.

 

 

[shanshani]

3 hours ago, toesocks said:

oh yuzu please take care of yourself 

why is it always like this  every time I want to think "oh, he's looking in great shape, maybe he's healthy for once" it turns out to be far from the case

at least we know his ankle isn't in bad enough shape to be impacting his jump landings. we can take comfort in that at least 

[Pammi]

Spoiler

I think Yuzuru is so very very clever - he has engineered a situation where HE is the talking point just prior to the Olympics, not any so called rival - everyone is so excited by him anyway, and the new SP has been so well received everywhere, (unsurprisingly), then throw a now-seen landed 4A attempt in a competition into the boiling pot and the pendulum has strongly started swinging back in Yuzu's direction. The way he can land that (barely 4 rotations) thing so nicely on 2 feet, I wonder if it is a deliberate strategy to train this and play it safe knowing he cant do the 4.5 revolutions with a good landing (at least now....and maybe never??) - he was cautious on Sunday I thought hence why it was (judged) slightly less than 4 revolutions, but Yuzuru knew the value in everybody seeing an attempt that looked pretty clean - no-one seems to care much that it was downgraded - Yuzu made a 4A attempt, he was still standing afterwards, and the rest of his skate was wonderful. He's a hero! With 2 fab Oly worthy programmes at the ready that he has already skated cleanly.

One translation I saw said that Yuzu said the 4A was another "chess piece" - he's playing it already, it doesn't need to be the completed article! Even though it's not ready (and may not be ready when the Olys arrives), in everyone's mind Yuzu is now a courageous warrior, challenging this impossible wall.  It looks like he also has a 4F ready (MOI) or nearly ready, basically the full chessboard, all ready for the chess game playing out right now in everyone's head, before they even get to Beijing!

Yuzu is a person who I imagine takes his responsibility seriously to his team and his country; that individual gold, and a possible team gold, is going to be his absolute priority at Beijing imo. He will already have weighed up all the mathematical stuff and combinations of jumps etc. but what he has also done is got the advantage of getting under the skin of those thinking a US individual gold was a lock - THEY are on the back foot now.  His understanding of psychology is not only helpful to himself and his self reflection, but also in understanding others too and how to create this new narrative that's even got the judges at JNats scoring him appropriately!  I think he's been planning this at night in bed for years lol!! And it all seems to be turning out just as he planned.... (Of course this is just MY theory, I love scheming!Yuzu - maybe he WILL land the 4A at Beijing, maybe it IS his priority goal, but he's clever and thorough and he'll have a smart contingency plan, or plans, at the ready. 

Oh, another weapon or chess piece that we found out about yesterday - LMEY!! Everyone adores it! There is no way anyone is going to spoil the Olympics gala by not having that as the last skate on Beijing ice in a country with literally millions of Yuzuru fans!! He's a master strategist, I bet even the tight black zipped rockstar pants are listed in his skating notebook as a useful weapon in his goal of 3 x OGM! (Remember JNats 2020, end of free, pointing up at the Olympic rings in Nagano....I remember the look in his eyes and on his face very well....)

Just some more of my ramblings under the spoiler lol!

 

[Melodie]

Cutie 

 

This post has been tagged by yuzuangel as [NEWS].

[Anni]

3 hours ago, Melodie said:

Cutie 

 

This post has been tagged by yuzuangel as [NEWS].

 

 

He looks so happy

 

 

Late "Merry Christmas" from Yuzu in English  

 

[NEWS]

 

Yuzu, now have a good rest and enjoy the time with your family

[Yuzuwinnie]

5 hours ago, Paskud said:

Someone here really deserves a weekend at the onsen.

 

 

Oh yes it will do him the most good to relax in hot water for an onsen 

[Anni]

Yuzu & Mana with 

Source: Mezamashi TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N79SC2v0q_Q

 

[NEWS]

 

 

Edit: 

Yuzu and Pooh-san 

 

[Bilge]

10 hours ago, Mary_kyo said:

I’m shocked. OMG, so sorry but they are the trashiest sh*ts ever and that’s the most polite words that came to my mind to describe them. Bunch of horrible gossipers and ISU mouth pieces. Please, I hope no one gives them any clicks or clouts.

Yup, i second that. 

 

8 hours ago, YuzuBoy said:

Johnny and Tara...My ears bleed when I hear their commentary. I am happy enough to have Eurosport.

There was a point in time where I enjoyed their commentary. But it was when I was new into the skating and only watching Yuzuru's clips. Theen it all changed.

 

 

7 hours ago, makebelieveup said:

I wonder if lets say Nathan bombs at beijing and Vincent stays on his feet, will he be a second sotnikova? 20-30 pt inflation incoming.

 

my mentality approaching this game is "expect the worst, prepare for the best"

Isn't he already inflated plus all the overlooked mistakes? He sure will be inflated but i don't think he will be the winner

[Anni]

Yuzu: "Truly, am I going to the Junior World?" 

 

 

 

 

 

[NEWS]

[AFBSLKoanda]

17 hours ago, CaroSkate said:

Maybe it is just me... 

I like white LMEY costume with Rondo Capriccioso more than the light blue costume.  

It makes him look like a chaotic piano genius. 

Me too. 

RE: The light blue costume-

The back is gorgeous but the front just looks like a blue-dyed, details-and-aesthetic-lacking, lazy, downgraded copy of Swanyu (why Satomi why?). If the designer could not come out with something as ethereal as Swanyu, a more simplistic design without so many ruffles or ruffles but in asymmetric arrangement (e.g. the requirem cabbage costume) could be more superior and classy than how it looks now. 

The collar is acceptable.

 

But anyways, yuzu can just skate in his pooh pyjamas and still being the most breathtaking presence on ice.

[Guest turquoiseblue]

[NEWS]

[hamaguri]

9 時間前, CiONTUw4Aさんが言いました:

 

 

This post has been tagged by yuzuangel as [NEWS].

 

Don't worry, the taste of this video is not so pessimistic. Yeah, it's true he had a painkiller and overdid. But sadly, his body is beyond limitation, and it must be normal for him now. So, let's send multiple of positive vibes to him!

He is more bright now. He finds his dream is our dream. "For people's happiness", is his motivation now. Luckily through Nationals I could watch a lot of interviews. About 1 year ago, he really gave up winning. He is nothing but the person who feel the politics, judging, etc, such a power. He has just kept skating for his passion and 4A. And at Nationals, what a destiny! he was successful beyond his expectation. And the nation's joy. I am sure, except anti and strange medias, Japanese nations cheer him up from bottom of the heart. He has noticed he is the person who can give power to the world in this situation. It's much much bigger love.

 

Now he feels 'the excitement which he had not experienced in the past Olympics'. Originally, he loves to compete. His fighting spirits are ignited again. His eyes are shining. Of course, it's a challenge, risk. But he has decided to compete again for Olympics gold despite of hardships.

 

And don't you think we are lucky? 4 years ago, he was silent. Only the written statement through JSA. But now, he is the national champion, having the show, interviews,TV... He can experience 8 years ago. And who imagined he would continue 4 years later Pyongchang? At least, I did not at all. He keeps competing by many unexpected situations. So enjoy ourselves as well! His presence itself is nothing but miracle now. Let's pray he is healthy, he can achieve what he wants at Olympics.

 

 

[Yuzurella]

11 hours ago, CiONTUw4A said:

Has this been shared? 

 

 

 

OMG! The fabled 2A! I always thought that it's just a legend. Who would've thought that I'd ever get to see it with my own eyes?

It's truly a magical beast that overcomes the force of gravity.

[Yuzurella]

16 hours ago, yuzuangel said:

A slight aside: does anyone feel like judges become slightly more reasonable during olympic seasons (or, to put it differently, they're less willing to score one single skater to the moon)...because they want to create a bit more tension/drama?

 

This doesn't seem to be happening with Valieva, maybe because no one has been touching her in terms of quads + consistency. Last time they really drummed up Alina's score to match Zhenya's and didn't crazily overscore Zhenya (so much so that Alina actually won)...despite giving Zhenya a 160+ PB the season before. And of course the same happened with Patrick and Yuzu in 2014. If you skate well at the Olys you could get a huge personal best even if you've never had a record of it (a la Sotnikova) whereas if you're used to get extremely overscored, suddenly judges can...just score you fairly.

 

Hmm, just throwing that out there....

 

10 hours ago, Dreamer said:

Olympic judges will be under scrutiny for their judging... The world and international media will be watching Yuzuru's opportunity to three peat as 3-time Olympic champion.  I read somewhere... Don't know whether it is true, that Chinese Olympic officials and IOC came to  Japan Nationals to watch.  Beijing is invested in a successful Olympics... What better way than to secure Yuzu's participation? So maybe,there was pressure to score him more reasonably. 

 

I also think that judges will be under more scrutiny during an Olympic season, especially during the Olympic competition. In the Olympics, not only the ISU and national feds are involved, but also the IOC and the organizers of the games. In addition, the scope is much larger and international media also pay much more attention than they would otherwise.

 

Considering Yuzu's popularity in China and all over the world, his participation in the Olympics will be the biggest story and he will be the biggest star of the games. Many official bodies involved in the Olympics, including the organizers and media companies in China, have been promoting Yuzu. They are very well aware what a huge star he is and that a lot of international attention on the games is focused on him. I believe all these factors would make it less likely that Yuzu gets screwed over by the judges.

 

Also, as I've already mentioned before, Yuzu is now the top boss of the technical game again with his 4A. And Nathan's formulaic programs with a 5 quads FP are literally yesterday's news. It's just not that impressive anymore after a couple of seasons of the same old, same old. Moreover, Nathan hasn't exactly delivered convincingly this season.

[makebelieveup]

5 hours ago, Pammi said:

  Reveal hidden contents

I think Yuzuru is so very very clever - he has engineered a situation where HE is the talking point just prior to the Olympics, not any so called rival - everyone is so excited by him anyway, and the new SP has been so well received everywhere, (unsurprisingly), then throw a now-seen landed 4A attempt in a competition into the boiling pot and the pendulum has strongly started swinging back in Yuzu's direction. The way he can land that (barely 4 rotations) thing so nicely on 2 feet, I wonder if it is a deliberate strategy to train this and play it safe knowing he cant do the 4.5 revolutions with a good landing (at least now....and maybe never??) - he was cautious on Sunday I thought hence why it was (judged) slightly less than 4 revolutions, but Yuzuru knew the value in everybody seeing an attempt that looked pretty clean - no-one seems to care much that it was downgraded - Yuzu made a 4A attempt, he was still standing afterwards, and the rest of his skate was wonderful. He's a hero! With 2 fab Oly worthy programmes at the ready that he has already skated cleanly.

One translation I saw said that Yuzu said the 4A was another "chess piece" - he's playing it already, it doesn't need to be the completed article! Even though it's not ready (and may not be ready when the Olys arrives), in everyone's mind Yuzu is now a courageous warrior, challenging this impossible wall.  It looks like he also has a 4F ready (MOI) or nearly ready, basically the full chessboard, all ready for the chess game playing out right now in everyone's head, before they even get to Beijing!

Yuzu is a person who I imagine takes his responsibility seriously to his team and his country; that individual gold, and a possible team gold, is going to be his absolute priority at Beijing imo. He will already have weighed up all the mathematical stuff and combinations of jumps etc. but what he has also done is got the advantage of getting under the skin of those thinking a US individual gold was a lock - THEY are on the back foot now.  His understanding of psychology is not only helpful to himself and his self reflection, but also in understanding others too and how to create this new narrative that's even got the judges at JNats scoring him appropriately!  I think he's been planning this at night in bed for years lol!! And it all seems to be turning out just as he planned.... (Of course this is just MY theory, I love scheming!Yuzu - maybe he WILL land the 4A at Beijing, maybe it IS his priority goal, but he's clever and thorough and he'll have a smart contingency plan, or plans, at the ready. 

Oh, another weapon or chess piece that we found out about yesterday - LMEY!! Everyone adores it! There is no way anyone is going to spoil the Olympics gala by not having that as the last skate on Beijing ice in a country with literally millions of Yuzuru fans!! He's a master strategist, I bet even the tight black zipped rockstar pants are listed in his skating notebook as a useful weapon in his goal of 3 x OGM! (Remember JNats 2020, end of free, pointing up at the Olympic rings in Nagano....I remember the look in his eyes and on his face very well....)

Just some more of my ramblings under the spoiler lol!

 

Im not sure if the hype leading up to the olympic would entirely do him any good tho. the last two olympics he came in as the underdog and won. i was hoping he stays out of the limelight a bit. whenever there were doubts for him his resolve got stronger.

 

 

one thing i also know is Nathan often bombed under immense pressure. im afraid his two gp skates may be the only two "lowballed" events that came in the right time for him this season. we'll see how he does at us nats. if its also bad then we know the pressure is really getting to him. but who knows he could pull a worlds zagitova at beijing