3 hours ago, asiacheetah said:

I kind of agree though. I stop watching GP series because Yuzuru's out. The only event where almost everyone is competing is Women. Men is really down to the sQUAD and really other than Boyang, I'm not that excited. Pairs might be exciting since Sui/Han and I think the OGM are competing? Eh what do I know. I really only follow for Yuzu.

 

I think Sui/Han might not go? Last I heard Sui's injury was worse than expected. Not sure if any announcements have been made yet. I'll be really sad if they don't go.  

 

Oh... If S/H are not going then that means Evgenia will be the only reigning world champion defending their title in Milan.

19 minutes ago, kaeryth said:

Oh... If S/H are not going then that means Evgenia will be the only reigning world champion defending their title in Milan.

I thought Evgenia had an injury too? So we know for sure she's going?

31 minutes ago, Xen said:

I thought Evgenia had an injury too? So we know for sure she's going?

 

Well then

Saying that the World Championships is not going to be exciting "for you personally" because your favourite or a lot of your favourites are out is acceptable and understandable. It's different to be fans of the sport, and to be fans of the athlete. It's not necessary to be a fan of both. 

But saying that a competition will be boring in absolute because your favourites or even 'most defending champions/big names' won't be there it's insulting. The athletes who are going there spent years and years and hours and hours every day busting their asses because they love what they do and they want to give good performances when they're competing. The performances change every competition, and the respect for ALL the skaters is a MUST if you are a decent person. 

So, don't follow if you don't want to, you are free to do so. But skating does not exist only for one or two athletes. 

 

In Milan there's going to be hundreds of empty seats, I fear. If it were me, I'd give those seats for free to locals. Say what you will about occasional skating fans who don't know names of the athletes and don't know the sport; but I think most of them would watch the competition unbiased, and might actually enjoy it even if some are missing - because they wouldn't even know who's missing. 

 

 

25 minutes ago, kaeryth said:

 

Well then

 

I think a lot depends on the circumstances of the individual.  If I had paid E500/1000 for a ticket because I wanted to see Yuzuru, plus several nights accommodation, and a reasonable air fare from within Europe then I would probably go anyway - be disappointed but go.  If I was flying a considerable distance and had limited funds, I would pull out as much money as I could from the trip and bank it for next season in the hope of seeing him somewhere else, saving my money and my holiday time - it's what I would do if I'd booked for a competition in Asia/NA.  Unless he competes in Europe next season I have no chance, and I almost went for tickets for Milan before NHK happened- the prices made me pause and once he was injured I thought it best to wait and see.

 

Its not just him- a lot of others have WD as well for various reasons.  As someone said earlier in the thread - there are no refunds just because someone isn't skating, but to expect fans to carry on with expensive time consuming travel as some sort of service to the sport is unrealistic and unfair.  The organisers could fill some of those seats if they dropped the prices - which won't happen.

 

ISU should consider not having WC in Olympic years- competitors are injured/retiring/simply tired from peaking for the Olympics, there are bound to be lots of WD and disappointed fans, and partially empty arenas.  

1 hour ago, Sombreuil said:

I think a lot depends on the circumstances of the individual.  If I had paid E500/1000 for a ticket because I wanted to see Yuzuru, plus several nights accommodation, and a reasonable air fare from within Europe then I would probably go anyway - be disappointed but go.  If I was flying a considerable distance and had limited funds, I would pull out as much money as I could from the trip and bank it for next season in the hope of seeing him somewhere else, saving my money and my holiday time - it's what I would do if I'd booked for a competition in Asia/NA.  Unless he competes in Europe next season I have no chance, and I almost went for tickets for Milan before NHK happened- the prices made me pause and once he was injured I thought it best to wait and see.

 

Its not just him- a lot of others have WD as well for various reasons.  As someone said earlier in the thread - there are no refunds just because someone isn't skating, but to expect fans to carry on with expensive time consuming travel as some sort of service to the sport is unrealistic and unfair.  The organisers could fill some of those seats if they dropped the prices - which won't happen.

 

ISU should consider not having WC in Olympic years- competitors are injured/retiring/simply tired from peaking for the Olympics, there are bound to be lots of WD and disappointed fans, and partially empty arenas.  

3

Exactly my point.

Spoiler

 

I am a broke graduate student who lives in a foreign country where the prices make me want to weep most of the times. It would take an enormous amount of sacrifice for me to save enough money to make even the cheapest trip to Milan and then some more for the tickets, and I live in Europe at the moment. 

I would say that the fact that I did not decide to make said necessary sacrifices, is an indication that this is not the most important thing in my life, no matter how much joy (and tears, let's be real) watching Yuzu's skating brought me.

I understand that some people do not have such limited funds to support their love for Zu or figure skating. But, I am also aware of the world enough to know that some people are in way worse financial situation than me.

Unless you truly have money to burn, attending such an expensive competition in a country you have to fly some distance for which you need to make a long-term plan of arranging all the necessity so that you don't die for lack of food and roof, is not an easy thing. Added to that the possibility that you are doing this, like I said in the general thread, because watching your favourite skater is the one thing that could brighten your otherwise dark days. I think the disappointment is more than understandable and acceptable. Voicing it sometimes can be done more tactfully, but hey.

 

Yes, there might be fans who can attend any expensive competition no problem, who do have money (and time, effort, etc.) to burn, and who are just being pissy that they won't see 'the best'. (There are also fans who are not even going to attend but dare to complain about it - for this one, roast them all you want, I guess.) But, let's think. How many of those are there? Am I truly the one naive enough to think that fans like me, who would have to make significant sacrifices if I were to attend Figure Skating World Championship, are not the minority?

 

The arguments for fans to attend the WC anyway despite being disappointed by the possible watered down competitions due to some top skaters WDing, have so far been about the skaters. What about the fans themselves? Can we at least extend the same courtesy to the fans? After all, Zu is always very much aware of this himself.

 

ETA: Putting the whole thing under spoiler, cz it's a word vomit.

 

People know what they sign up for when they go to a post-Olys Worlds. Lots of WDs of Olympic medalists are perfectly normal. Don’t like it? Don’t buy tickets.

I much rather have a Worlds than not, so no, please don’t get rid of them in Olys years! 

 

Personally, I really don’t mind a lot of skaters withdrawing and won’t shed a tear for them (with a few exceptions), as I prefer seeing “new” skaters instead of always the same people. (Why yes, I am very happy about Kazuki coming instead of Mura.)

 

I am really sad about Yuzu not coming, but I know it’s much worse for the Yuzu only fans than me. ((((((((Hugs)))))))) I wish I had a magic wand to make his injury disappear and the fans’ pain of his absence disappear along with it. :-(

30 minutes ago, yuzupon said:

Exactly my point.

  Hide contents

 

I am a broke graduate student who lives in a foreign country where the prices make me want to weep most of the times. It would take an enormous amount of sacrifice for me to save enough money to make even the cheapest trip to Milan and then some more for the tickets, and I live in Europe at the moment. 

I would say that the fact that I did not decide to make said necessary sacrifices, is an indication that this is not the most important thing in my life, no matter how much joy (and tears, let's be real) watching Yuzu's skating brought me.

I understand that some people do not have such limited funds to support their love for Zu or figure skating. But, I am also aware of the world enough to know that some people are in way worse financial situation than me.

Unless you truly have money to burn, attending such an expensive competition in a country you have to fly some distance for which you need to make a long-term plan of arranging all the necessity so that you don't die for lack of food and roof, is not an easy thing. Added to that the possibility that you are doing this, like I said in the general thread, because watching your favourite skater is the one thing that could brighten your otherwise dark days. I think the disappointment is more than understandable and acceptable. Voicing it sometimes can be done more tactfully, but hey.

 

Yes, there might be fans who can attend any expensive competition no problem, who do have money (and time, effort, etc.) to burn, and who are just being pissy that they won't see 'the best'. (There are also fans who are not even going to attend but dare to complain about it - for this one, roast them all you want, I guess.) But, let's think. How many of those are there? Am I truly the one naive enough to think that fans like me, who would have to make significant sacrifices if I were to attend Figure Skating World Championship, are not the minority?

 

The arguments for fans to attend the WC anyway despite being disappointed by the possible watered down competitions due to some top skaters WDing, have so far been about the skaters. What about the fans themselves? Can we at least extend the same courtesy to the fans? After all, Zu is always very much aware of this himself.

 

ETA: Putting the whole thing under spoiler, cz it's a word vomit.

 

I am in a similar situation as you and I had to do paid work for a full semester (which really affected my studies) just to pay for the over priced tickets. I am still going because I need the vacation and I already paid a lot of money I can't get back but I am also disappointed about the withdrawals. Now I wish I bought the cheaper all event package rather than paying so much for the better tickets for men which meant I only have a crappy ticket for the ladies. 

3 minutes ago, Winnie_20 said:

People know what they sign up for when they go to a post-Olys Worlds. Lots of WDs of Olympic medalists are perfectly normal. Don’t like it? Don’t buy tickets.

I much rather have a Worlds than not, so no, please don’t get rid of them in Olys years! 

 

Personally, I really don’t mind a lot of skaters withdrawing and won’t shed a tear for them (with a few exceptions), as I prefer seeing “new” skaters instead of always the same people. (Why yes, I am very happy about Kazuki coming instead of Mura.)

 

I am really sad about Yuzu not coming, but I know it’s much worse for the Yuzu only fans than me. ((((((((Hugs)))))))) I wish I had a magic wand to make his injury disappear and the fans’ pain of his absence disappear along with it. :-(

The biggest problem is how hard it is to see him and how ridiculously expensive the whole FS thing is. For me going to Japan or NA is financially impossible and I know a lot of people have the same problem. Also, many newer fans probably did not anticipate the withdrawals and were caught off guard by it

i'm fine w the result to be whatever, im not very interested in the youngsters anw. But i hope shoma can be in top 2 so jpn can keep 3 spots next yr and yuzu doesnt have to feel bad about his withdrawal, esp when next Worlds is in jpn. 

52 minutes ago, Neenah said:

... I only have a crappy ticket for the ladies. 

 

well, there's a good chance that seats will stay empty despite the fact that tickets have been sold. Depending on how strict they are with checking tickets (or how lenient they become) you might be able to sneak down to a better seat.

 

 

Just now, monchan said:

But i hope shoma can be in top 2 so jpn can keep 3 spots next yr and yuzu doesnt have to feel bad about his withdrawal, esp when next Worlds is in jpn. 

It doesn't only depend on Shoma. The results of the top 2 skaters must equal 13 or less. So even if Shoma wins, one of the other guys still has to place at least 12th or better, otherwise it's bye bye 3rd spot. 

Guys, it's not on Shoma to get 3 spots. It's ALL 3 Japanese men. Similar to Yuzu, he can be on the podium and if the others rank too low to sum up 13 then 3 spots are a no go. Maybe Yuzu gave the impression that it's a one-man responsibility because of how much he himself felt responsible for it but in reality, it's a collective effort.

 

/That's why I get a bit annoyed when some people say Satton carried the Japanese ladies all these years... like Rika H, Kanako,. or Mao didn't do their best to rank high enough for 3 spots in 2015 and 2016/

2 hours ago, Pamigena said:

well, there's a good chance that seats will stay empty despite the fact that tickets have been sold. Depending on how strict they are with checking tickets (or how lenient they become) you might be able to sneak down to a better seat.

 

Do you think this will actually be possible to do? My seats aren't great for the men so I was hoping something like that could happen, but also when watching the Olys I noticed that some of the seats didn't fill up until later in the competition so I wouldn't want to sit in what I thought was an empty seat only to be kicked out by the rightful owner ....