Team China

[SweetSakura]

I wanted to add a quick point regarding Boyang's decision, not that this was necessarily the main factor, but that it could have been a point of consideration for him. I was thinking about this situation and remembered that having two gold medal contenders train under the same coach has historically been the exception rather than the norm for male singles figure skaters. There's the famous example of course of Yagudin and Plushenko of how things can go spectacularly awry, lol. And even in the best case scenario between Yuzu and Javi, there were times when things became distant and tense between them. 

 

As many have noted, switching to TCC would require Boyang to uproot his life to a completely foreign environment and to learn a difficult new language. Add to that the fact you would be training alongside one of your biggest rivals and I can understand why this arrangement might not be for everyone. Clearly, Boyang and Yuzu have expressed many times that they hold each other in the highest regard, so this is not to say that Boyang's decision is any type of knock against Yuzu. But training alongside a major rival is not a decision to be made lightly and is one that is intensely personal. Just because Yuzu was able to move to Toronto and train alongside Javi doesn't mean we should automatically assume it'll be best path for everyone else. And just because Yuzu and Javi flourished together, doesn't mean every skater will thrive under the same rink training with their major rivals. 

 

Then again, Boyang may very well have decided to stay in China for other reasons and a move to Canada could still happen in the future. I just wanted to throw out an extra point as to why people, in spite of their disappointment, should cut Boyang some slack and be understanding towards the decision he made. 

[Xen]

I'm trying to remember who asked, but it seems from the initial news from Brian (I think...), Orser was initially approached by Shen, not directly by Boyang's coaches. Now, since Boyang is part of the national team, any such decision, even if he was the one who suggested it, will go via Shen and Zhao. So whether this was Shen and Zhao acting on their own, a request from Boyang, a request from Boyang's current coaches, we don't know. 

 

As for what backlash there will be, I don't think anything super severe. China right now doesn't have another man in the senior ranks. And if it is a political turf war between conservative factions and more liberal factions, they can't rely on Zhang He either (Zhang He is training under the same coaches as Boyang, so if that team is part of the conservative faction). But he has to deliver, otherwise I think the media could get a bit nasty. He's not Sui/Han, yet he rebuffed the head coaches for the national team and arguably one of the best training teams (TCC) in a way that even Sui/Han won't dare to imagine. If he doesn't bring back results, it is possible that the media will bite him (though there is also some news that CSA has been trying to protect him by limiting news reporting to media that won't hurt athletes). 

 

Anyways, what happens, happens. As for the photos of them in first class...honestly, I'd be really surprised if CSA would buy them anything less than business class. It's pretty standard-you're asking a team of foreign coaches to travel 12+ hours by plane, suffer jet lag, to come over here and train your students. And you buy them economy? The nerve...the chinese netizens would mock CSA for being penny pinchers. 

[Katt]

1 hour ago, Xen said:

I'm trying to remember who asked, but it seems from the initial news from Brian (I think...), Orser was initially approached by Shen, not directly by Boyang's coaches. Now, since Boyang is part of the national team, any such decision, even if he was the one who suggested it, will go via Shen and Zhao. So whether this was Shen and Zhao acting on their own, a request from Boyang, a request from Boyang's current coaches, we don't know. 

 

As for what backlash there will be, I don't think anything super severe. China right now doesn't have another man in the senior ranks. And if it is a political turf war between conservative factions and more liberal factions, they can't rely on Zhang He either (Zhang He is training under the same coaches as Boyang, so if that team is part of the conservative faction). But he has to deliver, otherwise I think the media could get a bit nasty. He's not Sui/Han, yet he rebuffed the head coaches for the national team and arguably one of the best training teams (TCC) in a way that even Sui/Han won't dare to imagine. If he doesn't bring back results, it is possible that the media will bite him (though there is also some news that CSA has been trying to protect him by limiting news reporting to media that won't hurt athletes). 

Brian said it was Shen/Zhao asked him during WC18. I think at least till early June, everything's still fine between Brian and CSA. We don't know about Boyang and his coaches as they didn't release any statement. Whatever, this put all parties in an awkward situation. And I agree, Boyang would face alot of pressure from now on. Back then, if he had bad skate or some weaknesses (program, SS and so on), people could blame his coaches and understand that CSA won't let their skater train aboard. If he move to TCC, the blame game would be more on Brian and his team or at least people would be more patient. But now, if he doesn't deliever, they will just put all the faults on him. 

 

Some people said that the Brian and Tracy training camp this time is just for one day. They're back to toronto today.  

[rockstaryuzu]

3 hours ago, Yatagarasu said:

 

I don't think he was held back by internal politics, I think he simply did not want to go. 
Too many things 'leaked' including that whole like a post/remove a like ages now ago. This is why so many got in a huff and why there's so much ugliness in the Chinese part of the fandom. It's been brewing for ages and now they have confirmation that he isn't going, it's not pretty. 

Well, the whole thing is obviously some kind of mess and there's probably a lot more going on than meets the eye, so there's actually nothing that we can say for sure beyond the obvious.

[golden]

i've been refraining from commenting because ultimately, it's boyang's life, boyang's career and boyang's decision to make. but like... i still think its stupid. he'd be better off with more specialised training to smoothen out his weaknesses, and with more powerful backing from having a well known, more reputable coach etc. basically echoing the general sentiments. it just looks like there are just so many pluses that would have definitely outweighed any negatives. but y'know i get it, and i still support him nonetheless, and i honestly do hope he can make even more progress with his current coaches, he's still come a long way and made so much progress from who he was as a junior, even from who he was in his first senior season, under their tutelage.

 

it seems like it might be a little bit rough for him in the public eye for now... i hope he'll be equipped to deal with the potential backlash if he / his scores / his placements begin to stagnate or drop.

[asiacheetah]

On ‎8‎/‎12‎/‎2018 at 4:05 PM, ralucutzagy said:

Zhao and Xue have a daughter?!? How did I know this? I was wondering about that since I think Xue wanted kids but they were waiting until after their competitive career was over. I'm so happy.

[ralucutzagy]

 

[SparkleSalad]

Does anyone know what this is about?

 

 

[Yatagarasu]

The new Chinese ID team, practicing in Montreal, Hong Chen and Sun Zhuoming

 

 

[Xen]

On 8/18/2018 at 3:10 PM, SparkleSalad said:

Does anyone know what this is about?

 

 

Han Yan is teaching in a special summer camp during 8/26-9/1 at a commercial rink in Nan Ning (capital of Guangxi provence in China). The rink is Wan Xiang, which is a shopping mall/commercial real estate company.

[Guest turquoiseblue]

 

[getsurenka]

 

[ralucutzagy]

 

[hoodie axel]

Which song is that? 

[hoodie axel]