The 2017-2018 Highlights (non-Yuzu edition)

[Fay]

Looking back at the 2017-2018 season, I have to say it proved to be a fantastic experience, though really a wee bit too dramatic at times. The best moments in it have to do with Yuzu, of course - the whole experience of seeing him live in Moscow, the ACI SP WR, the epic story of the Olympics... every single moment treasured. 

 

But I thought it might be fun to share some moments concerning other skaters and their skates which we thought were special. There were so many for me - I’ll just mention a few in no particular order:

- Wakaba Higuchi skates - especially her LP at the Worlds. Isn’t she special - powerful and commanding at her best! 

- Kaori Sakamoto - boy, she’s so fast and full of joy. While there’s room for improvement, the skates I saw were quite special. So thrilled she won 4CC

- Kazuki Tomono at the Worlds - he did deserve the standing ovation both times. Great to see a newbie perform so well at his first Worlds ever - he did save the three spots for Japan.

- Alena Kostornaya’s skates - that young lady is incredibly refined and polished for her age. Hope she keeps it and transitions well into the seniors. 

- seeing Savchenko and Massot live at the Worlds - that program was wow. And hats off to Aljona for persevering until she won that elusive Olympic Gold. 

- the exquisite Moonlight Sonate by Papadakis and Cizeron - I was lucky to see the program twice and I was absolutely mesmerized both times. 

- Yulia Lipnitskaya commentating - she was the answer to my prayers and I suspect she made other commentators on the Russian channel tone down their comments too. 

- seeing the three live competitions - Rostelecom, Europeans and Worlds. It was great to get to know the skating world close up, not just through the screen. 

- meeting so many of the satellites while at Rostelecom and Worlds. I was a bit more of a loner at the Europeans. 

 

These won’t be all, but this is a start. So, what were the highlights of the season for you? 

- 

[yuzupon]

• Mai Mihara's FS at 4CC, Jp Nats, and CdP
• Boyang Jin winning 4CC
• Ladies JGP - what even
• Watching the entire JGP while commenting here, which leads to
• Me recognising jumps and spins after watching closely for one season. I have a clear affinity to cold numbers, and starting to be able to tell how one skater is technically superior to the other, no matter what judges and tech panels said, is a personal achievement for me
• Watching Wakaba Higuchi's FS live at Challenge Cup. While wasn't her best outing, I get to see the new badass black outfit with my own eyes and get a picture taken with her.  (Plus, I get to help a friend of another satellite understand a bit of what was going on with my constant commentary of what jumps and spins were being done - this is related to the point above)
• Being a part of the birth of this Planet

[ralucutzagy]

This was a long and hard season, draining physically and mentally! Great and heartbreaking at the same time!

I'm happy that is over and that everything turned out like we all desired ... more or less (Yuzu's injury still overshadows a little the whole thing)

But, in addition to what was said above, i'd say:

Mirai Nagatsu's 3A at Oly Team Event;

Rika Kihira's 3A-3T at Jnat;

Sasha Trusova's 4T and 4S at JWC.

[robin]

I feel like eveything has been mentioned already. Maybe I'd also add Kolyada winning that gold at CoC and finally landing that 4Lz!

 

Throughout the season I was especially happy to have seen both Wakaba and Kaori live at CoR. I liked both of them before already but watching them skate really sealed the deal for me. Up until watching Kaori skate at the practices I wasn't aware of just how fast she skates and I got to love her flow on the ice even more. So seeing Kaori rise this season, getting silver at SA, being chosen to be on the Olys team and winning 4CC made me beyond happy. Just as happy as seeing Wakaba with her Worlds medal. I'm glad they both ended up with a successful season of their own. So proud of my girls

[sallycinnamon]

I could only just repeat everything you mentioned above, so I try to think about other highlights which haven't been mentioned yet.

• Tessa and Scott's winning two more gold medals in PyeongChang and becoming the most decorated Olympians in figure skating. Their FD at the Olympics was incredible. I also think their SD was sassy and brilliant especially at the GPF and at the Olympics.
• Aliev's free skate at Europeans and his silver medal
• Vanessa and Morgan's Sound of Silence at the World Championships gave me goosebumps, it was incredibly powerful and emotional 
• The return of Sota and his beautiful programs at Japanese Nationals. I teared up watching him skate
• Zhenya's return at the Europeans, her free skate was very moving and with full of emotions 
• seeing Han Yan's amazing skating skills and 3A at the Olympics
• Voronov having a successful GP season overall
• Javi finally reaching his goal and winning a medal at the Olympic Games 
• seeing four live competitions and meeting with so many fans and satellites  
• making the best (and probably the craziest) decision of my life when I decided two weeks before the men's individual competition that I would go to the Olympic Games. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me which I'll never forget. 

[Fay]

Oh, I forgot about Gabi Daleman becoming a National title winner with two fantastic skates! 

[kaeryth]

• Watching juniors for the first time and falling in love with Anastasia Tarakanova (probability of heartbreak in the future is high for this one)
• Boyang winning 4CC after injuries
• The rise of Kaori Sakamoto
• Mai conquering that darn SP at 4CC and winning gold in her last comp of the season
• Rika Hongo having a moment at JNats after her SP
• Capellini/Lanotte and their last competitive performance in Milan
• Marchei/Hotarek having 3 clean performances in Pyeongchang
• Mikhail's 4Lz (the few times in competition that he landed it) and him being on the podium for every competition (expect the Olympics singles event)
• Wakaba's World's silver medal
• Uncle Sergei and Uncle Alexei having good consistent competition showings
• Kazuki's dazzling senior debut at Worlds
• Sota Yamamoto