Good points, Wallylutz. Thanks for sharing!
I think for me, one thing I will remember about Yu-na is her music selections and costumes. It's like the dresses matched the music and the program. Like that really gorgeous black dress from her Dance Macabre program. Or this year's LP blue dress.
One of my non-hard core figure skating friends commented that the blue dress seem plain to her, but then when she her program at the Olympics, the dress needed to be simple and graceful, just like her program. And those nuances during her later programs (the flirty look, the nudge on the sholder) makes her memorable too.
I think all that is part of the package that makes her programs stand out.
I also agree with Wallylutz that Yu-na had help set some technical standards. Just look at Mirai, for instance. She's definitely got the message that if she wants to be the best, she's got to do that 3-3. And not just not the easier one.
I think the other significant thing is that Yu-na's technical ability to do those jumps at an "older age." I was watching Elene G's breakout program from the 2006 Olympics on YouTube the other day. She did a 3F-3T there. But now four years later, at 20, she can barely do a 3T-3T.
Yu-na, on the other hand, is that she built up her jump content over time. She STARTED with a 3T-3T, went to a 3F-3T and now does the 3Z-3T.
I hope she stays because I think she could develop even more. But I'd imagine that doing such hard programs would wear you out...
I think for me, one thing I will remember about Yu-na is her music selections and costumes. It's like the dresses matched the music and the program. Like that really gorgeous black dress from her Dance Macabre program. Or this year's LP blue dress.
One of my non-hard core figure skating friends commented that the blue dress seem plain to her, but then when she her program at the Olympics, the dress needed to be simple and graceful, just like her program. And those nuances during her later programs (the flirty look, the nudge on the sholder) makes her memorable too.
I think all that is part of the package that makes her programs stand out.
I also agree with Wallylutz that Yu-na had help set some technical standards. Just look at Mirai, for instance. She's definitely got the message that if she wants to be the best, she's got to do that 3-3. And not just not the easier one.
I think the other significant thing is that Yu-na's technical ability to do those jumps at an "older age." I was watching Elene G's breakout program from the 2006 Olympics on YouTube the other day. She did a 3F-3T there. But now four years later, at 20, she can barely do a 3T-3T.
Yu-na, on the other hand, is that she built up her jump content over time. She STARTED with a 3T-3T, went to a 3F-3T and now does the 3Z-3T.
I hope she stays because I think she could develop even more. But I'd imagine that doing such hard programs would wear you out...