Yuzuru Hanyu: 2016-17 Season

[liv]

So, judging from that yuzu interview, he knows not to be reckless with training so as to prevent re injuring himself... that is good news. Quality not quantity.

And from Brian's interview it appears as if Yuzu is sort of prepared to suffer a bit ( and make brian suffer a bit too) in order to get his 4L and the other jumps really secure and confident this year in order to prepare for world's and then Olympics. Perfect the jumps, then add the rest. Hope he sticks to that and remembers the long term goal this season is worlds and not being perfect at gpf.... we do not want overtraining

 

[YuzusHydroblade]

I don't like seeing it either but at the same time, I'm glad that he shows he is frustrated and not satisfied-- reflects that competitive fire I love about him. But it'll be most satisfying when we see that joy he showed last year at NHK when he's sooooo happy about his performance. Let's look forward to that.

I don't know how many times i've watched that video, the pure happiness of his face♥ And even if he looks satisfied, we know he will find something he can do to push himself and improve his performances haha (even if they look perfect to us!)

 

[mcq]

I don't expect him to be perfect either, but it breaks my heart to see him so disappointed with himself i don't want to see that same face after the past SP...

Personally, I don't think he should worry about the 4Lo so much if it failed him in the SP (at least for the time being). I know he always aims for perfection, but 4Lo would likely still be a hit or miss at this early stage. However, if he lands the 4-3 and 3A, he should still get mid to high 90s (as long as the 4Lo is not downgraded). I think the real deal is the FS. If he can focus and deliver a clean/near clean performance, it would give him all the score he needs to win the early to mid season events. I feel that after FS at SC, I get the impression that he no longer beat himself too much after a mistake or two, which is a great and encouraging sign.

 

[Elaine666]

Orser's new interview: http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2016/11/10/208573330
---------

Yuzu is still very young (he turns 22 on Dec. 7), and he feels like he needs to push the sport forward.

Tracy made similar comments in Skate Canada right?

 

[xibsuarz]

Yuzu is still very young (he turns 22 on Dec. 7), and he feels like he needs to push the sport forward.

Tracy made similar comments in Skate Canada right?

Yes, she did. Several times in fact, throughout his SP, his FS and his EX :yes:

 

[Khoai]

This is the first time Yuzu has been training most of the season in Toronto. Usually, he goes back and forth to Japan. So he is not used to me traveling to Junior Grand Prix or taking two weeks with Javier. This is what I usually do, of course, but he is not in Toronto to see it. He feels left out. In fact, if I look at the bigger picture, it's perfect that I am away. This way, he can work on his skating skills and choreography, which he needs. It will be the same for Javier when I go to NHK with Yuzu. He'll have a lot of new things to work on.
I try to be sensitive and aware of everyone's feelings and needs. I see the pressure building up as the Olympics are coming up. I'm glad I spent two weeks with Javier, as we've done great things. It was the same in Canada and will be again in Japan with Yuzu. He'll get all the attention.

My understanding is that, Mr. Orser sounds as if Mr. Hanyu "feels left out" because Mr. Orser is spending time with other skaters too much.
Mr. Hanyu might not progress well. It is understandable. He was off ice for long and his programs are difficult. JSF complains to Mr. Orser.
In this interview, Mr. Orser seems like he is finding excuses as he is blamed for Mr. Hanyu's slow progress. Mr. Orser gives this interview to the media is like a way to protect himself.
He intends to ensure JSF that he will spend time with Mr. Hanyu after he spent time for other skaters. He tells the media, JSF and fans that Mr. Hanyu needs more time to pracitce and pace himself, so people need to be patient.
In my opinion, Mr. Orser's words are underlying that Mr. Hanyu's condition is still not there, so people should not expect very high quality from his perfomance right now. In short, it is more like Mr. Orser is on the defend for himself.

 

[Sorrento]

In this interview, Mr. Orser seems like he is finding excuses as he is blamed for Mr. Hanyu's slow progress. Mr. Orser gives this interview to the media is like a way to protect himself.
In short, it is more like Mr. Orser is on the defend for himself.

Blame game, again?

 

[Khoai]

Blame game, again?

Then why is Mr. Orser trying to tell the media that he will have time for Mr. Hanyu? He is not spending time enough with Mr. Hanyu and JSF complained or it was Mr. Hanyu himself. If there were complain, why? Maybe Mr. Hanyu has not showed his best shape and some people (or JSF) are worried and they blamed his slow progress on Mr. Orser's time with Mr. Hanyu.

 

[Sorrento]

Then why is Mr. Orser trying to tell the media that he will have time for Mr. Hanyu? He is not spending time enough with Mr. Hanyu and JSF complained or it was Mr. Hanyu himself. If there were complain, why? Maybe Mr. Hanyu has not showed his best shape and some people (or JSF) are worried and they blamed his slow progress on Mr. Orser's time with Mr. Hanyu.

You know what- I am tired of people constantly creating unnecessary drama about Brian& Yuzu relationship. Like- what this icenetwork articles do- they try to alienate people, they make the situation in Toronto Cricket Club look worse than it is in reality. There are three people who feel the tension and try to work this out and stay in good relationship, try to make the best out of their cooperation. And there are these journalists and bloggers and so called fans who start to stir things up when somebody use a word or two that does not brush them the right way.

What is wrong with you people? Why don't you just support him, say- please do whatever it takes to win, I know how hard it is for you but I want you to succeed.

None of us know Yuzu that well to know what is best for him. The decisions that he is taking belong to him entirely, he is the master of his destiny, not anyone else.

Why do we make Brian the target of our disappointments in results achieved by and athlete who is trying his best to win?

I want Yuzu to read less of this, he does not need to be let down by such comments. They hold so much of negative vibrations.

And all of those who complain need to check their own priorities in life. We cannot make decisions for other people. But we owe them some respect.

 

[LeeJiHye19]

Icenetwork: Do you think that explains why Yuzuru lost at Skate Canada?

Orser: Skate Canada would have been an easy win for him, but he wanted to get some mileage with the quads. He is considering the bigger picture. Now he wants to train the program so the quads will be clean. He wants to feel good prior to the last quad (two of the quads are in the second part of his free skate). Later in the season, he will shift gears to go to a different mindset.The one who has to be patient is me! And the federation, of course, and the fans, who expect something perfect each time. But he is making me a believer.

Without knowing, I always feel sad for him whenever he fall on his 4lo. But after reading B.Orser's interview, I am now assured that Yuzuru is falling because he wants no less than perfection for his quads; for the future.

 

[Camillo]

http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2016/11/10/208573330

Javi

....He is quite content with what he has now. He has very high PCS (program components score), and that's what he needs to rely on. He is confident with his components.
....He needs to remain true to his choreography and expression, because that's his thing. There is a real charm to his skating. He also needs a lot of energy for his transitions. They are fantastic, but they require an awful lot of work.
...Once Javier learned transitions, when he arrived in Toronto, the sky became the limit.

Yuzu

...is very focused on his quads at the moment.
...he had to sacrifice some of his skating at the start of the season. His speed, his spins, his elements were not so good at first, because he was focusing so much on the quads. His step sequence was maybe 70 percent of the level it should be.
...Yuzu is not used to me traveling to Junior Grand Prix or taking two weeks with Javier. This is what I usually do, of course, but he is not in Toronto to see it. He feels left out. In fact, if I look at the bigger picture, it's perfect that I am away. This way, he can work on his skating skills and choreography, which he needs.

Truly, I see the pressure building up as the Olympics are coming up. Brand new image of PCS God for one and image of stubborn-jumper-with-not-so-good-PCS for the other.

Praying for Yuzu, his health and support at least from his japanese team.

 

[Fayruza]

Oh, Brian can't say a single word without getting some blame, we're well used to that. There will be people who play the part of a jealous parent and shout that their baby is getting mistreated. The tedious game that has been going on for over four years now. Honestly, some people do have to get a life.
Brian doesn't have to look for excuses to explain away 'falilures' - he has the best of them: Yuzuru is coming back from an injury. He started practicing and jumping not so long ago after a big gap. Does Brian ever mention this convenient excuse? No, he just said that Javi and Yuzu have chosen radically different strategies this year, so we haven't seen the best Yuzu so far, as he's getting adjusted to his new technical layout, whereas Javi is in his comfort zone and is perfecting his presentation. This is what most people have been saying anyway, so why blame Brian just for confirming our assumptions?
I'd love to believe that this interview is going to bury the belief that Yuzuru is a helpless pawn in someone's hand, since Yuzuru comes across as an assertive and stubborn free spirit who persists in what he believes in, even though his coaches might not have been initially too happy about it. But that's unlikely to happen - most people are just too attached to their myths, so they'll distort reality for it to fit their ideas.

 

[Sorrento]

Okay, so I have managed to read that article. Javi has less probs with PCS at the moment because his jumps are the same, layout is the same so pacing hasn't changed. No problem, let's roll.

Yuzu has a new quad, that quad needs a mileage and a certain focus and new timing to be successful. This is stressful. Then he has a different quad with different timing soon after a new quad. New pacing again. Now- you need to work out your jumps because they get you best BV and then get back to those PCS to make skate all harmonious again. Also- less ice time due to this and that and then again this and that and this this and that is in continuous.

So Brian is stating facts only. Federation and fans need to be patient. Yuzu has a different strategy, the one that will be rewarded in the long run. All of those who want to get dividends now will have to suffer (same as his PCS). Now- you either suffer or let go and trust his hardwork and determination. Then you will notice a progress in his results. We all want him to be the best jumper in the world, don't we? We need to learn patience.

Perhaps Brian wishes that Yuzu plays it safe given his conditions. Yuzu loves risk and wants to push the sport.

And I love the fact that Yuzu misses his coach. And that his coach knows that and is going to devote himself to Yuzu solely for his competitions in Japan. I hope Yuzu bites off the best Brian has to offer then.:dev3:

 

[Plumededragon]

Oh, Brian can't say a single word without getting some blame, we're well used to that. There will be people who play the part of a jealous parent and shout that their baby is getting mistreated. The tedious game that has been going on for over four years now. Honestly, some people do have to get a life.
Brian doesn't have to look for excuses to explain away 'falilures' - he has the best of them: Yuzuru is coming back from an injury. He started practicing and jumping not so long ago after a big gap. Does Brian ever mention this convenient excuse? No, he just said that Javi and Yuzu have chosen radically different strategies this year, so we haven't seen the best Yuzu so far, as he's getting adjusted to his new technical layout, whereas Javi is in his comfort zone and is perfecting his presentation. This is what most people have been saying anyway, so why blame Brian just for confirming our assumptions?
I'd love to believe that this interview is going to bury the belief that Yuzuru is a helpless pawn in someone's hand, since Yuzuru comes across as an assertive and stubborn free spirit who persists in what he believes in, even though his coaches might not have been initially too happy about it. But that's unlikely to happen - most people are just too attached to their myths, so they'll distort reality for it to fit their ideas.

+1 on this. And that will keep happening until Yuzu retires (as far as I know Javi will retire after 2018, while Yuzu's decision will be pending until that), so I just ignore those foolish people who enjoy creating drama out of nothing.

Okay, so I have managed to read that article. Javi has less probs with PCS at the moment because his jumps are the same, layout is the same so pacing hasn't changed. No problem, let's roll.

Yuzu has a new quad, that quad needs a mileage and a certain focus and new timing to be successful. This is stressful. Then he has a different quad with different timing soon after a new quad. New pacing again. Now- you need to work out your jumps because they get you best BV and then get back to those PCS to make skate all harmonious again. Also- less ice time due to this and that and then again this and that and this this and that is in continuous.

So Brian is stating facts only. Federation and fans need to be patient. Yuzu has a different strategy, the one that will be rewarded in the long run. All of those who want to get dividends now will have to suffer (same as his PCS). Now- you either suffer or let go and trust his hardwork and determination. Then you will notice a progress in his results. We all want him to be the best jumper in the world, don't we? We need to learn patience.

Perhaps Brian wishes that Yuzu plays it safe given his conditions. Yuzu loves risk and wants to push the sport.

And I love the fact that Yuzu misses his coach. And that his coach knows that and is going to devote himself to Yuzu solely for his competitions in Japan. I hope Yuzu bites off the best Brian has to offer then.:dev3:

That's how I understood it as well: Brian is simply stating facts regarding the two. Considering how very different the situation is for both, I see nothing strange.
Beside the fact that Yuzu usually has slow season starts, this one is also due to lack of training because of injury and sickness. But now the focus is on the current training as, time lost or not, neither Brian nor Yuzu use it to explain what they're currently doing.

 

[Lillamyrull]

Yuzuru has another coach, Tracy Wilson. And he has said in a interview, that Tracy Wilson was helping him a lot during those difficult days. I can't remember which interview it was. So if Brian Orser is not in Toronto Tracy Wilson, most likely is. That means he has someone with him. And then we have to trust that they will do everything they can to support Yuzuru on his road to Olympic.
All though there was this fan drawing, in which Brian told Yuzuru to take a rest, and he tok 5 minutes time out, before he tried to get on the ice, with Brian look at him like a naughty child.
So with this interview and what Yuzuru himself have said, we have to learn one thing PATICENCE.
Sorry for the rambling, but here is a challenge for us:
What is the best way for Yuzu fans to train their paticence and nerves,
I feel all our nerves need the practice, because NHK is coming soon, and we must be prepared.

 

[Lysambre]

Lots of stuff I care not to quote.

As promised, just a few pages ago, your post has been reported for slander in a fanfest.

I will make good on that promise, just so others are aware.

Take it to the hate thread, aka EDGE.

 

[DiamondDust]

Yep! Patience to all the fans. Yuzuru isn't some fool who will stick around with BO or TCC if he truly feels he ain't getting enough help and support. As someone pointed out, we don't really know what is actually happening there. Yuzuru decided his own strategy and Brian may not 100% agree with it but he supports him. Also since Yuzuru is still sticking with Brian and TCC, he has faith in them (and lets not forget he's always been thankful to the coaching staff) why can't we do the same?

 

[mcq]

+1 on this. And that will keep happening until Yuzu retires (as far as I know Javi will retire after 2018, while Yuzu's decision will be pending until that), so I just ignore those foolish people who enjoy creating drama out of nothing.

This. People need to see that, if anything, their difference in strategy is somewhat related to this. Javi will likely no longer compete after 2018, so probably in his mind, he sees no point in training and getting used to a new jump and risking his health and consistency along the way, adding to that he is no longer young (in skating age). Moreover, he said in the interview during JO himself, his biggest regret is not getting on the podium at Sochi and his goal is to get on the podium for the next; so, his current layout is more than enough to reach that goal. One more thing, unlike Yuzuru, he has yet to perform a clean performance with 5 quads while Yuzuru did it twice, so even with his current layout he still has some homework to do. He is in the last leg of his competitive career and he probably wants to take less risk possible.

Meanwhile, Yuzuru is a completely different case. He seems seriously considering to extend his career post 2018, and sitting out with his last season's layout would not help him in the long run especially since his future competitor past 2018 already has 3-4 type of quads in their pocket. Sticking to last season layout is also a form of stagnancy for him, he perform a clean short 3 times and a clean free twice (twice of this is 2 clean back-to-back skates with 5 quads), he needs to upgrade his content somehow. And to ensure that he will stay as the cream of the crop, he needs to have the highest tech content. He already has an olympic and world title in his pocket, I personally thought he is the one among all current active male skaters who has the less to lose no matter how risky his content is and no matter the outcome of his placement is.

There is no such thing as X strategy is better than Y strategy. Winning is a mix of skill (technical, presentation), health (mental, physical), hardwork (training and preparation) and luck. There is no guarantee of a win and there is no strategy to assure a victory, but there are ways to increase your probability of winning. And I think both of them are doing just fine in that area, though they are using a different approach.

 

[Lysambre]

Yuzuru has another coach, Tracy Wilson. And he has said in a interview, that Tracy Wilson was helping him a lot during those difficult days. I can't remember which interview it was. So if Brian Orser is not in Toronto Tracy Wilson, most likely is. That means he has someone with him. And then we have to trust that they will do everything they can to support Yuzuru on his road to Olympic.
All though there was this fan drawing, in which Brian told Yuzuru to take a rest, and he tok 5 minutes time out, before he tried to get on the ice, with Brian look at him like a naughty child.
So with this interview and what Yuzuru himself have said, we have to learn one thing PATICENCE.
Sorry for the rambling, but here is a challenge for us:
What is the best way for Yuzu fans to train their paticence and nerves,
I feel all our nerves need the practice, because NHK is coming soon, and we must be prepared.

One more thing we all need to be prepared for : Yuzu isn't always going to win. At one point, even if he wins all he's planned to win, he'll get older and the younger generation will just pass by him, just like he did with the generation of skaters before him. I'm not saying it's going to happen right now, but it is, going to happen at some point.

Maybe he won't win NHK, maybe he won't win GPF, maybe he won't win Worlds, maybe he won't win another Olympic. Or maybe he will. Win all of those, or just a few. We don't know yet.

It's not what I wish, but I'm aware it could happen. And I'd rather not be blind to that option. (I'm still going to keep hoping for the best though :yay

Keep loving Yuzu the skater, and his journey. Enjoy every single occasion we have to see him on the ice. Medals are just the cherries on top of an already delicious cake.

If you will, think already at how lucky we are, as fans.
We've seen him win the Olympics, we've seen him win Worlds, we've seen him win three GPF in a row, which no other man has achieved. We've seen him break record scores, over and over again, we've seen him skate in ways that had some people in tears, in a way that had commentators admitting he might very well be the greatest of all time.
Do you realise how lucky we are? Do you think that fans of any other skaters are as lucky as we are? I don't think so. I think most of them have to be happy if their favourite just manages a medal, while we're so priviledged that we get sad if the medal is "only silver".

After Worlds this year, I got terribly sad. So sad that my actual life got affected.
A few months laters, when we didn't have any news about whether or not Yuzu would even be able to participate to the GP series, that shook me off of that horrible state of mind. How dare I be so upset? How dare I accuse people for what happened (because I did, in my head and with a couple friends on Line)? How dare I make this about myself, when it is not?
And I finally got the reminder that this isn't about me, it's about him. That no matter how I felt, if I couldn't, in my heart, be absolutely positive for him, then who would? That my negativity toward anything surrounding him might actually affect those things (sue me, I think negative thoughts affect things in the real world, maybe it's stupid, but I don't care).

That is when I started to feel grateful again, for all we have and that cannot be taken away from us. And for all that we will still be given.

TL;DR : I love being a Yuzu fan, independently of his medals.

 

[Fayruza]

Lysambre, you moved me to tears right now! Thank you for wording it so beautifully!