Rika Kihira

[MaiKatze]

Yes, I will translate the free and her Gala too. GS member Jennibeultimate created a Youtube channel with english subbed videos from German Eurosport commentary. We originally planned to focus on subbing Shoma Uno videos, because we are huge fans (like the German Eurosport commentators) but we like to share Rika's commentary too. It's really amazing to see how they are almost speechless when she skates. Very fun. So I will post a link to that at later point.

 

[MaiKatze]

Rika Kihira Free Highlight during the Gala exhibition, German Eurosport 2, Sigi Heinrich & Hendryk Schamberger, 11/11/18

Sigi Heinrich: You're not missing anything at the moment, but if you're not staying with us you will miss something indeed. Well, that sounds a tad complicated, but for background information we will show you now, during the break, the free skates, one of them the one by Rika Kihira from Japan and what a free that was, this skate marks the beginning of a new era in Ladies figure skating.

Well, and that's why we can express it like that Hendryk, simply pay attention to the first two jumps, because this is something the World of Figure Skating has never seen before in the Ladies event so far.

Hendryk Schamberger: Yes, the triple Axel, she tried it in the short, it didn't work out there and during the free this happened!

Triple Axel- Triple Toeloop

The hardest combination in Senior Ladies at the moment.

S: Well, if that wasn't enough, she adds another wonderful triple Axel, and after that jump her points are already adding up to 25.

H: Yes.

S: And she was only fifth after the short program. That someone came out of that position to overrun the field like that, that has never been done before.

The program was - as if she knew exactly what to pick - "Beautiful Storm" by the wonderful musician, pianist Jennifer Thomas from the USA.

Well and then it really was a storm that broke down over the figure skating scene, with Rika Kihira. At the end the result was an amazing 224 and 33 points. A performance that, I believe, one will never forget.

H: Yes, I think so too, well perhaps this is the breakthrough of a new big star, in any case....

S: Well, in any case all the other Ladies now know that someday soon, in the very near future it won't work anymore without the triple Axel. Similar to the men and their Quadruple Jumps, they were forced to have them in their programs to stay competitive.

Original

S: Sie versäumen im Augenblick nichts, aber wenn sie jetzt allerdings nicht dranbleiben versäumen sie doch was. Also, klingt ein bißchen kompliziert, hat den Hintergrund das wir jetzt in der Pause ihnen noch einmal die Kür zeigen wollen unter anderem jene von Rika Kihira aus Japan und das war eine Kür die eine Zeitenwende im Eiskunstlaufen der Damen eingeleitet hat.

Tja, und deshalb können wir das nun auch so formulieren Hendryk, achten sie ganz einfach auf die ersten beiden Sprünge, denn das hat es in der Welt des Eiskunstlaufens bei den Damen bisher noch nie gegeben.

H: Ja, den dreifachen Axel hat sie im Kurzprogramm schon versucht, da ging es schief und äh, in der Kür passierte dann das!

Dreifach Axel - Dreifach Toeloop

Die schwierigste Kombination die so beim Senioren Bereich der Damen gezeigt wird.

S: Tja, und als wär das noch nicht genug, setzte sie noch einen wunderschönen dreifachen Axel drauf, und hatte nach diesen beiden Sprüngen schon 25 Punkte auf dem Konto.

H: Ja.

S: Und sie war nur fünfte nach dem Kurzprogramm. Und das jemand das Feld aus der Position derartig überrollt, das hat es auch noch nie gegeben.

Das Programm war, als hätte sie es sich dafür ausgesucht "Beautiful Storm" der wunderbaren Musikerin, Pianistin Jennifer Thomas aus den USA.

Tja, und das war wirklich ein Sturm der über die Eiskunstlaufszene hier hereingebrochen ist, mit Rika Kihira. Am Ende waren es stolze 224 Punkte und 33. Ein Auftritt, den man glaube ich, nie vergessen wird.

H: Ja, glaube ich auch, also vielleicht ist das der Durchbruch eines neuen großen Stars, auf jeden Fall...

S: Tja auf jeden Fall wissen alle anderen Damen auch, irgendwann und zwar in ganz, ganz naher Zukunft wird es ohne Dreifach Axel nicht mehr funktionieren. Ähnlich wie bei den Herren die Vierfach Sprünge die haben komplett in ihr Programm aufnehmen müssen, wenn man Konkurrenzfähig bleiben will.

 

[MaiKatze]

Rika Exhibition Gala, Faded, German Eurosport 2, 11/11/18

Sigi Heinrich: If figure skating would be a bit more popular, a bit more well-known in the entire World, then there would be a big story about Rika Kihira in the Monday edition of the newspapers, dear viewers, because she didn't only conquer the heart of the fans by storm, she also started a storm over figure skating, we just saw that shortly in the break, in her free program, triple Axel-triple Toeloop and then another triple Axel, and then a stunning program, Rika Kihira presented new challenges to the figure skating world of the Ladies, the future has begun. Do you think she will jump a triple Axel in the Gala?

Hendryk Schamberger: Well, this is definitely hard to do, because you have these spots, and especially if you're not used to it, it's incredibly..it needs getting used to, to ah jump such triples, let's see. Yes, I would say she doesn't do it. No.

S: The risk of injury would perhaps be too high, who knows.

H: Yes.

S: One wouldn't risk it.

There it was, but just a double. That's standard.

Rika Kihira, the program was from Alan Walker a british-norwegian musician, with his first single 'Faded'. The upset of the weekend.

H: Yes, there is no doubt about that. And, uhm, I'm really curious on how her story will continue, was this just a slip upwards, or will she simply continue a streak of victory at her second Grand Prix.

S: She is only 16 years old.

H: She is assigned to another Grand Prix, in France in two weeks, the last stage. There she will meet Evgenia Medvedev. This is a duel, I'm really excited for.

S: These are really two kind of skating styles, one is a style icon in figure skating and the other, the one we see here Rika Kihira, who....but, and that is perhaps something one shouldn't do, and just reduce her to these triple Axels.

H: No, no...there is so much more.

S: The program was also beautiful, we see a few sections now with Jennifer Thomas.

H: That is....

S: She can do everything.

H: Yes, yes. The way it's choreographed, the details, how she implements that throughout these four minutes, that was really strong. Well, I'm not only thrilled by the triple Axels, but by the entire program.

S: Naturally one is almost in a state of shock, if one watches it. At the following men's event, I believe that out of twelve, ten weren't able to reach the technical score of Kihira.

H: Yes, that's the way it is.

S: It was an outstanding performance.

Well, the program "Beautiful Storm". A really beautiful storm, that's what one can say, it was a storm skate, that will last for a long time hopefully, that would be nice. Well, and Japan has a new star, once more.

Original

Sigi Heinrich: Wenn Eiskunstlaufen in der ganzen Welt etwas populärer wäre, bekannter wäre, dann würde jetzt in den Montagsausgaben der künftigen Zeitungen nämlich eine große Geschichte stehen über Rika Kihira liebe Zuschauer, denn sie hat nicht nur die Herzen der Fans im Sturm erobert, sie hat einen Sturmlauf über das Eiskunstlaufen angesetzt, wir haben das vorher nochmal kurz in der Pause gesehen, in ihrer Kür, dreifach Axel, dreifach Toeloop und dann noch ein dreifach Axel, dazu noch ein ganz tolles Programm, Rika Kihira hat äh, der Eislaufwelt bei den Damen neue Herausforderungen mit auf den Weg gegeben, die Zukunft hat begonnen.

Meinst du sie macht in der Gala auch den dreifach Axel?

Hendryk Schamberger: Also, das ist auf jeden Fall schwierig, weil äh, mit den Spots, ihm gerade wenn man das noch nicht so gewöhnt ist, ist das unheimlich gewöhnungsbedürftig, ähm eben solche dreifachen zu springen, bin ich gespannt. Ja, ich würde mal sagen sie macht ihn nicht. Nein.

S: Verletzungsgefahr wäre vielleicht auch zu groß, wer weiß.

H: Ja.

S: Das würde man nicht riskieren.

Da war er - aber doppelt. Aber ist normal.

Rika Kihira, das Programm war von Alan Walker einem britisch-norwegischem Musiker, seiner ersten Single 'Faded'. Die Sensation des Wochenendes.

H: Ja, das ist zweifellos so. Und ähm, ich bin wirklich extrem gespannt wie ihre Geschichte weitergeht, war das jetzt ein Ausreisser nach oben, oder setzt sie ihren Siegeszug beim zweiten Grand Prix einfach weiter fort.

S: Sie ist erst 16 Jahre alt.

H: Sie wird nochmal an den Start gehen, in Frankreich in zwei Wochen bei der letzten Etappe. Trifft dort auf Evgenia Medvedev. Das Duell, auf das freu' ich mich ja schon.

S: Es sind wirklich zwei Stilrichtungen, die eine fast schon eine Stilikone im Eiskunstlaufen und die andere, die sehen wir hier Rika Kihira, die aber und das sollte man vielleicht nicht machen, sie nur auf diese dreifach Axel zu reduzieren...

H: Nein, nein...das ist viel mehr.

S: Das Programm war ja auch schön, wir sehen jetzt ein paar Ausschnitte davon mit Jennifer Thomas.

H: Das ist...

S: Die kann alles!

H: Jaja...ins Detail auschoreografiert, wie das wirklich durch die ganzen vier Minuten umsetzt, das war schon stark. Also, ich war nicht nur von den dreifachen Axeln begeistert sondern von dem ganzen Programm.

S: Natürlich ist man da fast in der Schockstarre, wenn man das so gesehen hat. Bei der anschließenden Herrenkonkurrenz waren glaube ich von zwölfen zehn nicht in der Lage die technischen Werte einer Kihira zu erzielen.

H: Ja, ist so.

S: Es war ne überragende Vorstellung.

Tja, das Programm "Beautiful Storm". Ein wirklich schöner Sturm, das kann man auch sagen, und es war ein Sturmlauf, der hoffentlich noch lange dauern wird, das wär' schön. Tja, und Japan hat wieder einen neuen Star.

 

[Nachi]

@MaiKatze
Is the video with the German comments on youtube or any other platform?

 

[MaiKatze]

@Nachi
Not ours yet. Idk about other uploaders.

This is the free. Enthusiasm, thy name is German Eurosport!

Rika Kihira, Free Program, German Eurosport 2, 10/11/18

Warm Up

Hendryk Schamberger: So, that's Rika Kiha...Kihira, who mastered the triple Axel as well.

Start FP

Sigi Heinrich: Yes, similar generation (editor note: to Eunsoo Lim), Rika Kihira. The sixteen year old. Won the Ondrej Nepala Trophy in Bratislava this year. With 218 points, by the way. Total score. But the short program wasn't ideal. So, this, this score is hard to reach, but 200 could be possible, so Mariah Bell has to watch closely now.

H: Directly at the start, her signature jump, the triple Axel, which did not work in the short program.

S: That one looked good!

H: Uuuh! And a triple toeloop, yes, sheer madness!

S: Afterwards. Well, these are a few points naturally. Great start! Hoho! Genius!

H: Uwoohh! That's impossible!

S: The second one.

H: Madness!

S: Now I'm getting goose-bumps.....

H: What....

S: Now, I'm really getting goose-bumps, honestly!

H: What kind of score will that be?

S: Inconveivable!

H: Madness....huhhh!

S: Right, we both have never experienced that before. That was a world premiere. dear viewers at home. Phew. Ha! That is the Women's Figure Skating of the future.

Yes...

H: So that you can judge it for yourself, Alina Zagitova won last week with a technical score of around 74 points, and here we are - at 87.

S: Now the floodgates open up. The floodgates are really open wide, dear people, because if you just watched this, here with us at Eurosport, then you have become a witness of history to a new evolution in women's figure skating. With Rika Kihira from Japan, triple Axel, triple Toeloop, after that another triple Axel and she could've done five more, if she would've wanted to, presumably.

H: Madness!

S: Madness...I, I, am usually not at loss for words, but now I am almost there. We both never experienced something like this.

H: Yes.

S: We both never lived through what just happened here, dear friends, this is a new age in figure skating, like the quadruple revolution in men's figure skating. Now there is the triple Axel revolution in women's figure skating. Heralded by Rika Kihira. And then it was also a beautiful program!

H: Yes.

S: Adding to that Jennifer Thomas a genius pianist, composer from the United States. Wonderful program. A total work of art on the highest athletic level. This is an insane thing what we...what happened here now. I have, I believe, I admit, I have very clammy hands. I have clammy hands, it is...one could cry, it's so beautiful.....

H: Yes, yes...

S: This is sheer madness! Ah, that is....

H: This are entirely new dimensions.....

S: It's stupefying! It is like that...

H: In senior figure skating......

S: A sixteen year old.

H: Well, that's is more the standard, in juniors we've seen entirely different technical content, but in the senior scene, uh, I believe I haven't seen something like this before. It is not the first time, she shows this kind of content. She did the triple Axel - triple Toeloop combination before, but to see that at a senior Grand Prix it's really brutal.

S: And it will continue like this in the future. She and her triple Axels, and Alexandra Trusova, a young Russian who shows in the mean time three quadruple jumps minimum in her programs. The evolution of women's ice hockey stays....women's ice hockey, what am I talking about, you realize I'm totally confused. Ah, in women's figure skating, the evolution continues and now a new step has been taken, a new step has been taken.

Here and today a new step forward took place. Incredible achievement, really. Rika Kihira, remember that name, it will always be connected to this change of trend in women's figure skating.

H: She will win here, well, I cannot see how anyone else can.....

S: 224!

H:.... reach that.....that's impossible. Fifth after the short program.

S: I can't fathom it. My God! I've not experienced something like this in twenty years with you.

H: Yes, brutal.

S: Well, we've seen a lot, but ah, that's a bit mean if I say it like this, but we've just seen the future, and one could say, this now is the past. (Editor's note: Into Leonova's program)

Original

Rika Kihira Kür

Einlaufen

H: So das ist Rika Kiha...Kihira, die auch den dreifachen Axel beherrscht.

Start Kür:

S: Ja, von der Generation her ähnlich, Rika Kihira. Die 16jährige. Hat in diesem Jahr die Andrej Nepala Trophy in Bratislava gewonnen. Mit übrigens 218 Punkten. Insgesamt gesehen. Aber das Kurzprogramm war nicht optimal. Also, diese, diese Punktzahl ist schwerlich zu erreichen, aber 200 könnten drin sein, also Mariah Bell muss jetzt genau hinschauen.

H: Direkt am Anfang ihr Markenzeichen, der dreifache Axel, der im Kurzprogramm nicht funktioniert hat.

S: Der sah gut aus.

H: Uuuh! Und ein dreifacher Toeloop, ja Wahnsinn!

S: Hintennach. Also das sind natürlich ein paar Punkte. Großartiger Beginn. Hoho! Genial!

H: Uwooh! Das gibt's ja nicht.

S: Der zweite.

H: Wahnsinn!

S: Jetzt krieg ich ne Gänsehaut...

H: Was...

S: Jetzt krieg ich ne Gänsehaut, ehrlich.

H: Was gibt das denn für ne Punktzahl?

S: Unfassbar

H: Wahnsinn...huhhh!

S: Also, das haben wir beide noch nicht erlebt. Das war Weltpremiere, liebe Leute zu Hause. Phew. Ha! Das ist das Fraueneiskunstlaufen der Zukunft.

Ja...

H: Nur damit sie es einordnen können, Alina Zagitova hatte in der letzten Woche im technischen Bereich bei ihrem Sieg 74 Punkte, und hier sind wir bei 87.

S: Jetzt brechen hier Dämme. Es brechen hier wirklich Dämme, liebe Leute, denn wenn sie das jetzt gesehen haben hier bei uns bei Eurosport, dann waren sie Zeitzeuge einer neuen Entwicklung im Eiskunstlaufen bei den Frauen. Mit Rika Kihira aus Japan, Dreifach Axel, Dreifach Toeloop, dahinter noch ein Dreifach Axel und die hätt noch fünf springen können, wenn sie denn gewollt hätte, wahrscheinlich.

H: Wahnsinn.

S: Wahnsinn...Ich, ich...äh, ich bin durchaus nicht wortarm aber jetzt fehlen mir fast wirklich die Worte. Das haben wir beide noch nicht erlebt.

H: Ja.

S: Das haben wir beide noch nie mitbekommen, was hier abgelaufen ist, liebe Freunde das ist eine Zeitenwende im Eiskunstlauf, wie die erste Vierfachrevolution bei den Männern. So ist das jetzt die Dreifach Axel Revolution bei den Frauen. Das wurde durch Rika Kihira eingeleutet. Und dann war es auch noch ein schönes Programm!

H: Ja.

S: Dann kommt auch noch Jennifer Thomas hinzu eine geniale Pianistin, Komponistin aus den vereinigten Staaten. Wunderbares Programm. Ein Gesamtkunstwerk auf sportlich höchstem Niveau. Das ist ein Irrsinnsding was wir hier...was jetzt hier passiert ist. Ich hab..ich glaub, ich geb's ehrlich zu ich habe ganz feuchte Hände. Ich hab ganz feuchte Hände, es ist...da könnte man heulen, so schön ist das...

H: Jaja...

S: Das ist ja ein Wahnsinn! Ah, das ist ja....

H: Das sind wirklich neue Dimensionen....

S: Es ist unfassbar! Das ist so....

H: Im Senioreneiskunstlauf....

S: Eine 16 Jährige.

H: Naja, das ist eher normal, denn im Juniorenbereich haben wir schon ganz andere technische Inhalte erlebt, aber bei den Senioren, ähm, hab' ich das glaube ich noch nicht gesehen. Es ist nicht das erste Mal, dass sie diesen Inhalt bringt. Auch die Dreifach Axel - Dreifach Toeloop Ko,bination hat sie schon gezeigt, aber das eben bei einem Senioren Grand Prix zu sehen das ist schon brutal.

S: Und es wird in der Zukunft so weitergehen. Sie mit ihren dreifachen Axeln, dann kommt Alexandra Trusova eine junge Russin, die mittlerweile, drei Vierfachsprünge mit Minimum in ihr Programm aufgenommen hat. Die Entwicklung im Fraueneishockey bleibt....Fraueneishockey sag ich scho, sie merken ich bin vollkommen durcheinander. Äh, im Fraueneiskunstlaufen die geht jetzt weiter und jetzt ist ein neuer Schritt, ein neuer Schritt erfolgt.

Jetzt hier und heute ist ein neuer Schritt erfolgt. Unfassbare Leistung, wirklich. Rika Kihira, merken sie sich diesen Namen, der wird ewig in Verbindung bleiben mit eben dieser Trendwende im Fraueneiskunstlauf.

H: Die gewinnt hier, Also Ich weiß nicht wie das jemand...

S: 224!

H:.... erreichen soll...das gibt's ja nicht. Fünfter Platz nach dem Kurzprogramm.

S: Das krieg ich nicht hin?? Mein Gott. Das habe ich jetzt in 20 Jahren mit dir fast nicht erlebt sowas.

H: Ja, brutal.

S: Also, man hat ja schon vieles mitgemacht aber äh, das ist jetzt fast gemein wenn ich das so formuliere aber wir haben eben die Zukunft gesehen und jetzt könnte man sagen das ist jetzt die Vergangenheit.

 

[lauravvv]

Thanks a lot for your hard work, MaiKatze. The enthusiasm of the German commentators is great to see. Except, the German Eurosport commentators are talking almost like a triple axel has never been done by a female figure skater in competition when Tuktamysheva did it in both programs of this very competition (okay, the one in the free was with a mistake and had not happened yet when Kihira skated), and they must know that she has done it (and cleanly) in competitions before. Not to mention Mao Asada. I understand that they most likely meant that two triple axels in one FS and a triple axel in combination has not been done by a female figure skater before, but they don't clarify that here, so it still sounds a bit weird...

 

[rikaquegira]

Thanks a lot for your hard work, MaiKatze. The enthusiasm of the German commentators is great to see. Except, the German Eurosport commentators are talking almost like a triple axel has never been done by a female figure skater in competition when Tuktamysheva did it in both programs of this very competition (okay, the one in the free was with a mistake and had not happened yet when Kihira skated), and they must know that she has done it (and cleanly) in competitions before. Not to mention Mao Asada. I understand that they most likely meant that two triple axels in one FS and a triple axel in combination has not been done by a female figure skater before, but they don't clarify that here, so it still sounds a bit weird...

They probably meant that a 3A3T was never landed by a Senior lady in competition, this was the first time that happened in the Senior GP(Rika landed that combo earlier this season at Nepela Trophy) and on top of that, she landed another clean 3A in the same Free Skate. This is all going into history.

 

[MaiKatze]

Hello lauravvv, thanks for your comment. You're right, they sometimes act like these are achievements that have never been done before, and got a little carried away. But you have to remember I only translated the portion with Rika. They were all over how great Tuktamysheva was after the short. It's just a little snippet of hours and hours of commentating, so it can warp the entire commentary. And then, I also think it is wrong to believe that the Triple Axel revolution will happen through Rika, because you rightly mentioned that there have been women, in the last 30 years who jumped the triple Axel. And still - all the Olympic Champions since Midori Ito's first Axel had no 3 Axel in their program. I want Rika to show the World her talent, but one has to realize how difficult it really is. I don't believe every skater who wants to win needs the triple Axel from now on, as I don't believe that they need Quads. But who knows, might be I'm wrong. I think they simply didn't expect her to do two triple Axels AND one in combination in one free program and were totally stunned and in awe. :agree2:

It IS an amazing achievement - one commentator, the one who completely freaks out Sigi Heinrich, is not the expert, the expert is Hendryk Schamberger. He tells Sigi that Rika has done this before, Sigi probably had not seen Rika before. Just imagine if you have no idea what's coming, then as a sports caster you throw caution over board and come down with the superlatives in spades. I think it's funny!

 

[leoleo]

Yeah i do believe they were talking about her landing 2 3As and one in a -3T combo she's the only one able to do right now in the ladies field.

I hope she will bring this 3F exit back, it was one of my favorite moves in Beautiful Storm https://66.media.tumblr.com/017e7123ed3f9ca8ac1197b69428bbf4/tumblr_inline_pi4v0ow3xQ1ubel36_400.gif

 

[gotoschool]

The Australian commentator says "Oh tremendous! Right at the end of the program: the triple salchow. Well, I've got goosebumps after that. I can't quite believe what I have seen."
https://youtu.be/anGOPOWx9DE?t=278

Like the German broadcaster posted above, the sensation of goosebumps from Rika's freeskate seems to be a fairly frequent reaction from commentators. In addition to the 3A / 3T, 3A, this Australian broadcast felt the same way and it happened around the triple salchow: when Rika did a small Russian split while making an arc in the ice, then doing turning transitions into the triple salchow, and afterwards quickly dropping to one knee while doing some graceful turns, then rising again to do a couple of more marvelous pirouettes with beautifully intricate arm and hand movements before dropping to her knee again and ending with more lovely uplifted arm movements. It is remarkably expressive and complex ending to a performance that is a great technical and artistic achievement. It also shows how her super fast reflexes add to the emotional impact and surprise in the performance, just as the rippon tanos do. For one who has never seen the performance, the triple salchow seems to come out of the blue.

Here is a long interview with Rika and Shoma Uno after the NHK. Unfortunately, I can't find a translation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqUNbIFYjpk

 

[leoleo]

It is so frustrating to not know japanese when there is so much Rika content right now.
She looks adorable with that floral dress in the interview

 

[leoleo]

I finally found a plushy for Rika. I bought a cute pink flamingo :luv17: i hope she'll get it. I was going to buy a minion but the glasses part was very very hard and i was scared i'd hit someone while throwing it or ruin the ice.

 

[MaiKatze]

Are you going to IdF? Cheer hard for Rika!

Here is the subtitled free I promised you guys!

Thank you Jenni!

 

[leoleo]

Are you going to IdF? Cheer hard for Rika!

Here is the subtitled free I promised you guys!

Thank you Jenni!

Yes i am going! Thanks for the translation, i will share it with other fans on twitter (if you don't mind).

Her free skate at NHK has over 1million views now! :eeking:
By the way, she still has the highest total score in the ladies GP so far! I hope she can break it by skating clean in the short and delivering yet another fantastic FS in France

 

[gotoschool]

leoleo- hope you will enjoy watching Rika skate live and that you help support her in the audience.

Here are some comments I found in translation from Rika's NHK performance through google translate. The translation is rough.
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20181111-00000082-sph-spo


"I'm quite happy because I was able to do a very good performance in the free. I had the impression that the jump was more stable than I thought with almost perfect acting." As for her first achievement in Japan, she said, "Nobody has yet realized the feeling of doing things that haven't been done (laughing.) It is still the first race of the (GP series) I am thinking that there is really much more, so I'm thinking about only making it as close as possible to Mao Asada (who I adore), "smiling. 　If you go up to the podium in the next French cup, the GP Final (December 6 - 9, Canada / Vancouver) will be visible. "I got the first place and I got a chance, so I want to aim for it."

I wasn't going to write this on Rika's thread until I read this comment about Mao by Rika so soon after her NHK performance, but I never thought I would ever see a performance that inspired me with such a marvelous sense of artistry, athleticism and emotion like some of Mao's best performances, but I felt something very similar in intensity to this with Rika's NHK freeskate, but they each have their own own unique style and charisma.

 

[leoleo]

Thanks for the translation! she does says often that she admires Mao and is as fearless as her yet she has her own style.

I will definitely cheer for her! my lungs are ready

I will post updates about her practice on thursday if you are interested. I'll try to take pics too but i only have my iphone so the quality won't be too good.

 

[rikaquegira]

Thanks for the translation! she does says often that she admires Mao and is as fearless as her yet she has her own style.

I will definitely cheer for her! my lungs are ready

I will post updates about her practice on thursday if you are interested. I'll try to take pics too but i only have my iphone so the quality won't be too good.

Please do send updates! I dream of one day watching Rika live... Maybe in the future!
I tried planning a trip to China to see how much would cost me to watch the Olympics but the whole time zone thing really got into my nerves... [emoji23] It’s so complicated to literally cross the globe... So many things to think of! But maybe it will be possible, I just need loads of money! LOL
I hope I can go to Beijing Olympics and I hope to see Rika there! Fingers crossed!!

Anyway, for now I’m just ecstatic to watch her on my computer screen! I can’t wait for IdF!!! I’m so nervous for her!!!!!! But whatever happens, she’s the best in my heart! I wish her 100% health and lots of luck! [emoji120]

 

[leoleo]

Please do send updates! I dream of one day watching Rika live... Maybe in the future!
I tried planning a trip to China to see how much would cost me to watch the Olympics but the whole time zone thing really got into my nerves... [emoji23] It’s so complicated to literally cross the globe... So many things to think of! But maybe it will be possible, I just need loads of money! LOL
I hope I can go to Beijing Olympics and I hope to see Rika there! Fingers crossed!!

Anyway, for now I’m just ecstatic to watch her on my computer screen! I can’t wait for IdF!!! I’m so nervous for her!!!!!! But whatever happens, she’s the best in my heart! I wish her 100% health and lots of luck! [emoji120]

The only way i could go to Beijing or even Worlds in Japan would be if i won the lottery i just got lucky she came to France this time & tickets weren't expensive.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Rika is a queen!, I just can´t believe what she is doing this season so far :eeking:, go rika! two clean programs in IDF for a masive score please

 

[rikaquegira]

Rika is a queen!, I just can´t believe what she is doing this season so far :eeking:, go rika! two clean programs in IDF for a masive score please

That would be massive indeed! And probably too much to ask? [emoji23] I just hope she doesn’t bomb the axels because I think she can afford minor mistakes or even a fall at some other jump but falling on a 3A or even worse, popping a 3A would really hurt her and make her vulnerable in what is a deep field. Good thing she already has lots of experience with deep fields(NHK and the whole Junior grand prix Final and stuff). I’m sending her good vibes! [emoji120]

Also, I’m afraid if she skates two clean programs at IdF that would be her “peaking too soon” and later on she would bomb Nats or WC... [emoji23]