Dreams on Ice 2025

[Violet Sky]

https://youtu.be/dVdhdWyrkdA?si=6DO6bTTLk8Vv-dVH
Kazuki Tomino, SP, “That’s It (I’[m Crazy) at the Dreams on Ice 2025 in Japan

 

[synesthesia]

Catching my eye immediately is Yuma's SP. Brings me back memories of the Michael Buble Smile SP at the last Olympics (and even his scrapped Take Five SP from that same season), but is so much more elevated. He has the jumps and the skating skills to carry this type of music off, and this is the unique Yuma joyful charm that I saw back in 2022 that sets him apart from his more... er... intense predecessors. I hope this program can set him up nicely among the shuffle that is the top men.

Agreed! Imo this SP proves that Yuma is a good performer, even if it may not come as naturally to him as it does to some others (honestly, I don't even think there are that many skaters, who are born entertainers, but it is definitely possible to hone that skill). Stevie Wonder is a great match for his skating and he conveys so much joy here! I'm glad I'm not the only one, who enjoys this type of program for him. I don't mind that this is usually Kazuki's style.



I really like Kazuki’s SP as well – it is once again such a fun program, which is tailored to his strengths. This is not my favourite version of “That’s it” - I prefer the original (?), funkier version - but Kazuki can sell and make me love anything.

I also totally agree on Shun's improvements - I thought so since the 2023/24 season, when he surprised me with his mature, sharp delivery of "Libertango" on one hand and his refined interpretation of "Four seasons" on the other.

Other standouts for me were Rino (imo the re-purposed "Lux Aeterna" still works, even if the elements are not as seamlessly integrated as they were in the FS) and Kaori (I’m going to be honest that I dislike both of her music choices this season, but her performance here was so good, especially for early in the season, that she makes me tolerate “Time to say goodbye”). I am going to miss her, Wakaba and Kazuki (although I think we will see quite a bit of them in shows the next couple of years, especially of Kazuki).

And I’m sorry, I really do not like this season’s 90’s dance party RD theme (even though this was the music of my youth), but these music choices work well for Utana and Masaya. They have such nice skating skills and they are engaging performers, who are bringing the audience with them to the club here (especially Masaya). I love how much they are skating in hold and how close together they are during most of the program. I need them to qualify an individual Olympic spot in September so bad. On a side note, I love Utana’s cute hairdo with the safety pins – I hope she keeps it throughout the season.

 

[rabidline]

Agreed! Imo this SP proves that Yuma is a good performer, contrary to what some people say about him, even if it may not come as naturally to him as it does to some others (honestly, I don't even think there are that many skaters, who are born entertainers, but it is definitely possible to hone that skill). Stevie Wonder is a great match for his skating and he conveys so much joy here! I'm glad I'm not the only one, who enjoys this type of program for him. I don't mind that this is usually Kazuki's style.

I definitely prefer Yuma doing lighter material because his skating is just so effervescent, which is rare for a skater of his caliber to portray recently- he needs that to differentiate himself among the top men, instead of doing only the serious and emotional pieces. Also I think this SP is amazing personal image rebranding- it's the furthest Yuma can get from his image when we last saw him last season. Confident, cheeky, breezy, unserious- it's a great contrast to the more serious (I wanna say tryhard, but like, in a complimentary way) images Ilia and Adam has with their material.

Also I find Yuma to be less Kazuki and more Takahiko Kozuka (and the Canadian men with insane skating skills like Kurt Browning and Patrick Chan). The charm and fun comes not from the expressions and entertaining skills, but from the discrepancy between the insane technique that goes to the skating elements and the unserious, silly air of it all. It's virtuosic, instead of entertaining. Yuma's flexing all the things he can do effortlessly with his skating skills that no one else can in that SP, with his impish smile basically saying "Now try doing all that, if you can!"

Spoiler alert: no one can do all that, that's why this program is perfect for Yuma. I do get the "greasy" comment because the vibe is smug. But hey, if you can skate like that, flaunt it.