When put on the spot about whether she liked Takahashi's programs over two-time defending world champion Patrick Chan of Canada, Suzuki thought for a moment and provided some interesting perspective.
"I prefer Daisuke's programs over Patrick's, but Patrick has really accurate edge work," she observed. "It seems sometimes like he has a turbo engine on his edge. That's how fast he is and how much speed he has. It just flows. He has very deep edges. He is very accurate on where to put his edges on the ice. That's why he is so strong with his edge work and footwork.
"Patrick is improving on how to express his emotions, but I prefer the originality of Daisuke's programs. But I understand why Patrick gets such high scores despite the mistakes he makes.
"If you ask other skaters to do the same things with those transitions in their programs, it's impossible. From the first step it just starts flowing, he gets up to speed. He is very accurate."
Suzuki suggests that skating judges today are better able to assess the quality of performances because they have been there themselves.
"I personally think that today many of the judges are former skaters and ice dancers who have done compulsory and school figures," she said. "By having more of these kind of judges, they know how accurate Patrick and the footwork of other skaters are. If they do the right thing, they get the scores that they deserve."
"It has been nearly 10 years since I have been working with Mr. Nagakubo," she said. "When you are working with somebody that long, you start saying things very straightforwardly to each other. So we are fighting all the time.
"Some people say it is like fights between father and daughter. He will scold me sometimes and I will say something back. At the same time, afterward we can have communication. He can explain his feelings about why he said something.
"There are advantages and disadvantages to having such a long relationship. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to see his face today, but tomorrow will be OK. I think our relationship is really strong and good."
Her interview is honest, open, and heartfelt, as like her skating.
LOL, she didn't say the judging result was accurate. Only that Patrick deserves high(est) skating skills scores.
DSC (Detroit Skating Club) Twitter reported:
"Currently, three of the top four Japanese ladies, Akiko Suzuki, Kanako Murakami, and Haruka Imai, are training here at DSC. More to come."
"Top Japanese Mens skater Takahiko Kozuka (2012 World competitor ranked 2nd in Japan) is also here at DSC working with Yuka Sato."
I am wondering if the Japanese ladies are having their programs choreographed by Pasquale Carmerlengo. Time will tell.
She didn't say about only Chan's skating skill score. She said about Patrick's whole high scores.
And she says she can understand why Patrick gets such high scores.
Her interview is honest, open, and heartfelt, just like her skating.
My favourite note about the intereview was how often it has her pausing, thinking and then answering. She seems both generous and thoughtful, which is a lovely combination.
Well Pasquale choreographed Akiko's awesome FS (and Anjelika Krylova did her SP), so that does not surprise me she is back.
I am interested to hear that Kanako is here. Curious how she'll do with a Pasquale or Anjelika program.
Yeah, like Ravi Walia, a Canadian bronze medalist, who never medaled at any international event. Or Sung-Hee Koh who was 10th, i.e. the last one, at NHK one day. And a bunch of others who were all great skating performers!So she thinks today's judges are better judges on skating performances.
There are also many others who critisize Chan's highs score and the judging system in general. Plushenko, for example.So many skaters acknowledged understanding of Patrick's high scores.
Here we go again. Chan Patrol lieutenants never miss a chance to call the audience a dumb crowd. The booing in Nice must be still hurting.This is the difference between an Olympic sport and a common art form.