The fight for the third spot on the senior national team has just gotten more interesting. Especially since Koshiro is very likely to podium at, if not win Nebelhorn next week.
The fight for the third spot on the senior national team has just gotten more interesting. Especially since Koshiro is very likely to podium at, if not win Nebelhorn next week.
I just want to point out that Sota landed 4S-3T (a new quad combo) twice, attempted two quads in SP and three in FS, while he started to train quads again just 10 months ago.
Go Sota!
eh i wouldn't be so confident, it will be an interesting battle for sure.
Yan Han will be there, you'd think he wants to do well in preparation for the next Olympics.
Nam Nguyen is inconsistent but he has quads.
Makar Ignatov recently showed up at the Test Skates in great form, he has very ambitious technical contents.
The two skaters from Israel Bychenko and Samohin also very inconsistent but sometimes they deliver.
With Yan WD Koshiro's chance of snatching gold at Nebelhorn has just risen considerably. He's not superconsistent, but neither are Nam, Daniel and Alexei. I am not familiar with Ignatov so cannot comment on him. Anyway, I said he was very likely to win, not that his victory was certain. We'll see but my money is on Koshiro.
My simplified take on the Japanese men's field at the moment:
1. Yuzuru and Shoma, in a category of their own
2. Daisuke, on domestic stage. I am beginning to doubt he's going to compete internationally this season as he's said he was planning. Maybe if he's selected for Worlds...
3. the skaters who could all challenge for Nr. 3 spot internationally: Keiji, Koshiro, Sota and Kazuki.
4. Yuuma and Shun, the young challengers of all but Shoma and Yuzuru
5. the talented rest who won't have it easy this season - Mitsuki, Tatsuya, Kao, some will have to try harder to challenge the ones above (Yuuto, Sena, Taichiro)
6. the experienced 'oldest' group who are leaving (Hiroaki) or I suspect can be leaving after this season (Ryuju, Jun if he hasn't already)
Such an exciting season if all stay healthy, really looking forward to it. *_*
Only Yuzuru is in the category of his own. I don't like it when people talk as if the others are only good enough to be #3. Shoma is not the most consistent and a good 4S is rewarded more than a wonky 4F. Off topic but a good example, in ladies people always talked how nobody can beat Satoko or Kihira, yet they both were beaten by Kaori who doesn't have a 3A or the best artistry. Ice is slippery
Ummm, no. I yield to few in my affection and esteem for Yuzuru and firm belief whether shared or no that he is the greatest human ever to strap on a skate {big surprise, yeah} but Shoma is 4CC gold and Olympic silver medallist, Japanese national champion, has a heap of other medals and awards. He is definitely on a level above and beyond most, even given his difficult season last year.
It doesn't matter that he once got an olympic silver medal or won 4Cc, the first time he actually won something after years. He was off the worlds podium in Japan and his technique doesn't make him a level above others. It's all about judging and the federations support
Are we still pretending that Shoma is rotating his jumps? It's beyond me how can someone claim that a skater who is constantly getting away with his flaws "a level above" others. Where does this belief come from? Let's not insult skaters with better technique like that, please, skaters who rotate their jumps and actually work on their flaws but doesn't get as much support from the federation because they weren't meant to be the "chosen ones" .
The plan was to have someone to replace Yuzuru when he once retires, but the last years showed that Shoma is not that person and the judges slowly get it too. But the next generation is here, lets give some deserved love to them
It's all about judging and the federations support
The plan was to have someone to replace Yuzuru when he once retires....
Are we still pretending that Shoma is rotating his jumps? It's beyond me how can someone claim that a skater who is constantly getting away with his flaws "a level above" others. Where does this belief come from? Let's not insult skaters with better technique like that, please, skaters who rotate their jumps and actually work on their flaws but doesn't get as much support from the federation because they weren't meant to be the "chosen ones" .