Talk about Deja vu.. Karma... and all those creepy Halloween eve feelings... Pooh has turned into a mean pumpkin head.
They do bring out the worst of each other don't they? What a way to compete. :think:
Just HAVE to take back everything I wrote above. Gladly. Humbly.
These two are phenomenal and their head to head was surreal.... totally amazing, astounding in their own spectacular way.
May be it was the
Onmyoji effect, which is basically
YIN YANG Master in translation. Freaky Friday was totally YIN (Dark, cloudy and supernatural), Holloween Saturday was totally YANG (Light, brightness, hope). These two days could not be more starker in contrasts and complete opposites. Interdependent according to the natural world order of things like the opposing forces of Yin and Yang.
When has Patrick skated this good with such calm and command, and even grace? Long time over due? Selfishly, I have stated I'd love him to have that Yuna Kim WC2013 great comeback moment, and he really delivered that. Majestic... total redemption, and hope he managed to cleansed all those demons away from the Olympics blunder.
How about Hanyu with 3 quads? Seimei? I can see through the improvements and greater attention to detail that the program is a labour of love. I really like the assurance and the positions he manage to hit with the drums. I'd say its potential is soon to be fulfilled had it not been the circumstance and pressure Hanyu had to deliver after that disaster short. Only a hands down and one fall with such incredible tech content, better than anything he did last year and at the Olympics. However, it is one of those programs he must fully embody the concept/character as if he can overcame any supernatural forces easily and effortlessly, while enthrall the audience with his wizardry for the impression to work. Particularly following the procession beat of the music he must exude confidence and command; but last night it felt like he was the head apprentice having an exam chasing for points in order to pass a trial than the master. Not able to defeat big boss probably added that impression to those who follows Japanese Anime/Game fans. This is not to say Hanyu wouldn't become the master next time round... at some point like how he settled into Romeo and Juliet Version 1 program... he will bring that Hanyu signature attack with ease and wild abandonment that is so unique and perfect for this type of program. It will be something amazing and magical to look forward to. I fully believe he will able to achieve that.
Together they really elevated the entire field last night. Everyone in the top 8 had one of the best skating moments of their lives. What a great evening for skating. Daisuke should be very proud of himself able to stand on the podium with these 2 at their bests.
As much as Patrick had skate the lights out, lets not even pretend IF Hanyu had landed everything, Hanyu wouldn't run away with the score. Much of Patrick's best quality is undervalued under COP (but something would be well valued if PCS is judged according to stated criteria). Many of his distractors just narrow his best qualities down to skating skills, but it is really much more work than that and should be worth more than a difference of something like 9.5 vs 9.0 The 0.5 differential is practically negligible and nonsense consider the years of efforts and development to get to that stage. People keep talking about his blade, but for me it is watching his entire body moves with the ice and flows with the music as one, accentuate the music as if second nature, balanced and complete in synchronicity, as natural as breathing, or one long breath. Virtuosity requires everything done as effortless and seamless as possible, it is in the detail, nuance and refinement, even his spin took on musicality of itself and that's the sign of someone who grew to understand and appreciate how things should be. Look how his upper body and the angles he make as extension of his deep edges, and lines and ease he achieved with each movements. How solid he is centered like a Taichi master with a powerful core.
Criticism has been thrown at him for not being enough of a dancer, I'd say so what... he is a figure skater... see the unique motion, speed, ease he can create on ice that a dancer can never hope to achieve on the ground. That is what makes this sport unique and fascinating, it is about human potentials overcoming physical and elemental forces. Otherwise I'd just goto Sadler's Wells for much better dancing performances than I can ever hope to receive from this sport.
) aren't much considering the fact that on a good day Yuzu gets 90-91 pcs (yesterday he looks tired..88 was ok, even better than I expected). Also, he usually doesn't single the axel there. I won't talk about the fall, because there is usually a fall
I just hope he'll land all 3 quads as much as possible.
