Javier Fernandez | Page 236 | Golden Skate

Javier Fernandez

Another news clip with footage from the airport yesterday afternoon: https://www.facebook.com/FigureSkatingInBelarus/videos/2055443924571688/

We heard from some volunteer girls sitting next to us that there had been some delay at the airport so that he arrived to the hotel/arena area much later, only an hour or so before the evening practice began. Also, the word was that Brian had not arrived by the evening practice.

And the best news was that the practice rink is open to public! They hardly ever are, but this one is right next to the main rink, a massive complex with two rinks inside a speed skating track! We will hopefully see him a couple of times on ice...

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Morning practice was a bit like a minor competition - he was maybe a little embarrassed by the warm reception on entering the rink 😁 We sat above the entrance to ice and where the coaches stood. He looked happy, relaxed, yet totally focused on what he was doing.

It was very hard to believe that he has only that 3 weeks of training and a flight from Toronto behind him... I have seen him in quite a few practices from Stockholm 2015 onwards and this was on the better side. His RT was second so no jumps in it, but he went through the whole set afterwards fairly convincingly. Some trouble with the quads, but nothing too serious.

Watching Malagueña was great! There are still details in it I had not really seen before despite having watched it a lot...

Now at the practice rink waiting for the afternoon session to begin. Brian is out by the rink and a glimpse of Javi was seen in the background... The new red team jacket is nice!

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This made me cry. I really got moved with the part where Brezina talks about Javi being one of his last friends. The future generation of skaters is coming along.

Thank you Javi for everything you have done for this sport. We will never forget you. Good luck at your final competition, and of course, good luck with your future. I am sure you will achieve whatever you want, with your perseverance. Gracias Javi. Vamos Javi. Go get your last european title in Minsk. We all believe in you.
 
I wept like a baby during Javi's Malaguena runthrough this morning, getting to see his remarkable skating to this music, and wept like a baby again watching this tribute video. I think this week is going to be like that. :sad21:
 
Go slay your last competition, Javi! I'm so emotional over this, not sure how I'm going to watch it.
 
I wept like a baby during Javi's Malaguena runthrough this morning, getting to see his remarkable skating to this music, and wept like a baby again watching this tribute video. I think this week is going to be like that. :sad21:

Tureis, Javi also cried watching the video :sad21:

The person who posted the tweet is at EC as a volunteer and has tweeted many interesting videos and tidbits (not only about Javi). Even if you don't have an account you can access it, it's worth it.

Here are some of his jumps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

and some videos from practice 1, runthru p1, runthru p2, practice
 
Second practice not quite as good as the first, but nothing out of the ordinary either. There were still only 2 of them in the practice group - Graham Newberry should get a medal for diligence in practices as he has showed up for all of them... the stands are quite far away and even taking photos was a bit hard 😂

But he did fairly normal routine with warm-up, then getting into jumps before the RT of Man of La Mancha. It looked like Brian gave him first different sets of steps to be followed by one of the easier jumps which was interesting to see. He had to do the 3Lo twice to get it right. Then he did the usual sequence with entrances used in programs, well except for the curiously no show Lutz...

Partial RT, fell the first 4T and then skipped the second quad as well as the start of the second jump passes. The layout is not clear yet. Axel is just fine, quads gave him a bit of trouble towards the end of the session.

Today ladies short but we will step out for Javi's practice session.

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Thank you for the news on his practices! So far I've heard either that he is in top shape and jumps even quads well or that he is totally out of shape, can't even do a stsq and falls every second jump :(

I'm fine if the reality is somewhere inbetween :D
 
I am at a loss of who could have seen Javi fall every second jump... I have watched all the three practices so far not letting him out of my sight and he fell one quad in yesterday afternoon RT and another today. There have been a couple of pops as well. I have been watching his practices in major competitions since Stockholm 2015 and I swear on my mother's grave that it looks very much business as usual. If I did not know he has been training only for 3 weeks, I would not be able to tell based on what he has done in the practices... I have seen him do a whole lot worse many times before.

And so today's only practice. Warm-up, hit by a bit of traffic when he started going through jumps and had to abort a few attempts before hitting the loop. Then things got easier and he did almost all except 4S before the RT. Hit both 4T+3T and 4S nicely, skipped the Axel combo and went for the 2nd jump passes instead. Doubled the 3A, but everything else was very good. Did the single 3A afterwards with ease. Steps and spins with no difficulty whatsoever...

No Lutz in the FS though. Which might be wise coz he could get an edge call. If he messed the 4S to 3S he will have 3 Sals or rather hopefully a plan B.

Believe me, if he was bad, I would also tell you that!

His parents and girl are here and this must be the first time I see them sitting in the VIP section. Before they have apparently always insisted on buying their own tickets.

Javi skates last tomorrow which does not make me too happy. Hope he can handle it. And based on the number of Spanish flags for Valentina Matos early afternoon, the stands will be all red and yellow for Javi...

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