A really good start for Nobu this season, and for team Morozov.
I can see, with my eyes closed, Nicholai proudly smiling beside Nobu.
Actually, Morozov is probably busy planning some more heavy training. It reminds me of a situation when a fan said to Morozov after the Moran Memorial competition that his skaters were amazing. Nikolai replied simply: "Not amazing!"
I think he has very high standards, but also believes that his skaters can reach them. I think it's one of the things that make his pupils good competitors; they become stronger mentally.
After a training session with Morozov a competition is probably a walk in the park!
Indeed! he beat out a Junior and not of the Morozov technqiue.
So winning against non-Morozovian skater has recently become less prestigious? I must have missed a memo.
I think that was definitely a huge step forward for Nobunari. This was his first international competition, and not so long ago he wasn't mentally stable enough to compete at all. He suffered from mental trauma and struggled with harder jumps because of an eating disorder.
In addition, he missed an entire season and came into this event as a big unknown, to compete against European Champion and former Nebelhorn Champion who is doing great in the junior GP. He was under heavy pressure, because he has very few international assignments, and he needs to establish himself as a contender as soon as possible and get his PCS back to the level they were before.
Moreover, he competed against skaters for whom Obersdorf is their home rink. Meanwhile, Nobunari is not used to competing at high altitude. I received a PM with a report translation, saying that Nobunari felt quite exhausted while skating, and missed his second 3A and some revolutions in the final spin because he was losing stamina faster than usual.
In spite of all those struggles, and the the fact that in minor competitions so early in the season the judges aren't being very generous, his final score would put him on the podium at last Worlds, and his LP TES were slightly higher than Brian Joubert's. And that's despite the fact that now there is one less spin required in the LP!
I think that's definitely a huge accomplishment and a great start for the season.
Good luck for Alyssa, Laura and Akiko! I hope they have a great skate. Nebelhorn turns out to be a great competition, with as many good skaters as some GP events. :thumbsup:
arty:
