Rika Kihira

[moonstruck]

Congrats Rika, she was amazing! Her free program suits her so well, and she skated fantastically, I was totally transfixed for 4 minutes her TES is insanely good, and her PCS definitely should rise from here too really excited to see her compete again in two weeks!

 

[Fluture]

Rika was... :shocked: all in once!

 

[leoleo]

Can any of you guys watch this footage? https://twitter.com/DollHanyu/status/1061275149612146688

It isn't playing for me idk why but it was aired on japanese tv today. It is said it shows Ghislain Briand using recordings of Yuzuru Hanyu's quads to teach Rika how to do it. All i can see is an image of Rika next to Ghislain then it starts clicking and it says "media cannot be read" instead of playing the clip. I'm confused

Also, Jennifer Thomas, the lady who created Beautiful Storm gave a shoutout to Rika on her instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAbqkzAfdY/?utm_source=ig_embed

 

[lzxnl]

Just imagine if she gets her 4S and 4T
She'll be giving Trusova a run for her money next year. Probably the only woman I see right now standing up to the quad girls (and their 4Lz isn't even rotated)

 

[ioanna]

Can any of you guys watch this footage? https://twitter.com/DollHanyu/status/1061275149612146688

It isn't playing for me idk why but it was aired on japanese tv today. It is said it shows Ghislain Briand using recordings of Yuzuru Hanyu's quads to teach Rika how to do it. All i can see is an image of Rika next to Ghislain then it starts clicking and it says "media cannot be read" instead of playing the clip. I'm confused

Also, Jennifer Thomas, the lady who created Beautiful Storm gave a shoutout to Rika on her instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAbqkzAfdY/?utm_source=ig_embed

It works for me. Rika is attempting a 4S but it's perhaps just a little bit UR still and she falls. I think it looks very close.

 

[rikaquegira]

Can any of you guys watch this footage? https://twitter.com/DollHanyu/status/1061275149612146688

It isn't playing for me idk why but it was aired on japanese tv today. It is said it shows Ghislain Briand using recordings of Yuzuru Hanyu's quads to teach Rika how to do it. All i can see is an image of Rika next to Ghislain then it starts clicking and it says "media cannot be read" instead of playing the clip. I'm confused

Also, Jennifer Thomas, the lady who created Beautiful Storm gave a shoutout to Rika on her instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAbqkzAfdY/?utm_source=ig_embed

It's Rika attempting the quad salchow, it looked like it was UR and she fell. IMO, it doesn't look super close to being completed but I believe she can do it!
Especially with the help of Gislain. :agree:

By the way, she rotates so freaking fast!!!! :eeking:

 

[Lunalovesskating]

It's Rika attempting the quad salchow, it looked like it was UR and she fell. IMO, it doesn't look super close to being completed but I believe she can do it!
Especially with the help of Gislain. :agree:

By the way, she rotates so freaking fast!!!! :eeking:

Rika won't jump a 4S or 4T this season. Hamada said so. They want to focus on her artistry this season. So we will probably see her quad attempts next season. So she has some time to perfect them.

 

[lzxnl]

Indeed. Hence why I'm curious at the Kihira Trusova matchup next year
Unless Trusova gets a 3A, she's always going to have that disadvantage vs Kihira. 3A 3Lz > 2A 4Lz because SP, assuming both have 4S, 4T for FS

 

[flanker]

Indeed. Hence why I'm curious at the Kihira Trusova matchup next year
Unless Trusova gets a 3A, she's always going to have that disadvantage vs Kihira. 3A 3Lz > 2A 4Lz because SP, assuming both have 4S, 4T for FS

That's where this theory has a problem.

 

[lzxnl]

We can dream, right?

 

[rikaquegira]

Rika won't jump a 4S or 4T this season. Hamada said so. They want to focus on her artistry this season. So we will probably see her quad attempts next season. So she has some time to perfect them.

yes, I know and I'm happy with their decision. I believe they have a four-year plan, no need to rush things, she can slowly update her content and by 2022 she will have a good arsenal of jumps. Her focus is the Olympics. Sure, it'd be nice to win some GPs and WCs medals along the way but even if she's not at the top of the podium every season, if she can make herself a strong contender going into Beijing, that's good enough.
What makes me really happy is how much Hamada values "beautiful" skating. She said it herself, she wants a beautiful Lady skater with beautiful edges, flow and 3A and quads. And don't we all want that? If Rika grows to be a Satoko kind of skater but with 3A and quads she will be like, one of the greatest figure skaters ever and will certainly gain a lot of medals.
I'd like to dream that's what is going to happen. Rika is a very strong girl, she's kind of chaotic LMAO and she seems to be putting her experience to work for her, she needs the mental strength to be able to achieve her highest potential. Very exciting to follow her career! :luv17:

 

[Interspectator]

Dropping in to say Rika, you broke my heart by beating all my favorites, but you deserved it! What a knock-out performance it was. I'll post the my viewing group's reactions later on the main competition thread.
WOW!

 

[Amef]

Rika won't jump a 4S or 4T this season. Hamada said so. They want to focus on her artistry this season. So we will probably see her quad attempts next season. So she has some time to perfect them.

If she lands quads consistently next season, she can even beat Trusova...my gosh ladies figure skating has a new star!

 

[leoleo]

I remember her footage of the 4T sometime ago which looked really good. I am not going to get too excited about a quad battle among the ladies firstly because Rika's are still tentative, secondly because the russians still have to go through puberty, i personally don't see how heavily pre-rotated quads can survive body changes but we'll see.
Before quads, i would love to see a 3f-3lo or 3lz-3lo in competition. Imagine her score if she could add one of those combos somewhere? :eeking: I am just praying this season is her time to shine. IDF is around the corner, i'd say considering her base value, her only rival is her own ability to land all her jumps (please land your SP 3A at least once Rika ) as none of the other girls could catch up to her if she's clean. Zhenya is very consistent (her big mistake at Skate Canada was a first and i don't expect her to let it happen again, she is a monster when she is focused ) and 2 clean programs would upset Rika if she messes up. She needs to be clean or at least not fall on the 3As since they are her biggest weapon.

Off topic: i'm really not here for eteri bashers using Rika's name to go after Alina. I know a lot of people dislike Eteri and her skaters getting "controversial" scores but yikes can people just stop being jerks? I've seen many annoying coming from people who don't even like rika (people who i have seen bashing her before lol). It's like last season with fake Alina stans using her name to bash Evgenia all over again and i'm really just not here for it!

 

[lzxnl]

I remember her footage of the 4T sometime ago which looked really good. I am not going to get too excited about a quad battle among the ladies firstly because Rika's are still tentative, secondly because the russians still have to go through puberty, i personally don't see how heavily pre-rotated quads can survive body changes but we'll see.
Before quads, i would love to see a 3f-3lo or 3lz-3lo in competition. Imagine her score if she could add one of those combos somewhere? :eeking: I am just praying this season is her time to shine. IDF is around the corner, i'd say considering her base value, her only rival is her own ability to land all her jumps (please land your SP 3A at least once Rika ) as none of the other girls could catch up to her if she's clean. Zhenya is very consistent (her big mistake at Skate Canada was a first and i don't expect her to let it happen again, she is a monster when she is focused ) and 2 clean programs would upset Rika if she messes up. She needs to be clean or at least not fall on the 3As since they are her biggest weapon.

If you check her layout, she doesn't need a 3Lz-3Lo combo. Where would she put it? She already has eight triples, repeating 3A and 3Lz, and seven jumping passes. She already has three combination jumps, so there's no room for extra combinations. A 3Lz-3Lo would have to replace an existing combo; yes, she could move her existing 3Lo into a 3Lz-3Lo instead of 3Lz-2T, but then she's got two fairly risky combination jumps: 3A-3T and 3Lz-3Lo (how many men have done both of these in a single program?). Then, she'd be best off replacing her solo 3Lo with a 2A, effectively replacing 2T with 2A for about 2 extra BV. Question: is this worth it?

I personally think that it's more likely, next season, for her to replace her 3S with a 4S or 4T and do 3(something)-1Eu-3S.

I agree though that it's imperative she doesn't fall on any more 3As. Each fall costs her at least 7 points, given how well she can do them.

 

[leoleo]

If you check her layout, she doesn't need a 3Lz-3Lo combo. Where would she put it? She already has eight triples, repeating 3A and 3Lz, and seven jumping passes. She already has three combination jumps, so there's no room for extra combinations. A 3Lz-3Lo would have to replace an existing combo; yes, she could move her existing 3Lo into a 3Lz-3Lo instead of 3Lz-2T, but then she's got two fairly risky combination jumps: 3A-3T and 3Lz-3Lo (how many men have done both of these in a single program?). Then, she'd be best off replacing her solo 3Lo with a 2A, effectively replacing 2T with 2A for about 2 extra BV. Question: is this worth it?

I personally think that it's more likely, next season, for her to replace her 3S with a 4S or 4T and do 3(something)-1Eu-3S.

I agree though that it's imperative she doesn't fall on any more 3As. Each fall costs her at least 7 points, given how well she can do them.

I was thinking more of adding a 3f-3lo in the short program instead of the 3F-3T. The free program is good as is.

 

[lzxnl]

I was thinking more of adding a 3f-3lo in the short program instead of the 3F-3T. The free program is good as is.

Oh. That could work, although I haven't seen her do a 3Lo combination yet. Provided she gets to level 4 in spins and step sequence, I don't reckon you can top that SP tech score.

 

[leoleo]

"Mie Hamada sent Rika Kihira onto the ice saying to her that she lacked competitive spirit and the desire to win. Rika thought to herself as she stepped onto the ice that she would land every jump and aggressively launched into her opening 3A"

Hamada was not surprised at Rika's score. She said: "She isn't consistent. When she doesn't skate well, she doesn't skate well. However, i thought that if she skated at her best like she does in training, her score would be something like this."
Kihira is erratic and Hamada has been saying this a lot "Don't make excuses"

At the press conference, Rika made the following statement:
"I really respect Miyahara. I have always learned so much from her and i am grateful i was able to train in such a great environment. Our coach also tells us that we aren't enemies but great rivals. I want to convey my gratitude to her."

cr: https://twitter.com/Iron_Klaus/status/1061522943640039424 There's more in the link about Hamada's thoughts about Miyahara & Kihira training together, i only shared the parts that directly concerned Rika.

Hamada doesn't seem less strict than someone like Eteri or Raf lmao i guess her words worked on Rika.

 

[xeyra]

Rika's FS is my favorite ladies program this season. Congrats on your first ever GP gold!

 

[leoleo]

Guys, have you seen Rika's EX? I was shocked, i did not expect this. She delivered some teen goth emo princess realness. I was not ready. The dress is weirdly pretty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwqPFdVQYZA