Shoma Uno: 2014-2024

[Arriba627]

I am sooooo sorry. The last one is Ten Denis.:sad4:

He is so funny in that HUGE hockey shirt. I am also sure it's the first time I have ever seen anyone bow in a hockey shirt. Someone in the background is saying "Now he has to play hockey!" No, I don't think so!

 

[Arriba627]

Thank you for your vivid report! Im soooooo happy Shoma is in such a great circumstance and shall have many fruitful experiences there. He stays there until around July 10? I hope he will as long as possible. He is among many boys and girls. He can communicate well with them and coaches? Anyway, hs fine face relieves me so much.
(BTW, how’s the current climate there? Here in Tokyo it is already hot and I guess it’s so in his Nagoya region.)
Further, what a coincidence Shoma goes to your area, although US is pretty large country! I hope I can see Tomoki in international field more!:yes:

Although I was out of town for 10 days, I understand it was hot and humid in the Chicago area. I give Shoma a lot of credit for coming here without knowing much English. He is brave. And I guess we never solved the mystery of who came with him (mom? Mihoko sensei? no one?). In the video where they gave him the jersey, I was trying to see if anyone looked like his mom, but it went too fast. I am wondering if he is already gone or leaving soon.

 

[Spiral]

Belated happy birthday, Arriba! I always enjoy reading your posts! May your favorite skaters’ success bring you joy in the upcoming season!

Hamaguri, thank you so much for translating the interview! It was my first glimpse into Shoma as a person.

Now his first season as a senior was over, what he is aiming for now is a performance beyond records or scores. This 18 years old shy boy changes drastically once he gets on the ice. “There was a huge difference between me and senior skates. Especially, it felt my expressions didn’t go anywhere, so I wanted to practice off season focusing on things other than jumps also.”

He really thought his expressions didn’t go anywhere??? Well, I’m astonished, to say the least. In fact, it was his mature artistic expression that first impressed me about him. I do admire skaters who do difficult elements, like quads, but, if I were completely honest, it’s not the ultra-hard elements that move me when I watch someone skate, but how they express the music. I thought Shoma was great both in his innovative SP and his classical LP. He’s one of the skaters I’m most looking forward to seeing again in the upcoming season. Obviously, there’s no limit to perfection, and I think modesty becomes a man, but he seems to take self-criticism to a truly fantastic length!

“Mao-chan played with me. When the class was over, the letter to urge me to select among figure skating, ice hockey and speed skating. I said “I would like to do the same as that Mao-chan does” and chose figure skating.

Oh, so he was shown some elements of all the three ice sports, and he chose figure skating, because Mao Asada played with him? They invited some junior athletes to interact with the new kids?

The people around him have set the target of Olympics gold medal since he was a child, so he took it for granted. Yet he now has some different thought from it. “Of course I would love to get a result at Olympics, but I have the bigger thought that it’s not a goal. I feel delighted at getting a good result at a competition, and I think it’s what to do, but at the same time, I truly don’t want to become a skater who takes a title at Olympics but can’t keep being remembered by people. I want to become a skater who can change people’s minds by his performance.”

That’s so mature of him to value leaving a lasting impression over medals. He’s a real artist!

He’s a normal university student once he gets off the rink. His relaxation is doing games. His favorite is a card game “Hearthstone”. But his hate to lose spirit is found also there. “I’m aiming for the upper in the game field also (lol). I do it every day to get stronger aiming for the upper. In my mind are only skating and games.”

Lol, he hates losing even at cards! But how on earth does he find the time to be a normal university student: attend lectures, do the assignments, etc?

“I don’t feel good if I can take something easily. Getting something easily doesn’t touch me at all even if it is a good result. The time when I feel happiest is that I get it after just keeping working. I practice every day for the moment.”

A rare trait, I think, but it explains how he’s managed to rise to such a level so early.

I find this interview is so nice. Now he’s one of the skaters who attract people’s interests and they talk many things about him as they like. But he himself is down to earth and stays on his feet and just keeps doing what he should do.

Indeed. Actually I’m amazed at how mature and down-to-earth he is. How can one stay so modest after having achieved such success by such a young age?

 

[hamaguri]

Although I was out of town for 10 days, I understand it was hot and humid in the Chicago area. I give Shoma a lot of credit for coming here without knowing much English. He is brave. And I guess we never solved the mystery of who came with him (mom? Mihoko sensei? no one?). In the video where they gave him the jersey, I was trying to see if anyone looked like his mom, but it went too fast. I am wondering if he is already gone or leaving soon.

thanks! oh, now you are enjoying Canada!

I guess he is at least with his mother (though his brother is during the school term.). The biggest problem of staying abroad of a male athlete in his age must be a diet! Shoma seems to dislike vegetables and prefer meat, but anyway, staying for a while in abroad having totally different dietary habits is hard for him...i dont think he cooks often by himself (it's my guess!). Or he is eating out every meal? Japanese cuisine is available there?

Staying in US this time must become a big motivation for his English study! Many Japanese say when they went to abroad they realized they should have studied English more...

He states that he will stay in US at the early of July in his official website, so it's certain he's there until around July 10. He's moved to another facility in US? Anyway, someone will upload his photo.

 

[hamaguri]

He really thought his expressions didn’t go anywhere??? Well, I’m astonished, to say the least. In fact, it was his mature artistic expression that first impressed me about him. I do admire skaters who do difficult elements, like quads, but, if I were completely honest, it’s not the ultra-hard elements that move me when I watch someone skate, but how they express the music. I thought Shoma was great both in his innovative SP and his classical LP. He’s one of the skaters I’m most looking forward to seeing again in the upcoming season. Obviously, there’s no limit to perfection, and I think modesty becomes a man, but he seems to take self-criticism to a truly fantastic length!

It seems he feels some problems with his expressions and want to improve himself with it from several interview. Further, about difficult element, now he got the first quad flip at International competition and media picks up this topic in almost every interview (sorry, I omit the part since Im totally bored with the topic (Further, Japanese media always emphasize quad, quad… I hate it.) and he talks the same thing every time (after Worlds, he happened to challenge 4 flip and luckily got it.)). And he seems to feel much problem with not just his expressions but other techniques other than quad and he tries to tackle them.

Oh, so he was shown some elements of all the three ice sports, and he chose figure skating, because Mao Asada played with him? They invited some junior athletes to interact with the new kids?

Shoma lives in the area that figure skating is popular (Mao, Akiko(Suzuki), Takahiko (Kozuka), many skaters are from the area.). I don’t know well, but he happened to go to the rink where Mao practiced (when she was in team Yamada?). Provably the rink offered the skating class for kids of figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey and he did three and finally chose figure skating among them (Actually, his brother is an ice hockey player). I don’t think the rink collected talented kids. I don’t know about other countries, but most Japanese rinks must take their time for general skaters for financial managements (So, some competition skaters must practice in a limited small space and in midnight or early morning! It’s sometimes the same with top skaters.) It seems he liked Mao, since he says he always chased Mao and maybe he must have bothered her so much (since she came there to practice hard).

That’s so mature of him to value leaving a lasting impression over medals. He’s a real artist!

Of course, he’s an athlete and he wants to win. But I feel strongly he focuses on the lasting impression that you say from his words. I remember Michelle Kwan vividlymuch more than Sarah Hughes and Tara Lipinski. He really think he don’t want to become a skater like them (of course, Sarah and Tara were nice skaters though!). Of course, the presence of Daisuke has had much influence on him. I think Shoma may wish his competition career as long as possible.

Lol, he hates losing even at cards! But how on earth does he find the time to be a normal university student: attend lectures, do the assignments, etc?

Some athletes go to e-schooling university like yuzu. But I don’t think he needs that type of education. His Chukyo University has a great figure skating facility and has (had) some skaters, Takahiko, Mao, Kanako, etc. It seems Mao didn’t have much time to go to school until she took one-year rest. I guess they have some system for athlete to keep studying even if they cant go there often.

About his study and assignment, I don’t know well (what subject he is majoring? He’s busy with his homework?) If anyone knows about it, tell me please.

A rare trait, I think, but it explains how he’s managed to rise to such a level so early.

He works at his own pace. He says “こつこつこつこつ”in Japanese. The nuance is he proceeds little by little, keeping doing, doing, doing and doing like a turtle. I feel he’s a kind of stubborn guy (in a good way.). He doesn’t talk so much, but he has firm and strong will at the bottom of his heart.

Indeed. Actually I’m amazed at how mature and down-to-earth he is. How can one stay so modest after having achieved such success by such a young age?

Im surprised he’s never thought of quitting figure skating. His love for figure skating is there as a backbone.

 

[0smile0]

Some athletes go to e-schooling university like yuzu. But I don’t think he needs that type of education. His Chukyo University has a great figure skating facility and has (had) some skaters, Takahiko, Mao, Kanako, etc. It seems Mao didn’t have much time to go to school until she took one-year rest. I guess they have some system for athlete to keep studying even if they cant go there often.

About his study and assignment, I don’t know well (what subject he is majoring? He’s busy with his homework?) If anyone knows about it, tell me please.

His major is sport sciences (same as Kanako and Rika).
I don't know how school system is. But, Chukyo University has/had lots of top athletes other than figure skaters. Current students include Asuka Teramoto (gymnast/Olympian) and Kosei Tanaka (pro boxer/ Yuhana's cousin). So I think they surely have some supporting systems.
Also skaters might able to take some classes before, between or after practices because ice arena is in school premise. It's easier to control their schedule.

Shoma lives in the area that figure skating is popular (Mao, Akiko(Suzuki), Takahiko (Kozuka), many skaters are from the area.). I don’t know well, but he happened to go to the rink where Mao practiced (when she was in team Yamada?). Provably the rink offered the skating class for kids of figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey and he did three and finally chose figure skating among them (Actually, his brother is an ice hockey player). I don’t think the rink collected talented kids. I don’t know about other countries, but most Japanese rinks must take their time for general skaters for financial managements (So, some competition skaters must practice in a limited small space and in midnight or early morning! It’s sometimes the same with top skaters.) It seems he liked Mao, since he says he always chased Mao and maybe he must have bothered her so much (since she came there to practice hard).

Here's some info about skating class at Nagoya Sports Center (You can see some details and videos).
http://nsc-osuskate.jp/skate/school_j.html
I think he just took basic class (learning only basic skating skills) before choosing figure skating. (Actually Shoma used to play ice hockey, too. His brother now seems to belong to field hockey club in his junior high school.)

 

[Arriba627]

thanks! oh, now you are enjoying Canada!

I guess he is at least with his mother (though his brother is during the school term.). The biggest problem of staying abroad of a male athlete in his age must be a diet! Shoma seems to dislike vegetables and prefer meat, but anyway, staying for a while in abroad having totally different dietary habits is hard for him...i dont think he cooks often by himself (it's my guess!). Or he is eating out every meal? Japanese cuisine is available there?

Staying in US this time must become a big motivation for his English study! Many Japanese say when they went to abroad they realized they should have studied English more...

He states that he will stay in US at the early of July in his official website, so it's certain he's there until around July 10. He's moved to another facility in US? Anyway, someone will upload his photo.

There is a fairly large Japanese community in the Chicago suburbs. In fact there is one street near me that when you drive it, you see that most of the companies (and they are LARGE companies) are Japanese. There are restaurants, and there are also stores. http://mitsuwa.com/?lang=ja This is the one near me, but there are others. Also because many families are here on temporary assignments, there is a school the children attend so they are fluent in Japanese when they return home. http://day.chicagojs.net and
http://sumire-chicagojs.net My Japanese teacher was teaching young children there at their Saturday school.

Maybe Shoma missed his food even in that short time! But if he would get desperate, there is a Benihana of Tokyo about 10 minutes from Glacier (fake Japanese food like one of my friends calls it - I love it). Perhaps if his mom is with him, she is cooking for him (like Yuzu's mom!) He would be able to slowly learn English, but again, it is a VERY humbling experience and requires a lot of time and practice. His "thank yous" on the video clip when they gave him the hockey jersey actually sounded pretty good! :agree: That's a good start.

Hope he stays here awhile longer. Actually it makes sense that they are being secretive. Yes, no more talk about the quad flip -- enough already!:noshake: Why don't they talk about his artistry?! :curse: He is really becoming quite a traveler to the U.S. - 5 times in 10 months, including his trip now.

If he has left the Chicago area but is still staying in the U.S., my guesses are that he would be in the Detroit area (like Mura did) or possibly in California working with Frank Carroll or Anthony Liu for more jump advice. Those are just WILD guesses though.

 

[Arriba627]

Belated happy birthday, Arriba! I always enjoy reading your posts! May your favorite skaters’ success bring you joy in the upcoming season!

Hamaguri, thank you so much for translating the interview! It was my first glimpse into Shoma as a person.



He really thought his expressions didn’t go anywhere??? Well, I’m astonished, to say the least. In fact, it was his mature artistic expression that first impressed me about him. I do admire skaters who do difficult elements, like quads, but, if I were completely honest, it’s not the ultra-hard elements that move me when I watch someone skate, but how they express the music. I thought Shoma was great both in his innovative SP and his classical LP. He’s one of the skaters I’m most looking forward to seeing again in the upcoming season. Obviously, there’s no limit to perfection, and I think modesty becomes a man, but he seems to take self-criticism to a truly fantastic length!

Indeed. Actually I’m amazed at how mature and down-to-earth he is. How can one stay so modest after having achieved such success by such a young age?

Thank you for your birthday wishes and comment on my posts. I wish I could do some of these wonderful translations like our Japanese friends do. How fortunate for the rest of us that they care about Shoma enough to do all that work and keep us informed on what is happening!

Shoma really is a mystery! He seems to have just the right combination of humility and swagger. He truly has star quality, and I think he will really go far if he can stay injury free. I am just afraid that with the quad madness, he will have to focus on jumps more than artistry. And even if he says he wants to work on his artistry, I can't see him being satisfied with finishing off the podium, if he can't master several kinds of quads. He's far too competitive to be satisfied with 4th or 5th place finishes. I wish he could hurry up and do EVERYTHING (so does he, I'm sure). I sometimes think he doesn't talk a lot, because he prefers to let his skating do the talking!

What do you think of his music for his new programs? The long program tango music still seems a little weird to me, but I really LOVE the short program violin concerto.

 

[ioanna]

So far not a fan of the new FS at all, and Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra falls in the warhorse category. Kind of like Turandot last season. I'm waiting to see the choreography and his interpretation of the program. I'm hoping for a wider range of expressions and less two-footed skating and crossovers.

 

[yhmafan]

Very smart move to keep all the details quiet so people would leave him alone. I think probably he and his brother will fit together in the same shirt!!!]Today is a great day. Shoma's thread hit 100 pages (on my birthday! Good present!) Seems like maybe he will leave soon though. Darn.

Happy Birthday! Hope your B-day was all that you hoped for

 

[hamaguri]

What do you think of his music for his new programs? The long program tango music still seems a little weird to me, but I really LOVE the short program violin concerto.

I can get happy just to imagine him skating with this piece. I really really love it! I have nothing other than expectations with this program now.

 

[Arriba627]

So far not a fan of the new FS at all, and Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra falls in the warhorse category. Kind of like Turandot last season. I'm waiting to see the choreography and his interpretation of the program. I'm hoping for a wider range of expressions and less two-footed skating and crossovers.

I'm never sure what the criteria is for a war horse, but when I looked for other skaters who had skated to Fantasy, I found only four. I was hoping to see other interpretations of it, just for the fun of it. No matter what the criteria is, I love war horses! Should be an interesting season.

 

[Arriba627]

I can get happy just to imagine him skating with this piece. I really really love it! I have nothing other than expectations with this program now.

Am wondering if they worked on choreography at Glacier.

 

[Spiral]

Shoma really is a mystery! He seems to have just the right combination of humility and swagger.

Yes, it must be difficult to hit the right line between the two, which is why it’s so rare, I think, and for somebody to have managed it by Shoma’s age – that’s just unbelievable!

He truly has star quality, and I think he will really go far if he can stay injury free. I am just afraid that with the quad madness, he will have to focus on jumps more than artistry. And even if he says he wants to work on his artistry, I can't see him being satisfied with finishing off the podium, if he can't master several kinds of quads. He's far too competitive to be satisfied with 4th or 5th place finishes. I wish he could hurry up and do EVERYTHING (so does he, I'm sure). I sometimes think he doesn't talk a lot, because he prefers to let his skating do the talking!

I also don’t think he’d be satisfied with a finish off the podium, but I think he does have the jumps and the artistry for a Worlds medal if he skates clean. After all, he won gold at both his GP events in his first senior season, even without the second (flip) quad. That must be quite a rare accomplishment! And then he won the bronze medal at GPF, also with just the quad toe-loop. So I don’t think he’ll have to focus exclusively on the jumps, even less so if he’s mastered the quad flip too now. Besides, I think nobody can spend the entire practice jumping because it would be too exhausting; so he can work on his artistry when he needs to rest from working on his technique. Moreover, I don’t think a skater who’s so expressive as Shoma would let the artistic side of his skating stagnate. At any rate, I’ve seen young skaters develop artistic skills as they matured, but I’ve never seen the opposite regression.

What do you think of his music for his new programs? The long program tango music still seems a little weird to me, but I really LOVE the short program violin concerto.

TBH, every summer I try to contain my curiosity and not look at anybody’s new programs till the B competitions start, because I think they’ll probably still look a bit raw in the summer, and I want to see them when they’ve become fully comfortable with their new programs. However, I do appreciate that Shoma has told us about his music choices early. I’m sure he’ll be mesmerizing in the violin concerto and great in the tango too, once he gets the hang of it – I think with any new type of music one mostly needs a bit of time to get wholly comfortable with it. So I’m very much looking forward to seeing him in both his programs once the season starts.

I'm never sure what the criteria is for a war horse, but when I looked for other skaters who had skated to Fantasy, I found only four. I was hoping to see other interpretations of it, just for the fun of it. No matter what the criteria is, I love war horses! Should be an interesting season.

I’m with you on the often used music. I mean I do appreciate it when skaters choose something original (provided I like the music itself, of course ), as Shoma did with his SP in this past season, but I never tire of watching programs to timeless music, just as I never tire from listening to my favorite pieces of music. If skaters stopped using some of the most beautiful music ever written, it would be a terrible loss to figure skating IMO. (And not uncommonly I find myself enjoying well done programs to music which I don’t like!)

 

[ioanna]

I'm never sure what the criteria is for a war horse, but when I looked for other skaters who had skated to Fantasy, I found only four. I was hoping to see other interpretations of it, just for the fun of it. No matter what the criteria is, I love war horses! Should be an interesting season.

The entire Ladies in Lavender soundtrack has been a common music choice. In Japan alone, Asada, Suzuki and Machida have used it. Of course warhorses are beautiful pieces of music that deserve to be skated to but there are so many other compositions that have rarely (or never) been used. Instead of having 3 Turandot programs or 5 Phantom Of The Opera programs a season, there's so much music waiting to be explored.

I admit two years ago I groaned when I heard Tatsuki's SP music choice, but his FS was an example of piece that's rarely used; Beethoven's Symphony no. 9. Brian Joubert had done it before him but the program failed to live up to the music, imo.

In Shoma's case it's a bit of an irony; having followed him since he was a junior, he was known for skating to less used pieces of music. Ravel's Tzigane, Secret Garden's Steps, Vanessa Mae's Blessed Spirits. In fact I think Tzigane still remains his finest FS so far. The program used to be hard to find online but thanks to this user, it's now on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt1GnmKwNQg

 

[hamaguri]

His major is sport sciences (same as Kanako and Rika).
I don't know how school system is. But, Chukyo University has/had lots of top athletes other than figure skaters. Current students include Asuka Teramoto (gymnast/Olympian) and Kosei Tanaka (pro boxer/ Yuhana's cousin). So I think they surely have some supporting systems.
Also skaters might able to take some classes before, between or after practices because ice arena is in school premise. It's easier to control their schedule.



Here's some info about skating class at Nagoya Sports Center (You can see some details and videos).
http://nsc-osuskate.jp/skate/school_j.html
I think he just took basic class (learning only basic skating skills) before choosing figure skating. (Actually Shoma used to play ice hockey, too. His brother now seems to belong to field hockey club in his junior high school.)

Thank you for the info! From the HP about sport science, it seems interesting. An competition athlete’s life is going on also after retirement. These days, athletes seem to study considering their second career.

Finally I can solve the question. I’ve seen little shoma with Mao/yamada’s photo, but am not particular about the situation specifically. Thanks for the detailed information of the classes! I find Mao was so sweet. Little Shoma seems to have been shyer, but he attached to her.

There is a fairly large Japanese community in the Chicago suburbs. In fact there is one street near me that when you drive it, you see that most of the companies (and they are LARGE companies) are Japanese. There are restaurants, and there are also stores. http://mitsuwa.com/?lang=ja This is the one near me, but there are others. Also because many families are here on temporary assignments, there is a school the children attend so they are fluent in Japanese when they return home. http://day.chicagojs.net and
http://sumire-chicagojs.net My Japanese teacher was teaching young children there at their Saturday school.

Maybe Shoma missed his food even in that short time! But if he would get desperate, there is a Benihana of Tokyo about 10 minutes from Glacier (fake Japanese food like one of my friends calls it - I love it). Perhaps if his mom is with him, she is cooking for him (like Yuzu's mom!) He would be able to slowly learn English, but again, it is a VERY humbling experience and requires a lot of time and practice. His "thank yous" on the video clip when they gave him the hockey jersey actually sounded pretty good! :agree: That's a good start.

Hope he stays here awhile longer. Actually it makes sense that they are being secretive. Yes, no more talk about the quad flip -- enough already!:noshake: Why don't they talk about his artistry?! :curse: He is really becoming quite a traveler to the U.S. - 5 times in 10 months, including his trip now.

If he has left the Chicago area but is still staying in the U.S., my guesses are that he would be in the Detroit area (like Mura did) or possibly in California working with Frank Carroll or Anthony Liu for more jump advice. Those are just WILD guesses though.

Thanks! Ive never been to US (I want to, some day!), but living there for Japanese doesn’t sound so difficult. No wonder some Japanese skaters, Shizuka, Dai, Nobu, Mao.., etc. once went to US for the coaches there. Speaking of Benihana, im a big fan of curry rise there. Now I looked up it online and was surprised to see their business in abroad.

Jason is at Carol’s now? If shoma is there, it’s wonderful. Daisuke Murakami practices there. I think he’s really kind-hearted and persistent guy! He can speak English fluently (his first language seems English, not Japanese), he can be a great help to Shoma! Of course, getting instructions/advises from Carol must be a big experience for him. I like his students artistic performances like Kwan and Lysacek.

 

[hamaguri]

Am wondering if they worked on choreography at Glacier.

shoma said about this year's coreographer at PIW,but it was the begining of may. i wont get surprised if he changes his plan (i hope so. i want to see his work other than mihoko sensei.). further, this year is pre-olympics season , which is the final year whe he can try a new coreographer.

 

[mikaboo]

Although I was out of town for 10 days, I understand it was hot and humid in the Chicago area. I give Shoma a lot of credit for coming here without knowing much English. He is brave. And I guess we never solved the mystery of who came with him (mom? Mihoko sensei? no one?). In the video where they gave him the jersey, I was trying to see if anyone looked like his mom, but it went too fast. I am wondering if he is already gone or leaving soon.

So much to read on this thread today!

That’s exactly what I was doing with the photo where he is with all the skater’ moms at the restaurant but I couldn't find one who looked like him.

 

[Arriba627]

I also don’t think he’d be satisfied with a finish off the podium, but I think he does have the jumps and the artistry for a Worlds medal if he skates clean. After all, he won gold at both his GP events in his first senior season, even without the second (flip) quad. That must be quite a rare accomplishment! And then he won the bronze medal at GPF, also with just the quad toe-loop. So I don’t think he’ll have to focus exclusively on the jumps, even less so if he’s mastered the quad flip too now. Besides, I think nobody can spend the entire practice jumping because it would be too exhausting; so he can work on his artistry when he needs to rest from working on his technique.

TBH, every summer I try to contain my curiosity and not look at anybody’s new programs till the B competitions start, because I think they’ll probably still look a bit raw in the summer, and I want to see them when they’ve become fully comfortable with their new programs. However, I do appreciate that Shoma has told us about his music choices early. I’m sure he’ll be mesmerizing in the violin concerto and great in the tango too, once he gets the hang of it – I think with any new type of music one mostly needs a bit of time to get wholly comfortable with it. So I’m very much looking forward to seeing him in both his programs once the season starts.

I’m with you on the often used music. I mean I do appreciate it when skaters choose something original (provided I like the music itself, of course ), as Shoma did with his SP in this past season, but I never tire of watching programs to timeless music, just as I never tire from listening to my favorite pieces of music. If skaters stopped using some of the most beautiful music ever written, it would be a terrible loss to figure skating IMO. (And not uncommonly I find myself enjoying well done programs to music which I don’t like!)

Actually he took the silver at Skate America but just barely missed the gold (which went to Max Aaron). He fell on his quad in the SP, otherwise I think he would have won the gold. His FS was good though! Artistry is always so subjective, but I have high hopes that he will continue to improve.

Oh my goodness, you are SO disciplined to not look at the new programs! And the costume drama is just killing me. Still the big question -- will his SP deep V shirt be purple?! :scratch3: I love ballet and opera so am all in on those war horses! I can really see Shoma skating to music from the Don Quijote ballet.

Only 1 more day! Please, please, please -- SA!:hopelessness:

 

[Arriba627]

So much to read on this thread today!

That’s exactly what I was doing with the photo where he is with all the skater’ moms at the restaurant but I couldn't find one who looked like him.

I know, right? Didn't see a pretty lady who looked like Bambi, so I figured she either wasn't there or maybe was taking the photo.Wonder if she speaks English.