Nice 2 page article on Shoma in the Dec. issue of International Figure Skating magazine. The beginning part mostly reviews his first season as a senior. Here are a few of the other highlights:
MUSIC CHOICES -- Regarding the SP, Shoma is aware it is essential to put his own stamp on this piece of music. He would like to create something as unique as Mao, Akiko, and Tatsuki were able to do. Regarding the choices of music, he lets his coach choose the music for his programs. "She always asks me, what would you like to skate to?" and I say "Anything is fine." There are some genres that I think would be difficult for me to interpret, but once I start working on them I can perform them well. Up-tempo music really gets me going, but I really like slow music too. I also like powerful music." He says the only music he doesn't like is comical music. "I find it embarrassing. Music that you see little kids skating to that is really peppy is not what I like. Cool music that is upbeat is fine, but I cannot do music that is cutesy and perky."
FIRST COMPETITION OF THE SEASON (LOMBARDIA) -- "I think I moved well. Being able to move your body freely is so much fun. I always get stiff and tend to have enough on my plate just landing the jumps, but that was the first time in quite a while that I was able to move in the way I wanted."
ADMIRATION OF YUZU -- He admires what Yuzu has done but also sees him is a target. He sees him as 100% and is the skater he respects the most. His personal goal is to skate at his level, and he also wants to beat him one day. He knows he has a lot to work on and knows in comparison to Yuzu, his jumps, overall quality, and expression need a lot of work. "Overall, there is nothing yet that I have complete confidence in and there is still a lot I have to do...However, the one thing that can perhaps give me confidence is that I believe that there is nothing I cannot do."
OLYMPICS -- With all the talented Japanese skaters, Shoma is aware that a place on the Olympic team is not a foregone conclusion. The most important things are to not get injured and to not rest on his laurels.
QUADS -- He saw a video of Nathan Chen's summer performance where he landed a quad Lutz and a quad flip and he was in awe. He knows he will need another quad besides the flip and the toe, and the loop is the most realistic. Quality and reliability are extremely important before adding it into his program.
His dream is to be a skater that can touch people's hearts with his performances.
Good decision by Max to not return to U. S. I thought maybe he would go to England but was just guessing that. I couldn't open the Twitter. It was blocked for me. Max was at Lombardia in Italy, but this will be his first Grand Prix event. Then he has Cup of China. We really need them all to stay healthy. Too many injuries already!
*. I'm also curious about the match up but I expect Javi to come out on top, though not by a lot if they both do the same stuff.
