Shoma Uno: 2014-2024

[MaiKatze]

At the moment all I feel is disappointment. I know that Shoma is capable of so much more, and after that skate of Nathan I thought he would really slay. He said he felt good, so what happened here? Maybe he is still not used to being the frontrunner? I'm not sure, but that skate was so sloppy. If it's too much, just stay with 4 quads, that's enough. I will see the positive side sooner or later and I believe that Shoma has a bit of a home ice problem. And I also believe that he is better when the competition is better. I really hope that Yuzuru is ready by Nationals. What do you think about the skating order? Does he have to work on the pressure of skating last?

 

[Shomachika]

I’m seriously worried. I mean I’m also sad and disappointed, not at him but at the fact that he didn’t win this when the title was already given. The door was wide open but he didn’t walk through.
I was so nervous the whole time that he was skating. He warmed up like a boss but didn’t bring any of that elements into the actual skate. I hope Shoma and coach Higuchi would rethink about the program layout, this 5-quad thingy obviously doesn’t work.
I love Blurandot 2.0 and it would be amazing but he gotta deliver. Love our winter prince and support him no matter what but this is really tough to watch.

My only take away from this competition is better now than at the Olympics. Let’s just save the best for last.

 

[Leonardo]

How should they look? It seems they were happy with the score given the mistakes Shoma made. Fluffy knew when they sat done in the K&C how close it was going to be and
Shoma was behind coming into the LP. I think that they were happy that he won the FS and came in second. Of course us Shoma fans wanted him to win and have that perfect
program but that is sport for ya. .

As to the stability of his program we just have to think positive that Shoma's team will work on stamina (his personal trainer that was just hired will help wth that)
and consistency to get a better result.

Thing is, he is regressing hardly since Lombardia, in almost every aspect. And he was feeling good here, with good practices. That is not a good sign. He is looking very inconsistent, Nathan-esque inconsistency.

 

[demarinis5]

At the moment all I feel is disappointment. I know that Shoma is capable of so much more, and after that skate of Nathan I thought he would really slay. He said he felt good, so what happened here? Maybe he is still not used to being the frontrunner? I'm not sure, but that skate was so sloppy. If it's too much, just stay with 4 quads, that's enough. I will see the positive side sooner or later and I believe that Shoma has a bit of a home ice problem. And I also believe that he is better when the competition is better. I really hope that Yuzuru is ready by Nationals. What do you think about the skating order? Does he have to work on the pressure of skating last?

Pressure got to him. He needs to work on his mental game.

I’m seriously worried. I mean I’m also sad and disappointed, not at him but at the fact that he didn’t win this when the title was already given. The door was wide open but he didn’t walk through.
I was so nervous the whole time that he was skating. He warmed up like a boss but didn’t bring any of that elements into the actual skate. I hope Shoma and coach Higuchi would rethink about the program layout, this 5-quad thingy obviously doesn’t work.
I love Blurandot 2.0 and it would be amazing but he gotta deliver. Love our winter prince and support him no matter what but this is really tough to watch.

My only take away from this competition is better now than at the Olympics. Let’s just save the best for last.

Agreed.

 

[demarinis5]

Thing is, he is regressing hardly since Lombardia, in almost every aspect. And he was feeling good here, with good practices. That is not a good sign. He is looking very inconsistent, Nathan-esque inconsistency.

I understand your concern. It is not all doom and gloom. Let's see how he does at Nationals.

 

[MaiKatze]

Thing is, he is regressing hardly since Lombardia, in almost every aspect. And he was feeling good here, with good practices. That is not a good sign. He is looking very inconsistent, Nathan-esque inconsistency.

It's so frustrating that Lombardia in mid-September is still his best score and the best score of all the men this season. If he had not scored that well, perhaps he would've done better at the GP and built up. But then, none of the other skaters really has any momentum going in to the Olympics. Nathan's victory at GPF wasn't exactly pushing his PCS.

 

[Shomachika]

At the moment all I feel is disappointment. I know that Shoma is capable of so much more, and after that skate of Nathan I thought he would really slay. He said he felt good, so what happened here? Maybe he is still not used to being the frontrunner? I'm not sure, but that skate was so sloppy. If it's too much, just stay with 4 quads, that's enough. I will see the positive side sooner or later and I believe that Shoma has a bit of a home ice problem. And I also believe that he is better when the competition is better. I really hope that Yuzuru is ready by Nationals. What do you think about the skating order? Does he have to work on the pressure of skating last?

I think all of these things added up. Him skating last, 5-quad program and home ice problem. I hope he stays with 4 quads (today’s layout was just too nerve-wracking) and brings back the 3A3T combo. Oddly it’s my fav element in his Loco last year.

I’m pretty sure he and coach Higuchi would learn from this and move on and improve next time we see him. My ultimate wish for this season is him skating 2 clean programs at the Olympics. He doesn’t have to win it but at least he’ll be satisfied with his performances. Pray to God that he didn’t peak this season at Lombardia already.

 

[demarinis5]

I'm confused why he didn't attach at least a 2T to his 3S, though, since he had it planned in the layout as a 3S3T... The landing on the 3S was smooth enough for it. Stamina and tiredness, maybe?

I know that would have added to his tech. I really think it was the pressure to win and perform well in Japan that played a big part in what happened on the ice today.

I also think Yuzu not being there did not help his mental game. They may be rivals but they seem to be very close.

 

[Leonardo]

Nathan's victory at GPF wasn't exactly pushing his PCS.

Yep. I think the judges feel that Shoma is still the best in pcs (apart from Yuzu and Javier when they are on). I also agree with the "better here than in the olympics" idea. Well, at least we know that Shoma is feeling fine and is capable of landing his jumps well in pratice. His mental game is currently not good, but he has time and he has determination. I hope for the best for our boy. And there's still the training with Ouriashev in January before the olympics, hopefully we will see big improvements.

 

[eaglehelang]

I know that would have added to his tech. I really think it was the pressure to win and perform well in Japan that played a big part in what happened on the ice today.

I also think Yuzu not being there did not help his mental game. They may be rivals but they seem to be very close.

I also think Yuzuru not being there is a factor that added to Shoma's pressure.
Before this, Yuzuru is the one getting the brunt of the spotlight and pressure. Shoma was more carefree as the 2nd Japanese men single
If not mistaken, this is the 1st major International tournament where Yuzu is not there together with Shoma

 

[MaiKatze]

It must've been nervousness. He was over the flu and the jumps he did in the warm-up were fantastic. I'm convinced now it was mental. Which is worrying indeed.

 

[karyi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlYrZ1AZHno

Senior Men Free Skating Press Conference: he couldn't think clear at that time ( 3 salchow )
He really looks sad and kind of down during this press conference I hope he can move on !

 

[MaiKatze]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlYrZ1AZHno

Senior Men Free Skating Press Conference: he couldn't think clear at that time ( 3 salchow )
He really looks sad and kind of down during this press conference I hope he can move on !

This might sound cruel, but he should be sad. Sad, frustrated, whatever. Even that laugh yesterday after the short, he is cute alright but I need Shoma to attack, like he said. I need that killer instinct. Channel that frustration Shoma. Don't do the puppy eyes. Mourn this loss. But move on. Japanese Nationals in two weeks is your next chance to attack and to defend your title. Do it!

 

[demarinis5]

Well I do feel bad for Shoma. The competition adrenaline is over, he came in second, his skate was sloppy, he is at a press conference in his home town in Japan and he is not the winner.
Believe me his face says it all. Chin up Shoma you are still my number 1!

That said I am off to work. Bye everyone!

 

[Danibellerika]

Oh man this competition was soooo close. Congrats on the silver, Shomita! But I know he was really hoping for more.

 

[MaiKatze]

I'm still sad, disappointed and frustrated. Meh....:sad21: Why did it have to be so close? Why did it have to come down to that stupid deduction in the SP? I think this frustrates me the most.:hpull:

 

[Danibellerika]

Deductions like that tend to freak me out for this very reason. Can't believe it actually made the difference this time...

 

[MaiKatze]

Deductions like that tend to freak me out for this very reason. Can't believe it actually made the difference this time...

At least it destroyed that annoying narrative that Shoma is the anointed one and would've won on home ice no matter what. :disapp: For me it was clear that America's Number 1 is worth more than Japan's Number 2, because it was so tight it could've gone either way, honestly.

Anyway, moving on to japanese Nationals, in Japan again. Not the lucky ice for our Shoma, so what now? I really hope Yuzuru will be back and that this will actually be a fight for the top.

 

[xeyra]

Interviews with Shoma after the free skate.
https://twitter.com/cantilover/status/939156881020473344

He explains why he didn't add the 3T on his 3S and his mindset and thoughts on the competition.

 

[daphenaxa]

maybe i am overly enthusiastic idk but i don't feel the gloom you all are feeling here.

One thing watching shoma this entire competition, it was clear for me that shoma wasn't as motivated as he would have with bigger competition. and that's not really a critic because you can't choose your motivation. You can work on it but you can't choose it. You also can't change the feeling of a competition itself. In press-conference all 3 skaters remarked that the atmosphere was weird without Yuzuru, Javier and such.

I think he was of course motivated, he was serious about his preparation, he did everything that he could and skated the best he could. He tried as hard as he could as always but he was lacking that killer instinct that he has when skaters that he himself thinks are unattainable or nearly unbeatable are there. (and i personnally don't think that those skaters are unattainable or unbeatable for him, but it's what he feels that matters).

Maybe that's unfortunate and that's definitely something that he has to address for the future in his competitive career but i truly think grinding wins out is a lot more difficult than attacking a sort of ideal at least in Shoma's case. And changing attack into defense is a switch in mentality that's tough to do.

I also felt that we could really see how he seems to be the only one at this level to really treat competition as a game. And i've seen a lot of criticism of him that comes close to that. That it's a lack of respect or that he doesn't take it seriously enough. And i disagree completely. He competes in figure skating because he loves it so much and loves competing because he loves to challenge himself. he is a true competitor in that sense. And although he hates to lose, i think the satisfaction of challenging those hard layouts and such overtakes the win or lose.

I actually think it's really refreshing that Shoma has chosen that kind of innocent approach to sports like it's a game because ultimately it is...

anyways i agree with everyone it's frustrating that he lost for such a small amount and such silly circumstances with time violation and not knowing if he should do a combo at the end of his 3S etc. but him winning here wouldn't have changed the fact that both Nathan and him didn't skate well and will have some soul searching to do. But it's not like Yuzuru, Javier, Mikhail, Boyang etc. actually everyone of the favorites in the men have skated well this season either