Shoma Uno: 2014-2024 | Page 974 | Golden Skate

Shoma Uno: 2014-2024

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I'm sure this clip has been shared a million times before, but baby Shoma jumping on a trampoline is still the best. 😊 Can't resist liking a post that compares him to grown-up Shoma. The poster's reply to it contains even more celebrating!

 
Shoma has become so much more eloquent, hasn't he? His genuine, straightforward words can be very direct, but they can also be very moving. They have personally moved me too at many times. Well, as with all athletes/celebrities I don't know personally, always try to take the good and leave behind the bad, and Shoma has a lot of good. Hoping he is able to share his wise words with us for a long time!
True enough. Everyone has flaws whether they are a celebrity/athlete or not. Even Shoma has them. But that’s what makes us all human. Shoma is so honest, genuine and just a good person altogether. I’m sure Shoma will keep being Shoma no matter what.
 
So at least we know he's alive and well and still breathing. Sounds like Stepen hasn't killed him with the new choreo yet! :biggrin::pray: Give us a clue Sho. What letter does the new music start with?! Por favor!!!!

Haha! Why do I get the strong feeling that Stéphane is probably telling him something like “give more!” similar to what we’ve heard him say in the past. I’m going to make a bet that his short program is his gala performance to MJ from this past season.
 
Haha! Why do I get the strong feeling that Stéphane is probably telling him something like “give more!” similar to what we’ve heard him say in the past. I’m going to make a bet that his short program is his gala performance to MJ from this past season.
Noooo, MJ is just...not Shoma's style at all. I'm still hoping for "Tout L'Univers," if only so we can intentionally misspell it as "Tout L'Unoverse!" 😁
 
Haha! Why do I get the strong feeling that Stéphane is probably telling him something like “give more!” similar to what we’ve heard him say in the past. I’m going to make a bet that his short program is his gala performance to MJ from this past season.
Noooo, MJ is just...not Shoma's style at all. I'm still hoping for "Tout L'Univers," if only so we can intentionally misspell it as "Tout L'Unoverse!" 😁
Love MJ, but a definite no to that for his short. Whatever it is, I hope it's really different from the FS, and a different choreographer would be a good idea too. I don't want him to get locked into using the same choreographer over and over again. I want to have a talk with Uncle Dai and tell him to encourage Sho to use other choreographers! Dai used Tarasova, Morozov, Camerlengo, Kenji Miyamoto, David Wilson, Lori Nichol, Shae Lynn, Nanami Abe, Benoit, and more! IMHO this helps a skater to grow, and each choreographer is able to bring out the different outstanding points of a skater.

Adding: Just realized Tout L'unoverse was Morisi K's SP music for this year. I loved it!
 
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I loved Oboe's choreography so a big yes to more of that somewhere.

Bolero was still a work in progress but it is what it is. If he continues for 1,2,3 or 4 more years, he's going to need some dynamite programs to stay on top. Personally, I like what David Wilson did with DOMO, both editions. The anticipation is fun~
 
Since Shoma is ranked #1, he'll get his choice of Grand Prix competitions, right? Wondering if Nathan will do GP, Nats, Worlds or just stick with school.

Where do you think he'll go? IdF and NHK seem tight but doable as they are two weeks apart.

Where will he do an early competitions? Lombardia?

Time to think ahead!
 
I loved Oboe's choreography so a big yes to more of that somewhere.

Bolero was still a work in progress but it is what it is. If he continues for 1,2,3 or 4 more years, he's going to need some dynamite programs to stay on top. Personally, I like what David Wilson did with DOMO, both editions. The anticipation is fun~
The anticipation is more like slightly nerve-wracking to me. I recall a fan (who was also a Shoma fan!) sitting next to me in the practice rink saying (in English) that the Sholero was too difficult for Shoma. I said something like "Are you for real?" to her because Shoma was skating in front of where we were seated when she said that. It was an ill-timed remark (and who knows if Shoma was able to understand it or not), but she had a point. Even though he was ultimately able to execute a beautiful Sholero at Worlds, it was not a perfect Sholero.

I've heard Shoma wants to have a program more difficult than Nathan's. If he wants to do that, he needs to get more consistent with things; Nathan has this high level of consistency which has allowed him to keep doing insanely difficult programs. Setting aside the question of whether Nathan will be back next season or not, I think Shoma could learn a few things from him.

I'm particularly concerned that Stéphane wants Shoma to do a program that's more challenging than the Sholero. Isn't the post-Olympic season typically a time for skaters to take a step back and do something a little less challenging? Will Shoma be able to gain the endurance for something more challenging if he was only just able to handle something as challenging as the Sholero was? I worry about the potential for injury here. I wonder if Shoma may have still been injured when competing at Worlds. (I also worry that Stéphane may have contributed to Rika Kihira's injury somehow...I don't know how legitimate this suspicion is and really hope it isn't true, but I've heard others speculating about it...)

Ultimately, if Shoma wishes to challenge himself (which seems to be the case), I don't think I (or any other fan of his) could persuade him to not go for it. He's just that determined... I'll just trust that he enjoys the process and hope he has fun while challenging his limits. I'll probably just peace out after Junior Worlds for the next couple of months and keep hoping...✌
 
I'm particularly concerned that Stéphane wants Shoma to do a program that's more challenging than the Sholero. Isn't the post-Olympic season typically a time for skaters to take a step back and do something a little less challenging? Will Shoma be able to gain the endurance for something more challenging if he was only just able to handle something as challenging as the Sholero was? I worry about the potential for injury here. I wonder if Shoma may have still been injured when competing at Worlds.
100% I worry about injuries. So if Nathan does a six quad program, will Sho try a six quad program?! So unnecessary! Strategize guys! Please, strategize. Wouldn't it be a little easier to do a 3A-2T or 3T? What happened to the 3S-3T he used to do? You don't have to kill yourself to rack up points. Sometimes less is more if you strategize properly.

As far as GPs,.please please Skate Am or Sk Can! I'm hoping, but I'm guessing it'll be between IdF or Finland (if they get one) and NHK. I always wish he wouldn't do NHK, because his Japanese fans can see him in lots of ice shows, Japan Open, Japan Nats, etc. Please share him! :biggrin: If there is no Cup of China, maybe that would go to Korea? Lots of questions! Challengers -- I'll hope for Lake Placid, although that will never happen - not when they can easily go to Shombardia or Finlandia. (Adding--I hope the JSF allows Team Japan to do Challengers next season! :pray: )
 
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The anticipation is more like slightly nerve-wracking to me. I recall a fan (who was also a Shoma fan!) sitting next to me in the practice rink saying (in English) that the Sholero was too difficult for Shoma. I said something like "Are you for real?" to her because Shoma was skating in front of where we were seated when she said that. It was an ill-timed remark (and who knows if Shoma was able to understand it or not), but she had a point. Even though he was ultimately able to execute a beautiful Sholero at Worlds, it was not a perfect Sholero.

I've heard Shoma wants to have a program more difficult than Nathan's. If he wants to do that, he needs to get more consistent with things; Nathan has this high level of consistency which has allowed him to keep doing insanely difficult programs. Setting aside the question of whether Nathan will be back next season or not, I think Shoma could learn a few things from him.

I'm particularly concerned that Stéphane wants Shoma to do a program that's more challenging than the Sholero. Isn't the post-Olympic season typically a time for skaters to take a step back and do something a little less challenging? Will Shoma be able to gain the endurance for something more challenging if he was only just able to handle something as challenging as the Sholero was? I worry about the potential for injury here. I wonder if Shoma may have still been injured when competing at Worlds. (I also worry that Stéphane may have contributed to Rika Kihira's injury somehow...I don't know how legitimate this suspicion is and really hope it isn't true, but I've heard others speculating about it...)

Ultimately, if Shoma wishes to challenge himself (which seems to be the case), I don't think I (or any other fan of his) could persuade him to not go for it. He's just that determined... I'll just trust that he enjoys the process and hope he has fun while challenging his limits. I'll probably just peace out after Junior Worlds for the next couple of months and keep hoping...✌
100% I worry about injuries. So if Nathan does a six quad program, will Sho try a six quad program?! So unnecessary! Strategize guys! Please, strategize. Wouldn't it be a little easier to do a 3A-2T or 3T? What happened to the 3S-3T he used to do? You don't have to kill yourself to rack up points. Sometimes less is more if you strategize properly.

As far as GPs,.please please Skate Am or Sk Can! I'm hoping, but I'm guessing it'll be between IdF or Finland (if they get one) and NHK. I always wish he wouldn't do NHK, because his Japanese fans can see him in lots of ice shows, Japan Open, Japan Nats, etc. If there is no Cup of China, maybe that would go to Korea? Lots of questions! Challengers -- I'll hope for Lake Placid, although that will never happen - not when they can easily go to Shombardia or Finlandia.
He may want to stay in Europe for GP since the GPF is in Italy then go back to Japan for Nats. Coming to North America for GP is a lot of flying considering Worlds is in Montreal and he would only have to make that trek once next season.

If 5-6 quads are in his program, we know he'll go for every single one of them. Might not get them all so it depends on the choreography. At 24 he needs to get what he can now to lay down a base but getting there might be hard if he's injured. Glad to see Ghislane is there to help with the Lutz.
 
As World Champion I would like to see Shoma try a different style of skating to show his versatility. I wonder if he could be a story teller like Javier Fernandez? That might be a bit of a stretch but it would be good to take a break from the high intensity of Sholero. I also wonder, rather than add another quad which I don't feel is necessary, he could add in some new spins to freshen up his combinations? Stephane is the master of spins so I would like to see Shoma pushed in that direction.
 
Bolero was amazing and it was Shoma’s style. In the end he was so happy and satisfied with it. Shoma has said time and time again that he wants to keep pushing himself and improve. If he wants to do 5,6 or even 7 quads in a program then he can go right ahead. I think he can do it and I’m not just saying that to be nice. He had the fire in his eyes all season. Listening to his interviews as well he knows what he wants and he’ll do everything he can to get there. Sure the risk of injury is always there for any skater who wants to step up the difficulty. But he’ll be fine. He knows what he is doing and Stéphane too. If a skater attempts a jump and lands the wrong way that’s what leads to injury. The worst thing that can happen is that Shoma gets really injured. But even if he does then he just sits out the season and heals and then comes back next season. That may be hard but that happens and there is nothing you can do about it. Look at Yuzuru he has been injured so much but he doesn’t give up. It seems like everyone assumed he would retire after the 2022 Olympics but no. He wants to keep going. He may not have a goal right now in mind that we know of but it seems like for now that he just wants to keep on skating because he loves it, wants to continue to touch people’s hearts, and be someone that others find inspiration from whether he continues to win or not. Shoma will be okay no matter what he does and Stéphane will be right there with him. As long as Shoma listens to himself and follows his heart that’s all that matters.
 
People don't agree with me, but that's ok. Winning is a numbers game. I want to see Sho play his own game, and that isn't trying to out-quad the other guys. His performance quality is second to none, and I love to see his passion and charisma shine through. Compare him to Mr. Hanyu?! No, that's one thing I NEVER do, especially in his Fan Fest. I've seen Shoma skate live when he's hurt . No thank you.

The math: 3A-3T=12.20. 3A-2T=9.30. 3S-3T=8.50.
4T=9.50. 4S=9.70. 4F & 4Lo=11.00
 
I don't believe any male skater should be aiming for 6 or 7 quads. The stakes for injury are far too high and there is more to skating than a quad fest. And, as Arriba has shown, there are lots of other ways to build points. Versatility and creativity are key components for maintaining a skater's interest in pursuing a long career. Wrecking a body with injuries is no fun for skaters or spectators.
 
Bolero was amazing and it was Shoma’s style. In the end he was so happy and satisfied with it. Shoma has said time and time again that he wants to keep pushing himself and improve. If he wants to do 5,6 or even 7 quads in a program then he can go right ahead. I think he can do it and I’m not just saying that to be nice. He had the fire in his eyes all season. Listening to his interviews as well he knows what he wants and he’ll do everything he can to get there. Sure the risk of injury is always there for any skater who wants to step up the difficulty. But he’ll be fine. He knows what he is doing and Stéphane too. If a skater attempts a jump and lands the wrong way that’s what leads to injury. The worst thing that can happen is that Shoma gets really injured. But even if he does then he just sits out the season and heals and then comes back next season. That may be hard but that happens and there is nothing you can do about it. Look at Yuzuru he has been injured so much but he doesn’t give up. It seems like everyone assumed he would retire after the 2022 Olympics but no. He wants to keep going. He may not have a goal right now in mind that we know of but it seems like for now that he just wants to keep on skating because he loves it, wants to continue to touch people’s hearts, and be someone that others find inspiration from whether he continues to win or not. Shoma will be okay no matter what he does and Stéphane will be right there with him. As long as Shoma listens to himself and follows his heart that’s all that matters.
I appreciate your kind thoughts about Shoma, I really do. It's just that we all know that Yuzuru's circumstances regarding injuries have been exceptional, to say the least. Not every skater can come back from injuries like that... I would much prefer to see a happy, healthy skater than to have to hope for a miracle to happen with an injured skater. I remember having to hope like that for Shoma before I went to see the 4CC 2019 free skate. Seeing him skate back then was certainly one of the most nerve-wracking times I've ever had...😬

Of course I want to see Shoma challenge himself and continue to improve. I just hope he, Stéphane and the rest of his support team tackle the challenge in a smart way that minimizes the risks involved. Also, I don't think 7 quads are even allowed in the rules at this time...😅
 
In regards to injuries, all we can do as fans is definitely hope and pray Shoma stays healthy and manages his condition well. As we can see this season, there will always be a risk of skaters getting injured, not just because of trying too many quads or trying crazy jumps or combos, but there are also bad days and bad luck involved. Shoma is an adult, and from what I can observe this season, he was able to take better responsibility when he does get injured on a critical moment and optimize what he can to gain points without injuring himself further. Smarter decisions were taken, and I think his improved focus during practices definitely helped him avoid worsening his condition.

I mean, I will always worry, as a fan. How can I not? This sport is basically people wearing thin blades yeeting themselves on ice :ROFLMAO: But I do think Shoma has shown awareness that he's not that young anymore, and balanced his challenges with proper physical conditioning. The challenge is definitely difficult- attempting 5 quads and 2 3As is not easy and may not be the most efficient scoring-wise, but this was his first season challenging it, with several bumps along the road (the pandemic travelling restrictions, GPF cancellation) that probably made it more difficult for him to nail it. He did say he needs 1-2 years with this layout to hopefully gain consistency similar like Nathan. And I don't think we need to worry about more difficult jumps than what he already has at the moment- he does seem to be training his lutz, but just beause he titled his videos "Road to 4Lz" it doesn't automatically mean he'll put it in his competition layout before it's ready.

As for difficult programs- Shoma always says his new programs are difficult (for different reasons- Time After Time was difficult because he thinks skating to jazz music is hard, Grespi was difficult because Shae's choreo was extremely physical and exhausting, Moonlight was difficult because he didn't immediately connect to the music, DOMO was difficult because it's a program that needed to be skated in one flowing movement, Oboe was difficult because he's not sure if he can pull off the poses Kenji taught him, Bolero was difficult because.... a lot of reasons lol). No need to worry..... yet. Prince Ice World is coming up soon and then we can worry about everything- program, music, costumes- all of them!

Personally- I enjoy it when Shoma has programs he considers difficult, because I think he does better as a competitor when he's faced with a challenge. Oboe and Bolero were amazing in this regard, he mastered Oboe early enough to rack up points but saved perfection for his last competition, while Bolero was a constant challenge that kept him on his toes and preventing him from overthinking until the very end.
 
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