First of all my apology for such a delayed post. But as I am seeing growing numbers of views of this thread every day, though just a couple of them per day, I feel sort of obliged to finish my post-comp thoughts. I want do to so anyway in order to end 2012-13 season for myself. Let me allow to comment on a couple of topics which I want to leave here the most, please.
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Required Step Sequence:
Now the rule allows skaters to do their required step sequence in whatever pattern they like, but I for one would much prefer skaters stick to traditional patterns such as circular, straightline or serpentine, especially in Free Skate (since Free now does have the choreo sequence where they can do whatever steps and/or moves in the field they like and without worrying about its 'level', you know). The most fascinating thing for me when I go to a live comp and looking forward to is very simple; to watch/enjoy them skate in front of my eyes. They just amaze me by how effortlessly they can accelerate and decelerate speed while doing such complicated steps and with upper body movements. If you watch it up from the arena during warm-up, you can compare all six skaters, and it clearly shows in their simple crossovers or inbetween steps, which appear easier, softer, more elegant and silent. That's why I love 6min warm-up. Another remarkable thing (for me) to distinguish top skaters from lower-level skaters is step sequence. At this WTT, I was pretty impressed by its 'speed' and 'size' of circular steps of Daisuke's Il Pagliacci AND Patrick's La Boheme. On such a day of comeptition, I can easily understand why these skaters, when they have good skates, can earn and deserve higher PCS and agree with judges. I hope many skaters will remain to pick up one of traditional patterns for one at least of the two step/choreo sequences.
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Progress and mature with time:
One of big reasons I love going to live competitions, though mostly one competition per season for me at best just because I can't afford such high price tickets and/or unable to win its drawing/lot thru internet ticket sales in my country :sarcasm:...is I can witness with much admiration one same skater to improve on something one season, and on some other thing next season. And one day, sometimes gradually over time and sometimes all of sudden!, the skater pleasantly surprises me how mature s/he is on ice. To most of long-time skating fans including me in Japan, Daisuke Takahashi denifitely was one of them; Dai in his late teens was never strong as a competitor, even though having won the very first Mens Jr World title in 2002 and his superior skating skill was no denying back in the days. His first three seasons on the senior circuit was just far from desirable ones as the junior world champion. We all expected him to soon surpass Takeshi Honda who was 2-time world medalist and leading Japanese male skaters, but it took Daisuke forever, it seemed, to skate to his full potentials at actual comps, you know. He, like a bolt from the blue, surprised everyone by winning his very first senior Grand Prix at Skate America in autumn 2005, and made his name as sole Torino Olympic candidate from Japan. You know the rest of the story. At this particular WTT, Venessa James and Takahito Mura are definitely such skaters for my husband and me. We were so happy for Vanessa to see her, with her new partner, skate brilliantly with much joy on her face. And for Takahito, too, us remembering his struggles by being have to compete with back pains in 2009-10 season when aiming for an Olympic spot, losing it at Nats, then he almost gave up his competitive career...It's a strange feeling maybe, but as we the skating fans see skaters get compete, witness them progress or go thru their hardships from season to season, we may find our feelings tend to 'overlap/synchronize' with their feelings, in spite of the fact we are none of their family members nor friends in real life, you know. That's why we often get feel 'happy' or even 'congratulant' for rival/opponent skaters for their having great skates, regardless who we are actually rooting for the most. I also love watching other sports such as basball soccer rugby football, but the way we feel like this is very remarkable, compared to other sports where beating the opponent player/team is the goal. :yes:
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The timing and venue of the competition:
This has been actually my third WTT to attend them live. Thanks to all those concerned in the past, World Team Trophys always turned out to be very good competitions with less intense/pressure, more relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the arena both for skaters and audience, also a great opportunity as redemption for some skaters who are having a disappointing season, and as learning experience for younger skaters who had lesser opportunities to compete with top skaters or to skate in front of big audience. And my belief is it was Team USA and France in 2009 who did succeed to set the perfect tone/atmosphere for this type of half cheesy/half serious competition (when no one had any idea how it was going to be like back then, you know). And if allowed to name a few, it was Evan Lysacek, Benjamin Agosto and Nathalie Pechalat, I think.
And it is really a good opportunity to promote this wonderful sport as a whole to the majority of 'light/casual' skating fans in Japan where a lot of people may take it figure skating=singles skating only, and they seldom get to watch pairs/ice dance competitions. For instance, when Maxim threw Tatiana high and straight up into the air for a triple twist, I heard a lot of people goshing, some in a pure horror, ^^;, and when he threw her far and horizontally for a triple throw, I saw many people's jaws drop by its height and distance ^^)v. I love moments like these!
OTOH, it was also VERY hard for every skaters, more or less, to participate this competition at the end of its season both physically and mentally. Also VERY risky for potential injuries (so sorry again for what happened to Menshov at Mens comp;;; ). Though I, and the entire audiece, too, enjoy it and appreciate it a lot, I feel for them, too...If it's ISU's intention to continue and promote this event in the future, I hope ISU will soon re-consider its timing and venue. I agree with
eyria, who perfectly speaks for me on this matter:
That said, there is one thing I agree with him on, which is that the ISU is mismanaging the World Team Trophy event. The ISU needs to decide if it wants the team event to be a serious, legitimate, world-level competition. If they want it to be a legitimate event, then it should become part of the World Championships (held at the end, after the singles events). Also, it should use the same rules as the Olympic event. Only then will it gain legitimacy. Right now, they're treating the event almost like a pro-am, holding it weeks after Worlds, giving it to the same country every year for financial reasons, calling it a "Trophy" event instead of a world championship, using different rules than the Olympic event, and, yes, allowing top skaters to opt out. All this detracts and makes it seem like not a "real" event. Cinquanta has talked about adding the team event to Worlds eventually, but I don't think they should wait. Just add it now, if they're committed to it. This would also allow skaters to complete their season at Worlds, without having to continue training for several more weeks and traveling long distances to another competition.
It does not have to be at this time of the season, nor always in this country...When I see/hear negative comments from its participating skaters, it makes me believe that all these time and money we (skating fans in Japan) are to spend for this event may not help at all for the sake of participating skaters in the end. My heart hurts. So much. Though it's been announced next WTT will be held in 2015 again in Japan, I am not so sure at this point if I ever want to go there. Tickets here are so expensive. You probably would be surprised to see there were number of people among audience, not only at this WTT but any competitions here, who were willing to buy a ticket worthy of Euro100 (and over) but also brought self-cooked/prepared lunch boxes to save pennies, ate it in the sofa area of the basement prior to the start of the competition. Getting tickets thru on-line lottery, especially for big events such as Grand Prix Final Worlds, or even for smaller comps such as NHK Trophy Nats where either or both of Mao and Dai to compete, appears just hopeless. I remember I had to try to log in its pre-sale site, literally gazillion times, to purchase tickets for 2011 Tokyo Worlds (though canceled due to Earthquake), and succeeded for two days only (Mens SP+Ladies SP) out of whole 5 days...Besides, the popularity of this sport may be 'decreased' big time by then (assuming the likes of Asada Takahashi Suzuki Oda even Kozuka are to all retire after Sochi season
). Please take this event to some other countries, say Canada and/or Russia where this sport is still very popular, attracts lots of viewers, gets more love from more devoted fans, or gets new sponsors/more $$$, before we will see numerous empty seats in the stands. Sorry for my sounding pessimistic a bit too much, but is my honest feeling at the moment i guess.
Closing speech from 0:32 by Takahashi on behalf of all participating skaters at WTT 2013:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeBS0Peh-gU
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"First of all, we would like to thank each one of you for all your support!
2012-13 season comes to its end, finally, and all skaters here must be feeling 'relieved' I would imagine. This World Team Trophy was such a great success, and we believe it would not have been so without all those cheers and full support from you. Again thank you so much!
There will be the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia next year. My belief is all of us; not only these skaters here today, but also all skaters in the world are aiming for the Games and will work very hard in order to get compete there. So I would appreciate a lot if you will continue supporting us and rooting for all of us, please. Once again we thank you so much."
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Gosh, I too am glad that such an exhausting nerve-wracking nail-biting pre-Olympic season finally over! Skaters have already left the season behind, that must be full of joy and smiles to some, of regrets pains and tears to others, and are focusing on the new season. So do fans. Let's leave this season behind, objections or no objections to results placements CoPpoints and/or levels we may have, focus on the future that sure is full of dreams and infinite potential to all skaters in the world, and wish them best of luck, shall we? :yes:
To younger skaters:
It's been a true treasure for my husband and me to encounter each one of you at this competition! We will always remember all of your performances here, and look forward to seeing you in the new seasons to come and get surprised by your future performaces! So please stay healthy.
For you, let me allow to copy and paste a message of my favorite skater, which was originally directed to Japanese younger athletes who dream of competing at the Games and I translated into English:
"Everything that happens to you along the way has a meaning, regardless if you're aware of it or not. It's all up to you how meaningful it can be or just meaningless it shall be. And don't rush yourself. One step at a time.
I believe there is nothing meaningless that happens to someone, though it may appear plain meaningless (to the person at first or to someone else), and I would rather see such a things is 'necessary' on its way to progress (as an athlete/person). Looking back my path so far, I did things which at first appeared meaningless. I made many mistakes, too. But if you are afraid of making a mistake and hesitate going for it, it may stop you from progressing. That's how I, at least, have progressed as a skater all these years. Mistakes that I made in the past helped what I am today. I have never been scolded for making a mistake by my coach. <in a small voice...well, it said so, clearly on her face a couple of times, though...(laugh).> Haste makes waste in the end. We sometimes need a roundabout route in life."
To all skaters:
Thank you so much for coming all the way to Japan in spite of your fatigue right after the World and for giving us all your performances full of your heart at this WTT. Been a month already but we both are still talking about this competition when we have time, because we truly enjoyed every second of your every performances. Hope you also enjoyed yourselves, at some point during your stay here, as much as all skating fans in Japan did, and hope all of you safely went back home with at least one good memory.
With lots of love admiration and gratitude,
deedee at 20:00 local time May 24th, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by Han and Max with their FEWER crossovers than other boys, in order to pick up to its top speed. :yes:
And reminds me of Mao in 2005-06 season skating to The Nutcracker and makes me smile. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Yy7V-q5jc
: (in a whisper) thank you.
