Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season

[Hanmgse]

^ trauma for life

 

[ahkeekee]

Newest blog entry about Yuzu and his little rituals that he does all the time when he skates. There may be more (off camera and during backstage warmups), but these are the ones that I like the best.

https://sportymags.wordpress.com/2015/04/04/yuzuru-hanyu-rituals/

Thanks for your posts, they are wonderfu!! And readinh the new posts every Sunday morning has become my ritual too

I thought he's playing with his cheeks for fun only! That's interesting! So sometimes if he starts playing with his cheeks during interviews, probably it means he's under stress or doesn't know what to do?

 

[yuzurufan123]

any videos of the gala practice?

 

[won0066]

Once again, great post and observations! I never even knew Yuzuru liked to massage his own cheeks to release tension, lol. It's cool that you were a competitive skater before! The only relation I have to skating is that my brother used to play hockey (his team won the regional gold trophy, I don't know exactly what it's called) and nowadays we just skate for fun during winter.

Thanks!! Yes, figure skaters and hockey players have love/hate relationships since we sometimes leave holes in the ice from jumping… I'm speaking from a place where we trained in the same rink as hockey teams practiced. I didn't have a special rink just for figure skating like the Cricket Club to train in...that would have been a dream!!

Thanks for your posts, they are wonderfu!! And readinh the new posts every Sunday morning has become my ritual too

I thought he's playing with his cheeks for fun only! That's interesting! So sometimes if he starts playing with his cheeks during interviews, probably it means he's under stress or doesn't know what to do?

Thank you!! And your post made me laugh because you noticed!!!! Yes, I seem to write and post my entries on Saturdays because that's when I have time….so it has become my ritual!!

 

[ahkeekee]

Thanks!! Yes, figure skaters and hockey players have love/hate relationships since we sometimes leave holes in the ice from jumping…



Thank you!! And your post made me laugh because you noticed!!!! Yes, I seem to write and post my entries on Saturdays because that's when I have time….so it has become my ritual!!

Yes! I have noticed it because every Sunday I have something special to do too, so it's easy to notice! Haha ~

 

[owl]

Wow, I didn't realize so many goldenskate members were (or are) figure skaters! But since we're on the subject, I have a few questions...

1. How do skaters not trip over the (for lack of a better term) indentations that they or other skaters made on the ice previously? And by indentations, I mean the line things made by deep edges (I think)

2. How much energy does the average SP and LP take in terms of other sports? For example, after an SP a skater will feel as if he had run ___ miles, or played ___ quarters of a basketball game, etc.

 

[won0066]

Wow, I didn't realize so many goldenskate members were (or are) figure skaters! But since we're on the subject, I have a few questions...

1. How do skaters not trip over the (for lack of a better term) indentations that they or other skaters made on the ice previously? And by indentations, I mean the line things made by deep edges (I think)

2. How much energy does the average SP and LP take in terms of other sports? For example, after an SP a skater will feel as if he had run ___ miles, or played ___ quarters of a basketball game, etc.

1. As for the deep grooves in the ice, I've never had a major problem with them since generally, your speed and momentum you have for the direction you are going in usually carries you across the groove and you wouldnt notice it. if there was a severe groove in the ice that would potentially catch a blade, we usually noticed it and got it patched up right away, but generally speaking, the only time i have experienced ice with severe grooves is when the ice has been too cold. By that, i mean that figure skating ice can be made slightly softer than hockey ice, ie: less brittle by controlling the temperature. At least that is what I recall that they did at my rink.

As for actual holes in the ice...if you are jumping and have the unfortunate opportunity to put your toe pick into the exact same spot as a previous person, if there is a hole, basically....you don't go anywhere. "Up" doesnt happen!! Again, this is why you see people filling in the holes before they flood the ice after a couple groups of skaters...to prevent that from happening.

2. I don't really know how to answer this answer this question since I've never thought about it in these terms...maybe someone else has a good frame of reference.

 

[owl]

1. As for the deep grooves in the ice, I've never had a major problem with them since generally, your speed and momentum you have for the direction you are going in usually carries you across the groove and you wouldnt notice it. if there was a severe groove in the ice that would potentially catch a blade, we usually noticed it and got it patched up right away, but generally speaking, the only time i have experienced ice with severe grooves is when the ice has been too cold. By that, i mean that figure skating ice can be made slightly softer than hockey ice, ie: less brittle by controlling the temperature. At least that is what I recall that they did at my rink.

As for actual holes in the ice...if you are jumping and have the unfortunate opportunity to put your toe pick into the exact same spot as a previous person, if there is a hole, basically....you don't go anywhere. "Up" doesnt happen!! Again, this is why you see people filling in the holes before they flood the ice after a couple groups of skaters...to prevent that from happening.

2. I don't really know how to answer this answer this question since I've never thought about it in these terms...maybe someone else has a good frame of reference.

Thank you so much!! Your explanation was super helpful ^^ And if you don't mind me asking another question...what exactly is "soft" or "hard" ice? In one of the WC discussions, some people said skaters were falling so much because the ice was too soft, while others said it was because the ice was too hard. Is one worse than the other? (As you can see, I still don't know a lot about figure skating lol)

 

[hb2010]

Waiting for his turn at the gala.

https://twitter.com/103aSt/status/584377396213616640

 

[won0066]

Thank you so much!! Your explanation was super helpful ^^ And if you don't mind me asking another question...what exactly is "soft" or "hard" ice? In one of the WC discussions, some people said skaters were falling so much because the ice was too soft, while others said it was because the ice was too hard. Is one worse than the other? (As you can see, I still don't know a lot about figure skating lol)

Well, I can only tell you my opinion and from my experience being on different ice surfaces. When you train somewhere you get used to the "feel" of the ice. Whether or not it is softer or harder, you will get used to it over time.. Thats why you hear the skaters talking about using the first day of practice at a competition to get the feel of the ice. Every arena's ice will feel different as the ice may grip your blade more or less depending on the core temperature of the ice and also inside the building itself. So, some skaters may like the ice softer, some like it a bit harder. I think it depends on what they are used to training on. Some skaters are fine on either quality of ice...because they can adapt easily.

I personally like the ice to be a bit softer, as it "gives" and is more "foregiving", but not too soft (haha). When you jump, a bit softer ice makes it more bouncey (thats what I mean by the ice "gives"). Hard to explain. If the ice is too hard, it is brittle and it can break away in little chunks, either on jumps or deep edges. So, i assume that the ice makers at major championship arenas know this and adjust the temperatures for it. I know at Olympics, they have guys dedicated just to maintain quality of ice at figure skating vs hockey vs curling events! Even a one or two degree difference in the temperature inside the building can affect the ice. But, I'm not an expert on ice....in any way.

My hockey player buddies seem to like the ice a bit harder than skaters do.

 

[Caustica]

POTO is really the music of the season... just last night I heard TWO people (out of three...) practise their programs to POTO at my local skating rink

 

[won0066]

I read somewhere that indicated that Yuzu said next year he is doing two new programs. I dont recall where I read this. Is there any video or source of this supposed quote from Yuzu? I hope so, I'm already hoping for two new programs and 2 new costumes!! Haha, and yes, the final WTT isnt even over yet!!!

 

[Caustica]

I read somewhere that indicated that Yuzu said next year he is doing two new programs. I dont recall where I read this. Is there any video or source of this supposed quote from Yuzu? I hope so, I'm already hoping for two new programs and 2 new costumes!! Haha, and yes, the final WTT isnt even over yet!!!

A poster said this a few days ago:

According to nikkansports news, he would not skate POTO & chopin next season but look foward to skating someday.
「（来季の）可能性はいまのところは少ないかなと思うんですけど、いつかまたやりたい」

It is from this article: http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/1454163.html

I don't understand Japanese so I don't know what the exact translation is.

 

[Interspectator]

A poster said this a few days ago:



It is from this article: http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/1454163.html

I don't understand Japanese so I don't know what the exact translation is.

At this point, the possibility is small, but I want to do them again some time.

 

[Fer]

I can't see the reason why he wouldn't use two new programs. It's not the Olympic season after all. And he said he cherished every second as a competing figure skating so I assume he would like to try something new if there is an opportunity. I am looking forward to his new programs too! So about what time of each year will a skater tell us what he/she will skate to in the next season?

 

[firal]

It was a question raised to him in that press con someone posted a few pages back(thanks!). I can' remember exactly what he said, but something along the lines of how it's not something they have thought about.

One fact that I found most interesting among all the interviews he's given is how he said he's had more program run-throughs with music this time preparing for the Worlds than this summer...which is what, from beginning of March? I thought it was very telling about why Orser was frustrated with his lack of practice time. Not one for blaming or coming up with conspiracy theory, I just hope that Hanyu-san is not too hard on himself in thinking that he has to do all that for society/supporters,etc and really has a good time training this season.

So far no ice show appearances have been announce yet but I do imagine he will appear in some. But really most top-skaters do skate in shows in the off season so I don't think it's a huge deal. I know it's the amount that fans are worried about.

 

[Esopian]

I can't see the reason why he wouldn't use two new programs. It's not the Olympic season after all. And he said he cherished every second as a competing figure skating so I assume he would like to try something new if there is an opportunity. I am looking forward to his new programs too! So about what time of each year will a skater tell us what he/she will skate to in the next season?

I'm not sure about the timing when the skater reveals his/her music choices, but I'm overall really glad that he is going for two completely new programs and not re-using any from this season.

Also, someone mentioned before that two new programs = two new costumes! I wonder what Yuzuru's costume designers has in store for him and the fans. My favourite costume from this season is the red one from POTO #1, unfortunately it was replaced by his current white/blue/gold one (which looks cool too, however I liked the first one much more).

Another interesting fact is how his Chopin SP costume kept on changing this season and gradually turning into more deep hues of blue/light violet. I wonder if he'll have more wardrobe progressions next season?

Quick question: Previously Johnny Weir designed a few of his costumes, anyone know who designs them now?

 

[ahkeekee]

I'm not sure about the timing when the skater reveals his/her music choices, but I'm overall really glad that he is going for two completely new programs and not re-using any from this season.

Also, someone mentioned before that two new programs = two new costumes! I wonder what Yuzuru's costume designers has in store for him and the fans. My favourite costume from this season is the red one from POTO #1, unfortunately it was replaced by his current white/blue/gold one (which looks cool too, however I liked the first one much more).

Another interesting fact is how his Chopin SP costume kept on changing this season and gradually turning into more deep hues of blue/light violet. I wonder if he'll have more wardrobe progressions next season?

Quick question: Previously Johnny Weir designed a few of his costumes, anyone know who designs them now?

i found this very interesting too! I wonder if it was through effect of washing it or whether it's that they re-dyed it?

P's: I love all costumes this season, including the poto v2 one! While the first one was more "phantom-like", the second one looks nice too!

 

[Meoima]

If he goes for 3 quads next season, can he finally get rid of the 3F? I assume he can do 2 lutz jump. Like this:
4S (or 4Lo if he can mangae it), 4T, 3lz, 4T2t, 3A3T, 3A1lo3S (or please let it be 3A3Lo), 3Lo, 3lz??

 

[ahkeekee]

If he goes for 3 quads next season, can he finally get rid of the 3F? I assume he can do 2 lutz jump. Like this:
4S (or 4Lo if he can mangae it), 4T, 3lz, 4T2t, 3A3T, 3A1lo3S (or please let it be 3A3Lo), 3Lo, 3lz??

I thought the repeated jump has to be in a combination? But I agree that his flip looks flat and dangerous sometimes..... and I think he got an edge call for it in wc. (the exclamation mark beside means an edge call right? )