Yuzuru Hanyu: 2016-17 Season

[Pamigena]

After SP photos #1

at least he has someone to hold on to :yes: I hope that helps

 

[hamaguri]

aw, I think he's thanking his feet and cheering on his knees cute
don't take my word for it, though.... also: still asleep

Yeah I get the general idea. Just sometimes the words may sound same cute as the drawing looks, so I really want to know what is written on those pisctures.

You hit the nail mostly.
He thanks his healthy right leg
He wishes the quick recovery of his left leg, and
He cheers his knees.

Luckily he has 4 weeks by NHk cup. Hope he can take enough treatment with his legs.

 

[Yatagarasu]

So much of your post could be written about Gracie Gold. Overthinking, overanalyzing instead of trusting the training. So much pressure to be perfect -- and not just self-inflicted pressure either.

I think losing Worlds was a devastating loss for both of them. I can see it in their faces.

Yeah, now that you mention it, definitely, though I'd say Gracie is probably at the last stadium of this (I do wish her all the best, it's a difficult situation). That dratted pressure loop is such a dangerous thing, external feeding the self-inflicted one, and I'm glad Hanyu talked about working with that professor from Waseda about mental pressures and the physical. It should help. But no doubt the World's gutted them both, no doubt. The one thing that eases the mind then is a successful competition. Now this one could potentially do that, especially considering the SP went as it did. But for that to happen, he needs a good showing on the FS. It'll help him feel like he can conquer this.

 

[Biellmann]

In my eyes, it's better he pops the jumps.

I'm afraid he has no confidence, he lost the world title for the second year in a row and it must be a big disappointment for him. He and Satoko could end off the podium today, so be prepared

 

[pexcornel]

that 3A though n sync with "oh no let's go".

 

[Meoima]

In my eyes, it's better he pops the jumps.
I'm afraid he has no confidence, he lost the world title for the second year in a row and it must be a big disappointment for him. He and Satoko could end off the podium today, so be prepared

I am afraid the same. His mentality hasn't been there for competitions. Boston SP was the last time I saw competitive fire. After that, in the LP, or at AC both SP and LP, it always looks to me that either he was too relaxed or too tensed. His mentality and his body are not in sync.

 

[BrightonDogwood]

y'all are reading waaaaaay too much in that interview.

Seriously, can you try to be less litteral ? I'm pretty sure Brian meant that Yuzu don't land consistently his 4 quads in every single run through. Which is like you know... human ?

I don't see anything in that interview that shows anything else but a coach who is actually respectful of his skaters strategies and still doing his job to get them to peak at the right moment meaning "not at a B competition at the very beginning of the season but at the actual big one: Worlds". Javi wants to polish his skating because that's what he gets the most critics on and to rise up his pcs ? Brian says ok, but keep the quad loop in your back pocket if needed. Yuzu wants to add a fourth quad because he doesn't want to get beaten on the TES side ? Brian says ok, but pace yourself so you don't get badly injured AGAIN when worlds come in and finish second again.

I don't even understand why this article ruffles some feathers. Chill guys. Our champion is in the best hands he could be in.

edit: plus he never said that Yuzu can't land his 4 quads in practice. He said that last year, getting the 3 quads was the hurdle (meaning 2 out of 3 quads were successfully landed consistantly in practice) and that this year it's 3 out of 4 quads. How is that a jab at Yuzu ? HOW ?????

Well said

 

[Lysambre]

Back from work, I finally had time to watch the SP properly.

Honestly, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, it's far from perfect, but I guess I'm content with it? In a way?

I still think it's a fantastic program and it'll be absolutely fantastic once he nails it all, the jumps, the steps, the energy, the sass :luv17:

Let's get in our cheering gear for later today/tonight/early tomorrow! I'm ready! (actually I'm ready to have a nap, because there was so little sleep involved last night ahahah)

 

[mcq]

So much of your post could be written about Gracie Gold. Overthinking, overanalyzing instead of trusting the training. So much pressure to be perfect -- and not just self-inflicted pressure either.

I think losing Worlds was a devastating loss for both of them. I can see it in their faces.

I think Gracie situation is a bit different. She hasn't medal in any major competition like 4CC/worlds/oly or GPF. The enormous expectation on her didn't necessarily translate into result or medal, that's why imo it is different. Yuzuru has won many times despite a few stumble on his career, and he has proven he can come back from a slump.

My concern is more that he should not be so obsessed with perfection, if anything, we learned from past champions (and his own result) that you don't have to be perfect to win. Perhaps getting a taste of having clean performances back-to-back at NHK and GPF affect him that way, and now he strive for perfection more. He was not like this before and he can be happy with a performance with a fall (like he did at GPF 2014). I just hope he won't let it get into him so much and maybe to keep his own expectation in check. He will get there, just need more time and patience.

 

[Pika]

I am afraid the same. His mentality hasn't been there for competitions. Boston SP was the last time I saw competitive fire. After that, in the LP, or at AC both SP and LP, it always looks to me that either he was too relaxed or too tensed. His mentality and his body are not in sync.

Well in Boston he had a huge pressure. Everyone was waiting for programs like in NHK/GPF, plus he had that injury that was surely bothering his mind. In AC, he had litteraly no competition. Where could he find competitive fire? It was truly a test for his programs and if the pop on the combo was actually due to a hole on the ice, well that could happen to anyone. SCI is totally different. He's still getting used to his new programs, but he can't show up in big events without the pressure of "the best skater of his generation or maybe all time" as we heard sufficiently. And now, he's the "underdog" (if we can ever call Hanyu like that). All the pressure is on Chan. Home ice, 1st after SP, will he hold on ? Yuzuru has a door wide open -with only two points to catch 2nd place- to perform to the best he can with his current condition. As someone said, he has nothing to loose, and he's not someone who don't take his chances. Last year, he rose from 6th to 2nd. Of course, his program this year is much more difficult but let's remember that we considered his last FP just alike !
And p-lease how are we comparing Yuzuru and Gracie. He always trusted his abilities and training. He knows himself, and he can deliver when it counts. He was surely disappointed of losing that World Title but he has many others (in the pocket and to come), whereas Gracie lost maybe the chance of her carrier. And we're talking about an athlete well-prepared who has a great team surrounding him vs. a troubled skater whose team is currently unable to build up in competitions.
Let's have faith.

 

[sweetwater]

Finished watching TV Asahi version of Men’s short program. They covered only top 6 finishers and added some fluffs including a short interview of Yuzu on his injury (though there was nothing new) and on his SP with a little bit of the making of Let’s go crazy program and the white costume.
There were also some backyard shots, and the way he warmed up looked quite normal. I could see a lot of jumping, air singing. TV Asahi version of 6 minutes warm up was focused mainly on Yuzu. In these warm ups on and off ice, he looked much better than he did at Worlds 2016, Japanese Nationals 2014, NHK 2014 where he had to compete hiding severe pain, health problem, or insecurity. So I’m guessing maybe he is just trying to catch up now.

After the short, he commented that he had already figured out where to fix about the jumps he missed, although he didn’t say exactly how. He also said he’ll do his best tomorrow.

Nobunari Oda was the commentator for Men’s short, and he mentioned that there was a time Yuzu was wondering if he would be able to jump again. Hearing this made me think about how far he has come in a short time.

In the making of the white costume he looked a little bit excited. He said something like there should be a microphone in this hand, while watching his hand in that sleeve.

These fluffs will probably be uploaded and translated later by someone, so this is just a brief report.

 

[mcq]

Well in Boston he had a huge pressure. Everyone was waiting for programs like in NHK/GPF, plus he had that injury that was surely bothering his mind. In AC, he had litteraly no competition. Where could he find competitive fire? It was truly a test for his programs and if the pop on the combo was actually due to a hole on the ice, well that could happen to anyone. SCI is totally different. He's still getting used to his new programs, but he can't show up in big events without the pressure of "the best skater of his generation or maybe all time" as we heard sufficiently. And now, he's the "underdog" (if we can ever call Hanyu like that).

Well, he's the reigning olympic champion and the current world record holder. The pressure will always follow him no matter where his placement is. Why do you think so many people quit their competitive career (or not fully competing anymore, like Yuna, Plushenko etc) after winning an olympic gold medal. The pressure of carrying that title is something unimaginable. Adding to that the media frenzy and the expectation of the entire country on his shoulder. Any lesser person might have already succumbed to the pressure.

 

[Pika]

Well, he's the reigning olympic champion and the current world record holder. The pressure will always follow him no matter where his placement is. Why do you think so many people quit their competitive career (or not fully competing anymore, like Yuna, Plushenko etc) after winning an olympic gold medal. The pressure of carrying that title is something unimaginable. Adding to that the media frenzy and the expectation of the entire country on his shoulder. Any lesser person might have already succumbed to the pressure.

Well, that was my point ? I'm sorry if you misunderstood me as english is not my first language. I was trying to say exactly what you wrote, that he has a huge pressure in every circumstances, due to his reputation/record/greatness whatever, and that was shown during SP. But now he's in 4th, he's the hunter, not the prey (talking about the precise situation, here and now in Skate Canada). That could logically help to relieve a bit of the weight on his shoulders, and have a fine FP. That's all I wanted to express.

 

[Yatagarasu]

After the short, he commented that he had already figured out where to fix about the jumps he missed, although he didn’t say exactly how. He also said he’ll do his best tomorrow.

Ah thanks so much for that, good to hear, fingers crossed. We will be cheering him on and I think tonight is going to be easier to watch, for me at least.

 

[Lambari]

To be honest, as long as he remains healthy Hanyu will never be the underdog, a skater of his calliber will always have the pressure on him, once a contender for the top and with a reputation you'll always have the shadow coming after you.

Anyway, was there anyone who didn't predict it? I'm having major SC 2015 flashbacks.

He'll land all jumps and have a glorious stylish fall at the 3Lz, calling it now.

 

[mcq]

Well, that was my point ? I'm sorry if you misunderstood me as english is not my first language. I was trying to say exactly what you wrote, that he has a huge pressure in every circumstances, due to his reputation/record/greatness whatever, and that was shown during SP. But now he's in 4th, he's the hunter, not the prey (talking about the precise situation, here and now in Skate Canada). That could logically help to relieve a bit of the weight on his shoulders, and have a fine FP. That's all I wanted to express.

No, don't worry I didn't misunderstand your point. I was actually agreeing with you on my post there? Maybe my wording makes it sound like I don't or that I misunderstand. I just want to reiterate that the pressure on him will always be enormous. How he will do in the FP we will never know, maybe he will feel more pressured, maybe he will feel less pressured. Either way he can do either great or not so much. I just hope it will be enough to be on the podium. Or even if it won't be, he still has 1 month to NHK. He still sounded positive on the interview, though visibly very disappointed, so I am yet to be too worried.

 

[Yatagarasu]

He'll land all jumps and have a glorious stylish fall at the 3Lz, calling it now.

Would not be surprised. But you know, I'll take it. With both hands, gimme!

 

[Pika]

No, don't worry I didn't misunderstand your point. I was actually agreeing with you on my post there? Maybe my wording makes it sound like I don't or that I misunderstand. I just want to reiterate that the pressure on him will always be enormous. How he will do in the FP we will never know, maybe he will feel more pressured, maybe he will feel less pressured. Either way he can do either great or not so much. I just hope it will be enough to be on the podium. Or even if it won't be, he still has 1 month to NHK. He still sounded positive on the interview, though visibly very disappointed, so I am yet to be too worried.

Fine if we agree, sorry if I got you wrong
About the highlighted part, of course, we never know. We can only make assumptions, but that's what a forum is for, discuss, exchange opinions, etc.

I used the word underdog, but it was maybe strong. Looking for the exact definition of the word, it says "person given as likely to lose/outsider". That was not what I meant but it was the word that came to my mind. The terms of my last post "hunter/prey" may be better. In fact, WHATEVER you want to say he's not the current favorite to win this, now, and now only.

Anyway, we'll find out soon.

 

[Marin]

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASJBY52ZNJBYUTQP032.html

In this interview it is explained that he knew something went wrong with lo but instead of natural fall and rotation, he did differently, it was natural reaction of his body to protect himself from injury it seems kind of some "PTSD"

and because left foot injury is still under treatment he gets less training 5 days in a week no more than 2 h on the ice, because he is protecting his left instep sometimes his left ankle and right foot is hurt, (easier to get hurt) same happened before scac his had small injury on ankle .. it seems...

So he instinctively opened the arm drawing to the body and stopped the rotation.
about 4S, he didn't do the second 3T because he tried to avoid injury. It's his body (instinctively) reacted.

 

[sweetwater]

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASJBY52ZNJBYUTQP032.html

In this interview it is explained that he knew something went wrong with lo but instead of natural fall and rotation, he did differently, it was natural reaction of his body to protect himself from injury it seems kind of some "PTSD"

and because left foot injury is still under treatment he gets less training 5 days in a week no more than 2 h on the ice, because he is protecting his left instep sometimes his left ankle and right foot is hurt, (easier to get hurt) same happened before scac his had small injury on ankle .. it seems...

So he instinctively opened the arm drawing to the body and stopped the rotation.
about 4S, he didn't do the second 3T because he tried to avoid injury. It's his body (instinctively) reacted.

If this is "where to fix" he mentioned after SP, then it could take a little more time to fix it...
I believe he will find a way though.