Yuzuru Hanyu: 2016-17 Season

[sweetwater]

https://twitter.com/CSSp4/status/832272437605695489

I don't know if I should laugh or cry about this

This made me smile with nostalgia. 4CC2013 SP was the first competition I went to cheer for him. Seeing him stopped at the starting position I was so scared, because I felt people in the venue expecting him to be perfect (he hadn’t make mistake in SP since Skate America.) But he landed the first 4T just beautifully and showed off that crazy 3A then singled the lutz but added 3T. So his SP wasn’t perfect, but I was happy because I learned that he wasn’t a person I had doubted for a moment. He makes mistakes but he will never be crashed by the mistake, he always tries to bounce back.
So I’m not so nervous about this starting order or other jinx. Looking back at 4CC2010 and 2012, I’m just amazed by how far he has come, and how handsome he has become…:

 

[Li'Kitsu]

Exactly! I think some tend to undermine how difficult it is to put 2 clean skates back-to-back with the content that the top men are doing (4-7 quads in total); especially in a high-pressure competition. How many skaters do really well at Nationals or smaller competitions but fall apart on a bigger stage. Of course someone will and can at one point, but it is difficult.
About Yuzu, he managed not to drop too low when he messed up because his (backloaded) 3As save him so many times, honestly. And his mistakes are usually fully rotated falls on quads (like his early day's 4S or those weird period where he flopped his 3-3s) which still gather so many points compared to other skaters who pop jumps (which may look aesthetically more pleasing but is a score killer). So maybe the impression come from that. :noshake:

Yuzu usually doesn't have meltdowns either, at least not outside the first season competition. LPs like Javi or Patrick had at the GPF never happened with him IIRC (CoC & NHK 2014 not counting for obvious reasons). Even if he messes up, I don't see enough men capitalizing on his mistakes to really push him down... and I'd personally survive a 3rd silver at 4CC just fine. Some people just aren't born for some competitions. If it's 4CC or Olys, I know what I take

 

[Yatagarasu]

Anyway, I saw a number of korean news report about 4CC and they all seem to be hyping Yuzu so much. Which is unexpected, but nice to see? Most reports focus on him, I am quite surprised actually.

Oh! This is an interesting, and true, observation. I've spotted this too and actually they've been doing this for a good two weeks maybe even, in their mentions of the upcoming event. I've seen some clips of their TV shows and Yuzu was all over the place even before this week started. I've seen him in their newspapers as well. It is nice to see!

 

[gladiolusc]

Oh! This is an interesting, and true, observation. I've spotted this too and actually they've been doing this for a good two weeks maybe even, in their mentions of the upcoming event. I've seen some clips of their TV shows and Yuzu was all over the place even before this week started. I've seen him in their newspapers as well. It is nice to see!

As long as he doesn't feel under pressure (and he seems to be taking it all in stride, with aplomb), I think that's great for him. Look JSF and ISU..... *points*


I predict pooh-palooza, I've seen so many posts on weibo by now panicking over this rumor that all toys thrown into the rink needs to be wrapped in a plastic bag. People were getting ready to buy a whole bunch overnight and distribute them day of, until someone talked to a coordinator and the guy took one look at that person's phone (screen: Yuzu), and went, "Oh is it winnie the pooh? that's fine."

 

[blackey]

About Yuzu, he managed not to drop too low when he messed up because his (backloaded) 3As save him so many times, honestly. And his mistakes are usually fully rotated falls on quads (like his early day's 4S or those weird period where he flopped his 3-3s) which still gather so many points compared to other skaters who pop jumps (which may look aesthetically more pleasing but is a score killer). So maybe the impression come from that. :noshake:

his 3a actually not that stable as them used to be. recently I feel like he is randomly messing up a lot of 3a combination once his quads having problem. and he falled on 3a2t during the practice (i know it's practice and i'm not that serious about his practice but still). If we're talking about pop jumps..his last 3lz :sarcasm: those easy points really hurts

 

[gladiolusc]

his 3a actually not that stable as them used to be. recently I feel like he is randomly messing up a lot of 3a combination once his quads having problem. and he falled on 3a2t during the practice (i know it's practice and i'm not that serious about his practice but still). If we're talking about pop jumps..his last 3lz :sarcasm: those easy points really hurts

That 2T was residue from the previous fall though. He fell pretty hard. (I think it was 4T? Don't remember.)

 

[Meoima]

his 3a actually not that stable as them used to be. recently I feel like he is randomly messing up a lot of 3a combination once his quads having problem. and he falled on 3a2t during the practice (i know it's practice and i'm not that serious about his practice but still). If we're talking about pop jumps..his last 3lz :sarcasm: those easy points really hurts

His 3A is very consistent. The issue is he put too many quads before the 3A combos now. Before it was just 2 quads. Now it's 4 quads.
As the the fall on 3A2T during practice, he was feeling sleepy. The practice was in the morning. He did much better in the afternoon.

 

[mcq]

Yuzu usually doesn't have meltdowns either, at least not outside the first season competition. LPs like Javi or Patrick had at the GPF never happened with him IIRC (CoC & NHK 2014 not counting for obvious reasons). Even if he messes up, I don't see enough men capitalizing on his mistakes to really push him down... and I'd personally survive a 3rd silver at 4CC just fine. Some people just aren't born for some competitions. If it's 4CC or Olys, I know what I take

Well like a Nats to a Yagudin or a European to a Lambiel, you're saying?
But Virtue/Moir finally break their GPF curse. So, well, I will not lose hope yet hahaha. Either way, I am neither so optimistic nor pessimistic. I am a believer that ice is slippery and anything can happen, but all I can do is wish and pray that he will do well enough to win and give out a performance he can be satisfied with and proud of.

Oh! This is an interesting, and true, observation. I've spotted this too and actually they've been doing this for a good two weeks maybe even, in their mentions of the upcoming event. I've seen some clips of their TV shows and Yuzu was all over the place even before this week started. I've seen him in their newspapers as well. It is nice to see!

Yes I find this kind of surprising and I actually don't know what to feel lol. Those video clips shared on twitter have like 80% Yuzu and maybe 20% of other skaters so it was really unexpected. Even the news article seem to hype him up so much too, calling him "Figure king", "superstar" etc. They even lauded him as artistically and technically superior/genious. Well, maybe because I don't often see foreign news outlet being this complimentary to him haha. Even some japan news are just so-so and lukewarm to him at times but most if not all these korean news that I read hype him through the roof. :shocked:

his 3a actually not that stable as them used to be. recently I feel like he is randomly messing up a lot of 3a combination once his quads having problem. and he falled on 3a2t during the practice (i know it's practice and i'm not that serious about his practice but still). If we're talking about pop jumps..his last 3lz :sarcasm: those easy points really hurts

It is still the only jump he has not messed up in competition this season though. He landed it 100% so far. He messed up 4Lo, 4S, 4T even 3F, 3Lz and 3S (!). The numbers don't lie, 3A is still his most dependable and reliable jump.
The fall on the 3A2T at the recent practice is not because he messed his 3A, but his blade caught a hole/rut or something on the 2T. He fell on 3A a couple of times this season during practice too and I am not complaining as long as he landed it in competition. His 3A is still ok, he got +3 GOE at NHK and SC. Last season he fell on a 3A during Nats so I'd not say that this season it has become less stable.

 

[shiroKJ]

Oh! This is an interesting, and true, observation. I've spotted this too and actually they've been doing this for a good two weeks maybe even, in their mentions of the upcoming event. I've seen some clips of their TV shows and Yuzu was all over the place even before this week started. I've seen him in their newspapers as well. It is nice to see!

In the last 2-3 days , I've seen about a dozen Korean articles on him alone with a number of TV segments....I'm worried because they're highlighting him too much lol. They've attached too many superlative to him..prince, king, superstar, legendary, genius etc....

 

[Yatagarasu]

His blade caught something on that 2T, and his leg went flying, it was really weird. He probably wouldn't have fallen though, if he had been perfectly concentrating, which is definitely the fault of the previous 4T fall and the morning session.

But I am no sure which 3A combinations went badly? I don't remember at all apart from the 3A-1Lo-3S going to 3A-1Lo-2S but that wasn't because he messed up on the 3A but because he was tiring, at NHK. Otherwise his 3A is holding steadily, knock on wood.

 

[Meoima]

His blade caught something on that 2T, and his leg went flying, it was really weird. He probably wouldn't have fallen though, if he had been perfectly concentrating, which is definitely the fault of the previous 4T fall and the morning session.
But I am no sure which 3A combinations went badly? I don't remember at all apart from the 3A-1Lo-3S going to 3A-1Lo-2S but that wasn't because he messed up on the 3A but because he was tiring, at NHK. Otherwise his 3A is holding steadily, knock on wood.

With all the quads and transitions he is doing before the 3A combos, It's a miracle he still lands all those 3As.

 

[Li'Kitsu]

^ It's not a miracle, it's Yuzu being awesome!

Well like a Nats to a Yagudin or a European to a Lambiel, you're saying?
But Virtue/Moir finally break their GPF curse. So, well, I will not lose hope yet hahaha. Either way, I am neither so optimistic nor pessimistic. I am a believer that ice is slippery and anything can happen, but all I can do is wish and pray that he will do well enough to win and give out a performance he can be satisfied with and proud of.



Yes I find this kind of surprising and I actually don't know what to feel lol. Those video clips shared on twitter have like 80% Yuzu and maybe 20% of other skaters so it was really unexpected. Even the news article seem to hype him up so much too, calling him "Figure king", "superstar" etc. They even lauded him as artistically and technically superior/genious. Well, maybe because I don't often see foreign news outlet being this complimentary to him haha. Even some japan news are just so-so and lukewarm to him at times but most if not all these korean news that I read hype him through the roof. :shocked:

Agreed completely with the first part!
As for the hyping up the Korean media is doing... I kind of expected this. Generally, Yuzu seems to be more popular in some non-Japanese countries still... I also sometimes feel like Russia and China still love him beyond believe and any other skater

 

[gladiolusc]

^ It's not a miracle, it's Yuzu being awesome!



Agreed completely with the first part!
As for the hyping up the Korean media is doing... I kind of expected this. Generally, Yuzu seems to be more popular in some non-Japanese countries still... I also sometimes feel like Russia and China still love him beyond believe and any other skater

For one reason or another, Italy seems pretty supportive too. The home and birthplace of many excellent sayings, such as "Hanyu Planet, Population: One" (and awesome commentators)

 

[Li'Kitsu]

For one reason or another, Italy seems pretty supportive too. The home and birthplace of many excellent sayings, such as "Hanyu Planet, Population: One" (and awesome commentators)

Is that really all of Italy or just Max Ambesi talking enough and spreading enough love for a whole country?

 

[shiroKJ]

^ It's not a miracle, it's Yuzu being awesome!



Agreed completely with the first part!
As for the hyping up the Korean media is doing... I kind of expected this. Generally, Yuzu seems to be more popular in some non-Japanese countries still... I also sometimes feel like Russia and China still love him beyond believe and any other skater

Most definitely. Even more than their own skaters...

I'm distracting myself with work and study because I can't handle the men's competition tbh and I'm going to be in dire need of some xanax. Maybe it should be included in the welcome package when people come into this fandom

 

[Yatagarasu]

Is that really all of Italy or just Max Ambesi talking enough and spreading enough love for a whole country?

At least their commentators. Remember the RAI ladies, and Mamma mia, fantastico? There's a guy on RAI too and he's equally ecstatic over him

 

[Li'Kitsu]

^ True, but then we have to include the spanish ladies too, no? I was about to say let's just go with Europe, but nooooo... those idiots from my own country exist too

Most definitely. Even more than their own skaters...

I'm distracting myself with work and study because I can't handle the men's competition tbh and I'm going to be in dire need of some xanax. Maybe it should be included in the welcome package when people come into this fandom

And their own skaters loving him too - remember the Russian girls

 

[mcq]

^ It's not a miracle, it's Yuzu being awesome!



Agreed completely with the first part!
As for the hyping up the Korean media is doing... I kind of expected this. Generally, Yuzu seems to be more popular in some non-Japanese countries still... I also sometimes feel like Russia and China still love him beyond believe and any other skater

Yes, but the level of overhyping in Korea makes me feel a bit conflicted hahaha
Also China yes but Russia is a bit surprising for me still. Not the fans, but the skating community? TAT and Grishin were not very complimentary to Yuzu at the beginning. EVen Mishin and Morozov said something a bit unpleasant about him too recently. I think Eteri is actually the one who was complimentary about Yuzu since his earlier days (which maybe why it is rubbing off on her students lol). I remember an interview where she called him beautiful and just gushed over him lol. She even defended him when the interviewer said he is inconsistent/had bad stamina or something

 

[lappo]

Is that really all of Italy or just Max Ambesi talking enough and spreading enough love for a whole country?

I try to add my modest Italian contribution in spreading the love (for Yuzu and FS in general)...however, I'll tell you, it's hard when your country happens to like nothing else than people running after a ball!

 

[blackey]

His blade caught something on that 2T, and his leg went flying, it was really weird. He probably wouldn't have fallen though, if he had been perfectly concentrating, which is definitely the fault of the previous 4T fall and the morning session.

But I am no sure which 3A combinations went badly? I don't remember at all apart from the 3A-1Lo-3S going to 3A-1Lo-2S but that wasn't because he messed up on the 3A but because he was tiring, at NHK. Otherwise his 3A is holding steadily, knock on wood.

just FYI he pop his 3a1lo3s into 3a1lo2s happened 3 times in last year. nhk, gpf and worlds, it's like a pattern now. Look i'm not depreciate his 3a, and i'm not trying to compare it with other people's 3a or how badly they meltdown. all i'm trying to say is it is not some points he could make sure he will get no matter what anymore. when he has problem with his 3a, it always comes with other problem, like popping 3lz into single, so it's like 10 points total. with the fact that he does not have that huge technical margin to the rest of the field, it could be crucial if it happened again.