NHK Trophy review

Ray and I were watching NHK Trophy on ESPN broadcast yesterday. Although we already knew the result.

It was interesting that they showed Daisuke and Miki and also Shizuka Arakawa ’s small fluff pieces.

Daisuke was saying something like that “ people says my footwork is cool. But I learned it by watching and moves. I think it’s cool .”

Ha ha , yes, his footwork is cool, but all his movements are cool, too.

Miki was saying something like that
“ I became world Champion last season, but I changed nothing but people changed. I can not even go out without sunglasses. I’m just Miki Ando. I love my life. “

It was cute. Miki and Mao sounds very popular like idol singers or actresses in Japan, so those two may need guards whenever they go out. And I can
understand why they are so popular over there. I think both of them are attractive. I also think Yu na Kim has charisma.

This season, ESPN was also showing some other foreign skaters such as Fumie Suguri, Brian Joubert, Stephane Lambiel and Kevin, not only American skaters. So It was nice.

Tomas Verner -

Actually I was surprised when I watched his SP in it. When I first time saw him in Worlds 2006, his skating made me frustrated because of slow footwork and no art.

And at last Worlds, I thought he is just a jumper. But he improved a lot this season. His SP was interesting, not so crazy to watch over and over but unique choreography and his footwork was great.

For his FP, music was not my taste and his skating reminds me of Evan Lysacek’s movements. His quad was good, but arm movements were similar to Evan’s. People who loves Evan’s skating may like his skating.

But I thought he is a nice guy seeing that he was hugging to Daisuke after he left from K & C at FP. And He looked happy to be in the second place.

Daisuke Takahashi -

Even though he skated better at Skate America, his Swan lake was very fun to watch, because he looked like he is having fun doing the hip hop dance. Jumps are not so important for me if the performance itself was great.

For his FP, I always think his stamina is amazing, doing all this tough program. He did one quad and fell, but the rest of the program was perfect.

He received TES 81 PCS 76 for this one. It means if he didn’t fall from his quad, he could received at least over 84 for TES. And if he will be able to handle doing two quads, it’s going to be over 86 ??? OMG !

But I still don’t think doing quad = win for Johnny.

Jeremy Abbot -

They showed only his FP in it, I love the music very much. ….. Period.
Music is very important for me. But his performance was … I thought his skating doesn’t fit with this music. I was thinking about that who can handle this music ??

Technically, he tried quad again and fell. I’ve read about that he could succeed his quad at other COP this season but fell or made mistakes from other triple jumps. So far he is not successful.

I think before he tries quad, he has many things he need to train more. His art movements, footwork, spins, all triple jumps.

Same for Ryan Bradley. They are just throwing quad even though it’s low percentages to land during practice. Even they could succeed their quads, it’s no meaning if they made mistake from other part unless they are doing quads as a practice using COP.

I think Johnny is smart, he doesn’t just throw his quad, he will do when he is ready. Ready means ready. If it’s not ready, It won’t be “ doing quad = win.” and better not to.

I know Johnny can do beautiful quad itself during practice , but when it is put in the program, he also needs to focus on many other things, not only quad.
And I think it’s very difficult to skate clean.

I’m guessing that this season, Daisuke may be the toughest competitor for Johnny because of his tough programs.

For Brian Joubert, I’m not so thinking him as one of the toughest competitors
because his quad didn’t look so stable to me and also he has just recovered from his illness.

He won at French Nationals but after finished his FP, he looked exhausted , and was breathing very hard. He did good job in his SP though , his FP was distract.
His quad was not clean, and made mistakes from other jumps .

And received TES : 69.61 PCS:80.28 Total : 149.89.

It was better than Skate Canada but it didn’t look secure. And it was scored too high, JMO. But it’s Nationals, so French federation wanted to put him to be in top. PCS 80 is just crazy. Same for Evan’s Carmen PCS :78 at last nationals.
Actually, I think Brian’s some jumps are not so high quality, so unless he is planning to do three quads, he won’t get over 82 for TES. Johnny can possible to beat him without quad.

For Evan Lysacek,

In US nationals , I think Johnny may need to be ready for his quad with clean programs. Because National’s scores and judging system is different from international COP.

My impression is there was always behind the scene seeing the past result and the scene. They support a skater who they think is the most strong at international COP ( Worlds ).

PCS scores and GOE are always mystery for me.

Evan will do two quads ( one for SP, one for FP) , and if he will be able to skate clean with his 4-3 in his Tosca, they will give him incredible high
score like last season.

Johnny and Evan, both are very important skaters for US federation , I don’t think they will ignore Johnny.

Last worlds , Johnny’s placement was 8th and Evan was 5th. But at COC, Johnny beat Evan, so I wonder how they will judge this. Season.

Fastest way to get support from US federation is to win at Worlds for next season’s Nationals.

Also I think GPF is very important, if Johnny could win, and could beat both Daisuke, and Evan , it’s influenced for US nationals COP.

Evan could not beat Daisuke at last worlds and also Skate America, and if Johnny could beat him, they may consider about it.

Why do I have so much passion for figure skating ? I’ve never become like that.
Ice dance

I love the Russian couple jana / Sergei ‘s free dance a lot. They are very unique and very fun to watch.

After Navka/ Kostomorov’s retired, they are the couple who I’m rooting for. It was a shame Sergei lost balance at the ending pose and got deduction for it. It was excellent until the ending pose. Performance itself was better at TEB, though.

Seems Jana’s hero is Navka / Kostomorov , because they are very original and unique. It’s funny, then their performance caught my eyes. I loved Navka/ Kostomorov so much.

Also I liked Canadian couple, Tessa & Scott ‘s free dance.

It was romantic and beautiful. The music chanson was great, too. My husband and I had no word while watching their performance. Another great ice dancers !

Isabelle & Olivier are great technical ice dancers, however, I prefer more theatrical performances. So I was not so crazy for their ice dance.

Ladies

I felt bad for Miki. Ray got heartbroken after seeing the her result .
Even though she was disaster in her FP, I still think her skating is the most interesting.

ESPN didn’t show Elene. G’s performances, so I can not comment about it.
But I usually love Miki and Elene. G’s skating is the most for ladies.

It was funny those two girls were sitting and talking at the seat in men’s event.
They showed Miki’s practice scene and she was doing quad easily and landing looked forever And also 3-3 combo, too.

So a commentator Paul Wylie sounded frustrated seeing Miki’s performance because she could not jump well at COP even though she can do quad jump at practice.
Everyone was expecting to her win at this COP, so I think that came from the pressure and she is not strong mentally. Her result looked like always up and down. Perfect or disaster. It’s frustrated, because she could win easily for this COP if she could show her real talent.

There was another Japanese skater Nana Takeda in this COP.
And the music was Otonal.
Oh, my …
I love the music so much, because my image of Otonal is already Johnny ’s since last Olympics.

It’s a beautiful sentimental music, but Nana Takeda didn’t look skate sentimentally , and was happy smiling with the music.

Her performance was not image of Otonal … and I was visioning Johnny’s each detail’s movements while she was skating. I already remember all the choreography for Johnny's Otonal.

I don’t like to see someone else doing Johnny’s music programs. I know it’s silly but that how I feel.

There are tons of music out there, and why so many skaters often use music someone else already used ?

For other skaters, It doesn't bother me much but for Johnny's, I really wish no one will use Johnny's program music .

Grand Prix Final will be coming very soon.

I'm so nervous for it.

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