Pushing myself through graduate school applications this weekend was made approximately 75% more enjoyable by Japan's NHK Grand Prix performances. Watching NHK after spending so many months entrenched in Russian skating was really a breath of fresh air; Russian skating is tense and exciting, but Japanese skating feels more joyful and relaxing. The depth of the Japanese team was certainly showcased this week- I felt like I was watching a competition where rankings really did depend on who had the greatest consistency, versus skaters having vastly different technical content to begin with. So many highlights in such a small window of time...
#3: Rino Matsuike's first Grand Prix
16 yr old Rino Matsuike's short and long program this weekend were both exquisite. This is her first year in the senior ranks, but you wouldn't know if from these performances. The technical content was so strong, and the skating skills (flow, speed, posture, the works) were so impressive from someone with such little senior experience. She was actually the only skater whose performances I looked up to watch again after the broadcast ended- they were that enjoyable. I'm so excited to have a new skater to watch in the coming years!
#2: Yuma Kagiyama
It feels like years since I've watched a free skate that was this clean. Like...squeaky clean. I was in shock when he hit his final pose. It's settled- Yuma is the Japanese skater pushing towards Yuzuru and Shoma. I think we'll see him in Beijing. And I hope for his sake and ours that his performances continue to be this precise and exhilarating. Cheers!
#1: My Girl Wakaba
SHE LANDED THE TRIPLE AXEL! Yes, I know it was marked as a q...but I disagree and she still landed it and it wasn't even a negative GOE and I jumped up and down in my apartment when she did it. I disagreed with most of the scores she received this weekend- Wakaba is such a powerful skater, and shows so much emotion in her step sequences particularly, and she wasn't credited for that at all. A 31, compared to Kaori's 35, in SP PCS points? Give me a break. I hope this triple axel business convinces the judges to give her more credit going forward- she deserves it.
Honorable Mentions
1) SKATING SKILLS ALL AROUND
Daisuke Ice Dancing...Marin and Tomoe using those edges....honestly every other skater there....edges and knees to die for. Japanese skating skills could cure any illness (except COVID, let's be thankful for that vaccine folks).
2) Kaori Sakamoto
She did win this weekend, after all! Clean and consistent and definitely making a statement right now since Rika is locked away over in Switzerland. Gotta love that Matrix program!
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