Japanese skater/skating news & updates

[zebobes]

So far as I remember, Kanako Murakami is the only skater I have seen so far to put all three jumping passes in the bonus section in the SP this season. I think it fits the program well though.

[kwanfan1818]

Ice coverage is one of the bullet points for +GoE, and in my experience the judges go really crazy for jumps that just fly across the ice. Even perfectly rotated 3L combo doesn't cover as much ice as perfectly done 3T one, and in result it actually ends up scoring lower than 3T one.

That principle is not evenly applied, even by the same judges (when the protocols don't juggle the judge columns from skater to skater) who might give equal GOE to a second jump in combo that has height, but drops to a stop, or a 4T combo, in which GOE appears to be based on the quality of the 4T, as long as the 3T or 2T is done competently, or, most obviously, the number of three-jump combos that get +GOE with little or no flow out of the last jump, let alone the last two, as long as they're landed in a straight-ish line.

It's always a risk that the judges will judge GOE like you describe, but there's no guarantee.

[chika3]

takahashi-tran pair split !? detail waiting...

[Kyodo Flash News]
http://www.47news.jp/news/flashnews/

[chika3]

Maybe it's official. from JSF release
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/all/he...do_sp-spo.html

[ponta1]

Maybe it's official. from JSF release
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/all/he...do_sp-spo.html

Oh no!

[rayhaneh]

Maybe it's official. from JSF release
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/all/he...do_sp-spo.html

Quick translation of the article:

On the 18th, the Japanese Skating Federation announced the dissolution of the partnership between Takahashi Narumi and Mervin Tran, who won the Pairs' bronze medal at the world championships

Both skaters intend to continue skating in competition and are said to be looking for new partners

Narumi Takahashi said "Recently, as we've differed in the way we think about competing, we've come to disagree with each other. We actively feel like continuing with the skating that we love, so we've decided to end our partnership

Narumi Takahashi, from Chiba prefecture, formed a partnership with Mervin Tran in 2007. At this year's World Championships, they won the first medal of a pair for Japan in any major championship

Looking towards the Sochi Olympics which will take place in 2014, the aim was that Mervin Tran would obtain the Japanese citizenship, but the fact that he hadn't had a track record of living in Japan made it very difficult


PS: I am at work and did this really fast so it's not the most accurate thing ever :p

[Jeschke]

thanks for the infos and translation.

wow, didn´t see that coming (even if he couldn´t gain japanese citizenship before sochi).

i really liked their programs and am sad to hear this. now japan really has a problem for the team competition.
maybe they sould take the 4th guy, didn´t qualify for olympics and turn him into a pair skater in few weeks

[l'etoile]

Olympic is important and it is a very valuable experience for any athletes, but I hoped they figured it in a different way and continued their work. So shame

[paskatefan]

^ This news is a real shame!

[maureenfarone]

Sad news, indeed! Thank you Rayhaneh for the translation

[ChelleC]

Did not see that coming at all.

[casken]

Ugh. Unbelievable.

I wonder if Tran will come back to Canada?

[Lara]

It's possible there were real disagreements, but the skeptic in me has to wonder if it was really Narumi's decision or the JSF. If the latter, good luck finding a Japanese guy that will place her anywhere near so high in Sochi (especially given her jump inconsistency). Gutted.

What are the current rules regarding Tran representing Canada? Can he be eligible for Sochi if he sits this season out?

[Iceman]

I guess it's good he didn't change citizenship.

[babayaga]

It's possible there were real disagreements, but the skeptic in me has to wonder if it was really Narumi's decision or the JSF. If the latter, good luck finding a Japanese guy that will place her anywhere near so high in Sochi (especially given her jump inconsistency). Gutted.

What are the current rules regarding Tran representing Canada? Can he be eligible for Sochi if he sits this season out?

That is my first thought too. After realizing it would be impossible for Mervin to obtain a Japanese citizenship, JSF wants Narumi to find a Japanese partner. At least this way they will a have a pair at the Olympics, even if not a very good one. I am very sad, it was a beautiful team with some of my favorite programs.

[skatesindreams]

I hope that they both find the partner best for them.

[Sylvia]

Maybe it's official. from JSF release
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/all/he...do_sp-spo.html

Thanks for the heads up. Since this is major news, a separate news/discussion thread has been started in GSD: Takahashi & Tran split

This news was posted in the Japan Nationals entries thread in Kiss and Cry yesterday:

The Japanese Skating Federation as announced today that Daisuke Murakami will not take part to the Japanese Nationals due to the shoulder injury sustained at NHK

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/winter...6-jij-spo.html

[Iceman]

Hanyu has won the short program at Nationals by a whopping 9+ points


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJw2kqoaw_Q

[skatinginbc]

Hanyu has won the short program at Nationals by a whopping 9+ points


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJw2kqoaw_Q

Thank you Iceman. That performance was superb.

[rayhaneh]

The 4CC and World Teams have been announced and the JSF has decided to send exactly the same team of athletes to both events, namely:

Men: Yuzuru Hanyu, Daisuke Takahashi, Takahito Mura

Ladies: Mao Asada, Kanako Murakami, Akiko Suzuki

Dance: Reed/ Reed