Han Yan Uber Thread - Road to Sochi and Beyond

[Gliding on ice]

This thread is for Han Yan (first name: Han, last name: Yan) from China.

Yan made his senior international debut at the 2013 Four Continents Championships in Osaka, Japan, where he took the bronze medal with a personal best score of 235.22 (SP: 85.08, LP: 150.14).

Yan’s SP performance at 2013 4CC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5_PmrOdIaY

Yan started skating at the age of 5. He used to train in Harbin, but has moved to train in Beijing starting this year. He won the gold medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships, becoming the first Chinese to win the men’s junior world title.

Yan’s favorite skaters:
- Patrick Chan
- Tomas Verner


Some links:

Han Yan’s Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yan_Han...gure_skater%29

Han Yan’s Chinese Wiki
http://baike.baidu.com/view/3573950.htm

Han Yan’s Weibo (Chinese version of Twitter)
http://weibo.com/u/1991083414


Yan is only 16! And he already has a great foundation (i.e. incredible speed, amazing ice coverage, great flow, effortless jumps, good presentation, musicality, etc) which he will only continue to build on as he gets more experience from the senior circuit. With polishing and better choreographed programs, there is no doubt that Han Yan is the future for China.

[misskarne]

Not an uber, but I do enjoy his skating. I hope he does really well on the Senior circuit.

[robinhood]

I think he has almost Patrick Chan gliding qualities, and this coming from a chinese skater is very unusual.
If injuries respect him I see him as a future world champion. He needs world class choreography, I hope he's taken to a great choreographer next season
All the best to Han!

[Marco]

Yay über thread for Yan! Lets hope his success at 4CCs (including beating Song) will affect the pecking order within China and can allow him to find better choreographers. He skates great but almost ignores the music and the expressive aspect of it - a good choreographer could take him very far IMO.

[skatingfanfun]

He needs expressions most IMO .

[lala]

He is 16. Not an uber, but I love him, he has talent, and very good jumping ability.

[skatingfanfun]

not a fan but I love everything about his skating except for his steelish face, if that's a word. I think that could be a loss of 5 point in PCS serriously I think he was lowballed inPCS at 4cc

[pinky166]

Han's 3a is the longest most amazing jump I have ever seen wow. He is so talented. With a good choreographer, he could be a force to be reckoned with very soon indeed.

[robinhood]

He's very handsome too. Can I say that about a 15 year old boy?

[pinky166]

Han is turning 17 in a couple weeks, so makes it a little more acceptable than if he was actually 15.

[VarBar]

While not an uber myself (yet), I have to say that Han Yan is an amazing young talent. Tremendous speed, effortless quality of skating and incredible ease on the jumps. I can easily see him becoming a name to remember in figure skating when he matures artistically and skates at least decently choreographed programs. Wish him the very best of luck.

[misskarne]

I wonder what the politiks is like as regards using international choreographers, with reference to the Chinese Fed? Do they like it? Hate it? Will they hurt him (placements, PCS, Nationals, assignments) if, say, he were to use Tom Dickson?

[Sedge]

I wonder what the politiks is like as regards using international choreographers, with reference to the Chinese Fed? Do they like it? Hate it? Will they hurt him (placements, PCS, Nationals, assignments) if, say, he were to use Tom Dickson?

Nan Song used Jeff Buttle this year...so it seems the Chinese Fed are open to that.

[Marco]

Still no news on whether he is going to Sr Worlds? His name is already off the Jr Worlds list.

[spikydurian]

^^^ That's a bit worrying? Hope Han Yan is ok?

[whispering]

He's fine,posted a five rings figure that he did yesterday on his weibo

[TheIronLady]

I wonder what the politiks is like as regards using international choreographers, with reference to the Chinese Fed? Do they like it? Hate it? Will they hurt him (placements, PCS, Nationals, assignments) if, say, he were to use Tom Dickson?

I believe all the Chinese use foreign choreographers.

[os168]

I believe all the Chinese use foreign choreographers.

Yes and No, it is too easy to generalise. They have their own. Take Li Zijun for example, she used to have Karen Kwan, and last year she had David Wilson for FS, and Jiang Hailan for SP. This year she has Jian Hailan for SP again, and Lori Nochols for FS. Han's choreography could do with lots of improvements, but as such, his Chinese choreographer did enough to showcase his strength which are his enormous jumps. I expect next year Chinese Fed will push for him like what they did for Zijun to try with a foreign choreographer too. (Anyone but Morozov pls)

I actually don't think International Choreographer helps too much with politicks thought it does help a little because it ultimately bring the skater to their potentials. Federation power and in particular who they want to support seems more important. ZiJun imo has been under marked all season in PCS like Hanyu were last year until JSF has clearly gone behind him this year. Chinese Federation seems to have very little influence, just look at CoC where literally no Chinese skaters benefit unlike other federations at their home events. I am really excited by Yan, his potential is enormous, could he be a direct rival to Hanyu in the next few years? Btw, someone should update his Wiki, he is still listed at 5ft5 lol.... surely he is not that short!? Hanyu is listed like 170cm / 5ft7

These photos shows he has grown since then

http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...pscfadf13a.jpg
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps7d37e602.jpg

[misskarne]

Btw, someone should update his Wiki, he is still listed at 5ft5 lol.... surely he is not that short!? Hanyu is listed like 170cm / 5ft7

I don't know, he might be. I was just looking at some pictures from Junior Worlds last year, with Joshua and Han and Jason standing in a row (no skates), and Josh towers over both of them, while Han is only more or less the same height as Jason, who claims to be 5'6". Joshua is supposed to be 5'8" (according to his icenetwork bio). However, I suspect all three have grown again since then - Jason has looked taller at some events this season, and so has Han.

[Jun Y]

The kid has a dry sense of humor. Some of his weibo (Chinese twitter) tweets are deadpan funny.