Daisuke Takahashi decided to become an ice-dancer (with Kana Muramoto) after Jan 2020

[YukiNieve]

I think this news deserves a new thread:

Daisuke Takahashi just announced on his website that this year's Japanese Nationals will be his final competition as a single skater.

He will move his training base to the US and start practicing ice-dance with Kana Muramoto in January, 2020.

Their main coach will be Marina Zoueva.

高橋大輔公式サイト

高橋大輔公式サイトです。

d1sk.com

A news clip (thanks for uploading!)

レイナワルツ?疫病退散? on Twitter

“あわてて撮ったのでアングルおかしいし音声ほとんどありませんが取り急ぎ? ホールド見ただけで胸が熱くなりました??? https://t.co/d83HQlMurN”

twitter.com

 

[rosewood]

WOW!
Sounds interesting.

 

[Angela-Fan]

 

[text_skate]

I had to check the date of my calender first, to believe this. I think, it's a marvelous idea. He has excellent skating skills, why not improve in this field further. Perhaps become an Olympian 22. I'd love it ?

 

[rosewood]

glimpses of their practice

https://twitter.com/AkiAqui/status/1177140065580929026

 

[TAHbKA]

Not with Fumie Suguri? erm.. ok...

 

[ostile17]

I think this news deserves a new thread:

Daisuke Takahashi just announced on his website that this year's Japanese Nationals will be his final competition as a single skater.

He will move his training base to the US and start practicing ice-dance with Kana Muramoto in January, 2020.

Their main coach will be Marina Zoueva.

高橋大輔公式サイト

高橋大輔公式サイトです。

d1sk.com

A news clip (thanks for uploading!)

レイナワルツ?疫病退散? on Twitter

“あわてて撮ったのでアングルおかしいし音声ほとんどありませんが取り急ぎ? ホールド見ただけで胸が熱くなりました??? https://t.co/d83HQlMurN”

twitter.com

Where did you read the main coach will be Zoueva???

 

[skatingguy]

Where did you read the main coach will be Zoueva???

Masashi INOUE 井上将志 @kyodonewsports

#フィギュアスケート #高橋大輔 #村元哉中 がアイスダンスの新カップル結成

２人のコメントも→ Daisuke Takahashi team up with Kana Muramoto as an Ice dancing couple!!

 

[muffinplus]

Wow. This is really interesting news. Daisuke is one of my favorite singles skaters

Good luck!

 

[YukiNieve]

Their coach was announced by JSF.

Masashi INOUE 井上将志 on Twitter

“#フィギュアスケート #高橋大輔 #村元哉中 がアイスダンスの新カップル結成? ２人のコメントも→ Daisuke Takahashi team up with Kana Muramoto as an Ice dancing couple!!”

twitter.com

 

[starrynight]

Amazing news for Japanese ice dance. This is just the kind of thing that will help promote their ice dance program (and maybe even pairs).

Good luck to the new team!

 

[Kateri]

 

[ChelleC]

 

[JJH]

This makes me so happy!

 

[MsZem]

I... did not see this coming. But I approve of anything that gets us more Dai

 

[clairecloutier]

Well I love Daisuke, and I love Kana, so why not .... ?

 

[ostile17]

Translation of Daisuke's message


Hello, everyone.

Thank you always for your support.

I have come to a decision that the coming National Championships at the end of this year is going to be my last competition to attend as a single skater in the men’s event. Let me use this page to show my appreciation for everyone who has been supporting me.
Now, after that, I have decided to move my practice base to the US and to start ice dancing with Ms. Kana Muramoto! I have never imagined seeing myself trying ice dancing!
I will probably get asked if we are going to aim the Olympics but I haven’t got time and room in my head to think that out yet, having so many things to do, such as building up my body to begin with, now my legs are already prrrrrretty shaky. (LOL)
But then, I think about the sceneries spread behind the new challenge I will face starting now. If I can see them with Ms. Muramoto and with all of you, that must be cool!
I thank you all for having shared the ride with my roller coaster career with ups and downs as a single man skater. The National Championships will be my last single skating in a competition.
And I will move on and have a ride on a new roller coaster in 2020, so I hope you will continue enjoying that. (LOL)

Please kindly continue your support!

Daisuke

高橋大輔公式サイト

高橋大輔公式サイトです。

d1sk.com

 

[CassAgain]

This is the BEST news! Instant uber

 

[millyskate]

Wonderful a new team to cheer for. It will be incredibly interesting to see, if it works out maybe more singles will be inspired?

 

[Catherine M]

Exciting news! And Best of luck to Kana and Daisuke as they begin their training next January. Looking forward to seeing how they develop!

 

[kittyjake5]

This is the BEST news! Instant uber

Me too! I am shocked but very excited about this news.

 

[Angela-Fan]

He will be a fabulous ice dancer!! I can't wait!

 

[PRlady]

This is like the only good news this morning. Thanks, Dai!

 

[maureenfarone]

Wow fabulous news

 

[binbinwinwin]

Wow what a fascinating piece of news as we go into the new season. I would love to see it, Kana Muramoto is a fabulous ice dancer, would love to see her make another Olympics and with one of my sentimental favourites no less.

 

[MsZem]

It's not unprecedented for a singles skater to switch to ice dance relatively late in their career - Alper Ucar and Fedor Andreev both did it, though Andreev didn't stick around very long. Dai is older, but given all that he's accomplished anything else would just be a cherry on top.

 

[peibeck]

I wonder if he has any ice dance background prior to this?

I wish them luck; I guess we'll see how they develop.

 

[Wyliefan]

My first thought was "Wait, this isn't April 1!"

 

[Angela-Fan]

My first thought was "Wait, this isn't April 1!"

Haha I thought the same thing!

 

[MsZem]

I messaged a friend about this and her response was "isn't he too short?" According to ISU bios, the height difference between them is 3cm. That is small.