Yuzuru Hanyu starts
the short program with a skating combination transition of steps and turns: three-turn, crossover into choctaw, bracket, cross step, direction change forward, waltz three-turn, backward power three-turn. Then there are two crossovers, connecting body and arms movements, a crossover and a solo 4Lo entry: choctaw - counter - choctaw - waltz three-turn-spread eagle (
gif 1). Then there is an elegant jump exit of outside spread eagle transforming into an inside spread eagle. Then come a mohawk, a broad step, two three-turns and a camel spin. After exiting the camel spin there are a bracket
step, a change of direction forward, a three-turn and then the sit spin with change of foot is introduced. Then a three-turn on the spin exit, posturing (connecting body and arm movements), BO roll with soft hands and free leg movements, cross roll, change of edge, BO roll, three-turn, mohawk, counter, three-turn, cross step, counter, mohawk. Then the skater does three crossovers before entering the key element of the program, 3A, which entry and exit (
gif 2) serve as the best illustrations of so-called
skating performance of the program: choctaw – counter – three-turn – change of edge – cross step – chassé – counter. On the arc of the exit there is a change of edge – counter – twizzle combination transition. And right after that Yuzuru goes for a skating transition: waltz three-turn, change of edge, counter, three-turn, waltz three, mohawk, three-turn, backward power three-turn. Then there are a crossover, a chassé, and two crossovers before a 4T+3T, which takes off of a difficult entry – numerable three-turns. After the combination jump exit and up to the begging of a step sequence there is a beautiful combination transition of connecting steps, elements and movements: waltz three-turn, half-loop, chassé, twizzle into inside Bauer, three-turn and a stop before the step sequence commences. A combination spit with change of foot that comes immediately after the sequence closes the program.
There is no empty space in that program. In comparison to the second version of “Ballade” skating transitions from the sit spin exit to the 4T+3T combo are completely updated. Beloved 3A is so naturally inserted in the new choreography that is has an impression of a jump in the middle of a step sequence. Movement from one element to another is continuous with crossovers used solely to accelerate before the jump entries (with 2-3 of them). All the jumping elements have smooth, seamless skating transitions executed at the entries/exits. This program has the most difficult set of entries/exits on every jump or combo, that are not only perfectly incorporated into the choreography but also match general tone and spirit of the program. One-foot skating transitions prevail. It is no accident, that Jeffrey Buttle, when answering a question about comparative difficulty of programs like that, said the difference is tremendous and such programs are also a personal challenge in a way.
That’s why Yuzuru Hanyu’s short program is beyond competition when it comes to variety, difficulty and integrity of transitions in the choreographic structure of the program and continuity (smoothness) of movement from one element to another. In terms of transitions between elements that is the very program that has the best skating difficulty among WS ISU top-7’s short programs.
Wishing Yuzu a complete recovery! 
