1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,760 This episode of the Rocker Skating Podcast is brought to 2 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:07,520 you by John Wilson Blades. For more than 329 years, John 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,280 Wilson has been perfecting the art of blade making in 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,120 Sheffield, England. And while their history runs 5 00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:15,600 deep, their eyes are always on the future. 6 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,640 That's why they created The Revolution, the world's most 7 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,320 advanced figure skating blade. It is the perfect fusion of 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,920 centuries old craftsmanship and cutting edge technology 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,960 delivering unmatched precision, responsiveness and performance. 10 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,880 That's why the majority of world and Olympic champions trust John 11 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,360 Wilson, because when history meets innovation, you get the 12 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:47,320 revolution. Welcome to the Rocker Skating 13 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:52,360 Podcast sponsored by John Wilson Blaze and all its brands. 14 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,040 We're back with previews, Michelle. 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,600 I can't believe it. Hi, Jackie. 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:08,080 For for those of you who are new to the Rocker Skating Podcast 17 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:14,240 and or new to figure skating because you loved it so much at 18 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,200 the Olympics, the season is not over yet and you're like, what 19 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,040 is going on right now? We have a Junior World 20 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,160 championships happening in a week, less than a week, and then 21 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,040 we have a senior World Championships happening at the 22 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,640 end of March. So there's a lot still 23 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,000 happening. And figure skating nerds will 24 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:42,200 tell you world and junior worlds after the Olympics. 25 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,000 If I can categorize it as fun, I think I would. 26 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,600 Fun is one of the adjectives that we would use for for those. 27 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,320 Messy is another adjective that we could use for those. 28 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:04,160 Chaotic would be another one. Michelle, what would you call 29 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,560 it? I feel like if I weren't so 30 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,960 tired from the Olympics, these would 2 be like two of my 31 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:10,360 favorite competitions in the quad. 32 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,080 They're yeah, very unpredictable. 33 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,880 And we often see like, I don't know, like breakthrough 34 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:22,160 performances at junior worlds. That exactly, like really 35 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,440 extraordinary as something about like the juniors, like still 36 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,880 like improving throughout the season. 37 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,120 Their season is so long. They've been competing since 38 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,800 like, August and, you know, they're being inspired by the 39 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,880 Olympics and yeah, I'm excited. Yeah, totally. 40 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,480 Let let's, let's talk about that in just a second, But a couple 41 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:48,800 of pieces of news for Worlds, which is we had the first set of 42 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,880 entries that came out and Worlds will be in Prague this year. 43 00:02:53,920 --> 00:03:00,320 But as we know and we know every, even every Worlds, right, 44 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,920 the, the first list that comes out is never the final list that 45 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:08,120 happens. There are always withdrawals, 46 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,880 there are substitutions or all kinds of stuff. 47 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,440 I, when I was at the Olympics, I heard about a number of them, 48 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:20,760 some of which may not actually happen, but some of it has 49 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,040 already happened, which is, yes, some haven't happened yet. 50 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:31,480 But Luna Hendrix being out of worlds, that was, that was for 51 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,800 me expected. I heard about just basically 52 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:38,600 she's she's Michelle and I talked to her at the World 53 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,040 Championships or at the Olympics and she was basically like week, 54 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,720 I don't even know. I didn't even know last week if 55 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,400 I could come to the Olympics, right. 56 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:53,640 And so she was really holding it together to just be competing 57 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,400 there. And she competed and it was 58 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,120 often very, it was just very, you know, like she gave it her 59 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,200 all there. And so no worlds for Luna 60 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,280 Hendrix. And then Lyra Kiara after 61 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,840 winning the Olympics, they're not going to worlds. 62 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:15,000 They were originally on the the list but withdrew. 63 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,640 Japan does not have a second or a third pair to send. 64 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,959 And so there's no substitution for that. 65 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,480 And Luna Hendricks will be substituted by Yada Hoveen, who 66 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:32,280 sadly missed worlds by like a fraction of a point last year 67 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,000 because of the world, the the, the technical minimums. 68 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:41,720 And she gets to go this year. So she's very excited, but 69 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,960 expecting there to be maybe a couple more before. 70 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:51,000 Yeah, I mean, I don't have any inside information, but I feel 71 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:52,720 like that there's going to be some in dance. 72 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,360 I mean, it's like these, they're not all going. 73 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,840 There's no way. Yeah, those two were were 74 00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:00,840 certainly two of the ones that I, I knew about beforehand. 75 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:04,040 And then, you know, we'll see what happens with with the rest 76 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,800 of them. So that's the World 77 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:08,880 Championships. Well, we will talk more about 78 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,920 the World Championships as the the next few weeks come along. 79 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:22,800 But to your point about Junior worlds being something of a what 80 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,640 do you call it? Star making debut events. 81 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,880 It certainly is star making. I mean, you look at some of the 82 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,840 post Olympic World Champion or Junior World Championships that 83 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:40,600 we've seen in the past 20-30 years or so, right? 84 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:47,760 2002 you had Daisuke Takahashi winning. 2006 you had Takahiko 85 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:55,040 Kozuka. 2010 you had Yuzuru Hanyu. 2014 Nathan Chen was the 86 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,280 bronze medalist. Yelena Ilenik and Nikita 87 00:05:58,280 --> 00:06:01,600 Katsalapov winning in 2010, Yeah. 88 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:02,960 Right. Yeah, and they. 89 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,880 They have Vancouver and I was like, do I want to be a Junior 90 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,080 World? Yeah. 91 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,840 Yeah, I mean you, you look at the women too, right? 92 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:21,560 Like what was it 2014 was Radionova was Medvedeva that was 93 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:27,840 that was that year. Truseva was 2018, Isabel Levito 94 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:32,880 was 2022 and Jia Shin was also 2022. 95 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:37,440 And because of the the age eligibility changes that have 96 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,600 happened over the past four years, she stayed in juniors for 97 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:49,240 then the next Four Seasons and one forced world silver medals 98 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,520 in a row. And of course she. 99 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,840 Was at the Olympics. Right, she was at the Olympics. 100 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:56,240 So she won't be. In Junior World to get. 101 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,040 Yeah, she'll be in senior worlds and for the first time in a 102 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,960 whole Olympic cycle, we will have a new silver medalist at 103 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,680 junior worlds. I mean, crazy. 104 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,280 We'll talk about the women in just a bit, but like Sway and 105 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:18,680 Han in 2010, Tarasova Morozov in 2014, like you, just you look at 106 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:24,320 the, the skaters who have been through junior worlds in the 107 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:29,240 post Olympic junior worlds competitions. 108 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:34,920 And you know, these are these are some names that we got so 109 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,560 excited to see where it all goes. 110 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,720 Since we we're on the subject of the women, let's start with the 111 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,360 women. OK. 112 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:50,040 Oh, we won't have a four, five time. 113 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,720 No. Junior World silver medalist but 114 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,880 we might have a four time Junior World champion, won't we? 115 00:07:55,880 --> 00:08:01,200 Yeah, that's that's crazy. I mean, let's go Mao. 116 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,320 But that if she doesn't win, she's never lost an 117 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,560 international competition. She's been first at every single 118 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:11,480 one she's ever done. So I I expect her to win, but 119 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,040 you never know and we haven't seen her compete in a minute. 120 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,040 It's been since Japanese nationals. 121 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,560 I don't know if she's done any. She's she's done a domestic one, 122 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:25,440 I'm pretty sure in January, but that was that was sort. 123 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,200 Of it, it'll be interesting to see what her score is too. 124 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,920 And then looking at like you add some additional steps into it 125 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,960 where it would have finished in the Olympic, the Olympic 126 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,559 results. Well, we, we remember very 127 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:44,920 famously in 2006, Mao Asada and you're not Kim. 128 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:51,600 We're not at the Olympics. And it was you, not Kim, who won 129 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,360 in 20 in 2006 and Mahasada who was second. 130 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,720 So that, you know, for some foreshadowing going on there, 131 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,560 you know, you look down this list like you and I had both had 132 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:13,040 to dig into our memory banks of what happened during the Junior 133 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,000 Grand Prix, which felt like a lifetime ago. 134 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,360 And you know, because these are these are juniors, right? 135 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:27,000 Like they a season for them is actually a a long time in terms 136 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,200 of growth. But I, I do think we had a 137 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:34,400 little bit of, of with us with the women because we, we, we 138 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,680 have a little bit of a refresher because we saw them at Korean 139 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:40,560 nationals, Japanese nationals and US nationals. 140 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,120 So some of them are in my memory. 141 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,360 Some of them I I kind of had to dig for. 142 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,720 I mean, they're, they're you certainly have like the, the, 143 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,520 the three Japanese women, right? Mao Shimada, Maiyuka Oka, which, 144 00:09:55,520 --> 00:10:01,480 who I love and I, I, I'm so excited to see if she can really 145 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:06,400 bring it because she just, she has such a maturity about her 146 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:11,560 skating. May Okada, who is like a a 147 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:15,240 different kind of breed of skater from like the the three 148 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:19,600 Japanese women who are going to junior worlds are going to be 149 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:24,880 all three very different in terms of style, in terms of jump 150 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:26,600 technique, in terms of everything. 151 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,560 And they all, they all are great. 152 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:34,320 You got the two Korean women who are not the two Korean women you 153 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:38,600 expected to be here. You Song Kim, you expected her 154 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:45,800 sister UJ Kim did not skate as well at Korean nationals and 155 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:50,160 therefore did not get the spot for Junior World. 156 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:54,880 She Uha, she's the one who got the spot and she's she's a 157 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:56,920 beautiful, artistic skater. I love her. 158 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:04,760 So those, those 5 right, like, yeah, totally those 5, you would 159 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:09,720 expect them to be amongst the top, but then you got a whole 160 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,680 bunch of others who who really like you. 161 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,280 You never know with these women because it's like you get a 162 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,760 couple of clean programs and all of a sudden your, your, your 163 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,760 score is way up there because some of these skaters really 164 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:28,760 have some big difficulty. I was remembering Hannah Bath 165 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,120 when I was going through this list and she was such a standout 166 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,480 on the Junior Grand Prix. She had a really strong triple 167 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:40,360 axle, triple toe combo. And yeah, I, I feel like she, 168 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,560 she was very like near to breaking through to winning some 169 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:46,840 of her events. And I think she could. 170 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:51,440 She could make a move here. She was very close to, she was 171 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,040 very close to getting into the Junior Grand Prix Final. 172 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,360 If it weren't for an invalidated jump, she would have. 173 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,920 Yeah, one of those. Yeah, yeah. 174 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,920 And then Sophie Jolene we saw at Nationals, but I'm excited to 175 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,040 see her here. I'm really interested in what 176 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:10,920 kind of technical content she attempts. 177 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,120 Nationals were, was I think the only event she did this year 178 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:19,880 that she didn't attempt her quad sow but I, I would guess we're 179 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:23,160 going to see it again here. Yeah. 180 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:25,680 Yeah. I mean, they're they're going to 181 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:31,840 be a lot of triple axels in this group, like Sophie Jolene. 182 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,840 All three of the Japanese women are likely going to be trying 183 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,000 triple axels. Yousong Kim has a triple Axel. 184 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,120 Inga Gerganitze has a triple Axel. 185 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,280 I don't, I think she's done it this season. 186 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:52,000 Hannah Bath has a triple Axel. Leandra Zimpukakis has a triple 187 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,080 Axel. Like all. 188 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,640 Really. Yeah, yeah, She, I don't think 189 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,000 she's. Landed it cleanly. 190 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,240 Yeah, I don't think she's landed it cleanly yet, but she's done 191 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,640 cues and, you know, it's a it's a nice jump. 192 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,760 So we'll see. It's, it's, it'll be really 193 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:15,480 interesting to, to just watch this group and, and see who 194 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:20,280 could potentially, you know, if Mao Shamada has an off day, who 195 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:24,400 could, who could dethrone her because she has not been immune 196 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:29,080 to mistakes this season. That's true, yeah. 197 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,440 And I, you know, for me, it's like you want a dark horse for, 198 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,800 for the upset. I my Yuko Oka is my my vote. 199 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,480 Yeah, Oh yeah. I mean, her short program is 200 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,560 glorious. And I mean, I'm going to be 201 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:45,880 eating my words, but I'm going to say when everyone skates 202 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,240 clean, I feel like she deserves to win the short program. 203 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,720 You know, I'm, I'm sure like a week from now, Mao Schmad is 204 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,880 going to make me look like an idiot for saying that. 205 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,840 But that's just that's just my my my opinion. 206 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,760 Well, the the interesting thing about the Junior women short 207 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:08,360 program is you cannot do a solo triple Axel as your as your axle 208 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,840 jump as opposed to you know, we saw it with Amber Glenn, right 209 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,880 and and others who do a triple axle as the solo axle jump. 210 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,920 You have to do a double axle for your solo axle jump. 211 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,800 And therefore if you want to put a triple axle in, it has to be. 212 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,800 Combo. It has to be the the combo. 213 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,840 Yeah, it has to be the combo because you have to do a triple 214 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,600 flip, right? This year, no triple loop. 215 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,760 This year it's a triple loop so so the only place where you 216 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,600 could do the triple Axel is in the combo, which makes it 217 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,720 doubly. Risky. 218 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,000 Risky, right? I, I, I know. 219 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,560 We know that Sophie Jolene has the triple Axel combo in her 220 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:54,040 short program. Yeah. 221 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,280 But Mao Shimada does not. Yeah, Mao Shimada has not done 222 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,480 that. I think Hannah Math has done 223 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:01,720 that. I might be wrong. 224 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,680 So you know, that that short program will be interesting. 225 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,680 You wonder if my Yuko Oka has been, you know, over the last 226 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,760 couple months been like, how do I add this triple Axel in the 227 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,920 short program, You know, and then she's got a beautiful one, 228 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:16,480 and she does it well. When I was at Japanese 229 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,200 nationals, it was just like, yeah. 230 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,160 Yeah. She was just landing all these 231 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:21,600 triple axes. I was like, Oh my God, they're 232 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,000 so good. Yeah. 233 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:28,520 So women, oof, excited to see where that goes. 234 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,120 Let's go to dance 'cause I know you want to go to dance. 235 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,080 There's a very clear favorite here. 236 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:41,000 Yes, I I think so, but I don't think that they they're 237 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,440 unbeatable. So Hanna Maria Aboyan and Daniel 238 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,120 Veselucan of the United States adore them. 239 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,880 They have so much personality. It's just like oozing out of 240 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,840 them. I mean, I'm expecting to 241 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:54,480 sensational performances from them. 242 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:56,400 I'm so excited to see them compete again. 243 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,560 And they won the Junior Grand Prix final. 244 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:06,040 So it it seems like they're the the likely winners of worlds, 245 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,600 but junior worlds. But I think that they're, I 246 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,000 mean, there's a bit of competition I think from a 247 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,760 couple other teams I want to mention, like First off, the 248 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,520 French team, Amber Perrier, Gionescini and Samuel Blanc 249 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:23,520 Klopperman, they were sensational at the Junior Grand 250 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,040 Prix Final. They were so good. 251 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:26,720 They have really strong programs. 252 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,520 They've been competing really well this year. 253 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,320 I think they're going to be right there. 254 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,760 I don't, you know, we'll see, we'll see what will happen. 255 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,000 I think the Ukrainian team should be in the mix as well. 256 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:43,960 Let me scroll back down to them, Irina Pidgayina and RTM Kaval 257 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,960 maybe saying that wrong, but they have a very like they have 258 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,880 like a senior look like they're very mature. 259 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,280 They have some like unbelievable lifts. 260 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:59,480 Their free dance is it's just so upbeat and complicated and 261 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:05,160 flashy and I know. We'll see one Grand Prix final 262 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:08,960 of you remember they they were very tight at the Grand Prix, 263 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:13,040 the junior Grand Prix final at the end of third a boy and 264 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:18,160 vessel Lukin won that by 7 points over Perrier Giannisini 265 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:22,920 and Blanc Kopperman. There's I think the the six who 266 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:28,560 went to junior worlds are likely going to be the six who are 267 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,800 fighting for for the sorry Junior Grand Prix Final are 268 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:33,720 like. Junior Grand Prix Final. 269 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,840 My brain are likely going to be the six who are fighting for the 270 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:45,480 junior world's podium and and they've been close this season. 271 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,960 They were not so close at the Junior Grand Prix Final because 272 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,440 of some mistakes. Because, you know, I think there 273 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:57,760 were there were some when when you got all of them sort of in 274 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,280 the same place going back-to-back to back it the, 275 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,360 the, the differences in their components really start to show. 276 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,720 And so that's why you saw, you know, a boy in Veseluc and, as 277 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,920 Michelle has said, the best vogue rhythm dance of the 278 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:16,360 season. Absolutely. 279 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:19,040 I stand by that and that's phenomenal. 280 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,800 Yeah, you know, they that's a stand out program for them for 281 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,560 sure. And they won the short program, 282 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:30,400 that rhythm dance by 3 1/2 points almost at the Junior 283 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,840 Grand Prix Final. So, you know, you wonder if they 284 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,720 skate well, they they can they break 70 here. 285 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:39,080 Yes. You can see. 286 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,760 It Let's go. I junior wants. 287 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:44,520 Yeah. I want to mention the Canadians 288 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:48,360 too, Leila Vellon and Alexander Brandis, they had a mistake in 289 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:50,240 their rhythm dance at Junior Grand Prix final. 290 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,280 I can't remember right now what it is, but I remember that was 291 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,680 distinct and it really took them out of contention. 292 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,280 But they have a really strong free dance as well, and I think 293 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:00,960 they could also be in the metal hunt. 294 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,600 Yeah, I mean, you look at the free dances, right? 295 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,120 They went first out of the six and they they ended up third in 296 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:10,440 the free dance. So that's, that tells you where 297 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,920 the judges are, are are sort of slotting them in some ways. 298 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:19,800 And you know, I think my guess is those 4 will be your podium 299 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,640 in some order. But again, you never know. 300 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:30,280 Like we, we, we saw at the Olympics, a twizzle goes off and 301 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,480 all of a sudden you're in 25, 25th PL. or whatever. 302 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:37,160 Yeah, it's like really tough. Yeah, and the field is that deep 303 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,200 here, so yeah, yeah, Twizzle, twizzle your twizzles. 304 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:43,720 That'll be very interesting to see. 305 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:54,360 Pairs, pairs is very like, I think this is this is one of the 306 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:58,640 stronger set of pairs that we have seen in recent years. 307 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:06,640 I mean recent years being that Olympic silver medalists. 308 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,800 Anastasia Metalkina and Luka Baruova have been at Junior 309 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,080 Worlds over the past couple of years and just like blowing it 310 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,360 out of the water because they're literally a senior pair. 311 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,000 Do you? Think they thought about coming? 312 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:25,080 Like, yeah, there's no way. But but like, you know, they had 313 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:31,400 no business being in junior worlds and they've been, but 314 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,240 that's also to say, I think the, the, the, the set of junior 315 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:40,320 pairs have really skated up and they're, they, how they look, 316 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:45,240 their elements, all of that have improved in the past couple of 317 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:47,480 seasons. And you know, if we got you 318 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:54,320 finally got some Chinese pairs who are back in the mix, you 319 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:59,280 know it, it's been it's been a bit of a glut of Chinese pairs 320 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:04,040 in the juniors in junior field for Zhang and Huang who are 321 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:08,320 going to the World Championships, right, because 322 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,760 Sway and Han are not going. Oh yeah, OK. 323 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,080 Yeah, so. I hadn't noticed that on the 324 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:14,760 list. But yeah, yeah, that's right. 325 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:19,000 I mean, yeah, Song Han. Song Han will not lace up a pair 326 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,760 of skates for the rest of his life because he's like, I'm done 327 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:26,480 with this. So you know Owen Zhang won the 328 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,720 Junior Grand Prix final. Yeah, I, yeah, they are so 329 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:32,960 stunning. I feel like it's they're really 330 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,600 going to do well here, yeah. It's they are they are one of 331 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:44,800 those juniors skaters this season who started off much less 332 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,040 interesting than they have developed. 333 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,760 Like they've gotten better and better during the season and 334 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,720 that's often times you see that trajectory with junior skaters 335 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:57,600 because they are developing as as like right before our eyes. 336 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,200 They're they're getting better and they and they have certainly 337 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:05,360 gotten better. I love Kemp and Elizarov skating 338 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:09,920 the Canadian pair. That's one of the three Canadian 339 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:14,360 pairs who's who's here. They have a, they sometimes have 340 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:18,240 trouble with their side by sides and that's been a big a bit of 341 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:19,920 the issue. But they're, they have some 342 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:25,320 beautiful skating. And then you can't forget about 343 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:30,680 Olivia Flores and Luke Wang, who has not been on the junior 344 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,640 circuit because they've been skating in seniors all season 345 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:38,160 and they they, they, they have they they also have improved. 346 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,520 They had an injury at the very beginning of the season that 347 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:45,720 made them look like they like what was going on, and as the 348 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,640 season has gone on, they've gotten more and more solid so. 349 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,520 Yeah, yeah. They had a great nationals. 350 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:54,360 They skated really well there, yeah. 351 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,880 Yeah, yeah. And you know, don't forget about 352 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,000 Goran Zhang's quad twist. Let's go. 353 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:04,840 The best quad twist I've ever seen. 354 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:08,040 I mean, hands down. Just floats like. 355 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:13,680 Such a nice nice element. So, you know, lots that could 356 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,640 also happen there. And I think it's going to be 357 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:24,280 some fireworks. And I think, as with all pairs 358 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,760 these days, it'll come down to those side by sides. 359 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,600 Unfortunately. Unfortunately, yeah, 360 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,960 unfortunately. All right, let's get on the men 361 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,400 all. Right, this is the big showdown. 362 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:47,120 I look, I, when I was thinking about this a few weeks ago, I 363 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:53,200 was like, oh, it's, it's like the fight between Minkusa and 364 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,360 Rio Nakata and Jacob Sanchez, right? 365 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:01,800 And then I looked at the list and I'm like, no, it's not like 366 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,480 there, there's certainly going to be 3 of them, right? 367 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:08,040 But there's a lot of good skaters here too, Like my 368 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:12,760 goodness, goodness, goodness. I think the Minku and Rio 369 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,840 showdown is the big one. Yes. 370 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,360 And we didn't get to see it play out at the Olympics because 371 00:24:20,360 --> 00:24:23,520 they're both age and eligible, which is sad. 372 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,200 But yeah. And it's been it's been a bit 373 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,200 of, you know, back and forth. Like, you know, I feel like last 374 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,720 year Rio Nakata really had like the the dominance, but Minku 375 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,520 unseated him at the final and it was surprising. 376 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:43,200 And Rio was not happy about it. And yeah, I mean, he's really 377 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,760 going to be looking for vengeance at this event. 378 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:49,920 I mean, he's he's going to be really fired up. 379 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:53,600 He's such a fierce competitor. I'm excited to see how he likes. 380 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,640 Expected to just completely throw down here so. 381 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,200 It was interesting watching him at Japan Nationals and I, I got 382 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:04,320 to see him sort of a couple times here and there and he was, 383 00:25:05,120 --> 00:25:11,000 you know, as much as he is amongst the top of the seniors 384 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,920 right at, at Japan nationals, he was still very much in awe of 385 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,200 the whole thing. And and, you know, taking it all 386 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:24,080 in, he would they sent him to the Olympics to to watch. 387 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,360 And to just like take. In the atmosphere, it was very 388 00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:33,280 good to see him there. But you know, if you if you look 389 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:39,080 at consistency, right, Minku has had the consistency, Rio has had 390 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:43,120 the big jumps, but he's falling apart here. 391 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:46,800 And there. And there's no quad in the short 392 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,280 program. Yeah, yeah. 393 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:54,240 I'm really impressed with how Minku has been so consistent 394 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,440 while growing his arsenal. I think that's so impressive 395 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,160 adding the quad sow in over the course of the season and being 396 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:05,400 strong with it. And yeah, it's it's it's very 397 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:07,320 impressive. But yeah, that the short program 398 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,320 is the very like level playing field. 399 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:12,800 So I think that's a good, I don't know place for mink you to 400 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:14,400 start building. Yeah. 401 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:20,160 You got to be like, if you are in the hunt for a medal, you got 402 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:26,120 to be in the upper 70s into the 80s for for the short program. 403 00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:29,680 Because otherwise if you're digging yourself out of a hole 404 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:33,320 in like in like a, you know, 70 point short program, that's not 405 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,240 that's not going to happen. It's going to be very tough to 406 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:41,000 to see that. But yeah, I mean, Jacob Sanchez, 407 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:46,120 first, first junior competition of the season for him because 408 00:26:46,120 --> 00:26:50,400 he's been also been skating and seniors and he had a great 409 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,040 nationals. He had a. 410 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:56,600 Great 4 continents. His he, it feels like he's 411 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:01,200 starting to round into form a lot more than when when he was 412 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:02,760 at the very beginning of the season. 413 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,840 No quads that I know of. He was training quad Sal at 414 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:09,920 nationals, but it wasn't ready yet. 415 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,200 I don't think it's ready yet unless, unless there's a there's 416 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,200 been a huge development over the past couple of months, but he 417 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,960 will have to rely on. Yeah, he was in Milan. 418 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:24,520 They sent it to Milan because they had a, they had junior 419 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:30,480 world's camp in Italy. In Bergamo, where the American 420 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,480 team, the Olympic team was training, which was really cool, 421 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,760 yeah. Good to see, like all of them 422 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,400 being kind of part of this Olympic atmosphere. 423 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,720 But like, outside of the three of them, Lucius Kasanecki, 424 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:51,680 right, Like he was the surprise bronze medalist at at the Junior 425 00:27:51,680 --> 00:28:00,280 Grand Prix Final hop in Choi, who is the the sort of opposite 426 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,480 of Menku saw in a lot of ways because he's the one who brings 427 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:09,720 in all the technical firepower in Korea, but doesn't have the 428 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,920 same kind of basics as Menku does. 429 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:18,520 But you know, if he if he skates well, he's he's certainly got a 430 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:23,400 shot. Taiga Nishino, Daya Ebihara, 431 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:30,840 Yanghao Lee, I mean. And not in the metal, not in the 432 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,200 metal conversation, really. But I'm really excited to see 433 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,960 you, Shan Lee, again. I don't know. 434 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:39,400 He's, you know, props to him doing another competition after 435 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:41,680 the three weeks we had and I didn't have to skate. 436 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,760 Yeah, he's coming down from, I mean, he was, he was training 437 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:51,920 and training and training in, in the last week before the closing 438 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,040 ceremony. I was, I, I was watching him do 439 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,480 triple flip triples, triple loops. 440 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:59,160 See, I was watching him do like different things. 441 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,040 I was watching him do quad letzes. 442 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,480 He was trying quad letzes. That Olympic practice Ice Post 443 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,400 event is really profitable for a lot of people. 444 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,480 You're just watching these, these, these do other things. 445 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:14,320 He's the only Olympian in the field. 446 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:17,960 I think he is. Possibly. 447 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:24,440 Possibly somebody's going to tell us somebody else's was on 448 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,360 was in there, but. No, I don't think so. 449 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:31,240 I mean, because the Paris the Paris definitely in the dance 450 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:38,200 weren't and then of the women so like these a couple different 451 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:42,680 countries like France, Israel, Estonia, they have entries, but 452 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:44,600 they're not what their Olympic entries were. 453 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:47,240 So yeah, I'm, I'm pretty sure he's the only Olympian at junior 454 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,680 worlds from Olympian, from Milan, Olympian in general. 455 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,920 Yeah, it's, it's going to be a fun Junior World. 456 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:01,960 It it will be a marathon. Yeah, and it's back. 457 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:04,480 We're back in the the home of figure skating. 458 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:07,800 Tallinn, Estonia. Tallinn. 459 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:10,920 For those of you who don't know about what Michelle is talking 460 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:19,040 about, Tallinn, Estonia has been both the hosts of many big 461 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:24,960 competitions and the substitute hosts when the when some other 462 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:28,080 hosts couldn't do it. Like there was one year when 4 463 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:33,680 Continents was also at in Thailand because it was supposed 464 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:35,200 to have been in Beijing, I think. 465 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:37,920 And they couldn't do it because of COVID. 466 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,560 And they were like, we have to get somebody else to do it. 467 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:44,680 And Thailand was like, hey, we're going to host both 468 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:50,720 Europeans and 4 continents. Like 4, they're hosting a 469 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:54,320 competition that has no entries from their own continent. 470 00:30:54,720 --> 00:31:00,400 That's incredible. It's something else, but it's, 471 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:05,080 it is a, it is quite the marathon because we have 43 men, 472 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:13,080 we have 51 women, we have 30 ice dance teams and then pairs is 473 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,720 the only place where we get a little bit of reprieve and we 474 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:20,640 get 18 pairs. But like, you know, we're, we're 475 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:27,320 talking about 51 women. Over half of those 51 women will 476 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,920 not make it to the 24 person free skate. 477 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:36,240 But they will make it onto the Rocker Skating Twitter feed. 478 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:40,120 Live call of the event. They will because. 479 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:42,720 I hope, I hope you stayed on the whole. 480 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:47,680 Thing I'm watching and live tweeting and giving you 481 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:50,840 everything for all of next week so. 482 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:56,440 I may not catch them all, but I will catch as many as I can, 483 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:03,240 yeah. Oh boy, it's it's going to be a 484 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:04,520 long week. Mm hmm. 485 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:08,120 It'll be it really will be interesting to see how how all 486 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:11,480 of these skaters do because it's like it really is for some of 487 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,280 these skaters. This will be the biggest event 488 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:20,360 that they will ever skate in. And it's it's very cool for some 489 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:25,080 of these smaller feds, some of these rising feds, like there 490 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:28,240 there's someone from Kyrgyzstan who is skating. 491 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,320 In the next event. Like I've never seen Kyrgyzstan 492 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,320 in in a competition before. They, I'm, I'm guessing they 493 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:37,880 were in a junior Grand Prix at some point as well. 494 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:42,800 But you know, you have you, you do have a lot of these different 495 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:49,240 federations who aren't necessarily in the big leagues 496 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:53,120 all the time. And you know, Hong Kong's got a 497 00:32:53,120 --> 00:33:00,320 couple of people, Kyrgyzstan, New Zealand's got a couple, 498 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:03,240 right. Yonhali is part of part of the 499 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:08,040 New Zealand team. Like there's just it, it'll be 500 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:12,360 very interesting to, to, to see these and, and again, for, for 501 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:16,720 the, for the figure skating fans out there, especially for those 502 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:21,840 who are new to Junior World. If you're going to watch Junior 503 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:25,320 world's, it's a different level of competition, but it's also a 504 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:29,960 very different, the stakes are very different, right? 505 00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:34,000 The what it means to these skaters is also very different. 506 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:37,200 Like some of these skaters, Junior World is basically like 507 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:41,200 their Olympics and it's a very cool thing for them to be. 508 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:46,680 And some of these skaters may not make it to the big leagues, 509 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:54,720 but they will likely have some kind of effect on their own 510 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:58,000 countries and the future of skating in their own countries, 511 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:02,840 which you really have to take that into account. 512 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:08,800 Yeah. Junior World's starting on 513 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:12,440 Wednesday and going on for five years. 514 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:15,320 The short programs will take a long time. 515 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:21,280 Yeah, don't, don't miss the last groups of these, of the free 516 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:24,080 skates for these events, because you're going to be watching the 517 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:27,600 skaters in them for many years and it's your first real look at 518 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:29,920 them, you know. Well, for some of them. 519 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:34,800 Yeah. Before we before we end on this 520 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:39,840 thing, I do have what one thing I will mention is that this 521 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:46,480 junior world's is the end or not the end, but the continuation of 522 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:52,679 this control experiments, if you will, of the ISU, which is it's 523 00:34:52,679 --> 00:34:57,080 which is basically this age eligibility change that happened 524 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:04,800 four years ago where a good number of the skaters who are 525 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,920 who have been competing over the past four years in the junior 526 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:16,840 events had expected to be seniors before this Olympic 527 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:20,120 Games happened. Mao Shimano was one of those. 528 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:27,200 And because of the age eligibility changes, there are a 529 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:33,120 number of skaters who now have to reframe their entire career 530 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:37,920 because their Olympics is no longer 2026. 531 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:43,760 Their Olympics is now fast forwarded or extended to 2030. 532 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:50,360 And the grand experiment here is that the hypothesis is if you if 533 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:56,600 you keep skaters in juniors for a longer period of time, they 534 00:35:56,600 --> 00:36:03,880 will have time to develop both artistically and in their 535 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:09,120 potential longevity. And we will see over the next 536 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:14,960 four years if that does become the case, you know, like does Ma 537 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:19,440 Shamada make it all the way to 2030? 538 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:25,040 I I hope so but she's been doing triple axels for like 4 years. 539 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:27,120 And quad toe. Yeah, and quad toe and. 540 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:29,720 Who knows what else at home, Yeah. 541 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:34,320 And and these skaters that we're talking about the the women 542 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:37,520 especially, that's that's where it the the effects will see. 543 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:40,800 It's see will materialize. Most is in the women's event. 544 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:44,240 We're seeing a lot of triple axels here. 545 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,120 We are seeing a lot of skaters really up the ante. 546 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:53,520 And the question is, does that follow through in the senior 547 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:58,680 events or will they be just doing the triple axels in the 548 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:02,400 junior ranks and maybe the first year or so in the senior and 549 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:04,360 then it falls away. We don't know yet. 550 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:06,880 We have no idea. This has not, this has never 551 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:10,800 happened before and and this is this will be something that we 552 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:12,840 will be keeping an eye on over the four years. 553 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:18,440 Yeah, just looking through the ages of some of the skaters we 554 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:23,320 mentioned, Mao Shimada, Yousong Kim and Sophie Jolene Van Felten 555 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:25,760 will be eligible to move up to senior next year 556 00:37:25,920 --> 00:37:28,640 internationally. I assume they will, but we don't 557 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:32,360 know. But Maiuka, Oka and Maokada have 558 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:39,480 another year or two to wait. So, yeah, the the next four 559 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:42,560 years will certainly be interesting and seeing these 560 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:47,120 junior skaters from from this past quad going up to seniors. 561 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:52,560 All right, well, I'm going to go sleep for a couple of days and 562 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:55,880 wake up to do all of these short programs. 563 00:37:55,880 --> 00:38:01,600 But I'm, I'm, I'm excited for more skating, frankly, I will be 564 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:04,720 very interested to see how much Ricky Martin we have in. 565 00:38:04,720 --> 00:38:09,880 Oh my gosh, it's going to be hours. 30 hours rhythm dances. 566 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:13,160 Ricky Martin himself will be at the boards singing. 567 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:17,160 I'm so excited for that. The same song, Maria. 568 00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:21,320 Yeah, Maria over and over again. Maria, yeah, yeah. 569 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:25,080 And you know, the 4th place finisher at Junior World's last 570 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:27,160 year in the women's event ended up in the Olympic podium. 571 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:31,280 So if you missed the podium, don't worry. 572 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:39,320 Pretty well next year. Was was, I mean Akai 4th last 573 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:40,680 year? Mm hmm. 574 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:46,240 Yeah, at least Lynn Gracie beat her for the bronze medal I just 575 00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:47,280 got. This feeling that. 576 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:49,360 Wild. Yeah, I know. 577 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,400 Crazy, right? But that's also the thing. 578 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:56,120 I mean, Akai had a really not great junior season last year. 579 00:38:57,360 --> 00:38:59,920 Yeah. Just not really not great season 580 00:38:59,920 --> 00:39:02,760 period. Last season she was 15th at 581 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:06,320 Japan Nationals Like. Wow. 582 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:12,960 Yeah, I, I, that's, that was how how she sort of like navigated 583 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:18,680 last season and, and it was it was on the heels of like a good 584 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:25,760 Junior Grand Prix final and, and, and a decent junior 585 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:30,880 Japanese nationals that she made it to the Junior World 586 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:34,800 Championships, but. Well, the season, yeah, the 587 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:38,160 season before, she was 10th at nationals and wasn't even 588 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:40,720 assigned to junior worlds. It was the season before that, 589 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:44,440 202223, where she was third at junior worlds and 4th at 590 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:48,160 nationals Senior. That's interesting. 591 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:50,480 She's had quite a quite a wild ride in. 592 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:53,360 Juniors, I think. Yeah, the growth, the growth for 593 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:56,320 its for certainly part of it. It was good for her too, I 594 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:57,360 think. Yeah. 595 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:04,440 Yeah, OK, that's it for our junior world's preview. 596 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:10,360 Those of you again who are new to figure skating because of the 597 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:15,720 Olympics, welcome to the fray because it's the juniors are are 598 00:40:15,720 --> 00:40:19,200 very interesting bunch and I hope you continue to watch. 599 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:22,680 We can watch them on YouTube. And you can watch him on 600 00:40:22,760 --> 00:40:24,240 YouTube. Yeah, hopefully with Mark 601 00:40:24,240 --> 00:40:26,720 Henry's commentary, I haven't asked him, but I assume he's 602 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:27,800 doing this. I think he. 603 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:32,880 Is I think he is I think he told me he was so everything will be 604 00:40:33,240 --> 00:40:41,640 live streamed 0 Geo blocking on the ISU skating let's go YouTube 605 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:47,440 channel. It's at skating ISU so easy to 606 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:54,080 watch and and no no no need to figure out your VPNs. 607 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:58,880 You can use one if you want, but you don't know exactly you. 608 00:40:58,880 --> 00:40:59,840 Don't need. You don't need to. 609 00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:04,680 All right, Well, for Michelle Ellis, this is Jackie Wong, 610 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:07,280 chief skate nerd of rockerskating.com. 611 00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:12,480 Thanks as always to John Wilson Blades for sponsorship and to 612 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:19,200 Tara Nichols who only has 1/2 hour well 40 minutes of of this 613 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:28,000 preview to edit and produce. The other thing also is there 614 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:30,840 were a couple of interviews that came out over the past couple of 615 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:34,960 days, which I think you would be very interested in Yuna Aoki. 616 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:38,040 They are interview from a couple weeks ago just came out. 617 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:42,360 She was a delight to talk to. I loved having the chance to 618 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:45,160 interview her. So it's on YouTube. 619 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:47,800 It's on all the podcast channels. 620 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:50,000 Go take a listen and go take a watch. 621 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:57,960 And then also if you are excited about pins, and I know, I know 622 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:00,040 Michelle was certainly excited about pins. 623 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:07,120 I'm very excited about the. Pins I I rounded up three of the 624 00:42:07,240 --> 00:42:12,120 premier figure skating pin connoisseurs from Milan. 625 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:17,800 That would be Maddie Skisys, James Hernandez and Anthony 626 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:20,640 Panamarenko. We had three different countries 627 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:25,280 of experiences, but they all were very much talking to each 628 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:30,320 other at the Olympics, figuring out all of their pin strategy 629 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:35,480 and pin trading. You think my pin collection was 630 00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:39,320 impressive? It is nothing compared to those 631 00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:40,280 three. It was. 632 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:44,160 It was it was so fun. I I when I was editing, all I 633 00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:46,240 was doing was just laughing my ass off. 634 00:42:46,240 --> 00:42:49,400 It was just such a fun video to shoot. 635 00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:55,960 So that that's on my YouTube rap rocker skating and go take a 636 00:42:55,960 --> 00:42:58,240 look at that when you get a chance. 637 00:42:59,720 --> 00:43:05,200 Anything else, Michelle? I have a a fun pin trading story 638 00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:08,520 about James Hernandez. I can share if we, if we haven't 639 00:43:08,520 --> 00:43:13,840 gone too long. So as you know, in I gave you 640 00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,640 the NBC pin, gave you the NBC pin with a coffee cup on it. 641 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:19,840 And James Hernandez saw that you had it and asked me for it. 642 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:23,280 And so I was doing everything I could to track down more because 643 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,480 we had like a pin shortage in the NBC pins. 644 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:26,960 Like Andrea ordered her own pins. 645 00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:30,200 Like they're just not enough. My production manager had to 646 00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:34,600 actually request 2 coffee cup pins from another venue for me 647 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:37,160 to give to James because I was like, they're British. 648 00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:39,760 She was British. I'm like, please, please. 649 00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:40,800 She did it. She did it for me. 650 00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:44,600 And then like the day, the next day, Ting Tsui, who is working 651 00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:46,560 with us, comes up with a bag of pins. 652 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:49,560 There's probably like, I don't know, 30 NBC pins in it. 653 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:52,800 And she's like, look at this bag of pins that James asked Johnny 654 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:54,840 to get for him. Johnny asked me to give this to 655 00:43:54,840 --> 00:43:56,760 James. I mean it's like every pin you 656 00:43:56,760 --> 00:44:01,320 could imagine from NBCI was like he's, he is tapping everybody at 657 00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:04,080 our company trying to get all the pins. 658 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:07,160 So James probably has the most comprehensive collection of NBC 659 00:44:07,160 --> 00:44:09,280 pins from Milano Cortina that is out there. 660 00:44:10,480 --> 00:44:12,920 It's very comprehensive for sure. 661 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:18,520 He's he's yeah, he had a busy side hustle going skating was 662 00:44:18,520 --> 00:44:21,800 secondary to the pin collecting. I mean, you're there for three 663 00:44:21,800 --> 00:44:22,800 weeks. Yeah. 664 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:25,280 You, you practice, you have some downtime. 665 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:28,040 What do you do? You go and trade some pins. 666 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:31,520 Yeah, That's that's, it's such a sport over there. 667 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:35,600 It's like the unheralded pastime of Olympians. 668 00:44:35,800 --> 00:44:37,600 Yeah, he's going to be one of those people that has his own 669 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:39,920 pin in 20-30. Absolutely. 670 00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:43,680 I mean, when we were talking about it, like his face just lit 671 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:45,400 up, he was like. Oh, we. 672 00:44:46,280 --> 00:44:48,840 Should do that. All right. 673 00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:50,360 OK, we're really going this time. 674 00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:54,680 We'll talk to you again soon and the and the Junior World 675 00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:58,760 Championships will be happening in less than three days, so see 676 00:44:58,760 --> 00:44:59,560 you later. Bye. 677 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:00,560 Bye.