Last part of FS Life 21 Kazuki interview translation:
--Besides jumps what do you need to do in order to move up more?
I have the feeling that my jumps have been getting into pretty good shape this season. But having seen such a big point gap between Hanyu senshu and me with almost the same technical content in the short (at 4CC), although it was a matter of course, I became painfully aware of a lack of my skills. I try to think super positive and now realize that when my jumps are clean, they add points even when they are not as big as Hanyu's. So while I cannot catch up with him immediately, if I focus on working on skating skills and spins, I will get higher points with the same technical content (laugh). After all, my skating skills are not good enough, and my scores on the bottom (t/n: perhaps referring to the PCS) are not good at all either. I became particularly aware at the 4CC that my content was put together fine, but I needed a higher degree of perfection.
--You commented on that when you were interviewed by the media at the arena.
I felt down big time at the 4CC. Every year I’ve been told so and I’ve been working on them in practice, but I realized I needed to try harder. I get good marks on steps, but as to overall flow and skating skills, I am not quite steady on my feet. Compared to Yuma I have a long way to go. He has solid skating skills and basics and he also shows his high potential by how he uses his knees. I strongly feel that these are the things I need, and I’m glad that I noticed the differences having skated there and seen them with my own eyes
--These two require continuous effort.
This time my sensei must have been super inspired as well, and all he tells me to do is these two (laughs). Both sensei and I know what I need to do. We agree that I should train skating skills and spins. My scores will go up only If my improvement is noticeable. In order to do so, I need to try extra hard. I assume everybody is working on skating skills during the off season so I have to work twice as hard as anyone else or more. Actually I have a blast as I have a lot of things to do (laughs). I fall down sometimes while working on skating skills and go “No can do.” (laughs)
--Speaking of 4CC, during the free of Hanyu senshu you and some others like Canadian Nam senshu were visibly excited in the green room (space for the tentative top three skaters).
Ahaha! I didn’t have to be in the green room any more so I said “I’m out of here,” but Yuma-kun asked me to stay with him, so I said “okay then, let’s see him together.” I was blown away by his skate as expected. Each time I see him skate I’m genuinely amazed. It’s not the matter of his technique. He is absolutely strong. There is no question about the level of his techniques, but having his techniques as a matter of course, he is capable of taking advantage of them to the maximum extent, so he is really awesome. I suppose that having practiced and prepared for the event to the fullest, having such great techniques as well as a strong will and determination, all these are combined into such a performance. All I can say now at my level is that he is awesome and after having seen his practice and performance, I shouldn’t be satisfied with the practice I’ve been doing. Every time he makes me feel that way I can make progress, so he means so much to me. Actually, I had fun watching him at that time because he was beyond awesome (laughs).
--Then the next time I interview you, you will have brought your skating skills and spins up to the next level.
Well, I guess.....these things are so deep and difficult after all. It will probably take years. Even though I get to do well in practice, it’s still difficult to bring it in the program and do well. I have a long road ahead of me, but I am practicing so that people will notice my progress even a tiny bit and overcome my weaknesses even just a little bit. My biggest goal is the Olympics and in order to get there in time I have to practice hard and eliminate my flaws one by one. By doing so, I hope my points will skyrocket. I don’t think I can make an immediate huge improvement to the level of Patrick Chan (laughs) but I want to bring the best I can do now to the Olympics as much as possible, and that’s my goal. In order to take more advantage of my strengths I am working hard on skating skills and spins. I want to showcase these at the next competition.
...End
--Besides jumps what do you need to do in order to move up more?
I have the feeling that my jumps have been getting into pretty good shape this season. But having seen such a big point gap between Hanyu senshu and me with almost the same technical content in the short (at 4CC), although it was a matter of course, I became painfully aware of a lack of my skills. I try to think super positive and now realize that when my jumps are clean, they add points even when they are not as big as Hanyu's. So while I cannot catch up with him immediately, if I focus on working on skating skills and spins, I will get higher points with the same technical content (laugh). After all, my skating skills are not good enough, and my scores on the bottom (t/n: perhaps referring to the PCS) are not good at all either. I became particularly aware at the 4CC that my content was put together fine, but I needed a higher degree of perfection.
--You commented on that when you were interviewed by the media at the arena.
I felt down big time at the 4CC. Every year I’ve been told so and I’ve been working on them in practice, but I realized I needed to try harder. I get good marks on steps, but as to overall flow and skating skills, I am not quite steady on my feet. Compared to Yuma I have a long way to go. He has solid skating skills and basics and he also shows his high potential by how he uses his knees. I strongly feel that these are the things I need, and I’m glad that I noticed the differences having skated there and seen them with my own eyes
--These two require continuous effort.
This time my sensei must have been super inspired as well, and all he tells me to do is these two (laughs). Both sensei and I know what I need to do. We agree that I should train skating skills and spins. My scores will go up only If my improvement is noticeable. In order to do so, I need to try extra hard. I assume everybody is working on skating skills during the off season so I have to work twice as hard as anyone else or more. Actually I have a blast as I have a lot of things to do (laughs). I fall down sometimes while working on skating skills and go “No can do.” (laughs)
--Speaking of 4CC, during the free of Hanyu senshu you and some others like Canadian Nam senshu were visibly excited in the green room (space for the tentative top three skaters).
Ahaha! I didn’t have to be in the green room any more so I said “I’m out of here,” but Yuma-kun asked me to stay with him, so I said “okay then, let’s see him together.” I was blown away by his skate as expected. Each time I see him skate I’m genuinely amazed. It’s not the matter of his technique. He is absolutely strong. There is no question about the level of his techniques, but having his techniques as a matter of course, he is capable of taking advantage of them to the maximum extent, so he is really awesome. I suppose that having practiced and prepared for the event to the fullest, having such great techniques as well as a strong will and determination, all these are combined into such a performance. All I can say now at my level is that he is awesome and after having seen his practice and performance, I shouldn’t be satisfied with the practice I’ve been doing. Every time he makes me feel that way I can make progress, so he means so much to me. Actually, I had fun watching him at that time because he was beyond awesome (laughs).
--Then the next time I interview you, you will have brought your skating skills and spins up to the next level.
Well, I guess.....these things are so deep and difficult after all. It will probably take years. Even though I get to do well in practice, it’s still difficult to bring it in the program and do well. I have a long road ahead of me, but I am practicing so that people will notice my progress even a tiny bit and overcome my weaknesses even just a little bit. My biggest goal is the Olympics and in order to get there in time I have to practice hard and eliminate my flaws one by one. By doing so, I hope my points will skyrocket. I don’t think I can make an immediate huge improvement to the level of Patrick Chan (laughs) but I want to bring the best I can do now to the Olympics as much as possible, and that’s my goal. In order to take more advantage of my strengths I am working hard on skating skills and spins. I want to showcase these at the next competition.
...End
a lot, Rainbow! I think Kazuki is right, and it's SS and spins he needs to work on. But regarding performance and interpretation, he's so underscored :no:
)
