Haruka Imai

when there was Cup of China, there were Eastern Japanese and Western Japanese Championship
Haruka and Dice won Eastern Japan.
http://www.daito.ac.jp/news/details_6218.html
she wore the jacket from her university for local competition.
http://supodai.seesaa.net/article/300442876.html
protocols
http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2012-2013/fs_j/east/data0203.pdf
http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2012-2013/fs_j/east/data0205.pdf
she got new backup plan...she didn't land her 2A well then she replaced her Lz by 2A+3T
the other good news is she didn't have UR call except the 2A she fall.

Thanks for the news shikure. But why did Haruka compete there, since she has a GP assignment? Did she have to, to qualify for nationals?

zarinaballerina wrote:

Thanks for the news shikure. But why did Haruka compete there, since she has a GP assignment? Did she have to, to qualify for nationals?

She didn't get schedule conflict so is Dice... she participated Eastern Japan Championship last year too because she got 1st and 6st assignment of GPS for both years.
Then she didn't have competition within two weeks and she is not seed for JNC (Yuzuru was third last year so he is seed)~stupid JSF rules.
she needs to participate to qualify national based on rules but right before Eastern Japan (very last min) , I saw a list that they listed her as "no need to compete for qualifying"...

to look at the bright side that she can try her programs again before NHK, and she actually tried a lot of different things here.
she changed her SP to 2A, 3Lo+3T then 3S but she didn't land her 3Lo so became 3S+2T again.

btw, Kumiko sensei was there with her

Stupid rules. Oh well, congrats Haruka.

On a sad note, Miu Sato did not even reach the free skate. So, I guess that means she won't go to junior nats and she's done for the season. . .

dangerous_angel_face wrote:

Stupid rules. Oh well, congrats Haruka.

On a sad note, Miu Sato did not even reach the free skate. So, I guess that means she won't go to junior nats and she's done for the season. . .

so is fumie...she was 11th...
I think Miu Sato should has injury. If my memory is correct that she had fatigue fracture then sort of recovery from that after last Nats. but what she showed in JGP is totally not usual.

But... she was 2nd in the SP? And who won the SP? I can't understand the name using Google Translator... And, the 3S, 3F and the loops would have been probably < in a GP, since she got low GOEs, they were maybe "almost" and we know that international Specialists are always so harsh now with the rotations (just think about Mirai's CoC FS... )
And the scores weren't really inflated: 24.80 and 48 are almost lower than what she received at SA (24.30 and 52)!

Mao2012 wrote:

But... she was 2nd in the SP? And who won the SP? I can't understand the name using Google Translator... And, the 3S, 3F and the loops would have been probably < in a GP, since she got low GOEs, they were maybe "almost" and we know that international Specialists are always so harsh now with the rotations (just think about Mirai's CoC FS... )
And the scores weren't really inflated: 24.80 and 48 are almost lower than what she received at SA (24.30 and 52)!

Yuki Nishino won the SP but I don't think Haruka will be downgraded in international competition since she didn't get any UR call in SA.
I won't worry about Haurka's UR too much and I worry about her SP more than FS.
she has great flow in FS and what she made mistake in SA FS was overturned not UR.
Her problem now is how to deliver a good SP and brings those good impression to her FS.

During interview, she said she was not at her best that she took rest a little bit after SA since they worked too hard.
so they took time to start slower and want to peak at right timing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxYJ2GsiQDA&feature=player_embedded
Haruka's ex in NHK trophy...back up here
she hit her 2A3T and 3S here she also did a perfect 2A3T in 6 mins practice but it's shame that she didn't make it in program.
but i felt angry after seeing protocol since someone gave her lower than 5 in components.
she hit 3F, 2A (plan 2A3T), 3Lz (fluz, <) ,3S, 3Lo2T2T, 3Lo and fall on final 3S...at least she landed 4 good triples then she got less than 5 in execution?
the program is with great flow than some of programs and she didn't slow down in second half. there were only two significant mistakes, the fluz (almost everyone has) then fall for 3S (come on...even guys like taka and yuzuru fall that too in late of program)
anyway...I hate PCS

stream for competition with GEO block http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sports-sai-tokyo2013-tokyo
ppl in Jpn can watch it for FS tomorrow...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kw7vsVRs3A&feature=youtu.be
Haruka's SP today, due to copyright, they broadcast that without music for all skaters
she surprised us again...2A, 3F3T, 3Lo...she skated that almost clean ...may have double for 3T<
but it's first time she skated her SP clean in competition then with 3F3T!!!
and her smile in the end of program was priceless

ETA: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7IaAWLw28A&feature=youtu.be matched music from other competition

shikure wrote:

stream for competition with GEO block http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sports-sai-tokyo2013-tokyo
ppl in Jpn can watch it for FS tomorrow...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kw7vsVRs3A&feature=youtu.be
Haruka's SP today, due to copyright, they broadcast that without music for all skaters
she surprised us again...2A, 3F3T, 3Lo...she skated that almost clean ...may have double for 3T<
but it's first time she skated her SP clean in competition then with 3F3T!!!
and her smile in the end of program was priceless

Thanks again for the YT link!
Disappointing there's no music, but finally Haruka managed to nail her jumps in this pro. I'm so thrilled and happy for her! I love this program and had wanted to see it skated well, and she did so more or less.
I found out she had been suffering a minor injury of some sort this season, and believe that was the main reason she didn't get good results aside from her nerve issues. But she really is a good skater when she's at her best, and surprisingly dynamic with speed and stamina.
I personally wish she'd keep this SP for next season too, cause if she skates it without faults, I think she can achieve real high scores for it (if the judges are fair... ). Anyway I so love this pro! Mysterious, exciting a bit sexy but not too sexy; just the right kind of pro for Haruka to challenge at this point.

Pochi, thank you too~I wasn't around often due to my job and thanks for all the translation and update. she said she didn't feel she was in bad condition in Nats, actually she landed all jumps she planned in 6mins practice including 3T3T in SP and 2A3T in FS but just can't land it in competition.

for SP, she said she started to practice 3F3T after nationals and ppl said she tried 3Lz3T in practice there. I remembered nagakubo coach once said Haruka can land 3Lz3T in interview early 2011. but Haruka said Lz put more pressure than flip on her right foot.

Haruka just skated her FS almost clean with upgraded version of dress
3F, 2A3T, 3S, 2A (she removed her 3Lz) 3Lo2T2T, 3Lo, 3S2T(so)
58.64 57.52 116.16 total 175.83 1st for senior ladies...(akko didn't do well I start to worry about her)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWmzUgEYNbU&feature=youtu.be

news
http://www.jiji.com/jc/zc?k=201301/2013012800871&g=spo
she stayed in Japan after nats ~

Wonderful skates from Haruka! It's so good to finally see her skate clean. I hope she keeps it up and continue skating those 3-3s.

some news
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20130128/fig13012822050002-n1.html
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/f-sp-tp0-20130128-1077934.html
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20130128/fig13012822400004-n1.html
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/tokyo23/news/20130129-OYT8T00084.htm


her smile was so gorgeous in /after programs and in kiss&cry, ppl gave her standing ovation for both SP and FS.
you even can catch the smile on her face after landing the 3F3T...like what she used to do after landing her 3Lo all the time.
after FS, ppl even applauded to rush the score
but in interview she cried, she said she wanted to turn back the time and performed like this in nats.
she felt regret after nats that she can't show what she is capable to do and felt don't' know what to do after nat.
then she got back to training and started over from practicing timing for taking off for jumps.

those vids without music just show you that she is the skater you can watch without music and remind me how figure skating should be.

ETA: one fact surprises me that she is the only senior ladies in Jpn trying something other 3T3T in competition. and she didn't like 3T3T because she said she is not good at combination jump starting with 3T

FS with music www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN6JRmjcPEY&feature=youtu.be

results of SP http://application.fisg.it/results/3081/SEG176.HTM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egei2-KQVog&feature=youtu.be vid of Gardena SP
all jumps were not good but the gap to first place is less than 7 point
wish her best luck tomorrow

shikure wrote:

results of SP http://application.fisg.it/results/3081/SEG176.HTM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egei2-KQVog&feature=youtu.be vid of Gardena SP
all jumps were not good but the gap to first place is less than 7 point
wish her best luck tomorrow

Haruka Valentina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDyr8fOTws0&feature=youtu.be
haruka skated a great FS Valentina won her over PCS and slightly leading from SP
so she won silver then Valentina won gold

ETA: medalist ~ she is so cute

shikure wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDyr8fOTws0&feature=youtu.be
haruka skated a great FS Valentina won her over PCS and slightly leading from SP
so she won silver then Valentina won gold

I was so sad for Haruka after the SP, I'm really happy that she skated a clean FS, finally!

pics from Valentina

everyone from team Sato on podium (Taka, Haruka and Valentina)

This is great news for Haruka! This should boost her confidence for next season.
Does anyone know if second and third placed skaters get any ranking points as well, or only the winners?

zarinaballerina wrote:

This is great news for Haruka! This should boost her confidence for next season.
Does anyone know if second and third placed skaters get any ranking points as well, or only the winners?

Yes, they all receive WR points (1st 250, 2nd 225 etc.)

Mao2012 wrote:

zarinaballerina wrote:

This is great news for Haruka! This should boost her confidence for next season.
Does anyone know if second and third placed skaters get any ranking points as well, or only the winners?

Yes, they all receive WR points (1st 250, 2nd 225 etc.)

Haruka and Adam both made to top 24 in World ranking from this then can have at least one spot in GPS

Mao2012 wrote:

Yes, they all receive WR points (1st 250, 2nd 225 etc.)

Thanx, I wasn't sure how the rules work for B Internationals.

shikure wrote:

Haruka and Adam both made to top 24 in World ranking from this then can have at least one spot in GPS

Awesome! So Haruka has potentially 2 GP competitions, if she gets invited to one GP outside Japan, and Japan Fed decides to invite her to NHK as well. I wonder who'll get the second spot (alongside Mao) for NHK, Akiko or Kanako?

SP: Song without words in D major, Op.109 (new arrangement)
can be found on youtube of her DOI performance, FaOI one has been removed and with some changes for step sequence
FS: Concerto pour piano of Saint-Preux, choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo
(http://www.xiami.com/song/1768953636?spm=a1z1s.3521865.23309997.1.2xUduN)
can see her costume on her own facebook, blue one shoulder dress. because her account is not public account, I won't repost here.

Per information on twitter, all dresses we saw in DOI, PIW, FaOI are not official costume.
We can expect more beautiful costumes from her in the season.

back up here
SP https://youtu.be/jX6R_K54tYM
FS https://youtu.be/AMbmUAhthL4

I believe she recently won Ondrej Nepela Memorial, beating Christina Gao from USA and Nicol Govsiani from Russia  And was underscored on PCS, IMO.
I really like Haruka a lor
Thank you Shikure for posting her programs