Grand Prix Final 2011/2012 @Quebec City, Canada

Chiyori I think that reading your account of the GPF was more interesting for me than watching it ,lol

and your special moment was so touching and sweet, it's so cool that he smiled at you in person...

On a completely random note, I hope that Akiko wears that pink/fuschia dress at nationals, I thought it was so pretty and really emphasized her grace in that program

Hello everyone,
It's been a while since I've written something here ! I had quite a busy week last week! I had many exams and I wanted to attend all events at the JGPF and GPF ! I was in shock when I heard the news that Mao had left and I didn't even saw her practice on Wednesday because I thought "I have to study and anyway I'll see her this week-end!". I know this is kind of selfish but it was my first thought...and then I became very sad for her and was worrying a lot for her mother. I read the news she had left Quebec city on Thursday 11h30 and I had an exam at 12h00 and 14h00 ! So I wasn't very concentrated and I was hoping everything was gonna be alright once she arrives in Japan..but unfortunately it did happen that way...
Well, I did have a good week-end at the competition! Many of my friends only came for the seniors, but I didn't wanted to miss any junior skaters and I was quite impress! It's just so impressing to see all tiny and young they are and they achieve to do all the big tricks! My favorites in junior were Julia Lipniskaya, Polina Shelepen and Zijun Li as well as Han Yan (this guy can jump !!! and sadly he looked so sick but he did a good job anyway!)
The first picture we got was with Julia Lipniskaya and Polina Shelepn while they were stretching after their short program. They looked to have such a good time together. They have the same coach and they seem to be very close friends always laughing together! They were quite nice even thought they didn't speak ANY english haha ! Then, we found Michael Brezina in the stands so we asked him for a picture too. When the day was over and we were going back to our car, we saw the 2 japanese junior guys waiting for the bus. They both were so shy but were very thankful especially their teamleader (I think) who was keeping thanking us for congrulating their skaters !
On Friday, I saw a big Mao banner on the other side of the rink so we decided to go take a look up close and I meet the guy who put it there. I took a picture with the "Mao's smile" banner and the guy explaned us that they were a couple of person sending each other the banners all around the world so the banner can be at all the competitions Mao is entering. We also discussed a bit about Mao's lost.
On saturday, during the Women victory ceremony, we went on the other side of the rink where we could get right beside the board so when they did their Victory tour we got the chance to take a picture with Akiko Suzuki! She was really nice to us because the other one didn't sign as much autographs and take as much pictures with the fans.
Finally on Sunday, we went to the gala practice and it was fun to see the skaters a little bit more relaxed ! Well most of them were, but I thought it was sad the the Sue/Han had their coach with them making them train like it was a normal training session (doing all their difficult elements as well as the side by side jumps) while the others were enjoying themselves. But then, Wenjing Sue as well as the others seemed to have a blast during group number rehearsal ! It was soooo funny Especially Alexander Smirnov was acting like a clown ! When Liza Tukta left the ice, she signed some autographs and I wanted to have a picture with her but there were stairs between her and me as well as a rope at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top so no one could go down where the skaters were. And there was this Security Guard looking at us like we were outlaw! But I kindly asked her for a picture and she kindly accepted ! So she climbed the stairs with her skates one and I got a picture ! I was soo happy Then, and Yuzu and Dai had finished their gala rehearsal, we thought we could maybe meet them outside were they take the bus so we went their and waited for about 15 minutes and they arrived! So we got a picture with both of them! They were very nice too and kept on thank us while we were congratulating them and thanking them for the picture haha!
Well all in all, it was a wonderful week-end !! Even thought it was mixed with sadness for Mao..

It's great to hear Chiyori and bibi had a great weekend. It's too bad that I cancelled my trip in the last minute. I hope I have another chance to watch skating live this season.
Yan Han caught a cold before he left for QC and got a fever after he arrived in QC. Considering all these situation, it's pretty good for him to make the podium. I heard that he literally crawled into Kiss and Cry...He must be exhausted after his long program.

OMG bibi I really wanted to see Yuzuru and Akiko up close too! I never thought of waiting by the bus... I know some people who went skater-stalking at the hotel, but I thought that was a little too much for me. Next time, you'll definitely see me by the bus.

I thought of you after the exhibition practice and wondered if you might be over with the group of people in the stands next to the K&C but I guess by the time we got there you were already outside. I'm pretty sure I remember what you look like from the article on your website you posted a couple years back, but all I saw were little kiddies... Or maybe I was just too bummed we didn't hurry over and completely missed you lol. We got there towards the end, when only PChan was left. Next time I go to an event, I will sit next to the K&C during practices, mark my words!!

I'm really planning to go to Worlds 2013 now. I've met this really wonderful group of people that were talking about it and I said I was interested but that it was just too expensive... It's still very expensive, but what can I say, they were very convincing

kaabi, my friend was in charge of the pictures so they're all on his camera and he didn't upload them yet. But really, I'd rather not post pictures of me in a public section like this one. I'll try PM-ing it to you when I get it.

ballerinamao, I didn't actually scream hehe. He was just starting to walk away so I just said it. But it was really out of the blue lol.

ETA: Han Yan looked really sick. As soon as his program was over, you could see him coughing like crazy and he did it non stop on the podium too. Poor guy. He looked really miserable.

Thanks for the reports chiyori and bibi!!

Sounds like both of you had a wonderful time (besides the situation with Mao of course.) It's always interesting hearing about which skaters are kinder to fans and which aren't - it makes me appreciate them (or not) more. chiyori, you should definitely try to go to Worlds! That would be epic. And you never know when Canada will have Worlds again, right?

Chiyori, no problem, I totally understand! Thanks for sharing your experience it was almost like I experienced it firsthand *tears of joy*

bibi, OMG I stalked the skaters to their bus after their exhibition at Skate America but I was too shy to ask Takahiko for a picture ;___; Me and my friend were hiding behind a bush just watching and admiring them entering the bus from afar... Honestly I was scared to ask b/c no one else was waiting at the bus stop except for us two!! GAAAHHH regretregretregrettttt. So it's ok to ask them for pictures while they are going towards their bus? I am so noobie in my fan etiquette!! fretfret

Quote :

I thought of you after the exhibition practice and wondered if you might be over with the group of people in the stands next to the K&C but I guess by the time we got there you were already outside. I'm pretty sure I remember what you look like from the article on your website you posted a couple years back, but all I saw were little kiddies... Or maybe I was just too bummed we didn't hurry over and completely missed you lol. We got there towards the end, when only PChan was left. Next time I go to an event, I will sit next to the K&C during practices, mark my words!!

No I wasn't with the kids near the Kiss n Cry area waiting for autographs all day long! In fact, I knew some of them (because they are from different figure skating club around here in Quebec city) and most of them didn't even know the skaters they were waiting to have their autographs..haha it made me laugh As I didn't care about autographs, I prefered to wait and see skaters in the venue or outside to get the chance to take a picture with them. However, it was Sunday and I really wanted Liza's picture, so I took a chance and it worked

Quote :

bibi, OMG I stalked the skaters to their bus after their exhibition at Skate America but I was too shy to ask Takahiko for a picture ;___; Me and my friend were hiding behind a bush just watching and admiring them entering the bus from afar... Honestly I was scared to ask b/c no one else was waiting at the bus stop except for us two!! GAAAHHH regretregretregrettttt. So it's ok to ask them for pictures while they are going towards their bus? I am so noobie in my fan etiquette!! fretfret

What I didn't say is that my brother and his friend, who are figure skaters as well, really wanted a picture with Dai. So, they went near the Kiss n Cry area just like I did for Liza and tried the same method. My brother's friend suceeded, but when it came to my brother's turn, the MEAN security guard told them they had to stop ! So my brother was kind of sad he was that close to get a picture with his idol but the security guard ruined his chances! So, we all decided to go outside and at the same time, we thought we could get Yuzu's picture When my brother asked for Dai's picture, I think Dai recognized him and was very happy to finally take a picture together without the security guard being there! And as I was there to take the pictures and the japanese guys didn't seem in an hurry, I took a picture with them also
I think it's OK to go take pictures there as long as you don't ask them in an inappropriate moment. For example, while we waited, I bus full of Ice Dancers coming at the arena for their competition came, but they were concentrating for their Free Dance so we didn't ask any. But when the competitions are over, most of the skaters are very happy to be ask for autographs and pictures !

Thank you so much for your guys' lovely reports, chiyori and bibi! It was wonderful to read and I really enjoyed your encounters with the skaters.

How great to just bump into Dai-chan like that chiyori! And so happy for you, bibi, that you and your brother got your patiently awaited pictures of Daisuke and the Japanese skaters. I think you guys being mindful and respectful of the skaters were rightfully rewarded.

I was sort of in a state of shock when I heard Mao' mother died, that plus finals at my school and...I was so confounded and listless, but I'm so glad that you guys got to see a lot of great skaters. I watched the entire GPF competition for mens, ladies and ice dance on YouTube yesterday- I didn't agree with Patrick's scores in the free as per usual, but I did enjoy a lof of the other skaters performances. Really unfortunate about Mao, but my heart goes out to her for being so strong and entering nationals in such a short span of time since her mother's passing. I just hope the media leaves her alone and lets her be.

Thanks so much for the behind-the-scenes reports, chiyori and bibi!

chiyo, your description of running into Dai totally made me
I hope this doesn't mean that you are on Team Maosuke now!!!

The ladies competition was such a snooze without Mao. I know that the judges love Carolina, and I get that she skates really fast, but I don't understand why they think she's graceful..

As for the men, well, I agree with clovera and most of you. The results were simply sickening. I was just re-watching it with my mom last night, and she was like, you know, Daisuke really pulls you into the program, but Patrick doesn't look like he's connecting with the music. And then when the scores came out, she couldn't believe it.

Daisuke was awesome as usual, but I have to admit, my favorite program of the night was definitely Yuzuru's! He just had so much attack in his final step sequence! And he was SOOO adorable when he was taking his bows and when he got his scores. It totally reminded of Mao at, say, 2005 GPF! So cute!!

And I really feel for Jeremy Abbott--I think he's a gorgeous skater, but he just can't seem to get it together mentally.

SIGHHH...

Batsuchan wrote:

Thanks so much for the behind-the-scenes reports, chiyori and bibi!

chiyo, your description of running into Dai totally made me
I hope this doesn't mean that you are on Team Maosuke now!!!

No way!!! I am firmly aboard the TakaMao ship! Dai-chan is awesome but he's much better for me than for Mao!

chiyori wrote:

No way!!! I am firmly aboard the TakaMao ship! Dai-chan is awesome but he's much better for me than for Mao!

Haha I know what you mean, I want Dai-chan all for myself too!

chiyori wrote:

No way!!! I am firmly aboard the TakaMao ship! Dai-chan is awesome but he's much better for me than for Mao!

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Good call!! Mao gets Taka-chan, you and kaabi can share Dai-chan, and I'll claim...hmm...Joubert!!

kaabi wrote:

chiyori wrote:

No way!!! I am firmly aboard the TakaMao ship! Dai-chan is awesome but he's much better for me than for Mao!

Haha I know what you mean, I want Dai-chan all for myself too!

Ahh! I got you! That's why you want Kozu for Mao! I'm like the great fan want only the best for my dear girl!!!

[quote="polosatik"]

kaabi wrote:

chiyori wrote:

No way!!! I am firmly aboard the TakaMao ship! Dai-chan is awesome but he's much better for me than for Mao!

Haha I know what you mean, I want Dai-chan all for myself too!

Ahh! I got you! That's why you want Kozu for Mao! I'm like the great fan want only the best for my dear girl!!! [/quote

i totally agree with you polosatik

polosatik wrote:

kaabi wrote:

chiyori wrote:

No way!!! I am firmly aboard the TakaMao ship! Dai-chan is awesome but he's much better for me than for Mao!

Haha I know what you mean, I want Dai-chan all for myself too!

Ahh! I got you! That's why you want Kozu for Mao! I'm like the great fan want only the best for my dear girl!!!

Agree!!!

Batsuchan wrote:

chiyori wrote:

No way!!! I am firmly aboard the TakaMao ship! Dai-chan is awesome but he's much better for me than for Mao!

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Good call!! Mao gets Taka-chan, you and kaabi can share Dai-chan, and I'll claim...hmm...Joubert!!

WAIT!!! you guys need to share Dai with me too! I think he's much better with me. Look, I think I'm the only one who often choose him as my avatar! (this pic shows Dai throwing kiss to me while skating )

BTW, reading Taka's father's recent comment about Mao (that she'll be OK and will come back stronger), I sometime feel that dad kozuka is very fond of Mao and he might convince Taka that Mao is the right lady for him.

ddmm wrote:

BTW, reading Taka's father's recent comment about Mao (that she'll be OK and will come back stronger), I sometime feel that dad kozuka is very fond of Mao and he might convince Taka that Mao is the right lady for him.

Well, *I* think that Taka-chan doesn't need any convincing.

(And to see what I mean, check out my latest post in the K + M shipping thread!! )

I'd been avoiding this forum because I was feeling too blue. I've been having a hard time dealing with Mao's loss. It is hard to describe how I've been feeling. I'm still shocked.

Wow! I'm so glad I came back to check this thread! I really enjoyed reading about chiyori's and bibi's adventures. Thank you very much for sharing!

Spacey wrote:

I'd been avoiding this forum because I was feeling too blue. I've been having a hard time dealing with Mao's loss. It is hard to describe how I've been feeling. I'm still shocked.

Aww, I am very sorry to hear that Spacey!!

I was feeling very, very depressed too...but then I rediscovered the K + M shipping thread, and the overdose of cuteness totally cheered me up!

Sometime when you're feeling better, you totally should check it out!

But in the meantime, check out some of the news videos from Mao's practice session and press conference. She looks so calm and composed that I really felt relieved. I guess she is soo much stronger than I could possibly imagine....

Aww Batsuchan you're so sweet! Reading your posts always cheers me up! You missed out on A LOT! I wondered about you during the THE ICE especially during the TakaMao ice dance number! I've missed you and I'm happy to see you posting all sorts of tidbits. I enjoy your super Batsuchan mischief and TakaMao shipper cuteness!

I was relieved to see Mao looking pretty genki at her press conference. She is such an inspiring girl!

I already checked the thread you mentioned! You never disappoint!

Spacey wrote:

Aww Batsuchan you're so sweet! Reading your posts always cheers me up! You missed out on A LOT! I wondered about you during the THE ICE especially during the TakaMao ice dance number! I've missed you and I'm happy to see you posting all sorts of tidbits. I enjoy your super Batsuchan mischief and TakaMao shipper cuteness!

I was relieved to see Mao looking pretty genki at her press conference. She is such an inspiring girl!

I already checked the thread you mentioned! You never disappoint!

Heeheeheee! I was TOTALLY waiting to see what your reaction was, Spacey! Glad to see I was able to bring some cheer to y'all!

Does anyone of you have videos of Mao's practice sessions on wednesday before she withdrew? It would be very much appreciated thank you sooo much!