New Nobu article on icenetwork.com

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080308&content_id=45329&vkey=ice_news

You need to scroll a bit down the page to find the article!

Quote :

Barkell said that because Oda was "very upset about what transpired in the summer" and since he had not competed in the fall, they decided it would be best for him not to contend for the national title and a berth on the world team this season.

"Together, everybody decided to start fresh with a brand new free program. Originally he was going to compete with a new short program and use last year's free, but we want to go with two totally new programs for next season," Barkell said.

(...)

Oda, who has been back training in Canada since September, has been taking more ballet classes with the intention of "coming out with a totally new look, a more refined look", Barkell said.

Previously, David Wilson had choreographed Oda's charming, crowd-pleasing programs but this time Lori Nichol, another top Canadian choreographer, has set his routines.

Oda will compete in some major summer competitions in Canada to test drive the new programs so he will be competition ready for the start of the 2008-09 season.

"The way he's training, you'd think he was going to worlds," Barkell chuckled. "It's not like he's just sloughing off. He's doing run throughs of the short program. His new free program has just been finished and he's training extremely hard and, actually, skating quite well."

And again I upset myself into stomach ache - I hate it when the author confuses "being intoxicated" with being under influence (especially considering that there's high probability that 0.3 BAC is legal in the author's state, or even twice as much would be allowed), and Takatsuki with Osaka! I think I'll write a letter of complaint.

Great to hear about Lori Nichol's programs and ballet classes, though... Plus now I may have a reason to go back to Canada this summer.

I just hope that Nobu will be OK mentally!

Thanks for the link. Glad to finally hear some good news!

Thanks for the news! Barkell sounds optimistic, that is a good sign.

Quote :

"The way he's training, you'd think he was going to worlds," Barkell chuckled. "It's not like he's just sloughing off. He's doing run throughs of the short program. His new free program has just been finished and he's training extremely hard (...)

I find this quote sad. It's heartache-rendering for me that such a hard working and good person ended up being accused of 'not knowing what responsibility means'. If there is somebody who does not know what responsibility meants, it's chairman Ito and the KanDai fellow. I'd love to send them a thesaurus with the word 'responsibility' highlighted! (Except I don't know the address... )

yay Nobu! i've been waiting to see him all season but i guess i can wait until next season. Where in Canada does he train?

helen91 wrote:

Where in Canada does he train?

At Mariposa Skate Center in Barrie, Ontario.
He had always competed in Thornhill Summer Skate and performed at Mariposa Charity Gala, so I hope he will start his season with those events.

I don't want to start a new topic just for this tiny piece of news, so I just add it here...

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20080402-OHT1T00089.htm

According to the above article, Daisuke Takahashi during the graduation ceremony at Kansai University was asked about his goal, and he said:

Quote :

I want to participate in Olympics 2010 together with Oda-kun. If we take gold and silver, that would be great.

Respect for Dai-chan, now here's a competitor with class and golden heart.

Yukisnowflake posted the following in FSU.

Quote :

I saw & chatted with Nobunari Oda & his Mom who were at 2008 Can. Nationals there as spectators.

I was able to tell Nobu & his Mom that we miss him & will Welcome his return to competition in the new season.

Nobu & his Mom were very happy & pleased to hear it & voiced their thanks & appreciation.

They both appeared to be in good spirits & even better after I told him he was missed & we can't wait for his return to skating on the circuit again.

I also got to give him a present of a small stuffed toy 'Rooster' in honor of his Rooster program he has skated in the past.
He really liked it alot.
I told him I have been collecting 'Roosters' for him ever since he skated his Rooster program.

Thank you for posting this, Caliblue...

I made a mistake, though, and went and visited FSU. God, I forgot how mentally sick makes me reading things spewed by some of those people... I can't believe there are people like that. I wish I was allowed to kill myself. I can't believe how others can be optimistic living in a world like that.

Nobu has been selected to be "Tokubetsu Kyouka Senshu." which entitles him to receive the highest level of funding from the JSF. They normally award this based on the Japanese Nationals results, but they picked Nobu as a special case. In addition to Nobu, Takahashi, Kozuka, and Nanri will also receive this funding level.

Nobu is scheduled to participate in "Dream on Ice" (June 27 - 29) in Yokohama.

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/sports/news/CK2008042402006063.html

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will finally see him skate in about 2 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is unexpected (the DoI line-up, that is). Is this a confirmed info? There was a rumour about Prince Ice World some time ago, but it turned out the PIW homepage was just wrongly updated, listing all the skaters that participated last year and not the current line-up.

As a fan I should be happy, but I just get more worried.

EDIT: I just skipped through the article and they indeed mention Dream on Ice.
One of the words I fear the most: "minibaiku" or anything that looks remotely alike. A few katakana and I'm about to lose my supper.

I think participants are always subject to change. Just think how many changes were made to the Japan Open line up. Same is true for any ISU-sanctioned events. On top of that, there is always a chance of any media outlet misquoting or misreporting somebody/something. It's unfortunate, but it's true. C'est la vie, non?

Im sort of more worried that he will participate than that he will not participate... I just perceive the prospective audience to be a huge horde of venom-dripping zombies, with reporters floating around, carrying cameras that spit sulfuric acid.

I'm even more worried that the media just use this to attract more ticket buyers, the same as JSF kept mum about Nobu trying to withdraw since early December. Then one of Nobu's "fans" written a blog entry that she's disappointed in him, because she bought a ticket to see him and he "withdrew at the last second".

According to DOI 2008 official site, the Japanese male single skaters that are scheduled to perform are: Takahashi Daisuke, Kozuka Takahiko, Nanri Yasuharu, Nakaniwa Kensuke, Mura Takahito, Sasaki Akio, Hanyu Yuzuru.

In other news, after Worlds 2008 and subsequent change of seasons that now count for the ISU ranking (06/08 - 70%; 07-08 - 100%) Nobu fell from 6th to 28th position.
To get 2 GP events one needs to be 24th or higher. 2 spots are also given for top 24 personal best score, but I do not even remember whether all-time PB counts or does it need to be posted in the previous season.