Interview with Daisuke from "Cutting Edge"

Hi, DTFF members, I found an interesting article from the Japanese Men Figure Skater’s Magazine “Cutting Edge”. Here is summary of interview with Daisuke about his competitors. What is he thinking about them?
DTFFの皆さん、こんばんは。現在発売中の雑誌「カッティングエッジ」に高橋選手のインタビューが掲載されています。インタビュー内容も写真も素晴らしいので買って損はありません。海外の選手について高橋選手が語っている興味深いインタビューがありましたので海外ファンの皆さんに内容を抜粋して一部を紹介致します。

“Cutting Edge 2008”
Cutting Edge 2008―日本男子フィギュアスケート-オフィシャルファンブック
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/images/4812529743/sr=8-1/qid=1197365015/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=465392&s=books&qid=1197365015&sr=8-1

--What do you think of your competitors?
Actually, I’m always conscious of my competitors, especially Stéphane Lambiel. I like his skating a lot. In fact, I must say that I’m a Stéphane’s big fan, but I don’t shout “Stéphane!!” like his fan does.(laughing) He can express his feeling from his heart at his skating. In Worlds 2007, he placed 3rd behind me, however, I don’t think he retails me. In my opinion, I thought his free skating would be 1st definitely. If it was so, it made me a lot of pressure for me. It is not so easy to win him so far, that’s why I’m retailing him now.
I also like Jeffrey Buttle and Evan Lysacek’s skating that they are different types from Stéphane’s. And Brian Joubert’s quads are very remarkable. I like his jumps so much. In order to do jump completely for every competition, I watch his jumps at videos every time I have a free time. In some way, Brian’s jump has a big difference from mine. I don’t think that I’m doing the same thing like they do, but I’m always aware of their skating and jumps. But how are they thinking of me? I’m wondering that they are admitting me as a rival.

Hi, Leode. Thanks so much for this super interesting information!!

Wow, I'm so surprised by what Daisuke has revealed in this interview. He is so complimentary of his fellow competitors! What a great attitude and its incredibly gracious! And his love for Stephane really surprised me, but what he said about Stephane's skating is indeed so true. I can't believe that he watches Brian's videos to practice his jumps! Wow, does he do this on Youtube?

I noticed while I was at SA that Dai kept looking at Evan from time to time during the practices. Now I understand why.

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but I’m always aware of their skating and jumps. But how are they thinking of me? I’m wondering that they are admitting me as a rival.

Yes, they must be aware of him. His skating just cannot be ignored at this point I think!

Leone, thank you so much for the translation! What would we do without you?

The part about watching Joubert's quads is indeed interesting. The thing is called 'modeling'. I remember reading in one of Plushenko's interviews how he and his mom watched other guys' quads (on TV, I believe) to let Zhenya learn from them.

Daisuke could start watching videos with his own quads as well, since he's got a very good one himself.

Thank you very much Leode!

It's interesting to know Daisuke's taste in skating... I completely agree with Dai about Lambiel. Do you think Daisuke knows he owns the features he loves in Lambiel?

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He can express his feeling from his heart at his skating.

You too, Daisuke!!!

Thanks for the translation, Leode. I like that he admires his rivals but at the same time, he's very aware of them. Not a hint of snark anywhere! I also wonder how much of a threat do the other top men feel Daisuke is to them.

glorydave wrote:

Do you think Daisuke knows he owns the features he loves in Lambiel?

That's an interesting question, glorydave. I would hope he does know he has all of the things that he loves about his competitors and more. I always think of Daisuke as the perfect mix of skaters like Stephane and skaters like Brian and Evan.

Hi everyone!!

swandie wrote:

I always think of Daisuke as the perfect mix of skaters like Stephane and skaters like Brian and Evan.

You are really right. Please read this. Here is a summary of another part of the same magazine.

This season I want to be always on the top of the podium of every competition from GPS, GPF, Japan National and World Championships.
And I also have an ideal beside from winning competitions. It's "perfect skating". It might be what all skaters pursue but maybe I'm more demanding than others. I hate to lose to anybody in jumps, spins and steps. I'd like to become a skater, people say like "Daisuke Takahashi is good at everything." I'm a greedy man. I'm a dreadfull perfectionist.
Still I don't like my skating very much. I want to change it till Vancouver little by little. My body, feeling and skating. And one day when I see the video of my performance and I can satisfy with it like "Oh. This is good skating. Good. I like this skating.", then I will quit skating. When I feel I can do the perfect skating which I've gone for, it is the time I quit my skating.

Dai-chan used to say before he has no idea of his life after Vancouver. But after reading this I think he will continue skating to chase his own ideal, I don't know, as a amateur or a professional anyway. It seems his goal is far away beyond Vancouver................

Leode さん 私も購入しました！
とても良かったですね。インタビューも写真も。
やっぱり大ちゃんってストイックなんだなーと認識を新たにしました。

がんばれ！

You're welcome, all.
And thank you so much for the translation, miyu.

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When I feel I can do the perfect skating which I've gone for, it is the time I quit my skating.

Yeah, I know that he is obsessed with perfection and that's why he has acquired magnificent Hip-Hop skating skills after he was getting dance lesson at Manhattan in NY. And I think he never quit his skating so far.

I got the magazine, too. What a long monologue, like a Russian novel. I thought 2 things:
(1)Daisuke may be a big fan of “so you think you can dance?”
“I have been attending dance studio in America. Actually I would like to take authentic lessons for various dances such as tango, ballroom. Now I’m taking jazz and hip-hop classes, hoping these help my new program….. I do not like my dance (note, he did not say “skate” but “dance”). I do not think I can dance, so I would like to learn more about other styles…”
(2)Daisuke probably thinks that making 2 quads is more important than winning this GPF.
”Making 2 quads is a must to win medal at Vancouver. I would like to jump not only toe loop quad but also another type quad, if possible, so I’ve been practicing various quad jumps. I got feeling that Salchow may work… but I am not sure yet…… Goal for this season is to make 2 toe-loop quads, to keep winning international competition. If I jump a quad at competition constantly through out this season, I believe I can make 2 quads at WFS.”

Your game plan looks good! Go Daisuke! Roko