The public practice and send-off party took place at Kansai University today.
News video:
http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00169861.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ouFK4zt0KA (see that user's other uploaded videos for more clips)
Articles and pictures:
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/other/100112/oth1001121902013-n1.htm (I like
this picture -- not only are they being piggybacked by the football players, they look like they're drowing in their coats!
)
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/figure/news/20100113k0000m050030000c.htmlThe articles say that Daisuke changed the LP jump layout to have the solo 3A replace the loop in the second half because his stamina has recovered, and the original plan was to have a 3A in the second half anyway. (I hope this plan works out okay...
It seemed like he kept missing the loop because he was trying to time it to the music, so it seems even riskier to put the axel there...)
As for the practice, Daisuke just returned from the US the day before yesterday so he kept the practice light. Had some jump mistakes and didn't try a quad.
Daisuke's comment after the practice:
http://www.boom-sports.com/archives/51782939.html"I was in America adjusting my choreography until the day before yesterday, so today I only did some light practice. I'm sorry I wasn't able to show you a proper practice. I'd like to be able to show all of my feelings from the past four years at the Olympics. I want to be able to bring back a medal to Kansai University and to Japan, so please cheer for me."
Interview after the practice:
http://www.boom-sports.com/archives/51783074.html-- How was the official practice today?
Daisuke: It felt strange. My body didn't move. Usually it can move more. I'm trying to peak in February... I came back from America two days ago, and had the day off yesterday. I couldn't move at all yesterday...
-- How is your program? You say you adjusted the choreography...
Daisuke: We put an axel in the second half of the program. I can do a lot of suspicious ones (laugh). [...I don't really know what he means by this, but that's what it says...] The choreography hasn't really changed, only the parts before the jumps did. The atmosphere hasn't changed.
-- How finished is it?
Daisuke: I haven't even done a single run-through. We just changed it.
-- Why did you change it?
Daisuke: I wanted to put the axel in the second half. In the beginning of the season I didn't have enough stamina, but I've gotten used to it as the season progressed.
-- What did you think after Nationals?
Daisuke: Watching the video of Nationals, I finally felt like I had completed it like a competitor. Before that I was just overwhelmed...
-- How did you spend New Year's?
Daisuke: I only had the 31st and 1st off. It didn't really feel like New Year's. But I didn't do the hard kind of practice I did before.
-- It looks like Oda-kun's fortune for the new year was "bad luck."
Daisuke: Last year I got "great luck", but got injured, so maybe it's good that he got "bad luck" (laugh).
-- How is the quad?
Daisuke: I'm still anxious about it, but I'm anxious even when it's going well. I don't know what's going to happen in competition.
-- Compared to four years ago...
Daisuke: If someone mentions it I remember it, but otherwise I don't really think about it. During Torino, my body was there but my mind wasn't. After the New Year, I feel like it's been a long time since then.
-- Are you going to change your costume for the Olympics?
Daisuke: I'm not thinking about it. I don't have time... I'm in the middle of adjusting my schedule for going to Vancouver.
Interview after the send-off party:
http://www.boom-sports.com/archives/51783095.html-- The American football team carried you on their shoulders.
Daisuke: It was embarassing, but it felt good. Although, I wanted to see the cheering squad from the front too.
-- How was it different from the farewell party four years ago?
Daisuke: Last time the football club didn't come. Also, last time I was by myself. This time there's two of us. It's a different feeling having a rival, working hard together with Oda-kun.
-- What do you think of Oda-kun?
Daisuke: I'm not really thinking of him... I mean, it's not that he's not in my range of sight. I admire how he controls himself. He's good at switching over. Even if we're having fun together, he'll go into practice mode right away. I'm bad at that.
-- You have a lot of rivals.
Daisuke: Black hole...? No, dark horse (laugh). There are scary dark horses. [OMG, I completely cracked up after reading this! How does someone confuse "black hole" with "dark horse"!?
] Plushenko is an unknown world. If possible, I don't want to compete against him.
-- If you could bring a medal back to Kansai University, is there anything you'd like to ask the university?
Daisuke: Hmm. I'd like them to build another rink. If there was another rink, I could practice more. Although I can't be too greedy.
-- What will you bring to Vancouver?
Daisuke: I want to bring manga, but it's heavy. I love "One Piece." [Haha, I approve!!
]
-- What did you do in Torino last time?
Daisuke: Last time I was by myself... So I was alone a lot. I listened to music on my cell phone and watched DVDs... This time there's three of us so they can talk to me (laugh).
It's really nice work!
Very informative.