Kozuka SP Rostelecom Cup 2009

[EricLensher]

He´s wonderful. He just needs more work on his feet to be perfect. In Sochi, he could win a medal.

[ShineAndRise]

He is a wonderful skater! He just needs more work on his jumps, imo. <3 this SP.

[twilightlily]

He outclasses Plushenko in almost every way that matters.

[xxradiance]

@twilightlily Takahiko Kozuka looks up to Plushenko as a skater and as a competitor. If he can show the man some respect, I don't see why you can't. But I will give it to you, Taka-chan is certainly one of the most humble men in men's figure skating right now.

[twilightlily]

@xxradiance

I don't have to offer Plushenko any respect and especially not just because one of the skaters I may like respects him. To me he represents a flaw in the system that deals with "reputation skaters" (esp Europeans and Russians). But I agree that my comment was way out of line and I may have come off a bit obnoxious. I was just bummed about the score difference between Kozuka and Plushenko. In my own humble opinion, Plushenko may outjump Kozuka but he can never outskate him.

[xxradiance]

@twilightlily Not going to deny that Plushenko's scores were too high but that's the nature of the sport. That's just something that no system can rectify in figure skating. Unfortunately, a talented skater like Kozuka always gets punished for it (blame the fed, I say) but with the inconsistency he's showing lately...he isn't making it easier for himself. In terms of SS/spins Kozuka is more than solid, but I would not easily dismiss Plushenko just because of his talent in jumps.

[lauramariful]

Judges gives the diva Yu Na better scores than some male skaters. That's incredible.

[lauramariful]

It's the beginning of the season, skaters have time to improve their programs. All the skaters have to improve something in their new programs, except of the eternal Yu na. She was perfect, at least for judges, at her first 2009 competition.

[cdnserbluvr]

Lots of holes in his program imo.

[rangerma5]

meaning by what?

[cdnserbluvr]

There are places in his program where he could be doing MORE than he is instead of standing/skating about. More footwork i guess is what I'm getting at

[xxradiance]

@cdnserbluvr just because he isn't consistently flailing around doesn't mean his program is empty. He has a hard enough time focusing before jumping, too much meaningless choreo/footwork may just exacerbate the problems with timing. But the footwork he does have is astounding, and his beautiful beautiful edges. He's also got second best spins too!!