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Post by Admin on Jun 23, 2018 19:02:29 GMT
 Japan junior champion Rika Kihira, one of only eight women in history to land the triple axel in international competition, has decided to move up to the senior ranks for the coming season. Ice Time has confirmed this news with a source, after the story was first reported by the Nikkan Sports last week. Kihira, a 15-year-old from Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, has competed on the Junior Grand Prix circuit the past two seasons. She qualified for the JGP Final both years, finishing fourth each time. One of the stars of coach Mie Hamada’s stable, Kihira came in a disappointing eighth last season at the world junior championships in Bulgaria, but nonetheless has shown that she has the talent and potential to compete with the seniors.  |
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Post by Admin on Jun 25, 2018 18:41:43 GMT
With Marin Honda having left Hamada to move to the U.S. and train with Rafael Arutunian, Kihira’s move up makes even more sense. Hamada’s 1-2 punch will now be four-time Japan champion Satoko Miyahara and Kihira.  Ice Time contacted a veteran coach, who requested anonymity, to get their viewpoint on Kihira’s decision to take on a bigger challenge.  “Rika matured last season at the same time as she continued to expand her technical ability,” the coach noted. “Her performance level was 10 times what it was the year before. I’m sure it will have grown as she will grow herself emotionally. |
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Post by Admin on Jun 27, 2018 18:45:39 GMT
 “I think this is the right move for Rika, because her maturity and physical growth are kind of merging into a senior package as opposed to a junior.” “I’m thrilled that it didn’t even come to any discussion,” the coach commented about the proposed age-limit rule. “I thought it was ridiculous. The beautiful junior skaters may not have the same age, but they do have the same skills.  “There is no question that maturity brings a certain element of emotion, perhaps a little bit more than a younger skater would have,” the coach continued. “But when it comes to the beautiful execution of technical elements, beautiful flow and ability to interpret music, some of those juniors are just as good as the seniors. You can’t look at them as little kids. They are talented young people.” |
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Post by Admin on Jun 29, 2018 18:31:40 GMT
 Regarding the limiting of repeating quads in the free skate to just one, the coach was less opinionated about it.  “I’m sort of in the middle of the road with that,” the coach stated. “I know that the physicality of the quad is quite remarkable. It is one of the ways that one can measure the physicality and technique of an athlete. But I don’t like limiting the sporting aspect of skating.” |
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Post by Admin on Sept 24, 2018 18:47:11 GMT
 Japan junior champion Rika Kihira, one of only eight women in history to land the triple axel in international competition, has decided to move up to the senior ranks for the coming season. Ice Time has confirmed this news with a source, after the story was first reported by the Nikkan Sports last week.  Kihira, a 15-year-old from Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, has competed on the Junior Grand Prix circuit the past two seasons. She qualified for the JGP Final both years, finishing fourth each time. One of the stars of coach Mie Hamada’s stable, Kihira came in a disappointing eighth last season at the world junior championships in Bulgaria, but nonetheless has shown that she has the talent and potential to compete with the seniors.  |
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