Shoma Uno: “During competition, I sometimes trained for things that I didn’t particularly want to do but had to because they would earn points. As a professional, I’m entirely focused on bringing joy to the audience, and freedom comes with endless possibilities.”
Shoma Uno reflects on his transition to professional skating and success of “Ice Brave.”
original source: sportiva.shueisha.co.jp dd July 28th by Komiya Yoshiyuki
Shoma Uno shared his thoughts on professional skating and his role as a producer for his ice show, “Ice Brave”, in an exclusive interview following the announcement of “Ice Brave 2.” Uno discussed the show’s growth, the challenges of moving beyond his competitive career, and his plans to deliver an exceptional sequel. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Web Sporttiva.
“‘Ice Brave’ has no breaks or downtime. Every moment is a highlight, and we dedicated significant time to making each piece stand out. All performers are main characters; no one plays a supporting role – it’s truly an ensemble created alongside my teammates,” Uno explained.
He emphasized the importance of process in both competition and professional skating:
“Whether it’s for a competition or an ice show, the process matters. Some people say, ‘If you can’t perform it well in competition, practice doesn’t matter,’ but I disagree. I believe the effort you put into practice radiates through to the performance itself. For ‘Ice Brave,’ the process as a team is something I want to keep valuing.”
Uno anticipates greater challenges for “Ice Brave 2,” especially as he works without his former coach and co-performer, Stephane Lambiel:
“It’s difficult to leave a greater impact than the first show. Stephane isn’t participating this time because he’s focused on coaching, but we’ve extended our rehearsal hours with an eight-person cast. We’ll experiment and practice to create something that surprises audiences.”
Uno reminisced about his solo performances, describing the challenges they presented:
“The sequence of ‘Buenos Aires Midnight’ followed by ‘Narco’ was particularly difficult. ‘Narco’ was a collaboration with three other male skaters, but after reviewing the footage, I realized I was performing at 130% while everyone else was holding back (laughs). I kept thinking, ‘Why is this so hard?’ but now I know – I was the only one giving it everything. My mindset is always, ‘Everyone can push harder!'”
Another standout moment was Marin Honda’s performance to “Stairway to Heaven,” which Uno praised for its beauty and storytelling:
“Marin has something I don’t – she transforms music into her own narrative. Her skating feels like she paints herself as a character within the song’s story. Even for music without explicit storytelling, Marin creates subtle moments that hint at narratives, something that remains a weakness of mine. It’s definitely something I strive to learn, though skaters like Stephane Lambiel excel naturally in this area.”
Uno shared how his professional career has led to greater freedom and growth compared to his competitive days:
“It feels strange, but now I understand what people mean when they say, ‘I train more as a professional than I did as a competitor.’ For the first time, I’m fully committed to entertaining audiences without the focus on scoring points.”
He expressed how transitioning to professional skating removed certain constraints:
“During competition, I sometimes trained for things that I didn’t particularly want to do but had to because they would earn points. As a professional, I’m entirely focused on bringing joy to the audience, and freedom comes with endless possibilities. It’s incredibly fulfilling.
I’ve always wanted to improve, even during my competitive days, but sometimes felt held back by the scoring system. Now, those brakes have been lifted, and while I wouldn’t say I’m glad I retired, I can say I’m happy to be a professional.”
Related topics: Shoma Uno
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