Kazuki Tomono: “This Grand Prix series, was very challenging, but it really taught me again the importance of practice. I still lack sufficient skill, and it’s incredibly frustrating because I thought ‘this year would be the one.'”
Kazuki Tomoto on his performance at the Finlandia Trophy 2024.
original source: Nikkansports / Nikkansports dd. 16th November by Honoka Takemoto / Nikkansports dd. 17th November by Honoka Takemoto / Nikkansports dd. 17th Navomber 2024 by Honoka Takemoto
Kazuki Tomotono (26) who started in second place after the short program, finished sixth overall at the Finlandia Trophy. HE commented on his performance. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
“This performance was undoubtedly the best given my current condition. I’m pleased with how calm I remained throughout,” he said after the short program. About a month ago, he injured his right hip joint. This injury impacted his performance at the Grand Prix de France, where he was unable to achieve the results he desired. He was unable to train as satisfactorily as he wanted during the two weeks leading up to this competition (Finlandi Trophy). Still, his theme for the season is “to win.”
“Gradually my condition is improving. I was able to get my body moving properly compared to last time, so I’m just working through each practice session with all my energy, hoping to compete at my fullest as well. If I can compete in my best condition, that would be ideal,” Kazuki told during one of the official practices.
AS for his injury, je commented: “It’s about 70 to 80% better now. There’s just a slight discomfort. The pain has subsided, or rather, it’s almost completely gone. I think if I continue to train without overdoing it, there should be no problems, and I think I can perform at my best in this competition.”
“This competition has brought together a very strong roster, and it’s something I’m really looking forward to. To see how far I can go within this..,” Tomono shared his thoughts on the competition at FInlandia Trophy. “Honestly, I haven’t been able to train as much as I’d like to. However, since my injury improved, it’s been just over a week, but every single movement is enjoyable, and it’s all about drawing on my own experience.”
“It’s very easy to skate on. I really love the rinks in Europe, so I thought this was a great rink. Also, the atmosphere of the venue, or rather, the atmosphere of this country is very warm. I’ve always wanted to visit this country, and it has exceeded my expectations. It’s truly a wonderful country, and I feel that while skating on this lovely rink with a great atmosphere.” Kazuki shared his impression of this Grand Prix and the venue.
Although he updated his season-best in the SP, his performance in the free skate was his best.
“In the first half, I was able to start very energetically, but throughout the free skate, it really showed that my practice hadn’t been thorough enough. Initially, I was able to concentrate very well, but then there was fatigue in my legs, among other things… What I mean to say is, I think I lacked the ability to maintain focus and complete the performance with full strength until the end. This season, and particularly this Grand Prix series, was very challenging, but it really taught me again the importance of practice. It was a very educational season in showing how much I can improve in such situations in the future. Now, it’s just about improving further. I particularly think that the free skate is an area I need to focus on this season, so I plan to practice that thoroughly,” he reflected.
“I do feel that things are getting better, but I still wasn’t able to give my all. I realized during this GP series that I still lack sufficient skill, and it’s incredibly frustrating because I thought ‘this year would be the one.’ Fortunately, my injury didn’t drag on for long, just a few weeks. Even so, I learned a lot. I realized how crucial it was to get more practice in the free skate. I was able to maintain good concentration throughout both the short and the free programs, so now I just need to practice staying calm and collected all the way through the free skate. As for the jumps, it wasn’t that they were all mediocre; actually, there were some good aspects, so in that respect, it was a very fruitful competition. Compared to the French Cup, I felt a bit more at ease, and there were things that boosted my confidence internally, more than the scores might suggest. Now, I just want to continue with practices that can convert this into tangible results.”
Related topics: Finlandia Trophy, grand prix, Kazuki Tomono
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