Special Talk with Nathan Chen and Shoma Uno at 2017 Dreams on Ice
“By receiving motivation from each others’ quads” -- World Figure Skating No.79
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The two of you know each other since your junior days. Do you remember your first impressions of each other?
S: We weren’t in the same competitions in the Junior Grand Prix Series, but even without the triple axel, Nathan would receive way higher points than me when I also didn’t have my triple axel yet. By knowing this, I realised that it’s possible to get such high marks without having difficult jumps.
In comparison to your impression of him back then, what is your impression of him now?
S: Nathan has become so grown up and mature, while I’m still far from being there.
N: Shoma, you’ve matured as well. (laughs) As he said, we first met around the time of the Junior Grand Prix Series, but I don’t remember much from then. What I do remember is Junior Worlds. I watched Shoma’s performance with Nam, and it was shocking how good of a performer he was. He had so much speed and power. Back then, he seemed like a young child so I was so taken aback when he started skating. His learning speed is so quick, and he’s gotten even better in the past 2 to 3 years. He pushes forward the field immensely and pushes me to move forward as well.
What has changed about Shoma?
N: Well he’s obviously changed since our junior years. (laughs) On ice, he’s like a different person. Because Shoma landed the 4F, it encouraged me to challenge it too, and it also made me feel as if I could push this field forward as well.
Through the beneficial rivalry, you two are now able to land many types of quads. How do you perceive each other’s quads?
N: We both learned quads in a very short timespan. But the reason why I became able to land quads in a matter of 1 to 2 years was because Shoma landed one, which made me think, “I can do this too”. We have completely different body types, but it’s nice to see us both being able to do the same types of quads stably.
S: When I first landed my 4F, I didn’t even think about challenging more quads. I didn’t think everyone would start landing these different types of quads so soon, so at the following NHK Trophy, when I heard that Nathan landed a 4Lz and a 4F, I wondered, “Is that actually true??” But then I did see that he was landing them very stably, and that changed my mindset into thinking, “I can do more”, and not just be satisfied after learning a couple of new things.
What do you think of Boyang Jin, the other challenger of quads in your generation?
N: He is pushing the sport with an incredible force. I’ve watched him since we were juniors, and he was already landing three quads in the FS when I was just starting to land my 3As. By seeing that, I decided to seriously challenge the 4T and the 4S. The increase in skaters who land quads has been drastic, and of course there’s Yuzu. Boyang’s lutz gave me motivation, and Shoma’s flip made me want to challenge it. It’s cool that we get so influenced by each others’ jumps.
S: I also wouldn’t have challenged the 4F if it weren’t for Boyang’s 4Lz. I think people are quite influenced by their emotions. When someone lands a new jump, the thought of, “Oh, this is a jump that can be landed”, and also the thought of “Nobody’s landed this before so I want to challenge it” are very important. Seeing Boyang easily land the 4Lz was an inspiration for me.
You guys are now getting up on podiums in international competitions such as GPF and 4CC. How were the views from the podiums?
N: Us young skaters don’t have the experience that skaters like Patrick and Javi do, so we go into competitions with our fresh and young minds. All of our goals is to get closer to them. I’m so thankful to be able to compete with them each time. It’s crazy that we get to go on the podium with top skaters like Yuzu, Javi, and Patrick isn’t it?
S: I just finished my second senior season, and I was able to do what I was not able to do in my first season as a senior, and I think I was able to make good use of my experience from that first season. However, Nathan won at 4CC, and I haven’t even won Worlds or GPF, so I really adored his position. I want to compete on that stage and become a skater who fights for the gold as well. In the first half of the season, it felt as if I was working hard just underneath them and I was barely able to keep up, so next season, I want to be able to fight for the gold as well. Since this will be my third senior year, I hope that I will be able to use my experience well in my own way.
There was a period of time when you (Shoma) struggled to land the 3A, and you (Nathan) suffered from an injury that left you out from competition for a while. Both of you have experienced tough times in your junior years. What would you tell your younger selves right now?
N: Honestly, I didn’t have many goals until now, so it’s difficult to answer that question… Hm. “Don’t be so down.” It was a good experience in terms of stacking up my career and learning new things. I was able to see the positive and negative possibilities.
What would you say to young Shoma?
N: “It will be okay as long as you don’t give up.” I mean, he lands amazing 3As now. (laughs) Everything will go as planned as long as you continue your efforts.
What would you say, Shoma?
S: My answer is going to be the same as Nathan’s but… I think I’m one of the less injured skaters, but even when I had my minor injuries, it was really tough for me. It’s really painful to not be able to do something you want to do. But because Nathan didn’t give up during that time, the Nathan Chen that we know today exists, so really, I have the same answer as him. “If you don’t give up, everything will connect to your success.” I wouldn't say that if you work hard, everything will come true, but I don’t think efforts go to waste.
N: Very true.
There’s been an increasing case of you two skating together in the same groups in competitions. Could you tell me about each other’s competitive selves?
N: Honestly, I’m too focused on myself during the 6 minute warmup. The thing that I am most careful about is to not run into anyone.
S: That’s true. This is very off topic, but whenever Japanese television shows Hanyu, Nathan is often in the shot. (laughs) I see that a lot, and I just thought that was funny.
N: (laughs)
S: In our junior years, we weren’t in the same groups very much, but I always watched Nathan’s performances, and it really is exciting to be able to skate in the same groups now.
Do you have any secrets for focusing?
N: I think about the things I need to do in the program, and the things I need to do at that moment. If I do that, my switch naturally turns on.
S: I also naturally focus when I think about my practices and things I must do, since it’s impossible to think about two things at the same time. Time always goes by very quickly then, so my secrets are to enjoy it and make good use of it.
N: Exactly!
The Olympics are approaching soon. What type of ‘you’ do you hope to be at the Olympic stage?
N: All athletes work hard with the dream of going to the Olympics, and ideally, I would like to do perfect performances. Regarding the programs, I just wish to connect with the audience and the music. I want to enjoy the dream-like stage of the Olympic ice.
S: I would like to do performances that are very like myself. The phrase “since it’s the Olympics” will come up many times, and because of that, my real self might be contained. In order for that to not happen, I want to work on one thing at a time, and work hard to be chosen for the Olympics. And if I do get there, I hope to do a very ‘me-like’ performance.
Yuzuru Hanyu, who is aiming for his second gold at the Olympics, is getting a lot of attention for being the top gold medal contender. How do you see him right now?
N: Yuzu won Worlds, and as someone with a lot of worldly accomplishments, he is a skater who will get a lot of attention at the Olympics. But I think the top 6 is in a state right now that makes it impossible to predict a winner. We won’t know anything until the day comes.
S: I have the exact same view. Personally, Hanyu is an admiration. That admiration is still there, and now, he is a skater who I want to win against the most. There are other skaters who I don’t want to lose to, but out of all of them, Hanyu is the one I want to win against. Because I admire him so much.
You two see each other often in competitions and shows. Has anything interesting happened recently?
S: Was it an ice show… Oh, it was at WTT! After WTT, we went to a yakiniku restaurant, and four of Team USA were waiting outside. We asked them what they were doing there, and they said the seats were full. Coincidentally, we had reserved a table for six, but only two of us came, so we ended up eating yakiniku with them. (laughs)
N: Thank you for that! We were saved. (laughs)
Is there anything you want to say to or ask each other?
N: Hit me up when you are near California.
S: This is gonna be an actual question, so I want to think carefully… Ah, what do you do when you’re not skating? I game a lot.
N: I just finished high school, so I would go to school before. Now, I study to be prepared for university and I go to the beach with friends since we live in California. Mostly that.
S: You study hard? Impressive!
What are your thoughts for your plans post-Pyeongchang?
N: I’m leaving it up to my results at Pyeongchang, so it’s hard to answer that right now. But I’m just very excited. More skaters will be popping up, and thinking about that is very exciting.
S: I only have skating. I love skating so much, especially competitions, so even after the Pyeongchang Olympics, I want to skate for as long as I can. I want to continue my competitive career until I feel like I’ve done enough.
And finally, if you were to show each other around your hometowns, where would you take each other? Nathan, which Californian beach do you recommend for Shoma?
N: I live near Long Beach, and it’s fun so we should definitely go there together. There are so many streets, and it’s a place where you can have fun shopping as well. Laguna is famous for its surfing, and if we go a little further, we can get to LA. Palos Verdes is also famous, the ocean is beautiful there.
And Shoma, where would you recommend for Nathan?
S: I am so sorry for this, but I am a recluse. I think Nathan knows more about Japan than I do.
N: (laughs)
How about games you recommend?
S: Games! I only play games on my phone, but Vainglory is accessible worldwide. It’s a combat game, but one fight takes 20-30 minutes. (laughs)
N: My brother games a lot, but he never lets me do it. Since he games alone, it’s probably similar to how you game. (laughs)
Thank you so much. I am looking forward to both of your successes this season.
