October 20, 2024

ISU Grand Prix 2024 ｜ Learn Real English

Learn Real English ｜ ISU Grand Prix 2024

The 2024 ISU Grand Prix skating championships in the US have netted another big win for Japanese skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara.

In this lesson, we’re going to take a look at highlights from their amazing performance and hear what people really thought of their performance. We’ll see what was said, learn some of the key vocabulary phrases, and how to use them.

アメリカで開催された2024年ISUグランプリシリーズで、日本人スケーターの三浦璃来さんと木原龍一さんがまた大きな勝利を収めた。

このレッスンでは、彼らの素晴らしいハイライト動画、またそのパフォーマンスについて語られた動画を確認していきながら、重要なフレーズとその使い方を一緒に学んでいきましょう。

Transcript ｜ ISU Grand Prix: Part I

English Stripped Bare - B. Bearington & Naomi Culture & Sports; Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara at the ISU Grand Prix 2024 — Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara On The Ice at the ISU Grand Prix 2024

Well that is spectacular (performance) by the former world champions, current world silver medalist.

This team possess much more than the technical abilities. They have something special. That’s a partnership. Choreography.

From Japan, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara.

Transcript ｜ ISU Grand Prix: Part II

Oh. You have to love the laughter, the smile, the handshake, and a small chat. They always do that at the end of a performance.

They shut the world out. They see each other. They talk to each other.

That’s a brilliant program. Not perfectly delivered, for sure. Some mistakes.

Transcript ｜ ISU NHK: Part I

Oh! If only.

Well it was the solo jumps that let them down in the free in Skate America.

So nearly brilliant.

Riko Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan.

But the great thing about these two is they go out there with all guns blazing…

and then they make that mistake on the second element in the program.

But did their heads drop? Not a bit of it.

They pushed right to the end of the program. Didn’t give an inch.

So, 7.29 would put them into the lead. I’ve got to say that,

yeah they did have the mistake but the other elements were so good.

Could they possibly lead with that performance? With that mistake?

Yes they could. 71.9, they do lead.

Transcript ｜ ISU NHK: Part II

Well they are great to watch there’s no doubt about that, and it was so much better.

They loved it here in Tokyo, but I’ve got to say that one mistake was critical.

Well, whatever happens they’re going to take an awful lot from this performance because the side by-side jumps were so much better and that was a confidence booster for Riko.

Great sal. That’s the best sal in a long time.

And the loop?

Oh, the loop was gorgeous.

Yes.

Well, that sums it up, doesn’t it? Best sal in a long time; Bruno Marcotte.

Well, they got 136.44 in Skate America. They’re gonna need more than that here.

It is a season’s best! It’s second on the free. It’s going to be second overall. That’s not gonna do it. There’s confirmation. So second place for Riko Miura and Ryuichi Kihara.

A brave effort, but, um, that mistake on the spin really did cost them.

It’s alright.

Transcript ｜ ISU France: Part I

English Stripped Bare - B. Bearington & Naomi Culture & Sports; Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara at the ISU Grand Prix Grenoble, France 2024 — Ryuichi Kihara Throwing Riko Miura at the 2024 ISU Grand Prix

I don’t know about you, Mark, but for me this was the best program of the night. This is so exciting. So intense. So beautifully done.

And… and so perfectly attuned to the music. And what I find all the more impressive about the delivery of this; intensity. It’s aggressive. As Bruno looks on a little bit emotional there.

Yup.

Understandably. They… they come across as human off the ice as just so endearing and gentle and sweet, but they inhabited the perfect engagement of character for that music.

Top score is 76.73. They would need a 76.74 to take the lead. Either way, it’s going to be essentially a tie.

Um, yes and that only serves to make it exciting and exhilarating, this event.

Let’s take a look, short pregame scores for Riku and Ryuichi. 76.27, that is second, but only by a little bit.

Bruno thumbs up.

And it missed it…

Here it is, look at that. So close. Well, it’s tied.

It’s… And it’s interesting to because it’s the side by side jumping pass.

Yeah.

If they… If that had been clean, as we saw in practice, they’d have a fairly comfortable lead.

Yeah.

Transcript ｜ ISU France: Part II

Mark, I love both the programs this team has but it’s not together yet. They’ve got some mistakes coming, but they’ve got wonderful vehicles.

They… they really do. The programs are quite brilliant. The judges can’t reward them in the components because of the abundance of mistakes unfortunately made. And what’s interesting is that as former world champions, perhaps the confidence is just lacking because of their comeback from injury last season seems to be still creeping into their mental preparation.

Bruno understands the long game and it’s a long game. It’s not finished tonight. He has the second half of the season yet to go.

130.44 for Riko and Ryuichi. It is second in the free program. Total competition score is 206.71. So that will keep them at least in the silver medal position for [unclear] Skate.

Not the performance they wanted. The result, for the moment, is still okay. But that is less important than their personal goals.