Series Interlude: On Daisuke’s Final Bow
This Tuesday, an announcement officially created a hole in the skating universe.
He has hung up his skates. Three days later, and that still feels weird. But in light of this significant occasion, I deem it proper to dedicate a whole post to express my appreciation and gratitude to my all-time favorite skater, Daisuke Takahashi.
His presence on the ice is majestic, yet it is balanced out by his humble character off of it. It’s a fascination how he seem to not know how good he is; a showing that intuitively he feels that something else moves through him. He is an instrument, held delicately by a Master. Thus, he is a gift to all who witness.
The following compilation pictures show how he is a gift, not only to fans, but within the skating community itself.
I also wish to include a few of my favorite fan-made video montages.
- This, because it demonstrates the universality of admiration for him.
- This, not just because the edit is so amazing, and a super cool game-inspired montage overall, but because it is a montage of his signature step sequences, that no one can match. A deserved 999999!
So, much as I am saddened by the news that he is officially leaving the competitive stage, I am thankful and quite content that it happened. As I mentioned in my intro post, genuine art is beyond quantitative scoring, for judging can kill the essence of an object. Especially for someone like Daisuke, who is through-and-through, over-and-out, an artist. He had to move on, and he did, knowing he has completed a phase in his life wonderfully. And because he knows how to take one step at a time, surely he shall be led to greater horizons.
- And finally, this pic/video montage, that features a bit of his early days of skating. This was done more than a year ago, but the music is most fitting to conclude this small tribute.
But we could never truly say goodbye, could we?
Just, we will see you again soon, Dai-chan.
