Junhwan Cha: “Equipment issues were the biggest. Despite constant communication with the manufacturer, I couldn’t find a clear solution. I tried to adapt to new boots, but it wasn’t easy. I’ll probably change boots again”.
Junhwan Cha placed second at the 2025 Korean Figure Skating Ranking Competition.
original source: mfocus.kr dd. 30th November 2025 by Park Jimin
Junhwan Cha placed second at the 2025 Korean Figure Skating Ranking Competition, overcoming equipment and injury challenges, and expressed determination to improve for upcoming championships and his third Olympic bid. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on MFocus.
On Sunday, November 30, the fourth day of the 2025 Korean Figure Skating Ranking Competition was held at the Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul.
Cha scored 82.91 in the short program, with a free skating technical score of 84.93 and program component score of 87.88, totaling 172.81 for the free skate and 255.72 overall, finishing in second place.
In the post-competition interview, Cha said, “This was a very difficult competition for me personally. I had to lower the program’s difficulty, but I did my best within those limits.” He added, “It was meaningful to compete domestically for the first time as a Seoul City Hall athlete, and I gained strength to prepare for the upcoming National Championships.”
Asked about the biggest challenge, he replied, “Equipment issues were the biggest. They started in early October, and despite constant communication with the manufacturer, I couldn’t find a clear solution before this event. I tried to adapt to new boots, but it wasn’t easy.” He added, “I’ll probably change boots again after this competition. I’m tired from all the preparation, but thanks to the support, I want to keep pushing forward.”
Regarding his ankle, which troubled him last season, he said, “My ankle wasn’t great while preparing for this event. Skating in ill-fitting boots caused pain, but now that the first selection event is over, I think it will improve with care.” On his strategy for Nationals, he said, “It’s hard to say exactly what I’ll do yet. I want to organize things step by step and deliver a more confident performance at Nationals.”
About focusing on equipment issues rather than training for two weeks after the NHK Trophy, he said, “The process of finding and adapting to new equipment was very tough. I didn’t know how the competition would go, but once it started, I was able to focus. The main feeling left is that I finished it.”
On competing alongside junior skaters who placed first and third, he said, “Seeing their growth makes me proud as a senior and motivates me. Figure skating is a sport where everyone shows their own style, and seeing that is inspiring.” This mindset was also evident when asked about the significance of his first competition as a member of a professional team: “Figure skating careers can feel short, but many skaters peak after their twenties. Having the option of a professional team means more athletes can keep pursuing their dreams.”
Having earned a spot at the Four Continents Championships, Cha was asked about participating: “I think I’ll compete. It’s an important international event to gain experience before the Olympics,” he said enthusiastically.
Asked about his third Olympic challenge, he said, “I really wanted to compete in Pyeongchang, and I skated in Beijing with passion. Now, even though things are tough, my experience makes me not want to give up until the end,” he concluded.
Cha Jun-hwan’s next event will be the 2025 Korean Figure Skating National Championships.
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