Who Will Be Mao's New Coaches?

[miki88]

I am just surprised that there seems to be so many claims on what Mao's mom is like when I don't recall hearing any reports about her mom being like that. Mao's relationship with Arutanian didn't end on good terms, but I feel it was bound to end anyways because the main reason she trained abroad was because of the lack of rink space in Japan. Once that issue was solved, she went back. As for the decision for TAT to be her coach, we can only see in hindsight that it did not work out. TAT has legendary status in the skating world, so I am not surprised that Mao and her mom wanted her as the coach.

[vlaurend]

Yes, Lucinda Ruh speaks Japanese fluently, especially when talking about skating, since she learned to skate in Japanese. But I'm not so sure how much Mao really needs a spin coach. A jump coach, definitely (for the flutz and underrotations).

[PROKOFIEV]

Yes, Lucinda Ruh speaks Japanese fluently, especially when talking about skating, since she learned to skate in Japanese. But I'm not so sure how much Mao really needs a spin coach. A jump coach, definitely (for the flutz and underrotations).

Where is Lucinda Ruh now? She was an amazing spinner!

[vlaurend]

Lucinda is in New York now.

[PROKOFIEV]

Lucinda is in New York now.

Thank you. I just checked her website. She is engaged and is getting married by the end of this year. I did not know that she speaks so many languages. Anyway, congratulations, Lucinda!!

[sodessss]

Yes, Lucinda Ruh speaks Japanese fluently, especially when talking about skating, since she learned to skate in Japanese. But I'm not so sure how much Mao really needs a spin coach. A jump coach, definitely (for the flutz and underrotations).

Oh, I love Lucinda.

[rtureck]

originally posted by vlaurend
Yes, Lucinda Ruh speaks Japanese fluently, especially when talking about skating, since she learned to skate in Japanese. But I'm not so sure how much Mao really needs a spin coach. A jump coach, definitely (for the flutz and underrotations).

Thanks for your update on Lucindah. Mao may not need a spin coach, but a spin consultant? She has beautiful postitions, very centered spins. She does not have the fastest spins, so in tough competitions when every point counts improving more on her spins may help since every point counts. I think spending a couple of weeks a year with Lucindah will help tht is all.

I am just surprised that there seems to be so many claims on what Mao's mom is like when I don't recall hearing any reports about her mom being like that. Mao's relationship with Arutanian didn't end on good terms, but I feel it was bound to end anyways because the main reason she trained abroad was because of the lack of rink space in Japan. Once that issue was solved, she went back. As for the decision for TAT to be her coach, we can only see in hindsight that it did not work out. TAT has legendary status in the skating world, so I am not surprised that Mao and her mom wanted her as the coach.

I agree with you. There will always be MOnday night QBs with 20/20 hindsight. Arutunian seems to be the interim coach for many skaters e.g. Mao, MK, and cohen

Mao is an adult and she is making adult decision of staying in Japan, after she has been there done that with training outside of Japan.

[Bennett]

Someone might have already mentioned, but she has a full-time physical trainer who seems really great. I just read a book written by his team. To their surprise, Mao used to have body strength just comparable with regular highschool girls! Then they worked on a lot of physical training, corrected the inbalance of the body, addressed the chronic back pain (Mao never said that she had it in public though), balance training to help the entrance to the jumps etc. This training support team may be one of the best things for her in Japan.

Besides, given that she is a student, staying in the univ seems the most sensible thing to me (how come she "graduated" from high school? I heard that the teachers came to her rink to give her private lessons! Still, lots of absent days during her stay in the US makes me wonder how. I know her school won't care about her academic achievements anyway though, as long as she brings home medals). Despite the limited attendance, I think it a lot better to go to school when she can, rather than totally being out of campus when training abroad. She can make non-skater friends, too.

[rtureck]

Besides, given that she is a student, staying in the univ seems the most sensible thing to me (how come she "graduated" from high school? I heard that the teachers came to her rink to give her private lessons! Still, lots of absent days during her stay in the US makes me wonder how. I know her school won't care about her academic achievements anyway though, as long as she brings home medals). Despite the limited attendance, I think it a lot better to go to school when she can, rather than totally being out of campus when training abroad. She can make non-skater friends, too.

Well her school might not care about her academic achievemenrts, and none of us have seen her report card. But if I sepculate academically she is not an under achiever. It is interesting to see that skaters like Mao, Arakawa, Fumie etc are still keeping up with college/ university work while skating at such a high level. Most other skaters have given up college all together. How will Mao manage college and skating. Will her professors come to the rink too? Just curious

Back to topic many ppl think Lori is good for her, and I agree. Maybe Wilson is the best COP point getting choreographer, but I think Lori is a choreographer who has some of the best knowledge and understanding of music. For many ppl when they think of Mao as a skater they tend to think of 3a and jumps etc, I think of her artistry on ice. I think Lori brings out that aspect of her skating well, and Lori can find some of the most unique pieces of music.

[Bennett]

Well her school might not care about her academic achievemenrts, and none of us have seen her report card. But if I sepculate academically she is not an under achiever. It is interesting to see that skaters like Mao, Arakawa, Fumie etc are still keeping up with college/ university work while skating at such a high level. Most other skaters have given up college all together. How will Mao manage college and skating. Will her professors come to the rink too? Just curious

Back to topic many ppl think Lori is good for her, and I agree. Maybe Wilson is the best COP point getting choreographer, but I think Lori is a choreographer who has some of the best knowledge and understanding of music. For many ppl when they think of Mao as a skater they tend to think of 3a and jumps etc, I think of her artistry on ice. I think Lori brings out that aspect of her skating well, and Lori can find some of the most unique pieces of music.

As for Chukyo Univ, they built a rink for Miki and Mao. That tells the whole story.

Arakawa and Fumie went to one of the top private universities, Waseda. Their admission offers were based on their special talent in skating. As far as undergrads go, the required workload in Japanese top universities tends to be a lot less than the US top institutions, and if you get in, you normally graduate (although I do not know the specific situations in the school they attended). But a table-tennis player, Ai Fukuhara, who similarly got admission from Waseda Univ because of her talent in sport eventually dropped out because she could not attend enough # of classes due to competitions/training abroad. Considering such a case, I guess that both skaters managed to graduate decently.

[rtureck]

As for Chukyo Univ, they built a rink for Miki and Mao. That tells the whole story.

Who are coaching at the Chukyo univ rink?

Somewhat off topic or not, where is Yukina nowadays, is she coaching?

[sodessss]

Someone might have already mentioned, but she has a full-time physical trainer who seems really great. I just read a book written by his team. To their surprise, Mao used to have body strength just comparable with regular highschool girls! Then they worked on a lot of physical training, corrected the inbalance of the body, addressed the chronic back pain (Mao never said that she had it in public though), balance training to help the entrance to the jumps etc. This training support team may be one of the best things for her in Japan.

Besides, given that she is a student, staying in the univ seems the most sensible thing to me (how come she "graduated" from high school? I heard that the teachers came to her rink to give her private lessons! Still, lots of absent days during her stay in the US makes me wonder how. I know her school won't care about her academic achievements anyway though, as long as she brings home medals). Despite the limited attendance, I think it a lot better to go to school when she can, rather than totally being out of campus when training abroad. She can make non-skater friends, too.

Um, i'm an athlet(not a skater) and graduated from university 2 years ago without taking any course.(except some which I can't specify clearly here)
And i know Japanese skaters don't need to go to school and I heard Mao ddidn't go to school neither. And I can sense her lack of education by her limited command of Japanese.Anyway she will recieve her diploma and actually she has no time to go to school. But I think that doesnt matter so far as she express herself through her beautiful,creative and artistic skating. She is a great artist.

[sodessss]

Well her school might not care about her academic achievemenrts, and none of us have seen her report card. But if I sepculate academically she is not an under achiever. It is interesting to see that skaters like Mao, Arakawa, Fumie etc are still keeping up with college/ university work while skating at such a high level. Most other skaters have given up college all together. How will Mao manage college and skating. Will her professors come to the rink too? Just curious

Back to topic many ppl think Lori is good for her, and I agree. Maybe Wilson is the best COP point getting choreographer, but I think Lori is a choreographer who has some of the best knowledge and understanding of music. For many ppl when they think of Mao as a skater they tend to think of 3a and jumps etc, I think of her artistry on ice. I think Lori brings out that aspect of her skating well, and Lori can find some of the most unique pieces of music.

Miki and Mao don't go to school and don't take classes at all. I heard Yukari Nakano was an exception. She took school very seriously and you can sense how intelligent she is every time she gives interviews.

[ayayukiituka]

Miki and Mao don't go to school and don't take classes at all. I heard Yukari Nakano was an exception. She took school very seriously and you can sense how intelligent she is every time she gives interviews.

Actually what you say is not true. She became a college student last April. Then she said she wanted to take some Russian class to communicate with TAT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hXSrIQgyLM This is the clip. So she must take some of classes she is interested in.

Speaking of coaches and choreographer, just after 2010 World Championship, I read an article that said she and her team would decide coaches by June and to go choreograph by May.

[sodessss]

Actually what you say is not true. She became a college student last April. Then she said she wanted to take some Russian class to communicate with TAT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hXSrIQgyLM This is the clip. So she must take some of classes she is interested in.

Speaking of coaches and choreographer, just after 2010 World Championship, I read an article that said she and her team would decide coaches by June and to go choreograph by May.

So, you call me a liar? That is all public relations ,actually. She doesn't take any classes and not Russian neither unless she teach herself at home. Don't judge Mao.Don't compare Mao with ordinary person. She just doesn't need it. Again, she is an artist.