I think it is a great attitude! If she followed the advice of people on the Internet she would divorce her parents, go on a diet, move in with her coach, get a triple Axel, and skate in a purple hat to Beethoven's Ninth.Originally Posted by Spun Silver
LOL. You have a point. I take it back!
ha ha! actually I just came across teh thread the other day where we all discussed it... will hae to find it again.
Math, the purple hat & Beethoven's 9th both sound awesome
By that logic, the number of people who watch figure skating would number in the single digits.
But in all seriousness, Mirai, you shouldn't read these boards. It's not good for you. There's a reason that celebrities don't use the internet ...
Suggesting that maybe Mirai should move closer to her coach isn't saying Mirai should divorce her parents. Mirai is 18; the age where many students move out to attend college. Its kind of the same concept. This being said its totally possible she/her parents aren't ready for that and its fine. But really if she should then go to a coach that is closer.
Thing is we don't know all that goes on in a skater's life. Look at Asada; although in Asada's case to a Japanese coach would have been the best option, and it seems she realizes that now because she's with Sato.
Last edited by bekalc; 02-11-2012 at 11:18 AM.
I forgot the advice, legally change your middle name to Alien so the other girls will be afraid of you.
The point is, Mirai, her family and her coaches can make those decisions just fine on her own, even without all of our expert advice, thank you very much.
And if Mirai is reading this, here is a poll for the all-time favorite Golden Skate girl.
Mirai (yes)
Everybody else (no)
Poll closed.
I think the bigger issue is that these suggestions require a lot of sacrifice from her and her family and provide no guarantee that her results will improve substantially. Yes, she win get more training time and perhaps better training mindset because she won't be sitting in a car for hours. But some of her problems aren't going to be resolved with a shorter commute: questionable music selection and choreography, 3/3's (which she never attempted with any regularity), and competitive fire. The question, to me, becomes: do we accept she has been surpassed by superior skaters such as Alyssa and that her days of being America's best skater are over? Or do we put more pressure on Mirai and her family to achieve results that require tremendous sacrifice but are not likely to improve her standing significantly.
Someone also brought up the fact that sending Mirai off would be like sending her to college, and it isn't exactly the same. College provides so much support through your peers, counselors, etc. while skating in a rink far from home doesn't provide nearly the intellectual enrichment or social opportunities.
Well, didn't folks say similar things about Czisny, Zhang and Wagner once upon a time?
It's clear to me that if Nagasu can figure things out and get her confidence back, she'll be right up there again.
I agree that the old Mirai would be right up there, but what do you consider "right up there"? I don't think she would be satisfied if she changed up her routine, costing her family tens of thousands of dollars, just to finish 4th place like Caroline. And let's remember that Caroline has improved but has not regained the difficult jump combinations that she did as a junior. So I guess what I'm saying is that, yes, if Mirai skated how she did at the 2010 Olympics on a regular basis she would be in the mix in every competition she entered. But that skater, with a different body and the right age to take advantage of the cutesy choreography that worked so well for her, is not Mirai now.
People keep saying that they hope "this" motivates Mirai or "that" motivates her. But the thing is she came in 4th at the Olympics, came in 1st in the Sp at the 2010 worlds, droped to 7th overall at those worlds, missed out on two world teams, and finished 7th at Nats, watching Caroline Zhang improve so much and finish 4th at Nats. Heck the state of U.S ladies skating should motivate her.Now if that's not motivating her than I don't know what will. I just don't think Mirai's heart is in skating anymore. Maybe she should take next season off go to college and figure out what she really wants to do. My personal opinion is think Mirai is scared of going back to worlds. People know she's the most talented American Lady and with that bring expections. How many of you thought that at nats Mirai would be on the podium ? I know I did. How may of you thought that after the sp at 2010 worlds she would be on the podium or maybe even win it ? I know I did . It seems like whenever someone expects Mirai to do well she crumbles and my guess is she's afraid of crumbling at worlds again.
Last edited by Jtsmith12; 02-11-2012 at 04:07 PM.
Sometimes it's not enough of a catalyst to just fall a bit in the standings- sometimes the bottom has to drop out for one to finally realize the status quo is not working and to seek change. I think that's just what happened to Nagasu at Nats with the 7th place (this is someone good enough to WIN the event handily!) and missing not only Worlds, but also 4CCs this time around. I mean, next season she'll have to do the qualifying circuit all over again if I'm not mistaken. For a skater of her caliber, you know, that's just...wow.
This is why I say that she must make the decision that is right for HER- and whether that's picking things back up again or quitting skating altogether, I hope she can be happy with it. But somehow I get the feeling this is not the way she wants to go out. Perhaps she has some Rachel Flatt in her somewhere.
That will depend on IF she gets GPs in the fall and how the dates line up to Regionals and Sectionals.
I'm not saying that Mirai SHOULD go live near Frank though. She has to do whats best for her. But I think if she doesn't; she should find a coach closer to where she lives. The four hour trip just doesn't seem like the best of ideas. Getting rid of it leaves not only more time for Mirai to train; but it also leaves Mirai and (her mother if that's who drives her) more time to do other things with their lives....And as for sacrificing thats what they are already doing. But it seems to me the status quo isn't working; and they are already spending a lot of money; if your going to spend the money might as well put yourself in a situation to get the best advantage. Heck leaving Frank and going with another coach might be cheaper too.
Frank is surprisingly not as expensive as I thought. On the rink website they mention the coaching fees.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks