- Joined
- Dec 12, 2005
Mao just seems really different under TaT compared to before, and I'm not really sure I like the difference. I think TaT could be capable of being encouraging and inspiring. Isn't that why Yagudin loves her so much? I just don't think she really understands Mao. It's important to have a coach who "gets" you - your weaknesses, strengths, goals and fears. I don't think TaT can do that for Mao.
I know Mao did have an agrument with TaT this season over the 3A... TaT wanted to take it out, but as her coach, she really should have seen how important that one jump is to Mao. Mao cried in an interview over the possibility of not being able to show her fans that she can still do the jump.
At the beginning of the season, I didnt think tht the whole match-up of Mao and TAT was working out, but ever since yesterday I have started to think differently. Although I am not against the notion of getting back Artunian as her coach, Mao has really grew and matured under TAT. Mao is skating to more expressive music, has strengthened her stamina, and has developed more consistency with her 3A. If Mao can put all her skills together and gain back tht 3-3 combo, Mao will not have to worry about being joyful again.
I think Mao's main concern was losing her 3A and/or not being able to show her fans that she could still do it. Now that she has done that, the door is open for her to show that she can do other things as well. She's competed with two 3-3 combinations in her program before, and her stamina and athleticism seem higher now than a year ago... and with Yu-Na winning with her 3Lz+3T, I don't think Mao will settle for not having a 3-3 in her program as well. My guess would be that this season, she will work on putting the 3Lz back into her program and either 3F+3T or 3F+3Lo back in as well. I could imagine Mao having a jump layout something like...
3A
3A+2T
3Lz
3F+2Lo+2Lo
3Lo
3F+3Lo
3T or 2A