Mao Asada

[Ultra]

Mao vs. Liza: The battle of the Triple Axels. That would be something I'd like to watch.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva has not attempted a 3A since 2011, and never in competition - or am I missing something? There is a difference between a prepubescent 3A and a "full woman" 3A, which is why Mao's current version is so extraordinary.

By the way: In the mid 2000s NBC was hyping up Mao's "rival" as an American girl in "clash of the 3As".

New rivalry could come with Asada's debut
http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2639831
With Asada on the senior scene, she and reigning world champion Kimmie Meissner could become the rivals skating has needed. The two are expected to duke it out up until the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Both have landed triple axels. Meissner is the second American woman to land one. Asada is the only woman in the world to land two in a program.

Anyone can "rival" anyone else if the megacorporations "need" it.
If the broadcasting executives hadn't discovered the Saudi Arabia of sports money in a certain Asian peninsula, that is exactly how it would have continued to pan out, with Meissner getting gradually more and more inflated until she would unbeatably win the 2010 Olympics with a rigged score. Instead they decided that American skating had no future, so they pulled the plug on their own athlete, went prospecting elsewhere for a new market to sell their entertainment and hit paydirt.

 

[yhmafan]

Well sorry...but I can’t imagine Mao in Pyeongchang though,
It is getting exciting for the next season. If she came back to compete how it would be..

Here is the Mao’s beautiful gifs.

Mao Asada stunning Triple Axels http://bluepeter.tumblr.com/post/50100700708/mao-asada-triple-axel-appreciation-post
Forever Spinning Ballerina http://dotanba-muscle.tumblr.com/post/99733971290/forever-spinning-ballerina
such a dreamy Biellmann spin as always.

 

[leolion11]

Well sorry...but I can’t imagine Mao in Pyeongchang though,
It is getting exciting for the next season. If she came back to compete how it would be..

Here is the Mao’s beautiful gifs.

Mao Asada stunning Triple Axels http://bluepeter.tumblr.com/post/50100700708/mao-asada-triple-axel-appreciation-post
Forever Spinning Ballerina http://dotanba-muscle.tumblr.com/post/99733971290/forever-spinning-ballerina
such a dreamy Biellmann spin as always.

I too can't imagine Mao in Pyeongchang, but maybe she'll prove me wrong. Hope she comes back and wins another world title or two

I actually don't really like Mao's 3A, especially the ones she used to hit prior to the 2010 olympics (not much flow out of those 3As), but I must say her spins are really amazing

 

[mary01]

I too can't imagine Mao in Pyeongchang, but maybe she'll prove me wrong. Hope she comes back and wins another world title or two

I actually don't really like Mao's 3A, especially the ones she used to hit prior to the 2010 olympics (not much flow out of those 3As), but I must say her spins are really amazing

you're maybe more into ito type of 3A's, as to the spins my favouite Mao asada spins are the biellman and y-spin, think she has the best biellman and y-spin out of all the ladies, the position she reaches in them is just to die for

 

[mary01]

Well sorry...but I can’t imagine Mao in Pyeongchang though,
It is getting exciting for the next season. If she came back to compete how it would be..

Here is the Mao’s beautiful gifs.

Mao Asada stunning Triple Axels http://bluepeter.tumblr.com/post/50100700708/mao-asada-triple-axel-appreciation-post
Forever Spinning Ballerina http://dotanba-muscle.tumblr.com/post/99733971290/forever-spinning-ballerina
such a dreamy Biellmann spin as always.

thanks for posting these

 

[mary01]

I am shocked. In a good way, of course. I thought she'd be half-half forever! Haha, just kidding. If she comes back, it'd be so great~ Aside from the Juniors, Ladies wasn't interesting this year, really... Ahhhh!!!!!

Believe me, you are not the only one who felt that way

 

[CarneAsada]

Thanks for the post, yhmafan. Seeing the 3A gifs reminded me of one quote about Mao's 3As that I read after Vancouver.

"Asada nailed them. They were whirling things of beauty – pinwheels of black and red, perfectly balanced."

RE: leolion11, I wasn't a fan of the 3A from her junior days, and the 3Axels she landed in 2009-2010 definitely suffer from lack of flow out, but I love seeing the ones from her senior years (2006-2014). The ones from her practices in early 2014 were probably the most beautiful, good flow out, enormous height, and landed almost completely backwards.

 

[leolion11]

you're maybe more into ito type of 3A's, as to the spins my favouite Mao asada spins are the biellman and y-spin, think she has the best biellman and y-spin out of all the ladies, the position she reaches in them is just to die for

Yup I guess I just prefer Ito's! But then again no one's 3A can compare (even most of the men)
And yes the positions she hits in her biellmann and y-spin are breathtaking. I probably love her biellmann the most (and alissa czisny's)

RE: leolion11, I wasn't a fan of the 3A from her junior days, and the 3Axels she landed in 2009-2010 definitely suffer from lack of flow out, but I love seeing the ones from her senior years (2006-2014). The ones from her practices in early 2014 were probably the most beautiful, good flow out, enormous height, and landed almost completely backwards.

I didn't like any of her triple axels prior to 2010 but ITA about her 3As in early 2014 though. Her 3As definitely improved in terms of flow and height but weirdly she was still underrotating quite a number of her 3As. Her 3A in her 2014 worlds sp was just beautiful

 

[iceberg]

Thanks for the post, yhmafan. Seeing the 3A gifs reminded me of one quote about Mao's 3As that I read after Vancouver.

"Asada nailed them. They were whirling things of beauty – pinwheels of black and red, perfectly balanced."

RE: leolion11, I wasn't a fan of the 3A from her junior days, and the 3Axels she landed in 2009-2010 definitely suffer from lack of flow out, but I love seeing the ones from her senior years (2006-2014). The ones from her practices in early 2014 were probably the most beautiful, good flow out, enormous height, and landed almost completely backwards.

I remember in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic gala, she was introduced as "The Queen of 3As"

I am actually more of a fan of her 3A in her pre 2010. And she always gets the superlatives from her 3A in those years than post 2010.

 

[yhmafan]

You are welcome mary01,CarneAsada.

I too can't imagine Mao in Pyeongchang, but maybe she'll prove me wrong. Hope she comes back and wins another world title or two

I actually don't really like Mao's 3A, especially the ones she used to hit prior to the 2010 olympics (not much flow out of those 3As), but I must say her spins are really amazing

Not only because I am a fan but also being objective, in my eyes Mao is the most beautiful 3A jumper of all time and will be, her 3A as well.
Midori’s 3A is amazing though and I could understand you as it’s a matter of preference
And yes, it’s not a sure thing though I would be glad if Mao will prove us wrong even to see her in the next Oly, better to along with Yuzuru, Shoma, Kanako, Rika etc –my dream team- as long as she could be happy in competitions for sure.

As for ur thing, I have heard from many who talked about it on other places and just recall the back number post of this. ex-TJ Nobunari Oda also referred to,
here it is(thanks mikaboo)

This is more than "brief" but here is a translation of almost everything Oda says about Mao.
----------------

Oda says that the fundamentals are really important in skating but he wasn't stoic enough to endure the fundamental skating practices. The person who has the skills to be stoic to enhance herself is Mao. She practices like a monk in training.

Oda: 3A is a really difficult technique even for men and the fact that she succeeded in jumping 3A when she was just 14 is a result that comes from nothing but her efforts. Also, she spent 4 years correcting her jumps from scratch. Her jumps suffered for 1~2 years but she overcame them. I had a problem where I'd crouch before doing axels and the judges used to advise me to correct them, but I ignored them. Usually, people don't correct jumps after reaching maturity because they're extremely difficult to change so they give up after 1~2 months. Mao broke down her old techniques and spent 2 years redoing her fundamentals step by step with her coach and showed us the compilation of her skating skills in Sochi.
MC: She didn't do well in her SP. Weren't you shocked?
Oda: Totally shocked. The skater before Mao was Sotnikova and she skated really well and the cheer from the crowd was enormous.
MC: And how much time did she have to start her program?
Oda: 1 minute. When the crowd cheers like that for the skater before you, you curse your bad luck and just want to run away. The crowd was so loud and the fence between the rink and the coach is wider at the Olys than at other competitions so I was afraid she'd be unable to hear what her coach was saying, then she went off to start her program so I was really concerned, then she made mistakes like I'd never seen before. I think they were caused by the pressure from the crowd, pressure of the Olys. But I thought her skating was beautiful as a result of the 4 years of hard work so I sent her a message on LINE saying that "there were mistakes, but thank you for your beautiful skating" and she replied "Thank you" and we exchanged a few words like "I'll do my best tomorrow" and "You can do it. I trust you" then after she skated the FS, I cried.
MC: I think everybody cried. She's like the "national daughter".
Oda: I just want to say that the scoring was really strict. She skated in the earlier group as a result from her SP so I don't think the judges knew what to do when she skated so well. I think they should have scored her higher. She received URs for a couple of the jumps. When I was watching her in slow motion, I was shouting "That was NOT a UR!", "That 3-3 was rotated!", "She needs to be scored higher!". Of course, I was shouting at the TV because I can't say it to their faces…
MC: You're retired now. You're the only one who can say those things.
Oda: I think they were extremely strict on her.
MC: Those jumps were fully rotated right?
Oda: Those jumps were fully rotated! Anyone could tell that they were perfect! What were they looking at!?

 

[iceberg]

wow the people here are on a party of their own. oh well i love mao so ill just keep posting even if everyone doesn't care.

 

[makaihime]

This is the most shocking news of the week for me... 80% chance of not only coming back but possibly aiming for 2018?! If she does, I hope both her and Hanyu have the skates of their lives...a redemption of sorts. One had the LP and the other SP, if they put 1 and 1 together, that would be the mindblowing. Double OGM for Japan in 2018? Yes please!

 

[Maofen]

wow the people here are on a party of their own. oh well i love mao so ill just keep posting even if everyone doesn't care.

What do you mean? I can't speak for all bur I'm sure that we all care and I personally wanna thank you for all your posting about Mao.

 

[gotoschool]

i love this thanks gotoschool!!! i still think 2008 was her year!

Glad you liked it. I thought of you also when I saw that really great HD versions of Fantasia for Violin and the two versions of Fantasy Impromptu. I think she had a lot of good years. all of 2007 and 2008, 2010, all of 2013-2014 were her best for me, though Liebestraum was really great in 2011, and I really like the Nutcracker in the Grand Prix Final in 2005, to name a few.

About the triple axel,

Mao's triple axel is my favorite because it combines beauty with power in equal measure, though Midori's are the most athletic. Mao's to me has the tightest, fastest and the most beautiful and symmetrical spiral, revolving rapidly with the delicate grace of a pirouetting ballerina taking flight. For me, it is also her erect posture and exquisite upper body movements entering and exiting the jump that add to the drama and beauty of execution like a conductor leading an orchestra into a compelling movement in a symphony. The height is also amazing for Mao's slim build.

Despite what is often referred to as her lack of flow on the triple axel in the 2010 season, she had excellent height and the 2 toe at the end made it extra impressive, especially with the stunning spiral and one handed Biellmann thrown in and the dexterous slide step in the step sequence. I don't really notice this supposed lack of flow that much. In Bells of Moscow, Mao's slight delay in her jumps adds to the mounting suspense and tension.

 

[iceberg]

Glad you liked it. I thought of you also when I saw that really great HD versions of Fantasia for Violin and the two versions of Fantasy Impromptu. I think she had a lot of good years. all of 2007 and 2008, 2010, all of 2013-2014 were her best for me, though Liebestraum was really great in 2011, and I really like the Nutcracker in the Grand Prix Final in 2005, to name a few.

About the triple axel,

Mao's triple axel is my favorite because it combines beauty with power in equal measure, though Midori's are the most athletic. Mao's to me has the tightest, fastest and the most beautiful and symmetrical spiral, revolving rapidly with the delicate grace of a pirouetting ballerina taking flight. For me, it is also her erect posture and exquisite upper body movements entering and exiting the jump that add to the drama and beauty of execution like a conductor leading an orchestra into a compelling movement in a symphony. The height is also amazing for Mao's slim build.

Despite what is often referred to as her lack of flow on the triple axel in the 2010 season, she had excellent height and the 2 toe at the end made it extra impressive, especially with the stunning spiral and one handed Biellmann thrown in and the dexterous slide step in the step sequence. I don't really notice this supposed lack of flow that much. In Bells of Moscow, Mao's slight delay in her jumps adds to the mounting suspense and tension.

Thanks gotoschool! i always love how you construct your words when you describe beauty especially with Mao! I wish i can write as good as you!

And totally agree re: Mao's 3A. She's so tight in the air and rotates so fast that she almost vanishes and also very clean in the eye because of her pencil straight posture similar to that of Yuzuru.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Thanks gotoschool! i always love how you construct your words when you describe beauty especially with Mao! I wish i can write as good as you!

:agree:

 

[iceberg]

@gotoschool have you heard about this song? how i wish Mao could skate on this one. It's one of my all time favorites from Patty Griffin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYX5o34U1YY

 

[gotoschool]

@gotoschool have you heard about this song? how i wish Mao could skate on this one. It's one of my all time favorites from Patty Griffin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYX5o34U1YY

Thanks for sharing and thanks for the compliment iceberg and Sam-skwantch.

That's a really beautiful, heart felt, soulful song. It would be wonderful for Mao to skate to. I think as an exhibition piece.
It may make people cry, especially if Mao skated to this in the final season of her competitive career.

 

[Franklin99]

About the triple axel,

Mao's triple axel is my favorite because it combines beauty with power in equal measure, though Midori's are the most athletic. Mao's to me has the tightest, fastest and the most beautiful and symmetrical spiral, revolving rapidly with the delicate grace of a pirouetting ballerina taking flight. For me, it is also her erect posture and exquisite upper body movements entering and exiting the jump that add to the drama and beauty of execution like a conductor leading an orchestra into a compelling movement in a symphony. The height is also amazing for Mao's slim build.

Despite what is often referred to as her lack of flow on the triple axel in the 2010 season, she had excellent height and the 2 toe at the end made it extra impressive, especially with the stunning spiral and one handed Biellmann thrown in and the dexterous slide step in the step sequence. I don't really notice this supposed lack of flow that much. In Bells of Moscow, Mao's slight delay in her jumps adds to the mounting suspense and tension.

This to the bolded part. Mao 's 3A gave every girl who did not have Midori and Tonya's build hope that no matter your slight size, it's was possible for them to do a 3A. And she was 12 when she was first landing them, how old were the power jumpers when they first started landing 3A's. Heck, even Yuna (and most of the girls of their generation and after) started practicing 3A's because of Mao. Before she came on the scene, most of these skinny/tiny girls never thought they had a chance.

It may not have the Ito's power, but boy did it have speed, grace, and beauty that was never seen before. Ito's jumps are/were beautiful and powerful. Just because Mao's are different, doesn't make it any less beautiful than Midori's. Midori loves Mao's 3As, and Mao single handedly kept Midori's legacy alive with 8+ years of successfully attempting 3A's in competition. Now we have Liza and up and coming Japanese youngsters practicing and attempting this jump in competition.

Thank you Midori for creating a legacy and breaking barriers for women in FS, and thank you Mao for continuing that legacy. 8 triples (with a 3A included) is one of the best breakthrough for women in figure skating. Here's hoping Liza continues this legacy.

 

[minze]

This to the bolded part. Mao 's 3A gave every girl who did not have Midori and Tonya's build hope that no matter your slight size, it's was possible for them to do a 3A. And she was 12 when she was first landing them, how old were the power jumpers when they first started landing 3A's. Heck, even Yuna (and most of the girls of their generation and after) started practicing 3A's because of Mao. Before she came on the scene, most of these skinny/tiny girls never thought they had a chance.

It may not have the Ito's power, but boy did it have speed, grace, and beauty that was never seen before. Ito's jumps are/were beautiful and powerful. Just because Mao's are different, doesn't make it any less beautiful than Midori's. Midori loves Mao's 3As, and Mao single handedly kept Midori's legacy alive with 8+ years of successfully attempting 3A's in competition. Now we have Liza and up and coming Japanese youngsters practicing and attempting this jump in competition.

Thank you Midori for creating a legacy and breaking barriers for women in FS, and thank you Mao for continuing that legacy. 8 triples (with a 3A included) is one of the best breakthrough for women in figure skating. Here's hoping Liza continues this legacy.

Agree