Mao Asada plans comeback

[KweenAsada]

No doubt there is something she wants to accomplish if she's still prepared to put herself through all the training and self-discipline.

I hope that "something" is an Olympic gold medal!!!!!!! If she could pull that off...OMG! I would freak the f out and it would ALMOST make up for the sting of my Michelle finishing third in Salt Lake and pulling out of Torino. Fingers CROSSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The next few seasons for the ladies should be outstanding. I can't wait.

 

[Franklin99]

come back Carolina, Yuna, Joannie too then. It would be great to see them as well. I have mixed feelings. I do think Mao has wonderful quality but she lost to Yuna in two Olympics and really nothing will make up for that. In some ways I think other ladies deserve the limelight but skating is a selfish sport. I wish Mao well but I hope this does not hold back other skaters whether it be opportunities or media attention.

Mao lost to Yuna at the 2010 Olympics. Yuna didn't win in 2014, so how did Mao lose to her twice?

 

[Batsuchan]

i know, Tatiana and Lori are great but it would be a good opportunity to try someone different. She must to get new programs soon, and probably she will be at Japan open??

I wonder if Jeff Buttle would choreograph for her? I think that could be interesting!

That article--if we believe it's true--seemed to suggest that Skate America (or at least the GP series?) would likely be the first time we'd see her--so maybe she'd skip the Japan Open...That would give her more time to prepare, and it seems like she needs some time to get readjusted to training full-time, and then she has to get her programs choreographed...

 

[Crystallize]

Mao lost to Yuna at the 2010 Olympics. Yuna didn't win in 2014, so how did Mao lose to her twice?

They probably meant in regards to placement. But Mao had the freeskate of the night at Sochi for me. I don't see that as a loss.

 

[CarneAsada]

So she's returning? Good, more programs to enjoy.

I hope she does the 3Flip+3Toe if she's coming back. Would be great to her get full credit for an 8-Triple LP, plus it's very valuable for the SP.

I hope she does 3Flip-3Loop; why settle for a pedestrian 3-3 that she's less likely to rotate anyway?

 

[Franklin99]

They probably meant in regards to placement. But Mao had the freeskate of the night at Sochi for me. I don't see that as a loss.

Well in that case, she lost to Adelina, Caroline, Gracie, and Yulia as well. Why keep mentioning Yuna, who has nothing to do with Mao's (maybe) comeback.

 

[Crystallize]

Well in that case,she lost to Adelina, Caroline, Gracie, and Yulia as well. Why keep mentioning Yuna, who has nothing to do with Mao's (maybe) comeback.

Oh, you know how certain people are. They ask for others to come back, but then talk about mixed feelings. It's pretty obvious.

 

[kiara_bleu]

Sooo excited for the triple axel rivalry! Outside of Liza there are really no other big threats. Maybe Adelina Sotnikova if she can come back strong? I think both Julia Lipinskaia and Elena Radionova will be question marks next season in terms of their jumps holding up. Satoko Miyahara and Polina Edmunds are tough competitors who have the technical goods but are not yet getting any PCS love from judges. Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner are not too dependable. I think Mao should be getting higher PCS scores than any of these ladies but if Liza continues to be consistent with big jumps who knows how that will compare.

 

[Franklin99]

Oh, you know how certain people are. They ask for others to come back, but then talk about mixed feelings. It's pretty obvious.

So true.

Since this thread is about Mao, I will say while I'm worried about how the tech may come down unfairly hard on her (as they have been in the past), if she want's to come back, I hope she enjoys herself, and inspires upcoming skaters to bring out their best.

 

[shiroKJ]

She doesn't have anything to prove or to "make-up" for and I think if she comes back, it'll only be because of her love for the sport.

 

[Blades of Passion]

I hope she does 3Flip-3Loop; why settle for a pedestrian 3-3 that she's less likely to rotate anyway?

I wouldn't say she's less likely to rotate 3Flip+3Toe, particularly in terms of the calls. She will also run into problems with the dumb new zayak rule if she doubles the 3F+3Lo, because then her 3Flip+2Loop+2Loop will be worth 0. Additionally, the 3Flip+3Loop is worthless for her to do in the SP as compared to 3Flip+3Toe, so for the purposes of consistency it would also help to keep the Triple-Triple the same in both the SP and LP.

 

[Poice]

Oh! Please Skating Gods let it be true! I want to see Mao's skating live! Give me a chance!

 

[andromache]

I don't want to get my hopes up until it's official but this is everything I ever wanted and didn't at all expect!

 

[Crystallize]

So true.

Since this thread is about Mao, I will say while I'm worried about how the tech may come down unfairly hard on her (as they have been in the past), if she want's to come back, I hope she enjoys herself, and inspires upcoming skaters to bring out their best.

I really want them to just be fair, even if it means that she gets hammered for technical issues. But, yeah, there were definitely times when they were hard on her, and I think reputation had a lot to do with it. However, she showed at Sochi what she is still capable of, so I don't see her coming back as pointless. She may not have the jumps down like Liza, but she has plenty of other marvelous qualities to offer. I'll certainly be happy and supportive if she chooses to come back. I really wasn't expecting any consideration for return!

 

[plushyfan]

I'm so happy! Good luck, Mao for the next season!!!

 

[CarneAsada]

I wouldn't say she's less likely to rotate 3Flip+3Toe, particularly in terms of the calls. She will also run into problems with the dumb new zayak rule if she doubles the 3F+3Lo, because then her 3Flip+2Loop+2Loop will be worth 0. Additionally, the 3Flip+3Loop is worthless for her to do in the SP as compared to 3Flip+3Toe, so for the purposes of consistency it would also help to keep the Triple-Triple the same in both the SP and LP.

I wonder if she'll change her 3-2-2 to a 3F-2T-2Lo as her default layout from most of last quad would hit by the Zayak rule. The 3F-3Lo isn't really worthless for the SP - she can always do her 3Flutz given its 100% success rate over her last season (or 3Sal or 3T).

 

[TheGrandSophy]

I miss Mao so here is hoping it turns out to be official and all goes well in training.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I just want to see Mao and Julia have great seasons. Gold and silver at WC's in any order would make me smile smile as big as anything you've ever seen.

 

[Crystallize]

I just want to see Mao and Julia have great seasons. Gold and silver at WC's in any order would make me smile smile as big as anything you've ever seen.

Now if Julia comes back and convincingly wins the gold in Boston, I wouldn't mind either! She had such a rough season, but I'm not counting her out. It would be wild to have her and Mao on the podium again after neither competed at 2015 Worlds.

 

[Blades of Passion]

The 3F-3Lo isn't really worthless for the SP - she can always do her 3Flutz given its 100% success rate over her last season (or 3Sal or 3T).

If she could do a 3Lutz out footwork with consistency and never get an 'e' call, sure, but it's asking a lot of her to nail 3Axel, 3Flip+3Loop, and a 3Lutz out of footwork in the SP. That's just asking for all kinds of costly deductions. 3Sal isn't a great jump for her and doing solo 3T with 3Flip+3Loop combo is actually worth less than 3Flip+3Toe and solo 3Loop, hence why I'd really want her to go for the latter. She's a lovely skater and it sucks to see lovely skaters screwed over because of random CoP deductions that can be avoided.