Mirai Nagasu

[apgold]

Updated the first post with Mirai's NHK results, video and EX program.

I am happy that Mirai was able to bounce back after SC with a 5th place finish here. She was hosed in the FS, as we know, since she is capable of scoring at least 10 points higher with the same layout at last year's 4CC's. Fixing the UR issue is still ongoing, but losing levels on her spins makes no sense since Mirai is one of the best spinners in the world.

I hope she is able to get used to her new Edea Piano boots by Nationals. My guess is she got them right after Skate Canada. I remember seeing her deep in conversation in the hallway after her FS with boot and blade experts at the John Wilson table. Perhaps they recommended the Edeas to her?

 

[Gullygirl84]

Yeah, I didn't disagree with the jump calls too much (except for maybe the flip call on the combination...interestingly enough, I watched the NBC broadcast and Tara said that she thought the rotation call on that combination was incorrect and that it looked rotated to her. I also think that they marked her for everything possible while letting others slide on a few calls), but the spin calls were disappointing. Maybe she didn't hold one of her positions enough, but it seemed...interesting. Luckily, that's one thing that she can easily fix before nationals, and I'm sure that her jumps will be crisper by then as well. She also needs to work on putting a lot more speed into the step sequence.

I do think she was under marked by maybe a few points at least in both programs. I think that Skate Canada kind of stopped some of the momentum that she had going, and it's a bit sad to see that this skate was marked under others from this past grand prix season who had Actual Meltdown free skates. Judges always seem to find extra points for other skaters when things go wrong. Oh well-more to work on and at least we can count on her boot not breaking at nationals this year (knock on wood).

 

[Arriba627]

Hope Mirai will come back with her fighting spirit and be ready to roll at Nationals!

 

[Arriba627]

but the spin calls were disappointing.

Doesn't Mirai usually do the hair cutter spin? It almost seemed like her choreography didn't showcase her fabulous spinning ability. I guess I'm just remembering that her spins at Worlds were breathtaking, and I was hoping for more of that at NHK.

 

[padme21]

I loved Mirai at NHK! This felt like the old Mirai from 2010 was back! Her dresses are beautiful! Is it me or did Mirai lose some weight? She looks more slender.

 

[Danibellerika]

Better luck next time, Mirai! Would love to see her make the world team!

 

[Arriba627]

I loved Mirai at NHK! This felt like the old Mirai from 2010 was back! Her dresses are beautiful! Is it me or did Mirai lose some weight? She looks more slender.

She appeared more slender to me too. Both in her arms and her face. Very nice performance. I think she is much loved by the Japanese crowd! Love her beautiful spins.

 

[Heleng]

I'm so pleased to see Mirai skate cleanly back to back, as in not falling or popping anything. That's a big accomplishment for her. I felt that she was really taking her time during her programs and concentrating on the jumps, which made her step sequences seem a bit slow to me, and maybe took a little energy away from her spins too. But I think she's in great shape overall to improve on her rotations, speed, spins, and performance aspects by Nationals, and I would love for her to make the world team!

 

[Arriba627]

I'm so pleased to see Mirai skate cleanly back to back, as in not falling or popping anything. That's a big accomplishment for her. I felt that she was really taking her time during her programs and concentrating on the jumps, which made her step sequences seem a bit slow to me, and maybe took a little energy away from her spins too. But I think she's in great shape overall to improve on her rotations, speed, spins, and performance aspects by Nationals, and I would love for her to make the world team!

Step sequences did seem a bit slow, but I'm glad she had clean programs. I'm sure that felt good, and I hope it will go a long way towards building her confidence. She has great programs this year!

 

[samson]

One more thing wanted to share the chunk from The Skating Lesson This and That talked about Mirai at NHK. Some really lovely things were said by both Dave and Sandra Bezic. Dave even said that for him she had "the moment". https://youtu.be/E5Fk2FrPifk?t=34m29s The video should cut right to when they start talking about her. I forgot Satoko was the only other skater to get a standing ovation that night.

She was also both of their MK Moment of the Event. So funny even two season ago I never would have thought we'd get this kind of love for Mirai from The Skating Lesson.

I hope that Mirai appreciates the sort of impact her skating has even when the judges aren't rewarding it. I do think she should have been higher in this field... I would even consider putting her third if the calls at this even had been more consistent and in keeping with the rules. I hate the be a conspiracy theorist type but I can't help but wonder with a Japanese judge in the Tech Team and on the regular panel plus the necessity to keep her down to ensure Satoko's spot in the final if the deck was possibly stacked a little high against her.

With that said I also want to add I do think Satoko absolutely earned her silver medal in her own right and no disrespect meant towards Maria or Wakaba and their own accomplishments - just sometimes I can't help but question the judges :hopelessness:

But that's alright, we know her style. I think she's gonna show up in January guns blazing!!

 

[tinlizzie]

After listening to TSL I watched Mirai's programs from NHK and was blown away by how beautiful they were. I do have to say that I prefer the long sleeved dress she wore for the SP earlier in the season. It made more of an impact IMO. I love her programs this season and with her new boots worn in she should be in peak competitive form by Nationals.

 

[samson]

Also!

Wanted to add, unless something really wild happens it looks like she's poised to at least come in second in the Challenger Series Standings once all is said and done. The only skater that should have an opportunity to pass her is Elizaveta who needs 180.05 to take the lead.

That will come with a modest cash prize so good for her!

 

[Arriba627]

One more thing wanted to share the chunk from The Skating Lesson This and That talked about Mirai at NHK. Some really lovely things were said by both Dave and Sandra Bezic. Dave even said that for him she had "the moment". https://youtu.be/E5Fk2FrPifk?t=34m2...VERY impressed with Mirai's programs! :laugh:

 

[jenaj]

One more thing wanted to share the chunk from The Skating Lesson This and That talked about Mirai at NHK. Some really lovely things were said by both Dave and Sandra Bezic. Dave even said that for him she had "the moment". https://youtu.be/E5Fk2FrPifk?t=34m29s The video should cut right to when they start talking about her. I forgot Satoko was the only other skater to get a standing ovation that night.

She was also both of their MK Moment of the Event. So funny even two season ago I never would have thought we'd get this kind of love for Mirai from The Skating Lesson.

I hope that Mirai appreciates the sort of impact her skating has even when the judges aren't rewarding it. I do think she should have been higher in this field... I would even consider putting her third if the calls at this even had been more consistent and in keeping with the rules. I hate the be a conspiracy theorist type but I can't help but wonder with a Japanese judge in the Tech Team and on the regular panel plus the necessity to keep her down to ensure Satoko's spot in the final if the deck was possibly stacked a little high against her.

With that said I also want to add I do think Satoko absolutely earned her silver medal in her own right and no disrespect meant towards Maria or Wakaba and their own accomplishments - just sometimes I can't help but question the judges :hopelessness:

But that's alright, we know her style. I think she's gonna show up in January guns blazing!!

I think this was my favorite TSL ever! Sandra's love for Mirai and for beautiful skating was so inspiring. Mirai was scored very unfairly at NHK, I think. Dave made a great point in saying that the tech panel is dinging even the slightest UR, even though URs less than a quarter turn under are supposed to get full credit. And don't get me started on Mirai's PCS...

 

[MiraiFan]

Agree with much of the above. She keeps getting hosed on PCS despite the fact that she is a GORGEOUS skater. Love the programs, although her Demons program will always be the one that brings me to tears. Her 3-3 looked fully rotated to me but whatever. Glad she has a coach that is pushing her in a positive direction. Better to get new boots now than to have them break, LOL. Wish her all the best and yeah, hope she and Mariah make Worlds. The US needs to mix things up.

 

[apgold]

Mirai posted the cutest "story" on her Instagram this AM.

Not sure if it's still there as it disappears after a few hours (a feature I don't like about stories). She was putting together a set of craft drawers from Ikea and was making jokes about the directions being confusing and calling it a coloring book. She was able to put it together though and spray painted the bottom of the drawers in gold spray paint. She also spray painted the heels of her new Edea Pianos so they are gold instead of silver. She also had her one of her dogs in the video and was making barking noises at her new puppy, who was barking back!

How can anyone not love her?

 

[MiraiFan]

I think this was my favorite TSL ever! Sandra's love for Mirai and for beautiful skating was so inspiring. Mirai was scored very unfairly at NHK, I think. Dave made a great point in saying that the tech panel is dinging even the slightest UR, even though URs less than a quarter turn under are supposed to get full credit. And don't get me started on Mirai's PCS...

I hated Sandra as a commentator for many years (she was nasty to certain skaters) but she has mellowed a lot. Really enjoyed that episode.

 

[Heleng]

I think this was my favorite TSL ever! Sandra's love for Mirai and for beautiful skating was so inspiring. Mirai was scored very unfairly at NHK, I think. Dave made a great point in saying that the tech panel is dinging even the slightest UR, even though URs less than a quarter turn under are supposed to get full credit. And don't get me started on Mirai's PCS...

I really appreciated the positive comments about Mirai's NHK FS from both Sandra and Dave. IMO, T/J's commentary of her performance on NBC's broadcast was disappointingly and unfairly negative. And they didn't even get the facts straight. They noted that the choreographer disagreed w Mirai's original music choice, when Mirai herself mentioned in an interview that she and David Wilson agreed on the music choice but that her coach nixed it bc he didn't think the music was "iconic" enough.

 

[Danibellerika]

I really appreciated the positive comments about Mirai's NHK FS from both Sandra and Dave. IMO, T/J's commentary of her performance on NBC's broadcast was disappointingly and unfairly negative. And they didn't even get the facts straight. They noted that the choreographer disagreed w Mirai's original music choice, when Mirai herself mentioned in an interview that she and David Wilson agreed on the music choice but that her coach nixed it bc he didn't think the music was "iconic" enough.

Their comments about Mirai were definitely unfair and it ruins the moment for people that were actually enjoying her performance. I'm not saying they have to shower her with praise, but they do this commentary already knowing the results, so they can put that spin on it. They also failed to mention that she got a standing O from the audience. When Keiji Tanaka was skating they also didn't say very nice things about him but Johnnie at least noted that the Japanese crowd stood for him, and they are a knowledgable crowd so they should know a good enough performance.

 

[Heleng]

Their comments about Mirai were definitely unfair and it ruins the moment for people that were actually enjoying her performance. I'm not saying they have to shower her with praise, but they do this commentary already knowing the results, so they can put that spin on it. They also failed to mention that she got a standing O from the audience. When Keiji Tanaka was skating they also didn't say very nice things about him but Johnnie at least noted that the Japanese crowd stood for him, and they are a knowledgable crowd so they should know a good enough performance.

Agree completely! :agree: