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- Feb 13, 2014
Marin has good natural talent in skating skills. In jumps? Not so much. Many girls are better natural jumpers than her. If they keep treating Marin that way, it won't be good for her.
2016-17 State of Japanese Ladies Skating
- Thread starter TheGrandSophy
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- Mar 26, 2014
Marin has very few chances against clean Zagitova unless she radically improves her jumping. Her biggest rival now is Gubanova who plays in the same field as she.
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- Feb 13, 2014
Gubanova has questionable jump technique even more than Marin though.
Marin could increase her BV in the LP by replicating her Nationals LP layout, i.e. 3S+3T in the second half so that all of her combos get the +10% bonus, but without singling her flip. She could also upgrade her step sequences to level 4 - had she been able to hit the levels on those step sequences, she would've been on the podium. It's unclear to me why she hasn't been able to do that this season, given her amazing skating skills.
That said, even with the changes above that might get her to 130+, I don't think she'll outscore Alina at JWC unless Alina messes up. But if she can improve upon her personal best from JWC'16, that's still a victory.
I also wish that the Japanese media would stop putting so much pressure on Marin as the next big star, e.g. comparing her JWC scores to Yuna and Mao's from ten years ago despite the major changes in scoring. She's a beautiful skater and deserves high PCS, but she's going to need to up her difficulty and consistency before she is a senior medal contender, the way Yuna and Mao were at 15-16. I also worry about whether her jumps are going to hold up once she's older. Watching Mao's jumps degrade over the years has made me very paranoid.
That said, even with the changes above that might get her to 130+, I don't think she'll outscore Alina at JWC unless Alina messes up. But if she can improve upon her personal best from JWC'16, that's still a victory.
I also wish that the Japanese media would stop putting so much pressure on Marin as the next big star, e.g. comparing her JWC scores to Yuna and Mao's from ten years ago despite the major changes in scoring. She's a beautiful skater and deserves high PCS, but she's going to need to up her difficulty and consistency before she is a senior medal contender, the way Yuna and Mao were at 15-16. I also worry about whether her jumps are going to hold up once she's older. Watching Mao's jumps degrade over the years has made me very paranoid.
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- Sep 14, 2016
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- Sep 14, 2016
And i can tell you're a hater. What's new?
Everytime when someone mentions Marin's name you're putting her down, EVERY SINGLE TIME. So yes, you're right, there's no point discussing
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- Nov 30, 2014
CNN posted an article on their main page today, titled: 'What a shot! 32 amazing sports photos'
One of them is Mai Mihara from Nationals. Looks like it's from the gala:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/26/sport/gallery/what-a-shot-sports-1227/index.html (it's a slideshow, #13 of 32)
One of them is Mai Mihara from Nationals. Looks like it's from the gala:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/26/sport/gallery/what-a-shot-sports-1227/index.html (it's a slideshow, #13 of 32)
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- Mar 21, 2005
Marin is so beautiful - her beauty shines- inner and outer beauty
Marin is a lovely skater, but IMO, she is a bit overrated. Many other Japanese skaters (Kihira,Sakamoto,Shiraiwa) have outperformed her, but it is she who always gets the spotlight.
Her skating skills are to die for, and there definitely is something about her skating quality that makes it almost impossible for you to not like her, but her jumps are low and not consistent. She also doesn't seem to be mentally strong based off of her getting emotional after literally every performance.
Her skating skills are to die for, and there definitely is something about her skating quality that makes it almost impossible for you to not like her, but her jumps are low and not consistent. She also doesn't seem to be mentally strong based off of her getting emotional after literally every performance.
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- Feb 13, 2014
I agree about her jumps, her toe jumps are not stellar. She pre-rotates quite a lot and her Flip is not that good. Her jumps don't look like they have power. She keeps saying she will do 3A and 4S but one must question her ability to land consistently normal triples first. Not to mention she pops even the 2A.
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- Dec 28, 2013
Well, that's it. Like Gracie Gold, many people are attracted to her because of her looks. Her younger sister is a TV actress and her whole family has had a lot of media exposure, so she 's used to attention and is always well presented. She also seems to have a lot of natural talent. Whether she has the ruthless quality of champions remains to be seen. To my untrained eye Mai Mihara and Wakaba Higuchi look like better jumpers and all-round skaters, but maybe they don't have Marin's star quality. A lot can change in a year, so let's see what happens after worlds. It's nice that Japan has so many promising young ladies.
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- Feb 17, 2010
Congrats to Mao for a CLEAN 3Lz! Clear outside edge!I'm so proud of her, even if she didn't manage to podium :sad21:
Even though her placement was disappointing, there were some flashes of her brilliance. She seemed like she felt good but simply hadn't competed enough on a high level this year. I hope she can start next season healthy and remain strong through the Olympics. If she has any hope of surprising the favorites, she needs strong performances in the GP to be part of the conversation.
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- Feb 13, 2014
Mai Mihara and Wakaba Higuchi are better jumpers and they're not much lesser in skating skills than Marin. Mai and Wakaba are very fast. They might not be as good performer as Marin, but their potential in term of skating alone are not less than Marin.
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- Mar 21, 2005
Yuna is also amazing ! Her 2 triple triples were very impressive 
Mira can still improve a lot but she has the X Factor , the superstar factor!
Mira can still improve a lot but she has the X Factor , the superstar factor!
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- Dec 5, 2014
Probably going to get so much hate for defending Marin but she has really attracted me over the years.
She may not have the best jumps or be the best skating skills or be the fastest across the ice but what I feel is that she has a balance of all those combined.
Compared to her compatriots of the same or or similar age, she is just 'packaged' so much better than the rest, from the programs to her expressions.
For instance, her programs, both this season and last season, gives a very 'senior' feel and those might be more matured programs but she pulls it off so so well, especially for her age.
Of course, other girls like Wakaba or Kaori or Yuna, etc do have the ability to succeed, but for now and probably till the Olympics, I daresay none of them will be able to skate the way Marin does, as well as the 'feel' she invokes in many people, like me, that makes her stand out from the rest that much more.
She may not have the best jumps or be the best skating skills or be the fastest across the ice but what I feel is that she has a balance of all those combined.
Compared to her compatriots of the same or or similar age, she is just 'packaged' so much better than the rest, from the programs to her expressions.
For instance, her programs, both this season and last season, gives a very 'senior' feel and those might be more matured programs but she pulls it off so so well, especially for her age.
Of course, other girls like Wakaba or Kaori or Yuna, etc do have the ability to succeed, but for now and probably till the Olympics, I daresay none of them will be able to skate the way Marin does, as well as the 'feel' she invokes in many people, like me, that makes her stand out from the rest that much more.
The way I see it, Marin's on the mid/low tier for jumps but the upper tier for the second mark but with that additional x-factor which makes everything look better. In addition, she has very well choreographed programs which makes her natural level of polish shine, whereas other skaters like Kaori and Wakaba are extradordinary jumpers but tend to look under choreographed at times which exposes their weaknesses. I think Wakaba is a little underrated in expression and can be quite the actress on ice, but lacks the extension and carriage of Marin. if Yuna A got her stuff together, I think she would be up there with Marin because she's equally balanced imo, but it is what it is.
I also think Marin gets a lot of hype for performing at the right time. People love to go on about Marin's inconsistency but Marin's never been off the podium in a international competition. Despite her "fragility" she managed to do what she had to make the JGPF while Yuna S this year and Kaori S and Wakaba last year didn't. Furthermore, getting the highest finish at the JGPF sealed her place at Junior Worlds, just like being the highest placing junior at Nationals along with being the reigning World Junior champ sealed her place this year. So yeah, I don't disagree she's been outperformed at specific moments by her peers, but she's also been doing really well when it counts.
Mihara deserves a bit more kudos for her consistency all season despite her difficulties though
I also think Marin gets a lot of hype for performing at the right time. People love to go on about Marin's inconsistency but Marin's never been off the podium in a international competition. Despite her "fragility" she managed to do what she had to make the JGPF while Yuna S this year and Kaori S and Wakaba last year didn't. Furthermore, getting the highest finish at the JGPF sealed her place at Junior Worlds, just like being the highest placing junior at Nationals along with being the reigning World Junior champ sealed her place this year. So yeah, I don't disagree she's been outperformed at specific moments by her peers, but she's also been doing really well when it counts.
Mihara deserves a bit more kudos for her consistency all season despite her difficulties though
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- Mar 21, 2005
I feel the same thing. I ageee that she has weaknesses but it's her lack of it that makes her really good.
If she improves on the mental fragility , really plan the layout of her jumps ETC, then she can be one of the best.
She is just lovely! A natural performer and artist.
I do hope she doesn't win Junior worlds, hopefully she'd medal, to lessen the pressure on her shoulders just in time for Pyeongchang.
So come 2018, shell be attacking
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- Mar 21, 2005
Well-said. There are so many amazing Japanese girls and this is a sport.
Wakaba has worked so hard to be the mature total package this year, so I'm very impressed.
Mai just needs a slight makeover for 4CC and worlds- hair and makeup. Her look makes her look juniorish.
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- Feb 13, 2014
Wakaba's team is not doing her any big favor. The Flip in the SP should go. The SP placement is improtant for PCS in LP and play it safer in the SP. And her LP is...
Mai's programs do not stand out. But she is fast and fresh. I agree she needs a more mature package. But this is only her first year in senior, let her be a bit juniorish.
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