Marin Honda moves to Rafael Arutunian

[skateluvr]

I'm so ready for Marin to step it up and potentially become Japan's top lady. If all of the pieces come together and she produces good results, I can foresee her becoming a skating superstar in the same vein as Mao. She has marketability and it factor which are things that can't be taught.

They like Kaori who I feel is so juniorish despite her big clean jumps she is just a kid. Needs new packaging big time. Marin would take over Satoko’s petite princess spot? No - there cannot be two dainty princess types.

Wakaba is going to Orser? She has done so well with current coaches. I wonder why she would leave Japan given she just won Silver World medal with a team thatndid great by her this season. But if Orser can somehow get her to blow Zagitova off the spot they all feel she deserves with the backloading then I am all for it. Wakaba is special. Marin is a pretty princess little girl. I can’t even remember her skating. But it will certainly change a lot.

iPad is ruined. Giving up.

 

[WineHerUp]

They like Kaori who I feel is so juniorish despite her big clean jumps she is just a kid. Needs new packaging big time. Marin would take over Satoko’s petite princess spot? No - there cannot be two dainty princess types.

Wakaba is going to Orser? She has done so well with current coaches. I wonder why she would leave Japan given she just won Silver World medal with a team thatndid great by her this season. But if Orser can somehow get her to blow Zagitova off the spot they all feel she deserves with the backloading then I am all for it. Wakaba is special. Marin is a pretty princess little girl. I can’t even remember her skating. But it will certainly change a lot.

iPad is ruined. Giving up.

Personally, I find Marin to be far more special than Wakaba. I appreciate Wakaba's jumps and power, but she can look a bit labored and unrefined on the ice. I personally prefer Marin's effortless glide, flow, and aesthetically pleasing positions. The way she moves across the ice is so special. At the end of the day it all comes down to preferences. BTW it's a bit rude to call someone a pretty princess little girl.

 

[sailormoon]

The main purpose of her coaching change is improving her jumps and she needs to perform more difficult jumps to get into the top three nationally, especially a triple loop/triple loop combination that she struggled with. Rafael is good at mending bad jumping habits and he's currently coaching Nathan Chen, the world's best quad jumper, which is why Marin picked Rafael. Under his guidance, I hope Marin will perform the triple loop/triple loop combination with confidence and score close to 210 in the upcoming season.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Best of luck to Marin with this coaching change. It will be interesting to see how she develops.

 

[Yoa]

Wakaba is going to Orser? She has done so well with current coaches. I wonder why she would leave Japan given she just won Silver World medal with a team thatndid great by her this season. But if Orser can somehow get her to blow Zagitova off the spot they all feel she deserves with the backloading then I am all for it. Wakaba is special. Marin is a pretty princess little girl. I can’t even remember her skating. But it will certainly change a lot.

You could say the same thing about Yuzuru in 2012. He moved to Orser after winning his first world medal. And look how much he improved there

Why would she go there? For many reasons.
1) TCC has great skating facility. For sure better that she has in Japan. Envirorment is really important for skaters.
2) She already works with choreographers from Canada.
3) She trained at TCC during summer: link link and she feels comfortable with other skaters there
4) She often is underscored in PCS. Moving to well-known and succesful coach could help her.
5) She could get help with her 3A. And TCC is ideal place for that with Brian and Yuzuru there.
6) Wakaba has problems with flip. TCC can help her fix that (like they did with Yuzuru's). And maybe finally someone would make her change flip to loop in her SP. 3Lo with positive goe is worth more than lip...
There are probably many more reasons.

For now it's just a rumor. Italian eurosport commentators mentioned it during Worlds and they usually are right about things that happen at TCC. And I think TSL mentioned it too. And Brian said after Olympics he will take 1 or 2 new skaters.

 

[mau]

I love Marin and I love Raf, so I’m looking forward to it!

 

[frida80]

I’m going to miss seeing Marin press her forehead against Mie’s as she whispers a few last minute worlds of encouragement befor she takes the ice. I hope this move works for her. Away from the media and other distractions, she can focus strictly on winning.

 

[yyyskate]

You could say the same thing about Yuzuru in 2012. He moved to Orser after winning his first world medal. And look how much he improved there

Why would she go there? For many reasons.
1) TCC has great skating facility. For sure better that she has in Japan. Envirorment is really important for skaters.
2) She already works with choreographers from Canada.
3) She trained at TCC during summer: link link and she feels comfortable with other skaters there
4) She often is underscored in PCS. Moving to well-known and succesful coach could help her.
5) She could get help with her 3A. And TCC is ideal place for that with Brian and Yuzuru there.
6) Wakaba has problems with flip. TCC can help her fix that (like they did with Yuzuru's). And maybe finally someone would make her change flip to loop in her SP. 3Lo with positive goe is worth more than lip...
There are probably many more reasons.

For now it's just a rumor. Italian eurosport commentators mentioned it during Worlds and they usually are right about things that happen at TCC. And I think TSL lesson mentioned it too. And Brian said after Olympics he will take 1 or 2 new skaters.

7）maybe Wakababy like the school of figure skating in TCC

Good luck to both girls, wish they get what they dreamed for.

 

[Seren]

I'll reserve my opinion until we actually see how this works out but I have to respect her for making such a bold choice with regards to her career. You don't move to another country if you aren't serious. I hope she finds what she is looking for with Raf's group.

 

[teamgoldengeese]

YAY so many of my favorite skaters are in the same rink now! All the best to Marin. I really love her skating style and hope Raf is able to help her rise in the rankings. She's been a favorite of mine since her junior days! Go Marin!

 

[Barb]

Good news for Satoko too, one less top skater in her group must mean more time for her.

 

[hippomoomin]

I guess Marin's brother's role is more of taking care of her. He is like 20 and I have never seen him in a competition. I wonder who will pay Marin's training in the US. I do think Marin can probably pay by herself since she has already got so many sponsorships.

 

[Mango]

I guess Marin's brother's role is more of taking care of her. He is like 20 and I have never seen him in a competition. I wonder who will pay Marin's training in the US. I do think Marin can probably pay by herself since she has already got so many sponsorships.

She is sponsored by JAL: https://twitter.com/JAL_Official_jp/status/800625694933848064

If she starts getting good results again I'm sure more sponsors will come. She's believed by some to be the next big marketable Japanese ladies star after Mao Asada.

 

[cohkaix]

Taichi (Marin's brother) is a college student from Kansai University. He was in JGP once or twice before when in junior. He still competes (domestically, in senior rank) now and has quite nice 3A but no quad jump.

 

[mrrice]

Not too good. She probably know some basic but when she did choreography with marina and David Wilson, Hamada did translation for her. My guess is they will bring some translator with them at first.

If Brian is anything like I was, I'm sure that once he started working with Hanyu, he started learning Japanese. I'm sure he can communicate on a basic level at the very least. However, I bet he knows quite a bit of Japanese by now.

 

[Danibellerika]

If Brian is anything like I was, I'm sure that once he started working with Hanyu, he started learning Japanese. I'm sure he can communicate on a basic level at the very least. However, I bet he knows quite a bit of Japanese by now.

More like Yuzu started learning English. Brian doesn't seem to know much and is happy to leave it in the hands of a translator as his plate is full enough. He used to have one on speed dial.

 

[CoyoteChris]

And if Marin inspires Mariah Bell to up her game, it would be a win-win

Maybe. A change of scenery did good for Maddie and Zack. I love Marin and am just glad she is still out there swinging for the bleachers...She makes me smile...
Come to Four Conts Anaheim so I can get a pic with you! Best wishes, Marin....
Ye Olde Coyote

 

[yoloaxel]

I'll reserve my opinion until we actually see how this works out but I have to respect her for making such a bold choice with regards to her career. You don't move to another country if you aren't serious. I hope she finds what she is looking for with Raf's group.

Exactly my impression too, this means she is serious! I hope they will give her less princess-y programs and that she'll have some more grit next year!

 

[yude]

Taichi (Marin's brother) is a college student from Kansai University. He was in JGP once or twice before when in junior. He still competes (domestically, in senior rank) now and has quite nice 3A but no quad jump.

It is going to be interesting if he grows fast under Rafael's coaching

 

[DorYiu]

I'll reserve my opinion until we actually see how this works out but I have to respect her for making such a bold choice with regards to her career. You don't move to another country if you aren't serious. I hope she finds what she is looking for with Raf's group.

Agree, not being in the Olympic national team must be a tough lesson for her, I wish that she could up her game and show her true potential. Her couch was angry with her being lazy and lack of focus, the decision of going to Ral must be a complicated desicion that was discussed multiple times in the Honda family and in JSF, and she would be the one to make the fianl call of go or not go. She said yes, that means she is serious. Good luck girl.