Nathan Chen

[yyyskate]

I really don't think going to BO is even an option in the first place. Not sure why it's being suggested other than wishful thinking. He'll probably be working hard on Cali with his actual coach while he can before he has to move across the country. Though he's going to have to get choreography from somewhere of course

And I hope it works out for Boyang (sounds like his other coach will be going with him if it pans out), but that's some massive pressure going into 2022 to deliver.

why going to BO is not an option, TSL suggested it.

 

[sheetz]

I don't think Raf should let Nathan dictate what he does. Let Nathan go to Yale and see if he can find a local coach to work with him. If it doesn't work nobody will think it's Raf's fault.

 

[discode]

why going to BO is not an option, TSL suggested it.

Because I think he'll be busy and needs to be with Raf during the summer if he's going to leave for the east coast.

And I really don't care what TSL says. They basically said he should just retire and go to Yale since he's already world champion. :scowl:

 

[yyyskate]

IMO, it is not somthing to act quick. there is no way BO is going to work with someone going to Yale full time. Basically you are asking Nathan to give up Yale to make it happen. Plus, BO is going to ask Yuzu about his opinion before taking another male student, do you think Yuzu would prefer Nathan over Boyang?

As much as I would like all the best thing for Nathan, and I really think BO is a great coach, but can we wish for something which might be a little realistic?

juggling college with full-time figure skating training is not a ideal situation any figure skating coach (not just BO) would wanna have. Most elite coaching camp ofc would like to have the full commitment to figure skating.

My intention is for the long term. I expect Nathan may take 1 or 2 gap years before 2022 OG to focus fully on figure skating. then Team BO could be a consideration by then. also my thinking is that Javi maybe retired (don't know about Yuzuru）, thus one spot opened up. that could be an opportunity (but the rapport needs to build from now).

Nathan does not have the backing a whole foreign countries such as China, Japan, Korea. he is in a tough situation.

V has already started planning/marketing for China winter games. I just hope Nathan's second OG can have a successful management planning if he is in it to win.

EDIT: although Nathan is the No.1 US man and the super star in US, but it actually is not as it appears that Nathan will have a powerhouse behind him, Nathan may not even have the full support within USFS considering internal competition. and since it is USA, he is more like a stand-alone entity.

 

[discode]

Okay, but BO doesn't even take American skaters does he? I mean I read he doesn't. I don't see the logic behind going to Canada to train with him and making some drastic change right before the Olympics, when he could just go to Cali to train with Raf (and yes, I know people don't like Raf) if Yale doesn't work out.

And he literally hasn't had a vacation after the stressful Olympics that just happened and people are already worried about the next one? :noshake: I mean, seriously just give him (and Team Raf) a year to figure stuff out. He might have to go back to the west coast and put Yale on hold or maybe he loves school so much he quits skating for all we know.

 

[yyyskate]

TSL suggested it before the Yale thing. Did you read TSL’s tweet about Yale? Apparently they don’t think positive about his Yale decision.

I have problems with RAF myself and I am all for coach change if he can find best one for him. But with the Yale thing which we don’t know how long he is going to do both, any drastic change would not seem to be a little not prudent at this moment. After all it would take some time to get results from new coach. In BO’s case, it would take a year and half to see results.

I don’t know if Nathan is going to be Raf’s priority in the future, but for this summer, I think he would still be.

I agree. but I will be very honest with you, if Nathan decided to experience College for some. I realistically prepared less than stellar result this season.

Nathan is not devoted 100% like his rivals gunning for 2022 (e.g. V, Boyang, Shoma etc.) But as a fan, I understand and support his decision. A college experience is important for him and the best time to do it in a OG cycle is rn.
thus I am also fine with not so good result this year. Also I think people in figure skating and fans will understand as well, they will give Nathan a break.
thus for this coming season, he continue train with Raf, hire on-site other coaches in Yale to monitor him will be all be fine for me.
but this is not conflict with go to a summer camp in BO's team, first for the rapport (it will be good regardless Nathan goes there or not). second he may go there for choreo, okay, maybe it is not a summer camp just a choreo trip.
Anyways, you know what I mean.

 

[sheetz]

I'm sure Nathan has already given it much consideration, or else he wouldn't have publicly announced his college choice the moment after Yale acceptances were mailed out. Nathan is not a lone 18 yo boy anymore--he's really more like Nathan Chen, Inc. He had to have discussed this with other people on his team, including his coach, parents, and agent. There must be a reason he believes this could work.

 

[yyyskate]

Okay, but BO doesn't even take American skaters does he? I mean I read he doesn't. I don't see the logic behind going to Canada to train with him and making some drastic change right before the Olympics, when he could just go to Cali to train with Raf (and yes, I know people don't like Raf) if Yale doesn't work out.

And he literally hasn't had a vacation after the stressful Olympics that just happened and people are already worried about the next one? :noshake: I mean, seriously just give him (and Team Raf) a year to figure stuff out. He might have to go back to the west coast and put Yale on hold or maybe he loves school so much he quits skating for all we know.

I will support Nathan for all his future decisions as a fan. if he wanna quit figure skating once for all, I will be sad and cry my eyes out but will still support him.

All my worries/concerns, are if Nathan is in it for the second time. he needs to learn the lesson and make strategic plans.

I think TSL's comments after known Nathan's decision to go to Yale instead of going to BO like they suggested, is out of frustration.

They like all figure skatings fans, saw the immense potential in our boi, they wanna the best for him. they wanna him to be 100% devoted (just like people wish Yuna can do some skating shows after her retirement). thus the frustration tweets.

All I wanna say is that, Nathan is indeed in a tough situation. but as I fan, I understand him and support him, also I think it is salvageable, if wanna try out anything
this is the time in a OG cycle.

 

[sheetz]

I thought TSL just feels that figure skating has no future in the US so it's better for him to pursue his education. Or did I miss something?

 

[discode]

I thought TSL just feels that figure skating has no future in the US so it's better for him to pursue his education. Or did I miss something?

Yeah, but he's 18 years old and can go back to Yale if it doesn't work out. FS is now and won't last forever. School will always be there and it's not like he's thinking he's going to make a career out of ice shows. So, I don't really understand their tweet saying he should just quit now.



And about poor results, I don't think he'd be fine with poor results at all. Since 2016 GPF he's either at least won at least one program or gotten gold (or completely missed the podium in dramatic fashion of course) and on top of that is now world champion with an even bigger reputation to uphold.

So I think it doesn't work out things will change.

And I don't even mind if it's not he's not "favorite" going into the next Olympics. Good for him if he's not.

And SOI tonight so we'll have something less stressful to talk about soon.

 

[yyyskate]

I think Nathan is way too competitive to be ok with poor results.

From the most recent icenetwork interview:
"It looks like he wants to do both (study and skate), and he's smart enough, (so) if he understands it won't work, he will do something," Arutunian said. "He doesn't want to look bad at competitions.

Nathan has his high standard, but he is also smart to be satisfied with his effort. if he knew he only put in 50% effort as before, I think he himself would not be unrealistically expect a result more than he deserves. As long as the result matches his effort, he will be satisfied. This mentality may even help him. going into the event without that much a high expectation on himself, may even get him better results, Just like the injury helped Yuzuru's mentality in OG.

Nathan also said one goal of his next 4 years is to grow as a person.

 

[sheetz]

He's also said that when he lost it felt like the end of the world.

Since apparently Nathan is made of money now, maybe he can pay for private ice time at the Yale rink.

 

[yyyskate]

He's also said that when he lost it felt like the end of the world.

Since apparently Nathan is made of money now, maybe he can pay for private ice time at the Yale rink.

I believe Nathan will learn to handle the wins and loses as well as competition mentality/pressure better as he grows , part of becoming a better person.

But he will always be the skater with Champion's heart,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W24qEb0EixA

 

[discode]

Well, I just want him to be happy and I wouldn't mind if he proved everyone wrong again (even fans lol) by doing really well while doing everything as usual. He defies logic in a lot of ways so I mostly expect that to continue.

I think he has learned more about winning/losing and pressure after the Olympics and Worlds. He mentioned something about viewing worlds as a normal competition, which served him well. A lot of the other guys were too eager and rushed (on top of everything else going on).

 

[sheetz]

I have no doubt Nathan believes he can go to Yale and be World Champion. But whether or not that's realistic is up in the air. LOL

 

[yyyskate]

post something less stressful
it is from Nathan's first figure skating coach the lovely and animated Ms Grosscup.
I really loved watching these videos of Ms Grosscup. it made me smile. I can imagine how much fun Nathan have had learning figure skating with Ms Grosscup during his childhood.
Also, the tips Ms Grosscup provided here regarding figure skating artistry and choreo. I really appreciat and agree with, Baby Nathan is really in a good hands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eNOtYEjrjw move arms thru space
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r80fRjBe6NQ expansion & contraction to choreographic movements, In Chinese Classic dance we also has similar concept (提 沉 etc.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwU7Kur9LsE facial expression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfrlsKP9a6U her understanding of choreographer (really very well said, love her so much).

Ms Grosscup I wanna learn figure skating from you.:luv17:

- - - Updated - - -

I have no doubt Nathan believes he can go to Yale and be World Champion. But whether or not that's realistic is up in the air. LOL

yeah, some reality check will make our BOI stronger


EDIT: you may wanna check out the PSA's YT channel, it is quite informative, it also has V's coach giving jump tips, I found her very articulate just like V.

 

[sheetz]

Yale has a huge endowment. Surely they can work with him to secure ice time without him having to spend even more $$$$$ ?

Or some wealthy Yale alum can become his patron. Surely there must be a few who would love to be able to watch his private practices and show him off to their friends at their house parties.

 

[oatmella]

So many things in the universe have come together to create the phenomenon we know as NATHAN - born in the right location with plenty of access to ice rinks, gifted in everything, parents who gave him so many opportunities, even the perfect first skating coach !!

 

[discode]

I have no doubt Nathan believes he can go to Yale and be World Champion. But whether or not that's realistic is up in the air. LOL

Yep. Well, he's still a teenage boy lol. Though he's also smart and will know what to do if it doesn't work out. I really think he's going to try hard to make it work, though there are a lot of eager competitors out there too

 

[yyyskate]

first, I think Nathan is relatively rich rn, but he still don't have all the money in the world to waste.
second, Nathan's abilities sometimes surprises people, but without exaggeration. I do think Nathan learn things a little faster than other people, such as technique and choreo. thus it is reasonable to assume he will have less adjustment time with any new coaching team than the normal estimation.