Nathan Chen | Page 611 | Golden Skate

Nathan Chen

Blog entry with scans of Nathan's pages from The Ice program, including the Q&A which was asked to all the skaters.
https://ameblo.jp/babemama2015/entry-12396398709.html
Q1: If you were to be reborn what would you want to be?
A1: I've been skating for nearly my entire life so if I were to be reborn I think I would choose the same life.

Q2: What challenges will you take on this summer?
A2: These last few years I would train in the summer to prepare for competition. This year I'll work to further grow my artistry and improve the quality of my skating.

Q3: What's surprised you about Japan?
A3: Japan is one of the most beautiful countries I've visited. Every town is unique and wonderful and I've been surprised so many times by everyone's politeness. I have to say the fans are really the greatest.

Q4: What has been your most inspiring performance until now?
A4: I really enjoyed my two performances at the 2018 Worlds. After struggling at the Olympics I was glad to skate two programs I could be proud of.

Q5: Which skater do you admire?
A5: I've admired Evgeni Plushenko since I was small. He's encouraged me and created the path I'm currently following.

The other skaters were also asked what their nicknames were but Nathan's answer was not listed.
 
I'm finally getting around to watch programs. First thoughts: 1) I was worried about college, but if this is what he will be putting out I'm in! 2) Love the free already. It has layers and the movement is awesome. 3) I don't love but I understand the short. I think it's important for his growth so I'll grin and bear it :biggrin:

Most importantly: yes to the curls! I missed them during the latter part of last season. They are everything! :yahoo:
 
Nathan interview in Nikkei newspaper.
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO33985650Z00C18A8US0000/

Again, it sounds like he intends to train at the on campus rink, which is 3 minutes from his dorm. But additionally it says he hopes to go up to Montreal every weekend to work with Marie France.
Wow, that WOULD be awesome. I'm guessing he would be flying from Bradley Airport (~1hr drive from Yale) taking the direct Air Canada flight to Montreal. But I wonder how likely it really would be to do that as frequently as he would like with a full course load. Does anyone think Nathan might be under estimating school?
 
Nathan interview in Nikkei newspaper.
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO33985650Z00C18A8US0000/

Again, it sounds like he intends to train at the on campus rink, which is 3 minutes from his dorm. But additionally it says he hopes to go up to Montreal every weekend to work with Marie France.

Thanks a lot, sheetz. This is what I have been secretly hoping for for quite some time, but never have the courage to voice. I was checking the flight time of United/air Canada last month just to see if the commute is possible. But then I was discouraged by how crowded Montreal is.

Shine, I do think Nathan probably is underestimating school. But, he would make quick adjustments if things won’t go as planned. He is so young and brave to try to do both. He would be rewarded in some way, or at least, become more realistic lol

He does like to train or hang out with ice dancers. That might explain sheetz’s questions about why he has some ice dancer friends.
 
Wow, that WOULD be awesome. I'm guessing he would be flying from Bradley Airport (~1hr drive from Yale) taking the direct Air Canada flight to Montreal. But I wonder how likely it really would be to do that as frequently as he would like with a full course load. Does anyone think Nathan might be under estimating school?

would she work on skating skills and presentation with him? that's what he said he would like to focus on this year in pamphlet from 'the ice,' right? but every weekend? i don't see how that's feasible. and i also don't see how much time he can get at the campus rink given the sports teams that train there.

um yes he is underestimating how hard school can be, most likely. *sigh*

sheetz, thank you for all your hard work keeping us up to date.

(to me it looks largely like the same interview we'd seen before, except for the Montreal and Marie France bits. maybe bonita had foreseen everything... please pick tomorrow's lottery number for me, bonita) :)
 
I didn’t foresee anything lol. I just like to day dreaming. Whether it happens or not, we know that at least Nathan is intending to find some help, not just train by himself, which is kinda worrisome.

Frida80 is right, the boy is very good at planning.

is there no ice dance coach closer than Montreal, though? :scratch2: I think the skills Nathan needs to polish up can be taught by a less famous ice dance coach who's more accessible.

... maybe it's dawning on him that Raf is a lost cause in terms of guidance for the coming year, and since Raf is his technique guru and he doesn't want that tweaked by anyone but Raf, he would focus on skating skills with another coach instead?

but yes, it is good he's aware he might need another pair of eyes on-site.
 
Going to Montreal every weekend? Wonder if he’s had this plan for quite awhile, or maybe he really liked it there when he went for choreo.

If we think Raf is busy with his many students - isn’t Marie-France super busy as well? Guess she will have to make time for Nathan :)

Nathan hasn’t attended regular school for like 5 years - so it’s possible he’s underestimating school. Or maybe it won’t be that difficult for him ? :)
 
While I love many things about Land of All and prefer it to Caravan, I wonder if Marie France is responsible for a new phenomenon I don't appreciate:
what is with all these arm wooshes after the jumps in Land of All? It happened over and over again, and most of the time I can't find anything in the music that remotely justified it.

I find it unaesthetic and unnecessary clutter.

I also don't like how she managed to make Nathan's usually gorgeous eagle look less wonderful than usual. And that's independent of the tension I usually feel before an upcoming triple axel.

Also, as ice dance coaches go, isn't Marie France one of the busiest? Wasn't every ice dance team moving to Gadbois last I heard? Even if he could magically transport himself there every weekend, will Marie France really have that much time for him?
 
Going to Montreal every weekend? Wonder if he’s had this plan for quite awhile, or maybe he really liked it there when he went for choreo.

I think you can't discount the whole training environment in Montreal. One of things he'll be missing at Yale and which he has in Lakewood is the camaraderie with other elite level skaters. They may be predominantly ice dancers, but he's used to that from training with Marina. And Nathan is very good friends with JL Baker, even if he's no Romain. ;)
 
Perhaps Nathan should take French to fulfill his foreign language requirement - since he will be in Montreal so often :)

skfan - I’m not sure about the arm whooshes - I assumed that was Sam’s choreography, but I don’t really know.

I would assume Marie France is very busy - seems that most of the top ice dance teams are there.
 
I didn’t foresee anything lol. I just like to day dreaming. Whether it happens or not, we know that at least Nathan is intending to find some help, not just train by himself, which is kinda worrisome.

Frida80 is right, the boy is very good at planning.

I like to think of this summer as a trial run for the semester. He’s actually been taking online classes this summer already. He also did several shows in Japan as well as stars on ice. The Stars on ice shows have him the chance to practice new transitions, spins,and jump quads while being sleep deprived and exhausted. Personal appearances for events as well as his sponsorship. And in the month of a June got two programs choreographed and debuted them shortly after. He’s super efficient.

I think this year will be all about him learning to balance the classroom work with his skating. He’s probably planned on taking a few online classes this fall to free up his schedule as much as possible. His schedule should start later, ensuring that he can get in morning practice. Most likely he has no classes on Friday, to free up his weekend as much as possible.

Last year was a doozy, in terms of scheduling. All of the traveling and the stress. This year will, be far less stressful, since I its non-olympic year. The focus is now to develop more as a skater. Plus he’s earned enough money, so no more stress about sponsor obligations.

All this added together, I think he can afford a weekly lesson to improve his edgework and skating skills in Montreal.
 
Already taking online classes - that would explain why he has been studying. Looks like he took a calculus class - he was studying the chain rule in one of Romain’s instastories.

From the campus map, Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin colleges are the closest to the rink (across the street), so guessing he was assigned to one of those - he said his dorm is 3 minutes away.
 
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