Nathan Chen

[SnowWhite]

Thank you for this helpful post.

*hauls out dead horse to flog in new context*
In your experience, is posture part of the curriculum for the stroking class, or would a skater seeking posture guidance need individual attention from the coaches? Thanks again.

Oh, I'm not sure. I've never seen the Gadbois class and I'm not a skater. I just know what I've read skaters talk about in interviews. I'd guess that it would be more dealt with when polishing choreo and movements, but I don't know. I guess if that's something a skater wanted to work on, they could maybe ask the coach to call them out on it whenever the posture isn't good enough, including during a stroking class. But I'm just guessing here.

 

[sheetz]

Team Raf update with hair knot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmSf0P0DT0-/

 

[Hollymolly]

https://twitter.com/sofigureout/status/1027817095101218816?s=21

Nathan is coaching Romain

 

[GGFan]

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

Most importantly: yes to the curls! I missed them during the latter part of last season. They are everything!

I don't usually quote myself and I'm about to sound crazy, but I was completely wrong about #3!! :whack:

I'd only seen the program from far away. I looked for a better video and we have a winner!! :hap93:

Nathan totally let go and gave himself to that music. He has two of my favorite footwork sequences of the season already. His programs are completely unique and he's starting to have a signature: contemporary, cool, with some edge.

I don't know if it's the shows or having the Olympics behind him but where last year he was thinking through the choreography, this year he's really feeling it! I started to see that when he was working with Alex Wong last year, but it faded as the competitive season started.

I have a good feeling about this season. If he waters down any of this choreography we will be fighting!

 

[GGFan]

Did Nathan add these arm wooshes, or did Marie-France / Sam include them in the choreography? They make the program look messy. They detract from Nathan's wonderful musicality, because there's no musical justification. When a skater makes a movement that doesn't match the music, it gives the impression the program is not well-choreographed or he's not listening to his music and therefore mis-timing his movements.


Kelly, I like the Sam part when I saw it on ice. Wasn't too excited about it in the studio, but it looks better on ice, and even better in the context of the actual Land of All program.

I also like the zombie rising movements at the beginning of Caravan now.

1. Props to you on your eye for detail. It probably would have taken me months to notice those.

2. I'm sure someone a lot more knowledgeable than I will give us the answer. I did notice it in a performance of Back to the Edge.

3. It doesn't bother me because it seems clear that he has secured the jump before the does it. He also doesn't seem to do it on every jump. It feels more like a stylistic flair to me. His camel on the other hand :hpull:

4. Perhaps the arm woosh™ will become the hot new "transition" of the current quad :dev2:

 

[shine]

I don't usually quote myself and I'm about to sound crazy, but I was completely wrong about #3!! :whack:

I'd only seen the program from far away. I looked for a better video and we have a winner!! :hap93:

Nathan totally let go and gave himself to that music. He has two of my favorite footwork sequences of the season already. His programs are completely unique and he's starting to have a signature: contemporary, cool, with some edge.

I don't know if it's the shows or having the Olympics behind him but where last year he was thinking through the choreography, this year he's really feeling it! I started to see that when he was working with Alex Wong last year, but it faded as the competitive season started.

I have a good feeling about this season. If he waters down any of this choreography we will be fighting!

If he can skate this SP with the same flair and life in competitions I’ll be DEAD. I love this SP and his smile in it throughout - have never seen him like this in any past programs

 

[shine]

I think at this point I really prefer the SP to the FS. The SP seems much more complete in its concept and delivery, where the FS seems like a WIP and a bit too filled with jumps in the first half (again, can't loathe the ISU enough for cutting the FS time from 4:30 to 4:00). There are so many moments in the SP that make me go ahhh and want to watch over and over but with the FS, even though he moves well I didn't really find anything too memorable until the steps. I think in order to make an impression with the FS, he'll need much longer strokes and do all the moves with more gravitas and intention.

But back to t he SP: the reason I really love the it is because it has so much color and life. Nathan skates it as if he were completely liberated and loving life at this point. And like GGFan said, he really gave himself to the music. I think Nathan has grown so much in terms of delivering authentic expression and opening up to the audience. Even though I love Nemesis, I still felt a tiny tint of forced expression in places and he was doing certain things because he either was told to do so or "thought" that was he should be doing. In Caravan, OTOH, I feel the delivery is completely natural, spontaneous and comes straight from the heart. He *owns* this program and has the crowd in the palm of his hand. I also sense this almost innocent, childlike (not cutesy) quality in the expression that just makes me smile. When the vocal starts right before the stsq, it always makes me think of a group of people gathered in a small tavern, ready to take turns to get up on the table and dance. This almost feels too good to be a competitive program and I don't even want to analyse it in terms of scores and placements, if you know what I mean.

And all this is on top of his ability to dance and perform to music which we already know he can do so extremely well.

 

[sheetz]

Newspaper article about the new Irvine skating facility. Expected to open in December.
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/08/...acility-taking-shape-at-great-park-in-irvine/

A couple of photos from The Ice
https://twitter.com/nwcgold2018/status/1027857315628646401

Nathan has finally begun following the Team Raf IG account.

 

[Kelly]

But back to t he SP: the reason I really love the it is because it has so much color and life. Nathan skates it as if he were completely liberated and loving life at this point. And like GGFan said, he really gave himself to the music. I think Nathan has grown so much in terms of delivering authentic expression and opening up to the audience. Even though I love Nemesis, I still felt a tiny tint of forced expression in places and he was doing certain things because he either was told to do so or "thought" that was he should be doing. In Caravan, OTOH, I feel the delivery is completely natural, spontaneous and comes straight from the heart. He *owns* this program and has the crowd in the palm of his hand. I also sense this almost innocent, childlike (not cutesy) quality in the expression that just makes me smile. When the vocal starts right before the stsq, it always makes me think of a group of people gathered in a small tavern, ready to take turns to get up on the table and dance. This almost feels too good to be a competitive program and I don't even want to analyse it in terms of scores and placements, if you know what I mean.

And all this is on top of his ability to dance and perform to music which we already know he can do so extremely well.

:agree2::2thumbs:

https://twitter.com/WAt8wYEqWxym6bp/status/1027563350476042240

In Caravan Nathan shows his playful side like when he's with Dmitri Aliev.

 

[shine]

^Playful, lively and carefree.

 

[alexaa]

Team Raf update with hair knot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmSf0P0DT0-/

Aha, that explains what that hair band for in that hiking with Bolt picture. I was wondering if it was for Bolt.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlQ2hBWnD8y/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1cq2hgg8kh88p

Nathan is coaching Romain

seemed to be a very serious, hope not “scary coach”

 

[oatmella]

Aha, that explains what that hair band for in that hiking with Bolt picture. I was wondering if it was for Bolt.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlQ2hBWnD8y/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1cq2hgg8kh88p



seemed to be a very serious, hope not “scary coach”

I was wondering about the hair band too - well now we know

Looks like Nathan has been wearing a ponytail, not a bun.

I kinda miss his short hair (Olympics, Worlds)

Nathan looks like he could be a strict coach !

 

[alexaa]

In Caravan, OTOH, I feel the delivery is completely natural, spontaneous and comes straight from the heart. He *owns* this program and has the crowd in the palm of his hand. I also sense this almost innocent, childlike (not cutesy) quality in the expression that just makes me smile. When the vocal starts right before the stsq, it always makes me think of a group of people gathered in a small tavern, ready to take turns to get up on the table and dance. This almost feels too good to be a competitive program and I don't even want to analyse it in terms of scores and placements, if you know what I mean.

shine, we all want Nathan to shine like a diamond, but we don’t want you to be DEAD. It is such a joy to read your post. You need to keep writing!

TBH, I was so pessimistic in the beginning about the music choice and not quite sure about the program. I began to warm up to it after mamaiia’s video. Thanks to mammiia again. I fell in love with it right away watching the Ice. As you said, that joyful feeling is so natural, genuine that it is so contagious.

I agree with you that the long does need lots of work. Did Nathan talk about something like 40 percent of the program he could not perform yet in one of the interviews? I need to go check what he said about it. It is going to be a very difficult program, and I share oly2018’s concern how he can balance Yale life with such difficult programs.

 

[oatmella]

Nathan's arm wooshes! More is not always more

I'm really liking the SP so far too - he looks like he's having so much fun! The opening movement of twitching legs and the shoulders - he's really committing to this choreo :luv17:

A+ for facial expression throughout the program - and it doesn't look forced, cheesy, etc.

FS looks kinda unfinished still.

 

[oatmella]

I miss the olympics and worlds hair too. I came some pictures yesterday, and realized how much I love the hair.

Handsome Dan has this post standing between Stiles and Morse today, but haven’t seen a like from Nathan yet.

I was looking at the two colleges you mentioned near Whale, Both of them are new colleges opened last year. If he is assigned to those, he should have the singles room, right? Then he probably would not worry about taking up too much spaces with his skating gears, guitars and Nike collections.

I am concerned about the study and competition balance, but the minute I saw the pictures of colleges, I feel so excited and happy for him. No wonder he was in such good mood during bulldog days

He really looked handsome with the short hair

Nathan should have a single room if he's in one of those colleges - I think all the rooms there are singles? If Nathan said he is only 3 minutes from the rink, can't see where else he would be living - from the map, looks like all the other colleges would be further than a few minutes away.

Wondering how spacious these rooms are - maybe some of the Nikes will have to stay at home ...

Feeling excited for him too - he really looked happy during his visit to campus

 

[oatmella]

Is Shoma sometimes doing something similar to this after landing? Tho not so obvious or forceful, for lack of better word?

Kudos to skfan, you should be in charge of QA department of Nathan’s team.

GGFan, thanks for catching that in BFTE, otherwise we would still be wondering who is responsible for this.

I think Shoma's arms look less wooshy - if that's a word lol

 

[sheetz]

I agree with pretty much everyone else in that I prefer the SP to the FS at this point. However, so far we have only seen the show version of the FS and I believe there's still an extra ~30 seconds of the program still to be revealed. I presume those 30 secs are the parts that Nathan still can't do yet?

Re: Montreal, I hope he can make it up there as much as possible over the next two years. He'll be able to learn so much from everyone there. Of course that would mean getting next season's program choreographed by Marie France as well.

Re: Ingalls Rink, does anyone know what the rink schedule is like, roughly? On the website it says they are closed until Sep 16, so if Nathan has been granted use of the facility until then that would be awesome.

 

[skfan]

Oh, I'm not sure. I've never seen the Gadbois class and I'm not a skater. I just know what I've read skaters talk about in interviews. I'd guess that it would be more dealt with when polishing choreo and movements, but I don't know. I guess if that's something a skater wanted to work on, they could maybe ask the coach to call them out on it whenever the posture isn't good enough, including during a stroking class. But I'm just guessing here.

Thank you-- your insights are very much appreciated.

 

[sheetz]

From what I read, I was even directed to College Confifential one time about the Ingalls question, the ice time is really limited there for skaters, and it was recommended to resort to other rinks nearby for serious practice or training. Nathan would not mention skating on campus if the schedule is really limited.

I guess my question was more about how busy the rink is throughout the day. Is ice time limited because the rink is constantly in use from 6am-10pm or is it just that the rink has few hours of operation? If it's the latter then I can see how Nathan might be able to use it in early morning hours, like 6am-8am.

 

[skfan]

I don't usually quote myself and I'm about to sound crazy, but I was completely wrong about #3!! :whack:

I'd only seen the program from far away. I looked for a better video and we have a winner!! :hap93:

Nathan totally let go and gave himself to that music. He has two of my favorite footwork sequences of the season already. His programs are completely unique and he's starting to have a signature: contemporary, cool, with some edge.

I thought he already had a signature style, starting with his self-choreographed 'Dream on' program. He continued in the same vein with 'Stole the show' and 'Back from the edge.' When left to his own devices, this is where he grativates.

Perhaps the arm woosh™ will become the hot new "transition" of the current quad :dev2:

*shudders*




bonita and oatmella, I've seen Shoma do the arm woosh, too. I don't enjoy that move no matter who does it. I can tell Nathan isn't using it to keep from splatting, it's just unnecessary clutter.