Mao leaves coach Arutunian

[Wrlmy]

Perhaps Mao's going back to Yamada? I doubt any non-Japanese speaking coach would be moral support to her, given her reason for leaving LA. She needs to be where she feels comfortable, so maybe this is a good move on her part.

 

[ks777]

Perhaps Mao's going back to Yamada? I doubt any non-Japanese speaking coach would be moral support to her, given her reason for leaving LA. She needs to be where she feels comfortable, so maybe this is a good move on her part.

I hope not.. Mao is looking for a coach that is willing to coach Mao only. So she will have to find one that is willing to relocate to Japan. It kinda make sense. Why skaters have to move when coaches are the ones getting paid. I can't think of any good coaches that is willing to move to Japan right now though.

 

[Wrlmy]

I hope not.. Mao is looking for a coach that is willing to coach Mao only. So she will have to find one that is willing to relocate to Japan. It kinda make sense. Why skaters have to move when coaches are the ones getting paid. I can't think of any good coaches that is willing to move to Japan right now though.

Plus, it's going to cost her a LOT of money. Coaching fee, housing in Japan, and lots of extra expenses. Would Japanese federation be willing to pay all that money? Arturnian was coaching at least three elite skaters at the time, so I'm assuming not having a private coach would be that big of a problem for her.

 

[Mathman]

Think how RA would feel if Mao wins the World!!

He would think that she won because of what he taught her!

I remember Frank Carroll getting in trouble with Michelle fans by saying, about the 2002 Olympics, if she wins I'll still get the credit and if she loses then they will blame her for leaving me.

 

[ManyCairns]

I know artistry is subjective, but to me Mao has improved so much presentation-wise this year. I know Arutunian is often thought of as a technical coach, but I still think Mao was growing as a skater under his tutelage.

In the long run, I don't think any athlete should be without the expertise of a coach, to give them the perspective of someone else evaluating what they are doing. I don't think Kwan did so well w/o a coach -- you just can't be entirely objective about yourself, however good you are at something (of course, neither can anyone else, but you still need the external point of view).

I don't know that Mao will be at too much of a disadvantage at this Worlds, given her season so far, but as far as developing for next season, I hope she gets good coaching lined up immediately.

 

[Bennett]

Incredibly shocking news!!! Wow!!!!
She has really missed home SO MUCH....!!!
But given that she has been psychologically struggling so much this season, whatever that makes her feel more comfortable may do good. Perhaps she was getting tired going back and forth the US, Russia, and Japan, in addition to other competition-related travels?

Besides, unless she is self-assured, independent, and confident in herself, she wouldn't have made this move. I highly respect this 17 year old in that matter.

Most importantly, I think it good that she will have a chance to attend school. Being a star and not meeting her peer kids besides her skating circle, she has been missing out a lot of normal life. I also assume that family needed to make great sacrifice to accomodate her dual life in the US and Japan.

I don't think that Rafael helped her artistically. I would credit it to Lori and TT.

But I just don't know what other coaches may help her better. I don't think that Machiko Yamada and Midori Ito would be great help. With all my respect to Ms. Yamada, she is getting at her retirement age. Besides, she did not address her lutz. I don’t think that Ms. Ito is really good at teaching, as far as I hear her commentary….

 

[Bennett]

Well i have to give you guys credit for predicting this... we got some real good spies on this board.

I couldn't agree with you more!

Mao will live to regret this move. Would it have killed her to remain in Lake Arrowhead for one more month?? .....Mao had everything working for her, she got her jumps down, beautiful programs, yu-na might not be there... and now she is gonna blow it.

I also am wondering if this is a good move for her to be without a coach for such a long, long time before the Worlds. She is coachless since the Nationals back in Dec.

 

[Bennett]

Mao preparing for the Worlds by herself

She is back in Japan, leaving Rafael. According to reports, reasons for moving back are language problems and unfamiliar environment; additionally, her school in Japan has built a new rink for her and other top skaters to train, which has addressed the limited ice time that had initially brought her to the US.

Until she decides the coach for the next season, she will be preparing for the Worlds by herself: quite an unusal, perhaps risky strategy for a 17-year-old with all the pressures to take.

How may this affect the outcome at Worlds? Will she be confident or will she mess up with nerve problems? Is she capable of fixing her 3-3 by then? Or will she get UR again?

 

[jennylovskt]

Ok, you guys were right! It is confirmed that Mao has dropped Rafael according to the japanese newspaper, sponichi. She is going to worlds without a coach and will decide new coach after worlds.

Michelle Kwan was so much more experienced and mature when she dumped Frank Carroll and went to 2002 Olympics alone. I firmly believe that her action near Olympic time has hurt her at least for the Olympic Games. Anyone believe that there wasn't a single moment during that time that she ever questioned her own decision?

It is not a good sign for Mao. Wish her all the luck!

 

[Tinymavy15]

She is back in Japan and preparing for the Worlds by herself, quite an unusal, perhaps risky strategy for a 17-year-old with all the pressures to take.

How may this affect the outcome at Worlds? Will she be confident or will she mess up with nerve problems? Is she capable of fixing her 3-3 by then? Or will she get UR again?

michelle was a veteran when she arrived at the 2002 olympics coach-less. Nobody knows if she would have skated better if Frank was there, but final line... she got the bronze. Mao os a 17-year old girl. With the hectic media that bothers her it will be tough to do the simple things that she should look to a coach to do. Practice wisely.. give last minute advice, fend of the media. I think this is a huge mistake. Mao is so close.. she has the complete package this year, she just has to skate well. I hope she still can.

 

[Mathman]

Anyone believe that there wasn't a single moment during that time that [Michelle] ever questioned her own decision?

Having been 21 once myself , I am pretty sure she didn't have any idea of what she was doing and that she questioned her own decisions hourly.

 

[jennylovskt]

Having been 21 once myself , I am pretty sure she didn't have any idea of what she was doing and that she questioned her own decisions hourly.

Me too. That was the distraction and unsteady situation that any competitors want to avoid.

 

[Bennett]

ITA. Training coachless in Japan is one thing, which she may be able to manage. I also understand that he is homesick.

But I believe that participating in Worlds without a coach is a very bad decision. I don't see any rationale that she would be better off without a coach at a big competition like Worlds when she has already been struggling with her nerves throughout the season, even with a coach. Although her mom seems to be a great support and help for her, mom cannot give her the last minute advice about jumps.

I wonder if it is possible for Rafael to come only to the Worlds. I don't think that officially cutting him off at this timing was a smart move.

 

[Mafke]

Is there anyone with insider knowledge of Japanese culture that can help explain what might be going on? (guesses but informed guesses).

All of my experience with Japanese people (and other Asian people for that matter) makes me think something is seriously wrong somewhere (the most innocuous scenario I can think of is that this is a prelude to Asada withdrawing from worlds for yet undisclosed reasons).

 

[Bennett]

All of my experience with Japanese people (and other Asian people for that matter) makes me think something is seriously wrong somewhere.

I have no idea what you are talking about. What do you mean by "something is seriously wrong"? Where are you getting at? Could you please provide intelligible explanations?

 

[champs]

Maybe it's just me who thinks it wasn't Mao's decision but those people from JSF who seem to have a big say on their favorite kids' coaching...

 

[Wrlmy]

Is there anyone with insider knowledge of Japanese culture that can help explain what might be going on? (guesses but informed guesses).

All of my experience with Japanese people (and other Asian people for that matter) makes me think something is seriously wrong somewhere (the most innocuous scenario I can think of is that this is a prelude to Asada withdrawing from worlds for yet undisclosed reasons).

I have no idea what you are implying here. Only known facts are 1. Yes, Mao is Japanese, therefore Asian. 2. She left Arturnian.
I can't really speculate on anything until any more news come up. If she does withdraw, this might as well be the most depressing worlds.

 

[Mafke]

I have no idea what you are talking about. What do you mean by "something is seriously wrong"? Where are you getting at?

I have no idea. That's what's so weird. And for all I know I'm completely wrong (which would be a relief).

But I've learned any mismatch is a warning sign. And very strange and awkwardly timed public partings of ways followed by very atypical behavior is just not the preferred Japanese way of doing things IME (which is limited, yes).

 

[Dodhiyel]

I noticed by their body language at the Grand Prix Final backstage when Mao and Rafael found out that Yu-Na had won that something seemed very off about their relationship. Rafael looked over at Mao when she dropped to 2nd and Mao had a very expressionless look on her face and never looked at Rafael. Then, he turned to her like he was going to say something to her and she walked away and didn't even acknowledge him. Their interaction or lack thereof appeared very icy to me....

Thanks for describing it. I noticed the same thing.

Earlier this season, the question of one of Mao's jumps was raised, as not being technically correct, and she was losing points because of that. Rafael said that he was not going to have her try to change the way she was jumping; I got the impression that he meant not try to change because it was mid-season. I thought that, though it was an understandable position for him to take, it would cost him with her in the end.

 

[Bennett]

Temporary coaches???

Does anyone know if Ms. Monna, Ms. Midori Ito, or Ms. Machiko Yamada are available at Chukyo Univ rink?

I still cannot believe that she'll go to the Worlds coachless. I think that she needs someone to give her advice at the last minutes. Does that make her feel bound to the person and make the coach selection process for the next season more complicated? I think it simplest to have RA for the Worlds. I really hope that RA can help her at Worlds. I have no idea how they reached the conclusion about the timing to split with him now.