Nagasu ready for senior international debut...

[lcd]

At her age, she can find herself improving an incredible amount over very brief periods of time I would imagine... I wouldn't rule anything out as the season unfolds. I remember when Tara Lipinsky first hit a triple loop-triple loop combination at a USFS cheesefest all those years back, one of the commentators asked her when she learned that, ... and calm as can be and cool as a cucumber, she said she did it for the first time ":about a week ago"

 

[feraina]

... and calm as can be and cool as a cucumber, she said she did it for the first time ":about a week ago"

Oh, that's right, and Kimmie supposedly only started landed her 3A consistently a few days before National's, and they thought, what the heck.

Tara was 14, Kimmie 15. So yeah, it's the right age to make rapid progress. On the other hand, Kimmie's 3A disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

 

[ks777]

Oh, that's right, and Kimmie supposedly only started landed her 3A consistently a few days before National's, and they thought, what the heck.

Tara was 14, Kimmie 15. So yeah, it's the right age to make rapid progress. On the other hand, Kimmie's 3A disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

I think Kimmie might work on her 3 axel in the future with Callaghan. I remember when Arakawa worked with Callaghan, her jumps got so much higher, stronger and consistant. I am hoping Callaghan can really help Kimmie with her jumps.

 

[passion]

I like that Nagasu is so humble and not cocky. There are skaters who aren't as good as her by miles, but are oozing with cockiness (huge turnoff). She knows that nothing is a given; she needs to climb the ladder. She has her national title in perspective; just because you're a national champion does not mean you are best in the world. She does not make predictions about how she will place. With her attitude she will go far.

 

[ChrisH]

I agree Mirai did skate better in the short program.
But because Mirai is national champ; unfortunately she can't afford to look at her GP assignments as a learning experience like Ashley, Caroline Zhang and Rachel Flatt can.
It is game time for her so to speak.

Mirai has the talent to finish 2nd and even 1st if Yu-Na struggles. She is trying to lower expectations as she hasn't skated well when under pressure. Being the national champion can't but raise expectations. However, perhaps the GP is a low priority for her this year as she is focusing on Nationals and being selected to the Worlds team.

Personally, I prefer athletes who welcome pressure and train with it in mind. Kobe Bryant isn't the most athletically gifted basketball player, but during practice he likes to visualize himself taking the last shot as time expires. In games, he performs at his best when the pressure is the greatest.

 

[antmanb]

If the USFSA told gave her the national title, she is expected to skate and handle herself like one. If they wanted it to be a learning experience, the USFSA should have never gave her the title.

The USFSA did not give her the national title. Nagasu skated the best of the bunch and won the national based on scores given by the judges not the USFSA.

The only point that i sort of agree with is that until Marai sees herself as being in the same league as Mao, Yu-na, Kostner et al then she does not have a hope of beating them.

I'm struggling to think of the skater (maybe Sarah Hughes) who talked about her fist few times out skating against Kwan she was in awe and saw herself as more of a screaming fan than a competitor and it wasn't until that mind set changed that she actually started to compete.

Ant

 

[gocaroline]

If you count US Nationals and cheesefests, she has. She has competed in competitions with Ando, Nakano, Meissner, Zhang, Flatt, as well as Asada, Meier, Suguri. She hasn't with Kim and Kostner yet. So it's not a whole new experience for MIrai to face these skaters in a competition.

That's right, somehow she just sounded so fake in this article. And her national title last year was not earned without question. The LP score is definitely a hold up.

 

[oleada]

And her national title last year was not earned without question. The LP score is definitely a hold up.

This definitely wins the "stupidest post of the thread" award. :disagree:

Mirai is anything but fake in her interview and her skating.

 

[fairly4]

Mirai can call what she wants any competition as experience.
It just show happens even in the past the national champions had higher expectations from the general public than the ones who didn't win.
Whether they was just starting out or not. I am not going to change those expectations because of people who thinks she should be judged exactly like those who didn't win.
In fact when Michelle was 13 and she finished 2nd in1994 . the expectations were she should have won nationals in 1995 not Nicole, and in1995 Nicole started the first grand prix season with higher expectations than Michelle did because of that national title.
SO winning the national title automaticallybrings on higher level of xpectations, pressure etc. We did that in previous years with our national champs. If she wants me to buy her endorsement products (in future)go out of my way to watch her on TV, Internet, buy magazines. It starts now whether she or her fans like it or not. I did it in the past, I am doing it now.
could handle it. That basically means at least a bronze medal in all the national champ events they skate in.
It also goes for Kimmie,Evan,Johnny (past national champ), Keanue & Rockne,Belbin and Agosto.

Like I stated earlier she can use this as a learning experience, but whether some of the public accepts or not is another matter. They look on Michelle as a failure for not winning the 1995 naitonals bythe way.

Also why shouldn't I, she is supposed to represent the best us skater has to offer.
If she uses this as a learning experience, than the U.S. doesn't really have that good of a women skater. Than she can't handle what is coming us.

 

[ChrisH]

That's right, somehow she just sounded so fake in this article.

Well, I'm buying Mirai's sweet and innocent act. The whole figure skating community has got me fooled.


Her lowered expectations might also have to do with her injury.

ICE: How is your ankle?
MIRAI: It still gives me trouble if I tap it wrong, but I wear ankle braces to keep it in place, so it's getting a lot better.

Her 2nd GP assignment is in 5 weeks at the NHK Trophy, so she has time rehab it. With her GP events being held in the USA and in Japan where most of her fans are, surely she will be tempted to push through her injury.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Like I stated earlier she can use this as a learning experience, but whether some of the public accepts or not is another matter. They look on Michelle as a failure for not winning the 1995 naitonals bythe way.

Also why shouldn't I, she is supposed to represent the best us skater has to offer.
If she uses this as a learning experience, than the U.S. doesn't really have that good of a women skater. Than she can't handle what is coming us.

Huh? I've heard Michelle called alot of things before but never a failure for not winning in 1995. I'm simply baffled.

As for Mirai - I say use the GP as a learning expereince. Develop your technique. Watch and learn from the older skaters. Figure out how to do more than win a national title. Learn how to be the best skater YOU can be and the rest will follow. Understand that you can learn from those you admire and then kick their butts. Just like that "failure" Michelle Kwan.

And if some fans can't respect that, then that says more about them than you.

 

[fairly4]

yes Michelle was called a failure in the media for not winning Nationals in 1995

Thank you for your opinions, this is mine and my friends.
I didn't say I didn't believe she was herself in the article.
In fact Michelle used all her competitions as a learning experience, but she skated the best she could in all of them and it came across that way the majority of the time.
If Mirai skates the best she can and she doesn't win a medal that is fine too.
She just has to skate the best possible , come across for me and my friends that she didn't.
Too many skaters in recent years just skated to get by from the US and their seem not to care how they came across. They basically said (not actuially), we don't care about the fans, we will skate anyway we like .Expect the buying public to keep on buying tickets, magazines, products they endorse whether we skate well or not. It is what the skater wants, not what the public wants.
In others words, the skaters feel the music and not project it to the audience.
Or they state don't like to skate in half audience.


In before the money got in, the majority of the skaters skated for the public first and themselves second (unless in competition).

The normal buying public always had to choose what they would buy, how much whether the cost was just etc. In recent years it just hasn't been the case with figure skating. The skaters didn't make it justified as in the past.

 

[Mathman]

In before the money got in, the majority of the skaters skated for the public first and themselves second (unless in competition)

Are we talking about show skating? Is this related to Mirai Nagasu? Does Mirai endorse any products? Are you really saying that you and your friends think Mirai is not trying to skate her best? :scratch:

 

[lmarie086]

entire post.

...What??
I did not follow a word of that. Maybe it's still early for me but...
Mirai is very genuine; there's not a false note about her IMO.
There are skaters you could bring up the public self vs private self in relation to, but I truly do not think Mirai is one of them.

 

[Tonichelle]

yes Michelle was called a failure in the media for not winning Nationals in 1995

Links to archives to prove? I don't remember hearing anything but praise for the teen.

Thank you for your opinions, this is mine and my friends.

Well, you're lucky, most of us have to go to skating competitions/events to talk skating with friends...that being said - you're just basing this all on opinion and wrapping it up with "fact" but opinions are not proof of fact.

 

[Pikachuusb]

entire post

are you serious?! :disagree:

A: I dont recall Michelle being called a failure in the media for not winning Nationals in 1995

B: why would you think Mirai is not skating her best?

Thats great and all that you have an opinion...but wow your's seems to be waay out there

 

[Pixie Cut]

are you serious?! :disagree:

A: I dont recall Michelle being called a failure in the media for not winning Nationals in 1995

I think the word failure is exaggerated, but there was certainly some coverage at the time questioning how talented, hard working Michelle Kwan could finish behind lazy, coach changing Nicole Bobek. What went wrong, so to speak. It wasn't really criticism as much as cynicism.

 

[fiercemao]

She is not ready.

 

[chuckm]

S

Michelle was 14 at 1995 Nationals. How she could be called a failure for not winning it is beyond my comprehension. I think people expected Caroline Zhang to win Nationals 2008, but she is not considered a failure because she didn't.

Maybe SOME PEOPLE considered Michelle and Caroline failures, but most skate fans did not.

 

[bekalc]

Uh, I'm having a hard time understanding how people felt Michelle was a failure for losing 95 worlds. People back then though she was a great young skater with a strong future on her hands.. She landed a 7 triple program didn't she??

Now, people DID criticize her for losing 2002 Olympics. But 1995 Nationals.. NO.

I don't care that Nagasu lost. I'm concerned about the underrotated jumps because this isn't a new thing with her.