Mirai Nagasu

[kwanatic]

Well I guess on that particular one (her Sun Valley performance), her foot was a bit more flexed than usual...but her competition turnout in her spin is still about the same.

As I said, I'm still a sucker for a good layback and though it'd be nice if Mirai's leg was more extended and her foot more turned out, I think the spin that she has now is very signature to her. No one else does a layback spin like hers...

 

[janetfan]

Well I guess on that particular one (her Sun Valley performance), her foot was a bit more flexed than usual...but her competition turnout in her spin is still about the same.

As I said, I'm still a sucker for a good layback and though it'd be nice if Mirai's leg was more extended and her foot more turned out, I think the spin that she has now is very signature to her. No one else does a layback spin like hers...

No one does it because no one can. Mirai is a great spinner and hits positions with speed that the others can't hope to match.

 

[Tinymavy15]

What is the music? I hate it - sounds like generic muzak such as the Russians love so much. But Mirai looks strong and confident... it's always a good sign when she's sassy. I wonder if she's purposely been given this kind of program to make sure she has fun when she skates it (in view of the issues with motivation she seems to have been struggling with). I've missed her the last few months.
.

Mirai looks awesome. I hope it is her new SP, i think a playful Tango would be great for her, and I think the music quality just sounds tiny because of the poor camera the vid was shot with.

 

[Jammers]

Hopefully Mirai gets herself into shape for this season. There will be no excuse this time. Her work ethic has been lacking at times along with her competitive nerves.

 

[janetfan]

Hopefully Mirai gets herself into shape for this season. There will be no excuse this time. Her work ethic has been lacking at times along with her competitive nerves.

I don't mind if Frank comments on Mirai but can you tell me where your knowledge comes from? Are you part of Mirai's team and aware of what she does at practice?

Sochi is not for a couple of years yet so it seems foolish to think this is a make or break season for Mirai.

ETA: I posted a link where Mirai said she would be skating her new exhibition program in Sun Valley.
It's possible we did not see her exhibition program but until I hear otherwise it feels safe to believe Mirai's own words.

She said she was skating her new exhibtion program in Sun Valley and not her new SP.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

From what I watched on that youtub of Sun Valley,

Mirai does look a bit chubby, and her layback position is far from that of Angela Nikidimov. Both problems can be correced. What I did not like about the program was that she continually turned to the left when moving from element to element, and in general, about the ice. The speed and flow are fine but I would prefer them to cover the ice from side to side. Overall she is a contender for the podium.

 

[burntBREAD]

From what I watched on that youtub of Sun Valley,

Mirai does look a bit chubby, and her layback position is far from that of Angela Nikidimov. Both problems can be correced. What I did not like about the program was that she continually turned to the left when moving from element to element, and in general, about the ice. The speed and flow are fine but I would prefer them to cover the ice from side to side. Overall she is a contender for the podium.

Someone posted on FSU that "The outdoor sheet of ice in Sun Valley is small and rectangular" so that could be the reason.

 

[OS]

Mirai Chubby? :disapp:

No way!! I blame it on the blurry cam, it seems slightly elongated.

I think Mirai looks fitter this year, like how a power skater capable of doing 3A should look (although we will see). I look forward to great things from this girl... it is totally time to shine Mirai, the clock is ticking and the time is NOW!

 

[kwanatic]

Mirai does look a bit chubby...

I'm just shaking my head at this comment.:sheesh:

I surely hope Mirai doesn't use your body scale of chubby vs. skinny when it comes to herself...if you think she's chubby, I'd hate to see what you consider skinny....:disapp:

 

[silverlake22]

From what I watched on that youtub of Sun Valley,

Mirai does look a bit chubby, and her layback position is far from that of Angela Nikidimov. Both problems can be correced. What I did not like about the program was that she continually turned to the left when moving from element to element, and in general, about the ice. The speed and flow are fine but I would prefer them to cover the ice from side to side. Overall she is a contender for the podium.

Mirai's not chubby AT ALL, I can't believe people are saying that. She's now 18 and has a woman's body instead of a little girl's, that's what happens when girls grow up, and usually this transformation takes place around this age for those who go through puberty later. She's not as willowy and waif like as she was before she hit puberty, but that's true of most people, and her new body type is more muscular and powerful, which could potentially help her jumps, especially the 3a she is allegedly working on. People need to give her a break. I doubt her weight/body shape have much to do with her training regimen, I mean, everyone can control their weight somewhat, but I think there's also something to be said about the body doing what it's going to do at some point. Mirai is not built like Mao or Yuna it seems, but more like Miki or Midori, both great jumpers. I think she looks very fit personally.

 

[Eris]

ETA: I posted a link where Mirai said she would be skating her new exhibition program in Sun Valley.
It's possible we did not see her exhibition program but until I hear otherwise it feels safe to believe Mirai's own words.

She said she was skating her new exhibtion program in Sun Valley and not her new SP.

She said she would skate "an exhibition piece". Well, it's a show, everyone skates exhibitions there.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I'm just shaking my head at this comment.:sheesh:

I surely hope Mirai doesn't use your body scale of chubby vs. skinny when it comes to herself...if you think she's chubby, I'd hate to see what you consider skinny....:disapp:

Indeed. If Mirai is chubby I'd hate to think what skaters who are a bit heavier than Mirai seem like to some. Obese? :disapp:

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I'm just shaking my head at this comment.:sheesh:

I surely hope Mirai doesn't use your body scale of chubby vs. skinny when it comes to herself...if you think she's chubby, I'd hate to see what you consider skinny....:disapp:

I didn't say I disliked chubby. I only mentioned it because it was already in discussion. She has gained weight in my eyes, but that should not hinder her chances in competition. (Personally, I like Ladies with long legs and short torsos, but that's strictly in the non competitive dance world.)

 

[kwanatic]

^^ I didn't say you said you disliked chubby. The fact that you used the word chubby to describe a girl who is probably a size 1 or 2 is what I have a problem with. I know you didn't mean it as an insult to Mirai; she might be bigger than we saw her look previously...but to call her chubby is just off base IMO. Body image problems and eating disorders run rampant throughout the figure skating community for the obvious reasons. Like I said, I know you didn't mean it to be a slight against her; you were just agreeing that she's gained some weight in the off-season, as all skaters do. I guess seeing a clearly skinny girl be referred to as chubby hit a nerve for me...hwell:

Okay, well, I'll get down off of my soap box now.

 

[mskater93]

Mirai has a more muscular build (along the lines of Midori Ito and Tonya Harding - the two best lady jumpers in history without peer!) than the more "traditionally built" skaters like Asada, Kim, Kwan, and Cohen. Wagner has a more muscular-looking build as well but having shared a locker room with her at a local competition put any notion that she was anything but super-small to rest! I don't think a home video is the best judge of shape as aspect ratios are usually off. If you see these ladies in person, you will not see "chubby", "overweight", or anywhere near out of shape.

 

[kwanatic]

I disagree about Mirai being built like Tonya or Midori, who were both stockier skaters. Conversely, Mirai is very long: long arms, long legs and she's not nearly as muscular. I consider a muscular skater along the lines of Kimmie Meissner, Emily Hughes, Bebe Liang...Mirai resembles Yu-Na in terms of musculature; her body isn't waif-like or balletic a la Mao or Sasha Cohen, but she's not that muscular either. I would group Mirai somewhere between Yu-Na and Carolina Kostner. I say Yu-Na because they are the same height and similar build, but Carolina because she, like Mirai, has long arms and legs.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Polina has an insane belliman, but the layback position itself is just as poor as the other russian girls. If she did not grab her blade, the position would be revealed for how poor it is. Even the belliman, for all its flexibility is very slow and thus does not have the same affect as Caroline's or Mirai's.

 

[Eris]

Polina has an insane belliman, but the layback position itself is just as poor as the other russian girls.

What Polina do you mean? Shelepen or Agafonova? They both have nice Biellmanns. I prefer the Shelepen one.
Shelepen http://funkyimg.com/u2/966/575/aflo-sswa034853.jpg
Agafonova http://i068.radikal.ru/1011/fb/0d3b56cd7b41.jpg

 

[OS]

I didn't say I disliked chubby. I only mentioned it because it was already in discussion. She has gained weight in my eyes, but that should not hinder her chances in competition. (Personally, I like Ladies with long legs and short torsos, but that's strictly in the non competitive dance world.)

Just curious... how would you describe Rachel then?

And btw I have seen Rachel about 20 ft away, she is just normally built, maybe is just her shape and figure proportion, but I'd says she's just too ordinary compare to the long limbed girls, hence became disadvantaged in the 'figure' presentation aspect just like Akiko might be.

I have always imagined Mirai will grow up to be a power skater, she could have best of both worlds, some in born eastern sensibility, american engine and ingenuity, athleticism and power combine that with that valley girl glee, it could be the magical ingredient for a future star... at least i hope.

 

[MoonlightSkater]

I think Mirai looks to be in much better shape than she was in the early season last year when an injury actually did mean she was a bit over her optimal performance weight. I do wonder, however, if she is one of those skaters who tends to gain a bit in the offseason, and lose it over the course of the first few months of competition, as she did seem to have a bit more on her thighs than she did during nationals/four continents. Or it could be the camera. Regardless, I hope she is good at finding the best weight to strength ratio for her skating, and I think she looks alright for the time being.

I get a little annoyed that weight is now a taboo subject, because, like it or not, it does play a factor in one's skating ability. Carrying too much weight very much increases the amount of force the skater has to absorb when they land their jumps, and it can increase the liklihood of injury. I wonder sometimes if Rachel, who is certainly thin by normal standards but a bit chubby by skating standards, is dealing with a stress fracture partly because she's taking more force on her takeoffs to launch more weight into the air (though it's entirely possible Tom Z. overtrained her). Weight is not merely an aesthetic consideration, though of course it does play a part there. A heavier skater also has to be choosier with music and choreography.