Mirai Nagasu | Page 13 | Golden Skate

Mirai Nagasu

I met Caroline, Brittney Rizo, Marissa and Simon ( among others ) at the Crystal Skate in Massachusetts 2 years ago in June. They set up the meet and greet in a tent outside the ice rink. They had about 9 or 10 of the higher level skaters seated at a row of tables as the fans filed past them. Now remember, Caroline went into the summer of 2009 as essentially the top U.S. lady, so she was regarded as the star of the show.

Fans were filing past the skaters, presenting them with all kind of stuff to sign; pictures, skates, pieces of paper, sweat pants, things I couldn't identify. Eventually, the skaters were able to get up from the table and get their dinner, which was buffet style .... except for Caroline. So many people wanted to meet her and get her autograph that she couldn't get her dinner right away. But she kept on greeting her fans with a smile and an autograph. I think the food was ice cold when she was finally able to get her dinner.
 
^ ...Whereupon Polymer Bob gallantly offered to go through the line and fix a plate for Caroline, so she could eat with one hand while signing autographs with the other. :)

I think Caroline likes being the star of the show. Plus, cameras love her!

Thanks for the story. :)
 
krenseby said:
Well.. perhaps not the top lady.. but one of the top ladies.
Click to expand...

I'd say top. That was the year Alissa won her first title over Rachael and Caroline, both of whom skated much better than she did. Caroline went on to 4CC and placed over both Rachael and Alissa and won silver at junior worlds. I remember the consensus was that Caroline and Rachael should have been named to the world team that year; not Alissa and Rachael. That year Caroline was still pulling down good scores from the judges and, though her technique was still bad, she was completing 7-triple programs with great consistency...she was definitely #1 in my book that year...
 
kwanatic said:
Caroline went on to 4CC and placed over both Rachael and Alissa and won silver at junior worlds.
Click to expand...
Yes, and she sealed the American victory at the World team Trophy.

Mathman said:
I think Caroline likes being the star of the show. Plus, cameras love her!
Click to expand...

Oh yes, .... the cameras. After Caroline got up from the table, there were several people who wanted to get their picture taken with her. They would take a picture, show it to her, take another picture, show it to her ... etc. Her smile didn't seem fake at all. She seemed to actually enjoy the attention and appreciate her fans.
 
I still think of this as the BEST LP ever skated by a Lady at US Natls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLerjOGQ47M


Anyone honestly believe today the 200+ score a certain skater received at 2010 Natls was legit let alone fair?

Or that the Natls tech panel was right and not playing favorites? Old grudges produced calls totally different than what we saw at the Olympics.



Ah, the Cop , it is like a wife. You can't kill it and you can't live wth it :)
 
Last edited:
Hernando said:
I still think of this as the BEST LP ever skated by a Lady at US Natls. (Yes, miles better than anything by Michele or Sasha)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLerjOGQ47M


A member of the US tech panel who lost to Linda Fratianne many years ago disagreed. But we all saw how Intl judges at the Olympics disagreed to the point of making the US judges seem no better than chimpanzees (or gkelly who reported me to the moderators for pointing this out).

Anyone honestly believe today the 200+ score a certain skater received at 2010 Natls was legit and fair and square :laugh: :rofl:

Ah, the Cop , it is like a wife. You can't kill it and you can't live wth it :)
Click to expand...

lol at your last line :laugh:

I don't know if Mirai gave us the best skate ever, but it was pretty spectacular. Clean, energy, personality, speed, edges, difficulty, it was all there. She killed that performance and should have won easily. Shame on Ms. Sore Loser Tech Specialist.
 
Tinymavy15 said:
lol at your last line :laugh:

I don't know if Mirai gave us the best skate ever, but it was pretty spectacular. Clean, energy, personality, speed, edges, difficulty, it was all there. She killed that performance and should have won easily. Shame on Ms. Sore Loser Tech Specialist.
Click to expand...

Yeah that skate was such a pleasure to watch. I think the way she moves across the ice, the posture, the speed, and the elegance are all simply marvelous. The only question is: did it seem to you from that clip that was she disappointed with finishing in 2nd? I can't tell
 
krenseby said:
The only question is: did it seem to you from that clip that was she disappointed with finishing in 2nd? I can't tell
Click to expand...
I'd say she was dissapointed with her TES mark but then was very happy that she came in 2nd and earned a trip to OG. :)
 
Hernando said:
I still think of this as the BEST LP ever skated by a Lady at US Natls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLerjOGQ47M
Click to expand...

Seeing her at the 2010 nationals was a bit of a shock for me. She just came alive in those programs in a way she had never done before. She lit that arena up and brought the house down, and I was so proud of her!

I can't say it's the best LP ever (too much Kwan to contend with ;)) but it was definitely the best LP performance at nationals since Kwan...

I want Mirai to wake up and realize her potential SO BADLY! She's an amazing skater but she just doesn't skate like it. I'd have given up on her a long time ago if I hadn't seen it...that spark of a champion. She had it at nationals in 2010, she had it at the Olympics, she recently had it at 4CC. It's not a Sasha Cohen matter where she just can't put two clean programs together because she's done it before. There's something else missing and I pray Mirai finds it this season.
 
kwanatic said:
I want Mirai to wake up and realize her potential SO BADLY! She's an amazing skater but she just doesn't skate like it. I'd have given up on her a long time ago if I hadn't seen it...that spark of a champion. She had it at nationals in 2010, she had it at the Olympics, she recently had it at 4CC. It's not a Sasha Cohen matter where she just can't put two clean programs together because she's done it before. There's something else missing and I pray Mirai finds it this season.
Click to expand...

I believe the word here is CONFIDENCE. Once she is confident on the ice, the rest will take care of itself. It's one thing to be nervous before a performance, but if you're actually SCARED to go out there, it probably means you don't trust your training. That's a problem and I'm not convinced coach Frank can help her with that.
 
Hernando said:
I still think of this as the BEST LP ever skated by a Lady at US Natls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLerjOGQ47M


Anyone honestly believe today the 200+ score a certain skater received at 2010 Natls was legit let alone fair?

Or that the Natls tech panel was right and not playing favorites? Old grudges produced calls totally different than what we saw at the Olympics.



Ah, the Cop , it is like a wife. You can't kill it and you can't live wth it :)
Click to expand...

You cannot compare calls like that between two COMPLETELY different competitions. Besides, the tech panel barely touched the downgrade button at the Olympics, eventhough there were several places that could be justified. Like Ando's flip and Rachael's lutz in the short program. Mirai, as you refer to, does have or at least used to have a problem rotating her jumps. When Rachael delivers, she usually does not. =P
 
R.D. said:
I believe the word here is CONFIDENCE. Once she is confident on the ice, the rest will take care of itself. It's one thing to be nervous before a performance, but if you're actually SCARED to go out there, it probably means you don't trust your training. That's a problem and I'm not convinced coach Frank can help her with that.
Click to expand...
Being SCARED to take the ice doesn't necessarily mean you don't trust your training, it can mean you need a different process for mentally (and physically) preparing for competition. Specifically, a competitor should have a "routine" from the time they get to the venue for competition until they take their final bows. There should be certain thoughts that they focus on at certain times throughout that preparation, competition, and post event routine in the competition venue. They should be relaxed but ready throughout the preparation points. The state of arousal needs to be at it's peak when the competitor is actually doing the "job" - not too "high" but not too relaxed. What that routine in the competition venue is will be different for each competitor and what those things that need to be focused on (and even HOW the focus is drawn - some people need to focus on key/cue words, others need to focus on a connection to the feeling of each thing in the competitive process). I suspect Nagasu may be inconsistent in her approach toward her competitive routine (including her mental preparation on site) which has led to inconsistent production.

It's interesting because there are many different sports psychology "processes" but they all lead to the above in some way. A good sports pysch can help a competitor delve into their deepest concerns and work to replace those concerns with confidence BUT the competitor needs to be honest about what those things are to be able to work through them effectively.
 
I am very pleased to see that Mirai is on the roster for the Nebelhorn trophy! I agree with sequinsgalore, the rosters look FANTASTIC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Y
Any interest for past Olympic rewatches?
2 3
Replies
44
Views
2K
yfan1
Y
gsk8
News Sophia Shifrin builds on breakthrough season
Replies
2
Views
478
ladyjane
ladyjane
gsk8
Valeriya Ezhova: A rising talent for Switzerland
Replies
9
Views
989
gsk8
gsk8
skatingfan4ever
Skaters Whose Gala You Enjoy More Than Their SP/LP
Replies
15
Views
1K
TwinnerA
TwinnerA
Mathman
1913 World Ladies and Pairs Championships
Replies
10
Views
1K
BlissfulSynergy
B
Back
Top