The essential Mao Primer

skateluvr · Jun 12, 2012

Mao Asada has some wonderful, memorable skates and we have seen her as a remarkable young lady with a triple axel. Did she have it as as a junior? :biggrin:

Please share your memories of Mao and which of her programs moved you most, or remains your favorite. The great thing is Mao's best could still be yet to come. Marvelous Mao!. :biggrin:

Don't know why my link isn't pasting, usually does...but I am trying to link to Mao's 2008 sp at worlds which was so incredible. She is like a blue buttterfly for me, capable of seeming otherworldly... Mao fans tell us what you loved... Sorry link copied but won't post.

Mathman · Jun 12, 2012

Here she is at 2005 Junior Worlds. :clap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx31mJfhyeY

skateluvr · Jun 12, 2012

I knew she did 3 axel as a junior but since age 12? So amazing. Where does the power in those little legs come from? I have never unnderstood it. My, her skating boots look huge. Tara, Sasha, Mao...tiny woodsprites with amazing skills. They came to earth just to skate!

Olympia · Jun 13, 2012

That's a great way to describe those three, skateluvr. Mao is one of my top forever favorites. Her delicacy and musicality never fail to move me.

Here's her exhibition program "Jupiter."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsf31viaYlo

And maybe my favorite ever, her 2009 Worlds exhibition to "Scent of a Woman"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9921LChDlBc&feature=fvwrel

macy · Jun 13, 2012

Olympia said:
That's a great way to describe those three, skateluvr. Mao is one of my top forever favorites. Her delicacy and musicality never fail to move me.

Here's her exhibition program "Jupiter."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsf31viaYlo

And maybe my favorite ever, her 2009 Worlds exhibition to "Scent of a Woman"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9921LChDlBc&feature=fvwrel

i have never seen either of those before. both were so captivating. the first was so soft and delicate, it was like i was watching an angel. the second was a side of mao we don't see too often, and i love it! so much energy and pizzazz. i would love that to be a short program for her.

deedee1 · Jun 13, 2012

macy said:
the second was a side of mao we don't see too often, and i love it! so much energy and pizzazz. i would love that to be a short program for her.

That's what lots of fans claimed in a chorus in the Olympic season (2009-10): to convert this lovely ex 'Scent of a woman' to her short program, instead of using Masquarade Waltz, the recycled one from the previous season. :scowl: I am still in tears

whenever recalling her sad face at Vancouver...

Blades of Passion · Jun 13, 2012

Her 2007 Grand Prix Final Long Program is a must-see since it's probably the most technically accomplished skate ever by a female. I don't see it on Youtube right now, unfortunately.

jasminum · Jun 13, 2012

deedee1 said:
That's what lots of fans claimed in a chorus in the Olympic season (2009-10): to convert this lovely ex 'Scent of a woman' to her short program, instead of using Masquarade Waltz, the recycled one from the previous season. :scowl: I am still in tears whenever recalling her sad face at Vancouver...

I was one of them. There were news reports back then that she might change her SP. It was a disappointment that she stuck to Masquarade. But the SP was far better than the Bells.

Her Nocturne at 2006 SA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeGCCYfcXd8

SP at 2010 Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrEZgoPpCAI&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL8EA695AEDFDC9BCF

Watching Masquarade after Nocturne re-realizes me that the program didn’t do justice to her at all. Yet, I think she did a great job with it especially step sequence, not to mention 3A.

I believe she was born to skate to Chopin.
Ballade #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58HTu9iwgrI

ohheyskaters · Jun 13, 2012

Blades of Passion said:
Her 2007 Grand Prix Final Long Program is a must-see since it's probably the most technically accomplished skate ever by a female. I don't see it on Youtube right now, unfortunately.

It's on this Chinese video website: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjM3ODQyMjI4.html
Not sure if everyone can see it, but I'm in the US, and I'm able to see it.

But, yes, the tech is amazing!!

Thanks for this thread! I'm really enjoying rewatching all these lovely Mao videos. :love:

Jammers · Jun 13, 2012

Mao seemed to skate with more speed and her jumps were bigger back then.

macy · Jun 13, 2012

Blades of Passion said:
Her 2007 Grand Prix Final Long Program is a must-see since it's probably the most technically accomplished skate ever by a female. I don't see it on Youtube right now, unfortunately.

WOW 73 points for tech! two 3+3 combos and a 3A...nuts. having the second 3+3 in the second half is so uncommon for ladies, as is an axel-loop combo for anyone. loops are so difficult on the end of an axel.

Blades of Passion · Jun 13, 2012

The jumps alone make it impressive but then there's the whole combined package of excellent extensions in the spiral sequence, very difficult footwork with turns that only she can do that well, and very difficult spins (although she did make a small mistake on one of them).

She also did her best 3Axel ever at the 2008 4CC with that program and her 2008 Worlds performance of that program was one of her best ever artistically for a competitive long program, IMO.

skateluvr · Jun 13, 2012

That was incredible. I never saw this skate before. I think the best skater in the world by far then. Yuna could not do that program. Mao deserves an OGM. I hope she comes back very strong this season, just love her.

Olympia · Jun 13, 2012

Blades of Passion said:
The jumps alone make it impressive but then there's the whole combined package of excellent extensions in the spiral sequence, very difficult footwork with turns that only she can do that well, and very difficult spins (although she did make a small mistake on one of them).

She also did her best 3Axel ever at the 2008 4CC with that program and her 2008 Worlds performance of that program was one of her best ever artistically for a competitive long program, IMO.

The points you make are why she remains my favorite current skater. I'm not going to give up on her until she hangs up her skates. There are rarely skaters with wonderful jumps who also excel in artistry (pliant arms, soft knees, gravity-defying footwork), and she's one of them. I'd love for her to win an OGM, but if she doesn't, it won't be a reflection of her quality. She's a ballerina, a musician, a storyteller, and an athlete all in one.

Mathman · Jun 13, 2012

skateluvr said:
Mao deserves an OGM.

Here is the program that might have won her an Olympic gold medal. She beat Olympic bronze medalist Irina Slutskaya here and had already beaten silver medalist Sasha Cohen and gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa earlier in the season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84MSxpxO7CE

evangeline · Jun 14, 2012

My favourites have already been listed, but here's another memorable skate from Mao, her Czardas LP at her Worlds debut in 2007: http://youtu.be/W5G3Ns2i86U

Mao's skating has grown more polished since 2007, but I miss the joy and confidence she had in her skating back then.

skateluvr · Jun 14, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i_Z1uJnUeU&feature=related

Her 2008 LP where she fell but came back with 2 3x3's 3fx3L. She is so beautiful here, favorite costume. Mao is so charming, no wonder all Japan loves her.

skateluvr · Jun 15, 2012

That was a wonderful skate. Mao enchants. Of the top ladies, Akiko has this joy Mao always performed with. Great selections, and I hope her programs slay us this year. "Jupiter' is such a lovely exhibition program. Goosebumps!

macy · Jun 15, 2012

wow my heart jumped out of my chest when she fell! that could have been bad. that's amazing she came back and skated clean after that with two 3+3s.

100yen · Jun 15, 2012

evangeline said:
My favourites have already been listed, but here's another memorable skate from Mao, her Czardas LP at her Worlds debut in 2007: http://youtu.be/W5G3Ns2i86U

Mao's skating has grown more polished since 2007, but I miss the joy and confidence she had in her skating back then.

This is one of my favorite Mao performances!!! She was so inexperienced, but you could just feel the pure love for skating radiating from her. Mao is my favorite skater because from her I feel like she and skating are inseparable...to her it's as natural and a part of life as breathing. I don't get this feeling from any other skater :love:

The essential Mao Primer

skateluvr

Mathman

skateluvr

Olympia

macy

deedee1

Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be

jasminum

ohheyskaters

Jammers

macy

Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be

skateluvr

Olympia

Mathman

evangeline

skateluvr

skateluvr

macy

100yen

You can't explain witchcraft

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