Another article about Mao (The Japan Times) "Tarasova must go if Mao wants shot at Olympic glory"
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20091028it.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20091028it.html
Asada says "not changing anything"
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Very bold article, which pinpoints to all the problems surfaced in Mao's career and I cannot aggree more with all the negative aspects of the situation. Although I am not convinced that a sudden move to Arutunian will help Mao to turn around the whole situation in her favor, a change has to be done, one way or the other, Sticking with her current programs and planswould be a mistake being proved sound and clear 3 times in a row, that they are just not worrking.
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hmmm......TT also did not accompany Mao to WTT at the end of last season.
It seems that was the only time Mao skated well in her last 5 competitions.
But it could mean many things. Maybe as TT said two interviews ago she is only a consultant to Mao and that she is not very close with her.
Maybe Mao is already back in Japan with no plans to see TT anytime soon.
It is also quite possible this was already agreed to before the start of the season.
Typically Mao might not seem to need a coach with her at Natls as it would seem her place on the National team is assured regardless of how she would skate there.
Why is Asada still hanging up on Tarasova?
Perhaps Tarasova has the most stable job security in the world. I mean, TAT often failed to show up and stand by Mao's performance at some important events last year. Then at Worlds her pupil fell off the podium for the first time in her career. Since then TAT had half year to address issues with Asada's skating. The Olympic season began and her pupil performs even worse than before and is not even qualified to defend her GPF title, not to mention that she is now in a tight spot for Oly selection.
And yet TAT still gets to keep her job?? Didn't she have to have been fired at least three times over? With all the money, what is JSF doing?
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Mao didn't pop her Salchow at 2008 Nationals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWRjFNTEo1w
She actually changed it to the 3Loop for that competition, though. Looks like I remembered incorrectly.
She did land the Salchow at an early fluff competition in the 2007-2008 season, though. So that makes 3 times?
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I really don't see how keeping the 3 3As is logical no matter how you look at it. Basically, if Mao misses even one of them, she hardly gets any points for the jumping pass, because she gets minus 2s and 3s for a 2A; that's incredibly harmful. And with Mao's current consistency level, landing all 3 is incredibly unlikely. Even when her jumping was at it's peak, I wouldn't see her landing 3 clean 3As. I mean....it's simple math, and I don't see why, if Mao's not seeing it, Tarasova doesn't at least say something. Mao's way too talented to throw away her chances because she has an unreasonable program.
That said, I don't think she should change the music to either program. Prelude C# minor is a terrific piece of music and I think with a little reworking of the program, she can really use the harmonic tension in her music to make a really captivating program.
Mao is just kinda frustrating to watch because she has everything going for her. She just needs to figure out the best way to present everything she has going for her. I honestly think that's the only thing Kim has that she doesn't.
That said, I don't think she should change the music to either program. Prelude C# minor is a terrific piece of music and I think with a little reworking of the program, she can really use the harmonic tension in her music to make a really captivating program.
Mao is just kinda frustrating to watch because she has everything going for her. She just needs to figure out the best way to present everything she has going for her. I honestly think that's the only thing Kim has that she doesn't.
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I meant 2008 Nationals as the 2008-2009 season nationals since Japanese Nationals is in December.
No. Mao did her first 3S attempt at 2008 Japan Open (after 2008 Worlds) but doubled there.
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I really don't understand why you're arguing about a very small number of salchows in the first place. Anyway since we're playing, Mao's first competition 3Salchow attempt was certainly not 2008 Japan Open - there's video footage of her attempting (rotating) and stepping out of a 3S in that video of her at 11 years old competing in Senior Nationals, obviously it wasn't sucessful but i expect that she'd tried the jump before and after then too.
Ant
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It's true; silly argument.
Still, I would wager Mao (regular Mao at least; not the state she is currently in) has a better grip on the 3Sal than Yu-Na has on the 3Loop.
Mao's 3Sal attempts were in the second half of her program, preceded by footwork.
Still, I would wager Mao (regular Mao at least; not the state she is currently in) has a better grip on the 3Sal than Yu-Na has on the 3Loop.
Mao's 3Sal attempts were in the second half of her program, preceded by footwork.
This is a silly argument, because the very few salchows she has landed in her competitive career it makes this jump another trick she cannot rely on and the fact that she is not including it in her current jump layout schedule should give you a hint.
Press Conference of Mao: There's nothing (in my programs) that I can't do
Not all but some translation.
"When the game was over, I felt frustrated and disgusted with myself. But if it had gone well, I could not have found problems to address."
"With a calm frame of mind, there is nothing (in my programs) that I cannot do. I will do my best and won't change my goal to get OMG."
Re 3A, "it's what I could appeal the most. I'd like to achieve a 100% success rate."
She looks refreshed here:
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20091027-00000582-san-spo
Not all but some translation.
"When the game was over, I felt frustrated and disgusted with myself. But if it had gone well, I could not have found problems to address."
"With a calm frame of mind, there is nothing (in my programs) that I cannot do. I will do my best and won't change my goal to get OMG."
Re 3A, "it's what I could appeal the most. I'd like to achieve a 100% success rate."
She looks refreshed here:
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20091027-00000582-san-spo
i don't understand why ppl are claiming mao and yuna are unable to execute a triple salchow and a triple loop respectively. if you are a figure skater yourself, you know that there is one jump that just taunts you. you can do them perfectly in practices, but just can't manage to do them during competitions. it doesn't mean they are incapable of landing the jumps
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Mao throws in warm up combos and 3axels left and right, maybe she shouldnt get tired before actual competition, she looks so reluctant when going to jump the axel, you could feel she was not on.
I havent read all her news, does she say she wont change the Sp at all???Not even her jumps layout???
I havent read all her news, does she say she wont change the Sp at all???Not even her jumps layout???
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That may be the reason Mao could not execute 3As during the competition because she practiced it in the warmups. She should not be doing them during warmups because she is using up her energy already.
It's not certain if she is going to change programs, but I believe she should really consider it because the judges at Vancouver may give her low scores. I guess the program changes will depend on her performances at Nationals.
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That is NEVER the reason why a skater can't complete an element in their program. If she can't complete it in a program, or, as she is this year, is 1/6 on attempts in all programs, it's just not consistent enough that it SHOULD be in a program. Skaters have a specific warm up strategy and some get caught up in one element they are stuck on. I have a two strike rule in my warm up - if it doesn't happen in two attempts, move on.
Yeah. I don't think it matters how many times either lands the jump in practice. (And Kim does land 3loops in practice)
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And i'll bet Mao's mum's better than Yuna's mum too
Ant
I'm not trying to put one skater over another. Just, objectively, it makes sense to me. Yu-Na has trouble doing the 3Loop early in the program when she isn't tired, whereas Mao made the conscious decision to put her 3Sal in the second half the program, after footwork. That tells me she is comfortable enough with the jump and perhaps just hasn't practiced it enough in her actual programs. *shrug*
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And i'll bet Mao's mum's better than Yuna's mum too
Ant
I'm not trying to put one skater over another. Just, objectively, it makes sense to me. Yu-Na has trouble doing the 3Loop early in the program when she isn't tired, whereas Mao made the conscious decision to put her 3Sal in the second half the program, after footwork. That tells me she is comfortable enough with the jump and perhaps just hasn't practiced it enough in her actual programs. *shrug*
I always wonder if Mao simply has a mental block around these jumps. If she's doing them in practice and included three axles in her competition routines - she obviously CAN do them... but by putting a sum/zero game around those jumps she simply pyches herself out. Its unfortunate, but it happens all the time. Look at ARod in October. (grrr...) Luckily, she has four months to shake off her fears and get it together. She might actually be better off for the setbacks of October vs. whipping through the GP series and not having a chance to see the flaws in the ointment.
As for Yuna's 3loop - didn't she have severe back issues? Since that jump is problematic for those with back & hip concerns - I'm glad she's not doing it. Better to have a healthy-ish skater vs. an injured skater. Right?
And Blades:
on your tagline... too funny!
