Mao Asada | Page 193 | Golden Skate

Mao Asada

Nobunari Oda's words about Mao competing at Nats.
"I believe in Mao doing great performances, I'll just root for her and send her a positive vibe from my heart."

Nobu, you're always so kind towards Mao :luv17:
 
It’s a very good article about Mao writing by a cameraman Mr. Yutaka Nagakubo. The article is full of love. I cried.

The title is “The cameras fell in love with her.”

【長久豊の撮ってもいい?話】

カメラも恋をする、と言ったら驚くだろうか。
冷徹な機械、ICてんこ盛りでいまや家電製品のようになってしまったカメラに感情の入る余地などあるはずがない。
だがボクの愛機はスケートをする彼女にいちずな思いを抱いている。
明るく照らされた本番の衣装は当然のように、暗い室内、コントラストのない地味な練習着の彼女にさえも、その姿を追いピントを合わせ続ける。
他の選手とは合焦率(ピントの合う確率)が違う。カメラのやる気が違うのだ。

だがキヤノンであれニコンであれ彼の恋敵は多いようだ。「実はオレのカメラも」という同業者は数知れず。

 「真央ちゃんはピント合うんだよなあ」

 そう、片思いのお相手は浅田真央選手である。

恋の動機は単純なもの。
彼らのAF(オートフォーカス=自動焦点)機構は被写体の上下左右の細かなブレを嫌う。体軸のしっかりした滑らかなスケーティング。
浅田選手やイタリアのカロリーナ・コストナー選手こそが彼らの好みなのだ。

15歳、ピアノの鍵盤の上を弾むように跳び、GPファイナルを制した真央ちゃん。

今は五線譜の上を滑らかに、時として激しく、隠れた音さえも表現していく浅田選手。
スポーツと芸術性の両立がフィギュアスケートの原点、その比重が時の流れとともに変わっていくのは自然なことだ。

GPシリーズ・フランス大会以来、彼女についてさまざまな臆測の類いが飛んだ。だがカメラという機械はそのスケーティング技術がいまだに世界トップであるという事実を語る。

全日本選手権はボクとボクの愛機は東京でお留守番。
同業のライバルたちは今季の印象的なアイラインメークを強調した写真、ステップの振り返りをアップで狙う(こう書くとライバルたちも狙いづらいはず。
これも老かいなテクニックの一つ)であろう。
カメラに愛される浅田選手だからできる撮り方だ。演技後の彼女には笑ってほしいが、写真は再来年まで待ってほしいというのが、留守番カメラマンとわが愛機の本音だ。

2012年、フランス・ニースでの世界選手権を取材した。
そこには練習、本番を通じて連続56回、トリプルアクセルを失敗する浅田選手の姿があった。だがボクの愛機が心を奪われ、いちずな思いを寄せるようになったきっかけはそれではない。
抜けてしまったジャンプや氷に叩きつけられるような激しい転倒にも心折れずに56回、立ち直った姿だ。

だから彼女は大丈夫、きっと大丈夫、絶対大丈夫。何度でも何度でも立ち上がると愛機が言う。

ボクもそう思う。

◆長久保 豊(ながくぼ・ゆたか)◆

Sorry it's in Japanese. If someone could translate it into English it will be great. :hap10:
 
Mao will skate last for the Ladies SP. It's great because, that means that just like last year when Satoko skated last, the top 3 ladies after SP will remain uncertain until the last lady has done her program. :)
 
Official practice from today. Mao’s part starts from 1:10.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5606gk_宇野-真央-本郷選手_sport

According to this article, she attempted the 3A four times today. 1st was with a messy landing, 2nd and 3rd were UR and she fell on the 4th attempt. She plans to include it in competition if she can land it cleanly once during practices tomorrow or the day after. She doesn't know if she'll do it in the SP or FS.

Good luck Mao! I'm looking forward to seeing her beautiful programs with or without the 3A :love:
 
https://youtu.be/ckC5BJGsCJo?t=2m28s

This is a new video from the news of Mao's practice today. She tried four 3As. The rotations look better today! Though it is still slightly two footed (a turnout on the third one), the first two attempts look really close to perfect to me.

Keep going Mao! There's still time!
 
https://youtu.be/ckC5BJGsCJo?t=2m28s

This is a new video from the news of Mao's practice today. She tried four 3As. The rotations look better today! Though it is still slightly two footed (a turnout on the third one), the first two attempts look really close to perfect to me.

Keep going Mao! There's still time!

https://youtu.be/8iSe-o8N7fY

another video practising 3F+3Lo(maybe a bit < ?) and a gorgeous 3F+2Lo+2tanoLo

She looks FANTASTIC :love:
 
Mao looks fit and ready! GO MAO!!!!!!! :cheer:

TBH I am just so darn happy that I get to see her beautiful skating again.
 
Thanks to rosewood for this clip (and translation) in which Mao sees Daisuke unexpectedly. She is so surprised. It seems he is hiding so he can surprise Mao.

https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/812233463361220608/pu/vid/1280x720/aJJNmZWgkZ1BoidA.mp4

Mao "Ohhhh, Dai-chan!"
Daisuke "Ganbattene" (=Try your best.)
Mao "Ganbaru" (=I'll do.)

It's great to see Mao jumping better and smiling in practice. I hope Mao is satisfied and full of joy with her performances at Nationals. I hope she has two bright and beautiful smiles at the end of both of her performances.
 
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https://youtu.be/ckC5BJGsCJo?t=2m28s

This is a new video from the news of Mao's practice today. She tried four 3As. The rotations look better today! Though it is still slightly two footed (a turnout on the third one), the first two attempts look really close to perfect to me.

Keep going Mao! There's still time!

she is looking definitely better, thanks. And I love her smile, she seems relaxed.
 
she is looking definitely better, thanks. And I love her smile, she seems relaxed.

She looks so much more relaxed. I remember at Skate America she had a very worried look on her face during practices, and I was worried for her. I hope she can get just a little more "oomph" into her 3A so she can get it fully rotated. Good luck to Mao and to nervous yhmafan. :)
 
She looks so much more relaxed. I remember at Skate America she had a very worried look on her face during practices, and I was worried for her. I hope she can get just a little more "oomph" into her 3A so she can get it fully rotated. Good luck to Mao and to nervous yhmafan. :)

Thanks for your confidence I am able to be relaxed a bit. don’t know she will attempt 3A or not if she keeps good feelings as she was in practice she will do it in completion but at the same time I still am worried about her left knee tbh since she will never disclose her true pain in public.

Anyways, Go Mao! Shuzo Matsuoka will cheer for you loudly as usual like “You can do it you can do it you can do it!!” :cheer:
 
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