Mao Asada

[firal]

Phew! After the SP I was worried that we won't get to see her in Boston, but now I am over the moon that she'll be there!

 

[Barb]

Thanks for the correction. I thought I had written Nationals.

After finally seeing it, I have to admit Mao's Madame Butterfly here was one of the most emotional performances I have seen. Bittersweet, inexpressible and aching beauty. I could really feel Mao's pent up emotions pouring out of her. I thought the mistakes were masked by the fact that Mao aimed high by really popping her jumps with a lot of lift and commitment even when she fell on the triple axel, her edges and light, effortless speed were priceless, and her expressions, extensions and balletic grace traced every note of the music through the climax of desperation in the spread eagle. The few tears she shed at the end really brought the character of Madame Butterfly into real life because of the difficulties Mao has faced in the last month with repeated illnesses. fatigue, stress and some frustrating performances with the eyes of the world upon her, which mirror in some ways the hardships of the character she plays.

Mao did pretty well in the world of tech scores, but in the world of expression and artistry that reaches out and touches humanity I thought Mao was off the charts.

If she can just hit her jumps in her performances as well as she does in warm-up the effect will be even more wondrous. I think she made a step in that direction.

Totally agree, even better than Japan open, I can´t stop of watch it. I get goosebumps each time , if this would be her last performance of Madame Butterfly I would not be disappointed, even with the mistakes this was so magical and beautiful, I hope her tears at the end of the program were not of disappointment because I prefer to watch this performance over the best of Evgenia, Elena, Liza and even my precious Satoko anyday.

 

[largeman]

I hope her tears at the end of the program were not of disappointment because I prefer to watch this performance over the best of Evgenia, Elena, Liza and even my precious Satoko anyday.

Me too. I hope she was holding back tears of relief and/or satisfaction and/or joy because she landed an amazing lutz and all those other jumping passes :dance:

Maybe someone can clue us in on what she said in the interview?

 

[roma]

I feel like Mao Asada has finally had it with all the bad skates this season. From this FS onwards she's now on the rebound. Previously when she made mistakes at the beginning of her program there will be other mistakes later on like popping jumps. But in this FS, after the mistakes on the first two jumping passes she fought back starting from the dreaded 3Lz (and she nailed it!). She looked to have tears in her eyes but at the same time I feel she looked happy and relieved...

We know she needs to rest after getting sick 2x while going to 3 competitions in a month. I want her to rest but at the same time want her to go to 4CC so I'm quite happy she gets to go. For me she needs that competition to try to put out better skates and improve her reputation and confidence before heading to Worlds. It's in February so she still has time to rest and do more runthroughs to familiarize herself with her new techniques and jumps. But before that, I am looking forward to Jupiter 2.0 next month.

She got most of her jump goals this season already: clean 3As, ratified 3F3Lo & ratified 3Lz. Now go get that 4 triple SP and 8 triple FS ratified, Mao! :agree:

 

[gravy]

I decided to translate the Spanish commentary on Mao Asada's short from 2014 Worlds. Random, I know. But I'm just really happy that I'll see her live at Worlds (for the 3rd time in person). People who have never seen her before, prepared to be blown away. The atmosphere she creates while skating is unreal.

The commentators here are Paloma del Rio (PR) and Javier Raya (JR).

https://youtu.be/rJ-kKOnSFBw?t=43

PR: There she goes! Bravo!
JR: Enormous triple axel. Clean. And with great form.
PR: Ah! Triple flip.
JR: Fantastic exit. Smooth.
PR: What a [difficult] change of edge [on that spin]!
PR: Triple loop, double loop. Awww! And she smiles!
JR: Precious.
PR: Just wonderful!
JR: Gorgeous step sequence. Her smile says it all... she's excited!
PR: There's Miki watching at the end of the arena. (Random comment?)
PR: Oh, Javier! She's not the only one who's happy, I'm ecstatic as well!
PR: It's just that... this lady is mesmerizing when she competes likes this. Just wonderful.
PR: I'm sorry. My words have escaped me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but she's just incredible. She's incredible.
JR: What a gorgeous triple axel she's done! And with a gorgeous program! She should enjoy it and she's so excited!
PR: Very good. Very good. Just look at the amount of flowers she's getting, mamma mia!
PR: She's used to the pressure, but what calmness she handles it with! She's competing at home... and I imagine it must be so difficult for her as the Japanese number one. But we must wait for Murakami and Suzuki, but the pressure is on her to deliver nonetheless.

Hope you all enjoy the Mao Asada gush fest in this commentary!

 

[randomfan]

MAO IS GOING TO 4CC AND WORLDS! I'm so happy for her. By now, I love both her programs a lot so it's such a relief that I'll be seeing them at least two more times at the very big competitions! She has a long break between now and 4CC, so I hope that she rests well.

 

[jg2000]

I finally got around to watching her Nationals LP, and I absolutely loved it. Her skating itself really shines, and I really loved the moment right after she finished her biellmann spin. Her movement is such a pleasure to watch, and the lutz was great! (I love so many people with flutzy lutzes, perhaps I can finally take one off the list)

 

[Ultra]

Seems the domain of her forum has just expired.

http://www.maoasadaforum.com/

Does anyone know who is in charge of this now?

And the backup address is not working for me at the moment.

http://maoasada.logu2.com/

 

[gotoschool]

Seems the domain of her forum has just expired.

http://www.maoasadaforum.com/

Does anyone know who is in charge of this now?

And the backup address is not working for me at the moment.

http://maoasada.logu2.com/

I was able to get in through this link, which looks like the one you have :

http://maoasada.logu2.com/

 

[turquoiseblue]

Yuzuru Hanyu Focused on Worlds; Mao Asada Heads to Taipei

Mao Asada, on the other hand, welcomes the opportunity to skate at another event, so that she can be better prepared for Boston.

"One of my reasons for choosing to compete at Four Continents is because of the year I took off my world ranking has dropped," she said. "So I want to raise that up a little bit and also I want to have some more competition experience before Worlds."

 

[Sam L]

4 Continents! Yes, more chances to see Mao. Please, both clean programs.

 

[mary01]

Yuzuru Hanyu Focused on Worlds; Mao Asada Heads to Taipei

happy to know it's Mao choice to compete in 4CC, can't wait to see her there

 

[musicfan80]

happy to know it's Mao choice to compete in 4CC, can't wait to see her there

My feeling is that Mao would want a good competition before Worlds. I think that with some rest and then a month of good training Mao will have a greatly improved performance at 4CCs.

 

[jenm]

Good luck to Mao on 4CC!

 

[Elaine]

I think 4CC has usually been a good competition for her. I remember the long programs from 2008, 2011 4CC and the short program from 2013 4CC Good luck to Mao.

 

[berry8]

http://youtu.be/FNk9a1VMMk8

While surfing this old video caught my attention
What is a cat supposed to do thereeee?

 

[berry8]

http://youtu.be/uDxOgVUw0Wc

Hope you will excuse me for posting these videos !!!
I cannot stop laughing though

 

[daphenaxa]

LOL solid content!!! It reminds me when I found those cards people made with skaters like they were pokemons (with strengths, weaknesses, special powers etc.) maybe it was posted here.

 

[yhmafan]

Agreed with some of you guys here. Mao looked gorgeous and so beautiful even with mistakes at nats. and other than that I could finally see her BIG SMILES on the podium and at EX gala that I was really relived. Probably it’s the most important for us fans. By the way were they trying to do Mao and Shoma’s performance at the gala practice? (Looks like Yuzuru imitated Mao’s spiral) and here is the photo from Kana with Yuzuru and Mura at it, they seemed really to have fun :yay:

 

[gotoschool]

I think 4CC has usually been a good competition for her. I remember the long programs from 2008, 2011 4CC and the short program from 2013 4CC Good luck to Mao.

Mao's Bells of Moscow LP at the 2010 4CC's was also magnificent with two triple axels, those incredible fan spirals, arabesques, the one handed Biellmann and desperately beautiful step sequence. I also thought her performance of Liebestraum at the the 2012 4CC's was the best in the competition, as do many others, and that she should have won, especially with the lofty grandeur of her triple axel and the bittersweet beauty of her interpretation and artistry.

I thought Mao's performance of Swan Lake was an excellent performance because she landed a nice triple flip and loop.

I hope Mao can get some good rest, regain her mental and physical strength after her illnesses, and visualize her jumps during her performances so that she does them all as beautifully as she does in warmup when the crowd went wild. Mao, please don't think about tech crews or scores, just relax and remember the crowd behind you cheering for more.