Nathan Chen | Page 127 | Golden Skate

Nathan Chen

One thing I always wondered is the actual role of Nathan's mum in his training...I remember that in another forum she was claimed as one of the responsible for the brief move to Zoueva but of course there is not actual evidence about that. Does anyone has better knowledge about this? Parents can be crucial elements in the outcome of accomplished athletes (and of kids in general).
On the other hand, I think it's good that Nathan has inputs in his career such in terms of choosing music and programs and I think he should let in peace as far as his style is concerned (I really liked all of his original costumes and I think they were more Nathan than those he wore to the Olympics). But I think he really need to stick to a layout in order to be more confident with his programs in the crucial moments and whoever is responsible (or allows) his layout switches must change this.
 
According to interviews it sounds like Raf gave Nathan free reign to do whatever he felt best for the long program, so it wasn't like Nathan was trying to be willfully disobedient or anything.

Now that Chan is retiring I thought maybe Nathan could work with him on his basic skating. That's really what Nathan needs most at this point, IMO.
 
sheetz said:
According to interviews it sounds like Raf gave Nathan free reign to do whatever he felt best for the long program, so it wasn't like Nathan was trying to be willfully disobedient or anything.

Now that Chan is retiring I thought maybe Nathan could work with him on his basic skating. That's really what Nathan needs most at this point, IMO.
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you are not alone, other fans also suggested Nathan could go to Patrick's skating school to learn from Patrick.

But just not 3A though:biggrin: Every time, they jump 3A scares me..
 
I also have a feeling that perhaps there is nothing more Raf can offer Nathan figure skating wise, be it jump technique or SS or other component stuff.

So that is why he just let Nathan take the reign.

Nathan already learned to jump 5 different type of quads, but his 3A is always a problem...
That is why I think some extra perspectives may give Nathan new information/knowledge about figure skating.
 
from the info I can gather:
Nathan's Mom is very supportive of Nathan and she indeed is Nathan's second coach when Nathan was young and they cannot afford more skating lessons.
Also Nathan Mom has huge influence on Nathan's skating in terms of music choice, what choreographer they will get programs from. I think Nathan's mom is quite knowledgable in figure skating herself, at least a huge figure skating fan :biggrin:
But I do not think Nathan's mom is actively involved in Nathan's training nowadays anymore. I think Nathan's mom trusted Nathan to his coach that is Raf.
 
from the interview how do they choose program music,
it seems Nathan just trusts his choreographers and believe that they music they choose for him would be perfect for him. I think he place himself as an object and values how others would view him artistically,which means he values others' perspective and input.
Yet Vincent's music choice is very goal oriented, methodical, aimed at results

None of them is at the stage that they intentional wanna skate to a piece of music. that is common for skaters in their early career.
 
yyyskate said:
I assuming you are a new fan.

BOI == boi == boy

Also if you wanna feel cool you can interpret it as Boss On Ice
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haha. I know of the term boi. I thought maybe it had a special meaning for Nathan. Thank you!

I've been a casual fan of Nathan's since 2016, but hadn't joined the fan thread until today. Probably because I feared even the fan thread would disagree with my positive opinion of his Vera Wangs. :)
 
NoStefaniaNo said:
haha. I know of the term boi. I thought maybe it had a special meaning for Nathan. Thank you!

I've been a casual fan of Nathan's since 2016, but hadn't joined the fan thread until today. Probably because I feared even the fan thread would disagree with my positive opinion of his Vera Wangs. :)
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I am also a casual fan of Nathan's before, mostly because he is Chinese American and he is a rare figure skating talent.

Nathan became my sentimental fav skater this season.
 
Yesterday, Scott Hamilton mentioned that he went out to celebrare with Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson. They talked about Javier when he first came for help. They asked Javier how many runthroughs he typically did before a competition, and he said what runthroughs?

So, they taught him the discipline of training, etc.

People, a great LP does not immediately erase all of Nathan's problems. Does he do full runthroughs in his practice? Who made the insane decision of constantly chaning the jump layout not allowing to build muscle memory？

One danger I see is that Nathan is so talented. He is the only one who can do five different quads, so he might not listen to any coach as carefully.

The fundamental problems idetified after his disastrous SP do not go away after a great LP. If not addressed, I believe that disasters are due to hit again.
 
I totally agree with the previous comment and I hope that he recognize that while he is very talented he needs discipline and method to further improve otherwise he risks to become one of those diamonds in the rough who will never be able to achieve full polish. And honestly, basing my observation on Wagner and Rippon, Rafael doesn't seem the best option to further develop other aspects such as SS (even though I don't know who could replace him).
Also, I hope that Nathan keeps Shae as choreographer and my biggest dream is a Tom Dickson program for him next season.
 
I think Vera Wang's second-hand FS costume, especially the one Nathan used in the team event without that shining zipper actually looked good on Nathan.
The horizontal brush pattern flatters his upper body, Nathan is very slim, that costume just made his shoulder a bit boarder visually, His proportion looked very handsome in that costume, if only it is not a rip-off of Even's costumes...
as for other Vera costumes plus the US national SP one, they only used 3 color: white, black, gray (which reminds me of Han Yan's taste:laugh:)
The worst of these 3 in my opinion, is the one he wore for OG individual SP, it is just weird, mades him look fat.. And on the ice, the white arms feels like disappeared, he only have one arm... dont understand the concept either.

US national SP is okay, at least it is all black, his image on ice is prominent.

the OG FS is the best of these 3, Nathan WAS adjusting his white collar a lot, maybe it it not fitted properly. but I see the idea, I once posted in this thread that if I design a costume for Nathan, I will design a lower cut back collar (like those in Geisha's kimono), my idea is that a relatively lower collar on the back will flatter Nathan's nick shoulder lines more, I saw a little bit of that idea in his OG FS costume, but the white collar seems did not fit properly (could make it a little bit more lower in the back as well), as for the front, it used V neck with some Chinese traditional costume flavor and of course it is done in a modernized and minimalist way. Nathan looks good in it.
the problem is the sleeves, it was cut in half by 2 colors: black and charcoal grey, Nathan's arm line is cut and makes his arms looks like sticks...

The crucial part of Nathan's FS imagery is that fluid, delicate feel of Nathan's arm movement, his previous costumes does a better job to enhance that.
 
"The fundamental problems identified after his disastrous SP do not go away after a great LP. If not addressed, I believe that disasters are due to hit again."

200% agree:bow:
 
besti loop said:
Nathan entered his Lutz either too early or too late, my friend couldn't hear properly 'cause they spoke quietly :) He also said that Nathan got out of his air positions too early. And he told him smthng like "Why are you in such a hurry, why do you rush in?!"
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yyyskate said:
Yet Nathan's answer to his mistake (from interview) is, he is tentative thus going in too slow, thus lack the speed...

sound like opposite to what Raf said.
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I don't think it's a contradiction:

Going in with not enough speed (as in: the speed of gliding across the ice) doesn't mean he can't/won't at the same time rush his entry, the latter being about the correct moment of take-off (as in: timing or rhythm) ...to me those are two separate things.

And I can definitely imagine how "being too tentative or timid" will disturb the correct rhythm and attack of a jump... I assume when you're tensed up like this and too cautious, it messes with the timing of the jump in general, but it can go both ways, you either delay the entry or, as in Nathan's case supposedly, you rush it and maybe even get out of the jump too early.

But then again, I have yet to land a quad jump (or any multi-rotational jump, really :laugh:), so what do I know... ;)
 
yyyskate said:
Yet Nathan's answer to his mistake (from interview) is, he is tentative thus going in too slow, thus lack the speed...

sound like opposite to what Raf said.

.........
Click to expand...
You can be tentative and slow in speed and still rush the take off timing. They are two different things.
 
I think Nathan does full RTs in practice at home. (I’ve talked to people who have watched him train at Lakewood) I think Nathan has a lot of discipline - for all anyone says is how hard he works. I think they practice a lot of different layouts - so that he’s technically prepared for anything, but of course, that limits the amount of muscle memory that he is able to achieve.

I think he and Raf have always looked at Nathan’s ability to think on the fly as a strength - and to some extent, it is - and it’s served him well up to this point. But I think both of them were unprepared for the enormity of the Olympics as a major contender. But I don’t see it as a discipline problem as much as just a strategy that didn’t pan out for him.
 
in official practices,
Vincent does complete 5 quads run-thru with one fixed jump layout, rarely omit a spin
Nathan at least in official practices never did complete run-thru. I know Nathan is disciplined and works very hard.

Also one concern is that, if ISU emphasize on the component side of skating, Nathan will have to put more transitions in his routine (like he used to do before he become quad king). then he cannot alter his lay-out as easily.
 
Well I think in competition, they try to conserve his energy. At home, he does full RTs on the regular. Raf will set up mock competitions where all the skaters do their programs back to back in addition to their regular practice sessions.
 
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