Nathan Chen

[yyyskate]

quote from NBC article: “I’ve spent 13 years of my life on the ice, so I already know the fundamentals of skating. Raf has educated me well to take the reins myself"

I trust Nathan about this to some extend, I do believe, of the 13 years, he has accumulated much knowlege and he can manage to train on himself successfully to certain level. And he acctually has done that in some occassions in his career so far. I also think that it is not that rare among top elite skaters.

But in terms of GOE, componets etc. he still needs some enlightenment. In the SOI tour, we can say Nathan is trying to improve his artistry by himself (and train by himself), there are improvements, but JMHO, as an observer, I think he still needs some enlightenment from outside figure skating artistry masters.

EDIT: certain aspects of his tech stuff too.

 

[oatmella]

Nathan’s already has been taking the reins himself to a certain extent - I would say more so than any of the top male skaters (just my impression). I actually wouldn’t be that shocked if he didn’t take on another regular coach.

I don’t think Yale is an impulsive decision at all - this has been a huge goal and dream for Nathan

Yuki has to be concerned about the sponsorships/contracts/shows etc and yes Nathan’s results and skating affect that - but that also doesn’t equate to her knowing how to help properly manage Nathan’s skating career.

Really hoping for the best of Nathan and he deserves to realize all his dreams!

 

[heyheyhey]

^^ he’ll probably get all that from his choreographers like he always has. I don’t think that aspect is gonna change.

He said he’ll be checking with Raf every week. To be honest, it doesn’t sound abnormal even if he stayed in Cali. Coaches aren’t with their students all the time and students usually just take their lessons and work on them themselves until the next session so it doesn’t seem that drastically different than usual, just that it’ll be through video/Skype whatever rather than in person most of the time.

 

[oatmella]

Remember that post worlds Canon article?

All that stuff Nathan said he wanted to improve on - quality of skating, to help with jump quality, more transitions etc - might be kinda difficult mostly on his own

If Nathan’s goal is more to maintain what he already has - then I think his current revealed plan may be ok

 

[yyyskate]

^^ he’ll probably get all that from his choreographers like he always has. I don’t think that aspect is gonna change.

He said he’ll be checking with Raf every week. To be honest, it doesn’t sound abnormal even if he stayed in Cali. Coaches aren’t with their students all the time and students usually just take their lessons and work on them themselves until the next session so it doesn’t seem that drastically different than usual, just that it’ll be through video/Skype whatever rather than in person most of the time.

that is exactly what worries me, by observing how his program's components deteriorated during this OG season, once he is away from his choreographers. He even forgot some of his key moment choreo..

If Nathan decided that improving components is his figure skating priority, he needs some expert to keep an eye on him on a daily basis. All famous coaches have said that improve SS and components is not a fast process, it requires long-term comittment and gotta to work on it purposely and properly every day.

if anything, this part about his figure skating training regime is the area I have hoped he will make some changes.

 

[yyyskate]

Remember that post worlds Canon article?

All that stuff Nathan said he wanted to improve on - quality of skating, to help with jump quality, more transitions etc - might be kinda difficult mostly on his own

If Nathan’s goal is more to maintain what he already has - then I think his current revealed plan may be ok

exactly, if he is just to maintain his ability this season, due to his has to balance college, then it is understandable.

but if he is really committed to improve those areas, which seems is also very significant scores wise in the new rules, he should plan and do differently, like you would imagine what he should do, just look around, looked at his rivals/competitors, what are they doing..

 

[heyheyhey]

^^ OG season can’t be compared to a regular season. It’s not at all the same. We should probably not use that as the bench mark, he’s not going to approach it the same way, college or no college. That was a learning experience and he’s put it behind him.

In terms of components, he can work with someone without having them be a coach. I don’t think he literally mean he’s not going to work with anyone or he’s only gonna do things himself all the time. He’s just not getting another coach. Those are two different things imo.

Just in general, he just needs to be given time. He doesn’t have all the answers right now and thats ok. I get the concern but none of this is urgent, he will figure it out. I highly doubt he hasn’t thought about everything fans have concerns about, he just doesn’t have all the answers yet.

 

[oatmella]

It’s also possible he wants to prioritize his academics and college experience more at this point - we don’t really know

Nathan did say in the Yale Daily News article that he doesn’t want to spend all day in the rink

 

[yyyskate]

@heyheyhey as far as ice time concerned, I agree Yale is a much better siutation on California. but i just hoped that, maybe there are some arrangement to use the on-campus rink with Yale, in addition to use nearby rinks.

 

[discode]

Well, congrats on his new world standing

I don't think Yuki, or Raf or anyone else is responsible for his choices. You can't stop someone, especially one as young as he is, who thinks he knows enough to go out on his own. And taking the reigns himself to me sounds like he'll make decisions as the season goes along, not that nobody will help him. He's just not getting a new coach. There's bound to be someone around to help him with issues he encounters at his new rink. Right now he doesn't really know enough to comment on a lot of things.

Though I think the fan dream of him to moving to Yale and somehow finding an elite SS coach (to get away from Raf) seems like something that was never in the cards. I didn't figure it was. And the rink at Champions Skating Center sounds like a much better choice than Yale's rink imo.

And it's one year. He seems like he's just testing the waters and trying things out. "If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, we’ll try to figure out something else.” What else can you do but hope it works out for him?

 

[besti loop]

Nathan is now the first in the world http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsmen.htm (he probably doesn't care.)

But I'm so happy 'cause he totally deserved it! And even the fact that he didn't get to the Oly podium didn't affect it. :hap93:

 

[heyheyhey]

@heyheyhey as far as ice time concerned, I agree Yale is a much better siutation on California. but i just hoped that, maybe there are some arrangement to use the on-campus rink with Yale, in addition to use nearby rinks.

There might be, we don’t really know yet. If there are special arrangements for him (outside of schedule flexibility for competitions) I don’t think he would air it out because it’s not like these schools necessarily want it on record that they give special treatments to so and so. We know they do at times but it’s kind of an unspoken rule, not something openly discussed too often. So even if he does, I imagine he’d be rather vague/discrete about it.

Well, congrats on his new world standing

I don't think Yuki, or Raf or anyone else is responsible for his choices. You can't stop someone, especially one as young as he is, who thinks he knows enough to go out on his own. And taking the reigns himself to me sounds like he'll make decisions as the season goes along, not that nobody will help him. He's just not getting a new coach. There's bound to be someone around to help him with issues he encounters at his new rink. Right now he doesn't really know enough to comment on a lot of things.

Though I think the fan dream of him to moving to Yale and somehow finding an elite SS coach (to get away from Raf) seems like something that was never in the cards. I didn't figure it was. And the rink at Champions Skating Center sounds like a much better choice than Yale's rink imo.

And it's one year. He seems like he's just testing the waters and trying things out. "If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, we’ll try to figure out something else.” What else can you do but hope it works out for him?

To get away from Raf? Did anyone actually think he’d be leaving Raf?

But I agree

 

[yyyskate]

“What else can you do but hope it works out for him?”

exactly...

also, I hope Nathan figures out everything before it is too late. For example, OGM will NOT wait for you to figure out everything.

another personal note from this little fan here. I have very high hope in Nathan's figure skating , because I think he is a very rare talent. thus my personal hope for him is not results, OGM (he may manage to achieve good result by a combination of things, like his OG season, he got all first place finishes except for OG, although even himself knows that his skating is not always going upwards during the season), is Nathan to achieve all his figure skating potentials, tech and art. this is a little different.

 

[yyyskate]

Congratulations to Nathan's first word standing

 

[yyyskate]

To get away from Raf? Did anyone actually think he’d be leaving Raf?

But I agree

he is leaving Raf or "get away from" Raf, just not on paper.

you would need a coach to sit on K&C with you in comps, otherwise it won't look pretty.

 

[shine]

Did anyone go or does anyone know if Nathan (or the Olympic skaters) actually perform in the FS In Harlem event? Or was it just a reception? Kind of strange to have all these skaters at Chelsea Piers but not have them perform?

 

[besti loop]

So according to the NBC article he will most likely go to France?? Like, was it his words or just NBC guessing?
"Chen said he’s already brought up his ideal competition scenario for the fall — competing at Skate America in October and Grand Prix France in November."

 

[sheetz]

Maybe the part I'm most concerned about is the lack of support system. No coach, no family, no training mates. His friends will all be normal kids with no skating background. Will he even have a physio? It will take some kind of superhuman effort to pull this off.

 

[heyheyhey]

he is leaving Raf or "get away from" Raf, just not on paper.

He’ll still be with him physically on and off, but that’s still his coach. I took Discord comments to mean that some wanted him to drop Raf as a coach altogether.

 

[sheetz]

Did anyone go or does anyone know if Nathan (or the Olympic skaters) actually perform in the FS In Harlem event? Or was it just a reception? Kind of strange to have all these skaters at Chelsea Piers but not have them perform?

It's just a dinner gala.