Nathan Chen
- Thread starter matmuh
- Start date
Well, taking out practically all transitions in his programs this season, and even stripping his ChSq of everything save for the spread eagle, tells me, that he doesn't seem to value those parts of his programs.
Yes I know, the 5-6 quads are tiring... but still, others do difficult jump layouts too (difficult and exhausting for them, anyway), yet they still leave room for the in between skating/footwork.
I don't doubt his words at all. He's too smart not to know what he needs to work on and he's mentioned going back to doing more JR like programs as well. And he obviously just loves skating if we go by his ex programs. I'm not sure I'd consider anything he does "the absolute minimum" either? Nemesis if anything debunks that point.
It's just slightly funny to see everyone making moves to train with big coaches, already gearing up to 2022, and Nathan doing his own thing and moving away from his. I mean, seriously... He's just going to lead me to drink, that kid. I feel fans might stress over him more than he stresses over himself.
mate, I feel you.
once I started to stan Nathan. I realized he is NOT your typical figure skater at all.... I probably need to change myself, otherwise, I may not be drunk but have an early on-set heart attack.
I do think that Nathan truly does appreciate skating without the jumps
But he was only 18 years old this season - still a kid in some ways - and it doesn’t seem like he had the proper support from his team to manage everything to its best - including keeping all the transitions, etc in his programs
Nathan did make efforts on his own (extra trips to Lori) - but I think it is difficult considering what seemed like the lack of regular support for this
I still loved Mao’s Last Dancer at Olympics and Worlds though
But he was only 18 years old this season - still a kid in some ways - and it doesn’t seem like he had the proper support from his team to manage everything to its best - including keeping all the transitions, etc in his programs
Nathan did make efforts on his own (extra trips to Lori) - but I think it is difficult considering what seemed like the lack of regular support for this
I still loved Mao’s Last Dancer at Olympics and Worlds though
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2018
^ To me, that’s not about support. It’s about needing time. Literally no one has that level of jump difficulty and also manages difficult transitions all at once right out the gate. It’s something that needs time to master, no one is gonna to have that ability right away. I know Nathan is talented but expectations have to be realistic. He’s attempting the most difficult programs in history which means he has to get comfortable with that first before he starts adding in difficult transitions. It’s a work in progress, no one should expect him to have that all down right away. If he did, he’d already be hailed as the GOAT and he might as well just retire, what else would he need to improve on at that point?
repost this, although this may not be popular on FF, but it is valid opinion needs attention.
Hopefully, Nathan will pay enough attention to his SS, transitions and posture on daily basis with expert to point out and remind him if he forgets or does not realize something, while training on his own.
It's just slightly funny to see everyone making moves to train with big coaches, already gearing up to 2022, and Nathan doing his own thing and moving away from his. I mean, seriously... He's just going to lead me to drink, that kid. I feel fans might stress over him more than he stresses over himself.
Maybe it’s because Nathan is already happy with his (training) team? I have faith that Nathan has calculated the risk he’s taking. I don’t think he loves skating less, it’s more like chosing to be a working mom instead of being a full time housewife.
I am also confident he has a plan for next season as well as priorities. Last year, he obviously had to prioritize the technical stuff to be competitive, knowing he could not count on an increase in pcs. He’s ultra competitive I don’t see him just coasting, I look forward to what this year will bring.
One thing that will help Nathan (compared to other student skaters in the past such as Delmore or even MK) is the available technology. It has never been easier to send videos and communicate remotely. This is also the best yr to experiment.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2018
The complaint that he stripped "everything" is greatly exaggerated IMO. And I really don't agree he did it because he sees no value in it at all, but just it literally does not have the value of doing another quad. Doing three quad and some more transitions aren't going to give him a win against the big guys.
He needs time to put it all together is all. He's not going to be the full package in his 2nd senior year.
He needs time to put it all together is all. He's not going to be the full package in his 2nd senior year.
this is OG season strategy issue, they could decide on going for less quad and more transition like his junior program, or go for historical 6 quad program. They chose the latter.
it is a narrative. the quad king etc. what has been done is done.
Nathan is clearly tired of being a soccer mom/housewife - guess that’s why he’s really changing things up this season !
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhAyBz3AA3U/?taken-by=nathanchen_ice_prince
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhAyBz3AA3U/?taken-by=nathanchen_ice_prince
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2018
^^ Well he had the best season of any skater this year, ranked #1 in the world, and became one of the youngest World Champs ever so it worked. Him not getting the Olympic Gold had nothing to do with the strategy of going for quads or less transitions but rather a mental thing.
It was smart and now he’s set himself up well for next season PCS wise.
It was smart and now he’s set himself up well for next season PCS wise.
:rofl2::laugh15:
In his FS he has tended to be lazy in competition (he seems to be much better in practices) but I don't think much at all was stripped from his SP this season. Also, if you look at his self choreographed exhibition programs where he can choose to include anything he wants to they are packed with transitions, so I wouldn't necessarily say he doesn't value them.
Everything considered, I always thought 2018 OG as this season turns out perhaps is the best chance for Nathan to win the OGM, although he is indeed too young to be considered the best ever. But it is a very good chance. While, it is not what meant to be.
Also, I would NOT blame his OG failure only on mentality.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2018
Exactly. And it's not as if he's been stagnating for years pushing quads with zero artistic growth. And we all know what he's capable of going by jr programs (and his SP's the last two season)
People are gonna tell me this kid https://twitter.com/magicaleggrolls/status/992589471144067072 has no interest in skating other than jumping? :think:
Now combine that little kid with maturity and improved skills, power and transitions with 4-5 quads and well... the B.ESP lady is right, he'd be the best ever.
yes, Nathan's EX (when tech is not a stress) is packed with transitions, but I hope he can have masterful choreographer input as for how to use transition purposefully for the music/performance and for the GOE.
great usage of transitions is not just about jam pack them in programs. this is something I wish Nathan could get some outside input (from true masters) instead of training on his own.
quote from Yuzuru "Jumps are not just jumps but seamlessly integrated into the whole program"
ETA: as for Nemesis, he does took out some transitions that i liked just not as drastic as last dancer. you could watch Sun Valley Nemesis again.
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2018
^^^ I’m the opposite, I think 2022 was always his best chance. If he happened to get it in 2018, great, but I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t. His prime is 2022 so that’s when I always pictured it to be “his time”
I don’t blame it only on mentality either, maybe deciding not to listen to his coach during the most important skate of his life rather than his parents or whoever that are NOT professionals with Olympics experience was probably not the smartest choice. Not his best moment there. But he has readily owned up to and taken responsibility for his decision which I respect, and he’s clearly learned from it. Sometime you gotta take some hard knocks to learn some valuable lessons. But none of that has to do with the strategy of going for more quads and less transitions.
I don’t blame it only on mentality either, maybe deciding not to listen to his coach during the most important skate of his life rather than his parents or whoever that are NOT professionals with Olympics experience was probably not the smartest choice. Not his best moment there. But he has readily owned up to and taken responsibility for his decision which I respect, and he’s clearly learned from it. Sometime you gotta take some hard knocks to learn some valuable lessons. But none of that has to do with the strategy of going for more quads and less transitions.
I also hope he will get OGM at 2022. Only the best wishes for Nathan.
again about the bold part. we have discussed this in length on this FF. Nobody knows for sure what happened. I would take Raf's Russian interview with a grain of salt. And all in all,
it is a collective decision. Nathan took the full responsibility and blame onto himself is admirable on Nathan's part, which does not change anything.
ETA: and Raf as a coach who does NOT have to ability to pursuade/communicate your student to fellow your maybe better plan (as he acclaimed), but only shake off all the responsibilities afterwards. is NOT someone I personally admire.
I said it before in this FF, but I would have been surprised had Nathan won OGM this year. He would have been one of the youngest OGM winners ever. Possibly the 2nd youngest behind Dick Button? And he hadn't even medaled at Worlds yet. Against such stiff competition it was a lot to ask.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2018
I figured he'd win or... or not be on the podium, which is what happened. Since with him lately this season and going back to worlds last year, he either does great (or great enough in the SP) to win or does poorly and misses the podium. He's not a "do a pretty good job and win a silver" kind of skater. He doesn't do in-between lol
I'm more excited for 2022 than for 2018 for the OGM.
I'm more excited for 2022 than for 2018 for the OGM.
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