Nathan Chen

[yyyskate]

some quotes about jump I loved, which also is the quality of figure skating that I appreciated as a figure skating fan.

"Jumps are not just isolated jumps but seamlessly incorporated into the whole program" Yuzuru's comments as for what quality he likes about Yuna's skating
"Jumps are derivatives of edges, fundamentally, it is all about ice and blade relationship"

 

[yyyskate]

Nah, I don't think so, I was worried about his 4 Sal throughout the season, he obvsly had most of the problems with it.
I thought he's conquered it at Olys but oooops it happened at Worlds again
Also, I think Rafael says "the rest of the jumps are 100%" not icluding 4Lo? Cause like in the prev. interview he said he doesn't want to tell everyone what Nathan's training process is like at the moment, but saying that "all his jumps are 100%" would mean the 4Lo, too?? And it kinda reveals what should be kept hidden? So I hope Rafael didn't mean 4 Loop when he said that.

And I hope so much we'll see 4Lo next season! *__* he performed and landed it twice this season, idk why he left the idea of jumping it.

you may wanna do a statistic about Nathan's quad successful rate (OP and comps), as far as I know, Nathan does not practice 4S as often as his other jumps in OPs. And he took his 4LZ out during US national.

I personally will never take Raf's interview seriously from now on regarding Nathan's figure skating (jumps etc.) I will just wait and see what they put out next season.

 

[yyyskate]

If you're talking about Kori Ade my understanding is that it was Ade who objected to a joint coaching situation.

my knowledge regarding that is from Raf's Russian interview. if you have other sources, I would like to read about it.

 

[yyyskate]

yeah ... Raf really did not send Nathan to Zueva so he could improve SS - Nathan initially went to Marina for Le Corsaire choreo. Later when Raf thought he had lost Nathan to Marina, he said that Nathan was always too difficult to work with and that he had liked working with Ashley and Adam more.

Shake my head...

 

[sheetz]

Raf really did not send Nathan to Zueva so he could improve SS - Nathan initially went to Marina for Le Corsaire choreo. Later when Raf thought he had lost Nathan to Marina, he said that Nathan was always too difficult to work with and that he had liked working with Ashley and Adam more.

Choreographers don't only create programs, they will often have skaters work on their SS. Lori had Nathan work with a blade skills coach and Tom Dickson is well known for given his pupils skating exercises. And my hunch is that having the opportunity to train alongside Chan likely persuaded Nathan to stay with Zueva longer than anticipated.

 

[discode]

my knowledge regarding that is from Raf's Russian interview. if you have other sources, I would like to read about it.

http://fs-gossips.com/rafael-arutyunyan-some-coaches-cling-to-an-athlete-like-to-a-rocket/

He said he would work alongside Kori Aide, but the coach refused. So he kept the text messages and proof he did nothing wrong lol. Also where he was crying over Nathan almost leaving him, though sounds he thought Nathan was seduced away by pretty words and it wasn't his choice, but he liked Adam and Ashley better anyway and if Nathan wanted to come back he had to ask nicely.

 

[yyyskate]

as for "Nathan was always too difficult to work with"
this opinion regarding Nathan, except for Raf, has any other coaches, teammates, people that knows Nathan well etc. have similar comments about Nathan.
I don't recall any.

 

[yyyskate]

http://fs-gossips.com/rafael-arutyunyan-some-coaches-cling-to-an-athlete-like-to-a-rocket/

He said he would work alongside Kori Aide, but the coach refused. So he kept the text messages and proof he did nothing wrong lol. Also where he was crying over Nathan almost leaving him, though sounds he thought Nathan was seduced away by pretty words and it wasn't his choice, but he liked Adam and Ashley better anyway and if Nathan wanted to come back he had to ask nicely.

yeah, next time, better give the Russian reporter the screenshot of those text messages he kept on his phone......

 

[yyyskate]

Phillip Mills seemed to suggest otherwise:
https://www.phillipmillschoreographer.com/single-post/2017/02/06/A-Privilege

not only Phillip Mills, Lori, Shae, Patrick etc. all put in great words regarding Nathan.

 

[discode]

yeah, it's really normal for a man in his late 50's to be saving text messages from a teenage girl (or just past teenager) to save as 'proof'.
That makes it sound so enticing - Nathan could beg to come back to be Raf's #3

To me, it sounds like Raf was just trying to save face when Zueva was trying to "steal" Nathan away and tried to make a public coaching change. Though I don't know if Nathan ever intended to leave Raf for good, or if he just stayed longer because he enjoyed it. Anyway, I think Raf got his pride hurt and tried to act like Nathan had make amends to come back and lashed out at him with false accustations of him being difficult. He's childish for an old man. Not sure I think either one, Raf or Zueva, come across that well fighting over a 17 year old kid. Though I haven't ever read her side of the story.

He also recently said Ashley was lazy and that's why she didn't make the Oly's so I guess she's not the favorite pupil anymore obviously.

 

[hhh]

http://www.sunrisehokuriku.co.jp/schedule/kdschartist.php?id=7455

Nathan in another Japan show

Heroes & Future 2018 in NAGANO (in June)

I think I know who are the heroes and the future base on the picture lol

His mom in her latest interview said, Nathan is 18 yeats old, and time for him to fly on his own. It’s well known that moms and coaches don’t mix. So many stories to confirm that.

You hit the nail on the head. Just like other sports – soccer, track and field… depending on their personalities, personal experience and how each parent adapts to the sport training environment and projects their thoughts varies.

In Cali, the Chinese-speaking parents (mainly the same age group who trained and befriended since childhood) have a chat group where his mom and some others are part of, where they share their ups and downs, complaints and etc. and there are many other chat groups too, Vincent parent I heard is in another group. Almost like a private PTA group haha. My cousin (started as men’s single then ice dancing for longevity reason) trained with a few since 6 so it’s not an overnight sensation bonding; they went through the grinding and growing pains on the ice together. To some people disbelieve, in terms of programs, strategy & training, the skaters at times aren’t on the same page with their parents, some would rebel against them on the rink while others would skip practices, some coaches have to act as a mediator. Or, skaters have different mindset than what parents + coaches would like to see and tensions among 3 parties hit all time high when puberty arrives, the on and off rink… I believe the group is closed for new parents due to a wechat incident that happened 3-4 years back, a new parent decided to share info on the app and other online platforms when the group agreed all convo stays in the chat group-only (as they should since it’s only personal random chats). I heard it back then because my cousin rarely chats about the group, told me because the leaked private convo was twisted and parents were concern the skaters may become targets. Aside from it, the parents often have to deal with haters denouncing their kids for not helping the country to win medals, argh. Haven’t reach the age to be a parent but I honor the parents of all sports for believing in the dreams, (thanks mom I love you too )

There’s so much more than meets the eye, as athletes grow into adulthood and with the sport the parents may and may not grow at the same pace (which is fine, they’re parents, not coaches) and may offer a different support system than the past. Just my humble opinion.

 

[yyyskate]

.

He also recently said Ashley was lazy and that's why she didn't make the Oly's so I guess she's not the favorite pupil anymore obviously.

yeah, I was about to post that....
Raf's accountability????

 

[sheetz]

But the thing is, Ashley seems to still support him and hopes to work with his as assistant coach. So I don't know if the skaters on his team just learn to tune him out whenever he goes on a tirade.

 

[discode]

I don't think Raf is a real problem despite what he says. He contradicts himself too often, spews nonsense at times, but his students do seem to like him. They must just ignore his ramblings. Nathan has a good head on his shoulders and Raf honestly can't be that terrible if Nathan's family hasn't gotten him away from him yet. His mom must feel secure in the knowledge Nathan will be all right to let him go.

He got an upgrade on the SOI website http://www.starsonice.com/the-skaters.html

And Kubo (of YOI fame) mentioned on twitter she didn't draw the huge Nathan banner, but another Japanese animator did. Though I wonder who drew the art. He has another big fan out there.

 

[Mamamiia]

Makes me somewhat sad while reading this:

Nichol and Chen added some choreography nuances to the free skate, often suggested by the skater.

"He was proposing things that were more than I thought he would be ready to do," Nichol said. "He was saying, 'I can add this, I can add that.' He is intrigued and enjoying doing more choreography, and that is a huge step and very encouraging."

 

[yyyskate]

Makes me somewhat sad while reading this:

Nichol and Chen added some choreography nuances to the free skate, often suggested by the skater.

"He was proposing things that were more than I thought he would be ready to do," Nichol said. "He was saying, 'I can add this, I can add that.' He is intrigued and enjoying doing more choreography, and that is a huge step and very encouraging."

:sad21: I understand Nathan and believe he is intrigued about choreo (he choreoed his own ex) and figure skating artistry(components). he has such an innate musicality and so great in music, those thing must intrigues him very much. Yet it was sad that he has to take all those little nuances/choreo out in the course of this season in order to do that 6 quads FS.

 

[discode]

Components are not something he could control score-wise as much, while with the tech score he could. I can see the reasoning behind going for 6 quads to win as opposed to relying on components when the other guys get scored so much higher than he does on those (usually). Nobody can outscore him technically if he's on. Though I hope in next season he concentrates on both.

He does have really beautiful movements https://twitter.com/MyNathanWorld/status/978870860344946688 it would be a shame not to continue to grow from that.

 

[hhh]

Components are not something he could control score-wise as much, while with the tech score he could. I can see the reasoning behind going for 6 quads to win as opposed to relying on components when the other guys get scored so much higher than he does on those (usually). Nobody can outscore him technically if he's on. Though I hope in next season he concentrates on both.

He does have really beautiful movements https://twitter.com/MyNathanWorld/status/978870860344946688 it would be a shame not to continue to grow from that.

Yes his line, how in tune he is with his body with the music is amazing to watch. There should be more closeup shots of his choreography, I can binge watch them all day.

Lucky gal.
https://instagram.com/p/Bg37wuIB7Ae/

 

[Mamamiia]

Components are not something he could control score-wise as much, while with the tech score he could. I can see the reasoning behind going for 6 quads to win as opposed to relying on components when the other guys get scored so much higher than he does on those (usually). Nobody can outscore him technically if he's on. Though I hope in next season he concentrates on both.

He does have really beautiful movements https://twitter.com/MyNathanWorld/status/978870860344946688 it would be a shame not to continue to grow from that.

Yes, strategy wise, the 6 quad seems like the safest bet especially at the end of season. It almost guaranted win no matter how everyone else performed. It's still kind of sad that the 2 programs didn't end in the same direction they started with.

 

[shine]

but you don't know whether or not Nathan's mom is involved in his skating decisions as well? As far as I know, Nathan's mother is mostly doing logistic work.

You don't know that either. That she is "only doing logistic work" is also an assumption on your part.

read the newest Raf Russian interview:
he said Nathan's 4S is 80% and all other jumps are 100%. According to Jackie's report, Nathan made various failed jump attempts on all his jumps (e.g. 4F, 4luz) in practices not just 4S, I bet if Nathan did step-out on some other jumps instead of 4S, he could say this other jump is 80% and else are 100%...

Salchow is known to be Nathan's weakest quad and it's also well known and obvious he's more of a toe jumper than an edge jumper. We didn't really need Raf to tell us this to see that his salchow gets the lowest height of all his quads and has been the least consistent quad in the past two seasons. I know you don't like Raf, but there's really no reason to find fault in every single line he says or think that there's an ulterior motive behind every sentence.