Nathan Chen

[oatmella]

frida80 - good point

But at the same time, I don't think Nathan is going all the way to Yale for college to not be prioritizing school. I recall the TSL interview at age 16 where he said homeschooling wasn't ideal, but 'this is all I can do right now, it's perfect - it works'. It seems that Nathan has devoted most of his time to skating for much of his career so far.

Hoping Nathan will be able to balance everything!

 

[Mamamiia]

"I knew that you always have to take risks, you always have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations so that you can eventually succeed."
https://youtu.be/3QqI0KyS50o?t=2m28s

Someone shared this Q&A video yesterday. He is doing exactly what he said here.

 

[oatmella]

Nathan's gum in that Q&A tho ...

It was great - some nice insight, shared some personal experiences and he showed flashes of his humor

 

[shine]

Honestly, I look at him going to Yale not necessarily as him prioritizing school but just him wanting a big change. He strikes me as someone who is adventurous, curious and intelligent and people like that tend to need changes and new stimuli. SoCal may be comfortable and all but maybe he's been there for too long and just wants to experience a different life style all together. If you think about it, focusing 100% of skating and training all day everyday could be quite mundane and tiring. Even though he does it for a clear goal (Beijing 22) but that goal is so far away. Just based on personal experience (not suggesting me and Nathan are at all alike ofc ) - I work out 2-3 a week for 45-60 min each and I already feel bored during these work outs and have to push myself really hard to keep at it. So it's hard to imagine athletes doing this day in and day out and most likely for much longer durations for many many years. I'd feel so bad for Nathan if that were all there were to his life and if he didn't have any sort of diversion. This is why I think going away for school will be good for him and probably just what he needs at the moment after that intense OG year, especially.

 

[sheetz]

I think he also sees this as a challenge. He wants to try and prove that it can be done since everyone says it can't.

 

[oatmella]

13 years of intensely training in anything can be a lot. I can kinda relate - but needed a break for health reasons and wanted a change/prioritize school for what felt like the first time in years. Not saying this applies to Nathan at all - but sometimes you need a bit of a break or more distance from what you've been training in for so long - to figure out if you truly love it or need it in your life.

I think Nathan sees it as a challenge, but I'm not sure he really cares to prove people wrong.

 

[oatmella]

This tweet lol

https://twitter.com/jacobskatee/status/991647698297196544?s=21

Yale’s school calendar seems to work well with skating competitions and a long spring break that coincides with worlds:

https://twitter.com/mynathanworld/status/991735589618642944?s=21

 

[heyheyhey]

I wonder if Nathan headlining The Ice shows is gonna be a permanent thing like it was with Mao, that’d probably be convenient for him once he starts school where he can just headline one lucrative tour (Japan def pays way more than US) rather than doing a bunch of different ones like he is now. Interested to see, they’re marketing it like “Reborn-New Legend” indicating that Mao may not be coming back and this is a fresh start. I could be wrong tho, just my impression.

 

[sheetz]

Apparently Mao said last year's The Ice was supposed to be her last time, and her new venture is something completely different (less commercial, smaller scale). In the previous shows Mao performed some special programs paired up with Jeff Buttle, and I think that's something Nathan would be good at. They could send a choreographer to Lakewood and have him prepare a program with Marin, for example. But probably to different music than Shape of You, though.

 

[alexaa]

Guys, the kid just posted about last night!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiSFJLqAT5-/?taken-by=nathanwchen

The comments are as always, very entertaining So many fans are obsessed with curls, Oatmella, no, focus on hair and curls are very very important.

Just motivated me to take more lunch breaks. :luv17:

 

[heyheyhey]

^^ Haha that’d be funny if he did something with Marin considering those are all Raf’s top students past and present. Fitting

 

[oatmella]

Guys, the kid just posted about last night!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiSFJLqAT5-/?taken-by=nathanwchen

The comments are as always, very entertaining So many fans are obsessed with curls, Oatmella, no, focus on hair and curls are very very important.

Just motivated me to take more lunch breaks. :luv17:

haha yes - the focus on Nathan's curls and of course the comments (wonder if he reads them - some of them I kinda hope he doesn't lol)

from Nathan's story - he's at the MoMA and posted a photo of van Gogh's The Starry Night

https://twitter.com/dailynathanchen/status/991752612616617985

 

[colton12314]

he's at MOMA! OMG! goes pretty high on the 'naturally runs into him' list.
oh oatmella you beat me to the punch lol

 

[oatmella]

haha sorry colton12314!

Likely more future MoMA/Met/other museum Nathan sightings ...

I did see Eddie Redmayne at MoMA once but not as exciting as Nathan

 

[Mamamiia]

haha sorry colton12314!

Likely more future MoMA/Met/other museum Nathan sightings ...

I did see Eddie Redmayne at MoMA once but not as exciting as Nathan

Aww he is still in NY, chance of him going to Chelsea Piers for training is high if he stays for tomorrow

 

[shine]

Aww he is still in NY, chance of him going to Chelsea Piers for training is high if he stays for tomorrow

Honestly so tempted to just take a day off to go stalking

 

[discode]

Guys, the kid just posted about last night!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiSFJLqAT5-/?taken-by=nathanwchen

The comments are as always, very entertaining So many fans are obsessed with curls, Oatmella, no, focus on hair and curls are very very important.

Just motivated me to take more lunch breaks. :luv17:

Very important. I was watching COR, GPF and SA Nemesis last night and mourning a bit. Them curls deserve their own +GOE

On a more serious note, the Yale recesses really work out well for him as far as competing goes. I think only Nationals he'd have to miss a few days before, to travel and train perhaps. Though he'd have a big break before to get ready.

 

[Mamamiia]

Honestly so tempted to just take a day off to go stalking

He would go to the elite session @6pm lol

 

[hhh]

Aww he is still in NY, chance of him going to Chelsea Piers for training is high if he stays for tomorrow

Take a day off at least you tried.

@ shine you deserve one, good luck if you do.

The Jacob twit about collegiate skating is hilarious, I feel for the guy but luckily he has plenty on his plates but it would be so cool to have him as a teammate!

 

[sheetz]

There generally are very few competitors in the mens division of the US Collegiate champs. Last year there were only 2 and it was won by Kevin Shum. The year before Max won uncontested.