Nathan Chen

[oatmella]

I may not always be the biggest fan of Raf - but I truly do not think he would intend to ‘sabotage’ Nathan.

Like Raf said in Marin article: ‘Again it’s his[Nathan’s] life, not my life’

Raf doesn’t really have a choice but to let Nathan make his own independent decision here - ‘second father’ or not

Raf certainly did have a successful career pre-Nathan, but it is also arguable that Nathan has really helped elevate Raf’s reputation over the past two seasons - perhaps there would be less interest in moving to Raf from these international skaters without Nathan’s success.

 

[yyyskate]

Please................. We all love Nathan and think he's a special snowflake, but the Raf had a career wayyyyy before Nathan came along, with top name skaters seeking out his coaching. Reality check please.

please what, Raf seems was very concerned about other coarch poarching Nathan before. Maybe not so much now. since Nathan has already won the fame he needed as indicated in the incoming high profile students and his new training facility(possible).

not on this current scale without Nathan. JMHO.

 

[alexaa]

I don't doubt he will help him, but I also think he doesn't think it'll work and expects Nathan to come home once he figures it out.

It would be a special kind of petty to sabotage a kid and not help because you don't agree with their choice. I don't think Raf would do that.

And Raf is just being realistic. Even parents tell their kids when they are doing something they find unreasonable.

I think Raf would not be that unwise to deliberately make it hard for Nathan in order to make Nathan comes back to California. Nathan would probably just leave him if things don't work out. People change minds all the time. It is in his best interest to help Nathan, but honestly how much he can help he doesn't promise, that is why I don't have problem with this interview, and I appreciate him being candid in this rather than some empty promise he cannot deliver in the future.

 

[discode]

I don't really care about to read into Raf. It's not his problem Nathan decided to move across the country and attend a difficult school. I mean, I love Nathan to death but it's his issue he needs to fix. It's not Raf's job to do it. His coaches in Cali. And if Nathan isn't there he needs to make it work somehow, not Raf. That Raf is even a little willing says a lot.

and yyyskate I got the opposite from that interview re: another coach. He seems proud to say he's the only coach for Nathan as if he's assuring everyone he won't be replaced. I can't imagine he'd just be fine with his student being poached. Come on.

 

[yyyskate]

Is he gonna perform as a senior next season? Cause I think he's gonna stay in juniors. Whatever, landing a 4Lz doesn't automatically turn a man into a threat for Nathan Chen

i don't know much about Phan, just saw another 4lz jumper, scared me a little. ofc landing 4lz won't make you into a threat for Nathan immediately.

 

[heyheyhey]

Please................. We all love Nathan, but Raf had a career wayyyyy before Nathan came along, with top name skaters seeking out his coaching. Reality check please.

Yea...I mean Michelle Kwan, Mao Asada, Sasha Cohen, Jeffrey Buttle etc etc probably helped Raf’s profile there before Nathan came along. Just a smidge

@yyyskate He said No to Mao and dropped her as a student at her peak, he absolutely can say no because he has to other top skaters. He’s making an effort for Nathan that he wouldn’t for others, I think we should atleast give him credit for that. Can you think of another coach that would even entertain the idea of what Nathan is asking? I’m genuinely curious

 

[shine]

please what, Raf seems was very concerned about other coarch poarching Nathan before. Maybe not so much now. since Nathan has already won the fame he needed as indicated in the incoming high profile students and his new training facility(possible).

ANY reasonable coach would be concerned about the ethics around coaching and division of responsibility. Just like in any professional setting you will always have to be careful not to step on each other's toes or overreaching into others area of authority/responsibility.

 

[SkatingMusic]

Why would he stick around if his goal is top 5? Either define a winning strategy for Beijing or simply quit skating. I don’t see much in between.

 

[yyyskate]

Yea...I mean Michelle Kwan, Mao Asada, Sasha Cohen, Jeffrey Buttle etc etc probably helped Raf’s profile there before Nathan came along. Just a smidge

@yyyskate He said No to Mao and dropped her as a student at her peak, he absolutely can say no because he has to other top skaters. He’s making an effort for Nathan that he wouldn’t for others, I think we should atleast give him credit for that. Can you think of another coach that would even entertain the idea of what Nathan is asking? I’m genuinely curious

i could NOT think another coach. thus I think Nathan is training on his own. Most possibly next season. and the reason he is doing what is doing rn.

as Raf is concerned, this scenario that he tagged as Nathan's coach next season will do NO harm to him. if Nathan does great, all credit is still on him as head coach, if Nathan failed, he could convinently say long-distance won't work told ya so.
it is actually a good deal to take without any effort or responsibility. And He will receive reputation bonus points like you pointed out here, he is the only one who is willing to accept Nathan's atypical situation. oh, really a second father.. Raf is smart.

 

[lurkz2]

Glad ppl enjoyed the article, loved it but was scared it would start a war here.

I don’t think Nathan’s dedication to his sport and the 2022 Olys can be questioned given the long line of things he has sacrificed to reach this point: gymnastics, ballet, piano, hockey, and regular high school, to name a few. IMO he deserves this year to try Yale with classmates his age for at least a year.

I also don’t think Nathan is an introvert. Yes he hates crowds and being the center of attention, but he seems to enjoy socializing with friends and peers a lot, maybe why he’d prefer to enter Yale with ppl his age.

While it is stressful to be Nathan’s fan, that’s what makes him Nathan. He has an insatiable desire to test the boundaries of what is possible, instead of sticking with the tried and tested way. Anyway, he has shown (in the past) the willingness and capability to change strategy when needed. He will probably master SS the moment these become the most efficient way to increase his competition scores.

 

[heyheyhey]

^^ So basically Raf can’t win with you no matter what lol

I’m not saying that in a snarky way btw, just that’s how your response reads. Which is fine, again agree to disagree

Also that second father thing was said by Nathan too, let’s not try to make it like Raf was just saying that for PR or whatever otherwise the same should be said for Nathan since he uttered those words unprovoked himself.

 

[yyyskate]

I don't really care about to read into Raf. It's not his problem Nathan decided to move across the country and attend a difficult school. I mean, I love Nathan to death but it's his issue he needs to fix. It's not Raf's job to do it. His coaches in Cali. And if Nathan isn't there he needs to make it work somehow, not Raf. That Raf is even a little willing says a lot.

and yyyskate I got the opposite from that interview re: another coach. He seems proud to say he's the only coach for Nathan as if he's assuring everyone he won't be replaced. I can't imagine he'd just be fine with his student being poached. Come on.

are you saying that from the Russian interview, you get a feeling that Raf will be Okay that Nathan is poached by other coarch?

 

[yyyskate]

^^ So basically Raf can’t win with you no matter what lol

I’m not saying that in a snarky way btw, just that’s how your response reads. Which is fine, again agree to disagree

NO, Raf could def win me over, 1: if Nathan's skating improves in the correct direction under his coaching in the future.
2: give out decent interviews with integrity, with substance but no snarks etc (true bluntness).

currently, IMHO, he obviously did not win me over. and this happened gradually after I started to stan Nathan, I do not kr Raf before tbh.

 

[discode]

are you saying that from the Russian interview, you get a feeling that Raf will be Okay that Nathan is poached by other coarch?

No? I think he'd be against someone taking his student. I'm talking about the one he just did where he claimed credit for making Nathan the skater he is. He's obviously proud of that and won't just be fine with someone taking him.

And reading up on the Mao situation, he sent his assistant to Mao for quite a long time, all the way to Japan when he couldn't go because he was coaching other skaters. So, I'm not sure why he can't do the same thing for Nathan. Or more since he's trained him since he was a child.

And Mao won a WC without a coach. Well, you know how history keeps repeating itself with those two

 

[oatmella]

Glad ppl enjoyed the article, loved it but was scared it would start a war here.

I don’t think Nathan’s dedication to his sport and the 2022 Olys can be questioned given the long line of things he has sacrificed to reach this point: gymnastics, ballet, piano, hockey, and regular high school, to name a few. IMO he deserves this year to try Yale with classmates his age for at least a year.

I also don’t think Nathan is an introvert. Yes he hates crowds and being the center of attention, but he seems to enjoy socializing with friends and peers a lot, maybe why he’d prefer to enter Yale with ppl his age.

While it is stressful to be Nathan’s fan, that’s what makes him Nathan. He has an insatiable desire to test the boundaries of what is possible, instead of sticking with the tried and tested way. Anyway, he has shown (in the past) the willingness and capability to change strategy when needed. He will probably master SS the moment these become the most efficient way to increase his competition scores.

haha thanks for linking the article despite any reservations

Though I kinda have to disagree with you about Nathan being an introvert - and he’s basically described himself as such before (without actually using the exact word). At least from my own personal experience - introverts can certainly enjoy socializing and spending time with friends - but generally prefer a few close friends (like Romain!) and prefer to hang out with a few close friends vs. a giant group.

 

[yyyskate]

No? I think he'd be against someone taking his student. I'm talking about the one he just did where he claimed credit for making Nathan the skater he is. He's obviously proud of that and won't just be fine with someone taking him.

okay, I see, thank you for clarification.

 

[heyheyhey]

No? I think he'd be against someone taking his student. I'm talking about the one he just did where he claimed credit for making Nathan the skater he is. He's obviously proud of that and won't just be fine with someone taking him.

And reading up on the Mao situation, he sent his assistant to Mao for quite a long time, all the way to Japan when he couldn't go because he was coaching other skaters. So, I'm not sure why he can't do the same thing for Nathan. Or more since he's trained him since he was a child.

And Mao won a WC without a coach. Well, you know how history keeps repeating itself with those two

The Mao situation was complicated. Her mother was ill back in Japan but she didn’t tell anyone including Raf. She kept asking him if he could go to Japan to train without telling him why and he misunderstood that as like she was trying to take advantage of him so after awhile of asking to come to Japan, he dropped her as a student right before Worlds. Once he learned of the situation, he apologized and said he would have done things differently had he have known. They’ve made up since then.

I think he will try for his students as much as he can but he has no problem letting you go if he feels he has reason to so honesty and communication is key. Had he known he might have made an exception for Mao too but in general he’s strict. I think he’ll make an extra effort for Nathan though.

 

[Mamamiia]

I don't doubt he will help him, but I also think he doesn't think it'll work and expects Nathan to come home once he figures it out.

It would be a special kind of petty to sabotage a kid and not help because you don't agree with their choice. I don't think Raf would do that.

And Raf is just being realistic. Even parents tell their kids when they are doing something they find unreasonable.

Undoubtly he will help, but help as he truly believes in it VS help as "I will try even though I know it's going to fail" is different.

 

[discode]

The Mao situation was complicated. Her mother was ill back in Japan but she didn’t tell anyone including Raf. She kept asking him if he could go to Japan to train without telling him why and he misunderstood that as like she was trying to take advantage of him so after awhile of asking to come to Japan, he dropped her as a student right before Worlds. Once he learned of the situation, he apologized and said he would have done things differently had he have known. They’ve made up since then.

I think he will try for his students as much as he can but he has no problem letting you go if he feels he has reason to so honesty and communication is key. Had he known he might have made an exception for Mao too but in general he’s strict. I think he’ll make an extra effort for Nathan though.

Yes, it was a sad situation. And it sounds like he regrets not doing more so I can't imagine he wouldn't help Nathan out if he could.

 

[oatmella]

i don't know much about Phan, just saw another 4lz jumper, scared me a little. ofc landing 4lz won't make you into a threat for Nathan immediately.

ok, OT but I had not even heard of Joseph Phan until yesterday - but saw the link to his IG post with 4lz yesterday.

His IG is quite endearing and he seems to have a great sense of humor. His ‘training video’ - lol:

https://instagram.com/p/BgZzsWincK1/

Pizza post - haha:

https://instagram.com/p/Be_pBBwgC2M/