Nathan Chen

[SaDa]

Anyone else thinks Nathan looked totally amazing wearing those black pants and the black hoodie?

Nathan always looks best to me in his practice gear

 

[sheetz]

Team USA skaters attempt to draw the state of Tennessee

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXtme5drrdM/

Photos from the Nationals send off

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuECQivP3W/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuWCFTv5cJ/

 

[sheetz]

Nathan says he will likely skate to La Boheme and Rocketman for Nationals

Nathan Chen likely to skate 2019-20 programs at 2022 U.S. Championships

The three-time world champion is mulling over which programs he will compete with two weeks to go before U.S. Championships.

olympics.nbcsports.com

https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1473099208223830017

Adds that his post Olympic plans are still up in the air.

https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1473100767171170305

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

YAY! Rocketman is back! It's my favorite Nathan program, I think it shows off his best qualities so well

 

[purplecat]

I really liked the Mozart program, but I do think the Rocketman goes over well with the viewing audience. I just hope he gets some nice costumes and/or nice versions of his favorite shirts. I didn't like the yellow Charlie Brown shirt. The silver one I always thought would be okay for Rocketman, but felt it had no connection to La Boheme. I liked the shirt he had for this year's sp, but not sure it goes with either old program.

 

[yuumagical]

As fun as Rocketman was to watch, if I had to choose a free skate for Nathan to bring back, it would have to be Philip Glass... There's something immensely poetic about the choreography and he took his music interpretation to another level. And on top of that, no American spectators got the chance to see it live...

 

[TontoK]

Full program

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXsP_h6AYs4/

Thank you! Did I miss something, or did the program lack an axel jump?

 

[yuumagical]

Thank you! Did I miss something, or did the program lack an axel jump?

You are correct, there was no axel. It's not like the axel is Nathan's favorite type of jump anyway.

 

[ramurphy2005]

As fun as Rocketman was to watch, if I had to choose a free skate for Nathan to bring back, it would have to be Philip Glass... There's something immensely poetic about the choreography and he took his music interpretation to another level. And on top of that, no American spectators got the chance to see it live...

I can see him not wanting to go back to Philip Glass because he had that magical moment at Worlds with it, and feeling that he might not be able to have another moment like it again.

 

[Joe Mendoza]

I wonder if Nathan and his coaching team had a feeling that OLY is probably going to be cancelled in 2022, so they are just going to use successful SP and FS programs for the rest of the season, while giving Nathan and Shae more time to re-work both olympic programs.

 

[SaDa]

I adore Rocketman but I'm unhappy about the change. I don't like the idea of him recycling TWO old programs, especially two programs that have already had huge moments(La Boheme receiving his personal best international SP score, Rocketman having the world record, and the two combined programs having the world record for combined total score). I feel like there won't be as great a sense of accomplishment, even if he were to win the Olympics with them. I might have been able to live with one recycled program but two is just one too many. I know he said they're not set in stone for the Olympics but why would he want to switch his programs again right before the big event? If he did, he would be using programs he hasn't really competed with this season, and that wouldn't be a good idea.

I'm honestly a bit worried because Nathan is doing something he normally doesn't do. He doesn't seem to have confidence, conviction, or his heart and mind set on his programs this season and we are only two weeks out from Nationals. I thought he always wanted to skate to Mozart? Is he just unsure now because he's listening to too many opinions? Is he uncomfortable with the choreo? Is he just playing with our minds? Did what happened at Skate America permanently break something? I don't understand what has gotten into his head and it's giving me a lot of anxiety. I sure hope he knows what he's doing.

 

[Apple1078]

I adore Rocketman but I'm unhappy about the change. I don't like the idea of him recycling TWO old programs, especially two programs that have already had huge moments(La Boheme receiving his personal best international SP score, Rocketman having the world record, and the two combined programs having the world record for combined total score). I feel like there won't be as great a sense of accomplishment, even if he were to win the Olympics with them. I might have been able to live with one recycled program but two is just one too many. I know he said they're not set in stone for the Olympics but why would he want to switch his programs again right before the big event? If he did, he would be using programs he hasn't really competed with this season, and that wouldn't be a good idea.

I'm honestly a bit worried because Nathan is doing something he normally doesn't do. He doesn't seem to have confidence, conviction, or his heart and mind set on his programs this season and we are only two weeks out from Nationals. I thought he always wanted to skate to Mozart? Is he just unsure now because he's listening to too many opinions? Is he uncomfortable with the choreo? Is he just playing with our minds? Did what happened at Skate America permanently break something? I don't understand what has gotten into his head and it's giving me a lot of anxiety. I sure hope he knows what he's doing.

I wouldn’t worry. I mean, his lutz failed him at Skate America and now he’s doing backloaded 4lz3t combos in his exhibition sp soon to be competition sp. If that’s not a typical Nathan response, I don’t know what is. Plus, he looked really, really confident so I actually think he’s in a good place right now.

 

[decafjava]

I wouldn’t worry. I mean, his lutz failed him at Skate America and now he’s doing backloaded 4lz3t combos in his exhibition sp soon to be competition sp. If that’s not a typical Nathan response, I don’t know what is. Plus, he looked really, really confident so I actually think he’s in a good place right now.

I agree with you and am behind Nathan all the way!

 

[AxelLover]

Although I was hoping Nathan would keep the Mozart program (I think the program was great, I loved it), I do understand Nathan's reasons to go back to Rocketman. It's true he didn't have the opportunity to show it at worlds, so let's show it at the Olympics. Rocketman is truly a masterpiece, the audience is gonna love it. I think it has a great potential to turn many casual viewers to figure skating fans.

I'm not a fan of recycling programs (especially when it's both the short and the free), but I can totally forgive it in this case.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

I think the 4F, 3A, 4Lz+3T is a great layout choice for the SP. He's had lots of mistakes on the 4Lz when it counts, so shaking it up makes a lot of sense.

 

[Mamamiia]

He is in a competitive mode now, with Rocketman (energy + technical dominance) and La Boheme (modern romantic showing off his smoothness) that can be perfect if he delivers technical perfect programs but that can also backfire if he cannot skate clean.

I think I can agree with your analysis that recycling these two programs is what he felt he needed for a quick mode switch.

 

[Fireplace7890]

I’m happy about the return of La Boheme. It’s my second favorite of his short programs, Corsaire being my favorite.

After repeated viewings, I did come to like the Mozart free skate but agree that Rocketman is more of a crowd pleaser.

As far as the decision to repeat programs, I think in the past this was seen as a negative in the eyes of the judges. However, this has changed recently with judges now awarding high scores for recycled programs. Since that stigma has disappeared, a skater might now return to an old program even if they’ve never done that before.

Just a thought. I’m looking forward to whatever he and his team decides.

 

[Arigato]

He is in a competitive mode now, with Rocketman and La Boheme that can be perfect if he delivers technical perfect programs but that can also backfire if he cannot skate clean. His major competitors, Yuzuru and Yuma, both have wonderful programs. Yuzuru’s new short will show off his extraordinary skating skills and oneness with music and the ice. The long (old) is dramatic, and the content is about a noble feudal lord who was almost undefeated but was unable to achieve his ultimate dream due to premature death. Yuma has two new programs. The short being fun and the the long being epic. The long will pale before Yuzuru’s and Nathan’s programs if either delivers. But Yuma’s long is the prefect black horse program if both Yuzuru and Nathan mess up. Nathan’s choice of bringing 19-20 programs is very risky. It can bring a great climax at the OG if he delivers technically, but will damage his image badly if he cannot delivers. He is playing the role of an underdog youth trying to unthrone the king at the OG again. Fingers are crossed that both Nathan and Yuzuru will have two perfect programs, and Nathan wins and claims the crown finally. We will have Nathan truly in a defensive position against Yuma and any young kid that potentially can over jump Nathan in the next four years. Nathan, with his all around talent, deserves this. I just hope it will happen and we will have the good fortunate to have another four full years out of him.

This commentary assumes two things that have never been stated as fact: Yuzu going to the 2022 Olympics, and Nathan skating his 19-20 programs at the 2022 Olympics. Doing 19-20 may be seen at Nats, but no guarantee of OG. Per Nathan, he hasn't even decided on his OG music. You might want to pump the brakes a bit until you know what is actually going on and who will be skating at Beijing.

 

[discode]

After the last couple seasons I don't see anyone begrudging a skater repeating a program, especially for a skater like Nathan who doesn't compete nearly as much as some. If he hadn't skated Glass so well at worlds I would have said he should have just kept that program for the Olympic season to begin with since last season wasn't complete either. Skating to Rocketman and LB is something familiar to him so it's probably less stressful. I do like Mozart as well (was never really sold on Eternity as much), but I do think it might be too heavy and too much for now. I hope he saves it and redoes it, either for worlds or if he continues skating past this season.

The backloaded 4lz makes a lot of sense considering he seems to overthink the 4lz and fall on it. It's not something wrong with the jump itself since he lands beautiful ones in practice/warmup. Later in the program he might be more on autopilot and not overthinking it. Though I'd still rather a much easier SP for my own sanity.

 

[Ali81]

The rocketman program does nothing for me . Its too whimsical , light and gimmicky .What a shame , because the Mozart program had some powerful choreography and is much more fitting for an Olympic year .