Oda & Ando news & practice clips

[Oscilla]

Two new practice clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzoPwJPuXhs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tJKt-PIxLY
Miki and Nobunari have been training in Japan in a remote location (not at the famous Chuukyo rink, but in Hanamaki) away from pressure since NHK and will stay there until Nationals. After Nationals they will move to USA. Morozov banned media from accessing the rink, but the media were allowed to interview the skaters once before GPF and today (interviews before Nationals).
In addition, the local figure skating fans were invited to watch Miki and Nobunari practice and do full program run-throughs today.

Miki doesn't want to worry about results, she just wants to concentrate on improving the quality of her performance. She wants to land a 3-3 at Nationals, which she couldn't do at GPF because she injured her landing leg.

Nobunari wants to skate a program worthy of a skater who qualified for Olympics. He landed a 4-3 combo in his "Chaplin" LP today. It wasn't perfect yet, but Nobunari's confidence in his quad became strong wants to skate a technically agressive program at Nationals. He said that he didn't feel comfortable holding back at GPF and it negatively influenced his performance as it made him feel more pressure to skate perfectly.
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20091206-OHT1T00048.htm?from=related
The article also mentions that Miki and Nobunari are happy training together and they comfort each other in times of struggles.

I thought Miki's jumps looked really beautiful in the practice clips. They looked a bit smaller and tentative at GPF, perhaps because of the injury, but today they had great height and great flow on landings.
Nobunari seems to be back to being the crowd's "Odarling". I loved the old ladies' expression at 00.36 in the first clip - they look so happy and engrossed in the performance. "Chaplin" is such a heart-warming program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be0BWLaAUbE - and older clip aired after GPF. It talks about Miki's struggles with her injuries and Nobunari's tricks to improve as a performer (he asked famous Japanese pantomime comedians Gamar-Jobat for some tips ).

 

[MKFSfan]

!

I did not know about Miki's injuries, But I had noticed her jumps seemed a bit off, for her. Thanks for the links! Japanese Nationals will be VERY interesting.

 

[DragonPhoenix]

Thank you Oscilla for the links and information

 

[Tinymavy15]

Seems like Morozov has this all planned out. I think he is dead set on being the coach of another olympic champ (maybe two). I did not know either that Miki was injured during the GPF and surprised to hear that since she was practicing the 3/3 all the time in practice sessions at that event and seemed to plan on doing it in the short.

I wonder where in the US they will be training? Home base in Hackensack NJ or someplace on the west coast to get acclimated to the time difference?

 

[janetfan]

Thanks for the clips and info Oscilla.

I did not know Miki was injured at the GPF and glad to hear she is feeling better.

Good luck to Oda and Miki at Natls.

 

[Oscilla]

I did not know either that Miki was injured during the GPF and surprised to hear that since she was practicing the 3/3 all the time in practice sessions at that event and seemed to plan on doing it in the short.

The injury wasn't mentioned until after the event. I think it's possible that Miki injured herself in the practices after SP (or in the SP), as she had her leg wrapped in LP:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0csOaSB2MYdgg?q=miki+ando
but in SP it looks like she has no bandage on:
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/graph/2009/figureGPfinal/88.html
Then again, the quality of the photo might be too low to tell. Sorry, I can't find a better one!

I wonder where in the US they will be training? Home base in Hackensack NJ or someplace on the west coast to get acclimated to the time difference?

Early this season there was a press release saying that said that the Morozov team will move to Simsbury in January (http://www.isccskate.com/Gold2ISCC.pdf), but later Nikolai said that it's not 100% certain yet and that he still searches for a suitable rink that would allow his skater to adjust to ice size (the rink in Hackensack in not Olympic sized) and preferably would be located somewhere close to Vancouver.

 

[demarinis5]

Thanks for the links. Both Miki and Oda are skating great. I think they are favorites to win their National titles. Miki is a beautiful looking woman.

 

[Tinymavy15]

I really wish Miki would wear pants for one of her programs. Her line looks so much better in those black pants not to mention how HOT she is. Beat Yu-na at her own game with the sexy card.

 

[silverlake22]

I really wish Miki would wear pants for one of her programs. Her line looks so much better in those black pants not to mention how HOT she is. Beat Yu-na at her own game with the sexy card.

Couldn't agree more, the busy Russian costumes detract from her skating and her lines. She'd make the unitard look great and I think her speed and lines would become more apparent if to those people who think she's an incomplete skater. Miki's a hottie :agree:

 

[viv]

Thank you for all this interesting information, and all the best for Miki and "Odarling" (I love this!) at Nats.

I think, BTW, that one reason why Morozov is so successful is that he is planning al of the season of his skaters in all the small details.
Both Nobu and Miki are qualified for Vancouver already, so they can risk all the jumps and difficulties at Nationals - which will be a very good test for the Olympics.

:agree:

 

[wonderlen3000]

Thanks for the post. I wish Miki speedy recovery and in top prime form for Olympics. It's great that since Oda and Miki already get a spot, they could really polish their program and concentrate on getting the big jump back.

It's cute to see so many peoples come to watch their practise. I wonder peoples (fans) else where are as interested in their skaters as the japanese fans.

 

[wonderlen3000]

When is the Japanese National start?? Will they post the score?

 

[Wicked]

Nobu's LP is just wonderful. He's really got the character down. That's got to make it easier to focus on the jumps. I'd love to see him do a 4-3.

 

[Tinymavy15]

When is the Japanese National start?? Will they post the score?

It starts on Christmas Day.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

I really wish Miki would wear pants for one of her programs. Her line looks so much better in those black pants not to mention how HOT she is. Beat Yu-na at her own game with the sexy card.

My husband couldn't agree with you more... he doesn't get the whole Yuna -as-Bond-Girl thing but says that Miki is closer because she looks more Victoria's Secret than Skating Princess!

 

[Sylvia]

When is the Japanese National start?? Will they post the score?

Here's the informational thread about Japan's Nationals (December 25-27, 2009): http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29849

 

[Oscilla]

Some new clips were posted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfP0TCCjgbU - again, fun crowd reactions to Chaplin. The children at 00.15 were so cute. What I like at Japanese events is that the parents often bring their children, and the kids visibly enjoy themselves. A great way to create a future figure skating fan.
Miki's 3Lz-3L at 00.22 looked great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYG3ll630aA - in the first part Nobunari holds a photo of Kikuchi Yusei, a Japanese star baseball player. It's been often said that Kikuchi and Nobunari look very much alike. Right now Nobunari trains in Kikuchi's hometown, so he wanted to meet his "clone".
The second part is about Daisuke-Nobunari rivarly, and it summarizes the unfortunate situation at Nationals 2005, when the results were reversed. Then again there are some new clips with Nobunari and Daisuke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWeKzVwBdrE - a clip about Miki's appearance in an upcoming movie "COACH". Miki will appear in one scene to encourage the main heroine and will skate with her.

 

[SerpentineSteps]

The injury wasn't mentioned until after the event. I think it's possible that Miki injured herself in the practices after SP (or in the SP), as she had her leg wrapped in LP

A sign of a true champion! It's really refreshing to see a skater not blame an imperfect performance on ice condition, injury, or what have you.

Also, SO EXCITED to see Miki in a competition with zero pressure (or at least where nothing's depending on her performance).

 

[demarinis5]

Thank you Oscilla for the updates. Much appreciated.

 

[silverlake22]

Miki's in a movie? That's kinda cool

Also, she needs to get a unitard costume now. Why does she feel the need to hide her hot body in fluffy russian costumes?

If she gets a unitard then maybe the judges will boost her scores like they do the europeans, introduce a "hot asian bonus" in addition to the "pretty european bonus" they already practice