Which coach would you like Mao to work with?

Time for some speculations! Whom would you like Mao to work with? Your choice might be realistic, or you can just vote for your "dream-team"...

I choose TAT (because I know Mao likes to work with her) and Lee Barkell (because then, she would be training in Canada, so maybe I could visit her!! hahaha)

How sneaky, bibi!

I voted for TAT, because TAT is TAT.
And for Rafael Arutunian, because I really like him.
By the way, every now and then I can't help but wonder how is he (Rafael) doing now (does anyone buy bread in the same store as he?). Not that I am worried or something, but still... -_- When he refused to join Mao prior to the 4CC, there were a few people who considered this action like an act of selfishness or even treachery from his side. While I've always watched at this situation more... simple. It's like when a girl leaves her boyfriend, and while the last still can help her to win a piano contest (turning over her sheets of music; for the last time), he refuses. -_- Not because he's a selfish person or bad in some other sense, but rather because it's hard to be close to your beloved in such situation - for many reasons.
Here I can't help (again) but recall an interview with Marina Zueva (which was taken during the last Worlds) where she was telling how utterly happy she feels about having a chance to work with such talents like Virtue/Moir. And also that one - where TAT told a story about how she had had a fight for one of her pupils once.
There are probably some coaches who work solely for money/fame, but for most of them, I think, figure skating is kind of life, and their pupils - are kind of sense of this life. So I am sort of feel pity for Rafael. Especially, recalling his last appearances with Mao in the kiss and cry, some of which were really sweet.
Sorry for such a long almost-off-topic. -_-

summervie wrote:

So I am sort of feel pity for Rafael. Especially, recalling his last appearances with Mao in the kiss and cry, some of which were really sweet.
Sorry for such a long almost-off-topic. -_-

Look here at 5:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxg-Omi9D78
He seems really proud of her!

bibi wrote:

Look here at 5:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxg-Omi9D78
He seems really proud of her!

Yes, it seems he is.
That's exactly what I mean. If Rafael hadn't had any affection towards Mao (and instead of this - just some cold, professional, working relation), I assume it would still have been quite hard for him to lose such a pupil. But he obviously had (some affection). That's why I think this split could be quite a hard blow for him.

I still don't know exactly why they were splitting up...
All I know, is that Mao did separate, but the rest...?
Has anyone an article or something like that?

I picked TAT, because she does a spectacular job. And Rafael because he's just a great coach, you know? (:

Maya wrote:

I still don't know exactly why they were splitting up...
All I know, is that Mao did separate, but the rest...?
Has anyone an article or something like that?

There wasn't any article that would answer the question definitely.

My guess is, after Nationals Mao simply wanted to stay in Japan, with her family, friends and puppies. Plus, I heard that her school wanted her to actually attend some classes in person, to raise the school's popularity. In Japan she also has access to the new state-of-art rink, Chukyo Arena. Rafael, on the other hand, couldn't leave USA as he's been coaching other skaters there .

Tatiana Tarasova....

Tatiana is the one to blame why Mao become so Artistically good...

Rafael too... if he can move to Japan....

Mao seems to love skating and practicing in her home country.... Look at the 4cc and Worlds....

summervie wrote:

It's like when a girl leaves her boyfriend, and while the last still can help her to win a piano contest (turning over her sheets of music; for the last time), he refuses. -_- Not because he's a selfish person or bad in some other sense, but rather because it's hard to be close to your beloved in such situation - for many reasons.

Awww, so romantic. I love that story.