Four Continents Championships 2009

OMG!! Totally in love with the new dress! I was not such a fan of the old one and I'm SO glad that Mao changed it!

Okami - you rock!! Thanks so much for all the links!

The ladies short starts in a little over an hour! clovera - are you going to be watching on IN? Anyone else?

Okami - I agree about being worried about the 3Lz. Most of the articles I read today were all about the poor condition of Mao's 3Lz. (Apparently Yu-Na also was having some difficulty - the smaller rink is really having an impact! )

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20090205-OHT1T00029.htm
Some translated parts: According to a JSF official who talks about Mao's problems with the 3Lz, "If her condition stays like this, even if she lands the jump, it may be called underrotated."
But if Mao wins, she'll beat Midori Ito's record and be the Japanese person with the most international skating titles.
Brian Orser says this is their chance to beat Mao; Canada is also Yu-Na's home base.

Was that Yu-Na's cheering squad at the end of the naver video? Holy cow!

I hope that Mao can do her 3F+3Lo and get credit for it. As for the discussion above about the underrotation, my impression always was that Mao pre-rotated too much before she jumps, and not that she rotates on the ice when she lands. In the other competitions you can see her foot turn all the way back to face the boards before she takes off, and she lands facing sideways, which would be about 1/4 turn too short...

Here's another thought I had on Mao's 3Lz. When she was doing it at TEB, I thought that her new approach looked a lot like how she sets up for a 3Lo - so I wonder if her fixing the 3Lz threw off her 3Lo in the past competitions - and now that she's focused on fixing the 3Lo, she's messed up the 3Lz? Hmm...

On the positive side - Mao seems to have some support from the Japanese-Canadian residents. You can see them in the video links, and also in this article here:
http://vancouver.keizai.biz/headline/466/
http://vancouver.keizai.biz/photoflash/91/

Several Japanese-Canadian fans were there at the practice to cheer Mao on.
One girl said "I was surprised that Mao could do those powerful jumps on such thin legs." "I made a fan to cheer Mao on. After the practice session, I was able to give Mao a necklace I made myself, and she received it with a smile. I want her to try her best and aim to win."

Glad that Nobu and Kozu are in good condition - I'm really excited to see them too! Japan team, ganbare!!

Goo Mao! Have confidence, don't forget the fighting spirit and attack!

Can't wait to see the new costume!!!!!

Quote :

As for the discussion above about the underrotation, my impression always was that Mao pre-rotated too much before she jumps, and not that she rotates on the ice when she lands.

I agree. i wouldn't exactly call it prerotation - all loops have a certain amount of prerotation and IMHO Mao doesn't rotate on ice more than allowed. To me it looks like Mao delays the take-off just a bit too much and in that moment her blade does an outsite curve... If you looked at the ice tracings it would look something like that:

Because of that delay she looses speed/momentum and rotating the jump fully becomes almost impossible. I looked at some of the combos that I consider to be the most fully rotated (Irina in her best days, young Mao and Nobu) and the skaters either launched 3L immediately - or do a little pause, but with their blade following a straight line.
I think Mao developed this habit when she grew taller, more muscular (and therefore heavier) and needed that additional time to steady the edge on the landing; and now it's become really difficult to get rid of that habit... Not to mention recently Mao's jumping technique became more powerful, so perhaps she simply needs that additional time to steady the landing again.
BTW I've seen at least two of Mao's recent attempts that were fully rotated and with not much delay between 3F and 3L. It looks like she's working on it, but in the competition or in a stressful situation the old habit kicks in again.
I wonder if it wouldn't be better to concentrate on 3F-3T instead, and avoid attempting 3F-3L until it's completely fixed. But I have a feeling that Mao's too much of a challenger to do it, and she'll just keep attempting it until it gets ratified.
I hope that whatever she decides to do will work out for her.


...And now I must go to sleep.

Yes, I heard that many korean fans living in Canada are there to cheer Yuna.

Mao's popping her 3lutz during her final official training....uhmmm..I think TAT should have been there with her. She can do it, it's just a mental thing.

If her 3-3 is UR and she pops her 3Lutz, I don't want to imagine her score.. GO GO GO Mao !

Ooooh! CBC's showing an encore of Mao's FS at worlds

Batsuchan wrote:

if Mao wins, she'll beat Midori Ito's record and be the Japanese person with the most international skating titles.

Wow, this is amazing considering Mao still has several years to comptete at international events. (I don't think Mao will retire after she won OGM in 2010)

Mao's new SP dress looks Fabulous

I was just about to P2P/Proxy my way into CBC but IN is back up for me, thank goodness.

LOVE Mao's new SP dress.

Arena is a little more than half packed, it seems - not bad considering its still a weekday and its just the first group.

ETA: IN is suddenly showing SBS reporters... (as usual, they mention Mao and Yu-Na, no idea what else they are talking about)

ETA2: Now the IN feed is replaying performances from earlier groups. I guess that's a good way to kill time while the ice is getting Zamboni'd, but IN sure is bizarre today...

clovera wrote:

ETA: IN is suddenly showing SBS reporters... (as usual, they mention Mao and Yu-Na, no idea what else they are talking about)

Weird... Personnally I've now watched Joannie's Canadian Championships FS 3 times, and they are currently evening out that score with Patrick Chan. I've seen V/M's FD 2 times, and basically had a review of the entire Canadians... I'm not complaining; it's better than leaving us hanging in between groups but I'd love some interviews, backstages clips, and the likes. I guess I'll have to wait for the real coverage for that...

ETA: Youpee! Warm up!

Ohh, I see now, there are breaks between the groups! I went to take a shower and came back and was like, how is it that only 3 people have skated since I left??

Looks like it's going to be a late night for me...thankfully my boss isn't coming in tomorrow so maybe I'll sleep in a bit.

So I found out that 1) Staples center in LA (where Worlds will be held) also has an NHL-sized rink, so 4CC will probably be good practice for Mao. I don't know how she's going to train for that - section off parts of the Chuukyou rink? - but at least she has an idea what it's like to skate on an NHL rink.
2) Supposedly the rink at the Pacific Coliseum will be enlarged to Olympic size in time for the Olympics (actually, I think the plan is to do it by October so a speed skating event can be held there), so that's good.

Batsuchan wrote:

Ohh, I see now, there are breaks between the groups! I went to take a shower and came back and was like, how is it that only 3 people have skated since I left??

Actually, it's just the warm-ups but they're zambonying (yeah it's almost midnight... is that even a word?) every two groups.

Quote :

So I found out that 1) Staples center in LA (where Worlds will be held) also has an NHL-sized rink, so 4CC will probably be good practice for Mao. I don't know how she's going to train for that - section off parts of the Chuukyou rink? - but at least she has an idea what it's like to skate on an NHL rink.

Thanks for the info. Now that you say it, it seems pretty obvious since the Pacific Coliseum and the Staples Center are both home rinks to NHL teams (though I had no idea there were any differences between hockey rinks and FS rinks before I read about it here... looking at them, I think I've mostly always skated on narrower rinks like the Pacific Coliseum. Not sure though). I hope Mao finds a way to prepare herself. I've noticed this year that she's covering a lot more ice, width-wise, so a narrower rink would (and seemingly is) obviously a problem

Go Mao! I'll stay up just to watch you skate

ETA: Yeah! Mao at Worlds again in the "intermission" ... Group 5 next with Zhang, Flatt, Czisny, Xu, Phaneuf and Suzuki. Lots of action I hope... Sounds promising

Group 5 after the intermission! IN is sticking to just showing the Zamboni now.

Oooooh! Did Rachael wear that beautiful white dress at Nationals? I can't remember... It's lovely though

chiyori wrote:

Oooooh! Did Rachael wear that beautiful white dress at Nationals? I can't remember... It's lovely though

I don't think so - I would've remembered that!

Ok, I sorta tried to nap but definitely couldn't sleep, but now I'm up and excited!

I'm going to try to stay up to watch Mao and Yu-Na, but I don't think I can watch more than that...we shall see...

Go Alissa! Go Akiko!

I'm lucky. I only start working at noon tomorrow so even though it's 1AM, I'll still get my 8 hours

Oops! I just missed the first part of Caroline's program... Stupid me

58.16 for Zhang... Commentator (PJ Kwong) said her 3-3 was downgraded.

IN goes berzerkers and I miss Rachael's program entirely.
Oh, this better not happen when Mao's turn is up!

Edit: 700k stream went back on just in time to see her scores. PBP from FSU says she stepped out on her 3-3, definite UR.

Did you try the 400k stream clovera? That worked for me when the 700k died out, but now it's back.

Yeah, it better not happen when Mao is on!!

ETA Oh poor Alissa - I guess the nerves got to her. But I don't really mind; she really is such a pretty, elegant skater.

Huh? I wasn't expecting her to pass Rachael... Nice. Surprising but really nice.

Go Cynthia!!!!

Yeah!!
2A wonderful!!
3Lz-2T clean clean clean
3T
Gorgeous presentation (she's got the Arakawa "I'm tall and I know how to use it thing going")
Standing ovation and a very happy me And David Pelletier is sitting with her

Yeah, I agree, interesting scoring going on... (But I'm not complaining too much; I definitely prefer Alissa!)

Cynthia's combo was I totally did not expect her to land the first jump...crazy. Good for her! Standing O; she must be so happy!

60.98!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does any of you, guys (or, well, just anyone who reads this message), use MSN?
tennenkokekko@hotmail.com
Would be glad to have any of you there (especially in the moment like this).

Hmm - not bad from Akiko. I thought her SP was "Dark Eyes" - or am I getting confused? I like her costume - very understated and elegant.

ETA 55.40 - in 5th place.

OOh, time for the final group!!!

Gah, ok, I'm going to scream extremely obnoxiously loud at Worlds - why does Yu-Na get more screamers??

Her FS is Dark Eyes and it kicks a lot more a** than her short

Interesting judging going on, but nothing to complain about.
Korean contingency sure is loud, though.

Thanks chiyori for clearing that up!

I feel kinda sorry for Gizmo (yeah, I'm not going to try to spell her name) - best finish was 19th at Worlds?

What? Did Mao change her solo jump to a loop???

I hope not...

I'm sorry for being totally ignorant but who's that tall girl in purple? Never seen her before but she's in the final group? Huh?

Hmm Mao got too close to the wall to do her combo...poor Mao. You can do it!!

ETA Mao's up next; I hear kids yelling "Mao-chan!" in the background!! GANBARE!!!