Japan Open 2013 & Carnival on Ice

Short news clip on practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVI1FLUMOg4

2A+3T & 3A   

linglang wrote:

Short news clip on practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVI1FLUMOg4

2A+3T & 3A   

  her jumps look huge  

ballerinamao wrote:

linglang wrote:

Short news clip on practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVI1FLUMOg4

2A+3T & 3A   

  her jumps look huge  

They sure do.

The 3A looks rotated!!  I think that with Ashley, Kanako, Adelina (she looked great in her recent performances) it will be a great (and tough) competition! Go Mao!!  
(please share all the practice clips that you find!!  )

(partial) practice report from sportsnavi:
(http://live.sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/live/sports/figureskate_all/1857/)

Mao -- started with routine practices checking, ran through the program without jumps, steps light to the melody. Practicing triple jumps afterwards with successful landing
Kanako -- like Mao, ran through her program without jumps. Landing 3-3 combination afterwards
Adelina -- landing 3-3, triples in 2nd half of the program, seems to be in good condition
Ashley -- fall on a 3-3, landing triples, there were 3 triples in the second half(?)

When everyone finished the practice and were on the rink side checking with their coaches, Mao was the only one keeping on practicing. And she hit a successful 3-3 and there were hand clapping.

Kawai Aya wrote in her blog (in Japanese, she sometimes works on the broadcasting of skating shows and competitions):
http://ameblo.jp/kawai-aya/entry-11627981897.html
She was at the practice of JO. And she wrote that Mao's steps will be the highlight. It is much more difficult than the StSq of Swan Lake.

Mao is looking good  3A is crisp and sharp AND most certainly fully rotated
I already feel a bit nostalgic since we all know this is her final season. Once we'll see her programs, we'll know there will be no more new competitive programs from Mao to wait for. This makes me sad but also a bit of adrenaline rush: this is Mao's last "final combat" and we, as long time fans, are "fighting" just behind her, supporting her always. No matter what!

Mao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!       

I can't wait to watch her    

Practice photos

Short clip with 3F-3L: http://telly.com/19XVFPX

Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRtb6_GnD8E

Lady_in_black wrote:

Mao is looking good  3A is crisp and sharp AND most certainly fully rotated
I already feel a bit nostalgic since we all know this is her final season. Once we'll see her programs, we'll know there will be no more new competitive programs from Mao to wait for. This makes me sad but also a bit of adrenaline rush: this is Mao's last "final combat" and we, as long time fans, are "fighting" just behind her, supporting her always. No matter what!

Well said Lady_in_black

linglang wrote:

Practice photos

She looks really beauty   Thanks everyone for the updates

Interview
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20131004-00000003-spnavi-spo

My feeling now is that the first competition of the season finally starts. [Turned 23 the other day] Nothing has changed since I turned 23.  I want to do my best to make a good season.  [how’s it going] I’ve been doing run-throughs though, I’m not sure how things will develop because this is the first competition in the season. I want to make good use of lessons that I will learn at each  competition to do better at a following competition. [about jumps] I felt the rink was smaller in width than usual so I made some adjustment.  I checked take-off positions and I think it’s OK. I’ve done run-throughs of FS so many times, so I don’t feel it’s going to be the first time for me to perform it (before the audience). I think the program has been ingrained in me and I hope I will be able to deliver it. [This is a culmination season for you] Now, I feel more like that the Olympic season is about to start.
[emotion in the last steps] It’s very strong and dynamic part, so I want to express the dynamism that I have now.  I’m helped by the program in many parts and I wish I could express the program with my emotion. [any difference from past seasons psychologically?] Not such a big difference.  I skated the program at practice today and I felt it’s good and relieved.  I hope I will be able to skate with confidence.
[3A looks good] Towards the end of the practice, I thought too much and failed. But I was able to correct it, which was good. Jump layout is same as last season.  [doing 3A from the first competition] The goal is to do my best at each competition and I think it’s good that I can set for it at highest level (of difficulty).  The level of perfection is different at times.  But I always aim at 100% or over.  I hope I will be able to generate momentum for the next competition.  Tomorrow, I will make sure that I will not get a level deduction, especially spins, I will complete all the way to receive level 4, and I will execute jumps that will give momentum for next competition.
[reasons why things look good] My conditions are sometimes good and sometimes bad.  It was good today.  To be honest, I'm anxious too if I will be OK at the first competition.  I’m looking forward to it. If I play the game in the way that will help me do better at a next competition, I will be able to do even better at Olympics.  I don’t care about jump layout at all.  I care more about the entire program.  When I fail (jumps), I think about it myself and ask Sensei for advice.  But I try not to think too much.

linglang wrote:

Interview
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20131004-00000003-spnavi-spo

My feeling now is that the first competition of the season finally starts. [Turned 23 the other day] Nothing has changed since I turned 23.  I want to do my best to make a good season.  [how’s it going] I’ve been doing run-throughs though, I’m not sure how things will develop because this is the first competition in the season. I want to make good use of lessons that I will learn at each  competition to do better at a following competition. [about jumps] I felt the rink was smaller in width than usual so I made some adjustment.  I checked take-off positions and I think it’s OK. I’ve done run-throughs of FS so many times, so I don’t feel it’s going to be the first time for me to perform it (before the audience). I think the program has been ingrained in me and I hope I will be able to deliver it. [This is a culmination season for you] Now, I feel more like that the Olympic season is about to start.
[emotion in the last steps] It’s very strong and dynamic part, so I want to express the dynamism that I have now.  I’m helped by the program in many parts and I wish I could express the program with my emotion. [any difference from past seasons psychologically?] Not such a big difference.  I skated the program at practice today and I felt it’s good and relieved.  I hope I will be able to skate with confidence.
[3A looks good] Towards the end of the practice, I thought too much and failed. But I was able to correct it, which was good. Jump layout is same as last season.  [doing 3A from the first competition] The goal is to do my best at each competition and I think it’s good that I can set for it at highest level (of difficulty).  The level of perfection is different at times.  But I always aim at 100% or over.  I hope I will be able to generate momentum for the next competition.  Tomorrow, I will make sure that I will not get a level deduction, especially spins, I will complete all the way to receive level 4, and I will execute jumps that will give momentum for next competition.
[reasons why things look good] My conditions are sometimes good and sometimes bad.  It was good today.  To be honest, I'm anxious too if I will be OK at the first competition.  I’m looking forward to it. If I play the game in the way that will help me do better at a next competition, I will be able to do even better at Olympics.  I don’t care about jump layout at all.  I care more about the entire program.  When I fail (jumps), I think about it myself and ask Sensei for advice.  But I try not to think too much.

 linglang

Oh My GOSH!!! Mao looks amazing!!!    Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Here are two new clips, her 3A look mindbobling:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbaoWEKJwvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqUxd48C5jU

Thanks for all the clips and photos! And thank you, linlang, for translating the interview  

Mao looks great so far! I'm excited for tomorrow (and nervous as well, because that jumping layout is still difficult as hell!)

BTW, I love the first photo from Ken Himura's post

As she gets older, she is getting more and more pretty   
Her jumps look so good, but I don't want to have big hopes cause we never know with the 3A. 

3A is huge, everything looks great, keep going!!!

AmazingGraceMao wrote:

3A is huge, everything looks great, keep going!!!

What I actually found most impressive is her ice coverage in her 2A-3T, it's just HUGE in every way, in the first clip she starts the jumps close to the borders and ends the combination close to the borders on the other side...

Does anybody know if there will be some live streams over the weekend for JO? Im from England, and I can't find any however much scouring I do!

Video of Mao's 3A, the same u guys posted, but the quality is better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnS5Wx106L4&feature=youtu.be

Thank you Dani-Chan!  Her 3a looks really good!

Thanks everyone for the videos, excited to see Mao in good shape Does anyone know what time the competition starts?

babayaga wrote:

Thanks everyone for the videos, excited to see Mao in good shape :)Does anyone know what time the competition starts?

Same question here    

By the way, nice to see you guys

ballerinamao wrote:

Here are two new clips, her 3A look mindbobling:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbaoWEKJwvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqUxd48C5jU

Beautiful jumps. She got this.  

Keep up the confidence. You are your own competition Mao, not anyone else. Conquer your worries and fears, and you will be unstoppable.