Mao News - The 2013-2014 Season!

Asada_Rising wrote:

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=156829

I posted this in the Facebook group to. Can any one tell me if this is true or not. I died a little inside when I saw this.  

And this news just happens to be on a Korean website only... Bullsh!t!!!

Now here's a positive story on Mao from a former coach:

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sports/topics/AJ201401300015

My favorite part:

“My dream is to have an athlete reach the pinnacle at the Olympics by performing a perfect routine to the great music of Rachmaninoff,” Tarasova says. “I’m confident that Mao is the only one who will be able to allow me to realize my dream.”

Asada_Rising wrote:

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=156829

I posted this in the Facebook group to. Can any one tell me if this is true or not. I died a little inside when I saw this.  

Seems fishy. How would a Korean news site get their hands on the news before the Japanese ones? I see nothing on Japanese news sites, and they would probably post something. Besides:

Quote :

And according to the report they felt that she can actually get more points without the triple axel as they added that they've found the secrets to why Kim Yu-na outscores Asada Mao.

a) This is not true in the SP (Mao has the highest international SP score after the rules were changed).

b) It's not a "secret" whu Yuna scores well in the LP - she does elements that are low-risk for her (i.e. repeating 2A and 3S instead of adding 3L and repeating 3F) and gains on GoE in comparison to ladies who are doing more high-risk elements and end up messing up some. As for Mao, if she wanted to go the "YuNa route" (assuming her condition is good), she'd probably would go for 3A, 2A-3T, 3F, 2A-3T, 3S, 3F-2L-2L, 3L (7 triples, two 2As and good chance of getting +GoE on everything).


ETA: I think I know what happened. Nikkan sports posted a series of articles about Olympic skaters. Here's a part about Mao posted today:
http://www.nikkansports.com/sochi2014/figureskate/news/p-sochi-tp0-20140204-1252117.html

It is about how Mao wanted to give up skating, and tried 3A 56 times a row without landing it cleanly once. Seems roughly consistent with what the Korean site is reporting... except the article is about the 2011-12 season and the World Championships in France! (And yep, its true that after that she gave up 3A for the first half of the 2012-13 season.) Basically, the Nikkan Sports is posting about the story of Mao's life, and this article was about how she felt after her mum passed away. Epic translation fail, Arirang news!   

shar wrote:

Asada_Rising wrote:

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=156829

I posted this in the Facebook group to. Can any one tell me if this is true or not. I died a little inside when I saw this.  

And this news just happens to be on a Korean website only... Bullsh!t!!!

Now here's a positive sorry on Mao from a former coach:

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sports/topics/AJ201401300015

OK, the above video report, as the reporter says, is based on Nikkan Spoarts ...
AFAIK, there is no news about her giving up 3A.

http://sochi.headlines.yahoo.co.jp/sochi/hl?a=20140204-00000004-nksports-spo
This article is also from Nikkan Sports published today.
It says Mao will stay in Armenia after the team event for about 10 days and use the rink that JSF rented for their skaters.  The camp rink is only 1.5 hours away from Sochi, located in a safe, secure place, and in the same time zone as Sochi.

It's a good decision.  She will not have to worry about her back ache if she doesn't travel between Nagoya and Sochi back and forth.

Thank You inskate

I thought it couldn't be true due to the simple fact that it is not in line with Mao's goals for this season.

Thanks inskate!
haha ... it looks like a lost in translation but I'm sure they knew and did it on purpose to instigate rivalry.  Typical media people.  

Asada_Rising wrote:

Thank You inskate

I thought it couldn't be true due to the simple fact that it is not in line with Mao's goals for this season.  

Exactly! And because of this article,  I'm so happy that Mao never gave up on her 3A. It really is a threat to these fools. We as fans can always say, that Mao is the only current female skater who has executed all 6 triple jumps this season. I guess that makes her an ice goddess.   

I have a question about GOE's... again.

Do height and width matter the most when it comes to GOE's? I've seen skaters have great height and width, but still get average GOE's. I just saw Kim Yu-na's LP during nationals, and it's not the same height and width as before. Yet, she received big GOE's, so..... I'm confused.

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BfmneALCUAAuLsk.jpg

This is interesting...(I'm borrowing the link from one of the posters in the FB group)
B. Orser is predicting Mao will win this time!!!
Orser actually paid compliments to Mao's 3A (!!!) and the Nocturne SP. Orser said: 「今回は真央が勝つ！」(This time Mao would win).

I'd rather believe in the coach than brainless Korean media reporter...

Mao_Asada_sunrise wrote:

I have a question about GOE's... again.

Do height and width matter the most when it comes to GOE's? I've seen skaters have great height and width, but still get average GOE's. I just saw Kim Yu-na's LP during nationals, and it's not the same height and width as before. Yet, she received big GOE's, so..... I'm confused.

According to ISU Communication 1790 issued in April 2013 (http://www.usfsa.org/content/ISU%20Communication%201790%20Singles%20and%20Pairs%20Scale%20of%20Values.pdf), the following are the bullets for positive GOE.

FOR + 1: 2 bullets,  FOR + 2: 4 bullets,  FOR + 3: 6 or more bullets
1) unexpected / creative / difficult entry
2) clear recognizable steps/free skating movements immediately preceding element
3) varied position in the air / delay in rotation
4) good height and distance
5) good extension on landing / creative exit
6) good flow from entry to exit including jump combinations / sequences
7) effortless throughout
8 ) element matched to the musical structure

As it is often said that scores at nationals get inflated in general, and it's obvious that this season JSF and KSF followed suit other countries to inflate scores at their nationals.  I don't think GOE she got at nationals can exactly be translated into international competitions, except ISU B competitions where judges give relatively generous scores.

Yet, it seems judges tend to be generous/lenient at Olympics.  She may be able to get similar GOE even if she skates like she skated at her nationals.

I didn't to know that GOE had +3 until when I saw that one judge gave +3 to her spiral sequence in SP at Vancouver.  I assume +3 and level 4 will be given more easily at Sochi than at Vancouver.

COHK wrote:

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BfmneALCUAAuLsk.jpg

This is interesting...(I'm borrowing the link from one of the posters in the FB group)
B. Orser is predicting Mao will win this time!!!
Orser actually paid compliments to Mao's 3A (!!!) and the Nocturne SP. Orser said: 「今回は真央が勝つ！」(This time Mao would win).

I'd rather believe in the coach than brainless Korean media reporter...

But of course he is. Yuna dumped him unceremonically 4 years ago, and he's now coaching a Japanese figure skating phenom and a potential OGM winner. He almost has to say something good about Mao...

But I will never forget how he set her up during his breakup with Yuna. Giving false indication that Mao was inquiring about him being a possible coach for her. Do you remember how horribly Mao was attacked for weeks following his interviews?   

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140205-00000025-jijp-spo.view-000

Mao arrives at Narita Airport.

Mao is at Narita Airport, ready to head to Sochi.
From Nikkansports.com
http://www.nikkansports.com/sochi2014/figureskate/news/f-sochi-tp0-20140205-1253559.html
So far the plan is to have two 3As, one in SP, one in FS  

More news:
http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140205k0000e050254000c.html
She says she's in quite good condition since the beginning of the year. She's confident as she has skated in Sochi before.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/olympic/2014/skate/20140205-OYT1T00572.htm?from=popin

The report says changing back to 2 3As is due to the consideration of the balance of the program.

Short video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X33p1-Ys64

COHK wrote:

Mao is at Narita Airport, ready to head to Sochi.
From Nikkansports.com
http://www.nikkansports.com/sochi2014/figureskate/news/f-sochi-tp0-20140205-1253559.html
So far the plan is to have two 3As, one in SP, one in FS   

Thanks for the update, COHK. Her 3a plan is the best option to use.

I WISH MAO THE BEST OF LUCK IN SOCHI!   

linglang wrote:

Mao_Asada_sunrise wrote:

I have a question about GOE's... again.

Do height and width matter the most when it comes to GOE's? I've seen skaters have great height and width, but still get average GOE's. I just saw Kim Yu-na's LP during nationals, and it's not the same height and width as before. Yet, she received big GOE's, so..... I'm confused.

According to ISU Communication 1790 issued in April 2013 (http://www.usfsa.org/content/ISU%20Communication%201790%20Singles%20and%20Pairs%20Scale%20of%20Values.pdf), the following are the bullets for positive GOE.

FOR + 1: 2 bullets,  FOR + 2: 4 bullets,  FOR + 3: 6 or more bullets
1) unexpected / creative / difficult entry
2) clear recognizable steps/free skating movements immediately preceding element
3) varied position in the air / delay in rotation
4) good height and distance
5) good extension on landing / creative exit
6) good flow from entry to exit including jump combinations / sequences
7) effortless throughout
8 ) element matched to the musical structure

As it is often said that scores at nationals get inflated in general, and it's obvious that this season JSF and KSF followed suit other countries to inflate scores at their nationals.  I don't think GOE she got at nationals can exactly be translated into international competitions, except ISU B competitions where judges give relatively generous scores.

Yet, it seems judges tend to be generous/lenient at Olympics.  She may be able to get similar GOE even if she skates like she skated at her nationals.

I didn't to know that GOE had +3 until when I saw that one judge gave +3 to her spiral sequence in SP at Vancouver.  I assume +3 and level 4 will be given more easily at Sochi than at Vancouver.

(sigh) We'll see how things go, but thank you!

Great news about a solo 3A in the SP, and one in the LP!

I really do think that this is the best layout for her. I hope she does the 2A/3T Combo twice in her LP, as this could potentially maximise her points if done well.

Is it possible to do two 2A-3T's in one program?

Asada_Rising wrote:

Is it possible to do two 2A-3T's in one program?

I'm wondering the same thing Asada_Rising. People keep mentioning it, yet i keep hearing you can't repeat the same jump layout in one program. I.e. no two 3a-2t or 3lz-3t in the fs.

I'm not sure either in relation to the number of jumps that can be repeated, but inskate posted the following layout :3A, 2A-3T, 3F, 2A-3T, 3S, 3F-2L-2L, 3L, and he or she is great with the finer points 

shar wrote:

COHK wrote:

Mao is at Narita Airport, ready to head to Sochi.
From Nikkansports.com
http://www.nikkansports.com/sochi2014/figureskate/news/f-sochi-tp0-20140205-1253559.html
So far the plan is to have two 3As, one in SP, one in FS   

Thanks for the update,  COHK. Her 3a plan is the best option to use.

I WISH MAO THE BEST OF LUCK IN SOCHI!    

Wise decision! Best luck in Sochi!

COHK wrote:

Mao is at Narita Airport, ready to head to Sochi.
From Nikkansports.com
http://www.nikkansports.com/sochi2014/figureskate/news/f-sochi-tp0-20140205-1253559.html
So far the plan is to have two 3As, one in SP, one in FS  

More news:
http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140205k0000e050254000c.html
She says she's in quite good condition since the beginning of the year. She's confident as she has skated in Sochi before.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/olympic/2014/skate/20140205-OYT1T00572.htm?from=popin

The report says changing back to 2 3As is due to the consideration of the balance of the program.

Short video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X33p1-Ys64

OMG this just made my day    wise decision

COHK wrote:

Mao is at Narita Airport, ready to head to Sochi.
From Nikkansports.com
http://www.nikkansports.com/sochi2014/figureskate/news/f-sochi-tp0-20140205-1253559.html
So far the plan is to have two 3As, one in SP, one in FS  

More news:
http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140205k0000e050254000c.html
She says she's in quite good condition since the beginning of the year. She's confident as she has skated in Sochi before.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/olympic/2014/skate/20140205-OYT1T00572.htm?from=popin

The report says changing back to 2 3As is due to the consideration of the balance of the program.

Short video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X33p1-Ys64

Thanks COHK for the update!!

I'm so happy about her decision and I'm really, really excited!!       

Mao says in the video clip she's excited about skating for the team event because it's the discipline to be held for the first time and she will do her best if she's chosen to skate for the team event.

And in one of the above articles, Mao says her way of thinking has been changing gradually.  She's not as stubborn as she used to be. hehe.

linglang wrote:

I didn't to know that GOE had +3 until when I saw that one judge gave +3 to her spiral sequence in SP at Vancouver.  I assume +3 and level 4 will be given more easily at Sochi than at Vancouver.

This doesn't make sense at all. Giving +3 basically means that there's no room for improvement, that your element is perfect, the best thing you can do. Her jumps may deserve +3 but no way does her spiral deserve that GOE. I bet many yoga teachers can do that spiral better than her. I thought PCS can be understandably subjective but GOE should be more objective. Good forms are universal.

shar wrote:

But I will never forget how he set her up during his breakup with Yuna. Giving false indication that Mao was inquiring about him being a possible coach for her. Do you remember how horribly Mao was attacked for weeks following his interviews?  

I'm not a big fan of how Orser handled certain issues while training YuNa, but I think in that case the Korean media was more to blame and Orser hasn't actually ever said that Mao's team asked him to coach him. IIRC:

1) The Koren media reported that Orser was asked to coach Mao, and showed Orser's e-mail to Yuna as a proof. However, the adtual e-mail was something like "There are rumors that I was asked to coach that skater, I just wanted you to know that my loyalty is to you first" and didn't actually name Mao by name or state that Orser was indeed asked to coach her (just mentioned that there were rumors).

2) A day or so later Orser appeared on the Canadian TV, and cleared up that he was never approached by Mao or her team. I still have that interview recorded somewhere.

What happened between 1) and 2),  I don't know. While Korean media claimed that Orser said he was asked to coach Mao, I've never saw a clip of him actually saying that. At the time I thoght that maybe Orser was actually approached by a Japanese reporter who asked him if he would be willing to coach Mao, and Orser mistook him for a member of Mao's team - and when he realized his mistake, he cleared it up in the interview with the Canadian TV. However, in the light of the "Mao Asada is giving up on 3A" article I wonder if it wasn't another case of "lost" in translation, as some of the Korean media are apparently not at all concerned about reliably translating their sources or reporting the truth.   

shar wrote:

Asada_Rising wrote:

Is it possible to do two 2A-3T's in one program?

I'm  wondering the same thing Asada_Rising. People keep mentioning it,  yet i keep hearing you can't repeat the same jump layout in one program. I.e. no two 3a-2t or 3lz-3t in the fs.

It's possible. The distribution rule states that skaters can't repeat more than 2 types of triples (or quads), and when they do, one of the jumps must be in combination. There's no rule against repeating the same combination (unless it's 3T-3T, 3L-3L or any combo consisting of 3 jumps ).
It's very rarely done, because for most skaters it wouldn't be very efficient point- or stamina-wise. Low-level skaters would find even one 2A-3T (not to mention a 3-3) challenging; a high-level skater would prefer to repeat something else than a 3T (and opt for a 3-3 rather than 2A-3T to have the "wow" factor). Mao is perhaps the only current top skater who would benefit from this strategy (thanks to her 3A).

COHK wrote:

Mao is at Narita Airport, ready to head to Sochi.
From Nikkansports.com
http://www.nikkansports.com/sochi2014/figureskate/news/f-sochi-tp0-20140205-1253559.html
So far the plan is to have two 3As, one in SP, one in FS  

  

That's great news, I was worried since the most recent interview with coach Sato that overdoing 3A will aggravate Mao's back injury again. I hope Mao is in good condition now and manages her stamina well throughout both team and the singles event.  

pearlyriver wrote:

linglang wrote:

I didn't to know that GOE had +3 until when I saw that one judge gave +3 to her spiral sequence in SP at Vancouver.  I assume +3 and level 4 will be given more easily at Sochi than at Vancouver.

This doesn't make sense at all. Giving +3 basically means that there's no room for improvement, that your element is perfect, the best thing you can do. Her jumps may deserve +3 but no way does her spiral deserve that GOE. I bet many yoga teachers can do that spiral better than her.

oh my silly me, I meant to be Mao by "her".  I first wrote "Mao" but later changed the order of words and probably replaced it with "her" unconsciously.  Sorry for the confusion, peralyriver. No way Yuna can get +3 for her spiral. Her speed might deserve positive GOE but with poor extension and position, +3 is impossible. I understand that speed matters a lot in spiral sequence too but when a skater does not mind position and extension, it would be easier for her to maintain speed and do edge change than a skater who hold her toe up high and extend her body fully to maintain difficult positions.  yah, I don't agree with judges who gave Yuna positive GOE for her SpSq, and actually many of judges gave her +2 .