NHK Trophy 2013

NHK-BS1 special on Mao, and Mai was invited to comment (broadcast date 11-06):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-TZhTJyPjo

taken from GS:

Interview with Lori Nicole re Diasuke, Mao, and Nobunari (originally by Asashi Sports News)

http://www.daisuketakahashi.org/2013...ri-nicole.html

I almost forgot, we will get the see the revised version of the Nocturne at NHK. Looking forward to that!!

sapphiresky wrote:

Can't wait for the NHK!

Anyone know if there will be open practices (so we can get some clips)?

I hope Elena's foot will be okay- such a fighter, but don't want her to have a worse injury!

On another note- there was a comment that there may be advantage to skate a program once (like some people we know)- like at the Olympics.

On one hand, the judges see something new, and they may be giving higher scores because of this.
Seeing the same programs over and over on the Grand Prix circuit and then at the Olympics- they may score things the same.

On the other hand, a skater can get more practice and more comfortable performing their programs on the bigger stage.
I think Mao is a type of skater who would benefit from more competitions and getting more practice.

No words will describe my disappointments if someone could just walk in like last year and grab another OGM. God, please don't let that happen.

Finally, report about practice from twitter (by Asashi Sports):

朝日新聞スポーツ ‏@asahi_sports 2m
浅田選手は3Aを幾つか成功。一方でパンクもあり。普段より多めに練習していた印象。鈴木選手は3Tー3Tを入念に。オーバーターンになってしまうこともありました。宮原さんは、乱れなくジャンプをとんでいましたが、課題の回転不足がどうかというのは見た目にはわからないです。

There were successful 3A attempts, but also failed ones. Akko's 3T-3T had overturns. Satoko's jumps seem to be ok (but not sure if underrotated or not).

朝日新聞スポーツ ‏@asahi_sports 2h
高橋大輔選手がすごく綺麗な4Tを下りました。他3Aなども滑らかで、かなり調子を取り戻しているのかもしれないと感じます

Dai seems to be doing ok with quad landing.

And Asashi sports tweeted that Mura is going back to his Shogun FS last season.

The K&C at NHK Trophy is so beautiful  

Thanks for the translation COHK  I'm getting anxious and nervous already~

No problem~
The color of NHK-K&C is just Mao's color, purple and blue! 

COHK wrote:

No problem~
The color of NHK-K&C is just Mao's color, purple and blue! 

That's true!  

COHK wrote:

Finally, report about practice from twitter (by Asashi Sports):

朝日新聞スポーツ ‏@asahi_sports 2m
浅田選手は3Aを幾つか成功。一方でパンクもあり。普段より多めに練習していた印象。鈴木選手は3Tー3Tを入念に。オーバーターンになってしまうこともありました。宮原さんは、乱れなくジャンプをとんでいましたが、課題の回転不足がどうかというのは見た目にはわからないです。

There were successful 3A attempts, but also failed ones. Akko's 3T-3T had overturns. Satoko's jumps seem to be ok (but not sure if underrotated or not).

朝日新聞スポーツ ‏@asahi_sports 2h
高橋大輔選手がすごく綺麗な4Tを下りました。他3Aなども滑らかで、かなり調子を取り戻しているのかもしれないと感じます

Dai seems to be doing ok with quad landing.

And Asashi sports tweeted that Mura is going back to his Shogun FS last season.

Thanks COHK!

Google translation: Asada success some 3A . Punk There is also, on the other hand . Impression was practicing a little too much than usual .

Now i am a little worried about the success rates of 3A... Hell that is an insanely difficult jump for women! Please don't overtrain Mao

AmazingGraceMao wrote:

sapphiresky wrote:

Can't wait for the NHK!

Anyone know if there will be open practices (so we can get some clips)?

I hope Elena's foot will be okay- such a fighter, but don't want her to have a worse injury!

On another note- there was a comment that there may be advantage to skate a program once (like some people we know)- like at the Olympics.

On one hand, the judges see something new, and they may be giving higher scores because of this.
Seeing the same programs over and over on the Grand Prix circuit and then at the Olympics- they may score things the same.

On the other hand, a skater can get more practice and more comfortable performing their programs on the bigger stage.
I think Mao is a type of skater who would benefit from more competitions and getting more practice.

No words will describe my disappointments if someone could just walk in like last year and grab another OGM. God, please don't let that happen.

My thoughts exactly! I hate it that hard work over the long term is put aside, and someone can just waltz in like that...ugh.

Thanks for the practice reports everyone!
I hope that Mao doesn't overtrain the 3A, and focus too much on it. I would love for her to succeed in her 3-3 or her 2A-3T here. She needs practice getting used to doing at least the 2A-3T for a few competitions before the OG. I know that she said she'll only do the 3-3 if she feels good, but it would be a wish on my part- (to shut down those naysayers!)
Good luck Mao, super excited for this.

P.S. Wow! NHK is completely sold out for all days!  I wonder when this will happen in North America again.

It's interesting how Mao has the same comp's as Meryl/Charlie and Tatiana/Maxim  

I just realized that the practice info provided by Asashi Sports twitter this morning (local time) was from the "pre-" official practices. The official practices is underway right now. The men's practices has already finished. And the ladies has just started. Sportsnavi is providing live update of ladies practices (in Japanese):

http://live.sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/live/sports/figureskate_all/1904?auto=1

1.女子の第１グループの練習がスタート。ゴールド、長洲、浅田、宮原、鈴木の順で演奏が流れる。
The practices of 1st group starts. Skating order: Gracie-Mirai-Mao-Satoko-Akko

COHK wrote:

I just realized that the practice info provided by Asashi Sports twitter this morning (local time) was from the "pre-" official practices. The official practices is underway right now. The men's practices has already finished. And the ladies has just started. Sportsnavi is providing live update of ladies practices (in Japanese):

http://live.sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/live/sports/figureskate_all/1904?auto=1

1.女子の第１グループの練習がスタート。ゴールド、長洲、浅田、宮原、鈴木の順で演奏が流れる。
The practices of 1st group starts. Skating order: Gracie-Mirai-Mao-Satoko-Akko

Ooohhhh!!! Please update! I can't speak Japanese, and sometimes, the online translations are weird.

３． 浅田のＳＰ曲「ノクターン」が流れる。トリプルアクセルは転倒。３回転フリップは２回転フリップになる。３回転ループ－２回転ループはきれいに着氷。曲中では失敗したが、長洲の曲がかかっている時に挑戦したトリプルアクセルは見事に成功した。

Mao's Nocturne: 3A fall, 2F, 3L-2L(beautiful). Although there was a fall with 3A, she tried again when Mirai's music was on, and was successful.

COHK wrote:

３． 浅田のＳＰ曲「ノクターン」が流れる。トリプルアクセルは転倒。３回転フリップは２回転フリップになる。３回転ループ－２回転ループはきれいに着氷。曲中では失敗したが、長洲の曲がかかっている時に挑戦したトリプルアクセルは見事に成功した。

Mao's Nocturne: 3A fall, 2F, 3L-2L(beautiful). Although there was a fall with 3A, she tried again when Mirai's music was on, and was successful.

Oh no! I don't want her to feel nervous or anything about that 3A.

６． 女子第１グループの練習が終了。浅田はトリプルアクセルを４回試みて、１回転倒したのみ。そのほかの３回は着氷した。

1st gp practices have finished. Mao tried 3A for 4 times, falls once and landing the other 3 attempts. (ok...75% was not too bad!)

As for the others:
Akko has a perfect run through of FS. (Landing 3A-3T-2T/ 3L-2T)
Satoko was doing good with FS, with only one jump missed. (Landing 3-3/2A/2A-3T)

ラジオノワのＦＳ曲は映画『フリーダ』の音楽。３回転フリップは少し体勢を崩す。３回転ルッツ－１回転ループでステップアウト。ダブルアクセルは着氷する。３回転ループでは転倒し、ジャンプに精彩を欠いた。

Elena's Frida: 3F (landing problem? not sure) 3Lz-1L (step out) 2A, 3L fall....hope she's ok!

Here's a list of streaming links. Times are GMT + 1.
http://hotbladeshotpassion.blogspot.jp/2013/11/2013-nhk-trophy-entries-and-streaming.html?m=1

Today is Kanako's birthday  . Omedetou

COHK wrote:

No problem~
The color of NHK-K&C is just Mao's color, purple and blue! 

Haha yeah now as you mention it! It matches her colours!  

Is this clip from Dai's practice session


More pics from practice session

COHK wrote:

６． 女子第１グループの練習が終了。浅田はトリプルアクセルを４回試みて、１回転倒したのみ。そのほかの３回は着氷した。

1st gp practices have finished. Mao tried 3A for 4 times, falls once and landing the other 3 attempts. (ok...75% was not too bad!)

As for the others:
Akko has a perfect run through of FS. (Landing 3A-3T-2T/ 3L-2T)
Satoko was doing good with FS, with only one jump missed. (Landing 3-3/2A/2A-3T)

That's pretty good!

COHK wrote:

６． 女子第１グループの練習が終了。浅田はトリプルアクセルを４回試みて、１回転倒したのみ。そのほかの３回は着氷した。

1st gp practices have finished. Mao tried 3A for 4 times, falls once and landing the other 3 attempts. (ok...75% was not too bad!)

As for the others:
Akko has a perfect run through of FS. (Landing 3A-3T-2T/ 3L-2T)
Satoko was doing good with FS, with only one jump missed. (Landing 3-3/2A/2A-3T)

That is great! Thanks for the repo! Hope her Flip will become more solid.

NHK evening news reporting on the practices (w/ one channel in English):

https://youtu.be/pxFmWVKhiv8

BTW, happy birthday Kanako!!

COHK wrote:

6. 女子第1グループの練習が終了。浅田はトリプルアクセルを4回試みて、1回転倒したのみ。そのほかの3回は着氷した。

1st gp practices have finished. Mao tried 3A for 4 times, falls once and landing the other 3 attempts. (ok...75% was not too bad!)

As for the others:
Akko has a perfect run through of FS. (Landing 3A-3T-2T/ 3L-2T)
Satoko was doing good with FS, with only one jump missed. (Landing 3-3/2A/2A-3T)

Ok. Good to read this. Whew! Reading about the fall on twitter worried me a bit earlier. I assume this was from Nocturne practice? They've made some changes to that program when she went to Canada after SA, right?