NHK Trophy 2008

Triple Axel Posts : 994 Join date : 2007-09-22 Age : 39

Yay!!!

I just got back from the Uni. I need to calm myself and watch the video. Too sweet!

To all those who have problems with clovera's videos - I had a similar problem as well. I tried all codecs, and nothing worked. And finally I had the idea to download and install WebTV. And voila, suddenly the videos started playing normally in Media Player. Cheering

Double Axel Posts : 121 Join date : 2008-02-14

it doesn't matter...thank you so much, clovera!!!

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 6:12 am

@clovera
Thank you so much for uploading Mao's sp on dailymotion <3

She's absolutely gorgeous, isn't she?
Her loop looked a bit underrotated, I'm thrilled to see the results in detail.
But apart from that, just wonderful - way better than TEB.
She looks a bit disappointed in the kiss and cry though. But keep it up Mao, you'll get better and better Smile

Posts : 88 Join date : 2008-10-30

SP:

Triple Axel Posts : 994 Join date : 2007-09-22 Age : 39

The scores!
http://web.icenetwork.com/documents/2008/11/28/56636/1/gpjpn08_Ladies_SP_Scores.pdf

Mao got +GoE for her Lutz! No flutz deduction! A huge success!!! Dance

The performance was great. Swoon

There were still some mistakes, and I think Mao lost some stamina after landing the jumps - but it was a huge step in the right direction. Wonderful skating skills! As someone posted at GS - she looks as if she was flying. Swoon

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:13 am

Okami wrote:: The scores!
http://web.icenetwork.com/documents/2008/11/28/56636/1/gpjpn08_Ladies_SP_Scores.pdf

Real success indeed! With the combo fully rotated, along with a level 4 spiral, Mao will comfortably reach and pass the 70 mark. Yep!

I can't wait until tomorrow. Cheering

Posts : 34 Join date : 2007-12-28

no wrong edge call for 3lutz! yay!!!

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 8:04 am

Mao has been working so hard to fix her lutz and I'm sooooooooooo happy for her today!!!! Confetti

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:16 am

I'm so happy, she didn't get "!" oder "e". Great improvement Mao Smile

Already people at GS are complaining and see conspiracies. It's ridiculous. Some poeple just won't grant her anything.

Can't wait for the free <3

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:00 am

Just tuned in (busy day). Congrats Mao! There is so much obvious improvement on the lutz as well. And it's wonderful that the judges are obviously taking note of the improvements as well. They see the obvious effort, and they are finally giving her a little leeway to work on it. If they give her +0.60 now, imagine what it's gonna be when the jump will be perfect. Swoon

This is probably the first time that we have had a reasonable technical caller so far this season.

Cheering

I hope she does as good or better in the free. Go Mao!!

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:57 pm

OHHhh! I love the protocols, this is a real improvement from last year, and there's still room for other improvement so that's a good thing too! Let's Go Mao, I'm with you for tomorrow's free skate!

Double Axel Posts : 179 Join date : 2008-06-11

Right now, I'm just proud to be a supporter of Mao and Nobu Wink

!

Triple Flip Posts : 431 Join date : 2007-11-22

Wow, I love the results and I love the programs! I just downloaded and watched the top performances in high quality; Mao's from the NHK broadcast and the rest from the Russian Eurosport.

Mao - my congratulations! Confetti

In this short program Mao proved that she's a true fighter. This was a big step forward indeed. The road to perfection is not easy, but the prize will be more than worth it. Yep!

Nobu - wow, incomparably better performance than at Nebelorn or Karl Schaffer! Thumbs up!

The Russian commentator was very much impressed (and so am I). He also praised the choice of music - and I want to say "Ha!" to anyone who said that Mao's LP music is too monotonous. Boogie

Double Axel Posts : 179 Join date : 2008-06-11

Oscilla wrote:: He also praised the choice of music - and I want to say "Ha!" to anyone who said that Mao's LP music is too monotonous.

I agree with you. The Norwegian Eurosport commentater was talking about what a "failure" she had done in TEB and that the music choice didn't suit her, bla bla bla, but today, she was just totally "owned". (!) Razz

Can't wait for the free program!!! Cheering

Triple Flip Posts : 431 Join date : 2007-11-22

I uploaded Nobunari's short program [with Russian commentary] on Dailymotion:
https://www.dailymotion.com/oscillating/video/x7jy5z_nobunari-oda-sp_sport
I love the straightline step sequence! Thumbs up!

There are already many versions of Mao's SP on Youtube (hopefully they will stay there for some time at least), so I didn't upload it this time. Smile

Dedicated Mao Fan Posts : 1298 Join date : 2007-10-29

Thank you all for the links, photos and videos! Daisies for you

I'm just so proud of Mao and happy with the results. Many Hearts

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 8:01 pm

Did you guys read Katrina Hacker Diary from NHK? it's really interesting!
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081128&content_id=56640&vkey=ice_news

Quote :: You're welcome: do itashimashite [according to Mirai, just say "Don't touch my moustache" very quickly]

For the Japanese here, does this really work? Razz

Posts : 82 Join date : 2007-09-21

I'm just so, so, so very proud of our Mao! It was very brave of her to attack the 3-3 and the lutz particularly since she missed the lutz at least once during the warm up. sunny

I just watched the NHK broadcast carried by TV Japan. In the interview after her SP, Mao said that she got even more nervous after the jumps (hence the wobbly spiral). But, that's really a minor point. Her goal was to get the jumps done and the 3-3 was absolutely gorgeous. At this point, I don't really care how the tech caller called it. so there! :albino:

Bibi, hmm, i personally won't try that one. It certainly doesn't work for me. Suspect

I read Katrina's diary and she makes some mistakes in spelling Japanese words (e.g., she calls the imperial palace 'Kyokyo' even though it should be 'Kohkyo'). But, I admire her willingness to learn the language.

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:24 pm

Oh Mao, I am so proud of you!!! Happy dance

(But I really need a 'tears of joy' icon...)

I *knew* I had a good feeling about this competition for a reason!! And when she came out to warm up, I could see the 'eye of the tiger' (as OGM gymnast Nastia Liukin's Dad/coach's likes to say). She didn't go to consult with TAT at the boards at all, not like at TEB. She came out fighting! And she got a fully ratified, no edge call 3Lz with +GOE! OMG!! So what if her 3F-3Lo got downgraded and she bobbled on the spiral sequence? That was amazing!! Dance

This was her best SP score in an international competition since the 2006-07 season! SUGOI!!! Swoon

All right, I'm totally looking forward to Mao nailing her two 3As tomorrow and the 3S! Cheering

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:41 pm

I found a trend on GS... Several people seem to feel that Mao's interpretation was off. As in she was being too dramatic for the music. Personally, I can't seem to see their point. I've watched it about 20 times and still, all I see is softness, delicate arms, flowing edges and romance romance romance (to me, Mao positively oozes the stuff, but even more so with this kind of music). Of course, there is room for improvement (when is there not), but I can't see anything that wrong with her interpretation at this point... But I've read this comment from several people...

Is this just a case of know-it-alls just having to find something wrong to point at? I usually roll eyes at nit-pickers, whoever the skater, but this time, I don't know... nobody actually said anything back to these posters so I'm wondering if I'm the one actig blind... Your thoughts?

Thank you!

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:01 pm

chiyori wrote:: I found a trend on GS... Several people seem to feel that Mao's interpretation was off. As in she was being too dramatic for the music. Personally, I can't seem to see their point.

Hi chiyori! Well, I can't claim to be objective because I'm a huge Mao-fan, but I didn't think she was over-interpreting the music at all. I thought it was fabulous! Love Hearts

I thought this program was only so-so at TEB, in part because I think Mao got off the music, so the choreography was off. This time it was beautiful, and I absolutely loved the program! Swoon

I haven't read the comments at GS (and now I'm afraid too), but maybe what the posters are reacting too is the fact that 'Clair de Lune' has a very slow tempo, and is very serene. 'Nocturne' was also slow, but because it's a piano piece, it felt like it had more of a dancing beat to it. 'Clair de Lune,' on the other hand, makes me think of just floating across the ice (like a long extended spiral sequence). But to do the footwork sequence, you have to move quickly and vary your movements a lot. So I guess some people could see some conflict between the slow, smooth song and a very complicated (and very beautiful, in my opinion) step sequence. But those arm movements at the beginning are so soft and lovely...I could watch this program over and over again. Swoon

One thing that I do think Mao can work on - and I'm sure she will as the season progresses - is making it look effortless. Today she was fighting, and she won, but by the end of the season I want to see her floating through the night sky, with not a worry in the world...

And I want to see a big Mao-chan smile when she gets her scores. New WR!! Thumbs up!

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:05 pm

chiyori wrote:: I found a trend on GS...

I more or less gave up on that place. The trolls and the war between bots of Mao and Yu-Na give me a headache (not to mention pages upon pages of meaningless discussion), and their scrutiny of judging jumps by 2° or so is just silly.

Part of the reason why no one is commenting back, is because it's pointless. Some people will believe (or not believe) what they want, no matter what evidence may say so otherwise. Some people are still saying Mao skates slow, for one thing. Laugh

The best way to deal with the bashers is to just ignore them. Although on more public places like YT I will be more than happy to retort and give a thumbs down to rude comments...hehe. Rolling Eyes

I would love to see the Eurosport version of Mao's SP. It looks like Chris and Nicky were very pleased, and said "clean lutz!" too. Thumbs up!

ETA: muffin14 on DM added Nobu's SP with British Eurosport commentary, and they loved the performance! Very Happy

Also watched Eurosport's version of Ashley's SP. Nicky and Chris don't seem too fond of the NHK mascots. ROTFLMAO

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:04 pm

Quote :: I haven't read the comments at GS (and now I'm afraid too)

In all honesty, it's not that bad... I just found myself completely not understanding their point so I was wondering. Some people actually have very nice things to say about Mao. I'm also totally smitten with this program. Once perfected, it will rank higher than Nocturne in my book, I think. It's just as gorgeous, but so much more intricate and mature.

Quote :: I more or less gave up on that place.

lol I probably will do the same. I already knew about one forum in particular (cough MKF cough cough) and took everything I read there with a bit of Rolling Eyes

but I guess the bug has spread much further than I thought... And you're courageous. YT bashers make me totally Very Mad

I mean, come on! Get a life!! Those edges video actually crack me up when I'm in a good mood (it quickly dissipates into annoyance but it's nice while it lasts Too sweet!

)

On that note, I will stop doubting my core impression of Mao, watch her program one last time and go straight to bed. It's already 1AM and I wanna get a few hours of sleep before the FS.

See you all later!!

Posts : 45 Join date : 2008-11-18

Mao was truely splendid in yesterday's SP (though the spiral was a bit wobbly Too sweet!

) I had tears in my eyes as I was watching!
An hour an a half to go till the FP!

Quote :: It looks like Chris and Nicky were very pleased, and said "clean lutz!" too.

Really!? Got to watch the British Eurosport version! Wonder what they'll say for tonight's FP. Nicky said the music was too big for the performance at TEB (and I just thought "you just wait and see!!!" ).

Go! Mao-chan!! Good luck!

Subject: Re: NHK Trophy 2008 Sat Nov 29, 2008 3:43 am

I love the results so far. Mao & Nobu were great. Rockstar

I'm so happy that Mao finally landed a clean Lutz in competition! Boogie

The hard work paid off. Woot!

The Ladies LP has already started... Good luck, Mao! Good luck!

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