Grand Prix Final 2008!!!

Here's a whole bunch of banquet pics, followed by gala rehearsal pics and then competition pics on subsequent pages:
http://blog.daum.net/_blog/photoList.do?blogid=0NJcZ#ajax_history_2

I wonder what happened here?
http://cfile229.uf.daum.net/image/1512040149447A0C1B997C
http://cfile229.uf.daum.net/image/1412040149447A0C1AA40A

Mao flight back to Nagoya on the night of 15th.
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/sports/other/081215/oth0812152311017-l1.jpg
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/sports/other/081215/oth0812152311017-l3.jpg
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/sports/other/081215/oth0812152311017-l2.jpg

Mao said "I'm satisfied with both SP and FS at GPF. I wish I can jump two 3A cleanly at Japan Nats".

I found this on dcinside:
http://okami.follownet.pl/fs/upload/gpf2008/2008GPF_Shuuzo_MatsuokaANB.flv
The file was named "Shuuzo Matsuoka" and I think it's him..? The video's quite blurry, but it definitely looks like Shuuzo... Anyway, somebody filmed his reactions to Mao's LP... The guy was literally dancing together with Mao, and collapsed dramatically as Mao fell on 3F... It was hilarious!

Okami wrote:

I found this on dcinside:
http://okami.follownet.pl/fs/upload/gpf2008/2008GPF_Shuuzo_MatsuokaANB.flv
The file was named "Shuuzo Matsuoka" and I think it's him..?:

It's him, yup, and the lady in pink next to him is Shiz. The same thing was uploaded to YT and niconico douga and it's creating quite a buzz with the Japanese skating community.

He was always very...enthusiastic when he watches sports (like waving a large Japanese flag and cheering loudly when Kimiko Date played against Steffi Graf) so you can say it's in his character!

photos:
http://davecskatingphoto.com/photos_2008_gpf.html

I didn't want to really bump this thread, but for the sake of staying on topic, may as well...

Anyways, according to GS, it looks like Kurt is actually not too keen on the choreo and music for Mao's FS. This I find a bit odd since he was very appreciative and found a lot of potential when he watched it during TEB. Can anyone confirm this? I just find it really strange to see this change in opinion so suddenly.

At least we + Chris & Nicky of British Eurosport still love it.

clovera wrote:

I didn't want to really bump this thread, but for the sake of staying on topic, may as well...

Anyways, according to GS, it looks like Kurt is actually not too keen on the choreo and music for Mao's FS. This I find a bit odd since he was very appreciative and found a lot of potential when he watched it during TEB. Can anyone confirm this? I just find it really strange to see this change in opinion so suddenly.

At least we + Chris & Nicky of British Eurosport still love it.

I watched it and Tracie Wilson said something to Kurt like "I guess you don't like the choreographer so much!?" and Kurt said "Well...I didn't wanted to say it out loud....but I'M A BIG FAN, I'M A BIG FAN"

clovera wrote:

I didn't want to really bump this thread, but for the sake of staying on topic, may as well...

Anyways, according to GS, it looks like Kurt is actually not too keen on the choreo and music for Mao's FS. This I find a bit odd since he was very appreciative and found a lot of potential when he watched it during TEB. Can anyone confirm this? I just find it really strange to see this change in opinion so suddenly.

At least we + Chris & Nicky of British Eurosport still love it.

Hmm - I haven't seen it on youtube nor on skating.livedoor.biz, but this certainly makes me curious...

clovera - I'm kinda glad you bumped this thread, since it reminded me to go look at Dave C.'s photos. Gosh, Mao looks so gorgeous! I *LOOVE* the pic of the three Japanese ladies! and then with Kozu (yes, since the Japanese thread I track started calling Takahiko "Kozu," I've picked it up).

http://davecskatingphoto.com/photos/2008GPF/banquet/IMG_2822a.jpg
http://davecskatingphoto.com/photos/2008GPF/banquet/IMG_2824a.jpg

bibi wrote:

I watched it and Tracie Wilson said something to Kurt like "I guess you don't like the choreographer so much!?" and Kurt said "Well...I didn't wanted to say it out loud....but I'M A BIG FAN, I'M A BIG FAN"

Thanks for responding bibi! That sounds a lot more like the Kurt I'm used to hearing. I guess I'll have to wait until it goes up on FSVids.

Batsuchan, its nice to see you pick up "Kozu!" Japanese skating fans have a ton of nicknames for the skaters (maomao, mikitty, yukarin, tono, or "lord" - for nobu, sugurin, yukko for yukiko fujisawa etc.) and in that regards its really fun to be part of it.

Here's the CBC broadcast of Mao's LP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOG1guT7o0w

Ok, Kurt is great, but I don't care for the lady commentators so much. "Rafael Artunian, her coach of 3 years"? Try 1.5 years..."First program with Tatiana"?! They need to get their facts straight.

Kurt was really excited about Mao's second 3A! At least they got the significance of two 3A's. "Now what?!" Hee hee!

But overall they were very critical of Mao's program - too much thinking, repetitive music. Kurt said he's a big fan of Mao, but he was disappointed with the program. Aww... Well I bet Mao will polish, polish, polish between now and Worlds and blow everyone away!

clovera - ah, so Oda *is* "tono" - I guessed as much but I wasn't sure. Because he's Oda Nobunaga's descendant? I do love the Japanese nicknames.

Well, I didn't really mean to bump this thread - but those who are registered for nicovideo (it's free) can see Mao's EX from the GPF on CBC here:
http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5711516

I'm slightly annoyed that the announcers are surprised that it's good, but I enjoyed it anyway.

I think it was fairly obvious that Kurt is biased against the Russian choreographers... He even admitted it out loud. I'm sort of not surprised, as he lost Evan to Tatiana and Brian to Evgeni Platov...

But I think he started to warm-up to Mao's LP already. I watched the CBC version of Mao's encore as well, and he praised Mao's steps. He also said that YuNa and Mao are very similar, but "Mao has more agressive style".

BTW, I found a cute Mao photo on dcinside:

Armless Mao!

Mao and Takahiko are so cute!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NFDLiQlrBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2znX2f2Sqs

Nanae wrote:

Mao and Takahiko are so cute!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NFDLiQlrBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2znX2f2Sqs

It seems really interesting! Does someone have the translation please?
Thanks!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Sorry it's a bit late!)

Here's a translation:

Shuuzou (announcer guy): Kozuka, as a male skater, how do you view [Mao's program]?

Kozu: She did two triple axels in and up to the very end, she put all her strength into her program, into the steps, so I thought it was amazing.

Shuuzou: And Mao - truthfully, did you expect Kozuka to have this result?

Mao: Nope.

[Everyone laughs]

Mao: [confused] Huh? Wait -

Shuuzou: Getting 2nd place at the Grand Prix Final...

Mao: Ah, oh you mean that! But this season, [Kozuka] has been great..he has been in good condition all along...at Skate America and TEB, he took first and second, so I thought he could do it...Great.

Shuuzou: Kozuka - what part of Mao do you think has changed the most? She must have had her share of suffering...

Kozu: Well, in the past, her desire/will to practice was amazing, and now it's even more amazing. [? I think that's what he said but I couldn't quite hear...]

****
Hmm, well I was going to write something about these two clips in the "Mao strategy" thread, in response to clovera's "rant", but I guess I'll do it here...

I agree! Mao and Kozu are so cute! I wonder what Mao was thinking when she said "Nope" - made me laugh though.

But the clips like these make me nervous. Because I think Kozu is becoming quite popular, and Mao is already super popular, and it's so easy to be like, "Oh, she's cute and he's cute, and they're so cute together...HMM, I wonder...!"

Even back in 2006, at Junior Worlds, when Kozu threw the bouquet at Mao - that "incident" became quite a hot topic - Mao got asked about it in at least 3 separate interviews - "Did your heart flutter when he threw it?" (Not really.) "The two of you aren't dating, are you?" (Nope!)
And then at the 2008 THE ICE, when Jeff Buttle kissed Mao - that also became a hot topic in the media.

And now that there's "Mao fever," I'm afraid that if something like the bouquet toss incident happened now, the media would go crazy...I feel like it's at a point now that if Mao asked some guy on her college campus for directions and someone took a picture of them talking, it would make tabloid headlines... Sigh...

I feel a little bad for Mao - even if she wanted to go on a date like a normal 18-year old girl, she probably can't - she'd be stalked by the paparazzi.

Anyhow, I guess this is my big fear for Mao outside of skating - that she'll get some unwanted negative attention ("scandal!") from the media. I just really hope that the media has some sense and lets Mao's private life stay private!!

Batsuchan wrote:

But the clips like these make me nervous. Because I think Kozu is becoming quite popular, and Mao is already super popular, and it's so easy to be like, "Oh, she's cute and he's cute, and they're so cute together...HMM, I wonder...!"

Hehe, well that was my rant, but that does not mean I'm not tremendously enjoying all the cute Mao+Kozu clips and fan vids posted on youtube.

Apparently I'm not the only one - there's a shockingly well-mannered/clean/pleasant Mao+Kozu cheer thread on the infamous 2channel site, and it's garnered at least 12,000 posts since the Grand Prix Final. I've found some pretty rare pics/vids off of it, and in general I find the comments to be marvelously entertaining.

But that's how I think it should be - let the skaters have their lives, let the fans have their fan fics, and let the media keep their noses out of it!

And now something more on topic to the GPF:
http://skating.livedoor.biz/archives/51141272.html

The last clip on this page has a really short interview with Mao from the GPF broadcast on CBC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoFYBFLnhpI
!!

How nice

I saw photos of Joannie filming during the gala practice but I never thought we'd get to see the other side of the camera

And I didn't know Patrick knew French! He only says a little but it's sooo cute

Thanks for sharing, bibi! Did you film that at home? When was it aired? (I don't watch much TV outside of Télétoon ) Every time I see stuff like this, I'm never quick enough to get to my camera... I saw an interview with Joannie at Pour le plaisir a few weeks before GPF but I was so absorbed in watching it that I totally forgot others might be interested

Ohh, I didn't know that the main language of Joannie is french, very cool !

Quote :

And I didn't know Patrick knew French! He only says a little but it's sooo cute

Well, I think he goes to a french immersion school

Quote :

Thanks for sharing, bibi! Did you film that at home? When was it aired?

Yes, I filmed that at home, but it was like 2 weeks after it was actually aired, because I recorded it first on my tv. Tellement Sport is a new tv show and they often talk about skating, I found out that they show all their episode online here:
http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/tellement_sport/2008-2009/episodes.asp

Quote :

Ohh, I didn't know that the main language of Joannie is french, very cool !

Yes!! Just like Chiyori and I! The Majority of the People from the province of Quebec speak french, but there are also english speakers.

bibi wrote:

Yes, I filmed that at home, but it was like 2 weeks after it was actually aired, because I recorded it first on my tv. Tellement Sport is a new tv show and they often talk about skating, I found out that they show all their episode online here:
http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/tellement_sport/2008-2009/episodes.asp

Merci pour le lien! Je trouve ça génial que les médias québécois s'intéressent à nouveau au patinage artistique. C'est peut-être juste une impression, mais il me semble qu'on en parlait beaucoup plus quand j'étais petite. Remarque, le Québec a toujours été très fier de ses athlètes et aucun d'eux ne s'est vraiment démarqué dans les dernières années (depuis Salt Lake en fait). Joannie a choisi le moment idéal pour faire un gros boom! Juste avant les Jeux!! J'espère que ça va encourager les médias à nous en donner plus

chiyori wrote:

bibi wrote:

Yes, I filmed that at home, but it was like 2 weeks after it was actually aired, because I recorded it first on my tv. Tellement Sport is a new tv show and they often talk about skating, I found out that they show all their episode online here:
http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/tellement_sport/2008-2009/episodes.asp

Merci pour le lien! Je trouve ça génial que les médias québécois s'intéressent à nouveau au patinage artistique. C'est peut-être juste une impression, mais il me semble qu'on en parlait beaucoup plus quand j'étais petite. Remarque, le Québec a toujours été très fier de ses athlètes et aucun d'eux ne s'est vraiment démarqué dans les dernières années (depuis Salt Lake en fait). Joannie a choisi le moment idéal pour faire un gros boom! Juste avant les Jeux!! J'espère que ça va encourager les médias à nous en donner plus

Oui!! Je suis très heureuse que le patin soit de nouveau dans les médias, mais j'espère que Joannie n'aura pas trop de pression..