Four Continents

Triple Flip Posts : 342 Join date : 2009-10-24

i do agree that when performed well this program leaves an impression. the step sequence is v. athletic and intricate. the music has such heavy downbeats that it emphasizes mao's "pushing" each turn and twist.. im amazed how fit mao is to endure this powerful program with the 2 3As and the step sequence and the heavy, dramatic music.

Triple Flip Posts : 342 Join date : 2009-10-24

thanks clovera for the cbc link. great to see everyone.
did anyone notice before the women's sp final group they showed mao's sp from last year as well as akiko's lp. claire de lune was a great sp for mao.

Triple Loop Posts : 663 Join date : 2009-03-22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAWWNFRieFY&feature=sub

They danced to ABRACADBRA by the brown eyed girls
i love kpop!! keke and they used so many kpop songs through this competition..
look at Mao's moves!!

Triple Axel Posts : 963 Join date : 2009-04-20

Triple Axel Posts : 989 Join date : 2009-01-01

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/30/sports/olympics/30skating.html?scp=2&sq=mao+asada&st=nyt

Article from New York Times.
I feel that Mao will give us A great surprise at Vancouver !

Triple Flip Posts : 342 Join date : 2009-10-24

thanks ddmm for the link.

for me, whoever wins the oly gold i will be happy with. all i want is for mao and yuna to skate their hearts out and to skate their best in both the sp and the fp. thats all we can ask for.

i want both to peak in vancouver and give the audience a thrill (we all know the sport needs it). as scott hamilton says "you can't win an oly gold in the sp but you can certainly lose it"

so exciting!

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:45 pm

I finally saw a longer clip of Mao and the others dancing to KPop music. Hell, no!

http://bit.ly/9zjiww It's a 7min clip of the gala finale.

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:52 pm

Batsuchan wrote:: Thanks so much for the link, clovera!!

It allowed me to transcribe all of PJ Kwong's comments from the FS, so here they are:

(before she skates)
This is going to be a bit of an uphill climb for Mao Asada. Let's see if she can do it.

Mao has terrific speed. (As she heads into the 3F-2Lo-2Lo)

Innovative entry into that 3T.

Very, very strenuous and challenging footwork sequence.

I like the variations of positions in this combination spin.

(after the performance)
The very first time I saw this program, I thought to myself that it was ponderous and heavy, and I didn't really understand the choice. I have to say, seeing her skate it like this tonight though, the music obviously fills her...and makes her skate with unbelievable passion and strength. She really is a force to be reckoned with. But when this program doesn't work, it really doesn't work.

Terrific performance from Mao Asada.

(after the replays)
Really a thrilling performance. I really enjoyed that.

********

If anyone saw the Gala on CBC, PJ made an awesome comment about Mao before she skated her EX that I thought would be good to share.

PJ said: "Winners come and go, but champions are defined in a different way, Japan's Mao Asada a case in point, who dazzled in the free" sunny

Mao is a true champion! cheers

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:53 pm

Thanks for the link, roma! Hell, no!

So Mao danced with Adam Rippon for a teensy bit (too bad it wasn't Armin! Too sweet!

) And she got to stand next to her pals, Hao and Dan Zhang, at the end, that's good. Very Happy

sapphiresky wrote:: If anyone saw the Gala on CBC, PJ made an awesome comment about Mao before she skated her EX that I thought would be good to share.

PJ said: "Winners come and go, but champions are defined in a different way, Japan's Mao Asada a case in point, who dazzled in the free"

Mao is a true champion!

Eek! I just watched Mao's gala performance and I didn't hear PJ say that! Hmm, might have to go back and check... Very Happy

Awesome comment! flower

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:58 pm

Does anyone have a clip of Mao's EX? This user has quite a number of clips of exhibitions from 4CC including Akiko but there doesn't seem to be one from Mao. https://www.youtube.com/user/jewelskatersint#p/u

Dedicated Mao Fan Posts : 1294 Join date : 2009-12-28

I have a question. Why is it so much harder for Mao to do a 3A in her SP compared to LP. The probablity of landing two 3As in her LP seems to be greater than just landing one in her SP. Is it because she needs a bit of time to set up for the jump, and she may not have enough time in the SP to set up for it in the beginning? Four Continents - Page 14 Icon_scratch

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:26 pm

I watched it on the CBC site:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/Figure_Skating/Full_Shows/ID=1400174894

And this news clip has a short clip from it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QoU4YpW2lc

Mao says that her condition was really good before the competition, so she thought she could do it, but in the short program, the moment she stepped on the rink, she suddenly started to feel nervous, and she thought, I don't feel like I normally do. After the free program, she thinks that her triple axel success rate is close to 100%, and at the Olympics, she embrace her nervousness even more, and if she really focuses, she thinks there will be no problems. flower

They ask her if she's going to wear blue, because the last 3 ladies gold medalists have all worn blue, and Mao says, people have told me that, but there are also people who have won wearing red and black, so I'm still debating. I really like my current costume.

Nooo...please get a new red and black costume at least, Mao! No ruffles! Very Happy

I find it interesting that she keeps talking about the Olympics and Worlds in the same breath like they're equally important to her (and the 4CC before it). I would have thought the Olympics would've been first and foremost on her mind, but no, our dear Mao is still looking ahead to the next challenge! Hell, no!

At the end, she says, "I believe that since the first half of the season was so bad, the second half of the season will be equally good." Thumbs up!

Mao says that she'll see Kokubun-san (one of the announcers) in Vancouver...he looked a little TOO happy about that. Yeesh, creeps me out just a tiny bit. Neutral

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:37 pm

Batsuchan wrote:: They ask her if she's going to wear blue, because the last 3 ladies gold medalists have all worn blue, and Mao says, people have told me that, but there are also people who have won wearing red and black, so I'm still debating. I really like my current costume.

Nooo...please get a new red and black costume at least, Mao! No ruffles!

Nooo! Same reaction with you Batsuchan. Pls... let her have new costumes in Vancouver. She can have another red and/or black if she wants to but pls let it be a different design without the ruffles.

Even when Mao has skated this program clean at 4CC, people still seem to have a negative perception of it. But I did notice that those who wrote negatively definitely changed their mind when they saw it LIVE. Reading comments like those of PJ Kwong regarding Mao's 4CC FS is definitely wonderful!

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:55 pm

Hmm...I've noticed the blue costume and gold medal relationship too! I would like Mao to have a different costume, but I don't know if she would be as comfortable in it. The one that she wears has been with her through triumph and despair.
Do you guys think that she should change it to something blue because it seems to be lucky for the Olympics for some reason...?

Haha, yes, PJ's comment really made me smile! Batsuchan, she didn't say it right before Mao performed, she said it during the overview when she talked about all the medalists. I think that someone provided the link to CBC's videos- her comment is near the beginning : )

Triple Axel Posts : 989 Join date : 2009-01-01

I personally like the blue&black costume she wore at Japan Open. But maybe Mao prefers to keep that red one to remind her of her performance at Nationals and 4CC.

Subject: Re: Four Continents Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:39 pm

Hmm...Mao says her lucky color is red--that's why for the past 3 seasons, she's always worn a reddish costume for the LP at the end of the season. I want her to wear something she feels comfortable in. Hmm... Decisions, decisions! Very Happy

Dedicated Mao Fan Posts : 1294 Join date : 2009-12-28

But red is not actually a lucky color for Olympics Four Continents - Page 14 Icon_neutral

. Michelle wore red both times, and I think Sasha also did. But then Michelle also wore blue in her LP, so who knows.~~~ Since blue is my favorite color, I wouldn't mind if Mao wears it and also it may lighten up the atmosphere a little. Four Continents - Page 14 92512

Triple Loop Posts : 703 Join date : 2009-03-27

Can you imagine if everybody showed up in blue? Laugh

At first, I really wanted Mao to change her costume because I thought the ruffles didn't go with the choker and sporty feel of the spandex. But if Mao likes the dress, then I say go for it. It's better for her to feel comfortable and confident.

If she were to change her costume though, I still would want to see Mao in red. I really like the cranberry color on her choker. But even a more dramatic and dark shade of red might fit the mood of "Bells of Moscow" better. Like this color on Nastia's leotard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiXknY3K3XI

I wonder if Mao's only contemplating to change one of her costumes...?

Subject: Re: Four Continents Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:26 am

Batsuchan, who is the male skater in the beginning of the news clip? Four Continents - Page 14 Icon_surprised

Triple Axel Posts : 815 Join date : 2009-02-21 Age : 30

ddmm wrote:: I personally like the blue&black costume she wore at Japan Open. But maybe Mao prefers to keep that red one to remind her of her performance at Nationals and 4CC.

Me, too! I always thought that dress was really pretty (especially the sleeves and the blue tips of the ruffles on the skirt).
But I think the red costume shows more power. The ruffles give an illusion of broader shoulders and the dress pattern is reminiscent of flames.
I hope Mao just goes with whatever feel "right" for the occasion Very Happy

Subject: Re: Four Continents Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:52 am

Red and black in my opinion suits more to the theme of the music then black and blue, although something silver with gray would be good too. Smile

Triple Axel Posts : 963 Join date : 2009-04-20

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4321631914_99ba0476e8_o.jpg

Triple Flip Posts : 342 Join date : 2009-10-24

all black would work too with feathers... oh wait thats evan's costume. or something russian looking with gray and black!

Triple Axel Posts : 963 Join date : 2009-04-20

http://cfile292.uf.daum.net/image/170DEB144B659BD7CB099D

so beautiful! Wub

Subject: Re: Four Continents Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:27 pm

here is her EX at 4CC at last! Quality is not that fluent, but maybe it's just my computer...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7827NINC4U0

I love this program so much!!

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