World Championships 2011 - Pre-competition thread

Miki will be 26. Irina Slutskaya won worlds when she was 26, so who knows.

dangerous_angel_face wrote:

Miki will be 26. Irina Slutskaya won worlds when she was 26, so who knows.

Sounds positive the way you say it

I have a stupid question. What's this preliminary round? Who's taking part?

Quote :

Preliminary Round
21stMon

Pairs (FS)
13:00〜
Men (FS)
16:00〜

22ndTue

Ice Dance (FD)
9:30〜
Ladies (FS)
13:00〜

I heard something about it, but don't remember what it is.

alyssa wrote:

I have a stupid question. What's this preliminary round? Who's taking part?

I heard something about it, but don't remember what it is.

You can see the entry lists of the world championships 2011 from the following site.
http://deep-edge.net/list.php?s=2010&no=13
(a Japanese figure skating fan created a very informative website!)

The number of entries is 46 ladies and 45 men, but only 30 can make the SP in each category. Among them 18 skaters are already qualified (they are marked with D), and others have to participate in the preliminary round. The number of pairs is not large, so there is not preliminary round.

alyssa wrote:

I have a stupid question. What's this preliminary round? Who's taking part? ... I heard something about it, but don't remember what it is.

ISU decided to put them back (in a different format from before, however) to lower the number of total skaters in the short program (or short dance) and by extension, to not drag out that particular segment of the competition. I'll add on to what SAKURA wrote above with this quote from the official website of this year's Worlds.

Quote :

From this season, preliminary round will be executed in case of large entries. According to the result of previous World Championships, Member Federations will obtain a quota/s to excuse participating in the preliminary round as much as skater/s placed under 18th for Men and Ladies, 12th for Pairs, 15th for Ice Dance; and divided into two groups (preliminary round skaters and direct entry skaters).

Due to Tono's unfortunate disaster at last year's Worlds the Japanese men have two quotas (i.e., two skaters directly qualified to the SP) instead of three. As a result, the skater with the lowest ISU rank before the competition IIRC - in this particular case, Kozu - will have to participate in the preliminary round. This doesn't apply to the American men or the Japanese ladies since all three skaters placed better than 18th at last year's Worlds.

Hope this helps!

for the explanation.
Poor Taka-chan.

Poor Taka-chan... I hope he won't be too tired come the real LP. I understand that he's the lowest ranked japanese skater in the ISU rankings and that's the way it works, but he has the second best total score of the season (it's funny really... he's like over 50 points clear of all the other skaters who will have to qualify). I wonder if they debated using the Season Rakings... Would have been a good idea too.

Anyway, I just hope all the japanese men (and ladies) skate well so that this doesn't happen next year!

I also am afraid the QR will tire Taka out, but maybe he can approach it like an exhibition/warmup for the real thing. Of course, he should aim to win as he is the best skater BY FAR who has to qualify, but toning it down a little and then really GOING FOR IT in the long would be a good plan.

My dream podium is Mao-Miki-Kanako & Dai-Nobu-Tomas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEUQk1yH_Y

Mao in Euro Sports Ad.

Looking forward to watching Mao's performance with those British commentators
Hope someone kindly posts it on YT.

Just thinking about the competition, I have sweaty palms already.

linglang wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEUQk1yH_Y

Mao in Euro Sports Ad.

Looking forward to watching Mao's performance with those British commentators
Hope someone kindly posts it on YT.

Just thinking about the competition, I have sweaty palms already.

Yey!Triple axels! I can't wait to hear British guys, even I have Russian eurosport with a commentator who loves Mao I still want to watch WC with British guys too.

Today's Nikkei had an interview of Mao.

The following is excerpt from the article:

Mao says she's remarkably (ガンガン) getting better and better. She knows that her FP with new choreography was received very well and it boosted her confidence. Her 3A in FP @ 4CC had good entrance with almost no body tilting. Her lutz is becoming consistent. She's getting back jumps that she used to land when she was 15. (I predict there will be some argument about her lutz and 15-y-o jumps )

She thinks Team Sato is really good for her in every aspect. Sato sensei is with her almost everyday and Kumiko sensei teaches her a few days a week. Also she is practicing with Taka-chan, a male skater who is dozens times better than her.

Sato sensei let her practice until she is fully satisfied. But he makes sure that she doesn't practice too much before competitions. He has a good control over Mao's jumps and health.

Mao thinks nothing special about Worlds although it will be held in Tokyo and doesn't care about winning her second consecutive title. It is the biggest game of a season as usual. She is more stable mentally and technically than before. She wants to concentrate on delivering her best performances by executing all elements without points deduction.

http://p.twipple.jp/pbvdg

Lelya wrote:

My dream podium is Mao-Miki-Kanako & Dai-Nobu-Tomas.

Lol lets remove Thomas and put Takahiko please

Quote :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEUQk1yH_Y

Mao in Euro Sports Ad.

GYAAAA i saw this too already!
But i will hope, german Eurosport wont replace the competiton again and bring cycling or so, like they did last year! *still mad*

has mao said anything about if she wants to include a 3-3 in her programs?

ballerinamao wrote:

has mao said anything about if she wants to include a 3-3 in her programs?

I think about that she is talking as much as Miki is doing!

thaanks for the links and news about mao but i'm really still really nervous... worlds is right aroiund the corner and the little bit of news we get about mao is not much. by the way does anyone know if mao is going to change her fs costume to a red one, since maos fs music is liebestraum which means dreams of love and I think a red coutume would fit it really well...

Thank you, linglang! I was in dire need of a Mao fix.
I can't wait to hear the British guys talk about Mao too! I'm so excited!!! (squeals)

I love the article you posted and translated for us! Thanks! I think Mao is in a good place mentally. I especially liked the tidbit in the article where Mao got scolded by Sato-sensei for attempting to do a jump midway through his conversation. It shows how much she loves the sport.

maowataiyo wrote:

Thank you, linglang! I was in dire need of a Mao fix.
I can't wait to hear the British guys talk about Mao too! I'm so excited!!! (squeals)

I love the article you posted and translated for us! Thanks! I think Mao is in a good place mentally. I especially liked the tidbit in the article where Mao got scolded by Sato-sensei for attempting to do a jump midway through his conversation. It shows how much she loves the sport.

what?? when did mao do that where did you read it, could you please translate that article?

ballerinamao wrote:

what?? when did mao do that where did you read it, could you please translate that article?

But linglang already translated the article and she did a wonderful job!
There was a slight mention where Mao was asked if the coach had ever gotten mad at her. She said when her condition was bad, she was a little impatient and attempted to do a jump while Sato-sensei was still speaking. He got mad at her and yelled, "I'm not finished talking!". Nothing big, but I think Mao was just so anxious to improve her jumps. D

thaaanks for the translation lool I was just soo surprised...

maowataiyo wrote:

ballerinamao wrote:

what?? when did mao do that where did you read it, could you please translate that article?

But linglang already translated the article and she did a wonderful job!
There was a slight mention where Mao was asked if the coach had ever gotten mad at her. She said when her condition was bad, she was a little impatient and attempted to do a jump while Sato-sensei was still speaking. He got mad at her and yelled, "I'm not finished talking!". Nothing big, but I think Mao was just so anxious to improve her jumps. D

Thanks maowataiyo. Sorry ballerinamao, I didn't translate everything in the article because I didn't have time.

The part of the article maowataiyo mentioned made me laugh when I read it and I felt kind of relieved and happy.

In a Japanese figure skating magazine, Yukari gave an interview after she retired and she talked about Sato sensei. She says Sato sensei is basically strict and scary. But she wonders if Sato sensei can get angry at Mao and scold her.　She said it laughing.

It's good to know that there is no barrier of reserve between Mao and Sato sensei at training.

In a book on Mao published recently, Mao is asked what her ultimate dream is. When she is thinking about it for a while, Sato sensei joins the interview. He says he expects Mao to become a figure skater who will win despite one jump mistakes or two. (like Patric ??? ) He believes Mao will become a much higher skater if her skating skill, the basis of figure skating, improves. She will become a supreme figure skater. That is his dream. Mao is his dream.

Then, Mao says with a wicked grin that her ultimate dream is to make Sato sensei's dream come true.

linglang wrote:

In a book on Mao published recently, Mao is asked what her ultimate dream is. When she is thinking about it for a while, Sato sensei joins the interview. He says he expects Mao to become a figure skater who will win despite one jump mistakes or two. (like Patric ??? ) He believes Mao will become a much higher skater if her skating skill, the basis of figure skating, improves. She will become a supreme figure skater. That is his dream. Mao is his dream.

Then, Mao says with a wicked grin that her ultimate dream is to make Sato sensei's dream come true.

That's our Mao- so altruistic.

Is the book part of the series that put out "16" or something of that sort? Please grant us your review.
I've only read magazine interviews from Mao, things like "Number" & stuff. If it has substance I think I'm gonna go order it online or try to go to a Japanese bookstore.

linglang wrote:

maowataiyo wrote:

ballerinamao wrote:

what?? when did mao do that where did you read it, could you please translate that article?

But linglang already translated the article and she did a wonderful job!
There was a slight mention where Mao was asked if the coach had ever gotten mad at her. She said when her condition was bad, she was a little impatient and attempted to do a jump while Sato-sensei was still speaking. He got mad at her and yelled, "I'm not finished talking!". Nothing big, but I think Mao was just so anxious to improve her jumps. D

Thanks maowataiyo. Sorry ballerinamao, I didn't translate everything in the article because I didn't have time.

The part of the article maowataiyo mentioned made me laugh when I read it and I felt kind of relieved and happy.

In a Japanese figure skating magazine, Yukari gave an interview after she retired and she talked about Sato sensei. She says Sato sensei is basically strict and scary. But she wonders if Sato sensei can get angry at Mao and scold her.　She said it laughing.

It's good to know that there is no barrier of reserve between Mao and Sato sensei at training.

In a book on Mao published recently, Mao is asked what her ultimate dream is. When she is thinking about it for a while, Sato sensei joins the interview. He says he expects Mao to become a figure skater who will win despite one jump mistakes or two. (like Patric ??? ) He believes Mao will become a much higher skater if her skating skill, the basis of figure skating, improves. She will become a supreme figure skater. That is his dream. Mao is his dream.

Then, Mao says with a wicked grin that her ultimate dream is to make Sato sensei's dream come true.

I just Love team Sato.....this has to be the best coach-skater relationship i have seen in a while.....it would be awesome for her to make Sato's dream come true

I'd like to say, on the topic of the LP dress color - I think it is perfect. I believe the program's interpretation and the costume accent the "Dreams" part of the musical piece, with emphasis on its romantic nature, as opposed to pure passion. Purple/blue hues are usually associated with dreamy, idealistic imagery. Also, if her tango is fiery, red would be best left for that.

linglang wrote:

Today's Nikkei had an interview of Mao.

The following is excerpt from the article:

Mao says she's remarkably (ガンガン) getting better and better. She knows that her FP with new choreography was received very well and it boosted her confidence. Her 3A in FP @ 4CC had good entrance with almost no body tilting. Her lutz is becoming consistent. She's getting back jumps that she used to land when she was 15. (I predict there will be some argument about her lutz and 15-y-o jumps )

She thinks Team Sato is really good for her in every aspect. Sato sensei is with her almost everyday and Kumiko sensei teaches her a few days a week. Also she is practicing with Taka-chan, a male skater who is dozens times better than her.

Sato sensei let her practice until she is fully satisfied. But he makes sure that she doesn't practice too much before competitions. He has a good control over Mao's jumps and health.

Mao thinks nothing special about Worlds although it will be held in Tokyo and doesn't care about winning her second consecutive title. It is the biggest game of a season as usual. She is more stable mentally and technically than before. She wants to concentrate on delivering her best performances by executing all elements without points deduction.

http://p.twipple.jp/pbvdg

Did she really say "remarkably"? Wow! I'm excited!