The Return of Mao Asada: No Swan Song Here!

After a tumultuous couple of seasons, Olympic silver medallist and two-time World Champion Mao Asada opens her season by competing at today's Japan Open 2012. She teamed up with her long-time choreographer of choice (apart from Lori Nichol of course) and ex-coach Tatiana Tarasova and together they have produced what looks like a promising free programme. Actually, scratch that- it was fuckin' fantastic! Of course I am saying this in relation to the fact that Asada has not been able to skate a free programme cleanly like today since coming off of Vancouver. If you had been hiding under a rock for the last two years, let me remind you that the Japanese champion has made a painstaking yet necessary decision to correct and improve her jumping technique, hence the fruitful relationship between her and her current coach, the zen-like Nobuo Sato. Indeed, this necessary evil has finally shown its rewards, for despite a few minor flaws, Asada finished second in the ladies' competition with a score of 122.04, a mere 1.53 points behind reigning USA National Champ, Ashley Wagner. 

This season, Asada skates to Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake' for her free programme and as you can see from video, the skater's classical dance training and balletic influences go perfectly together. Her costume is also very much attuned with the classic Odette motif. No high lace collars or rose-bras from Tat this season (thank the Lord!). Unlike Wagner's take on last season's 'Black Swan', Asada's choreography echoes the ballet moreso that the feel of the Clint Mansell film derivative. Tarasova's music cut made sure to include not only Odette, for which Mao is a dead ringer for- with her pure and ethereal quality, but also Odile with her spindly, seductive fouettés (check out that crazy good step sequence!). No signs of her signature triple Axel just yet, but just as well, it may be better off for the time being. She did double a planned 2A-3T, and got a couple of < and an edge call on the lutz, but getting 68 points of presentation shows that the judges were jumping in on the comeback trail. She skated cleanly, and with room for improvement, Mao's season looks like it may be the exact push she needs in her bid to win gold at Sochi. Team Japan won the tournament with 569.25 points collectively, ahead of North America and Europe, respectively. 

Enjoy the clip! I know I haven't been able to stop. She's just so mesmerizing!