The Czar Is Alive: Four Continents Championships 2011: Mao-Chan Watch Begins

So here we are again folks. Another figure skating championship, and as always my blog will be on the watch as my Mao-chan takes the ice. As we all have seen, she had finally gotten out of her lackluster run (or at least progressed majorly) at the 2010 Japanese Nationals back in December. She won the silver (winning the short and second for the free, just behind Miki Ando) and earned a place at the 2011 World Championships this coming March at Tokyo. She gained her confidence back, managing to land all of her jumps including her signature triple axels. Within the coming week, Mao and the other skaters will be flying off to Taipei, Taiwan for the Four Continents Championships, where she will be defending her title. This is a good warm-up for Worlds, especially when we know that she has been training even more after Christmas and that her long-time rival Kim Yu-Na will be debuting in her most competitive season to date. So watch out for updates this coming week, because I will be holding my breath. It's won't be easy too considering that most of her younger peers seem to have improved beyond imagination.

Let's see, so we have Yu-Na, Miki Ando, Kanako Murakami, Alissa Csizny, Mirai Nagasu, Carolina Kostner (puh-lease!) and Rachel Flatt (...maybe) to compete with. Pretty impressive, but if Mao skates in top form, there really shouldn't be a problem.

Personally, I think that if all goes well, there is no reason why Mao shouldn't place on the podium. Her total score at Nationals could have easily beaten GPF Champion Alissa Csizny's marks, and a by a significant margin too. Also, I love the fact that Sato-sensei have brought out Mao's inner zen when competing (she's sooo calm! Buddha calm!) , and apparently not only her jumps but her spins have also improved greatly in their training together. Though after watching some old footage of her 2006/2007 season, I can't help but feel that Mao should go back to Rafael Arutunian, only because he did improve her technical components greatly. Nevertheless, Mao and Sato seem to be a perfect fit, so best wishes to them both.

As for me, until the ladies competition begin sometime between Tuesday and the weekend, I shall be doing work. Although tonight I will be streaming the Grammy Awards live to watch Christina Aguilera and co. slay for the great Aretha Franklin. It's going to be a busy week!!!

For now, here's Mao's winning performance at last year's Four Continents Championships. Enjoy! Two more sleeps!!!