(Long Overdue) Mao Post!: Asada Update

It's been AGES since I last posted about my darling Mao-chan, and as much as I would love to put the blame on tardiness thanks to the new term, it's all due to the fact that there really isn't much going on. At the moment, Miss Asada is still training and practicing her new programmes for the upcoming Grand Prix Series this Winter (for which there are still whispers of her sitting this one out! but that is so not a Mao thing to pull...). It was only the other day that I learned that her Short Programme will be to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov's nominal classic, Scheherazade. Choreographed by ex-coach Tatiana Tarasova, the videos that have surfaced show Asada practicing her new step sequence, a triple loop and a couple of spins. Her technique seems to be pretty much like it used to be; steady and strong, though I would have liked to have seen a jump combo or perhaps more speed. She has been working hard though. Remember that STUNNING showing at the 4CCs? The only way she could go is up. God knows her 2010-11 season was abysmal. In any case, I am sure that come the GPF, our favourite skater will be back in tip top shape, though not without her usual slow start (typical Mao :P). She has said before that she's keeping Liebestraume for her Free Skate Programme, which I am very happy with, especially since it's one of her best (music, lyricism, choreography, vibes, everything!) and a Mao-and-Lori-Nichol combo is a sure winner. For the Exhibitions, she has her Ex Libera (Ode to my Country) programme which is very lovely and soft, but it seems she has another one prepared to the music of Chopin's Waltz op.64 No. 2, as seen in a couple of her Ice Show videos from over the summer. For that one, I'm not to sure...but my issues are mainly towards the deconstruction of the music itself and not the choreography. Hopefully it'll be better in competition.

Overall, this season promises to be a clean slate for our Japanese champion (ok, I know it's Miki at the moment and I love her too, but my loyalties to Asada will never waver!) with a series of beautiful programmes under her belt. As for her jumps, she has not fallen since December last year (I think!), so in that department I am confident that she will land them all. No idea if she will execute triple-triple combos, as she has been seen practicing a 3FL-3LO, but we'll see. It's Mao, so you never know until you get it really. As it appears, Miki and Kim are sitting out the Grand Prix circuit this season, so if Mao competes, it'll be against the likes of the ever-improving Mirai Nagasu, a new crop of newbies who can jump like crazy (like Kanako Murakami, Ksenia Makarova), Alissa Czisny, and the steadily rising underdog, Alena Leonova.

For now, let me regale you with some favourite Mao videos.










Bring on Season 2011!
xoxo