Skaters’ moves: Good or Bad idea?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

With just a mere eight months until the Olympic Winter Games, the figure skating world has been blasted with a flurry of coaching changes amongst some of the sport’s top contenders to make the U.S. Olympic team.

The news of these coaching changes has been slightly shocking, as it’s unusual for a skater to decide to change coaches so close to such an important season. Generally, we skaters like comfort and routine. We skate the same sessions every day, sitting in the same bench in the locker room or chair in the lobby to lace up our skates. We practice a routine over and over again to make it feel like second nature. And, the final thing we do before our name is called to take center ice and begin our program during a competition, is to skate back to the boards for a last minute pep talk and a few words of encouragement from our coach.

The skater/coach relationship is one that is vital to the mental edge and results a skater achieves. Because the coach a skater decides to train with can play such a large role in the outcome of their season, when a coaching change is announced for a top competitor the skating world lights up with predictions of how this new match up is going to play out.

Here are my predictions for how the newest formed batch of skater/coach unions will affect some of the top American skaters this season, ranked from best pairing to worst:

1. Mirai Nagasu to Frank Carroll

Mirai Nagasu, who became the 2008 U.S. national champion at only 14, is coming off of a tough competitive season. Nagged by an ankle injury and a growth spurt, she was unable to repeat her national title last year and fell to 5th place amongst the U.S. ladies.

Although touted by her previous coach and some in the media as a somewhat petulant teenager, I don’t get that impression of Nagasu. I think much of her trouble at nationals last year was due to a lack of a sound and reliable jump technique.

Mirai Nagasu Getty Images via Daylife

PROS: Better jump technique resulting in improved consistency. Carroll will bring a calming influence, which will help to quell Nagasu’s nerves under pressure.

CONS: Carroll has his hands full coaching 2009 world champion Evan Lysacek. Will he be able to devote enough time to Nagasu?

BOTTOM LINE: With undivided attention from Carroll and a lot of hard work, Nagasu has the tools to become one of the strongest skaters the U.S. has seen since Michelle Kwan. Great pick.

2. Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker to John Nicks

Last year’s U.S. pairs champions, by the skin of their teeth, McLaughlin and Brubaker have made a wise decision in choosing John Nicks as their new coach. Mr. Nicks, as he is know to those in the skating world, has coached champion pairs skaters since the 1970s.

PROS: Mr. Nicks will play up McLaughlin’s stage presence and enthusiasm, making this pair more exciting and eye-catching. Leaving Colorado Springs and the overcrowding of pairs teams to train with a coach who is able to give this duo greater undivided attention is another added bonus to their move.

CONS: McLaughlin’s inconsistency has hindered this team in the past, and it’s unknown if Mr. Nicks will be able to fix this. Being able to consistently land side-by-side triple jumps is key for the top pairs teams, and McLaughlin has her work cut out for her in this department.

BOTTOM LINE: Strong choice. Be on the lookout for cleaner lines and a more mature style from McLaughlin and Brubaker this season.

3. Jeremy Abbott to Yuka Sato

Jeremy Abbott had some brilliant moments last season, including winning his first Grand Prix Final and U.S. titles. However, he, like Mirai Nagasu, has had trouble staying consistent both in practice and throughout the two phases of a competition. Unlike Nagasu, Abbott possess a great jump technique, and his inconsistency is more due in part to his lack of focus and confidence in his abilities. Sato, a former world champion herself, is relatively unknown as a coach.

PROS: It appears Abbott and Sato have a friendship off the ice and respect one another, which is key for the skater/coach relationship. Sato is very calm, and her attitude will help Abbott relax when it comes time to compete.

CONS: This is a substantial move for Abbott who had been with his previous coach, Tom Zakrajsek, for over a decade. There will probably be an adjustment period, which hopefully won’t deter Abbott’s confidence too much as the season approaches. Sato is also unproven as a coach, making it slightly difficult to evaluate her coaching style.

BOTTOM LINE: Hopefully Abbott will channel Sato’s cool demeanor. The pressure’s on Jeremy to prove last year’s results weren’t a fluke.
4. Sasha Cohen to Rafael Arutunian

It’s slightly shocking that after all the speculation, 2006 Olympic silver medalist, Sasha Cohen, has solidified her comeback into the competitive arena. If she’s able to do well this season it will be great for the sport, as Cohen is not only a very exciting competitor, but the past few seasons the U.S. ladies have been in dire need of a “star” and Cohen has proven herself to fit that title and all it encompasses–the good and the bad. Arutunian, who previously coached one of Cohen’s main competitors, Michelle Kwan, is a fine choice for Cohen, but really, I don’t think it matters who she decides to take from, as it seems most of the time Sasha Cohen is her own coach regardless of who is standing by the boards while she competes.

PROS: Arutunian is a strong technical coach, and at times Cohen’s technique wavers slightly, so he’ll be able to get her back on track quickly. Arutunian will give Cohen the space she needs to work on her own, and I see this pairing as more of a mentor/guidance-like relationship as opposed to a really hands-on coaching relationship.

CONS: Cohen herself. It’s unknown if she will be open to listen to Arutunian’s coaching, and if she has it in her to make another Olympic team.

Rena Inoue & John Baldwin

BOTTOM LINE: The telling factor for how Cohen’s season is going to pan out will be her performances at her first Grand Prix of the season, Trophee Eric Bompard in October. If she skates poorly here, or is not received well by the judges, I don’t see her sticking the season out.

5. Rena Inoue & John Baldwin to Jenni Meno/Todd Sand

Inoue and Baldwin, at 32 and 35, are veterans of the pairs world and members of the 2006 Olympic team. They are best known for becoming the first pairs team to land a throw triple axel in competition. Meno and Sand, three-time U.S. pairs champions and two-time Olympic team members themselves, are in the same boat as Yuka Sato as they are not known for coaching top-level competitors.

PROS: Meno and Sand have been in a similar position to that of Inoue and Baldwin during their competitive career, and can offer their new students advice and relate to being the veterans in the pairs world. I think at this point in their career, like Cohen, Inoue and Baldwin’s coaching choice is not as important as some of the younger competitors, as they have become their own coaches.

CONS: Inoue and Baldwin’s heart doesn’t seem to be in training and competitive skating anymore. Baldwin has been unable to consistently land his triple toe loop for the past few years, and he is out of shape. No matter what Meno and Sand do, I don’t see them fixing this team’s lackadaisical work ethic and giving Baldwin the 180-degree turnaround he needs.

BOTTOM LINE: No matter what magic Meno and Sand are able to accomplish, this team’s prime has past. It’s time for Inoue and Baldwin to hang it up.

6. Caroline Zhang to Charlene Wong

Caroline Zhang is the reigning U.S. ladies bronze medalist and a very consistent competitor, something which has been essential to her placements thus far in her career. However, Zhang has very poor jump technique resulting in under-rotations and is often hurt by the judges on her technical mark. Wong was the previous coach of one of Zhang’s closest competitors, Mirai Nagasu.

PROS: Zhang won’t have to relocate, as Wong coaches in the L.A. area.

CONS: I don’t think Wong is a very good technical coach, and this is going to really hurt Zhang as she grows and is unable to rely on the faulty technique she has now. I don’t see Wong cleaning up Zhang’s under-rotations, and the judges are going to continue to mark her down despite the fact that she has many lovely qualities to her skating.

BOTTOM LINE: Here’s the thing: I think Caroline Zhang could become national champion this year–had she not chosen Charlene Wong to coach her. What Zhang needs is a strong technical coach who is able to not only discipline her, but also clean up her basics in terms of her jump take-offs and under-rotations. Unfortunately, without fully rotated jumps and a better lutz and flip technique, I predict Zhang will left off the U.S. Olympic team.

So there you have my predictions, but I want to hear your voice. Let’s get chatting about this, so leave me a comment with your thoughts on these coaching changes.

The one thing that we know for certain: Throwing in these new coaching match ups is sure to add some fire to the ice–and I can wait to see how it all plays out!

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• U.S. pairs champions Keauna McLaughlin, Rockne Brubaker switch coaches (sports.espn.go.com)