Nathan Chen (#Slaythan Fans) thread

[Sylvia]

Watch while they're still up (British Eurosport) -- Worlds FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zloHeoBv7LM
Worlds SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUH_vqsV45o

 

[Firedancer]

I found video of Nathan’s new exhibition program he performed in Japan today with an intro from Patrick Chan: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wYA-nO8D7Fo

 

[jlai]

Hmmm...I confess I like his previous ex better.

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks!! Song is "Back from the Edge" by James Arthur.

 

[Firedancer]

Hmmm...I confess I like his previous ex better.

Which one?

 

[jlai]

I like Parachute the best among the ones he has done the last couple of seasons.

 

[Firedancer]

I like Parachute the best among the ones he has done the last couple of seasons.

I really like that one too. I like this new one. I didn’t love the one he did at nationals.

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks!! Song is "Back from the Edge" by James Arthur.

The singer was impressed that his song was used: https://twitter.com/JamesArthur23/status/979894021584760832

The same uploader edited together all of Nathan's appearances in The Legends/Medal Winners Gala into one video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjMpABDkRQs

Nathan skated to "Nemesis" in the Osaka SOI show on 3/31 ("A sense of excitement exuded from the crowd as soon as the music started playing."): https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20180331-00000119-dal-spo

 

[gokcenx]

Nathan enrolled Yale University!
Congrats Nathan! He updated his instagram profile.

 

[olympic]

Nathan enrolled Yale University!
Congrats Nathan! He updated his instagram profile.

OK. He has said he is continuing competitive skating. I wonder how would he balance the two?

 

[BittyBug]

It's not just balancing school and work. Where will he train and under whom? Ok the where is easy, at Yale, but the who is tougher. There aren't really any high-level coaches (meaning coaches who have taken competitors to Worlds and the Olympics like Raf has) in the New Haven area or really in CT at all anymore. And it's not like it would be easy to fly Raf in since there is no major airport near New Haven (closest major airport is Bradley north of Hartford, which is a solid hour away. That would make for a very long trip from CA.

 

[Sylvia]

Congrats to Nathan!! I'm sure he will be asked about his college plans during the upcoming SOI tour. It's possible he will defer his admission for one year if he wants to continue to train in California, for example.

 

[Debbie S]

Are we sure this isn't an April Fool's joke on his fans?

If true, congratulations to Nathan!

 

[gokcenx]

Are we sure this isn't an April Fool's joke on his fans?

If true, congratulations to Nathan!

No joking. Yesterday, He joined YALE College class of 2022 GroupMe and wrote something. I saw screen shot on tumblr. And I don’t know how he will balance his training and his lessons. His coach stays in California, I think. So, Nathan might have discussed with his team this situation before he applied, IMO.

 

[Sylvia]

Another possibility is that he starts his freshman year at Yale this fall and takes the 2018-19 season off from competing. It might be smart strategically for him to see how any IJS rule changes passed at ISU Congress this year affect the men's field next season and then plan his comeback accordingly. Note that I'm just speculating here.

 

[nimi]

It's not just balancing school and work. Where will he train and under whom? Ok the where is easy, at Yale, but the who is tougher. There aren't really any high-level coaches (meaning coaches who have taken competitors to Worlds and the Olympics like Raf has) in the New Haven area or really in CT at all anymore. And it's not like it would be easy to fly Raf in since there is no major airport near New Haven (closest major airport is Bradley north of Hartford, which is a solid hour away. That would make for a very long trip from CA.

I've no idea how stuff works at Yale, but I just came across this GS poster who claims to be familiar with the workings of Yale and its rink; see the post here.

Basically s/he lists the reasons why the Yale rink is not a very suitable base for serious training, so Nathan would have to do some commuting. Also when it comes to balancing school and skating, Yale apparently doesn't allow part-time attendance, etc. etc.

But I expect Nathan to have a very good idea and a detailed plan re: how and to which extent he's going combine his studies with his skating. It's just that we're not privy to his plans and all we can do is wait and speculate.

 

[Frida80]

I've no idea how stuff works at Yale, but I just came across this GS poster who claims to be familiar with the workings of Yale and its rink; see the post here.

Basically s/he lists the reasons why the Yale rink is not a very suitable base for serious training, so Nathan would have to do some commuting. Also when it comes to balancing school and skating, Yale apparently doesn't allow part-time attendance, etc. etc.

But I expect Nathan to have a very good idea and a detailed plan re: how and to which extent he's going combine his studies with his skating. It's just that we're not privy to his plans and all we can do is wait and speculate.

I'm hoping they have a online classes that Nathan can take, so he can make his schedule more flexible. He probably should live off campus as well. It looks like he's in for a lot of early morning practices and will need his sleep.

 

[Firedancer]

Congratulations to Nathan!

I was thinking he could possibly take online classes as well. He has to have planned everything out when selecting which school to attend. I hope. Hopefully he is asked during SOI.

 

[Debbie S]

From what I know about Yale's academics, I would say that GS poster is accurate (and similar rules are in place at other Ivies and top schools). Nathan would have to enroll full-time but could take a year off at some point (not sure if Yale allows more than a 1-year absence).

Unless the surrounding community has changed a lot in recent years, I am fairly certain Nathan will need to live on campus. But that's such a big part of the college experience anyway, particularly at a school with a residential life system as organized as Yale's, that I'm sure Nathan wouldn't want to miss out.

 

[jlai]

It is also possible that between going to worlds in Italy and going straight to Japan for SOI, the only thing he knew was the number of acceptance letters he got at home, and which he prefers at this point. I'm sure once he gets back to the states, he'll have plenty of time to mull over all his options. I mean this is the guy who tells you five quads and ends up going for six, right?

 

[olympic]

Argh! Does that mean we won't have years of Nathan ahead of us?

 

[Sylvia]

No need to panic, folks! If Nathan's goal is to remain competitive for 2022, I assume he and his team will be formulating the best 4(?)-year plan possible to achieve his skating goals.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Yep it's on his IG profile! Yale '22! Congrats Nathan!!

 

[sk9tingfan]

I think Yale will be flexible with him and they have a summer session as well as online classes, which give him more options. Aside from the Yale facilities, http://www.yalebulldogs.com/information/facilities/ingalls_rink/index .the coaching question is still a mystery.

 

[Holy Headband]

I'm sure Yale will be interested in accommodating the training needs of the world champion in figure skating, so the rink's schedule may not be a problem. He may also be able to coordinate frequent travel with the administration and receive some extra consideration from professors in regards to exam scheduling et al., which is the treatment other high-level athletes and celebrity students receive.

The coaching situation is what intrigues me the most, not the other logistics.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I'm sure Yale will be interested in accommodating the training needs of the world champion in figure skating, so the rink's schedule may not be a problem. He may also be able to coordinate frequent travel with the administration and receive some extra consideration from professors in regards to exam scheduling et al., which is the treatment other high-level athletes and celebrity students receive.

The coaching situation is what intrigues me the most, not the other logistics.

I tend to agree with you as far as academic logistics are generally concerned except if he is going pre med(I think he mentioned an interest). Those sciences and required labs are going to be difficult from a number of perspectives

 

[DimaToe]

As talented as Chen is, he did have hip surgery at 16 years old. It’s a good decision for him to aim high when it comes to his college education. Whether his success in competition will continue while he’s pursuing an intense major at an Ivy remains to be seen, but it’s obvious that he is Rafael’s “pride and joy” so I’m sure that once a suitable rink is found near him that either he, Vera, or Kanaeva would be the ones traveling to Chen to make his training as accomodating to his school schedule as possible, plus I’m pretty sure USFS would try and help as much as they can.

 

[IceAlisa]

I was hoping Nathan defers his admission but he has already put it into his bio class of '22. And yet he said he is continuing with Raf and Raf sounded like they are continuing too. So mixed messages.

 

[skatesindreams]

All parties concerned are intelligent enough to work out the logistics.
Congratulations to Nathan!

 

[AxelAnnie]

All parties concerned are intelligent enough to work out the logistics.
Congratulations to Nathan!

Logistics maybe. Time never. Ask Michelle.