Yukari Nakano and the 3 axel

[bmcc102]

I recently read that Yukari Nakano (and two other students of Yamada) has been working on and actually landed the triple axel at a competition in Japan. She beat Yoshie Onda at this competition; Onda fell on her 3 axel attempt. She is scheduled to compete at Skate America, which means that we may see this jump in International competition again.

After watching Jr. Worlds last year, I am inclined to think that Yukari will easily surpass Yoshie Onda this season. Yukari has much better musicality, better packaging, much more speed coming out of her jumps, better positions in her spins, better extension, holds moves out longer, and a much more appealing quality about her on the ice (in my opinion anyway). The thing that Yukari has a problem with is that she has a horrible wrap free leg on her jumps, which obviously Onda doesn't. Still, she is capable of the 3 axel and triple-triples (which Onda has yet to put into a program).

Does anyone else agree that Nakano can surpass Onda this season? I know a lot depends on the Grand Prix results, but I just thought I'd throw that out at you all.

Also, this is sort of interesing. These are the results from a JGP event in 1999:

1 Jennifer Kirk (USA) 3 1 2.5
2 Yukari Nakano (JPN) 5 2 4.5
3 Marianne Dubuc (CAN) 1 4 4.5
4 Carina Chen (TPE) 2 6 7.0
5 Yoshie Onda (JPN) 9 3 7.5
6 Sabina Wojtala (POL) 4 7 9.0
7 Naomi Nari Nam (USA) 10 5 10.0
8 Utako Wakamatsu (JPN) 8 8 12.0
9 Elina Kettunen (FIN) 6 9 12.0
10 Kristina Oblasova (RUS) 7 11 14.5

*Notice that Yukari beat Yoshie here in both programs, as well as where the 2001 Jr. World champ, Oblasova placed. Naomi Nari Nam was still in the mix and recieved the highest presentation scores, while Jennifer Kirk won the whole thing!

Just thought you might enjoy these statistics now that they are all (or mostly) competing on the senior level!

[duane]

if nakano keeps landing the 3axel in competition--as well as 3/3's--she may not only surpass Onda, but many other top skaters. i think the international judges--who havent seen the 3axel landed by a female since 92--will be very rewarding to whomever does so. (i'll admit, tho, that i am not that familiar with nakano, and the other aspects of her skating. how is her presentation?)

[michele]

Very interesting - I had no idea Onda competed in that JGP event! That was the season she broke out a few months later with seven triples in her LP at 2000 Four Continents (moving up from the short to fifth overall, IIRC). It earned her a trip to Worlds in Nice over Suguri.

Onda aside, it's also interesting to note that Nakano was for a time (in 99 and 2000) without a doubt the top junior prospect for Japan. Then last season, it really seemed that she was being surpassed by the likes of Miki Ando and Akiko Suzuki. But it looks like winning the silver at 2002 Jr. Worlds has put her back on track. :) She actually stood up on a 3A attempt in that 99 JGP, so it must be really satisfiying for her to have finally landed it cleanly after all these years.