Figure skater Mirai Nagasu will go for triple-triple glory

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Yes, that was a triple-triple jump combination Mirai Nagasu did in her short program run-through at Monday morning’s practice at Pacific Coliseum, and it looked flawless to the naked eye. Nagasu, 16, appears ready to use the triple-lutz, triple-toe combo in the competition Tuesday night, hoping the upgrade from the triple-double she has done all season will impress the judges.

If, that is, the technical panel doesn’t downgrade one of the jumps for under-rotation, which has been an issue for Nagasu all year. Three downgrades in the free skate cost her the U.S. title, won by Rachael Flatt.

Once a skater gets a reputation for a particular flaw, it is hard to shake, even when corrected.

‘They will take issue with it,’’ said Frank Carroll, Nagasu’s coach. ‘They will examine it with a magnifying glass -- back end, front end and every end.’’

Carroll, nevertheless, is pleased that Nagasu will try the more difficult combination for the first time this season.

‘She wants to do it, so she is going to do it,’’ he said. ‘I think it’s great because it’s gutsy.’’

-- Philip Hersh in Vancouver, Canada