Cohen's practice sessions updates? | Page 7 | Golden Skate

Cohen's practice sessions updates?

fairly4

Medalist
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
for me--it isn't a comeback for her-
a true comeback has to be from injury before the beginning of competition and not because or her (stated Injury) as it may.
sasha to me is being sasha -as i stated earlier past couple years-sasha was on the olympic team when she left in 2007--read through double talke.
i would be very surprised if they left her off the team.
why--no national champ has been left of the team -except for those during world war 1 and world war 2 when they didn't have olympics
also no world medalist has been left off the olympic team and the fact they
built up wagners scores by finishing 4th after gpf and zhang when she did it in 2007 her scores wasn't built up. stayed same.

i personnally believe the only reason sasha left is the usfsa told her back in 2007 if she left a spot on the olympic team was hers. sorry--but she skated well, but overmarked a bit i would have given her a 63 and rachel a 63, mirai a 68.
ashley a 56.
unless mirai and rachel skates clean --no matter what sasha does-she is on team.
 

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 2009
This just seems perverse to me. If it's such a snooze, name another skater who's made a comeback to Olympic-year competition after four years away from all competition!

Did you see Sasha in SOI the past few years? There's a big difference between show Sasha and competition Sasha. She can't get by on spirals, Charlottes and salchows at Nats (or the Olympics, for pete's sake)! Even her body is different (at least 15 pounds different, in my estimation!).

Sasha is a competitor at heart, IMHO. Not a killer champion in the sense of Kwan or Plushenko - but one who's more alive on the edge in that electric atmosphere than anywhere else. She's said (as quoted in other threads) that she's back for that thrill. Frankly, I think perhaps she also needed this attempt to keep her name and career alive.

You are in a very tiny group if you think Sasha is an obvious contender for the OGM against Yu Na (not to mention the other top prospects)! I mean, anything can happen, but it would be a total stunner. Her age alone puts her at a disadvantage, let alone her rustiness, her inexperience with recent COP changes, the judges' not having seen her for years...

It's not even likely (although far more possible) that she can beat Rachael and Mirai, both razor-sharp from competing during the past four years when Sasha was doing 1 and 2-triple programs, living on a bus/in hotels/without access to good gyms, and eating like a normal person! Rachael is no Sasha, but OTOH she's well schooled in COP and her FP has beaten Yu Na's! Mirai is a huge talent that may be peaking at just the right time. Ashley is also a big talent who's shown herself capable of winning the FP. Nationals is anything but a walkover for Sasha. She got great press for showing up prepared and doing a strong SP ... and all that will evaporate tomorrow night if she doesn't make the Olympic team! Maybe for you that doesn't count as taking a risk. I disagree!!!

I don't mean to be grouchy, but when you shrink the challenge she's undertaken, you shrink both her and her competition, and that's not sporting. Me, I'm just watching in amazement at this young lady's willpower, talent, and readiness to let everything she's already achieved be redefined in the light of 7 -- or 10, or 14 -- minutes on slippery ice. :bow:

Thankyou for telling it like it is :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Witt, Boitano, G/G, Plushenko, T/D, etc.
Oops. Thanks! Of course S/Z are another case. My point still stands. I'm sure every one of those cases was accompanied by enormous speculation, doubt, unthinkable work and pain, and risk of both failure and injury (since older bones and joints are more fragile).

MKFSFan: I understand about fatigue and touchiness, especially at this time of the skating quadrennium - hope it was a successful fundraiser!

Sasha at this moment is a different skater physically than the one I saw the past three years in COI and SOI and, whatever she was improving in SOI, it did not require her to be anything near competition shape. She regularly called the SOI life "fun." What she's doing now, and the way she got in her present fighting trim, is something very other than fun.

Well - you're more knowledgeable than I and I sure hope you're right in your opinion that she can beat the young 'uns. I wish I didn't have such strong Olympic memories of teenagers skimming away with gold. We'll see soon. Meanwhile:
GOOOOOOOO S:clap: A:agree: S:love: H:rock: A:bow: ! ! ! ! !
 

MKFSfan

Medalist
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
I think sometimes the teens skate away because they are able to come in under the radar and shine without the pressure (ala Sarah 2002). I don't think this is the case with Rachael and Mirai (although Rachael has shown she can perform under pressure) since Sasha or no Sasha, this is an Olympic year and they are both in the mix for the most likely perceived only one spot (assuming Sasha gets the other). I know Sasha doesn't have the reputation for skating clean, but she has never had a melt down when it counts, and that is a big thing-she CAN compete when the stakes are high and be in the hunt, just doesn't have the steel competitive nerves of a Michelle, Tara, etc. And we all know she has ALL the tools needed to be successful, she just needs to connect the dots!

The fundraiser was a huge success, thanks for asking-mini-golf at the Crowne Plaza brings a good turn-out for a great cause! :agree:
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
The SP was always Cohen's strong suit, and Thursday night proved that it still is.

The LP was always her nemesis. I saw a practice report that read that she didn't do too well. Nagasu and Flatt are going to come in really strong and I have to put them as the favorites for the Olympic team at this point. But then again, anything can happen "in the moment".
 

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 2009
The SP was always Cohen's strong suit, and Thursday night proved that it still is.

The LP was always her nemesis. I saw a practice report that read that she didn't do too well. Nagasu and Flatt are going to come in really strong and I have to put them as the favorites for the Olympic team at this point. But then again, anything can happen "in the moment".

I still don't count Ashley out of it but agree Sasha will be feeling the pressure again tonight.

Rachael seems a good bet to win the LP so it could be a battle for the second spot.

I can hardly wait to see it.
 
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
I can easily believe she's got all the tools, and I can strongly hope that over the past four years she's developed a new inner strength that will get her through the FP. The only thing I'm worried about is whether her body will do the job. She sure looks like a Bionic Woman, though! :laugh:

I have to do something else for the next 6 hours. My nerves are jangling!
 

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 2009
Witt, Boitano, G/G, Plushenko, T/D, etc.

Yes, but they did it with several warmup competitons before hitting the big show.

I think Spun made a good point and for Sasha to come to Natls with no previous events due to injuries is pretty amazing.

We will see how she does tonight. One thing for sure is that she has created some interest in skating here in the USA and that is a good thing.

Go Sasha - win or lose tonight you :rock:
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I still don't count Ashley out of it but agree Sasha will be feeling the pressure again tonight.

Rachael seems a good bet to win the LP so it could be a battle for the second spot.

I can hardly wait to see it.

I hardly think it will be a slam dunk for Flatt. Nagasu could give her a run for her money (like in the SP) and win her 2nd title in three years.

Like I said in the LP thread, Wagner is in a position to put pressure on these three with a phenomenal skate. If she misses, though, she's done.
 

i love to skate

Medalist
Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Yes, but they did it with several warmup competitons before hitting the big show.

All the poster asked for was other examples of skaters who made comebacks in Olympic years. Torvill and Dean's first competition was British Nationals, Witt's first competition was Nationals, Plushenko only had one competition before Nationals as did Boitano and I think G/G. Lots of others have done the same thing Sasha is doing.
 
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kandidy

Final Flight
Joined
Apr 29, 2007
From twitter

Sasha Cohen was the only no-show in the final 2 groups of the 20-minute warmup this morning. I assume she's conserving energy for later today.The other five skaters in the top 6 after the short prpgram all made the practice

Sasha Cohen skips final practice session Sat am. Scott Hamilton: "rest more important when you are a seasoned veteran than getting up very early when you are going to skate a long program at 7:30 pm" (10 hours after practice)
 

Tinymavy15

Sinnerman for the win
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 28, 2006
i keep fearing the worst. Somehow I cannot picture she skating clean enough to make the team, but I hate that thought.

Last minuite prediction:
A clean Ashley wins the freeskate, a good Mirai wins the event.
Olympic team : Mirai and Ashley.
Racheal holds onto 3rd, Sasha drops to fourth.
 
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Listen to some music, that's what I'm doing :rock:
Yup! Bach cantatas are calming me down.

From BWV 93 (We nur den lieben Gott lasst walten):

He knows the right and happy hour,
He knows when it is needed;
when He has found us true to Him,
and sees no pretense,
then God comes, before we go wrong,
and bestows His goodness on us.

:)
 

soogar

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 18, 2003
From twitter

Sasha Cohen was the only no-show in the final 2 groups of the 20-minute warmup this morning. I assume she's conserving energy for later today.The other five skaters in the top 6 after the short prpgram all made the practice

Sasha Cohen skips final practice session Sat am. Scott Hamilton: "rest more important when you are a seasoned veteran than getting up very early when you are going to skate a long program at 7:30 pm" (10 hours after practice)

I keep wondering if Sasha skipped the practice to discourage negative speculation. There were internet updates in 2006 but now with twitter there are constant updates and speculation. One bad practice and it seems that the whole world will know it and that has to mess with the mind. JMO
 

MKFSfan

Medalist
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
i keep fearing the worst. Somehow I cannot picture she skating clean enough to make the team, but I hate that thought.

Last minuite prediction:
A clean Ashley wins the freeskate, a good Mirai wins the event.
Olympic team : Mirai and Ashley.
Racheal holds onto 3rd, Sasha drops to fourth.

I seem to recall TAT thinking Sasha did too much on the mornings of her LP's and that hurt her stamina wise, she would be too tired to get through. So, maybe she has learned something, learned what is best for her body.

Your last minute predictions sound very plausible, but I wouldn't be surprised if Ashley wins LP, Sasha is second (1st overall) and many scream wuz robbed for whoever is in 3rd in the LP...

My last minute prediction is Sasha will skate clean enough, just enough, to make the team and many will think she was gifted...she'll get no "e" calls, no downgraded jumps...while Mirai is hammered ala SC. Rachael has almost a repeat of SA LP, and Ashley skates very well. Sasha and Rachael make the team.

I REALLY hope Alissa and Caroline have their best skates, hoping for "once in a lifetime skates," tonight after such a disappointing SP.
 

Dee4707

Ice Is Slippery - Alexie Yagudin
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Country
United-States
I can easily believe she's got all the tools, and I can strongly hope that over the past four years she's developed a new inner strength that will get her through the FP. The only thing I'm worried about is whether her body will do the job. She sure looks like a Bionic Woman, though! :laugh:

I have to do something else for the next 6 hours. My nerves are jangling!
Spun, take it easy!!! I feel like Sasha has already by being at nationals and then in 2nd place to boot. She doesn't need to win the LP...she is a winner.

I agree about her body and being able to take on the stress of skating. She does look wonderful though.

I remember when, I think it was Mao, who won over Irina & Michelle. When they interviewed Irina, she said....she's a little girl....let her do this at my age and then I'll talk about how great she is. :clap: :clap:
 

miki88

Medalist
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
I remember when, I think it was Mao, who won over Irina & Michelle. When they interviewed Irina, she said....she's a little girl....let her do this at my age and then I'll talk about how great she is. :clap: :clap:

I remember that interview! Irina seemed really bummed about being defeated by a 15 yr old. Actually Mao skating at Irina's age is very possible. She just said in an interview that she will try to go for 10 national titles. ;)
 

karenll

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Spun Silver said:
Me, I'm just watching in amazement at this young lady's willpower, talent, and readiness to let everything she's already achieved be redefined in the light of 7 -- or 10, or 14 -- minutes on slippery ice.

Hmm...That's an interesting perspective. I never thought Sasha's comeback would redefine everything she's already achieved. Personally, I view what she's achieved as just that, what she's achieved, and nothing is going to take away from that.

I think she's doing this for herself, which I think is the most important thing. I'd rather try to achieve my Olympic dream one more time and fail at it, than not try and live with regret the rest of my life because I was too worried about what other people thought. JMHO.

ETA: Oh, by the way, nice to cyber-meet everyone! I've been lurking for a while but Sasha's comeback finally drove me to join. I'm glad to be here and looking forward to lots of fun skating conversations this Olympic season :)
 
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