- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
I do not feel much similarity with Sasha here. Sasha is the epitome of "dainty" even with pounds on, she skates is a balletic/rhyth typemic gymnastic way, grace personified with the tiny poinetd toes in jumps. Sasha made mistakes, but her swan was far more swan like, refined and delicate, yet fiery. Sasha is an artist on the ice, and even with no jumps, she is still astounding at times. Ashley did very well and I liked her best of the US ladies this year and also feel she was under rated and underscored in the past. I am not sure the intl judges will flip for her unless she brings a consistent 3x3. That will help greatly. She skates as she talks, with much assertion, strength and determination. She looks like an athlete in her tutu costume, not a ballerina as she is so muscled all over.
I'd love Ashley to prove me wrong about her standing with intl judges. I did not see her get the scores she deserved on the GP. I would have been more generous. This worlds is about the overcomers who are at the end of their comp. years. The judges will have sympathy for Mao, Carolina, Alissa and Akiko, and love these ladies skating. As for Mao, she's not at the end..she can do it til Sochi. I truly expect another podium finish for her, though the color I have no clue about. It seems politics will put one of those amazing Russian girl/women on the podium. Russia has three skaters now who i think are far better than Irina (adorable gal) and look at her success? Will they all get held up? Not possible, but these are the favorites. Ashley may be someone who gets a a bit screwed internationally. I am happy she performed as I knew she could. I enjoy her, and two years from now we might see a transformed even more woman who skates Black Swan very differently. I looked at Caroline Zhang and was amazed.
I still can't believe she was not bronze. It wasn't gigantic but that was a triple loop/triple loop! Shades of Tara! As for Paul Wylie, he had the goods but no confidence and he was at Harvard, Olympia, was it? His earlier skates show the stretch and body line/posture of a shorter John Curry. He was fighting demons but for raw talent, I put him up there with the great men of all time. He is a man, who manages grace, style, finesse and out right perfection of line while never looking less than masculine. I like that.
Well, I would love for Ash or Alissa or any of them to have the stars align and make me eat my words as they get crowned World Champion. Too bad we cannot put Ashley's drive into Alissa's head!
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