Sasha Leaves Tarasova For Robin Wagner

[Doggygirl]

...the ONLY thing mentioned in an official press release about the reasons for Sasha's change was the "TT didn't think she should skate in the Michigan comp" due to an illness.

I'm not buying that as a skating fan - maybe that's all there is but I suspect a coaching change decision would require more factors than that.

BUT...

By the same token I've read here and on other boards speculation about needing improvement on jumps, TT's health, Sasha's mental ability to deal with compeition, and many other things. Since I've seen none of those things quoted in valid news reports from Sasha or TT, I discount all of it.

We may or may not ever know why this decision was *really* made, but speculating just gets crazy at some point.

I will wait patiently to see what the results are of this change - and Nationals will be our first view of that on the ice.

DG

[Gardenkitty]

It will be interesting to see what kind of relationship Robin and Sasha develop. We know how close Sarah and Robin were, but Sarah came to Robin when she was much younger and not yet an elite skater. Robin was with Sarah as she worked her way up the ranks and when she dealt with some difficult personal times due to her mother's illness.

Sasha is already an elite skater (ranked #1 by the ISU) and over 18. I don't suspect her relationship with Robin will be the same as Sarah's - but it will be interesting to see.

I'll also be interested to see if this is a long term arrangement or if Sasha will make other plans once this season is over. I suspect that will depend in part of Sasha's results at Nats and Worlds.

[Lucy25]

I tend to believe the press release from the Hartford, Conn paper that mentions a difference in philosphy between Sasha and TT. There is no mention of TT's health problems. Of course, what do I know? There are also posts on FSU from a poster who seems to be in the know with Russian skaters who confirms TT's and Sasha's deteriating relationship. I find it odd that none of the press releases mention TT's other skaters; this is another reason why I am doubting the illness escuse. If Russian Nationals weren't the same week as US Nationals, I may be more inclined to believe all this. Seeing TT and Sasha in the K&C at the Cheesefest and GPF, there was no interaction besides TT rubbing Sasha's back. I thought it looked very odd. Whatever the real reason, I just find this all very bizarre. I'd like to know how long this has been in the works and if Sasha has already stared to work with Robin. Two weeks is not a whole lot of time (before Nationals), especially since she is bound to have lots of attention on her from the media distracting her. At Nationals Sasha will either be really relaxed, or totally stressed out.

[skatepixie]

Perhaps Sasha and TT wernt really feeling comfortable because they knew that TT was going to have to leave...

[lavender]

So she’s going to continue training but not her most prize student. Very interesting.

[kappa_1]

Well I guess with this ontop of her two last competitions we can say she isn't the favourite going into nationals.

This is a major shock to me, I certainly never saw this coming. All I can do ow is hope that this was a good move for her and I hope she can fulfill her full potential.

[euterpe]

If you look back at Sasha's relationship with John Nicks (Sasha called all the shots, and always did things her way) and compare that to Sasha's relationship with TT (TT strict and demanding, Sasha obedient) it was pretty clear that a clash with TT had to develop at some point. What caused it to happen may never become known.

Look also at Sarah's relationship with Robin: she often said they were as close as sisters and she referred to Robin as her 'best friend'. The relationship had developed over years, since Sarah was a young girl, long before she became an elite skater. They shared a goal, and they worked toward the goal cooperatively and with equal enthusiasm. Last season, though, Sarah seemed to be a reluctant competitor, and Robin couldn't motivate her to work and practice as vigorously as she had pre-SLC, and the results showed at Worlds 2003.

As a coach, Robin allowed Sarah to continue with poor pick jump technique (that high kick) and the flutz, and didn't start working on the posture faults until fairly late in the game. Sarah's athletic prowess and consistency plus her determination work hard and succeed was probably just as much of a factor in her success as Robin's coaching.

Now we have Sasha with Robin. This is a relationship formed overnight, and IMHO, these two are mismatched. Sasha sorely needs a technical coach, and Robin is not that. Sasha also needs a coach who can handle her headstrong tendencies. I am not sure Robin is all that forceful. She couldn't get Sarah to buckle down and practice in her final season (and it seems Sarah has hung up her skates for good, if Robin has accepted Sasha as a student).

I think Sasha was looking for a coach on the East coast who could help her win the titles she hungers for. Unfortunately, a coach cannot go out there and skate for Sasha in the big pressure events.

[Ogre Mage]

Oh my oh my. What to make of this? I tend to think that we are not being told the FULL truth. I fully believe that Tatiana IS having health problems but I suspect that there is also more to the story. Even if she were ill, I do not think Tarasova would pull out this close to US Nationals unless she were on death's door. I strongly believe that there was some kind of rift between Tarasova and Sasha -- who knows what it was. Did something happen in the time between TL and the ABC Challenge? Sasha was skating well up until that event, when she started crapping out.

Perhaps Robin might be a good coach for Sasha, but PLEASE do not let Robin choreograph Sasha's programs. Perhaps Tarasova could still act as Sasha's choreographer? I always hated Robin's choreography for Sarah, though that was amplified by Sarah's lack of carriage/posture. Of course, as others have said, the change to Robin may only be temporary.

While I can believe that Sasha left Tatiana, I still can't believe that she would go to Robin, and right before US Nationals besides. With this plus the whole Kwan-Williams relationship rumors, there is more than enough fodder for "As The Skate Blade Turns."

[thisthingcalledlove]

she should've gone to zmievskaya. she was literally next door! or even linichuk...

[Jimmy Hoffa]

I saw a post entitled "SASHA LEAVES TARASOVA!!!" on another forum late last night. I just snickered at the joke and went to bed. Well, the joke is on me because it's real!

I guess I shouldn't be shocked at any coaching change after Michelle Kwan went an Olympic season without a coach.

So much is made about Robin Wagner never coaching anyone but Sarah Hughes, not even her sisters. Does this mean that Hughes isn't coming back so Wagner can take someone else, or if Hughes decided to come back would Wanger coach them both (!!!) or would Hughes have to find someone else?

[Tonichelle]

the reason Robin saw her skater win the Olympic gold was because Sasha flubbed, and Sarah is a very focused person/skater

Sasha... can not compete WELL all the time without a competitor's focus...

I agree... I see some coach hopping in her near future!

[gracefulswan]

or maybe this means that robin doesn't feel inclined to wait around till sarah decided to make a comeback. it's all about doing what she loves to do... and sasha obviously has the talent to become an OGM.. that could mean another one in the bag for her if she ever can get sasha to mentally focus and land those jumps. those edges just won't hold right now... is it poor tech. or lack of strength? we'll see if she ever can fulfill her potential.

[Jhar55]

After reading this and thinking back to watching the GPF Sasha and TT did seem a little cold to each other but I just thought it was due to her poor skate.
Is it just me or does it look like all / most of the Russian coaches are moving back to Russia? And most are saying it's for health reasons!
Personal I don't think Sasha will be happy with Robin and like others have saud maybe it's only until she finds another coach.
Dosen't Scott Williams have an opening...:D
Anyway best of luck to her, it's been in the last year that I've started to enjoy her skating.

[rtureck]

Robin is a good coach, she was coach of the year in 2002. Robin has money, and she can afford to devote herself 100% to just one student.

People tend to criticize Sarah's technique etc Look at Sarah, she is consistent, she has mental toughess, and she has good practice habits. Even though she sets up her jumping passes mirror image to the other skaters, there were no near misses. I credit a lot of that to Robin.

Sasha is fortunate to have Robin Wagner

Tarasova's health:
I don't know she has health problems, hope she is OK. At Reading TT looked OK, she sat in front of me one time, and she was yapping away in Russian with one of her friends for the entire duration of the competition that evening.

[berthes ghost]

I'm no Robin fan, but I wouldn't fault her for Sarah's technique problems.

IIRC, Sarah came to Robin later, after she learned her jumps. They talked all the time about correcting her problems. The year that Sarah trained really hard with Robin, she won SLC with some of her best jumps ever. After SLC, Sarah woulnd't listen to Robin's pleas to train harder, and we saw a Sarah reverted back to her old bad habits at worlds 03.

Blaming a coach for failure to motivate a student is right up there with blaming your parents for all your shortcomings. It may keep shrinks rich, but in the end it's up to us to take control of our lives, not blame others for our own laziness.