Well, from small beginnings this has turned into a lively thread.
In that photo of Mao posted several times, I think her fingers, albeit separated, are stiff and tight--the position is forced.
?? You must mean Miki Ando, right? Twelve-year-old Mao Asada is holding her skirt out in a curtsey. About Ando's fingers, I would say that they are fully extended and very dramatic. No, they are not "natural" -- that's the whole point of this art, IMHO. These are not slouchy teenagers hanging out "naturally" at the mall, they are dramatic performing artists. They should blow you away with the beauty that they are able to express with little details like finger position. (Sorry about the "fetish" post.
)
Sasha is getting up there in age. -- fanforlady2001
You make me feel ancient, Fanforlady2001.
But I understand what you mean. Historically, most skaters who are destined for greatness have already achieved substantial success by their mid to late teens. Sasha, of course, had the bad fortune to have lost a crucial year to injury. Anyway, that's the past. Onward and upward!
And now, at the risk of being a party pooper, I wanted to comment on the original topic of this thread. Which was, um, let me look back to page one -- oh yes, what do you think of Sasha's innocuous and politically correct comment, "this season has taught me to look at my skating instead of looking at the competition and what other people are doing. I've learned to focus on just enjoying myself out there, not even worrying about having to skate perfect."
Yawn. I miss the old feisty Sasha.
(Hey GrGranny -- there's a word that violates the "i before e" rule -- as Spellchecker just told me, LOL.)
I wish she would have said, "I'm going to kick the other girls' butts this year."
But she didn't say that, and neither she nor any other elite level female skater ever will. (Alexei Yagudin, now, that's another story!) We insist that our ladies be ladylike and wholesome -- the better to snag endorsements, my dears.
And finally, about criticism and bashing, I agree with Lucy and Dee:
Sasha is held to a very different standard (of perfection), fairly or not
This is the price paid by everyone who aspires to be the very best. But it is also the reward. When people start bashing you about petty things, it means that you have made it into the inner circle of the sport's elite. As they say in Hollywood, "I don't care what you write about me, just spell my name right." That's
S-A-S-H-A.
(Now, pass the beef contract. Want to buy my fashion line?)
Mathman
Though on the other hand, artistry always comes first for me. I would much rather her double a jump or double-foot a landing than land all the jumps and be uptight. I think this season might be hers!! It sounds like she is getting better and better with more confidence after each event, her improvement is amazing. GO SASHA!
