Another thought on the same old, same old. Sasha's "inconsistency." When I watched her short, I was SO impressed by her jumps (flutz aside). None of the wonky landings that I feel have characterized her jumps in the past. They were gorgeous and had a wonderful run-out. Sounds like the QR was similar. Why is it inconceivable that she just has a case of the nerves?
I cannot fathom the pressure that comes with trying to win a World gold medal. From a personal perspecitive, I'm not sure how I'd fare. Ice is slippery! I was very nervous as I was getting myself ready for a bike time trial yesterday. Really silly to be honest, but I have expectations of myself, and I don't like to fail. Riding slower than my competition is a failure. Clearly I'm competitive (!) and that translates into quite a set of nerves which does not help my performance. Thank goodness I don't have ice to deal with.
My point in all that babble, is that it seems reasonable to me to think that Sasha's issue could be as simple - well, simple to identify, not so easy to fix - as nerves. She has shown her wonderful skating ability on the practice ice numerous times, and in the first two rounds of this year's worlds (amongst other places). The wonky landings seem to my untrained eye to be a sign of stiffness which could result from being nervous. The _____ - insert the big words Rgirl used - analogy seems interesting, but could that be the case if she is capable of doing a full, perfect LP at some times but not others?
It makes me sad that she gets a bad rap for her "inconsistency" because it just seems so difficult, to me anyway. I don't know how someone like Michelle does it. In any case, I'd think a sports phychologist would benefit her. I wish her luck and would love to know her secrets if she figures it out
I cannot fathom the pressure that comes with trying to win a World gold medal. From a personal perspecitive, I'm not sure how I'd fare. Ice is slippery! I was very nervous as I was getting myself ready for a bike time trial yesterday. Really silly to be honest, but I have expectations of myself, and I don't like to fail. Riding slower than my competition is a failure. Clearly I'm competitive (!) and that translates into quite a set of nerves which does not help my performance. Thank goodness I don't have ice to deal with.
My point in all that babble, is that it seems reasonable to me to think that Sasha's issue could be as simple - well, simple to identify, not so easy to fix - as nerves. She has shown her wonderful skating ability on the practice ice numerous times, and in the first two rounds of this year's worlds (amongst other places). The wonky landings seem to my untrained eye to be a sign of stiffness which could result from being nervous. The _____ - insert the big words Rgirl used - analogy seems interesting, but could that be the case if she is capable of doing a full, perfect LP at some times but not others?
It makes me sad that she gets a bad rap for her "inconsistency" because it just seems so difficult, to me anyway. I don't know how someone like Michelle does it. In any case, I'd think a sports phychologist would benefit her. I wish her luck and would love to know her secrets if she figures it out