Any Sasha updates?

[janetfan]

Less flexible and bigger/better jumps in just 2 months??? Wow, RA sure s a miracle worker!

Why do you think Michelle went to him? Hello......

It feels better to read some news about her than just waiting and wondering - and reading remarks here from the doubters.

Some have even suggested Sasha should have risked further injury to win a few GP medals. That sounds like a victim of Cinquanta's brainwashing to me

What does Sasha need with more GP medals? Even Michelle used to feel the same way about GP's and she always kept her eye on the bigger prizes.

How curious to knock Sasha for once in her life being more like Michelle

 

[MKFSfan]

I don't think Sasha should've risked further injury and skated on the GP. I will say, I do feel if she was not as injured as she said, she should've skated through it. She's been away for three years. If Michelle skipped three seasons and wanted another shot at the Oly team, I'd feel the same way. The difference is even when Michelle skipped the GPS, she was still at the previous years Nats and Worlds, and she still showed up at the fall Cheesefests before Nats, so she was still getting feedback on her programs, not debuting at Nationals each year.

 

[chuckm]

If Michelle had decided to return to competition for Vancouver, she would not have waited until 6 months before the Olympics to begin training. She'd been training for about a year before deciding she'd rather go for a Masters degree than return to competition.

 

[janetfan]

I don't think Sasha should've risked further injury and skated on the GP. I will say, I do feel if she was not as injured as she said, she should've skated through it. She's been away for three years. If Michelle skipped three seasons and wanted another shot at the Oly team, I'd feel the same way. The difference is even when Michelle skipped the GPS, she was still at the previous years Nats and Worlds, and she still showed up at the fall Cheesefests before Nats, so she was still getting feedback on her programs, not debuting at Nationals each year.

It seems to me that after watching the GP's this Fall that if Sasha is healthy she should win or do no worse than second at Natls. Unless she has a total meltdown she is simply a better skater than the current USA Ladies.

 

[R.D.]

Yeah, and Ando will land two quads at the Olympics

Talk is cheap. But skating is not.

 

[MK's Winter]

I am glad Sasha didn't compete in the Grand Prix. Let's save it for Nationals and the Olympics! The though of no American Lady medalling at the Olympics kinda scares me! Sasha's got the potential to do and I think she can pull it off if she stays on her feet!

 

[MKFSfan]

Oh, I agree. I think Sasha is a shoe -in to win Nats, even w/o a lutz or 3/3. She could probably land 3 clean triples and walk away with the title based on PCS. I never debated that. All I meant was it would've been better if Sasha could have debuted her programs before International judges so she could tweak as needed for the Olys. I don't think it would be worth going to those events had she been as injured as she said because then she may have ended up in worse shape.

Supposedly Sasha had been training with RA since fall on 2008. Rumors say she was having a rough go and that is why she went back to Nicks, but who knows.

 

[R.D.]

I am glad Sasha didn't compete in the Grand Prix. Let's save it for Nationals and the Olympics! The though of no American Lady medalling at the Olympics kinda scares me! Sasha's got the potential to do and I think she can pull it off if she stays on her feet!

I hope folks keep in mind that even WITH a hypothetically fit Cohen on the team the probability of no medal is still high.

 

[Layfan]

I hope folks keep in mind that even WITH a hypothetically fit Cohen on the team the possibility of no medal is still very real.

at nationals or at the olympics? or both?

 

[Layfan]

oh wait, obviously if she doesn't medal at nationals she won't got to the Olympics... so you can't mean both

 

[Spun Silver]

It seems to me that after watching the GP's this Fall that if Sasha is healthy she should win or do no worse than second at Natls. Unless she has a total meltdown she is simply a better skater than the current USA Ladies.

I agree with you, but that's if healthy AND if in the same competition shape as before. Those are big ifs, but she's a very rare and determined skater. Those of us who appreciate her skating and want her to succeed can only hope.

 

[janetfan]

I hope folks keep in mind that even WITH a hypothetically fit Cohen on the team the possibility of no medal is still very real.

There is a possibilty Alissa will make the Olympic team. More power to her if she wins Natls. But everything wrong with Sasha is magnified with Alissa.

Sasha is simply a better version of Alissa and certainly if healthy she has the ability to show better at International events.

Rachael could do well at Natls and Worlds but I don't see how putting fans to sleep with her unstylish skating will help boost interest in the USA.

The Olympics is about being able to compete well under pressure. It is also about "it factor."

Do you think Rachael has more of "it" than Sasha? She not only lacks the name recognition but her skating feels downright dull at times.

 

[Layfan]

There is a possibilty Alissa will make the Olympic team. More power to her if she wins Natls. But everything wrong with Sasha is magnified with Alissa.

Sasha is simply a better version of Alissa and certainly if healthy she has the ability to show better at International events.

Rachael could do well at Natls and Worlds but I don't see how putting fans to sleep with her unstylish skating will help boost interest in the USA.

The Olympics is about being able to compete well under pressure. It is also about "it factor."

Do you think Rachael has more of "it" than Sasha? She not only lacks the name recognition but her skating feels downright dull at times.

Yep. The 2006 Sasha is off the charts compared to the current ladies. It really says something that her "meltdowns" were often good enough for silver. (( can already see the sarcastic comments about preferential judging comments so in advance - i don't agree)
However, I have to also agree with Spun Silver that she needs to get back to something at least close to her former form. Her spirals and spins can probably be half as good as they were and still put every one except Alissa to shame.
But it's not like she has much room in the jumping department. It's not like she had a triple-triple or an axel or something extra in her arsenal that she can let go. If her jumping ability is not at least as good as it was in 2006, she can be beaten ... even by Rachel.

 

[R.D.]

There is a possibilty Alissa will make the Olympic team. More power to her if she wins Natls. But everything wrong with Sasha is magnified with Alissa.

Sasha is simply a better version of Alissa and certainly if healthy she has the ability to show better at International events.

Now HERE I can agree with you wholeheartedly. They are both very similar skaters in that they have flashy moves but struggle with the jumps. But at least Cohen held on when she needed to, while Czisny has had more meltdowns than I can count.

The Olympics is about being able to compete well under pressure. It is also about "it factor."

Do you think Rachael has more of "it" than Sasha?

He** even I would be the first to say absolutely NOT.

But what Flatt DOES have over Cohen is the steadiness, the ability to compete under pressure. The way I see it, Cohen is a PERFORMER; Flatt is a COMPETITOR.

ETA:

If her jumping ability is not at least as good as it was in 2006, she can be beaten ... even by Rachel.

If YUNA KIM of all skaters can lose to Rachel on an off-night, of course Cohen could lose to her during a similar performance. The question though is whether USFS judges will prop her up on the component scores.

 

[janetfan]

If YUNA KIM of all skaters can lose to Rachel on an off-night, of course Cohen could lose to her during a similar performance. The question though is whether USFS judges will prop her up on the component scores.

Let's be honest here for a minute. No hypotheticals, OK?

Every top skater was held up this season when they struggled and many think the top skaters were given a boost with the pcs even when they skated well.

Is it your contention that as the reigning Olympic Silver medalist Sasha does not deserve the same treatment from the judges?

 

[R.D.]

Is it your contention that as the reigning Olympic Silver medalist Sasha does not deserve the same treatment from the judges?

You know, just mark skaters based on what they did THAT night. If they sucked, they sucked. But what if they didn't suck a week ago, or last year? Shouldn't matter. Otherwise, just cancel the competition and FedEx the medals. hwell:

 

[Layfan]

Now HERE I can agree with you wholeheartedly. They are both very similar skaters in that they have flashy moves but struggle with the jumps. But at least Cohen held on when she needed to, while Czisny has had more meltdowns than I can count.




He** even I would be the first to say absolutely NOT.

But what Flatt DOES have over Cohen is the steadiness, the ability to compete under pressure. The way I see it, Cohen is a PERFORMER; Flatt is a COMPETITOR.

ETA:



If YUNA KIM of all skaters can lose to Rachel on an off-night, of course Cohen could lose to her during a similar performance. The question though is whether USFS judges will prop her up on the component scores.

Yes, of course it goes without saying that if Cohen has a meltdown Rachael - and plenty of others - can beat her. What I meant to say is that if both skate clean it is conceivable that Rachel could still win - IF Sasha's jumps aren't at least as good as they were in 2006. Rachel has a 3-3. So Sasha, gorgeous spins and all, can't just walk in and do the type of jumps she has been doing in shows. And from the way she's been talking, it doesn't seem like Sasha has been able to do a combination of ANY kind consistently. I mean, I hope she can and all..

 

[R.D.]

Yes, of course it goes without saying that if Cohen has a meltdown Rachael - and plenty of others - can beat her. What I meant to say is that if both skate clean it is conceivable that Rachel could still win - IF Sasha's jumps aren't at least as good as they were in 2006. Rachel has a 3-3. So Sasha, gorgeous spins and all, can't just walk in and do the type of jumps she has been doing in shows. And from the way she's been talking, it doesn't seem like Sasha has been able to do a combination of ANY kind consistently.

You know what, you're absolutely right.

Folks take her out of the equation, then another one of these "talk" articles shows up to get folks talking about her again. Seems almost like a plot

But in reality, she is not a contender or even in the Olympic picture until she actually steps on the ice at the ladies' SP at Nationals. THEN we can talk about her chances of making the team, etc.

 

[janetfan]

You know what, you're absolutely right.

Folks take her out of the equation, then another one of these "talk" articles shows up to get folks talking about her again. Seems almost like a plot

But in reality, she is not a contender or even in the Olympic picture until she actually steps on the ice at the ladies' SP at Nationals. THEN we can talk about her chances of making the team, etc.

What if she delivers something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFerA2QZX8

Or even close to it........?

It would blow US ladies off the ice, and would give judges alot to consider.
Is Bond Girl or Masquerade Walltz really much better than this? Or Miki or Joannie's SP?

Of course if Sasha skates she will have a different program, but her skating is just so beautiful.

 

[i love to skate]

There is a possibilty Alissa will make the Olympic team. More power to her if she wins Natls. But everything wrong with Sasha is magnified with Alissa.

Sasha is simply a better version of Alissa and certainly if healthy she has the ability to show better at International events.

Really? I think Alissa is a better version of Sasha. Alissa has the best spins in the World, her spirals are outstanding, and she has better edges than Sasha. Sasha has said in an interview that her flexibility isn't what it used to be and Sasha's spins got worse over the years. I didn't find anything spectacular about them in 2006.

The Olympics is about being able to compete well under pressure. It is also about "it factor."

Do you think Rachael has more of "it" than Sasha? She not only lacks the name recognition but her skating feels downright dull at times.

It is four years after she last competed though - we have no idea how well she will hold up under the pressure or if she will still have that "it" factor in a competitive arena. I think Rachael could handle the pressure of the Olympics better than Sasha has in the past.