Any Sasha updates?

[Blades of Passion]

Did someone really just say that Miki's presentation is equal or greater than Cohen's?

If Sasha comes back at skates at the level she did during 2006 Olympics, she should receive the highest PCS of all the competitors. Yu-Na could possibly match her but certainly nobody else at this point.

 

[janetfan]

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So basically, more and more skaters have become artistic since Sasha left. The only real power jumpers I can think of are Rachael, and then Yuna and Miki, but the latter two are very emotive. Sasha won't stand out at the Olympics artistry wise, so if the jumps aren't up to par, I don't think she should be going

Watching Sasha , Michelle, Chen-lu and Shizuka and then today's skaters leads me to believe today's skaters are less artistic.

Seeing how Caroline still gets the best scores on spirals and Mirai on spins leads me to believe Sasha is still good enough and probably better artistically than all but a couple of today's skaters. Her positions and stretch are better, her interpretation is better and she is a better performer in front of a crowd.

I have no idea what you have been watching but this season has been full of absolutely dreadful performances and dull programs from the ladies.

Artistry has been on vacation this season and so has good jumping.

 

[silverlake22]

First things first. Setting aside whether Sasha is anything special compared to Kim, Ando, Rochette, Asada, etc. -- does she still have any special qualities compared to Flatt, Wagner and Nagasu?

I personally don't think so. I just watched Sasha's SP from the 2006 Olympics and wasn't too impressed. And given, that was the SOHL 4 years ago. Watch these videos in these orders and maybe you'll see what I saw:

Sasha:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFerA2QZX8 (look at her bielman at 2:59)

Mirai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcBce-zlA0w (look at HER bielman at 2:25 )

Alissa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rneEKMaa4k (note the speed of her spins)

Caroline:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoVsFRcxn4A (look at her final contortionist combo spin)

So basically, Sasha's jumps are 1 inch above the ground, like Zhang, Mirai's bielman puts her's to shame, Alissa's spins are much faster and better, and Caroline has unique contortionist abilities which Sasha lacks. Plus Sasha's spirals are hardly better than any of these girls.

As for Flatt, in the freeskate she shines, her jumps are much harder, much higher, and she lands a lot more triples than Sasha.

Of all the current competition, Sasha has the most in common with Caroline, and we all know how well she's been doing this season.

This is all just my personal opinion obviously, but it's probably safe to assume Sasha isn't quite as good as she was 4 years ago. I don't think she'll show up anyways but if she does I wouldn't be too worried

 

[chuckm]

What does that really prove? Do you think Sasha forgot everything she knew about skating?

Sasha has been skating in shows and still has some formidable and exquisite moves.

And she's been falling on and/or double-footing 3T, 3S and 2A with great regularity. People who've gone to see Sasha's shows that were later shown on TV have reported that she had to do several retakes of her jumps.

If she was having trouble with 3S, 3T and 2A, that doesn't say much for her ability to land 3Lo, 3Z and 3F, especially since she hasn't been able to practice lutz and flip much due to her tendonitis.

Sasha did try out her SP at one of her September exhibitions, and she didn't land either 3F or 3Z without falling or stepping out badly.

And I will repeat again: no one has seen Sasha practicing, and actually landing all her jumps. All we have seen is what she's tried in exhibitions, and that isn't exactly encouraging.

BTW, "exquisite moves" don't necessarily generate big points in CoP. For example, the edge quality of the spiral is FAR more important than the leg extension. And Sasha is not known for the quality of her edges. Much of the time, she is on the flat of her blade during her spiral.

There's a HUGE difference between exhibition skating, with one or two simple jumps, and a four-minute program packed with 6 or 7 triples, 3 spins and spiral and footwork sequences. Sasha's often had stamina problems in the past, and given her extremely short training period and existing injuries, she may not have the time or the physical strength to build muscle memory.

 

[Nadia01]

If Sasha comes back at skates at the level she did during 2006 Olympics, she should receive the highest PCS of all the competitors. Yu-Na could possibly match her but certainly nobody else at this point.

Also assuming Sasha can match Yuna's speed.

It's dreadful to watch a turtle crawling on the ice.

 

[silverlake22]

Also assuming Sasha can match Yuna's speed.

:chorus: can anyone match Yuna's speed? Don't think so. Maybe Carolina, but only because she's much taller than Yuna. Sasha is short, frail, and was never known for her speed

 

[Nadia01]

:chorus: can anyone match Yuna's speed? Don't think so. Maybe Carolina, but only because she's much taller than Yuna. Sasha is short, frail, and was never known for her speed

So if Sasha crawls on the ice and does 1" high jumps, why should her PCS be on par with Yuna? How does super slow-mo skating mean that the skater is better than the others who skate with more speed and energy?

I don't understand Blade of Passion's logic. That's all. I also think that Yuna & Mao have better transition than Sasha.

 

[silverlake22]

So if Sasha crawls on the ice and does 1" high jumps, why should her PCS be on par with Yuna? How does super slow-mo skating mean that the skater is better than the others who skate with more speed and energy?

I don't understand Blade of Passion's logic. That's all. I also think that Yuna & Mao have better transition than Sasha.

It shouldn't, and that's what people have to realize. I think many people think PCS is all about how good your spirals and presence are and how well you emote to the music, when really it's mostly about your overall quality of skating, speed, edges, transitions etc.

Sasha may have a pretty spiral but so does Caroline and she just got a 76 for her freeskate at SC....

 

[Layfan]

I personally don't think so. I just watched Sasha's SP from the 2006 Olympics and wasn't too impressed. And given, that was the SOHL 4 years ago. Watch these videos in these orders and maybe you'll see what I saw:

Sasha:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFerA2QZX8 (look at her bielman at 2:59)

Mirai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcBce-zlA0w (look at HER bielman at 2:25 )

Alissa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rneEKMaa4k (note the speed of her spins)

Caroline:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoVsFRcxn4A (look at her final contortionist combo spin)

So basically, Sasha's jumps are 1 inch above the ground, like Zhang, Mirai's bielman puts her's to shame, Alissa's spins are much faster and better, and Caroline has unique contortionist abilities which Sasha lacks. Plus Sasha's spirals are hardly better than any of these girls.

As for Flatt, in the freeskate she shines, her jumps are much harder, much higher, and she lands a lot more triples than Sasha.

Of all the current competition, Sasha has the most in common with Caroline, and we all know how well she's been doing this season.

This is all just my personal opinion obviously, but it's probably safe to assume Sasha isn't quite as good as she was 4 years ago. I don't think she'll show up anyways but if she does I wouldn't be too worried

You've left me speechless. If you can watch Sasha's 2006 SP and be unimpressed we will just never be able to agree on Sasha, ever.

 

[Layfan]

It shouldn't, and that's what people have to realize. I think many people think PCS is all about how good your spirals and presence are and how well you emote to the music, when really it's mostly about your overall quality of skating, speed, edges, transitions etc.

Sasha may have a pretty spiral but so does Caroline and she just got a 76 for her freeskate at SC....

Yeah ... And did Sasha ever get such an abysmal score for her FS? I don't think so.

 

[R.D.]

Chuck is right, but that won't stop folks from dreaming and imagining stuff.

 

[Layfan]

Watching Sasha , Michelle, Chen-lu and Shizuka and then today's skaters leads me to believe today's skaters are less artistic.

Seeing how Caroline still gets the best scores on spirals and Mirai on spins leads me to believe Sasha is still good enough and probably better artistically than all but a couple of today's skaters. Her positions and stretch are better, her interpretation is better and she is a better performer in front of a crowd.

I have no idea what you have been watching but this season has been full of absolutely dreadful performances and dull programs from the ladies.

Artistry has been on vacation this season and so has good jumping.

Could not agree more. To say that Sasha's artistry wouldn't stand out at the Olympics just sound strange to me ... and at nationals? Sasha's 2006 SP was good enough to beat clean programs by Irina Slutskaya and Shizuka Arakawa. To suggest that it was an unimpressive skate that wouldn't beat the likes Flatt, Wagner and Nagasu ... hmm.

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

But doesn't that argue that the rule/structure of skating/COP remains unchanged?

 

[Nadia01]

Could not agree more. To say that Sasha's artistry wouldn't stand out at the Olympics just sound strange to me ... and at nationals? Sasha's 2006 SP was good enough to beat clean programs by Irina Slutskaya and Shizuka Arakawa. To suggest that it was an unimpressive skate that wouldn't beat the likes Flatt, Wagner and Nagasu ... hmm.

It's 2009 now, so who cares how she did in 2006?

Besides Sasha's 2006 SP couldn't get her OGM. So who cares how she did in SP since she can't score enough to get a huge lead over the other skaters and she can't do a decent LP anyway.

<-- feeling annoyed by the entire situation & how people are talking like Sasha's been able to maintain her 2006 condition all this time

ETA: There's no guarantee that Sasha isn't going to be hammered by edge calls and URs. When Sasha was skating, it wasn't as picky about things like that.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Also assuming Sasha can match Yuna's speed.

It's dreadful to watch a turtle crawling on the ice.

I think the poster was talking about Nationals.

 

[Nadia01]

I think the poster was talking about Nationals.

So is Sasha the fastest skater from the States? I'm confused now b/c I thought Rachael skated faster.

Also the poster said the only person who MAY be able to match Sasha's PCS is Yuna, which to me indicates that he's not talking about Nationals. (Yuna's not American so cannot show up at the US Natl)

 

[Layfan]

It's 2009 now, so who cares how she did in 2006?

Besides Sasha's 2006 SP couldn't get her OGM. So who cares how she did in SP since she can't score enough to get a huge lead over the other skaters and she can't do a decent LP anyway.

<-- feeling annoyed by the entire situation & how people are talking like Sasha's been able to maintain her 2006 condition all this time

ETA: There's no guarantee that Sasha isn't going to be hammered by edge calls and URs. When Sasha was skating, it wasn't as picky about things like that.

Nadia: I was specifically responding to a post in which someone said they were unimpressed with her 2006 SP and suggested that Rachael and the other Americans could easily beat a performance like that. Obviously, nobody knows if the 2009-2010 Sasha looks anything like that. So relax.

(BTW, as for edge calls and URs, she'd hardly be the only lady struggling with those at nationals.)

 

[Nadia01]

Nadia: I was specifically responding to a post in which someone said they were unimpressed with her 2006 SP and suggested that Rachael and the other Americans could easily beat a performance like that. Obviously, nobody knows if the 2009-2010 Sasha looks anything like that. So relax.

(BTW, as for edge calls and URs, she'd hardly be the only lady struggling with those at nationals.)

Ahh...okay. Never mind then. Sorry I was testy. Forgive me?

You're right. I also don't think Rachael or Alissa or Mirai can beat Sasha's 2006 Oly SP b/c it was superior to their current performance.

 

[silverlake22]

You've left me speechless. If you can watch Sasha's 2006 SP and be unimpressed we will just never be able to agree on Sasha, ever.

I totally understand why people think Sasha is amazing, but I personally just don't get much out of her skating. Artistry and emotion is all well and good, but I think that jumps are the most important thing in figure skating. If a artistic skater with good presence can't hit the jumps and hit them well, I think she's better off doing ballet.

As for the other American ladies, maybe I'm a little biased, I love Mirai and think she's awesome even though the international judges seem to think otherwise. Alissa is a beautifully artistic skater but even her jumps are a lot better and higher than Sasha's. Rachael is not that artistic but her jumps are awesome. Caroline without the mule kick if she had more emotion is basically the same skater as Sasha, and neither I am a big fan of (mostly do to their diva attitudes admittedly). I watch Sasha's SP from the Olympics and, well yeah, it was nice, but when I watch any of Yuna's SP her speed and huge jumps in addition to her great artistry gives me the chills.

 

[MKFSfan]

So is Sasha the fastest skater from the States? I'm confused now b/c I thought Rachael skated faster.

Also the poster said the only person who MAY be able to match Sasha's PCS is Yuna, which to me indicates that he's not talking about Nationals. (Yuna's not American so cannot show up at the US Natl)

I think of all the US Ladies, only Mirai has speed. Everyone else, even Rachael and Sasha, seem so slow compared to the other elite Ladies.

I believe if Sasha shows up to Nationals and is able to get through the SP clean enough, she will get high PCS marks even if she only lands 3 triples in the LP to keep her within striking distance of Gold. It's so hard to speculate what Sasha is capable of since the latest video clip just had her doing FW and a little spiral. Until we see her complete at least 4 jumping passes, all speculation is just that.

If, and that is a big IF, Sasha returns to 2006 form, which I believe is very unlikely, she will contend for a podium spot. If she gets her triples back, just not up to par with her 2006 form (which I feel is most likely to happen), I still think she could be in the running for Bronze, but a top 6 finish would be an accomplishment that is within grasp. But if she keeps struggling with her lutz, can't do the loop and has no 3/3, podium is very unlikely. Last rumor we heard was she could do all the pieces, just not capable of doing run throughs-that was always her weakness, and if she's struggling due to injury, probably an even bigger issue. There is still another month until Nationals, so that could either give her more time to be fit and ready, or she could have more issue with injury. Time will tell.