Any Sasha updates?

[silverlake22]

Well "third wins a medal."

Are you saying in a larger field there will be other skaters the judges will decide to place over Akiko because they did better last year or maybe the season before?

Please go back to the COP thread and see if you and the others can get if fixed before Vancouver because it is horribly unfair and inacurrate imo.:scowl:

Akiko doesn't have the reputation or the PCS of the top skaters I think is what she means, if a lackluster Yuna and Miki can still beat her then it doesn't look good for Vancouver. If it's a splatfest though she might have a shot. I guess maybe her chances are similar to that of Rachael's, but I personally think she is a bit better than Rachael. I really want both to do well and not let the stupid judges hold them down. Rachael at least seems to be gaining PCS points steadily though considering she is not particularly flexible or a great spinner. At China she only had 4 clean triples in the LP and still scored just under 100, not too bad

 

[R.D.]

Rachael at least seems to be gaining PCS points steadily though considering she is not particularly flexible or a great spinner. At China she only had 4 clean triples in the LP and still scored just under 100, not too bad

Not competitive, though

look at the mess Yuna had in SA, but she still got 110+ pts

 

[silverlake22]

Not competitive, though

look at the mess Yuna had in SA, but she still got 110+ pts

Yeah but Yuna's in a league of her own. Joannie and Alissa get about 100 points when they do 3-4 triple programs (unless they are in there home countries, then that 100 becomes a 112 ). I know a 100 is not competitive but that was the first competition of the season for Rachael and you can normally count on her to hit 6-7 triples in the long which will get her around 175, a score that normally wouldn't get her a medal internationally, but should keep her in the top 10. If Rachael goes to the Olympics I bet she'll place around what Kimmie and Emily did, 4th through 8th maybe. Just a guess, it depends a lot on the Euro ladies

 

[R.D.]

If Rachael goes to the Olympics I bet she'll place around what Kimmie and Emily did, 4th through 8th maybe. Just a guess, it depends a lot on the Euro ladies

True.

And then maybe pull a shocker at Worlds.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Didn't USFSA say they were going to look at the results from the GP season and worlds/junior worlds last year to make a decision? If Sasha does well at one competition, it's not telling enough. Mirai had a great short at CoC, Rachael had a great long at SA, Ashley had a great long at GPF and Alissa had a great short at SC but we all know none of them have been doing tremendously this season.


So yes, obviously Sasha should feel free to compete at nationals, but if she comes in 1st or 2nd (especially because if she does it will probably be due to hugely inflated PCS) the USFSA should think twice before sending her, especially if she's still injured. That's all I meant.

If Sasha wins nationals of course it is enough. USFSA said they would consider the GP and the GP Final, but really the did not tell us anything. Racheal was the highest placed lady, just like at Worlds last year. Mirai had a few great moments and some dissipontinv ones which pretty much sums up her career to date. Ashley made the GPF but there encountered many of she same issues that always plauge her.. underroation and edge calls. Alissa had pretty much Mirai's fate. None have emerged as a clear front runner, the only think we can say is that unless Caroline pulls a miracle she is out.

 

[janetfan]

Here is something interesting to look back on - Sasha's interview with Katie Couric the morning after her LP in Torino.

At the end of the interview Katie asks Sasha is she will comeback for the 2010 Olympics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itATY4Irqzk&feature=related

I thought Sasha was pretty good in this interview...............

 

[silverlake22]

Here is something interesting to look back on - Sasha's interview with Katie Couric the morning after her LP in Torino.

At the end of the interview Katie asks Sasha is she will comeback for the 2010 Olympics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itATY4Irqzk&feature=related

I thought Sasha was pretty good in this interview...............

I'm always surprised by her voice....doesn't really fit with her image but anyways. I miss Slutskaya and her huge jumps

 

[Mathman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itATY4Irqzk&feature=related

I thought Sasha was pretty good in this interview..

That's my girl! She sounded more PO'ed than sad or disappointed. Did anyone else get the vibe, when they showed Suzuka skating, that Sasha was thinking, "pffft! I can beat that in my sleep?" (Maybe that's just me.)

The more famous interview is the one that Sasha did with Katie Couric just before the Torino Olympics. As I recall it, Couric asked Sasha something about Michelle and her injuries, and Sasha basically said, why are you bothering me about Michelle? What am I, chopped liver? :agree:

 

[silverlake22]

That's my girl! She sounded more PO'ed than sad or disappointed. Did anyone else get the vibe, when they showed Suzuka skating, that Sasha was thinking, "pffft! I can beat that in my sleep?" (Maybe that's just me.)

The more famous interview is the one that Sasha did with Katie Couric just before the Torino Olympics. As I recall it, Couric asked Sasha something about Michelle and her injuries, and Sasha basically said, why are you bothering me about Michelle? What am I, chopped liver? :agree:

Typical Sasha. And I wouldn't say Sasha could beat Shizuka in her sleep, Shiz was awesome at the Olympics! So elegant and graceful and her jumps get so such good height. As Dick Button said, that is a LADY! Sasha has ladylike skating too but she kind of looks like she's 12...

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

A signal that Sasha can't jump and needs PCS to be competitive? Maybe. But that's kind of the name of the game now that no one lands a lot of triples regularly anymore.

Ouch, they aren't really that bad are they? I mean, Caroline and Rachael can hit 6-7 triple LPs regularly. Alissa and Mirai can be great if the jumps are on. I guess they all skate pretty slowly (except Mirai) but technically I wouldn't say Sasha or Emily or any of the other has beens are really better

I would hardly characterize Sasha, Emily or even Michelle Kwan (who also hasn't skated competitively in years like Sasha) for that matter as 'has beens'.

Is it absolutely necessary to insult talented skaters just to try and get your point across?

 

[R.D.]

To me, in the context of ice skating, a "has-been" is a skater who used to be competitive at the top level, but no longer is due to age, injury, setback, etc. and very likely won't ever get back up there.

 

[silverlake22]

I would hardly characterize Sasha, Emily or even Michelle Kwan (who also hasn't skated competitively in years like Sasha) for that matter as 'has beens'.

Is it absolutely necessary to insult talented skaters just to try and get your point across?

It wasn't meant to be an insult. They were awesome in their day but haven't skated competitively in a long time. That's all that was meant. If Yuna wins OGM this year she will be a has been 4 years later too

^^Yes RD that's exactly what I meant.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

To me, in the context of ice skating, a "has-been" is a skater who used to be competitive at the top level, but no longer is due to age, injury, setback, etc. and very likely won't ever get back up there.

I understand, but I think for someone to be called a 'has-been' in any context is offensive. It diminishes a persons's previous accomplishments.
jmo

It wasn't meant to be an insult. They were awesome in their day but haven't skated competitively in a long time. That's all that was meant. If Yuna wins OGM this year she will be a has been 4 years later too

^^Yes RD that's exactly what I meant.

As I replied to RD-I understand what 'context' it was meant to be in-but one cannot deny that to call a person a 'has-been' is an insult. It would be to me if someone were to call me that-and I can only assume it would be to some people here. Again-jmo.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Here is something interesting to look back on - Sasha's interview with Katie Couric the morning after her LP in Torino.

At the end of the interview Katie asks Sasha is she will comeback for the 2010 Olympics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itATY4Irqzk&feature=related

I thought Sasha was pretty good in this interview...............

Very classy. The way she answered the question about 2010 sounded as if she really wanted to say "are you kidding me Katie? I practically just got off the ice and you want me to think about 2010. No way!" But she said she would take it "one day at a time" and indeed, that is what she(and we) is doing.

 

[prettykeys]

That's my girl! She sounded more PO'ed than sad or disappointed. Did anyone else get the vibe, when they showed Suzuka skating, that Sasha was thinking, "pffft! I can beat that in my sleep?" (Maybe that's just me.)

The more famous interview is the one that Sasha did with Katie Couric just before the Torino Olympics. As I recall it, Couric asked Sasha something about Michelle and her injuries, and Sasha basically said, why are you bothering me about Michelle? What am I, chopped liver? :agree:

1) The three on the 2006 Ladies' Podium were just perfect.
2) Sasha is so pretty! And, even in "defeat", she still has a fiery something about her. I love that.
3) Is Katie Couric always that bad of an interviewer? I wish she'd have just finished up her questions neatly and let the interviewee talk...

Oh, and I actually sort of like liver. I know, I'm a sick, sick person.

 

[silverlake22]

I understand, but I think for someone to be called a 'has-been' in any context is offensive. It diminishes a persons's previous accomplishments.
jmo



As I replied to RD-I understand what 'context' it was meant to be in-but one cannot deny that to call a person a 'has-been' is an insult. It would be to me if someone were to call me that-and I can only assume it would be to some people here. Again-jmo.

Yeah, you make a good point. I understand how you would see it that way. We'll see if Sasha is up to her old self when and if she competes at nats. Going to be so intense! Can't wait

 

[Layfan]

I wasn't talking about the training, I meant that if she shows up at nats and gets 1st or 2nd then go to the Olympics it wouldn't really be fair to everyone else because she's competed once in the past 3 years. Didn't USFSA say they were going to look at the results from the GP season and worlds/junior worlds last year to make a decision? If Sasha does well at one competition, it's not telling enough. Mirai had a great short at CoC, Rachael had a great long at SA, Ashley had a great long at GPF and Alissa had a great short at SC but we all know none of them have been doing tremendously this season.

The thing I meant about Yuna is that, yes, obviously she is capable of beating any US lady (anyone really if she is on), but the other contenders for the US Olympic team do not already have an Olympic silver under there belt like Sasha. I bet the goals of Mirai, Ashley, Rachael, Caroline, and Alissa are to GO to the Olympics this year, the goal of Sasha is obviously to WIN the Olympics because if that wasn't her goal she wouldn't be doing this.

So yes, obviously Sasha should feel free to compete at nationals, but if she comes in 1st or 2nd (especially because if she does it will probably be due to hugely inflated PCS) the USFSA should think twice before sending her, especially if she's still injured. That's all I meant.

Frankly, I think your accurate description of how the U.S. ladies did at the GP series is a good argument for why the U.S. should send Sasha to the Olympics IF she manages to pull off such amazing performance that she wins nationals.
Especially if she shows she is back - or even nearly back _ to her former form.

 

[Layfan]

Weakest in what sense?

E.g., in 1995 the top two US ladies went 3-4 at Worlds, and the US bronze medalist theoretically could have been top 10 if the US had had three spots, and if she had skated well.

After that, there really weren't any US senior ladies that year who could hold their own internationally. Kyoko Ina was best of the rest at Nationals and she didn't have many triples.

3-4 is a whole lot better than the U.S. placing at the last three worlds. Besides, 1995 was sandwiched between the year an American woman won the Olympic silver medal and the year an American woman won the world gold. I think it's safe to agree with Janetfan that these past four years is the weakest the women have been in decades.

 

[janetfan]

3-4 is a whole lot better than the U.S. placing at the last three worlds. Besides, 1995 was sandwiched between the year an American woman won the Olympic silver medal and the year an American woman won the world gold. I think it's safe to agree with Janetfan that these past four years is the weakest the women have been in decades.

When I said "weakest since the early 60"s" I was referring to the aftermath of the '61 air tragedy.

I think our team in '95, where Bobek won bronze and 14 year old Michelle finished fourth was clearly superior to what we will see this season.

Should a bunch of the top Ladies retire after Vancouver then it is possible this group may look better at Worlds - but since it is an Olympic year I would judge US Ladies by their Olympic results first and a possibly watered down Worlds second.

1993 was worse for US Ladies than '95 and that is why we only had two skaters in the '94 Olympics. But aside from Nancy's meltdown in '93 she was a bonafide podium contender and the reigning Olympic bronze medalist.

Which US Lady(s) is a contender this season? Or last season?

I am not a believer in quantity and having alot of average skaters unable to compete with the world's best is not by US standards a strong team.

 

[R.D.]

I am not a believer in quantity and having alot of average skaters unable to compete with the world's best is not by US standards a strong team.

I'm in total agreement with this statement. While US Nationals is more competitive than ever before, no one stands out, no one is competitive with the world's best...it's a tradeoff for sure. For me, it shifts the focus. But it probably wasn't meant to be this cycle anyway.