Can Sasha pull a "Michelle Kwan" and get on the Olympic team?

[silverlake22]

Well, I suppose you could look at it this way: would you go to the Olympics if you were selected for the team, even if you did not realistically expect to win a medal?

Haha, obviously yes. But I mean, there's something to be said about you are only as good as your last performance. If Sasha doesn't go this year, she'll be remembered as an Olympic Silver Medalist. If she goes this year and finishes in say 7th, which would not be at all unlikely, she'll be remembered as not being able to regain her greatness.

Maybe Sasha has a plan to beat Yuna Kim without a lutz or a flip though and she's waiting to try it out at nationals. If this is the case, I can't wait to see her programs

 

[Nadia01]

I'd say no.

Sasha hasn't proven herself worthy of the spot yet.

And she's no Michelle. Michelle's one of the most decorated US skaters ever, and she's won more national & WC than Sasha can even dream of.

Also Sasha said her injury's too severe to compete at TEB & SA. If it's too severe to compete at Nat in Jan, it's too severe for the Oly in Feb.

 

[herios]

Maybe Sasha has a plan to beat Yuna Kim without a lutz or a flip though and she's waiting to try it out at nationals. :

So do I have a plan to win the jackpot at the lottery

 

[Mathman]

In addition, if there is injury or illness that would prevent a dominant athlete from competing at one of the six events listed above, the petition process allows U.S. Figure Skating to select the best possible representatives for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

I think this quote settles the issue. Sasha cannot claim to be a "dominant athlete" this year.

I don't think Tanith and Ben will just be kept on the team if they skate, I think they could win a bye if they had to withdraw due to injury/illness..

I just hope Tanith's tooth doesn't start acting up again..

This is one of those issues where what the rules and documents say, and what they actually mean (and how they are applied) aren't exactly the same.

Thank you for laying this whole issue of the "new rules" to rest.

 

[silverlake22]

So do I have a plan to win the jackpot at the lottery

That's what i'm saying, although someone posted a link a few weeks ago about Sasha's plan to get really high scores in CoP and wipe away the competition without doing hard jumps.

Yeah ok Sasha....can you get a 210 without a triple flip? Somehow I doubt it, but I'm interested to see what her little plan is if she does show

 

[Nadia01]

That's what i'm saying, although someone posted a link a few weeks ago about Sasha's plan to get really high scores in CoP and wipe away the competition without doing hard jumps.

Yeah ok Sasha....can you get a 210 without a triple flip? Somehow I doubt it, but I'm interested to see what her little plan is if she does show

Just out of curiosity, what triple jumps can Sasha land consistently?

 

[wonderlen3000]

It will be tought for her to get the petition. She hasn't been competing since 2006 and the U.S has only one spot. The U.S use the average result from the past two years including national, GPS, 4CC etc. , as long as both Ashley and Flatt place within the top 4 spot, they should be send to the Olympics.

The biggest thing is the rules of COP has changed alot over the past 3 years and would Sasha be judges fairly at the national the same way as any international events. That's include pretty much her horric flutz, usual fautly landing and underroatation problems. Being a national competition some judges might over look this fault.

When is the national anyway? end of January right?

 

[wonderlen3000]

That's what i'm saying, although someone posted a link a few weeks ago about Sasha's plan to get really high scores in CoP and wipe away the competition without doing hard jumps.

Yeah ok Sasha....can you get a 210 without a triple flip? Somehow I doubt it, but I'm interested to see what her little plan is if she does show

She wouldn't even crack a 170 mark without a flip or lutz. Peoples always keep bringing up her personal best score from 2003 (71.12 SP, 130+ FS) and saying it will be enough for head to head against all the top ladies these days. She never crack a 185+ after 2003. Back in the old days, her spins and spiral give her most of her buffer points. But these days almost every skaters are getting level 3 or 4 on their non jumps elements so I doubt she could use them as a cushion to get high score.

 

[Sylvia]

She hasn't been competing since 2006 and the U.S has only one spot. The U.S use the average result from the past two years including national, GPS, 4CC etc.

Not sure where you're getting "the average result from the past two years" but it's not true if you read through this entire thread. The U.S. has two Olympic spots for ladies and Nationals is January 14-24, 2010 (men/pairs the first weekend and ladies/dance the second).

ETA link to the US Nationals subforum on this board: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=241

 

[silverlake22]

Just out of curiosity, what triple jumps can Sasha land consistently?

She used to be able to land most of them most of the time, although she struggled with the 3flip and had a very bad flutz which she didn't get penalized for then but certainly would now cosidering Mao has been forced to stop doing lutz altogether and Ashley and Mirai get edge calls all the time for it and neither has a flutz as bad as Sasha.

The other thing is that Sasha has tendonitis in her takeoff leg, meaning flip and lutz would be particularly painful for her to do and she might not be able to do or practice these jumps b/c of her injury. That leaves her with toe, loop, sal, and double axels, the easy jumps that many lower tier skaters do. Without a flip or lutz, Sasha will be hard pressed to get a decent score. Katrina Hacker last year skated very well at nationals but had no 3flip or 3lutz and her score was 157, meaning Sasha with the same jumps would probably get a 160, 170 TOPS. A 170 won't make the cut either, as Rachael has scored higher than that at a few different international competitions and Mao, Miki, Joannie, Carolina are capable of scoring in the 180s or 190s.

So essentially, without a flip or lutz, Sasha will be like a Laura Lepisto, who isn't really a big medal contender for Vancouver

 

[Nadia01]

She used to be able to land most of them most of the time, although she struggled with the 3flip and had a very bad flutz which she didn't get penalized for then but certainly would now cosidering Mao has been forced to stop doing lutz altogether and Ashley and Mirai get edge calls all the time for it and neither has a flutz as bad as Sasha.

The other thing is that Sasha has tendonitis in her takeoff leg, meaning flip and lutz would be particularly painful for her to do and she might not be able to do or practice these jumps b/c of her injury. That leaves her with toe, loop, sal, and double axels, the easy jumps that many lower tier skaters do. Without a flip or lutz, Sasha will be hard pressed to get a decent score. Katrina Hacker last year skated very well at nationals but had no 3flip or 3lutz and her score was 157, meaning Sasha with the same jumps would probably get a 160, 170 TOPS. A 170 won't make the cut either, as Rachael has scored higher than that at a few different international competitions and Mao, Miki, Joannie, Carolina are capable of scoring in the 180s or 190s.

So essentially, without a flip or lutz, Sasha will be like a Laura Lepisto, who isn't really a big medal contender for Vancouver

Thanks for the explanation. I know Sasha has problem w/ flutzing, but didn't know her flips were so problematic.

That does seem very sad that she's been reduced to doing 3 triples and 2A. Given all the rules and restrictions on how many times you can do triple jumps, etc. I don't see how she can possibly do enough jumps to rack up points. I'm afraid that she's going to tarnish whatever legacy she has by attempting this comeback (am afraid she's going to embarrass herself). I still remember some of Sasha's programs very fondly, esp. her Torino SP, so I'd rather not see her implode badly.

 

[silverlake22]

Thanks for the explanation. I know Sasha has problem w/ flutzing, but didn't know her flips were so problematic.

That does seem very sad that she's been reduced to doing 3 triples and 2A. Given all the rules and restrictions on how many times you can do triple jumps, etc. I don't see how she can possibly do enough jumps to rack up points. I'm afraid that she's going to tarnish whatever legacy she has by attempting this comeback (am afraid she's going to embarrass herself). I still remember some of Sasha's programs very fondly, esp. her Torino SP, so I'd rather not see her implode badly.

That's how I feel too. If she's not ready for this comeback, she shouldn't try it, especially where she's injured. She already has silver, which doesn't look likely this year, and probably the real reason behind the comeback is to win Olympic Gold, but she's 25, has not competed in 4 years, is injured and has to compete against Yuna Kim. She won silver in 2006 when Irina was having an off night, and Shizuka, who actually won the event, was skating very cautiously, and Irina and Shizuka are no Yuna.

I'd hate to see Sasha go out there, finish off the podium at the Olympics and re-injure herself, it would just be sad.

And about the flip, the NBC commentators used to talk about how she struggled with it when they showed her programs on TV, but I don't particularly remember if it was a jump she fell on a lot or if it was just a little wonky, like is the case for Alissa.

 

[janetfan]

Thanks for the explanation. I know Sasha has problem w/ flutzing, but didn't know her flips were so problematic.

That does seem very sad that she's been reduced to doing 3 triples and 2A. Given all the rules and restrictions on how many times you can do triple jumps, etc. I don't see how she can possibly do enough jumps to rack up points. I'm afraid that she's going to tarnish whatever legacy she has by attempting this comeback (am afraid she's going to embarrass herself). I still remember some of Sasha's programs very fondly, esp. her Torino SP, so I'd rather not see her implode badly.

Here is Sasha landing more than a few triples and also skating beautifully.

I don't think anyone knows if she will skate at Natls - but if she does she will probably try more than 3 triples.

I don't recall Sasha skating as a senior with only three or four triples.

Part of it was trying to keep up with Michelle, Irina, Shiz and the others .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2s-...1E88A061&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=33

 

[chuckm]

Sasha would almost have to do lutz and flip in the SP in order to make the final group to skate the FS. The SP she tried in exhibition the week before TEB included both jumps (although back then she didn't land either jump cleanly). My guess is she will either withdraw the week before Nationals, or do the SP and then withdraw.

 

[Nadia01]

That's how I feel too. If she's not ready for this comeback, she shouldn't try it, especially where she's injured. She already has silver, which doesn't look likely this year, and probably the real reason behind the comeback is to win Olympic Gold, but she's 25, has not competed in 4 years, is injured and has to compete against Yuna Kim. She won silver in 2006 when Irina was having an off night, and Shizuka, who actually won the event, was skating very cautiously, and Irina and Shizuka are no Yuna.

I'd hate to see Sasha go out there, finish off the podium at the Olympics and re-injure herself, it would just be sad.

And about the flip, the NBC commentators used to talk about how she struggled with it when they showed her programs on TV, but I don't particularly remember if it was a jump she fell on a lot or if it was just a little wonky, like is the case for Alissa.

I think they meant she fell on it? I remember that her jumps were very small. I also remember seeing her just "sit" on her jumps. What I mean is that she jumps, but it looks underrotated when she lands, and her legs seem to just collapse under her and it looks like she just sat on the ice after the take off & rotations. It's hard to explain ,but that's the impression I got from watching some of her older programs.

She's a pretty skater to look at, given her superb flexibility, but her speed and jumps aren't going to be as explosive or huge as Yuna and Miki. COP rewards good jumps a lot, and I don't think Sasha's PCS can overcome Yuna & Miki's TES unless both decide to roll all over the ice for fun. (which is not going to happen)

 

[Nadia01]

Here is Sasha landing more than a few triples and also skating beautifully.

I don't think anyone knows if she will skate at Natls - but if she does she will probably try more than 3 triples.

I don't recall Sasha skating as a senior with only three or four triples.

Part of it was trying to keep up with Michelle, Irina, Shiz and the others .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2s-...1E88A061&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=33

I meant her current level. I do remember her being fairly competitive way back when b/c she had to keep up with the other girls.

 

[janetfan]

I meant her current level. I do remember her being fairly competitive way back when b/c she had to keep up with the other girls.

I don't think we know where she is at the moment. People who have not seen Sasha skate and don't know her or go to her training sessions are making statements about what Sasha can do and can't do.

Remember, they are just expressing opinions on a skating board like the rest of us.

 

[janetfan]

Sasha would almost have to do lutz and flip in the SP in order to make the final group to skate the FS. The SP she tried in exhibition the week before TEB included both jumps (although back then she didn't land either jump cleanly). My guess is she will either withdraw the week before Nationals, or do the SP and then withdraw.

When was that - in September? Was it even on a full size rink? Was it done under a spotlight?

Do you actually have any current information about how her training is going - anything factual - or just opinions ?

 

[Kwanford Wife]

That's how I feel too. If she's not ready for this comeback, she shouldn't try it, especially where she's injured. She already has silver, which doesn't look likely this year, and probably the real reason behind the comeback is to win Olympic Gold, but she's 25, has not competed in 4 years, is injured and has to compete against Yuna Kim. She won silver in 2006 when Irina was having an off night, and Shizuka, who actually won the event, was skating very cautiously, and Irina and Shizuka are no Yuna.

I'd hate to see Sasha go out there, finish off the podium at the Olympics and re-injure herself, it would just be sad.

And about the flip, the NBC commentators used to talk about how she struggled with it when they showed her programs on TV, but I don't particularly remember if it was a jump she fell on a lot or if it was just a little wonky, like is the case for Alissa.

I hate to be picky, but take issue with the above regarding Irina and Diva in comparision to Yuna... As has been highlighted and discussed, Yuna is a very talented skater however let's not be so quick to dismiss the competitive records of two outstanding skaters with stellar reps based on their jumps. I have yet to see Yuna do a full set of triples cleanly whereas Irina and Diva were both capable of and threw multiple 3 x3 into competitive programs.

Can't we root for our favorites without the compulsion to run down other skaters? Just a thought...

Also - since when was Sasha incapable of landing the Flip? I remember her flutz but I do not remember her inability to do a clean Flip. Or doing a three triple program. Why don't we wait and see what she's capable of before we determine that she's inacapable of competiting at Nationals, much less the Olympics...

 

[fairly4]

hate to disappoint--but So Far Sasha hasn't done anything to keep her off the team-the usfsa stated back in 2007 they would love to have her on the Olympic team in 2010 .
nothing score wise or anything else states she is off the team
lets see--sasha didn't compete for 3 years --she got two gp events (her i be nice here and state injury) made her pull out.
she got a bye to nationals based on 2006 medal
when in fact in 2006 michelles medal at the olympics didn't count-it was asked outright and they stated No- not because of the medal did she make the team or get the bye to nationals -it was the fact she went to nationals the previous year an placed 4th 3-in short and long which made the team-but also they also almost came out and stated she wasn't going to make the team (michelle) in 2006. everyone didn't want her or have her back.
what are you hearing/stating --usfsa had always sasha's back not michelle's. despite to so called image did they-it was just that image of michelle's back . when in fact it was tara's sarah, sasha's back. they always had.

sasha is on the team period no matter what. the girls are officially fighting for one spot-
look at scores and how they screw up and still stay one top with so called high pcs-why do you think usfsa is pushing high pcs instead of technical quality . because sasha is on olympic team-they should be honest and say so now. if you don't believe it you have your head in the sand.
the us girls top scores still hasn't top sasha's and look at skate america- they allow us girl to beat yu-na in long with decent program and allow no downgrade in fall for stated us girl in short where as everyone else got downgrade and fall.
yes sasha is on team.

michelle told them in previous years she didn't want to skate at gp events the 2006 season she stated she was otherwise she wouldn't have been named.
also see if michelle came back she would had to go to regionals why- didn't skate at nationals which meant if she didnt skate at stated regionals she wouldn't make national team. so yes, sasha is on team.

face it sasha is still the baby prima donna who the usfsa/isu would move mountains to let her win.they cheated before with her-they are still going to do it. they usfsa and isu won't and cant play fair.