New Ashley Wagner Interview

[Hurdler4eva]

http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/...ashley-wagner-olympic-figure-skating-hopeful/

You’re very technologically savvy and stay connected with friends and fans through your website, Facebook, Twitter, and a vlog on YouTube. Not many athletes have such a personal connection with fans. How important is fan support to your skating?

I think it is very important. Fans in skating are dwindling, at least here in the States, but I feel like staying connected to them via Twitter or YouTube makes the sport more relatable. People don’t often get to see much personality in skating because they only get to see the performance, but new technology allows them to kind of see all sides of a skater.

 

[Trewyn]

I especially like the part where she says she's definitely competing next season; yay!

 

[Hurdler4eva]

I know - usually so many of my favorites retire after an Olympic season!

 

[cornell08]

That is an absolutely gorgeous photo of Ashley... probably my favorite program of hers. She skated with spirit and with her heart, not her head-- and it shows in her expression. Also no one could have pulled off that outfit except Ashley what with her doll-like porcelain complexion. She's such an obvious choice as USFSA's ladies poster child, I'm surprised they haven't thrown more support and publicity her way.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Seems like the interviewer isn't taking Sasha at her word. I hope Ashley does stick around for Sochi. We will never develop a champion everybody moves on after 3 years. Not to mention I am excited to see how her skating will develop.

 

[Hurdler4eva]

I am also surprised that Ashley has not been getting that much recognition from sponsors and USFSA. But I'm glad that she is getting some media attention at least! I think she has a great shot of making the Olympic team if she skates well.

 

[mskater93]

Seems like the interviewer isn't taking Sasha at her word. I hope Ashley does stick around for Sochi. We will never develop a champion everybody moves on after 3 years. Not to mention I am excited to see how her skating will develop.

I read NBN regularly and most of the writers take an irreverent tone to their subject matter, so don't read too much into the writer's Sasha comments.

 

[R.D.]

Thanks for sharing with us.

I am also surprised that Ashley has not been getting that much recognition from sponsors and USFSA..

And I'm surprised that people are surprised about this seriously, not to downplay her accomplishments (I mean this with all due respect) but what REALLY has she done to make herself stand out from the rest and impress the general public? Even Flatt hasn't exactly been hailed as the Next Coming. At a moment of serious disinterest in skating (in the states), I'm not at all surprised.

 

[Hurdler4eva]

I suppose USFSA doesn't have anyone that strong to back, but I would think that with such a tight competition they would be playing up the fact that this ladies championship will come down to the wire. Instead, they seem to be promoting the mens event and ice dance more heavily, when most of those spots seem far more locked up. Mens' will probably be Johnny, Evan, and Jeremy in some order and for pairs it's a no-brainer that Belbin/Agosto and Davis/White will take two of the spots. For ladies - you could have so many combinations I couldn't even tell you ONE person who is a lock for the team.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Thanks for sharing with us.



And I'm surprised that people are surprised about this seriously, not to downplay her accomplishments (I mean this with all due respect) but what REALLY has she done to make herself stand out from the rest and impress the general public? Even Flatt hasn't exactly been hailed as the Next Coming. At a moment of serious disinterest in skating (in the states), I'm not at all surprised.

Me too... but I believe that after the Kimmie v. Emily rivaly flamed out only to be followed by Caroline taking more time to develop and Alissa's win (backroom conspiracies aside...) USFSA is probably a bit gun shy on anointing ANYONE just yet... Worlds will tell the tale...

 

[Tinymavy15]

I believe that after the Kimmie v. Emily rivaly flamed out...

Was there ever a Kimmie v. Emily rivalry? I remeber that Em almost beat Kimmie at nationals in 2007 to the surprise of some and the uproar of others that it was "almost." other than that I don't remeber any time when the two girls went head to head for anything and it was rivavlry material.

 

[n_halifax]

I think the reason why no one is being heralded as the 'next coming' is that none of these girls have TWO programs that say "wow". I think costuming, music choice, packaging, theme and choreography go all the way in developing a STAR. That said, I'm not knocking any one individual U.S. ladies skater... I actually think quite a few of them are really quite excellent, although they are a couple admittedly I think are terribly overrated... not naming names as it is completely irrelevant to my argument. That said - next season, if any of these ladies come out with two killer, exciting programs they will stand out and become a star. That's all it takes I think, lull or not.

 

[silverlake22]

I think the reason why no one is being heralded as the 'next coming' is that none of these girls have TWO programs that say "wow". I think costuming, music choice, packaging, theme and choreography go all the way in developing a STAR. That said, I'm not knocking any one individual U.S. ladies skater... I actually think quite a few of them are really quite excellent, although they are a couple admittedly I think are terribly overrated... not naming names as it is completely irrelevant to my argument. That said - next season, if any of these ladies come out with two killer, exciting programs they will stand out and become a star. That's all it takes I think, lull or not.

I agree, Alissa and Mirai have great SPs but Dr. Z and Carmen are kinda boring. Ashley's LP is nice too and she looks so gorgeous in that outfit but the SP i'm not crazy about. I like Sing, Sing, Sing and all of Rachael's jumps in her LP are great but apart from that her LP isn't super exciting. Caroline's SP is pretty good too but her LP is a snooze. So Ashley is the only one with a really good LP IMO

 

[Hurdler4eva]

I actually like both Ashley's LP and SP though I can see why you think the LP is stronger. I think Ashley has the most "star power" of the US ladies if you look at her costumes, choreo etc. though Alissa comes close.